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Jeff Goodman
This is Interrupted by Matt Jones on Newsradio 840 WHAS now here's Matt Jones.
Matt Jones
All right, it is episode 23 of Interrupted by Matt Jones. Presented by Kornbread Hemp. This is the good life and we are now happy to be joined by somebody I have known for a long time, probably going back now almost 20 years. He's been everywhere from sports to ESPN to now field of 68, probably soon to be field of 72. On and on three sports. Jeff Goodman. Jeff, it's very nice to have you to talk a little college Basketball.
Jeff Goodman
Likewise, Matt. Likewise. It's been too long doing this together on air. We had a chance to, to have.
Gary Parrish
Breakfast, lunch, whatever we did last year in Lexington, which was long overdue.
Rob Dauster
It is.
Jeff Goodman
And it's.
Matt Jones
I want to talk to you a.
Rob Dauster
Little bit about sort of your history and relationship with UK and even with yours truly at some point.
Matt Jones
But let's just start with this. I. I want, I want to use this kind of as a college basketball talk preview for the season. And I'll start with this. I don't know if you agree or not, but I actually think college basketball.
Rob Dauster
Is in a really good spot.
Matt Jones
I think nil, while it has had negatives for football especially think it's been a net positive for basketball and the sport is in a much better spot than it was say 10 years ago.
Rob Dauster
In terms of fan interest, etc.
Matt Jones
Do you agree or disagree with that statement?
Gary Parrish
Yeah, probably. Fan interest? Probably, yes.
Jeff Goodman
I don't know if it means that the sport is in a better place than it is now. You know, I think the hard part for me is still, you know, while kids are getting paid and for some that it's awesome. You know, I think you've got these rosters that are, that are turning over at such a rate that, you know, frankly the quality of play isn't as.
Gary Parrish
Good coming out of the gates.
Jeff Goodman
People really don't talk about that enough.
Gary Parrish
And then that's true.
Matt Jones
I mean, I actually, I thought last year the quality of play was better than in the one and done kind of era that like having these veteran rosters may take them longer to get going, but when you get to January and February, you get really good games.
Jeff Goodman
Yes, I think it's out of the gates, like I said. I think it's just because you have so many teams with like 8, 9, 10 new guys and some with 13 new guys. Right. And you just never had that before, you know, I mean, Kentucky was the one team that would turn over the most because of the one and dones.
Gary Parrish
But everybody else would be like Purdue this year.
Jeff Goodman
Right? They bring everybody back for the most part now, you know the norm.
Gary Parrish
I mean really, if you bring back for your top eight guys, you're celebrating.
Jeff Goodman
In the off season, like that's a hell of an off season if those are the four, you know, you kind of wanted back.
Gary Parrish
But you know, I think you're right in a sense that number one, you've.
Jeff Goodman
Got April and May now that are relevant for college basketball for the.
Gary Parrish
Because of the portal.
Jeff Goodman
Right?
Rob Dauster
They're relevant, yes.
Jeff Goodman
You Know, because of the off season, where it wasn't. I don't know if I love it because I enjoyed my maze a lot more 10 years ago than I enjoy him now.
Gary Parrish
But. But I get it.
Jeff Goodman
And.
Gary Parrish
And again, there's more to talk about.
Jeff Goodman
There's more other issues, certainly to talk about.
Gary Parrish
I just, I. I have a hard time because, again, like, I'm old school.
Jeff Goodman
But I'm trying to adapt, and I do adapt. And I still see some of these.
Gary Parrish
Kids going to their fifth school. We.
Jeff Goodman
We did a media tour. We did 15 different media days. So we talked to, like, endless amount of kids. And like, some of these kids, it's.
Gary Parrish
Their fifth school in five years, met, like, how is that good?
Matt Jones
I get all that. And look, if you. If you. I'm sure the job is to some.
Rob Dauster
Extent harder for coaches.
Matt Jones
And I want to talk to you.
Rob Dauster
About the transition of coaches, because I think we're seeing a new era of coaches develop. I understand. You know, Devin Askew's been at, what, six schools?
Matt Jones
Like, I get all that. But I guess what I'm saying is maybe it's just because at Kentucky, we.
Rob Dauster
Were more used to it with the one and done.
Matt Jones
But this idea that when the games start, I know that I'm seeing better basketball when I'm seeing juniors and seniors.
Rob Dauster
Playing than what I was seeing before.
Gary Parrish
But.
Jeff Goodman
But I think that's more to Kentucky and maybe Duke and a few others. I think the majority of the country has kind of gone the other route, and they had retention and they had a bunch of kids that they could relate to, and the fan base knew who these kids were and they could connect to them. And now by the time they connect to them, they're gone. Kind of like you guys, right? That's the way it was.
Matt Jones
Maybe true. But. But like last year, you get to the Final Four, right? And so you get what? Duke, Houston, Florida, Auburn, and even in the Elite Eight with Tennessee and, you know, Purdue and Texas Tech and get to sweet 16 with Kentucky, etc. I just felt like the quality of the overall field was just better. Just when you get to that and, you know, then a lot of guys come back. I mean, you have your.
Rob Dauster
Your brain. Braden Smith, you got your.
Matt Jones
Your JT top, and all these guys. I just don't think that happens.
Gary Parrish
A few years ago, 100%, guys were going, think about it. Guys were leaving even when they weren't.
Jeff Goodman
On the draft boards.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Gary Parrish
Even like they were just leaving to leave. Now it's so rare.
Jeff Goodman
You see it like an RJ Lewis, right, the kid from St. John's he's the one that kind of you look to and you're like, dude, why? Why? You could have Patino didn't love him.
Gary Parrish
At the end, but put your name in the portal and you could have.
Jeff Goodman
Made $3 million this year and instead.
Gary Parrish
You put your name in.
Jeff Goodman
You weren't drafted. And I think. I don't even know if you got a two way at the end of the day.
Matt Jones
So. So I see college basketball going forward as being what it maybe was with.
Rob Dauster
The addition of transfers, which I know is a whole nother thing, but I.
Matt Jones
See it going back to kind of maybe not the 80s, but the 90s where guys are staying in school because you can make a living doing this. Obviously your AJ Devon says are going.
Rob Dauster
To go but Otega away.
Matt Jones
He goes to the draft last year whether he should have or not.
Rob Dauster
He would have like that would have.
Matt Jones
Just been what would have happened. I like that. I like that Jasper Johnson at Kentucky.
Rob Dauster
Could be a two year player whereas he would have been a one year player before.
Matt Jones
I just think eventually that's positive. And do you see college basketball kind of playing now? There's so many Europeans coming. The developmental role for the NBA across the board, maybe even replacing the G League completely.
Jeff Goodman
That's the part that's interesting, right? The part you just ended with the international crop because you know you've seen such an influx this year like we've never seen before. Because frankly, you know, if you're a coach right now you're saying if I can go get a 22 year old.
Gary Parrish
You know, international kid, even if he's.
Jeff Goodman
Only eligible for two or three years, you know that's going to be more impactful for me than any. Most of these college kids that I'm going to bring in at this point and they're more coachable for the most part and they're less money to bring in. So interesting.
Gary Parrish
I don't, you know, that part is interesting because where does it end, Matt? That's my question to you is.
Matt Jones
Well let me personally would be. For what would you be like. So I would be okay with NBA teams drafting guys and rather like this was back in the 70s, like rather than putting them in the G League, they just play college basketball for a year or two. Would you be up. Would you be all right with that?
Gary Parrish
Yeah, I just, I think there's got to be some cutoff though with like.
Jeff Goodman
When you're a pro, you know, now we're doing these G League guys that Are, you know, maybe some are going to be eligible.
Gary Parrish
I was told by a source that.
Jeff Goodman
Multiple teams are going after this one G League kid who's already played 15 NBA games.
Matt Jones
All right, well, yeah, and I don't.
Jeff Goodman
Know if you should do that.
Rob Dauster
That. That's different to me.
Jeff Goodman
Right.
Matt Jones
I, I almost feel like, what about the internal guys?
