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00:00:01
Rolen in the Hall, the Battlehawks and Dave Wischnowsky all in one show
91 Plays2 years ago
In the NFL playoffs, Cincy pushes to advance. Purdy makes people notice and the Eagles are tough.
Scott Rolen to the Hall of Fame, The Cardinals get a new announcer.
The XFL is ready to go
I talk Illini basketball with Dave Wischnowsky
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Transcript
Introduction and Show Overview
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello folks, and welcome to my spot on the bleachers. I have a good show lined up for you today. We got some NFL, XFL. We'll talk a little baseball. Dave Wishnowski drops by and we'll talk a little bit of Illinois basketball. So grab a Coleman, a seat cushion. It's January 25th. And this is Talking Sports on the Bleachers. You got to get it done. This is Gateway City Sports. The rumors are true.
00:00:32
Speaker
This is Talking Sports on the Bleachers with Don Glenn. A confident young man. A superb athlete. A look at the sports issues of the day. Grab a seat, pop a cold one, and let's talk some sports.
Nostalgic Sports Moments and Phrases
00:00:47
Speaker
See, that sounds kind of interesting. Gentlemen, start your engines.
00:01:07
Speaker
Gromo on the shotgun here at the snap, Gromo looking, dumps it off right to that. Intercepted! Intercepted! The goal line by the Woodson! And there is your Gallagher! Gromo with a wide spread stance, arms out over the place. Bedford from the threat. The 1-1-5. A plant, and there it goes!
00:01:55
Speaker
Playoffs? What are you talking about? Playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? Are you crying? Are you crying?
00:02:15
Speaker
You don't understand, I could've had class. I could've been a contender. I could've been somebody. Holy cow!
00:02:46
Speaker
Hey, Dad? You want to have a catch? I'd like that.
Show Structure and Segments
00:03:03
Speaker
Welcome to Talking Sports on the Bleachers. I'm your host Don Glenn. If you've been here before, I want to thank you for coming back. If this is your first time, well, a little bit about the show, we have four segments. Leading off is kind of a topic of the day. Under further review, I take a closer look at a team or a sport or just something that, you know, maybe it's something we've looked at before, just a little deeper look or just a look into something.
00:03:29
Speaker
A college notebook is pretty much just what it says. We talk about college sports there. And Under the Arch is a segment that I use to look at sports in and around the St. Louis, or to concern the St. Louis area itself. So for today, on the leading off segment, we're going to talk NFL playoffs.
NFL Playoffs Analysis
00:03:51
Speaker
under further review, I'm going to take a look around Major League Baseball. Kind of a look at some of the hot stove and then we're going to talk a little Hall of Fame. And then in a college notebook, I'm going to play an interview I did with Dave Wachnowski about Illinois men's basketball. And under the arch, we're going to take a look at the XFL battle Hawks and the new Cardinal TV announcer. So we're going to get started right after this.
Gateway City Sports Promotion
00:04:19
Speaker
Hey fans, Don Glenn here.
00:04:21
Speaker
I want to let you know that Talking Sports on the Bleachers is a proud member of Gateway City Sports. Now, you say you need to find a place for some news and opinions on St. Lucerne Sports. I got a spot for you. Head over to gatewaycitysports.com. At Gateway City Sports, you're going to find news and articles about the Cardinals, the Blues, Missouri Tigers, the Illinois Fighting Alina, and even some high school sports. You'll find articles and content from guys like Russ Robinson, aka Humble Frank.
00:04:47
Speaker
Brian Papa Swoke, Gene Bond, Derek King, and even I get in on that. Want more podcasts? Then check out our lineup. If you have a Cub fan in the family, or friends who are Cub fans, here's a short one. Crack open a couple of brews, and listen to the team of rivals' podcasts of Ron Nuddle, Pete Geddes, and Elliot Dooley. You prefer most of the Cardinal talk with some interesting guests? Well, then give a listen to that's all winner podcast with Ryan Jenkins and Josh Brown. Does that have enough Cardinal content for you? Hey, we got more.
00:05:16
Speaker
It's the two for three with the mighty moose, Mike Stevenson. Then there's the often imitated, but never duplicated, Gary King Sports Show with the man himself, Gary King. So head on over to GatewayCitySports.com and look us over. As always, if there's a sport you follow and we don't cover it, drop us a line. We'll see what we can do for you. That's GatewayCitySports.com
AFC and NFC Playoff Breakdown
00:05:51
Speaker
All right leading off the NFL playoffs are underway the conference championship games are coming up and it's gonna pit the Kansas City Chiefs versus the Cincinnati Bengals which is a rematch of last year the San Francisco 49ers will play the Philadelphia Eagles which
00:06:10
Speaker
San Francisco was in it last year, but not the Eagles in the final four rounds, so to speak. We'll start with the AFC first. The Bengals had to play from the third seed while the Chiefs got the first round by.
00:06:23
Speaker
The Bengals took on the Baltimore Ravens. They were the sixth seed and a pretty tight ballgame. The Bengals won with a defensive play in the fourth quarter. The Bengals struck first on a field goal in the first quarter. Then they got a second quarter touchdown from Joe Burrow to Jamar Chase, a 15-yard strike. The extra point would fail, making it a 9-0 lead. Now the Ravens came back. Tyler Huntley got the
00:06:52
Speaker
a touchdown in the second quarter with a two yard strike to JK Dobbins. They then added a field goal to take a 10-9 lead going into the halftime. Now late in the third quarter, Burrell would find a hole over left guard rushing for a rushing touchdown and then hit T Higgins for the two point conversion. The Ravens would answer with Huntley to DeMarcus Robinson for 41 yards to not the game at 17. Early in the fourth quarter, the Bengals will get the defensive score that I talked about. As Tyler Huntley was trying to go over the top of the pile,
00:07:20
Speaker
He stretched out the ball, it got knocked loose by Logan Wilson. He got right into Sam Hubbard. He couldn't have tipped drilled it better, really. And the Hubbard would rumble 98 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and they would hold on to win 24-17. Next up for the Bengals was the Buffalo Bills.
00:07:41
Speaker
And the Bengals started that one a lot better than the first game, taking a 14 and up lead in the first quarter. They scored on two pass plays from Joe Burrow, one to Jamar Chase, and the other one to Hayden Hurst. Josh Allen, we get the bills on the scoreboard with a one yard touchdown plunge over the left guard to cut into the Benignal lead.
00:08:01
Speaker
A late field goal by Sensi would give them the 10-point lead at the half. The Bills got a field goal midway through the third quarter. Cincinnati would counter with a one-yard touchdown run by Joe Mixon. Then they would add a field goal in the fourth for the 27-10 win. Now, one interesting point about this game, Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, who's been out since his collapse on the field,
00:08:25
Speaker
Did it was able to watch the game from the stadium in the stands? I think was in one of the boxes but he was down with the team and pregame and It was good to see that good to see that he's Recovering. Well, that's the first time he's been at a game since his heart attack on July or January 2nd
00:08:48
Speaker
Family members say he is recovering well, but still has a very long road ahead. So good wishes and prayers for a continued recovery to Damar Hamlin and his family. Kansas City, as I said, got the first round by. So in the second round, they took on Jacksonville Jaguars, the four seed. Kansas City struck first on an opening drive on a Holmes, a Kelsey seven yard pass play.
