Recapping Auburn basketball's win over Indiana

[00:00:02] Speaker A: The following is an Auburn network production. [00:00:17] Speaker B: Live on ESPN 167. Auburn Opalika's sports leader [email protected] or on the ESPN 167 app. To be on the line, call in at 33432 113 90 or toll free at 888-382-7502 you are on the line with Jacob Goeth. [00:00:42] Speaker C: You're on the line here on ESPN 167. Auburnopalika sports leader happy Monday, everybody. Hope you're doing well on this Monday, December 11, 2023. This is the Monday edition of on the line, the show that tells you like it is and holds nothing back. I'm Jacob Goens. He is Uncle T bone Wade Bennett with you inside the Auburn Plaza bar and lounge studio on a Monday afternoon. Hope you're all doing well. A beautiful day outside, little chilly, but hey, had frost on the windshield this morning, folks. Frost on the windshield here in Auburn. And so again, I like the cold, but most people don't. And it doesn't get frosty windshields down here very often. Uncle Tebow? [00:01:25] Speaker D: Yeah. I mean. Remind you of home, Jacob? [00:01:27] Speaker C: Yeah, it did. Yeah. And when I was growing up, going to school, if your windshield was frosted over, we didn't prepare in time and I didn't get up in time to go out and start the truck and let it warm up and the whole thing defrost. So you'd go out and you'd scrape a circle just big enough to where you could see out the windshield and make it to school on time. [00:01:45] Speaker D: The window on the side window was not rolling down either. [00:01:48] Speaker C: No. [00:01:49] Speaker D: Always use cold water when you throw it on your windshield and not hot or crack your windshield. I learned that one one time the hard way. [00:01:57] Speaker C: Oh, no. [00:01:58] Speaker D: That's what I always did. [00:01:58] Speaker C: I just go there with a bucket. [00:01:59] Speaker D: Of water and roll it on to school. So much better mood this Monday, Jacob, than I was last Monday. Some good things happening locally on the plains. A lot of exciting things to mean. We can probably just open up the phones again. It's wild right now. [00:02:15] Speaker C: Yes, it is. [00:02:16] Speaker D: So much to talk about. [00:02:17] Speaker C: Yes, there is a basketball to talk about, football to talk about, national stuff to talk about. I mean, there is so much. 2 hours today will not be enough. But good thing is we're here all week, so you can be with us on the show here on the phone lines. We want to hear from you on a Monday afternoon. What's your biggest takeaways from the weekend? Whether it be Auburn football, Auburn basketball, and what they did. Anything you want to talk about on a Monday afternoon? We want to hear from you, 33432 113 90. That number again is 33432 113 90. Give us a call. You can be on the line. Like I mentioned, we've got Auburn basketball to talk about. We have Auburn football to talk about with transfer portal recruiting and with guys returning, we have three topics there to talk about. We also have some national things to talk about in the game of college basketball. There's some controversy going on in the NFL right now. I mean, there is all sorts of stuff happening in the world of sports. And so, Uncle Tebow, without further ado, let's jump into this because we've got a lot to get to in the next 2 hours. Auburn basketball on Saturday went to Atlanta to take on Indiana for the holiday hoops, giving in a game I thought was going to be close. I think everybody thought was going to be close. A lot of Auburn fans were stressed and worried about this game, and they were probably a little stressed and worried in those first couple of minutes where Indiana seemed like they couldn't miss. They go up 22 to ten. The Hoosiers take most of their starters out and Auburn pounced and they never looked back. 28 point victory hung 104 on the Hoosiers in Atlanta and a big win for Auburn basketball. [00:03:59] Speaker D: Yeah, I think the Tigers went on almost a 29 to four run during that time. We talked about this Friday. You had Auburn winning just by the number, which was six. I had us covering, pulling away late those first few minutes of the game. Indiana was doing everything that we talked about that we feared they could do. They were running it inside, outside, making shots, rebounding. Auburn looked a little sluggish. We said that they needed to get off to a good start, not be sluggish like they were against appalachian state. And then all of a sudden the game started changing, slowly but surely. And I looked over to my friend, the barber shop, and I went up to the game. I understand he had a call in with Jack after the show on 94.3. We listened to a good bit of that. It was awesome. Shout out to them, him and Kyle. But I looked over at him, I said, hey man, I think this was midway through the first half. I was like, I think Indiana is a little tired. [00:05:01] Speaker C: And they were, they were tired. [00:05:03] Speaker D: And once Auburn took that lead, initially, I think it was around 27 points, 28 points to 25 or 26 or so. They never looked back. Indiana was completely shell shocked. Their fan base, which was loud and proud for about that first half of the first half, were completely shell shocked. And look, there were more Indiana fans there than Auburn. [00:05:26] Speaker C: They were. They outnumbered Auburn down low. [00:05:28] Speaker D: Now up high. That arena goes pretty vertical. You could see a lot of Auburn fans. I was down low. We were in an Auburn, predominantly Auburn section. But there were several more Indiana fans than Auburn fans. I'd say it was 65% Indiana fans. [00:05:46] Speaker C: I think that's fair. 60% to 65%. [00:05:48] Speaker D: They didn't have a lot to cheer for. Come about five minutes before the first half ended and they knew it was over. [00:05:54] Speaker C: Yeah, they did. And I think something that really got to Indiana in this basketball game was Auburn's depth. And the fact that Auburn legitimately has ten to eleven guys that they can play, that you don't have a significant drop off. And I talk about that all the time on this show and with friends and on x and whatever. That is so huge to have a team, not just to have depth, but to have depth that you don't take a step back when they step on the floor. Right? When Trey Donaldson, KD Johnson, Dylan Cardwell, Chad Bakerman's art. When those guys step on the floor, you're not losing a whole lot. There are times where you're actually playing better than what the starters did. And that is what championship level teams are built. Not every team is built like that. And not every championship team has that. But, man, Auburn does. Auburn has that. Indiana plays about seven guys and Auburn can play ten to eleven. And what that allows, and what it allowed on Saturday was Auburn to press, Auburn to run, Auburn to be physical, Auburn to be fast, and they're never tired because guys get good rotational minutes and the Hoosiers couldn't keep up. And Auburn's a much better shooting team than Indiana on the year. And you saw that as the game went on. The Hoosiers were hot, man, they hit their first three threes. They hit four in the first half and didn't do anything since. And Auburn laid it on them for 40 minutes, man, once they got hot, it was over. And this team played a really good game in such a good game that Auburn swept the SEC weekly awards. Aidan Holloway earned freshman of the week in the SEC and Jalen Williams earned SEC player of the week for their performances on Saturday. And here's what I say about that. It's crazy what happens when he puts his head down and has some aggression and plays the game of basketball. He can be the best one on the floor. I say it all the time. So congratulations to those two. [00:07:51] Speaker D: Know, do you think Indiana would have liked to have had Trey Donaldson as their point guard? You better believe what I saw. And he's coming off the bench. [00:07:58] Speaker C: Off the bench. [00:07:59] Speaker D: I mean, he is a beast, and you're going to continue to see him play more and more and probably Aiden Holloway be on the court with him. You talk about dangerous. I mean, there were so many different combinations. It's impossible that Bruce Pearl had out there Saturday to discuss every one of them in detail. Right. So you just got to talk about the individual play. Do you think, Jacob, if I'd have told you on the ride up to Atlanta Saturday that Janae Broom would have only had two points, we'd have won the basketball game. [00:08:26] Speaker C: No. Yeah. Not even a blowout win? Not even win. I don't think that would have been possible. [00:08:31] Speaker D: Auburn continued to get stronger and stronger and stronger as that game went on. What a complete 180 from one week ago up in Boone, North Carolina, against Appalachian State. I mean, Tigers go 14 of 29 from 348 percent in the free throws. Here we go. We talked about this. 20 of 23, 87% against Appalachian State. Tigers shoot nine and 19 from the free throw line. And I know everyone's tired of me saying it. Three from 27 from the three point line. In one week's time, you saw the very best of Auburn basketball and probably the very worst that you're going to see all season. [00:09:10] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:09:11] Speaker D: And they were amped up, ready to roll. That was showtime in Atlanta, which is a massive, massive basketball market, especially in the south, especially for recruiting purposes in AAU. Auburn has been pretty dominant there recruiting under Bruce Pearl. And look, I think they would have beaten any team in college basketball playing like that in that arena Saturday. [00:09:36] Speaker C: Well, Bruce Pearl said, I mean, that's the best that team can play. And he told head coach Mike Woodson that of Indiana. He told him that. He said, look, that's the best we can play. And Bruce actually got mad at me in the post game press conference because I asked him, I was the first question, I said, bruce, I said, how can you ensure that your team tries to play like that every single night? And he just laughed. I mean, they're obviously not going to play that way every night. But I didn't word it the way I wanted to. But he got mad. And he said, if that was coach Knight answering that question, he'd be on your you know what, and everybody started laughing. But, yeah, I mean, dude, if this team plays like this, there's not a team in the country that can beat them. When you rebound the basketball, which Auburn did, you had 39 rebounds to Indiana's 35, which I think that's impressive in itself to outrebound a team that Indiana is a taller team than you from in the starters and most of the time they're a taller team than you. You out rebound them by three. You mentioned the shooting numbers already. And again, I go back to the depth because take out Janae Broom, who averages 19 points a game, who had two. You had three starters in double digits with Jalen Williams and Aidan Holloway both having 24. And I want to get to those guys again in just a second. Denver Jones had a solid game. Great to see him start to build a little confidence a little bit. And he's such a good shooter, man when he is feeling it. His stroke is so pretty for a shooting guard. He had twelve points on the evening. [00:11:01] Speaker D: Yeah, and that was a quiet twelve. [00:11:03] Speaker C: Yes, it was. [00:11:05] Speaker D: How many people am I counting here that registered points? 