Jeff Goodman
Matt.
Gary Parrish
Matt. What about the international guys that made real money overseas?
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean, I, I think what.
Rob Dauster
Would make sense to me is that.
Matt Jones
An acknowledgment, like once you break the.
Rob Dauster
NBA seal, that's it. Okay.
Matt Jones
Once you, once you've been in an NBA. One minute, one minute, one minute, then we're out. But I'm actually okay with everything else. I don't know enough about the European League to know whether or not, like Real Madrid and those teams, how you would compare them. But I could also be told, okay, if you play in the top tier Champions League, whatever, you're out. But I'm okay with these other guys because I just think it makes the sport better.
Jeff Goodman
Maybe the age for me would be maybe, maybe, you know, maybe there'd have to be an age cut off for me with some of these international guys.
Gary Parrish
And I don't know. But I think they got to kind of get a grasp on it because I joke about this.
Jeff Goodman
I do joke, but what if LeBron next year wants to go to Arizona and play with his youngest son?
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean, that would be.
Rob Dauster
That would be ridiculous, of course.
Jeff Goodman
But.
Gary Parrish
But where does it end, I guess.
Jeff Goodman
Is what I'm saying.
Matt Jones
I would have like to have seen, though. I would like to have seen a system. Let's use a guy.
Rob Dauster
Let's use Reed shepherd as an example.
Odoo Advertiser
Yeah.
Matt Jones
I would like to have seen a system where the Houston Rockets could have picked him number three, but have acknowledged.
Rob Dauster
We don't need him this year, so play for Kentucky for another year rather.
Matt Jones
Than bouncing back and forth from our G League team. Why wouldn't that be good?
Jeff Goodman
It'd be awesome. And the strategy would be really, really interesting in the NBA. Right. If you're drafting a guy based on, you know, long term potential, you know he's going to be a stud, but he needs another year in college. I think that would be really cool.
Gary Parrish
I also don't mind, like, in a way, we know some of these kids.
Jeff Goodman
Make poor decisions, have people around them that push them to make poor decisions. If you do like an RJ Lewis is a good example. Again, I go back to it. He screwed up. I talked to his dad before they made the decision. And the dad was like, hey, we get it.
Gary Parrish
We get we might be making a poor decision.
Jeff Goodman
Well, now they've made it.
Gary Parrish
And I just feel like.
Jeff Goodman
I don't know.
Gary Parrish
I mean, I feel bad for a kid like that. I feel bad he hasn't played an NBA game.
Matt Jones
Yeah, but I'd be fine with RJ J. Lewis coming back. I'd be fine with him coming back. I. I mean, I would be. I'm okay with that. I mean, I. I don't. It wouldn't bother me. Let me, Let me ask you about coaches, because you mentioned, you mentioned St. John's and that gets to Patino. I talk a lot on my show about the changing of the Garden coaches.
Rob Dauster
And I'm not the only one.
Matt Jones
Kind of all these old school coaches are gone.
Rob Dauster
Rick's one of the last ones left.
Matt Jones
But I am sort of of the opinion that in the next generation, the skill set that it's going to take to be a good, a great college coach might be different than it was.
Rob Dauster
In the previous generation.
Matt Jones
Do you agree with that?
Jeff Goodman
Yes, but. But again, in what sense? Like, I think a great recruiter years ago isn't quite as valuable.
Matt Jones
I totally, I totally agree with you.
Rob Dauster
Yes.
Matt Jones
But things like roster management, like, I heard Mark Pope say, and we'll see, you know how it happens. But Mark Pope was like, I think this is exciting time because we don't really know what's the best way to build a roster. And you can almost be creative and all this. I think it'll be fun watching these guys figure it out in real time.
Jeff Goodman
Well, how about how you build your staff? Right?
Matt Jones
Like, yeah.
Gary Parrish
Are you now, because you have a.
Jeff Goodman
Group for eight months, it's like what Cal used to have to do. Right? You better get some guys in that can develop these guys quickly, get them to play together quickly, instead of. Again, duplication among the staff. Right. Like I say it about Arkansas staff now, what is there.
Gary Parrish
There's duplication. There's duplication. Like, for what? You've got guys that do the same thing. Instead of go get a guy in.
Jeff Goodman
There who's maybe, you know, a former NBA guy. I know he tried to bring in Welch a couple years ago to Kentucky, somebody like that. Like, that's where Nate Oates is so brilliant.
Gary Parrish
So brilliant. And he kind of. He was one of the first ones to do an offensive coordinator, a defensive coordinator, but he's also gone all in on the NBA guys.
Jeff Goodman
Why?
Gary Parrish
Because he understands, like, hey, my strength.
Jeff Goodman
Isn'T that maybe I'm going to Give.
Gary Parrish
A guy the defensive offense. I'm going to go get a guy.
Jeff Goodman
From the NBA every year and try.
Gary Parrish
To be non traditional about this. I'm not going to just get three recruiters because frankly, Matt against each other. And you have a million. I have 500 grand. You're going to get them. I don't care if you. Literally, you could be my dog. And if you go with $1 million and show up at the doorstep, you're going to get that kid.
Matt Jones
So we had this weird year this.
Rob Dauster
Year where you had the leftovers of a no rules in IL and now this Rev share.
Matt Jones
So you had this year where, I mean the kids in college basketball this.
Rob Dauster
Year got so lucky they got almost paid twice.
Jeff Goodman
This was the year.
Rob Dauster
Yeah, yeah.
Matt Jones
So that's not going to happen next year. So I guess I just wonder what you think, what do you hear in the world of college basketball once we get to this rev share, which in theory is going to give basketball programs three and a half to $4 million? Do you hear, do staffs believe that they're going to be able to have this other nil money? Do they think that the enforcement of the rules is going to like, how.
Rob Dauster
Are they operating next year?
Gary Parrish
Differently.
Jeff Goodman
Differently. Some staffs are saying, hey, we're gonna, we're gonna go all in. We don't give it. We're gonna go all in and do it and worry about the ramifications later.
Gary Parrish
Because like you said, the average.
Jeff Goodman
Yes, I think the average like SEC team or Big 12, Big 10 team, probably around that 3 million for Rev chair. Kentucky's obviously will be far more than most. Right. I mean it'll be at a different percentage, we know that. But, but most of them will be around 3 million.
Gary Parrish
The big east is different. We know that.
Jeff Goodman
You know, I talked to a Big east coach the other day and not named Rick Pitino or Dan Hurley and I said, what's your number going to be? And he said, I'm not even worried about it. He's like, I'm whatever.
Matt Jones
I mean, are we talking like if The SEC is 3 or 4, is it like 10, 8?
Jeff Goodman
Yes.
Matt Jones
So like on paper the biggie should just all of a sudden be great. Right?
Gary Parrish
One year at least for a one year stretch there. And do you really think Greg Sankey.
Jeff Goodman
Is going to allow this for more than a year?
Matt Jones
No, and I don't think, I don't.
Rob Dauster
Think UK is going to allow it. I mean, I don't think they have.
Gary Parrish
To because they'll have, they have real nil Kentucky and Duke have real nil.
Jeff Goodman
It's in maybe Kansas.
Gary Parrish
There's a few schools that have real.
Matt Jones
Explain to people when you say real.
Rob Dauster
Nil, what you mean.
Gary Parrish
I mean, what I mean is, like the guys that come in, they can.
Jeff Goodman
Get actual endorse opportunities through sponsorships and other things that will be cleared by the NCAA's third party. Okay? That's the difference where if you're Ole Miss and Chris Beard, you're looking at this and saying, like, what am I going to do? Because I'm not getting anything clear down here in Oxford. I'm not getting anything else. There's nothing else that's going to be available for me. So what do I do if I'm Chris Beard, I can't win with $3 million because again, if I'm going up against George, Seton hall is probably going to have five or six million dollars. Seton Hall, I mean, so you think.
Rob Dauster
This will be a one year thing and then they'll change the rules to find a way to let them. Do I do okay?