00:09:16
Speaker
Now this is the 12th time those two have hooked up in the postseason tying Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. The Jags would tie the game near the end of the first quarter in a 10 yard TD pass from Trevor Lawrence to Christian Kirk. Mahomes would go down with an ankle injury late in the first quarter and be replaced by Chad Henney, who in the second quarter added a touchdown of his own to Travis Kelsey. Mahomes have re-enter the game at the start of the third quarter, but the only score will be a 50 yard field goal from Harrison Butker.
00:09:45
Speaker
making the score 20 to 10. Then in the fourth quarter, Jacksonville would get an early touchdown. Travis and Tenet would score on a four yard run and the extra point would put the Jags within three at 20 to 17.
00:09:58
Speaker
But Mahomes would come back and hit Marquis, Vales, Scantlin for a six yard score, putting it at 27-17. Jacksonville added a late field goal with 30 seconds to go, could not make the onsite kick work. And the final score 27-20. This sets up a Bengals and Chiefs rematch from last year.
00:10:22
Speaker
And I think like last year, I think the Bengals are going to come away with this one. I think a little bit is Scott because of Mahomes' ankle injury would not appear that he was serious because he came back in the game, but you just don't know. You don't know how it's going to react over the week. If he gets hit in again during the game.
00:10:39
Speaker
What their schemes gonna be and I think Joe burrow and the Bengals are looking to this kind of redeem themselves from Not beating the Rams last year they've also beaten the Chiefs now three times in the playoffs and I think they want to make it for make it a clean sweep in four in a row, so I
00:10:59
Speaker
I'm gonna put my flip my coin for the Bengals although would not surprise me the Chiefs win but I do think the Bengals are going to take the AFC championship and be the Super Bowl representative. Now over the national conference the Eagles caught a first-round buy given their best record in the NFC. Frisco was the two seed headed into first-round match against seven seed Seattle
00:11:25
Speaker
rookie backup quarterback Brock Purdy, who is now the starter, that's hard to figure it out. And that rise, I'll tell you what, he was Mr. Irrelevant coming out of the draft, the last pick in the 22 draft, third stream quarterback, and then all of a sudden you have Trey Lance go down in week two, Jimmy Garoppolo goes down in week 13, now,
00:11:52
Speaker
Mr. Irrelevant has become the starting quarterback and has won, well, we'll get to the other game here, but now he's won seven games in a row, five regular season, two post-season. I don't think you could write a better story than what Brock Purdy has been going through, but in that game against Seattle, they took a one-point halftime deficit and he just turned it into an 18-point rob in the second half.
00:12:22
Speaker
The 49ers did take the lead with a field goal. Then Brock Purdy, the Christian McCaffrey three yard pass gave him a 10 point lead. In the second quarter, the Seahawks came back with a seven yard rung by Kenneth Walker. And then we get another field goal, making it 13 to seven. Gino Smith would show up and hit a DK Metcalf with a 50 yard pass play. The Seahawks went back on top at that point, 14 to 13.
00:12:48
Speaker
Both teams traded field goals near the end of the half to make the score 17 to 16 at the half. Now after the half, it became the Brock Purdy show. The midway through the third, Frisco would score when Purdy would hit or would sneak over from one yard given the six point lead. It stayed that way until the fourth when Frisco would start to pull away as Purdy hit Elijah Mitchell for a seven yard score. Then made a two point conversion pass to George Kittle.
00:13:14
Speaker
Purdy would also then hook up with Deebo Samuel for what was a 74 yard pass play For another 49er score making it 38 to 17 the diners would add a field goal make it 41 to 17 and the Seahawks would get a late touchdown Making the final score that they would miss their two-point conversion making the final score 41 to 23 and
00:13:38
Speaker
Now Purdy was 18 of 30 for 332 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a touchdown. Samuel had six catches for 133 yards and a score. So they, uh, after that, oh, Christian McCaffrey also, I'm going to mention, he had, uh, carried 15 times for 119 yards. Uh, he didn't get a rushing touchdown, but he did catch that one pass for a touchdown.
00:14:05
Speaker
Now the 49ers went on to play Dallas, the five seed. And instead of writing the arm of Brock Purdy, it was the leg of kicker Robbie Gold as he hit four field goals in a game where defense was key on both sides. They played a very good defensive game, both sides of the ball, or both teams did, I should say. Dak Prescott was picked off twice and sacked once by the 49er defense. And the Gould got the scoring started with a field goal in the first quarter.
00:14:35
Speaker
Dallas came back, uh, Prescott to Dalton. And then kicker Brett Mayer, however, saw his extra point K take off low and get blocked. Uh, then in the last three 48 of the half, Google would connect on a 47 yarder and then get a 50 yarder with one second left in the half to give the 49ers, the nine to six halftime lead.
00:15:02
Speaker
And then Mayor would get some redemption in the second half, a 25 yard field goal in the third to tie the game at nine. And then, excuse me. And then Frisco started the fourth with a McCaffrey run of the middle for two yards and a score. Both teams would get late field goals and San Francisco would hold on for that 19 to 12 win. Now with the two playoff wins, Purdy is one of three quarterbacks that have two playoff wins in their post
00:15:31
Speaker
in the postseason in their rookie year. Now the other two guys are Joe Flacco in 2008 and Mark Sanchez in 2009. Philadelphia Eagles used a combination of rushing and passing, plus a stout defense as they rolled past the Giants 38-7. Hertz was coming off a shoulder injury, but you wouldn't really know it. He threw 24 times, connecting on 16 of them for 154 yards, two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown. They pulled it out to a 28 to nothing halftime lead.
00:16:01
Speaker
In the first quarter, they got two TD passes by Hertz. One was 16 yards to Dallas Goedert, and the second was nine yards to Devonta Smith. In the second quarter, Boston Scott scored on a three-yard run, and Hertz would get his rushing touchdown on a five-yard run near the end of the half. The Giants got on the board in the third quarter with a Matt Breida eight-yard run for a score, and then Philly would take back over again in the fourth quarter, a field goal, and a 35-yard touchdown run by Kenneth Greenwell.
00:16:31
Speaker
with two minutes left in the game to make the route complete at 38-7. Now, Gainewell would rush for 112 yards on 12 carries. The Eagles defense picked off Daniel Jones once, but sacked him five times. The Giants only were allowed 227 yards of total offense. So this sets up a Phillies running attack, which gains 268 yards a game versus the 49ers passing attack of 273 yards a game.
00:17:00
Speaker
I like both teams here. And as much as I'm rooting for Purdy to have success and maybe get his name in some more record book territory, I just don't see them getting past Philly. Philly, I think, is just way too tough. And so without hesitation, I'm throwing my flip of the coin on this game to the Philadelphia Eagles.