14 for Auburn Saturday. Is that correct? One, two, three over 14 people put the ball in the basket. [00:11:17] Speaker C: And that's what I'm saying is you have three starters, three starters in double digits, and then you had three guys off the bench with double digits thanks to Trey Donaldson with ten, Chad Baker Mazar with eleven, and Katie Johnson had a great game with 14 and an effective shooting night as well for Katie Johnson. And here's the big thing. Here's the number that blows me away. You had three total turnovers on the night. Three. That includes things at Indiana forced. That includes the non force turnovers, right? Bad passes, shoe shiners, all that stuff traveling. You had three turnovers in a 40 minutes basketball game. I don't care who you're playing, you could be playing the dream team. If you shoot the way you did here and you turn the ball over just three times, you have a great chance to win some basketball games, man. This was Bruce Pearl's right. This is the best this team can play. [00:12:08] Speaker D: They're not going to shoot like that. At their best, they're not going to have that many people play in a game. 14. Like I was trying to say just a minute ago, at their best, it's hard for a team to get up that much and play at that level. I mean, that was the type level that Auburn basketball was playing in the 2019 tournament after the first game in the three game run up to Virginia in the final four. So they are very capable of playing that. I think the intensity level, as long as the intensity level is there, they're going to win a ton of basketball games no matter how they shoot and how they play because they got after Indiana defensively. Some other things I noticed while I was at the game watching Mike Woodson, former NBA coach from the he was coaching, trying to coach the referees almost the entire game and even late into the game and Bruce Pearl was coaching his know. And I think that he got a little lost in trying to work the referees, meaning the Indiana coach, and lost a little focus on what was happening on the court. Auburn was also mixing up their defense and who was guarding who on inbound plays. The big seven. One guy for Indiana, I noticed on an inbound plane was being guarded by Katie Johnson and they throw it in and all of a sudden it was by design. Two people crash down and help them turnover Indiana, right. And I'll tell you another thing, it was great to see Katie Johnson really in his hometown, get after it. That's another advantage Auburn has. If you had to, he could run point. I mean, Auburn is so deep in the guard play. It is physical deepness, too. Donaldson and Johnson are beast out there defensively, they're like Dumars and Vinny Johnson from the Pistons. You don't want to get in a. [00:14:00] Speaker C: Shoving match with, yeah, there's some tough dudes, no doubt. [00:14:05] Speaker D: And Katie rattled the Indiana offense with his intensity and defensive play so much when he took a break later than he normally does. He's playing so well. He stayed out there longer than normal. I think the Indiana fans were like waving, get him on the bench. Get him off the court, please. We don't want to see him anymore. [00:14:22] Speaker C: Yeah, Indiana just couldn't hang guard playing. They had their 6th year starting point guard who didn't play in this game. But I mean, Auburn's guards just had a field day again. Aidan Holloway had his best game of his college career, 24 points, seven of eleven from the field, five of eight from downtown and five of five from the free throw line. You'll take that. I mean, didn't have any turnovers, which is perfect for a point guard and had two assists. Would I like to see the assist numbers be more? Sure. But if Aidan Holloway is going to be shooting like that, that's fine with me. And so I want to talk about Aiden Holloway and Jalen Williams when we come back. Plus, we're going to get to the phone line. Shane, you'll be first up when we come back as we take our first break here on the Monday edition of on the line. [00:15:04] Speaker B: You are on the line on ESPN 167 [email protected] or on the ESPN 167 app. [00:15:16] Speaker C: Let's get to the phone lines here on the Monday edition of on the line. 33432 113 90. Shane you're on the line with Jacob goens and Uncle Tbone. What's up? [00:15:26] Speaker E: Hey, how are you all doing today? [00:15:28] Speaker C: Doing good, man. What's on your mind? [00:15:31] Speaker E: I'm just glad that the perspective has changed since last week. It's not as much doubting and complaining and whining from fans and whoever about Auburn. About Auburn. [00:15:46] Speaker F: Yeah. [00:15:46] Speaker E: But my question is, is it going to be like that every time we lose a game? It's just the end of the world. And then we forgot that we played good last game or is it going to be game to game? [00:15:59] Speaker D: I just think it depends on how they play, right? If Auburn plays up to its potential or plays near it and plays with intensity. [00:16:09] Speaker C: You all just said that it's basically. [00:16:11] Speaker E: Impossible for a team like Bruce Pearl just scolded you because you said if we play like. [00:16:23] Speaker D: To an mean, that's. [00:16:24] Speaker C: The absolute highest of the high. Of the high, there's no chance any team could play to that level. But if you play somewhere near that, which I think this team could do consistently, then, yeah, I mean, you're going to have a great chance to win and you shouldn't lose very many games. But the problem is, Shane, and you bring up an interesting point here. The problem is now going to be, Auburn fans know that that is in the tank, right? They know that that card is in the deck somewhere. And if it's not played every single game, there's going to be a group that are upset and you can't help those people. They're going to be upset regardless. But I think you bring up an interesting point. [00:16:59] Speaker E: It's just like Gus's first year here. We set the bar extremely high. Just imagine if he had gone six and six that first year and then eight and four and ten and two and then gone upward instead of almost win the natty, and then you're okay. But the expectation was so high that we expect this. We expect greatness now. Yeah, we do. From our basketball because Bruce has brought it and we do expect that greatness. But there's also a level of reality that these are kids. It takes energy, and I can't get out there and do that for twice a week for that length of a period of time. So I give them props for getting up and doing that and showing out. And I hope that we see something we're not going to see that if we see that at once every three games. Awesome. That would be awesome. And then kind of like more realistic for the rest of them. Just don't miss every three pointer. [00:18:07] Speaker G: When. [00:18:08] Speaker E: You go, whatever it was for Appalachian, three and 20, 719 or something like that. [00:18:13] Speaker D: Yeah, three for 27. [00:18:15] Speaker E: We're not going to win that game. [00:18:16] Speaker C: Right. I think for Auburn fans on the basketball side of things, it's a realistic expectation for this team to shoot. Comparing the numbers from Saturday, right. 48% from the field, 48% from three at 87% from the free throw line, and you put up 104 points. I think it's a realistic expectation for Auburn basketball fans to have their team shoot around 50% from the floor. I think anywhere 30 and up, 35% and up at the three point line is respectable and this team should shoot over 80%. There are good shooters on this team. The only one that's not great at the free throw line are Janae and Dylan, but those are centers and that's just how that goes sometimes. But everybody else is a really good shooter and I think this team should be able to consistently put up 75 to 80 points. And if they do that with the defense that they play, Auburn is going to win a lot of games this year. But fans cannot expect a 50% shooting night and 104 points in every basketball game with six players at double digits. That's just unrealistic. Game in and game out, right? [00:19:19] Speaker F: Yeah. [00:19:20] Speaker E: Anyway, guys, appreciate the call. [00:19:22] Speaker C: Shane. 33432. 113 90. And again, you can expect that, but as I said, there are fans and look, everybody sees it now. That is the ceiling, highest of the high, the best that this team can play. Does it mean that it'll never happen again? No, but it doesn't mean it's always going to happen against a good team. I mean, you beat a good Indiana team on Saturday, you beat a big name brand and a good basketball team. This may happen a it may never happen again. It could happen on Wednesday against UNC Asheville, or it could be against Kentucky later on in the year. Or again. It may never happen, but there has to be a realistic expectation, and I think that's what it is. Uncle T bone around 80 points a game, shoot around 50% from the floor, around 35% to 40% from three, and knock down 80% of your free throws as a team. [00:20:18] Speaker D: I feel like we had this conversation last week already, and I feel like my answer was, is it just too much for me to expect Auburn beating Appalachian State in any sport? I mean, we're Auburn University, we're a big boy athletic program with 100 million dollar budget at least, right? Is it too much for me to ask us not to shoot 11% from three point line ever again? Okay, I saw it last Sunday. Is it just too much for me to ask that? I don't think so. [00:20:50] Speaker C: I don't think so. [00:20:51] Speaker D: And I don't think it's very realistic for me to not be excited that we just played the best game that we've played in, not only this season, but probably in a couple of years. Do I expect that to be the standard for every game? No, I don't think that anybody with a rational fandom thinks that. But that's why fans are fans. [00:21:12] Speaker C: Well, here's, I think, what Auburn fans should expect. You played probably your worst game of the year against App state, and you just played your best game against Indiana. Auburn fans should want to be somewhere in between on a consistent basis, game in and game out. You should want to be somewhere in the middle. Of course, you want to be a little bit closer to the Indiana performance rather than closer to the app state performance, but that would get you to around 80 points a game. Good shooting, good rebounding, good defense and good effort. And I think Bruce Pearl and this team hold themselves to that sort of standard as they should. And Shane was talking about Auburn fans expectations because Bruce has brought that here. Absolutely. This is year ten for Bruce Pearl at Auburn. Year ten, Auburn fans are ready, man. It's the same way with the final four season. They saw the potential, right? That card's in the deck somewhere. Is it going to get played right? Are you going to hit it on the river, hit it on the flop? Is it going to be in there somewhere? Or is it going to be tucked under your sleeve and under the dealer's nose and never see it again? You know what I mean? This Auburn fan base has seen the highs and they've seen the lows. They're just ready for more highs in year ten under Bruce Pearl. And I think Saturday brought all that out. [00:22:27] Speaker D: I'm excited that if the Auburn fan base is actually moving more towards an expectation of not just regional success and the old adage, what's heaven for an Auburn man beating Alabama? I'm excited that Auburn fans are getting to a point where we expect more from all of our athletic programs and we expect national championship contention, or at least to be in the talk of it every single year. And that's what I expect out of my programs. [00:23:00] Speaker C: Yeah, and I feel like