Jeff Goodman
Yeah, I think they're going to have to. I think there's going to be too much pushback from everybody not in the Big East.
Gary Parrish
And the other part is, like, think about this, you know, like Rick patino.
Jeff Goodman
They have 20.5 million at St. John's right? The donut football. And he's got his boy Rapoli, who.
Gary Parrish
Could literally write him a check for.
Jeff Goodman
19 million and say, I want this all for men's basketball next year. 19 million.
Gary Parrish
Go ahead. And like, nobody can compete. I know Kentucky's got 22 this year.
Rob Dauster
Yeah, we can't compete with 19.
Gary Parrish
Yeah, no, nobody's going to be able.
Rob Dauster
Nobody's going to compete with that.
Odoo Advertiser
So.
Matt Jones
All right, so going forward, let's talk about actual coaches because there is a.
Rob Dauster
Change in the guard. I mean, there's. The only people left are like, Rick.
Matt Jones
Cows hanging on, you got ISO hanging on, you got Bill Self.
Rob Dauster
But in general, it's a new breed.
Matt Jones
Who do you see? If last generation was Roy Williams, Mike Krzyevsky, John Caliperi, whatever, who is the next generation?
Rob Dauster
In 10 years, we'll say these are these guys.
Gary Parrish
I don't think we're going to have those guys. I don't think we're going to have the guys that are lifers like that anymore. I don't think you're going to see guys go until those 70.
Rob Dauster
It's going to be retired young. Who you think they're just going to retire young?
Jeff Goodman
Yeah, yeah.
Gary Parrish
They're making so Much money. Number one, it's going to wear them out.
Jeff Goodman
It's going to wear them out.
Gary Parrish
Like, it's never worn them out before. Because the difference is, Matt, when you were done before and it was still.
Jeff Goodman
Kind of crazy, obviously the off season.
Gary Parrish
But when you were done and you.
Jeff Goodman
Got knocked out of the tournament, you know, in the past, you weren't dealing with the constant portal then having to.
Gary Parrish
Deal with, you know, again going out.
Jeff Goodman
In July, June even.
Gary Parrish
You're working with your players now, which you couldn't do in the past.
Jeff Goodman
In the summer then you're talking about.
Gary Parrish
Still having to do camps. It literally is one thing. Yeah, but it's a regular.
Matt Jones
Like, I don't feel bad. It's a regular job. Like, that's what everybody else has to do in life.
Gary Parrish
Yep.
Matt Jones
But secondly, these dudes do have competitive juices and then what are they going to do? Want to sit at home? I mean, I've yet to see coaches. How many coaches outside of like Bob.
Rob Dauster
Stoops leave voluntarily and just sit at home? And even Bob Stoops ends up coaching in the xfl.
Matt Jones
Like, they all. They all.
Gary Parrish
Tony Bennett, Jay Wright and Tony Bennett went out.
Matt Jones
Okay. But they're unique. I mean, you know, those are unique guys.
Rob Dauster
Guys.
Matt Jones
They're kind of like, they're sort of intellectual and maybe not your normal.
Gary Parrish
Bruce Pearl walked away.
Matt Jones
He walked away because he wants to.
Rob Dauster
Be a senator and he wants to be on television.
Matt Jones
I mean, that's a different. That's a different thing.
Rob Dauster
We'll see.
Matt Jones
I mean, you may. You may very well be right. Let me ask you about going forward, rules wise.
Jeff Goodman
You mentioned your answer.
Gary Parrish
Your answer, though, I think you're getting.
Jeff Goodman
That is like, who's the next guy? It's like, yeah, I think NATO. I think NATO, it's probably will be a next guy. Like, I just, again, I, you know, I said it a year, whatever two years ago when the job was open. Like, that would have been my guy at Kentucky. And you know, they.
Matt Jones
I don't know why they didn't.
Rob Dauster
I think there was. I don't know what it is, but there was some issue that made them stay away from it. But I agree with you. To me, he seems like the most.
Gary Parrish
He's a stud and he's young enough. And obviously Dan Hurley isn't going anywhere. I don't get along with Hurley right.
Matt Jones
Now, but that's a common theme with you. Whoever is kind of on top, you.
Rob Dauster
Don'T get along with.
Matt Jones
Right.
Gary Parrish
Yeah, but. But this one is.
Jeff Goodman
I mean, the last One was legit too, with Cal, but this one's different.
Gary Parrish
This one's different because I've actually had a long relationship with Dan Hurley that.
Jeff Goodman
Dated back to St. Benedict School.
Gary Parrish
So I've gotten along with him for 25 years.
Matt Jones
What's this one about?
Rob Dauster
I don't know.
Matt Jones
I didn't know you.
Gary Parrish
I've said over and over that he's a baby when it comes to treating the refs. Like, you can't treat a group of people that way. That is ridiculous, Matt. Like, if you have it for like one or two refs, I'm fine.
Jeff Goodman
Everybody's got one or two reps that.
Gary Parrish
They don't get along with.
Jeff Goodman
They don't like.
Gary Parrish
It's every rep. And he treats them like they're dirt.
Jeff Goodman
And that's bull. That's.
Rob Dauster
I, I agree with you on that. He's kind of embarrassing in that regard.
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Matt Jones
All right, so let's talk just a couple, like, systematic rules things. I. Mark Pope's been a big advocate. He thinks they should play basketball in the summer.
Rob Dauster
Whether it's playing games or whether it's just being able to do like those summer tours every year.
Matt Jones
It's clearly, schools need revenue, so they're adding, they're going to add more games. Am I right about that?
Jeff Goodman
Yeah, at some point, yeah. Yeah.
Matt Jones
I mean, what are we talking from 31 to 33, 35.
Rob Dauster
What do you think?
Gary Parrish
I'm fine with it. As long as there's a plan in place with it, I'm fine.
Matt Jones
But do you think it'll happen? Do you think it'll happen?
Gary Parrish
Yeah, but I don't think it'll happen next year. I think we're still years, years away from going. You know, I think they they can.
Jeff Goodman
Add a summer exhibition game. Sure.
Gary Parrish
Now again, in most places, Matt, nobody's going to care.
Rob Dauster
Yeah.
Gary Parrish
Like most programs, nobody is going to show up for those. I'm not even sure they're going to show up at Kentucky.
Rob Dauster
Yeah, they will. Yeah, they will.
Gary Parrish
They'll fill it up.
Matt Jones
I mean, have you seen the TBT games?
Rob Dauster
Those are old guys playing and we fill it up.
Jeff Goodman
Yeah.
Gary Parrish
I mean, again, I think there's certain programs that can make this work. But the guy, you know, remember Cal was.
Jeff Goodman
Started that a few years ago and I'm like, Right when Cal said it.
Gary Parrish
I'm like, okay, whatever. Cal, when he's the president of the.
Jeff Goodman
Nabc, whatever it was, whatever he wants.
Gary Parrish
There'S a reason for it.
Jeff Goodman
It's going to benefit him.
Rob Dauster
No, it is going to benefit him.
Jeff Goodman
And adding the games, adding the summer games is only going to benefit a dozen teams. That's it.
Rob Dauster
You're probably right. Yeah, you're probably right.
Matt Jones
I just, I think for those, it's good for me. When in July. There's nothing on television. Nothing. Why wouldn't ESPN want to put on.
Rob Dauster
Kentucky versus Duke and North Carolina versus. It would just seem like that would make sense.
Gary Parrish
I mean, listen, it can't hurt.
Jeff Goodman
There's not. The question is, does the NCAA allow it? Right. That's always the question. Here is. And the rule book should be shredded and they should start completely over.
Gary Parrish
Like that's really what they should do.
Jeff Goodman
Right now is Charlie Baker should instruct, you know, the people, the high level people, the ncaa.
Gary Parrish
Let's just start over. Let's start over completely and try to.
Jeff Goodman
Figure this thing out from the bottom up rather than, you know, Mark Emirates archaic rules and try to figure out which.
Gary Parrish
I mean there's, there's still kids that haven't been cleared yet by the incidental.