MLB Trades and Free Agency
00:17:28
Speaker
Hey, uh, next we're going to take a look at what's happening in baseball right after this from 5th Street Motors. Don Glenn here from Talking Sports on the Bleachers at Gateway City Sports. Coaches and athletes are under a lot of stress. The pressure to win can be daunting. I can relate that almost to buying a car. And we all know how stressful buying a car can be, but there is one place that's trying to change that. 5th Street Motors located at 2044 Rose Lane, Pacific, Missouri.
00:17:57
Speaker
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00:18:27
Speaker
Tell them Don Glenn from Talking Sports on the bleachers sent you. Under further review, I want to take a look at the hostile of action and not any real huge moves going on. Uh, not really that many quality free agents left. If you really want to get the honest truth, uh, some names of note, uh, Adam Duvall goes to Boston on a one year deal. Tommy fam gets a one year deal from the mats. A roll does Chapman gets a one year deal with Kansas city.
00:18:57
Speaker
Uh, former Cardinals that have, uh, Found another job. Uh, Corey Dickerson goes to Washington on a one year deal and Luke Weaver, uh, part of the Paul Goldschmidt trade, but there's only gets a one year deal from the Reds. And I said, there's not much left on the free agent market. Uh, people still looking for starting pitching and there seems to be a buzz centered around Trevor Bauer. And all the buzz is who, if anyone will take a chance on the 32 year old.
00:19:26
Speaker
You got all the legal baggage from two years ago with the sexual assault claim and all that stuff. Now, as many people have pointed out, he was never convicted of any wrongdoing. And the gal, I guess, has since recanted her story or removed of charges or whatever it was. And he was still out that year and a half or year plus of the suspension that he served. And now, of course, the Dodgers released him.
00:19:54
Speaker
I think some teams just don't want that distraction. I mean, really, they really don't want that distraction of constant questions about, did he do this or did he do that? I don't know. And I'm not here to judge the guy. I'm not here to judge. I mean, as I mentioned, Aroldis Chapman gets a one-year deal. He was actually convicted of
00:20:24
Speaker
domestic abuse Marcelo Zuna was convicted of domestic abuse they're still playing but you don't hear anything about those guys really I mean because they've kind of really their prominence isn't this good and it may happen with Bauer but you just don't know right now so it's real free still real fresh
00:20:50
Speaker
So we'll see. Uh, but, uh, uh, the other part of, of that is not just the distraction, but he also hasn't pitched in two years. And that's a lot of rust to knock off an arm. Um, and he's 32. So, you know, you're only got maybe a couple of years left before he really starts the diminishing his skills. Now I know you're going to point at guys like Scherzer, you're going to point at guys like Verlander, Wayne Wright.
00:21:19
Speaker
that are 38, 39, 40, 41. I get it. I get it. But typically, around 35, 36 is when you start seeing that decline. And will that happen with Bauer? Who knows? It depends on if he pitches. It really does. So we're going to see. We're going to see about Bauer and how that all shakes out.
00:21:48
Speaker
But some other pictures that are starting pictures that are on the right, you got some older veterans like Zack Greinke, David Price, Mike Miner. Then a former Cardinal Michael Waka is still on the free agent rosters, if you will. And the bullpen wise, you've got Will Smith, Zack Britton, Brad Hand, Andrew Chafin. I think Chafin or Hand could actually help out the cargo bullpen if
00:22:17
Speaker
You know, Mo's, Mo and DeWitt have some money to spend. Position-wise, really not much at all out there. I mean, you've got Michael Stockton who was recently released. You've got David Peralta, Jose Iglesias, or Iglesias, I guess, and Jurex and Profar. Now, Profar of that group, I would take my flyer on Profar or Peralta as a bench bat, bench player. I would look in those guys' direction for that. And you might, at this point in the game, you might be able to get them fairly cheap.
00:22:46
Speaker
I'm not sure I would pick a flyer on the stock is maybe you know If he'd taken invite, I don't know I might take it But I think Peralta or profile would be the ones I would look at position wise So I can say the pickings are mighty slim now the trade market has been active but again outside of the Murphy deal and
00:23:08
Speaker
and Toronto getting rid of Gabriel Marrero. There really hasn't been much. Uh, Pittsburgh, uh, did send pictures, Zach Thompson to Toronto for Chavez young and the Marlins, uh, just recently dealt starter Pablo Lopez. Shortstops, Jose Salas and outfielder, Brian Charurro to the twins for first baseman, Louis, uh, Erez, uh, the American league hitting champion from last year.
00:23:36
Speaker
Now the Marlins still have three more pictures that are rumored to be on the trading block. Those are Jesus Lazardo, Trevor Rogers, Edward Cabrera. They're looking supposedly for offense and maybe in line with the center fielder. The Red Sox are trying to shore up their infield. They acquired Alberto Mendesee and a player to be named later for left-hander Josh Taylor. Mendesee was from the Royals.
00:24:04
Speaker
The Royals are also rumored to be shopping utility guy, Hunter Dozier and infielder Nikki Lopez. I don't see any real deep trades going on until spring training gets going and teams find out what they've got and what they need.
Scott Rolen Hall of Fame Induction
00:24:18
Speaker
So now in other things, other MLB news, Scott Roland of the St. Louis Cardinals for a former St. Louis Cardinal made it to the Hall of Fame, the only player selected in this year by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
00:24:31
Speaker
He'll join Fred McGriff, who was selected by the Contemporary Era Committee last month. Roland garnered 76.3% of the votes. 75% is needed for induction. Todd Helton was the next highest percentage at 72.2, and Helton was the only other player over 70%. Now, Roland came up with the Phillies, spent 6.5 years there before being traded to St. Louis, where he spent another 5.5 years, then about a year and a half in Toronto and 3.5 years in Cincinnati.
00:25:00
Speaker
Roland had very good years in both Philadelphia and St. Louis putting up I mean almost identical numbers if you look at it and Philly in his time there he was 282, 373, 504, 150 home runs, 559 RBIs and 3125 at bats compiled an 18.4 wins above average and a 29.2 war. For St. Louis he hit 286
00:25:29
Speaker
375.10 or 111 home runs, 453 RBIs. Now you might be saying well that's not comparable. That was only in 200 or 2373 at bats. He had a 17.7 wins above average and a 25.9 war in St. Louis. The Cardinals acquired Roland and Doug Nickel from the Phillies in exchange for Placido Polanco, Bud Smith and Mike Timlin
00:25:57
Speaker
at the trading deadline in 2002. He was part of the MV3 in 2004 with teammate Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds. Now it's not clear what cap he's going to wear because that's a situation where the Hall of Fame has the say so on what cap he goes in with. They do take recommendation from the player, but they base it on where he made his most impact.
00:26:25
Speaker
You know, that also is, you know, kind of up in the air. If you look at it, with his time at Philly, he was rookie of the year, a three-time gold glover, a one all-star appearance in the silver slugger. In St. Louis, he's a three-time gold glover, four-time all-star, world series champion. So the whole thing is going to have a, I think what they'll probably end up doing, we've talked about this and Brian Swope mentioned it the other day on our,
00:26:56
Speaker
Gateway City Twitter feed that it'll probably go in with a no logo plain cap because it's I mean There's so much there these it's gonna be hard to distinguish where he made the most impact I mean you could say the World Series trumps everything, but you know he was rook of the year in Philadelphia He was drafted by Philadelphia. He came up with Philadelphia so you know it
00:27:23
Speaker
I think probably the best way to make everybody happy. They're just going to put a plain cap on his on his plaque and go from there.
