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Kentucky Sports Is Heating Up...And MORE News Dropped After We Recorded! · Bluegrass State of Mind

• Dillon: What's up, guys? Welcome back to another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. We have a full episode for you all tonight. It is going to be a lot of information. So buckle up and get ready to rock with us. So what we're looking at tonight, we're going to go over this whole five and five the updates. We've had a ton of information that's come our way since last Wednesday or last Thursday, excuse me, on our last episode. So we're going to get into all of the Mark Mitchell updates, the five and five. The conferences, the SEC, ACC, Big 12, get into a little BSM from the stands, talk about if Mark Mitchell is eligible, what he will mean for this team, and then we'll close it out with some golf on the tour championship being held this week. So before we actually dive into that, I wanted to allow us to kind of give our takes, not in detail exactly of what's going on, but just as a whole how we're feeling. And I'll lead it off and I'll sh shoot it over to you all. But I I just I I'm exhausted. as a fan I feel like I am in a law class constantly looking up what this means in court. Like that that shouldn't be like what are we doing? Right? Like I just feel like there's so much going on And every day is something new for us to to look into. And it's it it's really gotten so far away from just it being about basketball and not only basketball but football and college sports. We we have strayed away so far, and this whole NIL has it's expanded so much more than what I think we ever would have imagined it was supposed to have been to what it is right now. Mason, what's your initial thoughts on it? I mean, I'm exhausted. Mason: Yeah, I think exhaustion's a good word. Chaos, wild west, you know, it's I I just don't understand why why they just let all this roll out without setting any rules, right? Like it at this point, it's dragged on long enough, it feels like every day something new comes out, something's changing. This guy's eligible this day, the next day he's not, you know, like all this back and forth. At this point in the process, just make a decision, right? Like Dillon: Mm. Mason: either Make everybody eligible or make nobody eligible? Because all you're doing is you're wasting these coaches' times, you're wasting these programs time, you're wasting these players' time. Right at the NCAA, if they're all about the players, right? They're all for the players, then why do we keep dragging this out? Like just make a decision either way. It doesn't matter. Stop dragging this out. Coaches have no certainty. Players have no certainty. You know, Mark Mitchell, for example, let's right now he thinks he's gonna play at the University of Kentucky next year. Let's say in a month it comes out and he's ineligible and now he can't go over Can't sign with the G League team, can't sign with an overseas team. Like he's missed out on these opportunities because he thought he was going to have the opportunity to play college basketball next season. And then every other day, something keeps changing. Dillon: Yeah. Mason: So at this point, make a decision. It's so all this back and forth. Everybody's tired of it. You can't keep up with it. Who knows what's going to happen? Either everybody's eligible or nobody's eligible. And then you set rules starting at the end of next year for this next incoming class, and you those rules are in concrete. Right? Dillon: Well and you know, in a sense it's like we're wasting time. Not only for for these programs, but for these players. Are they gonna play? That's a good point. Like w make a decision. What are we doing? And I know going to court and that's a whole different whole different beast. And I mean, I'm not comfortable in that space just because I'm not a lawyer. But I mean like, come on. I mean, like, let's get this ball rolling. Make a decision, like you said. Colton React with this. I it it Kolton Myatt: Yeah, Dillon: I know you're you're you're like us. Like it's just like what's going on? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, I what you're saying as a result of of giving the players so much power early on, especially in the NIL era, that you you gave I think we all knew we could start to see the trend that the players were eventually going to get paid. Right? Like that it was gonna happen. I guess in our mind we never would have dreamed like to this extent. But when that happened. We the NCAA didn't set anything, right? They've left all these doors open for so much stuff and they just allowed this stuff happen. You the when you transfer those type of changes, you have to have consequences with it. And the NCAA didn't form it. They didn't form consequences with it. And it's the same way, right? Like these guys are now sh what should be treated like employees are not treated like employees. They're getting three million dollars and they can sit on the bench and if they don't perform or they don't play good or they don't even play, they're still getting their money. If we go to work and we don't do good, we're getting fired. But like that's their they don't have any risk. They're signing a contract and they're getting the money regardless. And so like these guys are fighting to come back now. Like they don't want to get why? Because three million dollars is more they're gonna make as a rookie or playing in the G League. So why wouldn't you want to try and play for another year? Why wouldn't you want to take it all the way to the court? Because if y'all can make five million dollars next year on a team, I mean, then like why would you not try to fight for that? 