that's what John Cohen has brought in his short time as the ad. [00:23:04] Speaker D: I think that Auburn is in the best position for the three major sports to be in that conversation every year moving forward that we've been in since probably Pat Dye, Sonny Smith and Hal Baird were the coaches here. So, yeah, I'm going to be upset when Auburn loses. I'm not going to be upset because the basketball bounces in different directions and it's a tight game and you're on the road or you're at home and you're going up against some of the best teams in the country and they take you down late. But heck yeah, I'm going to be upset if we shoot three of 27 from the three point line against the Appalachian State Mountaineers. That's ridiculous. [00:23:46] Speaker C: And come up short in NCAA tournament runs and stuff like that and come. [00:23:49] Speaker D: Up short in the conference. I mean, the last couple of years in the round of 32, we've looked terrible and we've looked like we didn't want to be there. And we got out hustled and out coached and outplayed. I'm going to tell you that our coaching staff doesn't like it either. [00:24:04] Speaker C: Right? [00:24:05] Speaker D: So, yeah, they got a taste of getting to that final four. You don't think Bruce Pearl don't want to get back there? [00:24:10] Speaker C: Which is why I've said in the past that this coaching staff, especially Bruce Pearl, we all love BP. I love Bruce. Him and I, we have a good relationship. He's a great coach here and he's an Auburn legend already. But he's not above criticism. I've said that. As great as he is and the things that he's done for Auburn basketball, he is not above criticism. No coach is above criticism. I don't care if they're Auburn or not. Bill Belichick's not above criticism. Nick Saban's not above criticism. And BP's not either. And I'm not saying, I'm not criticizing right now. I'm just saying in the overall outlook on Auburn basketball, it's time. It's time to start winning and look at how good this team is. Man, I said it preseason. This is the most talented team Auburn has ever had, that Bruce Pearl has ever had. So fans should have high expectations with you. [00:25:00] Speaker D: I mean, I sat there and listened to Alabama fans after week two, after Steve Sarkeesian rolled up into Bryant, Denny and Rick rolled the tide, talking about how it's time for Saban to retire. He's the greatest of all time. That's what fans do. [00:25:14] Speaker C: That's what fans do. I like it. 33432. 113 90. We're going to get to the phone lines when we come back and change our conversation into some football. We got a lot to talk about there, too. Held on through the break. You on the line. What's up, man? [00:26:17] Speaker A: Hey. Okay, guys. Hey, I'm going to say something about. Hey, T Bones. Good talking, both of y'all. [00:26:23] Speaker D: Hey, Ed, how are you? [00:26:25] Speaker A: I'm doing all right, man. I was just going to call. I just want y'all to give me your opinion. If you're sitting there and listening to someone that's a radio host or broadcast or whatever, and he's talking about Auburn University and that they've been able to flip a few people because it's all this Nio money is just so ridiculous. And then this guy's been committed to Alabama for quite a while, but now it seems that the nil, if there's enough money, he might change from being committed to Auburn. And my stance is that, yes, Auburn will pay what the going rate is or whatever. Everybody has to. But to make that statement is absolutely disrespectful about everything. That's the only reason the kid is disrespectful to the kid. It's disrespectful to Auburn. The kid will definitely get on the field quicker at mean. What do y'all think? [00:27:39] Speaker D: Who made the statement, Ed? Who are we referring to making this nefarious? [00:27:45] Speaker A: Okay, this morning, and I had it out with him. I called him, I told him, I said, of course he won't let you talk. He just drums you out. But yeah, he's the one that made it. And he didn't only say it about. He acted like all the kids that Auburn had flipped. [00:28:05] Speaker D: He's saying. You're saying that Doug Amos on the midday show is saying that the only reason any of these really good players are coming to Auburn is because they're being paid a bunch of. [00:28:20] Speaker A: That is. That is exactly what he said about Ryan Williams. Now, he didn't say that, but he insinuated that about the others. But this morning, well, the only reason he would go to another school, the one that he's been committed to for so long, is the nil. I don't agree with mean. That's disrespectful. To the mean. It's disrespectful. [00:28:50] Speaker C: I hear where you're coming from. I do. I hear where you're coming from, Ed. And look, I'll zoom out here and just talk on a larger scale, for any kid that is committed to one place and decides to decommit and commit to another place, I mean, unless you are his family, his friends, his Coaches or anything, you don't really know the reason. And I don't care if people on message boards claim that they know stuff or not. Most of them don't. Nobody knows that unless the kid and his family, right? And why he left a certain place. So I get what you're saying, and. [00:29:21] Speaker A: This is the other thing that you'll hear. What I've heard from people. I know. I know people. I can't name names, but I'm sick of it. But on a positive note on football, I am so excited about the recruiting momentum that is going. Some of the guys that are looking, that are really looking, and I think most all of them are just honestly excited about coming. We've got good facilities, they got a good coaching staff. I think they're going in a positive direction, and I'm just so excited about how they're doing in recruiting. [00:30:04] Speaker C: Absolutely. [00:30:06] Speaker A: One thing and I'll let you all go, and then I'll let you all talk football. And I really appreciate you letting me talk basketball, man. Bruce Pearl, it was just beautiful. It was nice to watch a team play like they did, assists and everything against Indiana. Did y'all read his comments about that game? [00:30:30] Speaker C: Yeah, and I was there. I was in the post game press conference with Bruce and he had some things to say. [00:30:37] Speaker A: Was as pretty in person as it was. I don't know. I'm just proud. They've got a lot of guys scoring. And Aidan, you think he'll stay more than a year? [00:30:55] Speaker C: No way, man. He'll be gone after this year for sure. Ed, hey, man, we appreciate the call. Great to hear from you. [00:31:01] Speaker A: Hey, thanks, guys. [00:31:02] Speaker C: War Eagle, that's Ed joining us on the phone lines 33432 113 90. Would love to hear from you. [00:31:08] Speaker D: Ed, getting a little upset with Doug Amos, our counterpart at the midday. I'll say this, I know Doug very well. He's a good dude. He's been doing this a very long time and has plenty of connections all around the state, both in Tuscaloosa and Auburn. I did not hear the comments, so I'm going to have to defer to Ed there. But I will say this, I think that there's a myriad of reasons why people would go to one school over another. And in the case of Ryan, and I do agree with Ed here, that Auburn will pay the going rate, right? There's a going rate for Ryan Williams. It's not like Alabama's not paying him to go, and it's really high. I don't have many sources at all and really don't want any, but I've heard upwards of that number being three quarters of a million dollars a year for him to go to your school. [00:31:56] Speaker C: Well, take the money part out of it. And as we get into all the Auburn news and football, we're going to talk about this for pretty much the remainder of the show here. Take the money part out of it. Okay? Look at what's happening at Auburn football right now. Look at the momentum as Ed is talking about. He's spot on here. Look at the momentum that Auburn is building within the football program. Okay? This program was in the lowest of the load, the worst spot it's ever been in the history of its existence. I'm talking even with the Gene Chiswick stuff and years past, I don't care this program from, I guess, a perspective or like an outlook. People on the outside were laughing at Auburn so hard, and Auburn was an embarrassment on the national stage in college football. But now everybody has taken notice and they're like, oh, wow, look at what's happening down there. People hear it. People see it coast to coast, north to south and east and west. They understand what's happening here and they see the momentum that's being built. And when you start getting big name coaches and big name players to come on and be a part of this thing, Hugh freeze, as your head coach, you keep big names like Cadillac on your coaching staff, who took the world by storm when he was the interim here. You start hitting the recruiting trail and you remind people, hey, we're still here in the lower portion of the state of Alabama. Don't forget about us. I know the former staff made you do so, but don't forget about us. And when you start flipping guys from Florida and Georgia and Alabama, and you start getting the biggest names in the state and in the country to commit to this program and commit to the future, and you put together a pretty good football season, given all the circumstances in year one. I know it wasn't perfect, but you put together a decent year for year one. Given everything that had happened and given the guys at hand, you have all that come together, why would somebody not want to be a part of it? I think the only thing you can claim is the uncertainty. And that's fine, that's fair. You're going to have that in every program with a new head coach. There is a level of uncertainty across the board. Does it matter? Doesn't matter if you're talking about Auburn, doesn't matter if you're talking about Texas a m, whether you're talking about whatever new coach at a new location. But why would a big time player not want to be a part of what's happening at Auburn right now because there's exciting stuff happening and we have so much to talk about today. But why would you not want to be a part of it if you're a big time player when other big time players have already taken the chance? [00:34:34] Speaker D: Well, for too long, I think, and I'm with you for too long, I think that there's been way too many people on the outside, way too many people, especially in the national media, on ESPN, who have sold Auburn in its football history and tradition short. Right. So that's something that Auburn is going to have to overcome over time. You're looking at a team that's easily a top 15 program historically. I've said this till I'm blue in the face. I saw a meme today on x that there have been only 18 teams play for a BCS championship. In the BCS championship game, guess who's done it twice? Should have done it three times. Got the shaft in four. Okay, so Auburn is a really good football program that's done a great job over a long period of time. They've won multiple conference championships, multiple national championships. They've put multiple people into the NFL. It's not like it's, oh, I don't know, no offense to Alabama a m. Or something, right? I mean, this is a big time business and football program. [00:35:32] Speaker C: I mean, even sec, this isn't Mississippi state, right? This is aubrebilt. Yeah. [00:35:35] Speaker D: So it's one of the big six that the whole conference realigned. Auburn was part of those six that the whole thing was balanced out on. So a tremendous tradition there in totality. But let's just unravel this a little bit closer with Ryan Williams himself. His dad's an Auburn grad. I'm sure he grew up going to Auburn games. And not to mention, at some point you got to start really looking at, is Nick Saban going to be there in three years or Hugh freeze? [00:36:02] Speaker C: Right. And think about that from a young player perspective as well. And of course, talking about the news, five star wide receiver Ryan Williams, as we expected, he would reclassified from the class of 2025 to the class of 2024. What does that mean? Well, it means he can start taking official visits for this cycle, and the massive expectation is that he's going to make his rounds and we'll talk about what that means and a lot more coming up here on the show. Let's get to the phone lines again, though. 