Illinois Basketball Insights
00:27:31
Speaker
All right. Uh, coming up, we're going to play my interview with Dave Wishnowski. Uh, we're going to talk, we talk a little university of Illinois basketball. That's coming up next on talking sports on the bleachers. Hello, this is Don Glenn from talking sports on the bleachers at gateway city sports. We all know how important it is to stay protected.
00:27:52
Speaker
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00:28:20
Speaker
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00:28:45
Speaker
Maybe I should have them on the show someday. With work and kids and social functions, we all have busy lives. So you can also email Sean and Sean Wiley at Allstate.com. That's S-E-A-N-W-I-L-E-Y at Allstate.com. Talk to him about your coverage options and remember you're in good hands with Allstate.
00:29:09
Speaker
Joining me now via the gateway city sports zoom link is former U of I alum as an, uh, well-respected sports, uh, sports writing figure. He has been an award-winning sports reporter for the Champaign abandoned news gazette Chicago Tribune. He's been a commons for CBS Chicago. He even wrote a book in 2004. Welcome to talking sports on the bleachers. The one and only Dave wish now ski. It's a pleasure to be on with you today. Well, I'm glad you could make the time for us. Uh, I know you're kind of busy and, and.
00:29:38
Speaker
This time of year, getting, uh, getting any type of sports figures on this, especially college basketball is a little bit tough. They're a little bit busy right now. Now I, I remember you graduated from U of I back in the nineties, correct? Did class of 98. So 98, uh, that was the team with, um, five senior starters that won the big 10 championship that season. So it was Hellman Turner G, uh, Brian.
00:30:07
Speaker
and Jerry Hester. So, and I, that was made up for a football that season was an 0 and 11 season. So basketball was made up for it. Second, second role in the floor and got to watch your starters win the title. That was, so that was a lot of fun. Now that would have been what? Uh, Krueger's next to last season. It was one of his earlier seasons there actually. Cause his first, it was his second team actually. Cause he started. Yeah. Cause Henson's last season was the 90s 60s, my sophomore year.
00:30:34
Speaker
So that was actually the first team where things kind of clicked initially with that group. And they really, that was an overachieving bunch, but still one of my favorite Alliance teams of all time. I go back a little bit further than I go back to actually, believe it or not, hard Schmidt and Jean Barto. Yeah. I go over to that little three year section where you went Schmidt, Barto, Henson. And now, you know, and the co-chancellor was credited with revitalizing many of what we, what people thought was a dead program at the time coming out of that scandal. And then.
00:31:04
Speaker
Barto was just a nothing burger, so to speak. And then you had him, and then you had Kruger, and then Self, and then Weber. But has Brad Underwood done the same thing, giving what happened during the John Gross era? I think he's, I had to dig out of basically as big of a hole as Henson did, really. I mean, the different circumstances, obviously, as you mentioned, with the whole flush one scandal and everything, really laid to waste the line of athletics back then. But I mean, Underwood,
00:31:33
Speaker
really had to take things, things really tapered off, you know, at the end of Weber's era there. And then Gross just never got things going. He did okay with, with Weber's team that first season, but really it was just mediocrity. You know, it was every season just hoping to be a bubble team, which really had become frustrating. And Gross was just in over his head. I don't think he was ever really fully qualified for the job. So I would really had to come in. I know people were frustrated initially when Brad took over.
00:31:58
Speaker
that they weren't winning more games. But I really think he had to work to instill his personality in that program and really create a tougher mindset. Because with Gross, I called it before, it was really a kind of a built-toes mindset. And really, Brad, I think it stamped his persona on that team. I think some of that's been going on this season, too. He lost so many players from last year. He's kind of been working to try and stamp his personality on a whole new bunch again, which is frustrating that he's got to kind of do it over again.
00:32:27
Speaker
Brad's really dug out of a big hole and I think he's got the program on a great trajectory and I think he's done an amazing job so far. You know, that's one thing I was going to touch on, you know, college recruiting being what it is now and it's changed so much just over the last three and four years with the transfer portal, the way it's been operating and now with the NIL variant thrown in. You see a lot of teams and teams that we've already played before like Virginia and Missouri and Maryland have gone to this
00:32:55
Speaker
basically recruiting five starters from the transfer portal, but really if you get down to it, but yet guys like Underwood and there's, are staying with that building the program through freshmen. Is that something you may, you think could is, is it going to stay relevant or is the transfer portal going to take over and kind of push the freshmen side as far as the program goes? Got to try and balance both these days. I wonder what that success with transfers to this season and we know with, with,
00:33:22
Speaker
Terence Shannon and Meyer and dangerous technically transfer before too, but you can't, I don't think you can sustain by only relying on that. Cause you're going to lose your continuity and you really have to have some guys come up through the program as well too. You walk a fine line though, cause if freshmen don't get the plane and they want, they may bounce and head somewhere else thinking they're going to get it elsewhere. So it really is a tricky world, but I think you've got to try and still build.
00:33:46
Speaker
with key high school recruits and then supplement with transfers coming in. I think the biggest change probably that coaches are going to be less likely to take a flyer on a borderline high school recruit now. Cause it's, it's not really worth using a scholarship on a guy. If you're going to really develop him fully over four years, he's not going to be a contributor. And so maybe the end of his career or you don't know for sure at all, because it's probably wiser to save that scholarship back and try to bring in a transfer who's proven himself somewhere else.
00:34:15
Speaker
So I think that's a big thing, but they're, as you pointed out, there's a lot of challenges. You've got everything that existed with basketball for so long, which has been complicated, but then you're throwing on top of it, the instant transfers and the NIL. So it's really a thing. And you look at what under what's done too, with losing his entire assistant coaching staff to seize before last as well too. And I really, I'd already built a stronger team of assistants, perhaps he did before. And that was kind of miraculous. What he was able to do losing, losing two coaches to Kentucky and one to Gonzaga in that off season.
00:34:44
Speaker
Yeah. And a lot of people were wondering what was going to happen with the recruiting when you lost, uh, and PIGWA and Coleman, uh, especially because they were really, uh, instrumental in bringing Kofi and IU and a couple of the other guys to the program. But I don't know. It seems like Tim Anderson or Chester Frazier just picking up, picked up where they left off and said, we, it's our ball now to run with. I think they've, I mean, Tim Anderson has been a fantastic addition in terms of recruiting. He's really brought in.
00:35:12
Speaker
some great talent in both at the high school level and with transfers as well too. And then Chester's doing a really nice job in that front too. And then I think Jeff Alexander is the one to credit for the European guys that are coming in with Perrin and Moretti. I think those are his connections. He's kind of focused on the Euro market. So all three are doing well. And I think there was a lot of consternation there, losing, you know, Antigua was the big name, but like losing guys to Kentucky, that whole controversy just of
00:35:40
Speaker
You don't like seeing them take away your coaches, especially two at once, but, uh, it's really been kind of seamless. I know Illinois seven is ups and downs this season, but it really, that losing those coaches didn't cause even, uh, I think I hiccup in, in what we expected and Kentucky's not having that much success with those two guys right now, either they're having their own. That's always heartening to see when that happens, but yeah, getting, getting to the, the ups and downs a little bit, I've been on.