'Cause I mean, that's life changing money if they use it right, like right. Five million dollars for an extra year. One hundred percent. Dillon: Mm. Especially the type of players that are f trying to come back. Like if they were lottery picks, they'd be gone. Kolton Myatt: A hundred percent. So I they just to me the NCAA just messed up by allowing this transition by but not setting the rules, set in stone that there was consequences to these things and now it's become a free for all and they can't really back it up with anything because they let it happen too far. And and Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: it's just become chaos. Dillon: And we all I think can agree, at least I've said before, and I think you all have agreed that like as far as like this this all started and it it feeds off of NIL, right? And and like we've all stated, I know for sure I have that like NIL was good at for college sports. You like you have people wanting to stay longer. You know, that's what was one of our things, like, man, we don't ever get to like see these players because they leave automatically. And and we're able to, they're able to perform at a higher level. We're able to keep some players and and just overall the competitive is competitiveness of college sports has improved. However though, Cole Mason, like what whenever you first heard NIL, like what was your thoughts on NIL? Like what did that mean to you all? What what would players be banking off NIL? What did that consist of? Mason: Yeah, I mean obviously, you know, when you think about that, I actually did one of my college research papers over this, right? And it was basically just saying like they should be rewarded for the profit that universities are making off jerseys, hats, you know, things that they're selling that have their name or tied to them as an actual student athlete. And not this Dillon: Which makes sense, but that's a basic simple that that that's like we get that. Mason: Yeah, but not this where you go and play you can play one year and make more money than probably ninety percent of people in this world or in this country do in their lifetime. Right? Like, you know, some of these players are making six, seven, eight million dollars for one year, which is absolutely insane. I mean, I've said it on here before. It's almost like at this point because these rules weren't made up, you know, jerseys, hats, shirts, you know, whatever it is, but now they're just getting paid all this cash. It's turned into a professional sports league. That's all it is. That's literally all it is at this point. You know, we're here. Dillon: Mm-hmm. And you're affiliated with a university at the same time. Mason: Exactly. Dillon: And I mean, do we really care about it? I mean, I guess not, but it's just so messy right now and chaotic. all right, well, let's get right into this. What news has broke today as of today, which is Wednesday, August 26th, and then everything else that has led us up to here. So what we're gonna do here is we're gonna kind of Mason: Yeah. Dillon: unpack everything and kind of take a nip. Piece by piece, because there's just so much information. So hopefully it will help you all who are listening who are still like I really don't understand everything that's going on. We're going to try to break it down for you all and kind of explain what's going on. to the best of our knowledge. Before we get to that, though, you can probably look and see Cotton's wearing a hat. I'm wearing a nice hat too. that is Bluegrass Elite. This episode is sponsored to you in part by Bluegrass Elite. So if you haven't had a chance, Go over to their website that is bluegrass-elite.com and use our code BSM302. Or you can click the link that we've shared on our socials. I'll attach with this episode as well. Just click on that and you immediately get 15% off. They have hats, hoodies, shirts, anything, crew necks, anything you want. Kentucky sports season, football season is two weeks away, roughly. Like go ahead and go to our friends over at Bluegrass Elite, get you some UK merchandise. Let's get into it. So I'm going to read it piece by piece. And yes, I'm going to be looking away for a little bit and then coming back to you all if you are watching the video version because there's so much information. Okay. So let's start with the big news that that came out today. the SEC, let's start there. So the SEC has now officially put a policy in place dealing with athletes who leave college and they go into professional sports and then they try to come back. Under the new SEC policy. A school can't have an athlete on its roster who previously declared for the NFL, MBA, or WMBA draft and didn't properly withdraw, or signed a professional contract, or was listed on the qualifying professional roster, and the SEC commissioner has the authority to enforce a policy against the member schools. Okay? That's pretty that's that's pretty simple. Okay, we have a policy now. The SEC isn't just making, though, this