33432. 113 90 and Specter you're on the line. What's up? [00:36:36] Speaker F: Well, I want to answer, I guess, comment on what Ed was saying. You got to remember, I've said this before, Doug's a bammer and you expect him to say something like, know, t Bone took what I was going to say about Williams. His parents both went to, you know, they had a lot to do with. [00:37:01] Speaker D: I mean, look, look, Spectre, Doug is definitely an Alabama fan and he'll tell you, and he will tell you that right. There are people out there in the media that are big time Alabama fans, not just in the state but nationally, but will try and say that they're, oh, above any kind of fandom or bias, whatever. If anything was proven this year in college football, especially with the national media, is that all media people are fans first and bias second. And that's a fact. [00:37:35] Speaker F: Hey, y'all remember that movie with Tom Cruise and gooding Jr. Show me the money. Yeah, that's come full circle. Know. [00:37:45] Speaker C: Yes, it has. [00:37:46] Speaker F: So, you know these know, show me the money. I'm sure that was mentioned at one time or another to, or even Williams may have said it himself. [00:37:57] Speaker D: Look, some people are saying, spectre, that I know that really follow high school football in the state of Alabama, far greater than I ever have thought about it and they're experts at it, that Ryan Williams is not only one of the best wide receivers they ever say come out of the state of Alabama, but one of the best players demand that kind of talent in today's world with the above board payment in nil demands money from every school. Do you think if Alabama wasn't going to pay him close to three quarter, a million dollars to go there that he would still consider the tide, that they're so great that they don't have to pay money? [00:38:38] Speaker F: Yeah, that's right. I hope I'm wrong, but I see this bleeding down to the high school kids themselves. Boy, they even graduate. [00:38:50] Speaker D: Well, why did he go ahead and reclassify? Because he's not going to get paid three quarter, a million dollars to say at Sarah land next year or ever how much money he's going to make in college. So I'm with you. Yeah, you're going to start seeing more and more of these kids get enough credits and get on out so they can get paid just like you saw when they opened it up into the NFL for younger college students to get to the NFL. [00:39:15] Speaker F: Well, I want to bring something up, another subject matter up, if y'all don't mind. Yeah, go for know high school soccer is really popular and it's going to be more popular with the increase of population. I'll just say that because they play soccer, that's their football. And Auburn needs to get on board to have a men's soccer team. I know about, what do you call it, the ruling. [00:39:48] Speaker C: Yeah. And I think a couple of SEC teams do. I think maybe Kentucky has a men's soccer team. [00:39:54] Speaker F: They do. But yeah, the SEC has got to get on board with that because soccer is going to be very popular in high school next several. [00:40:04] Speaker C: And you know what those things come down to is, look, here's the unfortunate thing is outside of the major three sports, and this is just a fact, college sports don't make money. They don't make like none of those sports are making profitable money for the university. There's so much that happens. They're funded by the other ones and it's great that they're there and we want them to be there. I'm not saying that in a demoralizing way at all, but just look at the numbers. A lot of those sports don't make profit. And at the end of the day, college sports. You know this, Specter, it's about the money. You talked about it. Show me the money, right? [00:40:39] Speaker F: Yeah, that's right. [00:40:41] Speaker D: Hey, Specter, thanks for the call. Give us a call at 33432. 113 90 Jacob, did I hear, speaking of soccer last night when I watched my Dallas Cowboys roll Philadelphia 33 to 13? Can you feel it? [00:40:56] Speaker C: Dallas? [00:40:57] Speaker D: Did I hear that their kicker was drafted in the first round of the MLS soccer league after he bombed a Towns McBoomer 60 yarder right there in the first half to go up ten to seven. Did I hear that correctly? [00:41:14] Speaker C: You did. You did hear that correctly. [00:41:15] Speaker D: They might want to get if there are NFL kickers making going towns McBoom out there from Auburn high school drilling 60 yarders who once played soccer, SEC's schools will soon have soccer teams. [00:41:29] Speaker C: Absolutely, man. And look, soccer is a growing sport. There's a lot of those. I mean there's, softball is a growing, a massively growing sport as well. I got a sister that plays that. And so look, those sports are important and they need to be around and they will be around, but Auburn has to. And all these schools just have to do what's in their best interest. 33432 113 90 we'll keep talking football. So much news to get to as we wrap up the first hour. We'll carry it into the second hour as well here on ESPN. 106. [00:42:00] Speaker B: You are on the line on ESPN 1067. Call in at 33432, 113 90 or toll free at 883-82-7502 wrapping up our. [00:42:15] Speaker C: Number one here on the Monday edition of on the line, I'm Jacob Goens. Joined in the Auburn Plaza bar and lounge studio is Uncle T bone. Got a few more minutes here in our number one before we take a break. Get into hour number two. We're talking all things Auburn football. We got to basketball earlier in the show, but all the news in regards to football. We've had some callers call in and talk about it. We want to hear from you as well. 33432 113 90. You brought up Ryan Williams and we had some callers bring that up. So let's get back onto that train for a second. Ryan Williams, the five star wide receiver in the class of 2025, the longtime Alabama commit. We figured this was coming. This is something that's kind of been building for a while. But he did officially reclassify for the class of 2024. And what that means is that he can now start taking official visits for the 2024 period. And we know that you have the early signing day coming up in next week, right, next Wednesday, and then you have the regular signing day in February so he can start taking visits. And guess what? He's going to visit Auburn. And Auburn is going to be in this thing until he puts pen to paper. And there's a lot of Auburn fans that are excited about this, as you should be. I will say, just don't get overly excited and if it doesn't happen, don't be bummed. Right. And I'm going to say that right now at the start of this whole saga because it's going to be crazy for the next couple of weeks here. Don't get bummed out if it doesn't happen. I'm not saying it will. I'm not saying it won't. But if it doesn't happen for Auburn, if you don't get Ryan Williams, it's okay. It's more than okay. You are fine. Look at what Auburn is bringing in in the receiver room. Without Ryan Williams, he would just be not just the whipped cream, not just the cherry, not just the sprinkles. I mean, he'd be everything in between on top. But your receiver class already is really good. I mean, it's one of the best, maybe the best that Auburn's ever brought in through the recruiting ranks. Not to mention you added a portal receiver in this class as well. [00:44:33] Speaker D: Yeah. Saturday, Robert Lewis, wide receiver from Georgia State, a former two star from three years ago who went to the Panthers and has gone up there in Atlanta and made a name for himself, a career 1000 yard receiver for Georgia State. Golly. In 2023, had 70 receptions, 877 yards and seven touchdowns that might have led every Auburn receiver combined this season. It feels like at times his film is awesome, man. Yeah, he's a player. He is definitely one of the top wide receivers in the portal. Auburn had been targeting him since the moment he announced I would probably look for another receiver to come in from the portal. Jacob and a couple of offensive linemen, at least I had some people asking me, does this mean that t bone, are you worried about any of the receivers we have decommitting because this guy's here? I was like, no. [00:45:31] Speaker C: In the high school ranks? Yeah, no. [00:45:32] Speaker D: And I was like no. Because I do feel like there's going to be a few more Auburn players on the roster that may leave from the wide receiver position, too. I'll tell you this, one thing I know that's happening here is this year Hughes taking guys in the portal that are going to be here in the spring. And this kid will be here in the spring. [00:45:51] Speaker C: He'll be here in the spring. He had a game this year with six catches, 200 yards and two touchdowns. And this guy can play. And I know there's some hesitancy when it comes to receivers in the portals because Auburn kind of swung and missed this year. I don't think this is a swing and miss. I think this is a good addition. And we have more to talk about with this with Ryan Williams and with some guys that are on the team who decided to come back for one more year. All of that and more coming up in our number two. Plus, Jacob Hillman of the Auburn Sports Network will join us to catch us up on everything going on in Auburn athletics. That's coming up in our number two here on the Monday edition of on the line. Don't you dare turn that radio dialing. [00:46:43] Speaker A: Is an Auburn network production. [00:46:54] Speaker B: You are on the line live on ESPN 167, Auburn, Opalika's sports leader [email protected] or on the ESPN 167 app. To be on the line, call in at 33432 113 90 or toll free at 883-82-7502 you are on the line with Jacob Goeth. [00:47:22] Speaker C: You're on the line here on ESPN 1067. Auburnopalika sports Leader Happy Monday, everybody. Hope you're doing well as we get underway here in our number two on the Monday edition of on the line, the show that tells you like it is and holds nothing back. I'm Jacob Goens. He's uncle T bone. And we're inside the Auburn Plaza bar and lounge studio as we get underway here in our number two. We appreciate the Auburn Plaza bar and lounge for being our wonderful studio sponsor each and every day between two and 04:00 p.m. Here on the Auburn Opalica sports leader. If you missed any of the first hour, talk some Auburn basketball with the huge win over the weekend in Atlanta when they beat Indiana by 28 points. I mean just a huge win for this team. The best performance they've had this year by far. Uncle T Bone, you said the best performance you've seen from them in a couple of years and I think that's up for discussion for sure. [00:48:18] Speaker D: I think going back to when Kentucky came to, yeah, when Jabari Smith was here and Walker Kessler and the Tigers really controlled that game almost