00:36:05
Speaker
uh, on the, on Twitter with a few different places and on Facebook and some of the groups. And, and I hear people talk about all the, you know, this, this team can't play the big games. This team can't play the big, you know, the, uh, the, the top competition. And I always have to try and point out, you know, uh, we did beat number eight UCLA, you know, we, we, we, we beat number two, Texas. Yeah. Uh, but.
00:36:31
Speaker
I think the one thing I've pointed out a couple of different times is that the teams that have beaten us, or at least up until this Indiana game, the teams that have beaten us have been these heavy senior laden, 50 year senior, super senior teams. You know, Virginia, Missouri started all five, three of their five starters were 50 or 60 year senior. And I think we're kind of a little about mashing the experience category there. Is that, you get the same feeling?
00:37:00
Speaker
I think that's true. I think Penn State also is the oldest team in college basketball. I think there's, there's some of the, you know, Illinois has a lot of young guys and they've got a lot of new guys. It's a tricky combination there that I expected to have some hiccups this season, just with eight newcomers coming in and a lot of them being freshmen and danger is not technically a full on freshmen, but he really, for all intents and purposes, he has, he hasn't really played before this year.
00:37:30
Speaker
I think that's been one reason that Illinois has had some of the losses they've had. There's been teams just flat out more experienced and know how to handle late game situations. Or maybe, I guess you look at some of the games, the Penn State, for example, they just kind of dominated them the whole game. So you look at some of that, I think that's been definitely a factor that's been in play that Illinois has a young team. And I think it's a team that has taken some time to figure out how to play together. It looks like they had kind of turned a corner until the IU game as best we can. And then it seemed like they kind of took the corner.
00:38:00
Speaker
back in the opposite direction. Well, I guess what, I guess we've brought it up. Both you and I have brought it up. So I have to talk about it. Uh, the IU game, uh, you know, a lot of people I've seen, I've been, been very critical of the game scheme, uh, with, uh, not double teaming. I can't think of the trace. Yeah. Davis. Yeah. Uh, not, not double teaming him, but I guess Michigan state did that and they got their butt handed to him by 13 or 14 points. Is there really a good strategy to handle that kid?
00:38:30
Speaker
I think there's a lot of factors in play there. Personally, I would have liked to have seen Illinois send a double atom or do something different, whether it was switching to zone or, you know, but there's these factors that Underwood talked about the fatigue that they'd had 19 straight days on the court and whether it's physical fatigue, mental fatigue. I mean, it's easy to dismiss that and just say, ah, that shouldn't matter. But it probably does matter. There's probably some legitimacy to that. If, if the team is tired, um,
00:38:58
Speaker
then you couldn't say, I want you to have a little more success when they press. Indiana trying to keep the ball out of Trace's hand. But you can't do that all game if you actually are fatigued. So you can't do that completely. I would have liked to see them project deny Trace getting his dominant hand and sending another guy and switching things up when he was, you know, six for six or whatever to start the game. It kind of made it apparent that you need to do something differently. So there's those things. Also Trace was,
00:39:25
Speaker
kind of in a zone there, too. Maybe Illinois let him get into a zone. But by the way, they defended him, I don't know. But he also, that was one of the best games he's played, I think, in his career. And he just really had it going on in that game, too. So I've been kind of critical that I would have liked to seen something differently. But it's also one game, and other teams, as you pointed out, have tried other schemes on him. And he struggled. Traits was a preseason All-American last year, and preseason,
00:39:52
Speaker
Old big 10, you know as well and he's playing he's the guy has talent and when he goes up against the team that doesn't have a Enormously dominant big man like Kofi, you know, he can farewell and he's hard to contain Yeah, I think that's the one thing I got mean I was I was uptown watching it and One guy was saying you know that they need to get Danny off him. He can't handle him I'm like, that's the one so well put this with us if they will put Coleman on him, which they did when to put Hawkins on him
00:40:22
Speaker
He just overpowered Hawkins. I mean, you know, he, he walked around Danny and overpowered. I mean, we, after that, you don't have anything left really. I think, I think the idea of, of letting him score doing one on one with him, but then trying to deny the other people their points. I think that can work, but the problem is we didn't deny Galloway his points. We didn't deny the other guys there. We didn't bother them enough to, to count for what, plus missing 14 free throws didn't help either.
00:40:51
Speaker
I think it was 13 layups, the 14 free throws certainly hurt a lot too. They just, you know, I, and maybe that is attributed to tired legs or something missing all those free throws. I don't know. They, then they had some tough balls that rolled out in the first half. I, I thought I was down at the game that night and, and I thought they had some, should have gone in. It wasn't, it wasn't like a close to basket. It was just some bad luck a little bit.
00:41:17
Speaker
It was, it was a, it was a surprising performance to me because I really thought no one was going to win that game. I liked the way they've been playing the previous four that they're going to come out and play well. And Meyer being sick apparently, and the team, you know, I didn't realize they had, hadn't really had a day off in 19 straight days. And people have also criticized, well, why didn't Underwood give the team a day off for a, you know, some more rest, but you've kind of prepped for things. You've got games to go quickly. I guess I'm sure he would have if he could have really, but.
00:41:45
Speaker
You can't do that. So there's a lot of ways you got it. It comes down. It was a game as well too. And sometimes you have bad games in college basketball. I think the only thing that really hurts is it seems that we've had a couple of those bad games. You can look at the Missouri, you can look at Penn State, you know, and how we were just walked on by those two teams really. So I think maybe that's kind of why people are kind of a little more critical. I look at this team and I look at the youth and the makeup of it and I go thinking back to
00:42:15
Speaker
Again, we were talking with the other coaches at Kruger and Self and Henson and all these guys, and they had some team leaders. You have, you know, Perry, Perry range, Derek Harper, Eddie Johnson, Bruce Douglas, Sergio McLean, Frank Williams, going into Darren D and, and, and Luther. Yep. And, and the last couple of years we've had Kofi, we've had, DeMonte and we've had Trent. And then you go to this year, I mean,
00:42:41
Speaker
Realistically, I think you would have liked to see, I think I would have liked to see Coleman Hawkins take the leadership role. I think this was his team to lead. And I think he's missed that particular point of his game. And it's forcing Shannon and Meyer to try and lead when they're just as new as the freshmen. Yeah. I mean, is that, do you see that as a major problem as well? Or am I making too much out of nothing? No, I think that's been a huge issue. Leadership, there hasn't been,
00:43:10
Speaker
a clear-cut leader on the court for the Illini this season. I do agree with you that ideally it would be Coleman. I think that Underwood's even said that Coleman really needs to be the keeper of the flame from the program because you look, there's really very few guys. It hasn't helped that Goody's been injured all season too because I think he may be the most natural leader on the team and he hasn't been on the court. You can't really lead if you're not on the court.