a rule without consequences, Colton. You brought up consequences. They also came out with that. And then a couple hours later, they attached something new. Today, there's consequences now. So the consequences, Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reports that the conference finalized some pretty serious penalties. These penalties were, we're talking about 50% of suspension of the head coach's season, a fine. That is equal to 50% of that sports annual operating budget, and the school losing its SEC voting privileges on conference businesses. and there also can be additional penalties at the commissioner's discretion. So, in hearing just that, let's start there. So, we have now a policy set by not only the SEC, the it was the ACC or excuse me, the Big Ten who came out with this first. ACC followed it and since then the Big Twelve has followed that as well. I'm not sure if the ACC has ha have you all seen anything? Have they come out with anything? Kolton Myatt: The A C I don't know. I'm I I'm not sure. I would assume they probably will now. Though. Dillon: Okay. but Colton, what does that mean? Like for you when you seen this, was you like, okay, I get it, that's a good step, but like again, it's like chaos. And then all of a sudden we drop down and now we have consequences. But I think the bigger thing is the consequences. Like, that's a lot. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, I mean that's that's a whole lot. I'm and Mason was asking earlier, you know, he was conf like when it talks about like cutting like the SEC says like they they would take fifty percent of your operating budget. And what I explained to Mason is that the SEC operates on a equal revenue share on like media rights and everything. So, like, you know, SEC's got a contract with ESPN, SEC network, all that stuff. Well, that doesn't just go to you know, even though Kentucky's gonna be your highest rated team in basketball watching on ESPN, they get the same amount of money from the media rights as Vandy or someone like that in the SEC. And so it's spread a across equally. So what it's essentially saying is that if you do these things, then for twenty million dollars we're giving to every school, you're getting ten million dollars while the other ones are getting twenty. All right, well ten million dollars, you talk about especially a basketball roster. I mean, what kind of different roster can you build if you can go get, you know, three different guys for four million, three million, three million? You can probably get three good p three pretty good players for that ten million. so I mean it can make a big difference, but man, I you know, I I think it's a good step in the sense of what they're trying to lay out, especially for the actual professionals, right? Some of these guys are in training like they've been playing preseason games in the NFL, you know, with Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: a week with two weeks until the NFL season and now we're they're supposed to be coming back to college. That's to me is a little different scenario than some of these seniors that didn't get drafted, you know, or ha haven't played five years of college. They just simply played their four years of college, but now they're just trying to look for a fifth year. And I think that that guideline at least prevents that because we definitely do not need to get to that point to where Dillon: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: I mean c I mean how many Kentucky players got drafted in the Cal era that you never really saw in the NBA 'cause they made the g and what if they could just come back or Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: I mean, it's just a big I think it's a good step, but now there's still just so much grey area in that and you still just don't know. Dillon: Correct, and we'll get into that. And I think, you know, I don't want I don't want to really go down this alley, but there's only one person, you know, like people who are like, what what where did this come about? This all comes back to one name, Mr. Elaine Kiffin. He kind of was the the igniter to this, getting a player that played in the NFL preseason, and then you know, there was no ruling about this, and then that's kind of where all this, I guess, stemmed from. But that's that's kind of some but that is something though to know. so Let's bring it back to Kentucky. So that leaves the biggest question. you know, when thinking about the SEC having this policy, the consequences. The question for Kentucky fans is probably okay, does this knock Mark Mitchell out of eligibility? What does this mean for us? Before I get into this next piece, Mason. They are going to hear us talk about exhibit ten. They're going to hear that. So I want you to explain the exhibit ten because they're going to hear a lot of that about Mark Mitchell. So explain exhibit ten and then we'll move on. Mason: Yep. So basically an Exhibit Ten contract is a one year non guaranteed MBA minimum salary agreement. And what it does is it basically allows teams to evaluate like a fringe or undrafted player during training camp or the summer league. And most of the time these types of deals are primarily used to manage G League affiliate rights, fill out preseason rosters without agreeing to those long term financial commitments. So it's a