Jeff Goodman
A more game into the season.
Matt Jones
So let's talk about this year in college basketball.
Rob Dauster
I mean the teams, I think most people know the teams that are going to be good. But let's talk.
Matt Jones
I want to talk about this freshman class.
Rob Dauster
It's weird.
Matt Jones
I'm talking about a freshman class and.
Rob Dauster
There'S really not a Kentucky guy that's in the top group.
Matt Jones
You got AJ DeBonsa at BYU, Darren.
Rob Dauster
Peterson at Kansas, Caleb Wilson at Carolina, Cameron Boozer at Duke. I mean I look at that group and I say that's one of the best groups I think I've ever seen at the top. Do you agree with that?
Jeff Goodman
Hell yeah. Yeah. Mikel Brown, you haven't mentioned down the road Made a man at Tennessee will probably go, you know, top five.
Gary Parrish
Co opit.
Jeff Goodman
We just saw Arizona go for 30 in his first game, a win against Florida.
Gary Parrish
So deep.
Jeff Goodman
And we've gone from really, really crappy classes the last couple of years. I mean, obviously we had Cooper last year, but not a lot with them. You know, the next two and three picks were at Rutgers. They were irrelevant from the time I got to the players here in Vegas. They were completely irrelevant for the rest of the season if you weren't an NBA, you know, exec. So, yeah, this is a. This is one of the deepest classes I've ever seen in my 25 years of doing this. In the top three. They're all different. Damadsa, Peterson and Boozer. And.
Gary Parrish
And they're all. A lot of them are really good kids.
Jeff Goodman
Like, that's the beauty.
Gary Parrish
I've gotten a chance to know this group. So you kind of root for him. Boozer doesn't say, like, he just wants to play ball.
Jeff Goodman
He doesn't say a word. AJ's got this unbelievable personality. He's from Brockton, Mass. Near where I grew up. And Darren Peterson's all about, like, again, like, he's a killer.
Rob Dauster
And Bill, Yeah, I watched that game.
Matt Jones
Where he played Louisville.
Rob Dauster
Granted, it was preseason, but that was like a wow performance where you just say, okay, this kid is.
Matt Jones
You know, I got to the point after having watched Cal for all those.
Rob Dauster
Years, you can see freshmen.
Matt Jones
You can almost see within five or 10 games, like, is it real or is it not? The only time I can ever think that a guy became, like, amazing that.
Rob Dauster
Didn'T really show it in the first five games was like, Shea Alexander, but.
Matt Jones
Pretty much besides him. You can tell within five games if.
Rob Dauster
A guy's got it or not.
Matt Jones
And all those guys have already kind.
Rob Dauster
Of showed they have it.
Jeff Goodman
Yeah. And people get on you when you say that. And I'm like, well, like, I've seen these guys, a lot of them, you know, on the circuit. It's not the same.
Gary Parrish
I get it.
Jeff Goodman
It's not the same. But when Campus goes for 25 and 15 every single game, you know, and his effort is there every. Like, I picked Duke to win it all. I did, you know.
Matt Jones
Why do you think you do think they. I watched their game against Tennessee and they didn't strike me as a national.
Rob Dauster
Championship team, but, I mean, they are young, so.
Gary Parrish
Right.
Jeff Goodman
And they got. His brother is going to be the point guard, Kaden Boozer, he's a freshman. Right now. They're trying to figure it out and almost like Caleb Foster came back.
Rob Dauster
So it's like, all right, we're going.
Jeff Goodman
To give you the chance. But Caleb Foster is not a point guard. Number one. And it's better coming off the bench. So I think, you know, by January, if not sooner, I think you're going to see Kaden Boozer being the point guard. We saw it last night. Isaiah Evans was unbelievable. Can shoot the hell out of it. Camp Boozer struggled in the first half, but still ended up, I think, 15 and 13 in an awful game for him.
Rob Dauster
Yeah. But I think Texas is going to be bad, though. I don't know how much I can read into.
Jeff Goodman
Yeah, they're not great. They're not great. No, I'm not. And I'm not saying that's a litmus test.
Gary Parrish
I'm saying the good thing is it's.
Jeff Goodman
It's very wide open this year.
Rob Dauster
No, it is definitely. What's.
Matt Jones
What. What am I missing? I know dudes like you and field.
Rob Dauster
Of 68 and sort of like, stat head people. You guys always love Purdue.
Matt Jones
Now, granted, Purdue's had a lot of success. I know they went to the championship game. I know. I mean, you'd be.
Rob Dauster
You'd be a hater just to say. But say they're not.
Matt Jones
But then I watched the game against Kentucky. I know it's preseason, but, like, they looked like, Teddy doesn't look good yet. Kentucky doesn't have three of their best.
Rob Dauster
Players and they just dominated them.
Matt Jones
How is that team? Like, how do you explain that result?
Gary Parrish
It's just retention.
Jeff Goodman
Why? We have Purdue and Matt Painter. Right? It's number one is Matt Painter.
Rob Dauster
Yeah.
Jeff Goodman
Number two is Braden Smith and number three is retention.
Matt Jones
But how do you explain that result? Like, they look so unathletic to me.
Gary Parrish
That's the problem that it's hard for.
Matt Jones
Me to see them winning.
Jeff Goodman
And if you.
Gary Parrish
If you go up against the wrong.
Jeff Goodman
Team, which they're going to hit one of those on the way to a national title, I picked them go to two.
Gary Parrish
I think they can win four.
Jeff Goodman
I don't think they can win six. Yeah, I think again, Duke's upsides higher. I think Kentucky's upsides higher. I think Louisville, their upside is higher.
Gary Parrish
But I just think Purdue is the.
Jeff Goodman
Safe pick at number one.
Matt Jones
No, I get it. For me, it would be. Why wouldn't it be Houston? I mean, they've been so close. They've been knocking on the door.
Jeff Goodman
Three freshmen, that's why.
Rob Dauster
Three freshmen.
Matt Jones
But I just feel like Houston's one of those teams Kelvin Sampson's an amazing.
Rob Dauster
Coach to me because we just mentioned all those names, and no one ever talks about him and forgot him in the.
Jeff Goodman
In the going to be gone soon conversation. Right.
Matt Jones
But he's also. What I think is fascinating about him is he's transitioned these eras and still done it.
Rob Dauster
You know what I mean?
Matt Jones
Like, and I don't think Houston has.
Rob Dauster
A huge Nile budget.
Matt Jones
He's still doing it being Kelvin Sampson, so I don't know how much longer.
Rob Dauster
He has, but I give him a lot of credit for navigating this change as well as he has.
Jeff Goodman
No, it's unbelievable, the culture, what he's built at Houston. Nobody saw this coming.
Gary Parrish
And now he's gone from that guy.
Jeff Goodman
Where everybody was like, all right, what was he known for being run. Cheating. Right. He was known as a cheater.
Matt Jones
And he was, like, making phone calls. Like, now it seems like nothing, you.
Gary Parrish
Know, but they were still illegal at the time. I'm with you, and I like Kelvin.
Jeff Goodman
And I get along great with Kelvin. All I'll say is, at the time, it's like the, you know, Bruce Pearl thing. At the time, it was illegal, and he broke it multiple times over and over.
Gary Parrish
So.
Jeff Goodman
But I agree. You look back and you're like, all right, this is stupid.
Rob Dauster
Of all the things.
Gary Parrish
Yeah.
Matt Jones
And I mean, I put Bruce's politics.
Rob Dauster
Aside because that part. Annoyed. Like, that part's frustrating to me.
Gary Parrish
Hey, he sits down with me at the pizza.
Rob Dauster
Yeah, it's. It's.
Gary Parrish
He sits in between me and Kelsey, actually, front row.
Jeff Goodman
And the first thing he says to me is, I don't. I don't think I'm gonna run. And I'm like. Like, Bruce, I don't want to get into this now. Like, I'm watching basketball. Like, can we just table this, please? And I. I'm Jewish, Matt. I'm Jewish. And he's talking about how he's going to be the first, potentially.