00:43:37
Speaker
Uh, you know, Coleman is an extremely talented player. I don't think it's natural for him to be a true leader on the court. Um, and that isn't a natural fit for him. So it's kind of an awkward fit a little bit there. And it is a lot of new guys, a lot of young guys who don't know anything about the program to speak of yet. And I mean, in hindsight, it was always a concern, not even hindsight. I think there was something to concern about the whole get-go was not having a senior point guard or a veteran point guard and really.
00:44:06
Speaker
It would have been nice to Illinois, been able to pull one of those in from the portal, someone who could really settle the team down and really had that natural leadership ability, proven it on the court from that point guard position. Because when you're relying on freshman point guards and you don't have a clear cut leader elsewhere on the court, you're really kind of up a creek a little bit. And I think we've seen that with the Illini not having a clear leader.
00:44:30
Speaker
It seemed that Meyer and Terence had kind of started stepping up into that role a little more comfortably the past few games, but we didn't see it on Thursday night against IU. Also, again, Meyer being sick didn't help because he had really gotten in a groove prior to that. Oh, yeah. It kind of makes me almost wonder if Grandison had not transferred or had not transferred out in state, would he have been that leader?
00:45:00
Speaker
I've thought about that myself and I think you're onto something there. I, you know, I think everyone gets excited about someone more talented coming in, um, than Grandison. And Grandison was the most talented, not the most athletic guy. And I think he's doing okay with Duke, but he's not lightening it up. But, but talking about someone who knew the program at that point, had that experience, that maturity, uh, I really think it was probably a mistake to let him go and Illinois would have been better off.
00:45:28
Speaker
having him on the roster than someone perhaps with more talent, quote unquote. I think that's hurt them because I think he's a guy who could have been that true keeper of the flame and just letting guys know what's expected of them with this program and how things work as Malay and I. I think Underwood's spoken about wanting to get old and stay old with the program. Illinois kind of achieved that with the transfers coming. You got some veteran guys, but there's something
00:45:56
Speaker
get experienced and stay experienced too. If you're just old and it's new guys, it isn't quite the same necessarily as it is with experienced guys.
Illinois Basketball Future Prospects
00:46:05
Speaker
Now that said, some programs, Mizzou, a lot of older guys who have come in with not much experience together and they've fared well, but I guess that's a lot of experience. Illinois has a few guys experience and a lot of new guys. It's just kind of been a tricky combination and not having
00:46:20
Speaker
Anyone senior at that point guard position, I think really has has hurt them. And that would that would be something that Illinois would really benefit from if they had a veteran leader at point guard. Speaking of the point guard situation with with the unknown with Sky Park and I mean, nobody knows what I haven't seen his name in transfer portal yet. Yeah. So I don't know when nobody knows what he's going to do. And I've talked with Dean Thomas.
00:46:48
Speaker
couple months ago earlier, we were talking about the about the you know, I had him on the show, we were talking about Illinois. And he kind of likes going forward, sincere Harris, as that as that point guard. And I'll tell you what, I've seen a lot, there's a lot to like about about Harris. Do you think he could be that that point guard that's going to stick around three, four years and leave this team? I think he could be a leader. I
00:47:15
Speaker
I don't know if he'd be my absolute primary choice to be the primary ball handler, ball distributor. He could be perhaps, but I don't think he's a natural point guard, but I love his energy. I love his defense. I love everything he brings to the table. I think he's the one guy that just goes all out every single game and having that questions about his effort and energy level.
00:47:38
Speaker
I like him a lot. And who am I to argue with Dion on some of that? He would know better than I would probably, who could really lead a team. I'm curious about this Moretti that they have coming in. I don't think the plan is for him to sit out this year. But I think he's a natural point guard in terms of ball distribution and everything too. And that's where I always lean. I'd like to have a leader who really can, you know, can really distribute the ball. And I think this year,
00:48:06
Speaker
can do some of that, but that's not his first aspect. He's more of a defense-first, energy-first point guard, I would kind of feel, which is maybe a little atypical from what you have from a PG originally. So I like him. I think he's going to be a key element of the program. I guess my preference would be to have a guy a little more distribution-oriented. Yeah. Well, I wasn't necessarily the point guard. I was just meeting the leader of the
00:48:33
Speaker
in that in that realm of being that leader, so to speak. Oh, yeah, I think sincere definitely can be a lead. I think he's a guy that you you look at him, it seems like he's getting the kind of playing time that would make him happy and stick around. And he's got that mental makeup, I think, to be a leader. So in terms of that role, absolutely. I think that he's got strong leadership potential. Because he just
00:48:57
Speaker
He just seems to get it out there, what it takes to really exert the effort at the Big 10 level and really need to succeed. So for sure, from that aspect, yes. Yeah. Now, looking at what we've built so far, what's going on this season with, like I said, with the way we've had losses to the older teams and, you know, the play against Indiana. What's your take on this, on the outlook going forward? I think we got, what, 10 games left, 9 games left? Let's see, they're right. Yeah.
00:49:25
Speaker
uh about that right i'm trying to think do they have 10 left there are they have 11 left still are they five left okay or yeah i think they're four they're four and four in the conference four and four so they've got 12 left actually so it's okay there's a lot of basketball left yeah a lot of basketball we've played you know i don't want to overreact to that iu game it seems like there are a lot of extenuating circumstances going on whether how much of an impact the fatigue was mire for being sick you can't just discount that uh traits having
00:49:55
Speaker
He could have defended them better, I think. Cried something different, at least. But he also was just on that game, too. And they've had their duds here and there. They've also looked really good some games, too. So this team's a question mark. The whole Big 10 is in the same boat, basically. Besides, Purdue is at the top. And Minnesota is pretty clearly at the bottom, although they almost knocked off Michigan this week. But they're pretty clearly the bottom rung. And everyone else in the middle there is on the same boat.
00:50:25
Speaker
you know, I, I think the big 10 championships out of the question for the most likely for the Illini this, this season, uh, regular season, big 10 championships. But I think a top four finishes absolutely doable when you look at the rest of the teams in there. So Illinois just needs to regroup and get their act together. I think that they're still among the most talented teams in the conference. And you look at their resume, as you pointed out, they beat Texas, they beat UCLA, they can't beat anybody in the country. And I don't think there's a,
00:50:54
Speaker
a truly dominant team out there. Purdue is a nice team, but are they absolute powerhouse, number one team in the nation? I don't really think so. And you look at Houston and Kansas, you know, have had their losses as well too and taken some long. So things are wide open nationally and I still think they're pretty wide open in terms of the upper echelon of the big 10. So I still like the potential of this team. It's just never know for sure when they're going to throw up, but it does and just not show up. Even when you think they've turned a corner, maybe they haven't quite.
00:51:23
Speaker
Uh, you mentioned Moretti and, and, uh, was it, uh, uh, Perron? I'm quite sure I pronounced his name Zachary. Yeah, Zach. There you go. Let's go with Zach. Uh, you got, you got, you know, you got him, you got, uh, Moretti and, uh, the, uh, the manager they promoted to player, uh, you know, I know Perron was, he was already coming to school. It was just a matter of getting, I guess the transcripts and the financial aid worked out to where he can, uh, get in. Uh, I hadn't heard much about this Moretti.