from opening tip and got stronger in that game as it went on, just like they did Saturday against Indiana. I say you got to go back to then to see when Auburn's played that well in a regular season game. [00:48:41] Speaker C: We talked about that in the first hour. We started talking a lot of football, had some great callers in the first hour as well. So if you missed any of that, be sure you can go and catch up with the podcast. Wherever you get your podcast, just search on the line or go to our station [email protected]. That's posted after each and every show coming up here in hour number two. All football talk here. We got a lot to get to. We didn't quite get near all of it. So we're going to talk a lot of football for Auburn in this second hour with recruiting transfer portal and some key names coming back right now for Auburn football and everything else with what that has entails. I mean, there's so much to talk about there. So that's coming up here in this hour. Plus, Jacob Hillman of the Auburn Sports Network will join us. We'll get caught up on everything going on around Auburn athletics with football, basketball, men and women's. You have gymnastics getting going. So lots of things to talk about with Jacob Hillman, but that's in 30 minutes. Until then, phone lines are open. Give us a call. 33432 113 90. Whatever's on your mind. How are you feeling about the news of the weekend for Auburn football? And that's what we start this second hour with Uncle T Bone we mentioned and want to start with this again. Ryan Williams has reclassified from 2025 back to 2024. He can now start taking official visits. He will be visiting some of the biggest programs in the country, and Auburn and Auburn fans really want this guy, man. They've got four of the five that they wanted. This would be the five. The freeze five is what people keep calling it. And I said to end the first hour, this would be huge. But don't be disappointed if it doesn't happen, and we'll see where it goes. [00:50:22] Speaker D: I mean, if you were totally locked in with a team, would you be taking official visits? Yeah, look, I would be very concerned about that, especially since apparently he took an official visit this weekend to Tuscaloosa and his grandmother even came to the visit. I mean, wouldn't you come out and say, hey, I reclassified, I'm going to Alabama, I'm shutting it down, and then start recruiting for the team that you're committed to, like Perry Thompson and all the other people like Walker White have been doing so far this. [00:50:54] Speaker C: Well, I mean, you know, you've got the dabo Sweeney state of mind where if you're committed to Clemson, you do not go visit anywhere else, and if you do, you're out. Like, you do not come to Clemson. So I don't agree with that. I think that's an old school way of thinking, especially in today's world. But you can see that Alabama fans, they're starting to get a little worried a little bit about what's happening down here on the plains compared to what's been happening in Tuscaloosa for the last 15 years. I mean, the momentum is here. The momentum is building. And if Auburn can somehow pull Ryan Williams from Alabama, that would be another flip from the Crimson Tide, it'd be another flip from an SEC school, and it'd be the best player, the best players in the state of Alabama would all be coming to play for Hugh Freeze and Auburn. And, I mean, I can't tell you the last time that happens. I can't. [00:51:44] Speaker D: Is Alabama's recruiting so pitiful compared to normal that they're having to beg people to reclassify to get their numbers up this season? I mean, let's think about this for a minute. Let's take a look at Auburn's in state recruiting, specifically at linebacker, okay? Which is probably one of the best linebacking classes that Auburn's had in my lifetime ever. If it stays together. You got the number one linebacker in the state and DeMarcus Riddick, one of the top linebackers in the country, committed to Auburn out of Clinton. You got. [00:52:21] Speaker C: That was an SEC flip flipped and. [00:52:24] Speaker D: He flipped from Georgia. You had Joseph Phillips, four star, out of Tuskegee, who a lot of people aren't talking about, who may be one of the best players in this class. Flip picked Auburn over Georgia from folks I talked to that follow recruiting a lot more closely than I do, that he was one of the top five players on Georgia's board defensively. You got the barber kid, D'Angelo barber out of pence and he plays at Clay Chalkville, made the tackle to save the state championship against Sarah Land. He's a four star. And then you throw in out of state just into Mississippi. Jamante Waller flipped from Florida. Six, 2225 outside linebacker, four star. And Alabama, on the flip side of that has taken a three star who's an Auburn legacy that Auburn didn't even recruit. Now, I'm sure he's a good player in QB, Reese, but that's a three star. When's the last time Alabama really took a three star that's best offer outside of them is Arkansas State. [00:53:28] Speaker C: Yeah, it's been so. [00:53:29] Speaker D: Times are changing out there on the recruiting trail, folks, and Auburn is making it a point to first get back to being very competitive, if not the best in state. Because for years now Nick Saban and staff have just rolled Auburn in state. [00:53:49] Speaker C: I'll say this about Ryan Williams one more time before we continue into all the news. It is expected. Look, don't expect this to be an early signing day. I mean, that's literally next week. That's not going to happen. He has official visits set for later on in the cycle and it is the expectation, it's the feeling right now that Auburn is going to have the final official visit for him when he's here that first weekend of February. I think it's the second through the fourth on those dates. And then the dead period starts right after that with signing day a couple of days after that. So Auburn is supposed to get the final visit for him. And we know what it means. Not all the time, but what the impact is of the final visit. I think the first visit is important and I think the final visit is important. And if Auburn does get the final visit of Ryan Williams, and if Auburn gets the success on early signing day that they expect to have, you just never know what could happen. I do want to talk a little transfer portal as well because there is some news. Hold on. [00:54:54] Speaker D: Before we move on to let's set this up so everybody understands what we're talking about. Next Wednesday, December 20 is what's considered early signing day, right? That kicks off the early signing period. But for almost all purposes, it's the de facto official signing day, about 90%. But official signing day is Wednesday, February 7. It's that first Wednesday in February that historically has been the big day where everybody, all the big dogs walk late and sign their papers, and there's all these press conferences and chucky dolls and puppies, and ESPN's just pumping up and making a pile of money on it. So Ryan Williams has decided that he's going to reclassify, which he's a junior. He's going to come out early and play college instead of his senior year in high school at Sarah land. He's going to play somewhere in college, hopefully. But he's been committed to Alabama for quite some time because Brian Harson and staff here did not even recruit him, even though he's an Auburn legacy, which should just be grounds for us not ever paying him another nickel. But that's a different story for a different day. And now he's going to not sign next Wednesday. He's going to wait till February 7 and go on official recruits, although he's unofficially, officially committed in going to Alabama. That's the story here. [00:56:25] Speaker C: That's your story? You sticking to it? [00:56:27] Speaker D: I tell you what, that story is going to be a moving target. But you said it best. Even if he doesn't come to Auburn, if he goes to Alabama or somewhere else. Auburn's also like linebacker, got one of the top wide receiving classes so far with commitments that are all expected to sign next Wednesday at Auburn December 20. Not just in Auburn history, but in recent recruiting history. Cam Coleman. Five star Phoenix City player. Perry Thompson. They say he's a four star on rivals. Why he's a five star wide receiver flip from Alabama. Bryce Kane. We've seen him. Auburn high in the playoffs out of mobile. Four star. Good to see Auburn getting back into mobile. Jacob. Huge recruiting that is bama recruiting. Fertile ground right there. [00:57:20] Speaker C: And there are some players down there, too. [00:57:21] Speaker D: Oh, there's some animals down there, no doubt about it. And then Malcolm Simmons out of Alex City that most people are forgetting about. Six foot, 184 star beast. What I'm hearing from a lot of people is he's the best pure athlete in the class. So Auburn's doing a heck of a job and they're going to be fine, but Ryan Williams sure would be the cherry on the cake. [00:57:42] Speaker C: It definitely would. And we're going to keep track of that as we go, and it's going to be a lot of fun. To track it, and I think it'll come down to the wire on February 7 when it comes to the high school recruiting rankings. And of course we'll be covering it between now and next Wednesday for the early signing period. And we expect Auburn to have a big day on Wednesday to flip over to the transfer portal tracker, which is something you can keep track of minute by minute because there's updates every 60 seconds. It seems like Auburn has lost their 9th player to the transfer portal. The defensive end Wilkie Denaud has entered the transfer portal for Auburn. He's the 9th player in there, didn't play this year as a freshman out of the state of Florida. So again, this just seems to be and look, I think he can be a really good player. I think he can be. But when you look at Auburn's transfer portal there again, Uncle Tebow, nothing against these guys. There has yet to be somebody leave where. I'm like, man, that one hurt, that one stung. That's one that Auburn couldn't afford to lose. I haven't said that yet with all nine guys that left. And look, best of luck to them. I hope they go and find somewhere better. But I haven't felt that Auburn had any big losses here yet. [00:59:02] Speaker D: No, Auburn's cutting dead weight right now. I'm just telling you that's what's happening. And they're going to be replaced by high school players and transfer people that are more dialed in than the buckshot approach we had to take in the portal last year because we just had to get some numbers of roster just to have normal practices. Auburn's cutting dead weight right here, folks. Now you're going to see a lot of people outside of the Auburn area who do not follow Auburn football as closely as we all do or have an agenda just to try and report something negative about the momentum that Auburn has both in the portal and on the recruiting trail. Say, oh man, look, nine players and there's going to be more. Look at how many players, right? And none of them are going to be missed other than just being a spot on the roster. [00:59:52] Speaker C: And here's what I like when you start talking about transfer portal additions, we talked about the receiver that Auburn picked up, Robert Lewis, who is from Georgia State. Go watch his film on YouTube. There's plenty of videos this guy could play. I mean, he's a better route runner than anything Auburn had this year. I'll just be honest with you. Guy had better stats, he's a better route runner. His signs is a little concerning for