one-year non-guaranteed minimum salary. So just because somebody's, you know, may agree or sign an exhibit 10 does not mean that they are guaranteed to get paid that much. Dillon: Yeah, and that's important. All right. And the reason why is because it comes back to the Kentucky stuff. What does all this mean for Mark Mitchell? Okay, so let's pick back up. So Mark Mitchell played for the Denver Nuggets Summer League team this summer, and there had been reports that he had signed an exhibit 10, of which what Mason just described. Okay, he he signed that exhibit 10 contract with Denver with Denver. But then there was also news that broke out that It's kind of conflicting information because Jack Pilbrim of KSR reported that Mitchell did not actually sign the Exhibit 10 contract with the Nuggets. Matt Norlander of CBS Sports also reported that Mitchell did not sign a proper NBA contract. And even Kevin Sweeney of CBS Sports or CBB Central said that Mitchell agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal in principle, but he never actually signed the contract before Summer League. So that's a pretty big distinction, Mason, from saying that you agreed upon something, but you didn't actually sign something. And I think most people would understand that. You know, it's kind of like you s I think of this, like today's in today's time, a handshake doesn't mean anything. You gotta have pen to paper. And f everything that we're seeing is that Mark Mitchell didn't put pen to paper for the exhibit 10, which is a good thing, right? I mean, I I think that that's that's crucial. so that's that's that's that's very important. So let's move on. So there was also some discussion about whether being on an NBA summer league roster could itself make him ineligible since he was on the Denver Nuggets Summer League team. So Zach Turvin he pointed out that Mitchell was listed on the Summer League roster, but Sweeney had pushed back a little bit saying that a summer league roster Isn't the same thing as an actual NBA or G Lee roster? Why is that important? Because Colton in the SEC statement, it said that you had to be declared for the NFL MBA or WMB draft, also signing a professional contractor being on the roster. So, I mean, I think that that's pretty clear and different, wouldn't you, Colton? I mean, at that point, thinking, okay, an NBA G League roster is completely different than the actual NBA team roster. So at this point where we're at right now, which there's still more stuff, Colton, would you say that Mark Mitchell, based on what we've discussed up to this point, is in the clear? Like what if you had to put a percentage, what would you say that based on the information that we have given out thus far, there's still more we're gonna get to, what would you say Mark Mitchell's chances of being eligible to play at the University of Kentucky would be? Kolton Myatt: I mean, I think it's a definitely on the higher side of like a you know, I think you're closer to like a s sixty five seventy, like I th or seventy five percent. Like you're I think you clear a lot of those statements because of the situation that he's currently in. Now obviously you don't know what the NCAA's the NCAA as a whole is gonna file, you know, or if the SEC's gonna file even more, or they're gonna try to add even more language, right? Right now they're just making statements. A lot of it's just statements. Then it's not like they, you know, they're saying we're gonna form this rule, but it's like I don't know, who who knows if they have anything pen to paper, right? So I mean I just think that I just think that I th based on the language, he's got a higher chance to play right now, based on language. Now there's just so many hurdles that come up, but I do think that he falls under a here's another question. I guess we haven't talked about it much. And maybe I'm just in the blue, but like to me There's been guys that play like in the foreign professional leagues, right? That are pla that are playing Mason: I was gonna bring that up because Kolton Myatt: right now over here. Like they've signed professional contracts to play foreign basketball and then they've been bringing these foreign players Mason: Well, I saw somebody talking about Mika at Arkansas. Kolton Myatt: over here, right? Dillon: That is true. I I think though the big thing for me is though is it doesn't specify the Euroleagues. It says MBA. That would be my Kolton Myatt: No, no, I I yeah, I agree, but it's just to me, like, why is it even a like I could see if they're arguing eligibility four years first five years. I I can see that, but their argument is about like professional, like if you've played professional. Dillon: That's true, it's a good point. Kolton Myatt: Like they're not arguing, he's he's done his eligibility. We're trying to keep guys that they've only they've done did their four years. If you've done this sauce of your four years. They're arguing professional contract. If you've put pen to paper and those four all those guys that've come and played college basketball from overseas have put pen to paper and got paid in a professional contract. And so I mean, I I don't know, I just got to thinking about that. I like, that's kind of a different I mean, maybe there's differences there, but yeah. Right now on paper, I think Mark Mitchell has a decent chance of playing. Mason: Well that's what I I was gonna bring up that too, Cole, because I saw somebody mention earlier talking about the Mika Murinin who went to Arkansas. Like he played in a professional league over in Europe. But here's back to my point earlier. What is the difference? You're you're paying players no matter what. Like, I get it, like Dillon: Mm-hmm. Mason: you're in a professional league, I guess you've already declared, so that means you're out of college, but like if you're sitting here saying they can't play in this 'cause they've been paid, there's no difference right now. Like Dillon: Yeah, that's that that's a really good point, Colton and Mason. I've not even thought about that. I know I had y'all on this podcast for a reason. I will say though, there was even bigger news that broke after that. All right, so let's pick back up. So there was a big clarification. So Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald Leader reported that the SEC itself clarified Mitchell's situation. According to the SEC, a player who played in the 2026 NBA Summer League can still be eligible to play in the SEC during the 2026-27 season as long as that player did not enter the NBA draft as an early entrant and never signed an NBA contract, including an exhibit 10 or two-way contract, which Mitchell did not sign. He agreed he never signed on the reports that we have read and seen. And basically On that clarification, Mark Mitchell appears to be in the clear under that new policy. And which makes sense, right? Because Mitchell's only Mitchell's specific situation that we're alluding to right now, he had already completed his four years of college basketball. So he was automatically eligible for the NBA draft. He didn't have to formally enter the draft as an early entry. Like he his four years was up because at the time, like that's what he like. He was done. Like they didn't tell him that this whole thing was going to be make him now eligible. And according to Mitchell's brother, his agent, Brandon Mitchell, Mark never did actually sign the exhibit 10 contract. It was just an agreement. So that's a huge difference when you're looking at this new SEC rule. Mason, when that came out, did that even make you feel even better? Because it was like alluding specifically to this Mark Mitchell situation. It wasn't just talking about any players, like it was for Mark Mitchell. Mason: Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, kudos to whatever his name was that you said that called and specifically asked that, you filled in a lot of Big Blue Nation and probably made him feel a little bit better. But the one thing that still worries me is the Insta A. Right? Like the the the Yeah, the appeals they filed, I don't know how. They just filed another one today in Tennessee. So Dillon: That's that's what we're gonna get to next. Okay, so you're already there, so go ahead and lead us into that. Mason: Yeah, so basically, you know, the NCAA is kind of coming behind and appealing all these in-state rulings that have allowed these players to be eligible. And you know, basically saying like, no, we're gonna appeal this. They should not be eligible. And you know, it's happened in Ohio. It happened in Tennessee. I think today it came out that it happened in Tennessee. So I'm sure one in Kentucky's gonna follow. And you know, at this point it it just kinda circles back to what we've been talking about. Like, admit you made a mistake by not outlining any rules, not outlining any guidelines to whenever this started, and wrap it up. You know, say, hey, this is completely on us. Either they're eligible, as long as they have not played in the NFL, the NBA, you know, whatever it is, or nobody's eligible. You know, we're tired of dealing with this, nobody's eligible. Because if not, this is gonna drag on and on and on. There's gonna be appeal after appeal after appeal after injunction after appeal. I mean, this this may not even be over by the time we get to March. Like it's just gonna keep dragging on. Dillon: Yeah. Mason: So they have to do something. It's ridiculous at this point. Dillon: Well, so and I think that's a great point because so in a basically we're looking at two different separate issues here. One is the NCAA and whether the Mitchell ultimately gets to keep that fifth year, which is what Mason just said. And the other is the SEC's new professional athlete policy. Based on what we have gathered and heard, I think Mark Mitchell's going to be in the clear for the SEC professional athlete policy. It's just clearance now of the NCAA to get that fifth year. so There's right now, if I if there had to be a decision made today, I do think Mark Mitchell would get to play, but there's still so much time, so many appeals, there's still so much information that we're getting every single day. So that's kind of where we're at. And Colton, any closing statements on that before we shift gears into let's just hypothetically say that Mark Mitchell is on our team. But final thoughts, anything else on that? Kolton Myatt: I you know, honestly, which I mean we won't because this is great content for us, but I I saw someone post on X that they that there was no point in them losing sleep or exhausting energy between now and November because there's liable to be a thousand appeals and a thousand injunctions and the truth is you won't never really