00:51:54
Speaker
You got any other information on him? His name popped up some this off season. I know it popped up that he was someone that Illinois was recruiting later in the season, but then he just kind of fell off the map. I hadn't heard anything about him until suddenly he's coming to Illinois. I've seen some clips of him. He looks like he's a talented kid and he's got some nice shot and nice passing skills. So I don't think Illinois is at the point where they're not taking a whole lot of
00:52:22
Speaker
extreme flyers on kids, you know, if they're able to get like, you know, the type of talent that they, I think they know the type of talent they want to get, and they're able to get most of it these days. So I got to think he's got some strong potential if the ally and I are bringing him in. And I think he's going to be a nice piece going forward because they do need to beef up that point guard situation. As you said, I don't know where things stand with Scott. It's kind of mysterious with that. I'd probably be surprised if he
00:52:50
Speaker
Was part of the team again in the future, but heck, I don't know. I don't, I don't really know where, where things stand. As you said, I haven't seen him enter any portal or anything yet. So who knows where that all stands. I wish the best for him, whatever, whatever he ends up deciding to do. Uh, but I, I think we're ready. There will be an interesting piece moving forward. I do think they're going to need to recruit a veteran point guard this coming off season. They should be able to.
00:53:14
Speaker
bring in a pretty good one, I think, too, because there's a spot there for someone. There's no clear person in that role that they've got to really completely beat out. If you're good, you should have a chance to be able to step in, I would think, too. But that's going to be an important role going forward. But I think he seems like a guy with a nice promise for the future. A couple of final thoughts here. Kind of refreshed my memory of who we've got coming in next year. Merens, I think. Is he next year or is he 24?
00:53:40
Speaker
I think he's still at 24. So they've got Hansberry, the kid from Philadelphia. Oh, they've got Gibbs. Yeah, Gibbs. Perdue, originally. So he's coming in as well. They do have another guard coming in there, a young guard as well, too. But there, again, it's a young guard, so. Right. But you've got to get, and you know, I love Epps, too. I think Epps has got great potential as well, too.
00:54:10
Speaker
Still, you got to have someone who's a vet and a true proven leader, I think, on the team next year in that point guard position is going to be crucial for them moving forward. Yeah. Do you see Hawkins and or Melendez leaving at the end and going to the – because their name has been mentioned, and I know they've shown up on some boards here and there, but I don't think Melendez has really, since the preseason, I don't think he's really put himself in a good position
00:54:39
Speaker
I think with Hawkins, they know what they're getting because they can see it every night. He's got the athleticism, but what is your take? I can see Coleman perhaps going pro after this season, but I think it probably behoove him to return really. I think he could definitely get better. Coleman has NBA skills. I think he could refine his game more. One thing I wish he'd do less is shoot like 30 footers. It seems like he seems to shoot
00:55:03
Speaker
the longest three possible rather than getting the best shot at times and going towards the basket more and fading away less. I think there's a lot he can still work on. It wouldn't surprise me. RJ, I think he's got a lot of work to do before he's ready to be a pro. I think the expectations for RJ were a little outsized this offseason. People were kind of comparing him to Keegan Murray and then you have a breakthrough season and he showed some flashes last year, but he's
00:55:29
Speaker
He's been kind of up and down and seems to have kind of tapered and plateaued a little bit. I think he's got a lot of athleticism and ability, but needs to work on his, on his game more. You know, Karen Shannon Jr. has another year of eligibility too. I think he's got a photo. Yeah, he does. He has, he has another season for two years coming in. He had two years. So he could be back next season. You know, you get a look at those guys, maybe they're ready to go, but are they,
00:55:56
Speaker
Hawkins or Terrance, are you really going to be a first rounder? Do you think for sure that you have a chance? If not, probably should come back. I wish Kofi had come back for another year. I think it would have been best for him with that. But sometimes the guys are just done with school. So it wouldn't shock me to see those guys leave.
Illinois NCAA Tournament Chances
00:56:16
Speaker
And every off season, you're probably going to have some transfers in and transfers out for programs these days, too. That's just kind of a given, I think, of the state of the game right now.
00:56:24
Speaker
I think they, I mean, there's a lot of talent that they should have on the roster again next year as well too. And hopefully the guys, there's a talented roster this year and they can maximize that key is to get to the tournament and see if they can try to get that second weekend finally. So just focus on getting to the tournament right now and hopefully take it, take it and break through that wall and get to the second weekend. Now you mentioned Luke Goody a little bit earlier. I think he's what ready for not this coming game, but next week.
00:56:48
Speaker
I hope so. The original rumors were he could be back the 16th of the 19th. So he wasn't back for either of those games, the total or the Michigan State game. So I haven't heard the latest update. I know he's practicing with no boot and I think he's out there. So I kind of hope he's back soon. His outside shooting ability, I think his presence on the court, his leadership, he's a rugged guy.
00:57:12
Speaker
The question is, how long will it take him to get up fully up to game speed, which you've got to think it's going to take him a little while to get going and get him in full shape. I think that was part of Meyer's issue, that he had some back issues in the off season. I don't think he was fully conditioned the start of the year that kind of slowed him down. So I'm not sure when good he's going to be back, but I think it's going to be soon. I really hope it's going to be soon because they could use him out there. Well, I'll tell you what with the loose
00:57:39
Speaker
listening to Meyer talk about, uh, when he first got here and how out of shape he was and what he credits Fletch where he goes, he goes, I got my six pack back. I mean, he was having the interview I saw him on and, uh, but he said he's in the best shape of his life. And, you know, so you got to give the Illinois training staff a little bit of, uh, uh, you know, cause I guess, uh, beyond the same when they were in the Vegas tournament and, uh, the Baylor team, you know, team was there and they
00:58:07
Speaker
They said they had guys coming up to him and said, what'd you do with the other half of Dane? I bet. You know, because, you know, cause he was like almost 300 pounds when he played for them and he's down to like two 65 at Illinois. And, or it looks like, you know, they say it looks like completely different ballplayers. So, I mean, how much, how important do you think the training has become lately at college basketball?
Training and Conditioning in College Basketball
00:58:28
Speaker
I think it's important to crossbar. I think Illinois has as good a trainer and flesh as anyone in the country too. And he's the guy that.
00:58:35
Speaker
You got to pay him what it takes to keep him around. I know they've given him raises. The transformation he's done with things, you look at what, you know, IO was a scrawny kid when he came in and he left with an NBA physique. You see where they got Kofi really fit and in shape. You see what he's done with, with danger. Even in the short amount of time that Terence Shannon Jr. has been there, there's been a physical changes that seem photos of him before he joined the Illini program. So really his weight training and conditioning program is absolutely on point. So I think.
00:59:03
Speaker
give him a little tie, you know, I'm sure he's been working with goody and they're getting him, getting him into as much shape as it as he can. I think it's different once you actually get back on the court in a real game, you know, the exertion level that you're going to put forward with that, but enormously important. And I think he's been a huge key to the success that Underwood's had. He's just getting these guys in shape and getting their bodies built up and really ready for big time basketball. One final question. I mean, a lot of people were saying we're going to be like the last two years.