some people I don't think it's an issue. I think he's going to be a really good receiver and add that to the recruits we just talked about. If you add Ryan Williams in there, I think Auburn's going to have some really good receivers from recruiting and the transfer portal, and you mentioned it earlier, I don't think they're done there. And the other thing that Auburn fans should be happy about before we probably get to a break and then we'll get to John on the phone lines. You have offensive linemen left and right coming for visits here in the transfer portal. I mean, you have guys that are scheduled to come in the next couple of days. You had a guy on campus visiting yesterday. You have guys announcing that they are taking official visits this coming up weekend. Multiple, multiple transfer portal offensive line and what have we always said? What have we been saying? A good program should always take guys in the transfer portal from the offensive to defensive line. Agreed. They should always do it. For starters, for depth, for practice squad. I don't care. You can never have enough of those guys. [01:01:16] Speaker D: Yeah, you're going to see that trend continue as long as you freeze is here. He will every year at least have guys in here from both the offensive and defensive lines. Jacob taking a look at Auburn and him taking a look at them coming to Auburn, and I expect every year there'll be at least one to two offensive linemen coming in out of the portal. That's just going to happen. It's a trend in college football and I think Auburn has completely bought into that process. You're going to see as many offensive linemen as they can possibly take that are top notch offensive linemen, not just taking three stars in big numbers, because you got to have the numbers. You can get that in the portal and they're already proven. And any of these guys on the offensive line, in my opinion, who are in the portal or already at Auburn and decide to stay instead of going pro are automatically a four star get or better. Just like with Keonte Scott deciding that he's going to stay at Auburn today. Auburn defensive back, huge news. [01:02:21] Speaker C: Huge news. [01:02:22] Speaker D: That's almost like signing a five star defensive back. Okay, speaking of five star defensive backs, we haven't even mentioned that KJ Bolden is highly in the mix at Auburn. I suspect that Auburn will come down to the wire with that. And look, man, there's other big names after the break that we can get to because they're working their tails off over there on the recruiting trail. [01:02:46] Speaker C: We'll talk about all of that plus get to John when we come back on the phone lines. 33432 113 90 Monday edition of on the line continues after this. [01:02:58] Speaker B: You are on the line on ESPN 167 [email protected] or on the ESPN 167 app. [01:03:10] Speaker C: Let's get to the phone lines once again here on the Monday edition of on the line. Got a couple of callers waiting, so we'll get to them because we have Jacob Hillman coming up in about nine minutes or so from the Auburn Sports Network. 33432 113 90. John, you're on the line first, man. Thanks for holding on through the break. [01:03:27] Speaker F: No problem. I got a quick question. I remember last summer, I believe it was Ryan Day said the top recruits were now demanding five grand just to come visit. And somebody asked Nick Saban about it. And Bama, of course, doesn't pay people to come visit. But I have a friend of mine who's a bowl gator down in Florida that gives money to the program, and he told me that's pretty much true, that the top recruits are demanding money for visits. Have y'all heard that? [01:03:56] Speaker D: Oh, most definitely. I promise you that there are Alabama people that are paying commits to come visit or potential players. [01:04:04] Speaker C: I don't think it's just Alabama. [01:04:05] Speaker D: When he says that Alabama doesn't. No, no. The athletic department's not scratching a check. Okay. [01:04:13] Speaker F: Right. [01:04:13] Speaker D: But somebody affiliated with that nil is paying top people to come and visit, and that's probably been going on there for a long time. And just about any school that's in the top of recruiting for a long. [01:04:25] Speaker F: Time, I guess they're saying that's legal now to pay the high school. [01:04:29] Speaker D: Mean, I don't know how legal it is, but I think that there's a lot of gray area. There's even more gray area in the rules now when it comes to potential. [01:04:38] Speaker C: Payments and not to mention all the things they get on their official visits. Right. I mean, the care packages and the treatment and the food and the housing, the hotel, all that stuff, you know what I mean? All that on official visits, the rules that can be paid for. Right. Then that's the big difference in unofficial visits, where they can show up on their own time and the school can't accommodate for that type of stuff on those official visits. Yeah, it's pretty much fair game behind closed doors. [01:05:03] Speaker F: I just remember Ryan day complaining because they were trying to get a visit from a kid and he demanded five grand to come visit. And I really hadn't heard much about that until last week. And my friends said no, that's pretty much standard practice now. [01:05:17] Speaker D: Yeah, that's standard operating procedure now, no doubt about it. And especially if it's an unofficial visit. Do you think that, say, some kid that auburn's recruiting out of, I don't know, Oklahoma, is just going to load up in the Griswold family truckster and ride across the country and pay for their own hotel room during a game day weekend against a big time opponent, right? No, you got to get them some cold, hard cash to those families to get on the flight, to coordinate it, to get them food, money for food and to get hotel rooms that's going on everywhere. Anybody who says that they're not paying for visitors is a liar. [01:06:07] Speaker F: Got you. All right, guys, enjoying the show. Keep it up. [01:06:10] Speaker C: Thanks so much, John. 33432. 113 90. We'll continue on the phone lines as. Terry, you're on the line, man. What's up? [01:06:18] Speaker H: Hey, Jacob, tv how are you doing today? [01:06:19] Speaker C: Doing great, man. On a Monday. Beautiful day and blessed to be here. [01:06:23] Speaker H: Yeah. Tban I agree with you because I used to say this about Tuatunga viola. People leave paradise for Tuscaloosa all the. [01:06:29] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:06:30] Speaker D: I mean, I know if I lived and was raised in Hawaii that my first choice to move my family across the country would be to Alabaster, Alabama. Sure thing, budy. [01:06:40] Speaker H: That made all the sense in the world, didn't it? [01:06:42] Speaker D: Yeah. Okay. [01:06:43] Speaker H: Don't know what else going to happen with next Wednesday signing there in the future, but I know this Hugh freeze and his staff are doing to Alabama what Alabama did to Auburn when Nick seven got there. [01:06:53] Speaker C: I like that a lot. [01:06:54] Speaker H: Yeah, they're flipping guys. There were guys that were heavy liens to Auburn in those days. They had no pair going because they wasn't being recruited, because you knew Tommy Tubble was going out the door. [01:07:05] Speaker D: There were guys that got tattoos of AU on their forearm and had committed to Auburn and then flipped on signing day and wore a straw hat up to Auburn high school and embarrassed himself in the entire community to go to Alabama. [01:07:18] Speaker H: Yeah. T bone. There was a guy whose father was a backup running back at Auburn, and he went to Alabama and he chose between Alabama and Auburn right there on. [01:07:25] Speaker G: Tv, right beside his father, who played. [01:07:27] Speaker D: At Auburn and also had invited all his buddies over from Opalika High, who'd already committed to Auburn, to come to the signing day press conference at Auburn so they could all celebrate. And then only to get them over there and rub it in their face that he was going to Alabama. So strange things have happened yes. [01:07:43] Speaker H: And keep this in mind, Jacob T bone. If Ryan Williams ended up going to Alabama with a day with a transfer portal, he could be at Auburn next year. Corey Grant was. [01:07:54] Speaker D: He could. [01:07:55] Speaker C: Yeah. And I think that's something that people forget. He, if him or any other player that goes there or goes anywhere. Right. If they go and it's just not what they wanted, or heck, maybe he sees Auburn. It's like, man, they're having a lot more fun over there than I am or anything. [01:08:08] Speaker D: Or Nick Saban retires after he signs. [01:08:11] Speaker C: Exactly. [01:08:12] Speaker D: I'll tell you this, Terry, and I've been saying this for a hot minute, and I love that you just brought that up, because I'm going to be honest with you. If I was a big time, five star stud football player and they were going to pay me seven hundred and fifty k to come over there and play it at the school, and I'd demand all that money up front, I'd play a season and then I'd enter the portal and say, who's going to pay me more next year? [01:08:36] Speaker G: Yeah, exactly. [01:08:37] Speaker D: And I know that sounds ridiculous, but the way Jordan Travis got treated by the national media this year where they just used him and hyped him up all year and then he finally got hurt and they just threw him to the wolves and blamed him for FSU not getting in there. If you're going to make money off of me when I'm healthy and I'm killing it, and then you're going to throw me to the wolves and throw me under the bus when I get my leg broken, I'm going to get as much out of this system as I possibly can while I can. [01:09:04] Speaker H: You're right, 100%. I know a different subject, guys, but. [01:09:07] Speaker G: I was curious to get your thoughts. [01:09:08] Speaker H: On the deal that the kids signed for $700 million for the Dodgers. [01:09:11] Speaker C: Oh, yeah, man, we haven't even mentioned that yet. I do want to talk about that really quickly, Terry. Hey, we appreciate the call, man. 33432. 