find anything until that first game happens and see who's eligible and who's not. And even then, who knows? That there won't be something halfway through the season, like you know, the guy that happened for Alabama where he'd come back from the G League, played four or five games, and then all of a sudden it was like, Nope, they finally passed it, you can't play anymore. He was done. Just random stuff. I mean, that's the world we live in. He left the G League, come in mid season, played like s seven or eight games, they decided, no, you can't be here, and then he was done. Mason: Ha ha ha ha. Kolton Myatt: Right. And so who knows? So maybe it is. I mean, it's great content for us, so we're gonna keep keeping you guys updated. But honestly, the truth is I mean we we could talk about this for the next two or three months and it may not be solved. So yeah. Mason: Make a decision and let's be done with it at this point. I guess Dillon: And the thing about it though too, I I keep we got I at least have to keep reminding myself is I feel like this is all surrounding there's a there's a bigger spotlight on college basketball, but this is not just college basketball. This is Kolton Myatt: Right. Dillon: also for college football, which starts literally this Saturday. Mason: And they're saying like this apparently everything that's just come out is like helping Alex Safari now. I guess I guess. Yeah. Kolton Myatt: Yeah. And I mean the professional the professional thing is really applying to LSU football. I mean Dillon: That is true. Yes, Kolton Myatt: the th this Dillon: yes. Kolton Myatt: was talk about preseason again in the preseason games last week. I mean like you for the yeah, like Mason: Yeah, for the browns. Kolton Myatt: this is talking like it's actually really applying to them, but Dillon: Well, hopefully that cleared up a little bit for you all who were listening and was like, I don't know what's going on. Listen, again, this is just information we're reading online. I don't claim to be a lawyer. I know these two will agree to that and attest to that. However, though, yes. Right. And Mason: Changes every minute. You might listen to this tomorrow and it might be completely different. Dillon: I love that Colton, you know, that's that's a great way of put it putting it. Like, you know, like there's no reason to lose any sleep because it's going to change. But maybe not even by the night, by the hour, right? So, All right, let's get into now hypothetically. Let's play this in our heads and we're going to discuss. Let's say that Mark Mitchell does get to play. Okay. Cause at this point la last week, we were still waiting on the injunction for Mark Mitchell to be available. We hadn't had a commitment for Mark Mitchell. We did get that. He has made a commitment now. So let's play this game and let's say, okay, Mark Mitchell on this team now. What does this mean moving forward? Before we do that though too, I do want to throw this over to Colton because I to start with Colton Mason. I'm gonna let you two discuss this and I'll throw my opinions here and there. I did read a tweet and Colton, I was like, man, this is I don't know. I immediately thought of you on this. Okay, so this tweet, keep in mind we now have No, it's not about Cal. Mason: Gotta be about cow, right? Kolton Myatt: That's what that's what I was thinking. Dillon: we did have we do have though now, hypothetically, if everything works out the way it is right now. We have Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Milan Momchilovic, Mark Mitchell, Malachi Marino. That'd be our starting five, is what everybody's stating. So let's just talk about that, okay? but this tweet, it said, passed on Tyron Stokes, got a more proven Milan Momchilovic, passed on Rob Wright, was able to afford both Zoom and Wilkins, passed on Donnie Freeman and Nicola. added a better mark mitchell the mark pope apologies better be as loud as the hate and my immediate reaction to that was like come on now I keep seeing this word pop up pass pass pass pass I'm gonna get I'm gonna Mason: when you kept saying that I was like Dillon: give mark pope his flowers but Colton let's make something real clear here we love that the team that we have We love that Mark Pope has been able to get these guys, but this word past, the delusional UK fans, they like to call us delusional. Let's talk about this word past. What is your immediate thoughts on that? Kolton Myatt: Yeah. So okay. So we're gonna sit here and pretend like don't worry guys. We really knew that the number one transfer was going to drop out of the NBA draft and we were gonna get him. we also knew that there was gonna be a million court filings and that this guy was randomly gonna get an extra year and he was gonna come to Kentucky and file an injunction. I mean look, I'm giving flowers to Mark Pope bec Dillon: I'm too. Kolton Myatt: because it's happened. But let's stop pretending like this is what he had drawn up in his head. I mean, there is no way. It just wasn't. It's w it's been great for us. I mean, it's working out beautifully right now. But at the end of the day, I mean and look, we can sit there and say we got Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins. I hope they're amazing. I really am excited for both of them. They're question marks just like anyone else's. Like like we're we're getting excited, but