00:59:33
Speaker
win the first week, win the first game and then done. I can see that. I can actually see that happening with this team, depending who we play and where our seating is. But do you think this team can make that deep run? I think it's, yeah, I think it has the, I think it has the talent to do it. They need to have their heads right and playing well, but I absolutely think talent to do that. It all depends on match ups and who they get. But like the most recent thing I saw was Illinois projected as a nine seed and something I saw recently. Now I think they can still move up.
01:00:03
Speaker
from that line potentially, but this is a season two where I don't think there are any clear cut powerhouses. So like Illinois has an eight, nine facing a number one seed who isn't a powerhouse. Number one, it could be an awfully scary proposition for that number one seed. Um, so there's a lot of questions, uh, where they're going to get seated and what they have, um, uh, going on with that. But I think they have the talent and ability to pull this through and get through that second week again.
01:00:30
Speaker
No matter who they are, they've gotten bad match-ups the past couple of years that haven't really contributed to things too. I mean, Loyola had an old, being able to knock off the in-state team, high-seated team. But Loyola's team had a lot of experience from their Final Four team, and that Houston was wildly under-seated last year. That said, Illinois got... They haven't had any favors from the Seating Committee.
01:00:53
Speaker
as well, too. So maybe I won't always do to get a more favorable seed this year. And they've got some guys in Meyer, for example, who knows what it takes to make a run in in March and hopefully they can break through. I'm not this this past game against Indiana was really disheartening and disappointing. But come back out against Ohio State this week and let them get another win and get back on the right track. I still believe this team can really make some things happen the rest of the year.
01:01:19
Speaker
Hey, Dave, it's been great having you on. We'll have to do this again sometime for sure. Maybe we'll get closer to football season. We'll talk a little football maybe down the road. Okay. And let's see. Remind me your twiddle hand again where people can get ahold of it. Yeah, it can be on Twitter at wishlist. So at, it's W-I-S-T-H-L-I-S-T. So wishlist with a C. And thanks. It's been great being on. And go Illini. Enjoy the rest of the season. All right. Well, thank you, Dave. And I appreciate your time.
01:01:48
Speaker
I hope you enjoyed that interview with Dave Wishnowski. I'm going to have to have him definitely back on again. Maybe this basketball season, definitely by football season. Before we close out, I want to give you some quick programming notes. Next week will be the monthly NCAA report with Russ Robinson. So mark your calendar for that. Russ is always a great guest to have on and a very good, knowledgeable man about college football. So that should be a fun show.
01:02:15
Speaker
Looking forward here, I'm going to try and get John Denton back on sometime during spring training. And then when the XFL gets into gear with some games, I'm going to try and get the A-Trains Arlington Lane back on. So, you know, look forward to some more guests coming on. And so stay tuned for that. And now as we move on.
XFL Return and St. Louis Battle Hawks
01:02:40
Speaker
For Under the Arch, the XFL is back and having its initial return put on hold by COVID.
01:03:09
Speaker
They are now back in underway ready to go again after a slight rework of the teams. LA and New York are no longer in the league. They were replaced by San Antonio and Las Vegas. The XFL draft was held back in November and that's a little different draft than what you see with the NFL.
01:03:25
Speaker
The XFL quarterbacks are assigned or pre-selected first and then on each individual day you've got different skill sets that are drafted as opposed to a wide open draft like you see in the NFL. Day one you have the offensive skill sets on your wide receivers, your running back, your fullback, your tight end, those guys like that. Then your defensive backs, your defensive front,
01:03:54
Speaker
which includes your outside linebackers and outside edge rushers. Um, and then your offensive line and day two is a similar situation, uh, going with different, uh, some different positions here and there. And then of course, the special teams, St. Louis battle Hawks had the second pick and, uh, in all the battle Hawks drafted 57 players. Coach Anthony Beck was very pleased with how the draft went. He said, we quoting here.
01:04:20
Speaker
We got the players, the majority of players that we had rated higher on our board. We did our homework. I felt we got some great guys and we're in really good shape. We feel great about the 57 we drafted. According to coach Beck, they got the top four linebackers they wanted. And he also called the secondary long and athletic saying, you're talking about a team that can go sideline to sideline, very fast, very strong.
01:04:43
Speaker
Beck also thinks they have the best running back the league with Brian Hill or running backs, excuse me, in the league with Brian Hill, Matteo Durant and Abdul Adams. Beck also likes his tight end saying we've got it all speed, length, size. He wanted to say Jordan Thomas is 275 pound tight end who can move out of break quicker, move out of breaks quicker than I ever could.
01:05:05
Speaker
And Beck should know a lot about that. He did play tight in for 12 years in NFL for the Jets, Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs. The XFL season will begin February 18th, so they're less than a month away from getting started. And most games will be carried by ESPN, ESPN2, FX, with a few games being on ABC. The league will play mostly a Saturday Sunday schedule.
01:05:28
Speaker
but there are going to a few games later for Thursday, Friday, and Monday. So for the complete schedule, why don't you go to www.xfl.com and check out, as they say, check your local listings or times in your area.
New Cardinals TV Announcer Announcement
01:05:43
Speaker
All right, quickly, Valley Sports and the St. Louis Cardinals have announced that Atlanta Braves broadcaster, Chip Carey, son of Skip Carey and grandson of Harry Carey,
01:05:53
Speaker
We'll take over the calling of the TV games for the St. Louis Cardinals after Dan McLaughlin stepped aside. Kerry was a finalist with Seattle Mariners broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith.
01:06:03
Speaker
who removed himself from contention saying that he had now developed a relationship with the Mariners and the fans in the city of Seattle. And he felt the staying there was better off for him. Terry, who was born in St. Louis and has been with the Atlanta Braves the past 18 seasons. He started in 93-95 working some games with the Seattle Mariners in 1998 to 2004. He was the TV play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs.
01:06:32
Speaker
In 2004, he joined his father, Skip Carey, in Atlanta. I think it's kind of anything you have Chip following his grandfather in St. Louis. Harry was the radio voice back then in the 60s. But I still think it's pretty cool because you had Joe Buck following his dad, Jack.
01:06:50
Speaker
And so he got skipped following his grandfather, Harry, in St. Louis, announcing St. Louis games. So I think it's going to be a lot of fun. We'll have to see. You don't know until you actually hear the voice on the screen, so to speak.
Show Feedback and Contact Information
01:07:06
Speaker
Well, that's going to do it for me. And as always, if you've enjoyed any of this or all of this, please feel free to contact me via Twitter.
01:07:15
Speaker
at tso tb gcs or the show's website talking sports hyphen otb hyphen gcs dot on podium dot com or at gateway city sports dot com until next time have fun stay safe and we'll see you again when we're talking sports on the bleachers
01:07:46
Speaker
Thanks again for joining us and you have been listening to Talking Sports on the Bleachers. Here's hoping you have a great sports day.
01:08:13
Speaker
you