Rob Dauster
You know, it'd be funny if it.
Matt Jones
Was him and Feinbaum, two Jewish guys.
Rob Dauster
Running for Senate in Alabama. Nobody would have ever seen that coming, you know?
Matt Jones
But my. I guess with Bruce, he feels a little bit like a cheater. I don't know how much he was.
Rob Dauster
He just feels like it.
Matt Jones
Whereas I never really felt that way about Kevin Sampson.
Rob Dauster
I've never really felt like he.
Gary Parrish
Well, he's not a. Because. Because Kelvin is not. He doesn't come across as a salesman.
Jeff Goodman
That's why.
Rob Dauster
No, I think you're right.
Jeff Goodman
And Bruce. There's a reason Cal and Bruce didn't like each other.
Rob Dauster
Of course.
Gary Parrish
Part of it is, again, I always said this about Rick and Cal. Not think Rick is less of a salesman.
Jeff Goodman
Like, he'll lie about shit straight out. And Richard. No.
Gary Parrish
Are you kidding me?
Matt Jones
Right. Right.
Gary Parrish
No, but, like, Richard will even admit.
Jeff Goodman
That, like, my dad will lie about it. He'll.
Gary Parrish
He'll change his mind two minutes later. Whatever. Bruce and Cal, I think, were dissimilar.
Jeff Goodman
And didn't like each other because they're similar, because they were both car salesman.
Matt Jones
It was. It was. It's always fascinating to me.
Rob Dauster
And we might as well talk about this now with Cal. I mean that, you know, I got to know Cal pretty well, and I.
Matt Jones
Always used to say about Cal and.
Rob Dauster
Rick, what was funny to me is.
Matt Jones
They have a lot of similarities. They're not exactly the same, but they have a lot of similarities. And I think what Cal and Rick hated was that Cal and Rick both felt like, you all think we're alike, but he's a bad guy and I'm a good guy, and you think I'm a bad guy and he's a good guy. And it drove people crazy. Like. Like, Cal 100% thought he was a good guy. Rick was a bad guy, but people thought Rick was a good guy. And then Rick was the same way. Rick was like, you think I'm a cheater? Cow's the one that's a cheater. And, like, it was just funny how they both just did not want to be compared to each other.
Jeff Goodman
Yep. No, agreed, 100%. I still miss the days, Matt, of. Of, you know, I. I remember Cal would say something post game media, whatever, about Rick, and I would just, literally, I pick up the phone, I call Rick, and I tell him what he said.
Matt Jones
Oh, you were the one that would do that.
Gary Parrish
Okay. Well, I just. It was a quote. Like, it was so easy. It was just so. They were like two schoolgirls.
Rob Dauster
Yeah, they were.
Gary Parrish
They would just keep going back and.
Jeff Goodman
Forth till the end, and then I.
Gary Parrish
Think they both kind of grew up a little bit at the very end. But it was so.
Jeff Goodman
It was so much fun as a journalist. And it wasn't even, like, clickbait back then, because that really wasn't how it worked back then. Right? It wasn't.
Matt Jones
But what was funny to me, because Cal had, like, people. Cal had those that he disliked, but then he also had those that he hated. And I always thought it was interesting that I don't know that Rick was someone he hated. I think he hated Jim Calhoun for.
Rob Dauster
Whatever reason that was before he got here. So I don't really know what that was about.
Matt Jones
He seemed to genuinely hate Bruce Pearl.
Rob Dauster
And for whatever reason.
Matt Jones
The third one is he really seemed.
Rob Dauster
To hate Kevin Stallings.
Matt Jones
I have no idea why.
Rob Dauster
Really? He really, really hated Kevin Stallings.
Jeff Goodman
I didn't know that.
Matt Jones
But then, like Rick, he also kind of had a thing with Coach K.
Rob Dauster
Where he was like.
Matt Jones
He felt like he and Coach K were equals, but he didn't get credit like Coach K got. And, you know. Okay, so let's talk about Cal, because you. You. You and I had a relationship prior to Cal. Then you and Cal did not like each other. Where did that May still not. But where does that stem from in your mind?
Jeff Goodman
No, I know where it stemmed from. I mean, I know exactly where it stemmed from. There were a few things that I wrote. The first one was Memphis and Tennessee Play. They were number one, verse two in the country down in Memphis years ago. A bunch of his players had gotten in trouble prior. It was all out there in the news. It wasn't like I dug for it. It was, you know, I think Pierre Niles hit someone. Robert Dozier was accused of assaulting his girlfriend. Pierre Niles hit somebody at uab. A fan, Joey Dorsey made it rain. There are also all sorts of things that were happening.
Gary Parrish
So I wrote a column.
Jeff Goodman
I was at Fox saying, like, hey man, you got a chance to win the national title here.
Gary Parrish
Like, you better figure this out.
Jeff Goodman
And I put everything that had happened under Cal at Memphis, all these things that these kids that were doing things.
Gary Parrish
That they shouldn't have been doing.
Jeff Goodman
Well, he had Derek Kellogg call me, like, three days before, and he goes, yeah, Cal wanted me to pass along a message that you're not welcome in Memphis. I said, well, you can go tell him, like, you can't ban somebody from a city. I'll see you there Saturday. So that was one.
Gary Parrish
Number two was the Abdul Gaddy thing.
Jeff Goodman
I don't know if you remember that. That was.
Rob Dauster
I vaguely do.
Matt Jones
This was try to ban you. Didn't try to ban you from UK games. I feel like that was me.
Jeff Goodman
He. I mean, try to get me fired everywhere. Everywhere.
Matt Jones
So we just try to get me fired. A lot of people think. Do you genuinely believe not just he.
Rob Dauster
Wanted you to not have a job, but that he tried to get you fired?
Jeff Goodman
Yeah. I mean, if Fox. Yes, definitely. Definitely a Fox. Because I got a call from the higher up, from. From, you know, boss of my boss. And what happened at Fox, the big thing was it involved FedEx, Memphis's biggest sponsor, obviously. Basically the, the number two guy at FedEx they were recruiting a kid named Abdul Gaddy. His mother had worked as a, you know, normal employee for 10, 15 years. And all of a sudden, this guy Bronczak, David Bronczak, the number two guy, the coo, starts calling her and trying to convince her to have her son Abdul Gadi go to Memphis. I had the kid on the record, I had the mom on the record, both of them saying that, yeah, they were getting these calls from Bronzak to persuade him to go to Memphis. I tried to write the story. Obviously, I'm working for Fox.
Matt Jones
Right.
Jeff Goodman
The, the, the, the FedEx was their biggest sponsor of the Bull series or whatever it was.
Rob Dauster
Oh, okay.
Jeff Goodman
So they didn't want to run it. They didn't want to run this thing. Why would you. Right. So it took like a month for me to finally get him to run the story. And then Cal went ballistic. I mean, he was not happy at all.
Matt Jones
Which, Well, I mean, I, I, I.
Rob Dauster
Believe that now because he, he did it to me too, at the end. And you know, blatant way.
Gary Parrish
Right.
Rob Dauster
Different level, wanted me to be on.
Matt Jones
But it's still, I, I get it. What's interesting about Cal, as someone, I.
Rob Dauster
Mean, you know, I was close with him for a long time.
Jeff Goodman
Yeah.
Matt Jones
That's why we didn't get along. Right.
Gary Parrish
That's basically why you and I didn't get along for a while.
Matt Jones
Yeah, probably. I mean, I, I still think even like I've tried to be, and some.
Rob Dauster
People would say I'm not.
Matt Jones
I would, I've tried to separate my.
Rob Dauster
Personal frustration and disdain with Cal for critiquing him even when he was in his last few years here.
Matt Jones
I sometimes felt like you were not.
Rob Dauster
Really able to do that. I always like, felt like you just hated him. And maybe that wasn't totally fair to you, but it felt like that.
Gary Parrish
I would poke, but I also wrote a column, I remember coming out of their horrible year, out of the pandemic.