To act like you didn't want a top the number one freshman in the country. Dillon: Well, every single Mason: I was about to say. Dillon: person we set on there literally came to UK's campus for a visit. We didn't pass on anybody. They just didn't Kolton Myatt: Yeah. No. Dillon: choose us. They all went to BYU. Mason: Bingo. Bingo. Kolton Myatt: Right. Yeah, I everyone's going Yeah, we've gotta stop going up against BYU. We are not winning that battle right now. the Mormon church is throwing the money at him. we are just not not winning that battle. But man, no, I look, we can't pretend like that. We we need to be grateful for how the roster turned out. We're excited for how it Dillon: Absolutely. Kolton Myatt: turned out. you know, how it ever it got done. Good for Pope, good for the roster. I think it's best roster he's gonna have so far. It's the most excited roster I've been, you know, excited for so far Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: in his tenure, and I'm looking forward to big things. However, Dillon: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: let's just still not pretend that there ain't that there wasn't, you know, flaws to get here. And it was a broken road, and but maybe it worked, and and that's how we're gonna accept it right now. Dillon: Yeah, and I think that's the biggest thing. I just wanted to clear that up because like we're all we're static, we're happy. However, though, how did we get here? You know, like and I still give Mark Pope's flowers. Like I will state that. Yes, we've we said that and said that said, but let's not ignore the fact that we did bring all these guys on campus and they just didn't choose Kentucky. Okay. but now let's talk about it, you know, this team, what it means now. Mason, according to two four seven sports. Kentucky now has the number one ranked transfer class, including the number two, number six, and number twenty nine, number forty-seven players that entered the portal. One being Kentucky, two Louisville, three Tennessee, and as follows from there on. It r as of right now, remember, we're keeping in mind that like we're playing this game, that Mark Mitchell is going to get to play. I mean, looking at where we were at, whenever Tyron Stoke chose Kansas to where we are now, we have the number one transfer portal class. I mean And then also specifically looking at just Mark Mitchell's stats, right? Let's because that's the biggest thing why we added him on here. according to Tristan Ferris, I'm gonna read some of these stats. So he averaged 18.3 points per game last season, was a top 10 score in the SEC. but he also averaged 3.6 assists. he had a 25.5% usage rate, 60.6% true shooting, 21.2% assist rate, and 1.7 assists to turnover ratio. The biggest question that I have, Mason, is like, what does he do to this team? How does he elevate it? Where do we go from where we were without him to now if he's able to play with us? Where are we at now? Mason: For me, I think it f fixes some of the holes and question marks that we had, right? Especially on the offensive end. Like he averaged 18 points in the SEC. He put up, what, 30 something against us last year in the SEC tournament? Like he's proven he can Dillon: Yeah, I got to watch that. Mason: Yeah, he's proven he can go get a bucket, right? And that's what we keep saying. It's like some of these guys are question marks, right? Like, yes, they they've been good. You know, Wilkins was good at Fermin. Is that gonna translate to every night in the SEC and the physicality of the SEC? Who knows? And you know, it behind Milan, who was that other guy who was gonna step up and go score for us whenever we needed that? And I think you have added that now with Mitchell, right? You give another option that if a guy's having an off night, you know, you have Mark Mitchell to rely on, or if he's having an off-night, you have Milon. And then maybe one of those other nights if they're both soft, you know, then Alex and Zoom can have a good night. So I think he fixes some of those holes and those question marks that we had offensively and defensively as well. Right? I mean he's he's big, he's an athlete, he moves well. You know, you've seen you've seen films of him being able to kind of put it on the floor and go around guys, guard guys. you know, obviously another thing that kind of stands out to me is that Over three assists a game. We know Mark Pope loves to have a big, right? Who can facilitate and, you know, stretch the floor and be able to hit these cutters on the zoom actions and backdoors and all these things. So I think that's another key piece for us to have, you know, I think Morano's a decent passer. So if you have two guys that are out there, you know, your bigs that can help stretch the floor and can see the floor well. I think that's another piece that helps add to this team and I I You know, I I will say this. I said in the beginning I wanted Keyshawn Hall, and the more that I sit here and thought about it and watched, you know, Mark Mitchell highlights, I think this was the best fit that we could have found at this time for what we were missing and what we needed. Dillon: Man, Colton tried telling you. Let's just hope he's eligible. man, I I I I do want to give a shout out here to Tristan Ferris of a Sea of Blue. Like I I've been reading some of his tweets and I I love this tweet