113 90. We got a minute or two before we get to break and get to Jacob Hillman. Let's talk about that for half a second. Shohei Otani signed with the LA Dodgers, which is no surprise. And Braves fans everywhere just signed $700 million for a ten year deal that is $70 million a year to play professional baseball as a pitcher and a hitter. And here's what they did. They took a very high pitcher's contract and a very high hitters contract and they combine the two for a ten year guaranteed deal for one particular player. That is insane. It's insane. But here's what I'll say. They did it for a reason, and they did it because they know it's going to work and they know it's going to be profitable, which is insane. The fact that they can write a 700 million dollar check, not all at once, but you get what I'm saying here. And they know. They're so confident that they're going to make money on it, they're willing to take that big of a gamble. Isn't that wild? [01:10:28] Speaker D: Only in America, man, there's been much gnashing of the teeth over this. And I've heard people know, how can you pay that kind of money for someone to play sports? And I'm like, look, this is what capitalism is all about. If you can get it, get as much as you can. [01:10:46] Speaker C: And here's what I'll say to loop all this together. I've been saying this for years, ever since I've been on this show and even before I was on the air in sports talk radio. That is the prime example of why money will always go up. It's never going to take a step back, ever. $700 million, that's nothing compared to what guys are going to start getting. You are going to see in the next five years the first billion dollar contract. And guess what? That goes to college sports, too. That goes to nil. It's never going backwards, folks. It's only going to get higher. [01:11:20] Speaker D: You stole the words out of my mouth. I was going to say it here. Soon you'll see the first billion dollar contract. It's like the government, Jacob, once they start taxing you, they don't ever cut those taxes, do they? [01:11:33] Speaker C: No, they're never going to go backwards. Why in the world would they do that? [01:11:36] Speaker D: If they can get X out of you, they're going to try and get X, Y and Z out of you. [01:11:40] Speaker C: People are greedy, man. The money's only going to go up across everything in your life. You better believe it, which is unbelievable. But that's the world we live in. We'll talk to Jacob Hillman of the Auburn Sports Network about all things Auburn athletics when we come back. [01:12:05] Speaker B: You are on the line with Jacob Goens on ESPN. 167. Auburn Opalika's sports leader. [01:12:14] Speaker C: We've got 30 more minutes here on the Monday edition of on the line, the show that tells you like it is and holds nothing back. I'm Jacob Goens. Joining me in the studio, as always on Monday, Wednesday, Fridays, is Uncle T Bone. And as always on Monday afternoons at 330, we get to Jacob Hillman of the Auburn Sports Network, who joins us on the phone lines now. Hillman, happy Monday. Hope you're doing well. And I think you had a pretty busy weekend of some sports and traveling, did you not? A little bit. [01:12:40] Speaker G: I made it up to Atlanta to take in Auburn basketball against Indiana. I went to the Falcons game. So a good weekend in Atlanta and obviously successful trip for Auburn basketball. [01:12:51] Speaker C: Yes, it was. Well, let's start right there as Auburn goes on the road to a neutral site there in Atlanta for the holiday Hoops giving and they come out with a 28 point victory over the Indiana Hoosiers, putting up 104 points. Best performance by far this season. You had six different Tigers in double digits. What do you see from the State farm arena there in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon? [01:13:13] Speaker G: Yeah, this is another performance like a few weeks ago that we had that Virginia Tech where it was hard to complain about anything, quite frankly, in this game. You scored 52 points in both halves and you started off kind of slow. Indiana started off hot. It was kind of funny because listening to Jalen Williams on the region post game show, he was talking about how when Indiana came out firing from those threes, they were looking at coach Stephen Pearl, who had scout for the game, like, do we need to play this more? And obviously the shooting cooled down a little bit, right? For Indiana? Quite a bit. But I just thought Auburn stuck to the game plan, even being down twelve early on. And obviously that end of the first half was an incredible performance and this team all around, up and down. It's an incredible box score to look at because every single guy that got minutes made it valuable. Janae Bruma didn't have a great scoring performance, but he grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists, only turned the ball over one time, had two blocks, two steals. So no matter what, if you were scoring or not, you were contributing in some form or fashion. And I thought that was the best all around performance we've seen from this team. Coach Pearl was extremely pleased with it, said it's about as good as you could play at this point in the year for any team. So like I said, if you want to nitpick anything, I don't think there's anything you win by 28. It's difficult. I guess it would be Janai shooting one for six, but man, that's really getting. I think that's asking a lot just for him to score every single game. [01:14:51] Speaker D: Huge win by the Tigers at State Farm Arena. I was there also, Jacob, it was a lot of fun. Auburn's going to head up to Huntsville this Wednesday, take on a little UNC Asheville. What are your thoughts on that game up in north Alabama? [01:15:07] Speaker G: Yeah, this is going to be another tough test, but obviously a little bit easier than Indiana. This team's not going to be as talented, but it's still a team that has a chance to do something in the Southern Conference. It's conference. I think it won its conference last year within the NCAA tournament. So it's not a game you can overlook. But what I think is a big deal, and always is a big deal is whenever you play, you just played in Atlanta, now you're going up to Huntsville, so you're hitting all these different hotspots in the southeast where Auburn fans go to. The Auburn family is going to be strong. I know tickets are not cheap for that game and it's sold out. So excited to see that, but I just think that it's more about finding consistency. Obviously, you're coming off two games that work a little bit different for this team. So you go to app State and you don't shoot the ball well, but you play well enough to win. You just couldn't make enough shots. And then you go and play Indiana and play nearly a perfect game. So you want to make sure you play more like the latter and you're not going to play a perfect game every single time you go out there. But when you play these games, you want to make sure that you are finding some consistency. And I think it's something coach Pearl talked about after the app state game is that was like a game on the road against the 7th or eigth or 9th best team in the SEC. This is going to be similar to that, but you're not on the road. So I think that he wants to see what his goal was out of that app state game, but obviously with more of a home court advantage, he probably wants to see a little bit better than that. So this UNC Asheville team, they scored the ball pretty well, averaging over 80 points per game. So that's going to be something to look out for. I think this defense will get tested again, and it's important for this defense to continue to improve and get better. We know early on that was kind of the point of emphasis for coach Pearl and the staff, so I want to see it continue on Wednesday. [01:17:14] Speaker C: Well, Jacob, something we've been talking about on the show today when talking about Auburn in basketball, we've had a couple of callers bring it up as well, is what should fans expectations be for this team? Right, because within a week's time in two games, you saw probably the lowest of the low for this team when it came to a shooting perspective. And then you flipped it around six days later and you got the highest of highs and probably one of the best games a basketball team is going to play all year in the game of college basketball. That's what we've been discussing is kind of where those expectations should be for this team. And I kind of put it on around 80 point performance a game and around 50% from the field, 30% to 40% from three and 80% from the free throw line. [01:17:59] Speaker G: Yeah, I think that this team, I really do think the ceiling is extremely high for this team and I don't really think the floor is as low as that loss to app state because I think that was kind of an outlier of a shooting performance. And if you make a couple of those threes, then half of those missed free throws, then you obviously win the game or at least are within a possession. So I'm really not looking at that game as necessarily the floor. Obviously you hit that, but I think that what you saw on Saturday is closer to what you can expect than what you saw last Sunday. Now, with that being said, like I said, you're not going to shoot 50% from three every time, you're not going to score under points every time. But I think this offense really is finding its groove. It was great to see Aidan Holloway and Denver Jones start to shoot the ball with confidence and make it because that was something that I think Auburn was missing a little bit. Obviously aiden with five threes that gets to SEC freshman of the week. But I thought Denver Jones coming out and finding ways to score offensively what was a really critical point in that first half. And then obviously Jalen Williams tied his career high as well. So I just think that when you're firing on all cylinders like that, this offense, the ceiling is forever. Now, defensively, again, that's kind of where we've been talking about all year, is where are they going to settle. And I think what we saw on Saturday was they stuck to their game plan and it worked out really well. Now, Indiana, like most teams have in second half and that's just basketball, scored more. So I think that's something coach Pearl's looking forward is finding a way where this team will play better defense in the second half than they did in the first half. So again, that's what I'm kind of looking for on Wednesday against a less talented team, but a team that is good offensively. So I think Wednesday will be a good test for this defense. [01:20:01] Speaker D: Jacob apparently Auburn fans are so excited about the Music City bowl that the first allotment of tickets sent to Auburn were sold out so fast. They sent another allotment and it sold out very quickly. Also, when does bowl practice? [01:20:17] Speaker G: So yeah, the Auburn family is clearly very excited about this Music City bowl. Just being in a bowl game again obviously last year, missing out and being in Nashville, it's just another incredible location for this team. So there are plenty of opportunities to go up there and support the Tigers. You can go on Seatgeek, the official secondary ticketing partner of Auburn Athletics, and still get tickets there. But yeah, it's sold out both allotments through the athletic department. So it is going to be a very pro Auburn crowd in Nashville, I think, and I believe full practice starts this upcoming week. There's going to be a Saturday media availability with coach Freeze and I think a few players. So it's getting here. We're about to get to that point where I think we're going to start seeing some transfer portal commits as well as some of those final high school commits in the coming weeks with signing day in nine days. So we're about to hit an exciting we're talking basketball, but we're about to hit an exciting part with Auburn football as well as we get ready for Nashville and signing day in nine days. [01:21:26] Speaker C: Jacob Hillman of the Auburn Sports Network joining us on the phone lines as he does every Monday here during on the line on ESPN 167. Speaking of this Auburn team, I mean, so many transfer portal updates and recruiting updates and even current guys on the team updates, and a big one that we received today via a video on his social media star defensive back Keonte Scott. It's coming back to Auburn for another year, man. Tell us what this means for this defense and for this team from a leadership and just experience and just a skill standpoint for Auburn football in 2024. [01:22:01] Speaker G: Yeah, obviously the big thing about Keonte is that he makes an impact on defense and special teams as well, being the primary punt returner for the Tigers. But I think especially defensively is where that's going to be a play. Key factor. You're going to be losing guys like Jalen Simpson, DJ James in that secondary, Zion Puckett, Nehemiah Pritchett as well. So having experience back there, because I think there's going to be a lot of new faces in the secondary