Jeff Goodman
That said they should give him another year.
Gary Parrish
So, like, I actually think I was more. Because I think you had the Katz's and De cources that were 100% pro cal.
Jeff Goodman
Right. You had 40 and Greenberg anti.
Gary Parrish
I felt like I was more in.
Jeff Goodman
The middle than most.
Matt Jones
Oh, you didn't think you were as bad as 40?
Jeff Goodman
No, I wasn't as bad as 40. He didn't hate me as much. No, no, no.
Matt Jones
I wrote 40 did say, I mean.
Rob Dauster
I heard 40 with my own ears say his, his Press conference announcing his hiring, the uk Something like, I will get him fired in the next couple of years. I mean, I heard him say that. So, I mean, I knew, you know, that was, I didn't really know him at the time, but, but so I, I do think that's plausible.
Matt Jones
So let me ask you this.
Rob Dauster
He's got a good team down there this year.
Matt Jones
Do you think he has, like one.
Rob Dauster
More run in him or has the game just passed him by?
Jeff Goodman
It depends how motivated he is. And again, I'll go back to what.
Gary Parrish
We talked about earlier with his coaching staff.
Jeff Goodman
I question that. That's what I question.
Gary Parrish
I mean, you're really going to bring Kenny Payne back? Like, what are we doing here? Like, what are we doing?
Matt Jones
I mean, players love Kenny Payne.
Gary Parrish
I know he's a good dude. Nobody.
Jeff Goodman
I, I have, by the way, I have the craziest story ever of Kenny Payne. You ready for this?
Gary Parrish
Two years in a row. I go to vacate. On vacation.
Jeff Goodman
On vacation once with my daughter, just my daughter to Bahamas. And we're playing blackjack at Bahamar, and Kenny Payne walks up and he starts playing blackjack. A year later, we're in Aruba. Me, my wife, my daughter on vacation, and guess who's in their plane. I went to the bathroom, I come out at the same table, my wife and daughter, Kenny Payne.
Gary Parrish
Two years in a row, same spot.
Jeff Goodman
Playing blackjack with Kenny.
Gary Parrish
I'm like, are you following me or something?
Matt Jones
So do you. Did you talk to him? Does he hate you, too?
Gary Parrish
He was fine the first year.
Jeff Goodman
He was fine second year he got.
Gary Parrish
He got up pretty quick and left.
Matt Jones
Yeah, he doesn't say a lot.
Rob Dauster
Like, even when he was here, right?
Matt Jones
He does, he's just not, he's not.
Rob Dauster
Much of a talker. I don't really know him. Of all the people that have been here, I probably know him the least.
Jeff Goodman
So, yeah, talent wise. Yes, talent wise, I think this team is perfect for Cal because, you know, got good guards.
Rob Dauster
They got good guards, which is what he needs.
Jeff Goodman
Yeah, you know, he needs a guy like that. Because what Cal can't do, let's face it, Cal's not going to put together some, you know, innovative offense. He needs guys that are going to be able to kind of put the.
Gary Parrish
Ball on the deck and make plays. He needs to out talent, out athlete people.
Jeff Goodman
And I think he's got the ability to do that with this group.
Matt Jones
Let me ask you about Mark Pope.
Rob Dauster
I mean, I, I, I know you knew and were friends of Mark Pope before. Before here I Really? I think everybody in Kentucky likes Mark Pope. I have two questions about Mark Pope that still remain to be unanswered. I mean, he answered 98 of them. And I hear my two one, can.
Matt Jones
He get elite talent? Obviously, I mean, elite talent not from.
Rob Dauster
Kentucky, because we did get jazzed for.
Matt Jones
Johnson, Malcolm Moreno, but they're from Kentucky. So can he get a couple of.
Rob Dauster
Commitments or whatever from that elite, elite.
Matt Jones
Group, which I think still matters. Maybe it doesn't matter as much as it used to, but I think it.
Rob Dauster
Still matters a little bit.
Matt Jones
And then the second thing is I still want to know if he can coach elite athletes. Like a team full of like. Because I think what happened to him last year, they realized they didn't have the athleticism to guard in the sec, to play defense. So he's clearly brought in a team this year that has elite athletes and they've shot the ball awfully so far. So my question is, does his style work with this roster makeup that I.
Rob Dauster
Do think you need in the sec? Do you are.
Matt Jones
What would your answer to those questions be?
Rob Dauster
And do you have any other questions about him?
Jeff Goodman
Well, first let me answer those two and then I'll answer the third. I think Jaden Quaintance is going to be huge for him because I think if Quaintance can be a lottery pick, which I think he can be, I think that changes a little bit of your question there. Right. It's able to sell other guys on, hey, I did take a guy and I turned him in to help turn him into a lottery pick.
Matt Jones
And they may get Stokes the number.
Rob Dauster
One player in America this year, which would help with that too.
Jeff Goodman
If I'm you, I don't even want Stokes.
Rob Dauster
I don't want. Why is that? I've heard people say that. Why?
Gary Parrish
I just don't know if Pope and.
Jeff Goodman
Stokes were like Pope's positivity all the time. Stokes needs Pope in a way.
Gary Parrish
But by Tyron Stokes, while he's super.
Jeff Goodman
Talented, has a lot of growing up and maturing to do a lot.
Rob Dauster
I've heard that.
Jeff Goodman
And he lives in.
Rob Dauster
See how those two would go together. What's the second question, though, on the. On the athletes?
Jeff Goodman
You know, I think to me, obviously you brought in some guys that can guard that are higher level athletes this year. Can you mix them together? Like, that's.
Gary Parrish
But last year, I'll say this, like, I didn't think that group was put together very. I was like, Lamont Butler, can he really score enough? You know, there were some questions as well.
Jeff Goodman
I Also don't know with the roster, like, I think they're too deep. I know that sounds crazy. I said yes earlier.
Rob Dauster
Although if they keep getting injuries, they may need it, but correct.
Jeff Goodman
And that's what obviously he was worried about.
Rob Dauster
That's what hit him last year. That's what hit him last year.
Gary Parrish
So I understand that because you can.
Jeff Goodman
You need three point guards. I mean, seriously, if you're going to.
Gary Parrish
Get 12 players, make sure three of.
Jeff Goodman
Them can play the point. And obviously, you know, big question mark right now is the health of their point guard. And can he be a guy that runs the team, can defend at a high enough level and put everybody else above him?
Gary Parrish
Because you could say it all you want.
Jeff Goodman
And I loved him when we talked to him in the preseason when we went by there, but you got to do it. You're going to have a lot of mouths to feed on this team a lot.
Matt Jones
I love that.
Rob Dauster
I love the kid. I love him at Pitt. I'll be interested to see. I think the key to the team is if Jalen Lowe is good. Like, if he, if he is good, then I think, I think they will be good.
Matt Jones
Do you, do you think Mark Pope.
Rob Dauster
Wins a national championship at Kentucky?
Gary Parrish
I mean, the easy answer is no.
Jeff Goodman
Because only one wins a year. But if they out, if they can.
Gary Parrish
Outspend every year, yeah, he'll be in the equation every year.
Jeff Goodman
I don't, I don't think this team wins a national title.
Gary Parrish
I don't.
Matt Jones
But I'm saying, but I just mean in general, like, I mean, Kentucky's had five coaches win a national championship. So like it is kind of the.
Rob Dauster
Norm here to win a national championship. Do you think he becomes the sixth?
Gary Parrish
I'll say yes, only because, again, I.
Jeff Goodman
Think they're always going to have the finite, the resources. Okay?
Gary Parrish
So no matter what happens, no matter.
Jeff Goodman
How the game changes and the game being, you know, nil and rev share and whatnot, no matter what happens, there's going to be two constants, and that's Duke and Kentucky are always, always going to be at the top of the food chain.
Matt Jones
I totally agree with that. Why those two? Because I used to say that that group was Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and Kansas. And even though Kansas has been very, very good, it does seem to some extent Bill self dependent. And North Carolina, oddly to me, has dropped out. Why do you think Duke and because I agree with you, why do you think Duke.