we talked about in the preseason and all season long, how the experience in that secondary is what you love about this team. So next year it's going to be kind of the opposite. You're going to see a lot of new faces and you're going to be relying on guys that you haven't seen. So having Keonte Scott back to kind of lead that charge and really be the leader is going to be really important for the secondary. So I'm excited to see him. And obviously again, when he's returning punts, you never know. That Arkansas punt return was, I think, the first time he had made an explosive return, but it really felt like he had been well overdue for that. So I think next year can be another big year for that aspect as well. [01:23:04] Speaker C: And when you look at just the transfer portal you've had, Auburn lost their 9th player to the transfer portal today, but you've got multiple guys visiting over the next few weeks and of course signing day, the early signing day coming up next week. Jacob with the what is it, Wednesday on the 20th for that? I mean, there's just so many things that we're going to be able to talk about over the next few weeks. Man, it's going to be a busy, busy time on the football side of things. [01:23:29] Speaker G: Yeah, it was interesting. [01:23:31] Speaker A: Officially. [01:23:32] Speaker G: It was pretty quiet in the portal. I felt like this weekend you had a couple of guys center and you had a couple of commitments, but I don't think we've really seen what we're going to see in the coming weeks because I just think that things are really about to pick up speed and guys are going to realize that they need to make a decision soon and go ahead and do that. So again, like I said, that December 20 date might be the hot day, but I think this upcoming weekend could as well. So I'm really excited to see who is added to this Auburn football team for 2024 in the coming weeks. [01:24:07] Speaker C: Jacob give us and our listeners some updates on other things happening in Auburn athletics and things on the side of the Auburn Sports network before we let you go. Yeah. [01:24:16] Speaker G: Auburn women's basketball got another big win on the road at Little Rock yesterday, winning 58 45. It was a big win for coache and her squad, going back to her home and seeing a lot of her family and doing that. Auburn has plays at Little Rock pretty much every year and Little Rock's gotten the best of Auburn a couple of times, but that was a good defensive win. Jamia Mingo Young, she was kind of the player of the game, scored eleven points, had six rebounds, four assists, I think this team is starting to figure things out as far as how they want to game plan and play offensively. Honestly, Scott Grayson was a leading scorer with twelve points, so I'm excited to see what they have coming up. They've got five straight home games leading into SEC play, including this Wednesday at seven Central against Alabama State and then Saturday at two central against Norfolk State. So get your tickets to aubticks.com or tune in on 100.3 FM with Britt Bowen and Dr. Larry to share this week at the Tigers take on Alabama State in Norfolk State. Auburn's basketball we talked about the UNC Asheville game, that's all. Wednesday at seven Central. You can tune in on wings 94.3. Andy Burks and Randall Dickey and Brad Law will have the call. And then Thursday we'll have Tiger talk, our final tiger talk at Bomb Howard's victory grill of the year. Before we take off for the Christmas holiday, we'll have Stephen Pearl and we'll have Jeff Grava on that show getting ready for Auburn gymnastics the preview meet is this Friday at seven Central at Neville arena. That's free to attend, so if you want to come out and take in some gymnastics, that's the perfect time to do it. You don't have to worry about tickets or anything like that. Just show up to the arena at seven Central on Friday night. So we're getting into the winter sports and I'm excited to see what the gymnastics squad has in store for us next season. [01:26:03] Speaker C: Awesome. Man, so much going on in the world of Auburn athletics as just so many things with basketball, the winter sports getting going and football still all the offseason things. And of course, like I mentioned, the winter sports getting underway as well. Jacob Hillman of the Auburn Sports Network joins us every Monday at 330. We appreciate your time as always, and let everybody know where they can find you and find everything going on with the Auburn Sports Network. [01:26:27] Speaker G: Yeah, follow me on Twitter at Jacob hillmanau and follow at AU sports Network as well on Twitter. Everything I just said about those broadcasts, those details will be on the twitter as well as Instagram. So you can find everything there when we get to game day as well as Tiger talk day. [01:26:43] Speaker C: Awesome, man. Thank you so much for your time, as always. And we'll have you on next Monday and then we'll take a break. Obviously, we won't do a show on Christmas, so we won't make you come back on Christmas Day. [01:26:53] Speaker G: You're not that committed. Jacob, come on. I'd be here for all right. [01:26:57] Speaker C: Wow. Okay. Okay. All right. Just throw me under the bus. That's fine, man. No, man. Hey, we appreciate your time, brother. We'll talk to you next week. [01:27:05] Speaker G: I always enjoy it. Thanks, Jacob. Thanks, Steve. Or Eagle. [01:27:08] Speaker C: That's Jacob Hillman of the Auburn sports Network, who is with us each and every Monday and claims he'd be here on Christmas. I just don't think he'd pick up the phone. I really don't. I don't think he'd pick up the phone when we called. But hey, I'll call him personally on Christmas Day just to see if he answers. [01:27:22] Speaker D: Yeah, call me Christmas morning. See if I answer. [01:27:25] Speaker C: I'm not working Christmas Day. Sorry, folks. 33432 113 90. We'll take our final break, come back and wrap up the Monday edition of on the line. [01:27:37] Speaker B: You are on the line on ESPN 1067. Call in at 33432 113 90 or toll free at 888-382-7502 winding down here. [01:27:50] Speaker C: On the Monday edition of on the line inside the Auburn Plaza bar and lounge studio. Got a few more minutes. Shout out and thank you to Jacob Hillman of the Auburn Sports Network. Been a great show today. It really has flown by, man. And the content we're going to be putting out and the shows we're going to be having over the next, I don't know, six months at least. Plus, I mean, with the content and just the news that's going to be breaking is going to be unbelievable. And then we'll get into the summer with talking season and all that good stuff. But so much to talk about. And there's nowhere else you need to be than ESPN 167 and ESpnau.com. Because here on our show today, you've got Doug's show before us. You've got us, you've got the drive afterwards. I mean, seven straight hours of local sports talk radio, man. Where else would you want to be than on ESPN 167? So if you missed any of our show today, yeah, I don't think you're. [01:28:38] Speaker D: Going to get that anywhere else in the state of Alabama. [01:28:40] Speaker C: Shoot in the country, man. [01:28:42] Speaker D: How about them apples? [01:28:43] Speaker C: If you missed any of our show today on the line from two to four, you can find the podcast. Wherever you get your podcasts, just search on the line and also you can find [email protected]. Talked about Auburn basketball today with their big one over Indiana. Talked a lot of Auburn football with transfer portal high school recruiting guys. Coming back with Keonte Scott. I'll talk a lot more about that tomorrow and a lot more of the football side of things on tomorrow's show. Double D Darryl Dappert will join us on the phone lines tomorrow as well. So looking forward to that. And Uncle T Bone, we got a couple of minutes, and before we get out of here, we've got to make a very special shout out for Michaela, our wonderful intern show producer who graduated this weekend from Auburn and is now one of us. She is an Auburn grad and so wanted to shout her out and all her wonderful work. You're going to be here tomorrow, is that right? She's undecided if she's coming in tomorrow. I don't know how it's a decision or not, but she's coming in tomorrow, she says. So shout out to her. And congratulations on a graduation from Auburn University. Another one. Another one. Joins the family of Auburn grads. Yeah. [01:29:47] Speaker D: Well, congratulations, Michaela. I'm sure it did not take you seven years to graduate like it took Uncle T Bone. But, hey, I did it. I got the diploma on the wall, and now you do, too. And no one can ever take that away from you. And it's been a pleasure getting to know you. You've got a bright future, and you're a very sharp young lady. Thank you so much for helping us out here. It's been a real pleasure. [01:30:09] Speaker C: Well, there's one thing that an Auburn diploma will do. It'll carry some weight, man. It'll carry weight. I don't care what it's in. When people see that name on the diploma, it means something, and I'm excited for that. Excited for you and excited for what you do after this. She will be here tomorrow. I'm sure she'll hop on the air at some point. Tomorrow. We got to talk about the heisman tomorrow. We didn't even get to that today. One of her two guys won. I was poking fun of her earlier. She had two out of the four guys, so she had a 50 50 shot to get it right. But Jaden Daniels did win, so we got to talk about that tomorrow as well. And so we'll talk about that tomorrow. We'll talk more albert football tomorrow. I'm sure there will be more transfer portal updates with either guys leaving or guys coming or visiting or declaring they want to come here or whatever. High school stuff. And again, double D Darrell Dapperts will join us on the phone lines tomorrow. So that'll be then. And then you'll be back with us on Wednesday, Uncle T bone, for rivalry Wednesday, where we'll talk with Jordan Hill and Austin Hannon. Talk football and basketball because there's a lot going on in college basketball right now. Yeah. [01:31:06] Speaker D: Wednesday night up in Huntsville, folks. ESPN Plus, 07:00 Auburn UNC Asheville UNC Asheville won their conference last year, so that's another solid mid major, maybe not even a mid major team that Auburn's taking on. I'm telling you, you cannot take those teams for granted. We found that out in Boone, North Carolina against state. Huntsville always been a very strong, fertile recruiting ground for high school basketball in the great state of Alabama. Good to see Auburn get up there. A lot of Auburn graduates in Huntsville working up there in engineering and other areas. So I love that they're moving around and playing in different places. But I'll say this real quick, after seeing what I saw Saturday at State Farm arena, wonderful place to watch basketball. I'm not so sure Neville arena is not one of the best places in the country to watch a live basketball game. [01:32:01] Speaker C: It's awesome, man. Neville arena, really awesome. Yeah. [01:32:04] Speaker D: And I think this might be blasphemy, but I think I like going to basketball games better than football. [01:32:09] Speaker C: Whoa. Okay. How about them apples? Hey, big home game this weekend when USC and Bronnie James come to town on Sunday, who lost their first game with him in the lineup. Long Beach State University in overtime, baby. We could talk about that and all a lot more tomorrow on the show. Two to four right here on ESPN 167. Until then, he's Uncle Tbone. I'm Jacob Gohan. Stay safe. I'll talk to you later.