Rob Dauster
Kentucky is really the two and it's not a bigger group?
Jeff Goodman
Well, I think Kansas gives her adidas number one.
Matt Jones
I just think that really hurts them.
Jeff Goodman
Yes, yes.
Matt Jones
Explain how it hurts.
Gary Parrish
Because if you're. Think about it, you only have a certain segment of players that you could even go after.
Jeff Goodman
Really.
Gary Parrish
That, that, that Adidas is going to help you with.
Odoo Advertiser
Right?
Gary Parrish
Like, there aren't that many. There aren't. It's why Tyron Stokes isn't going to go to Kansas.
Jeff Goodman
I can't imagine he would go to Kansas.
Gary Parrish
He's going to go to a Nike school. He just signed a Nike deal already. So while Kansas is in his final three or four. And I actually think Bill Self is the right guy to coach him or even Cal.
Jeff Goodman
But I think Bill Self is a better exes and O's guy. But. But those are the guys that to me make them like. I don't think Kelsey could handle Stokes. And again, the Pope Stokes thing is just going to be. And I do think it'll happen. Like, I think that's where he's going. I don't have, like, I haven't checked up on it.
Matt Jones
It'll be interesting because Pope will have.
Rob Dauster
A lot of guys returning next year.
Matt Jones
And he'll have like, he's going to have a. Like, they'll probably be eight guys returning.
Rob Dauster
Next year and then you throw him into it. It'll be an interesting.
Jeff Goodman
Well, you think that, you say that. You think that, but then guys are going to different roles, right?
Matt Jones
No, that's true. But I would just, I mean that, you know, I think maybe not eight, but they'll have like six or seven.
Rob Dauster
I mean, they're going to have a bunch.
Matt Jones
It'll be interesting.
Gary Parrish
The guy.
Jeff Goodman
I love the guy. I love that. Like, I just think he's so underrated and I know he played well. Second half last night I didn't watch the first half because you texted me and I was out for my, my 25th anniversary, so we all.
Rob Dauster
That's sweet.
Jeff Goodman
I was trying to celebrate. Got home, was, you know, absolutely gassed from our event Monday and sat down, watched the second half and I've loved him since aau. Colin Chandler, man, Chandler's just a.
Gary Parrish
He's just a point guard.
Matt Jones
He's going to be a lot better.
Rob Dauster
Off when he didn't have.
Matt Jones
Because he's had to play point guard.
Rob Dauster
So far and that's really not what he is.
Gary Parrish
But he's a connector.
Jeff Goodman
He's just a guy that can make the right decisions. You know, you can put him on the court with anybody and everybody and he'll just blend with them.
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Matt Jones
Do you. Okay, let's do a little behind the scenes.
Rob Dauster
Fans like this give me.
Matt Jones
It's a night out at a restaurant. You're hanging out.
Rob Dauster
You just want to have fun.
Matt Jones
What coach is the best person? What's who are the best Hangs in.
Jeff Goodman
College basketball trying to think who, who. Who's. Who's good to hang out. Andy Kennedy. It's a pretty good one. Uav.
Matt Jones
Okay. That's not a shock, I guess.
Jeff Goodman
Yeah. That group. Maybe the best night I ever had. One of the best nights was peach jam with. And again, it's a group, man. It's a group. But you all listening to stories.
Matt Jones
I always joke about the Hooters. What is it? The Hooters in north Augusta. You guys okay. That's where. It's where everybody goes.
Gary Parrish
Yeah. I think you put a rumor out.
Jeff Goodman
That I was, like, with Bill Self one year.
Matt Jones
I didn't put a rumor. I saw it. I saw Bill Self, like, paying for the whole bar at Hooters. I saw it.
Gary Parrish
Well, it was.
Matt Jones
I mean, I don't know.
Gary Parrish
Usually at Hooters.
Matt Jones
It may not be you, but I saw it.
Jeff Goodman
Usually the deal was Huggins. Huggins was at Hooters with Andy Kennedy. And then enclosed one year, it was Huggins, Andy Kennedy, Frank Martin. And I think it was maybe me and Gary Parrish. And we went next door outside to this other restaurant that was closed. Brought some beers over there, and I.
Gary Parrish
Probably didn't say more than 50 words.
Jeff Goodman
All I did was listen them tell stories for, like, two hours. And like, it was when I was younger. And like, your jaw is just dropping. You're just like, hey, can I write a book about these stories? Because they were that entertaining. Those guys are really good.
Gary Parrish
I mean, I love Izzo because there's no bull with Izzo.
Jeff Goodman
Like, none. Like, he doesn't care.
Gary Parrish
Now again, these days, sometimes you talk.
Jeff Goodman
To Izzo and it's like he's complaining for 30 straight minutes about the sport.
Gary Parrish
And, you know, listen, I can hear.
Jeff Goodman
For a while, and then I'm just like, all right, you know what?
Matt Jones
Like, but he doesn't quit.
Rob Dauster
He keeps going. So keeps Going.
Jeff Goodman
Keeps going. I. I'm not. I'm trying to think of other guys who.
Gary Parrish
Would. You.
Matt Jones
I don't want to say who's a.
Rob Dauster
Jerk, because that makes it difficult for.
Matt Jones
You, but who's a person that is.
Rob Dauster
Notoriously difficult to get along with outside of Danny Hurley.
Jeff Goodman
I mean. And again, I got along with Hurley for a long time. I mean, Cal and I. You know, I went.
Gary Parrish
I went back four years. Four years ago.
Jeff Goodman
Oscar Shebway's year, first year. Was that four or five years ago?
Rob Dauster
Yeah, something like that.
Jeff Goodman
Eric, Lindsay, the. Then Sid, who I really miss because he's a good dude.
Rob Dauster
He's a very good dude.
Jeff Goodman
He got us together. He got us together that year, and he had been trying, even right before the pandemic. And. And so I walked into Cal's office that day, and right away, it was like, the first 30 seconds, it was.
Gary Parrish
Like, jeff, you know, I'm about relationships.
Jeff Goodman
And people and this. And. And right away, Matt, it's going through my head of like, why did I do this?
Rob Dauster
Why did I do this?
Matt Jones
Well, Caliperi, listen, Caliperi think Cal's a.
Rob Dauster
Really good guy, but I also think relationships for him, outside of his closest ones.
Jeff Goodman
Yeah.
Matt Jones
Are transactional.
Cornbread Hemp Advertiser
Right.
Matt Jones
Like, it's definitely a. You know, can you do something for me?
Jeff Goodman
And.
Rob Dauster
And, you know, Craig Doyle, many years ago, said to me when I first started, don't become friends with any of these people because it makes your job hard to do.
Jeff Goodman
Yep.
Matt Jones
And I actually think that's true.
Rob Dauster
And you are friends with some of these people.
Matt Jones
Like, how do you. How do you criticize them?
Jeff Goodman
But I think they know.
Gary Parrish
I mean, again, Dan Hurley and I, he go on my podcast three times a year. Like, but I gotta say it the way it is. And I think, yeah, that's the thing that gets lost with me. Like, I'm still old school. I'm going to say it the way.
Jeff Goodman
It is no matter what. Yeah.
Gary Parrish
I was super close with Paul Hewitt when he was a coach at Georgia Tech.
Jeff Goodman
Put him in the hot seat two times.
Gary Parrish
Like, it is what it is.
Jeff Goodman
Like.
Gary Parrish
And I think most people respect me for that. That I'm going to be honest now, again, are you. Is it harder to hammer somebody when there's somebody that you've had a relationship for a long time? Sure. I mean, absolutely. But I put Matt Painter on the hot seat years ago. Good dude. And he called me, and he was like, I should have been like, most guys. Not most.
Jeff Goodman
I shouldn't say most, because a lot of guys will call Me and be pissed when you do that. My big thing. Here's my big thing, Matt. My big thing.
Gary Parrish
The guys I'm going to go after.
Jeff Goodman
Are the guys generally that treat people.
Gary Parrish
Like and not always me. Okay, so the Seth Greenberg's of the world. The bully cogulespiece of the world.
Rob Dauster
You and sad. No, but it's true. No, no, listen, I've dealt with Seth too. I know, I know. Yeah, I know what he's like.
Gary Parrish
Wonder why I go after him. Why I go after him is because again, I know what you, how you treated your staff. I know how you treat him. I've heard the stories over Tom Crean like for years now.
Jeff Goodman
Tom, we've talked and he, I think.
Gary Parrish
He'S, he's self reflected a little bit. You know, Buzz Williams, another one. I mean there you go down the line. The guys that I have that I've probably taken shots at, most of them other than the, the former NBA players.
Jeff Goodman
And coaches who I've, I've said across the board, the guys that made real money, not Mark Pope, the guys that made big money, almost all of them have failed.
Rob Dauster
Yeah, they do generally fail.
Matt Jones
Let me ask you one more thing.
Rob Dauster
Before we, for we. And you started field of 68 with Rob Doster. What year was that?
Jeff Goodman
Five years ago now.
Matt Jones
Five years ago. And when you all started that I.
Rob Dauster
Thought, man, I don't know if that'll work. And I've actually been really impressed with how well you all have done. The idea of doing those shows every night as a wrap up. I actually think it's been great. You have a lot of voices.
Matt Jones
I, I told Rob I'd like. I wish you would have me on more.
Rob Dauster
I enjoy it. It's.
Matt Jones
Every time I go on there I have a lot of fun, especially getting to talk about something that's not Kentucky.
Rob Dauster
Sometimes I think have made.
Gary Parrish
Yeah.
Matt Jones
Oh, I'd love it. Listen, anytime you want, I'm glad to do it. But like you know, there's a whole group of people, even guys like Tyler.
Rob Dauster
Hinsborough and John Henry and Oglesby. I, I really enjoy it.
Matt Jones
And now you're in a partnership with On3.
Rob Dauster
You joined with the group that, that does KSR.
Matt Jones
Has it, has it been what you hoped it would be?
Jeff Goodman
The whole thing? You mean the, the whole.
Rob Dauster
Yeah, just in general. Just the whole field of 68.
Jeff Goodman
Yeah.
Gary Parrish
I mean, you know, when I left.
Jeff Goodman
And it was kind of a mutual.
Gary Parrish
Parting of ways with espn, it was.
Jeff Goodman
It was kind of the right time at that point for me. I just Had a tough year. If you remember, they sent me to Lithuania with the ball. Idiots. Yeah, that was a mess. Dan Dockage went after me on air. We were doing a game together, and he kind of went after me. They told me to stand down covering the FBI investigation and instead let a college football writer do it. And I thought he kind of, you know, misstepped a little bit on some of that.
Gary Parrish
So it was time for me to leave.
Jeff Goodman
I went to a company called Stadium, and while I was doing stuff at.
Gary Parrish
State, it worked out perfect because Rob got laid off.
Jeff Goodman
I already had a paycheck from Stadium, so it wasn't that much of a risk for me. It wasn't a risk. So I was like, you know what?
Gary Parrish
Let's try it.
Jeff Goodman
Let's see what happens. We got former players. Remember, we have Wing Turner doing our Kentucky pod. We have basically former players doing pods on their. On their programs. And that there was a shelf life on that.
Gary Parrish
And we started doing the show. And then, you know, I'm constantly thinking of ways of, like, how do we keep this thing going and how do we have multiple revenue streams to be able to keep it going?
Jeff Goodman
Well, one of them has been, you know, this opening day event that we just did with six games, which I think is great.
Matt Jones
I think you and I know that's.
Rob Dauster
A huge undertaking, and I actually think y' all do a great job with it. I found myself watching it. It's. It's a really.
Matt Jones
It's a smart, cool thing to do. My only suggestion is you ought to come to a place like Kentucky and.
Rob Dauster
Do it where people.
Matt Jones
I know, Kentucky. No, they wouldn't play in it, but you can't.
Rob Dauster
That.
Matt Jones
And Kentucky wouldn't play in it. But I'm saying, like, you could do it if you. If you had a thing where a lot of games were going on, say in Memorial Coliseum or something, and you.
Rob Dauster
Had Eastern play or Morehead. I actually think people would come and watch, but I do.
Matt Jones
I mean, I think it would have.
Rob Dauster
To be.
Matt Jones
Correctly, but I do. If you did it the right. Because people love the sport here so.
Jeff Goodman
Much, we're going to add a third site. We are going to add a third site to this to be able to go 24 hours next year, probably be a Midwest.
Rob Dauster
That's very cool.
Jeff Goodman
Yeah.
Matt Jones
I mean, I'm not. I. I would want to think about how you would do it, but, like, the idea of doing it in a.
Rob Dauster
Memorial Coliseum, but having Eastern and Moorhead or something play.
Gary Parrish
I actually, that's what we did in Rock Hill. We had Winthrop and Queens and it was sold out.
Jeff Goodman
You know, the 8am game was packed because I was, you know, you got to have the, the local teams. Yeah, but I want to get a high major matchup.
Gary Parrish
I want to get one.
Jeff Goodman
I have a commitment right now from a team presently in the top 25 to play.
Rob Dauster
That's what you need. Then you get that. You'll be, you'll be good.
Matt Jones
Well, good luck with it. Field of 68 for I think most.
Rob Dauster
People why list listening to this. We'll know it, but if you don't, you definitely should check it out. Jeff and I, over the years, we've.
Matt Jones
We'Ve had great relationships. We've also fought, but I've always said.
Rob Dauster
He knows college basketball as well as anybody and thank you very much for.
Matt Jones
The time and we'll talk to you again soon.
Jeff Goodman
Sounds good. It was good, good catching up, Matt. I'm glad, I'm glad we're friends again and.
Rob Dauster
Sounds good. Appreciate it.
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Episode 23: Jeff Goodman
Date: November 7, 2025
Host: Matt Jones
Guest: Jeff Goodman
In this wide-ranging conversation, Matt Jones welcomes veteran college basketball journalist Jeff Goodman for an honest and energetic discussion about the state of college basketball, shifting dynamics with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), roster turnovers, the evolving role of coaches, conference revenue sharing, the promise and pitfalls of incoming freshmen, and candid insights into personalities around the sport. The discussion is lively, blending inside stories, expert analysis, and backstage details, especially relating to Kentucky and the national landscape.
Calipari vs Pitino:
Kentucky’s Prospects & Mark Pope:
Notable Coaching Characters:
"Some of these kids, it’s their fifth school in five years, Matt. How is that good?"
— Jeff Goodman (05:45)
"I think a great recruiter years ago isn't quite as valuable."
— Jeff Goodman (12:55)
"If you go with $1 million and show up at the doorstep, you're going to get that kid."
— Jeff Goodman (14:28)
"There’s going to be two constants, and that’s Duke and Kentucky are always, always going to be at the top of the food chain."
— Jeff Goodman (45:13)
"When the games start, I know that I’m seeing better basketball when I’m seeing juniors and seniors playing than what I was seeing before."
— Matt Jones (06:13)
"It’s going to wear them out. Like, it’s never worn them out before."
— Jeff Goodman (19:01)
“This is one of the deepest classes I’ve ever seen in my 25 years of doing this.”
— Jeff Goodman (25:34)
"I love Izzo because there’s no bull with Izzo. Like none. Like, he doesn’t care."
— Gary Parrish (50:01)
The conversation is open and direct, alternating between deep basketball nerdiness (“stat-head talk,” as Matt calls it), reflections on industry change, and irreverent memories of the sport’s characters. Goodman brings an old-school reporting edge—honest and occasionally combative—while Matt guides the discussion through Kentucky-centric concerns and national trends. The dialogue is peppered with sarcasm, personal anecdotes, and clear camaraderie.
Recommended for:
Anyone interested in understanding the shifting realities of college basketball—from fan, coach, or media perspectives—especially those following Kentucky and wanting insider analysis on the game’s business, culture, and personalities.