because I was like, man, that is so right. And you know, it it made me think of of Colton as well. so last year's team, Colton, you know, you was very adamant when looking at the roster we had. You was very, very, very adamant that you're looking at this team and it it came apparent as the season kind of went on is that we just have a ton of role players. Like we other than Otega Owe, right? And I I just want to stay on the record still that I think Oto Otega Owe was a star. And we finally agreed upon that. It was just a little bit different stardom. But the shift of last year's team to this year's team. And what I'm getting to here, and then Colton, I'm going to say this some stuff and I'm gonna let you have it is when thinking of the last year's roster compared to the previous year and Mark Pope's first year, right? We brought in a Denzel Aberdeen, who was the sixth man of the Florida. You look at a Colin Chandler, who was like what, our sixth, seventh best player on that first year's roster. You have a Jalen Lowe, which probably was the only clear-cut best player on his team. You have a JQ who was and would have been, but he was hurt, right? You have even an Otega Oway who You could argue wasn't the best player in that first year. It was Jackson Robinson. you have a Brandon Garrison who was not the best player. He was like our seventh or eighth man. So emoji bate, sixth or seven man Alabama. We had so many role players, right? None of them had proven like they are the go-to guys, the best player on their team. And Tristan Ferris put something out, and I was like, man, that makes so much sense. I love seeing that and reading that. I hadn't really even, I mean, I I guess I thought about it, but not until I actually read it. But Shifting gears to this year's roster, a complete 180. You have a Zum Diallo now who led Washington in usage percentage and assists in second in scoring. You can make an argument that he was the best player on that Washington team. You had a Wilkins who led Furman in scoring, assists, and minutes. He was by far the best player on that Furman team. You have a Milam Chilovich who led Iowa State in scoring. You could argue that he wasn't the best player, but he definitely was right there at the second best. You have a Mark Mitchell, if eligible, led Missouri in scoring and assists, hands down the best player. Amalek Amarino, who in the previous year was a freshman. He's going to be coming in as a primary interior option there. you have a Justin McBride, who was second in scoring at James Madison by 0.3% or 0.3 points. Every single guy that I just stated, Colton, Has proven that they are the best player, if not arguably the best player on the team. It's a complete different outlook from last year's team, man. Like, we we shouldn't have to worry about these guys proving themselves to be the best guys on this year's team. Now, managing that is a different beast, but what's your thoughts on that? I know you've probably thought about that a little bit because that goes directly to what you were so big on last year is like looking at our team, like we just have a bunch of role players. Kolton Myatt: we did and and that's what you know, 'cause I was big on, you know, we had thought we were getting Caleb Wilson, right? We we thought we were getting Caleb Wilson for a long time and we didn't. And then we talked about how deep our our our roster was. Right. And I felt like we gave up s a chance of maybe tacking on some extra money to get some of these stars, especially in the year that was perhaps the best freshman class of all time. you know, that we kind of Turn away some stars maybe from not putting up to to maybe get a deeper roster, right? Like I think that was the plan. It was like, we we want a deeper roster. but you filled it full of role players. And what you found out is when we were playing these other teams, is that they didn't have just role players. Like they had really good Dillon: Studs. Kolton Myatt: players. I mean, you take the Iowa State game that we got beat by 30 and to finish the year, right? Milan. And and they that was a studly team. Like and you can sit there and say, well, it it's just different in the sense of well, yeah, you're right. We didn't have any proven, truly proven players on it. And then the few that you did have, if you want to say you did, were injured, so I mean they're your backups, were all just role players the whole year. and this year's team just looks completely different from that. Right. I just think My biggest thing about Mark Mitchell is I think I don't know what his conditioning is going to be like and I don't know how much he was staying in shape, but at the end of the day, he if he's in shape, I think he's a guy that has to be on the floor 32 plus minutes a game. Because Dillon: That's why that's Kolton Myatt: even if he's not scoring, I think he's a guy that's gonna be able to provide you plus on the plus minus in multiple areas. Right, whether he's rebounding, whether he's stretching, whether he can play the defense on the stretch four, right? Things that I I'm afraid that some of the other guys aren't gonna have weaknesses. I think he's the one player we're gonna have on the court that has the capability of doing a little of everything. Right. Dillon: Mason, or go ahead. I thought you were done. Go ahead. Kolton Myatt: No, no, yeah, I'm done. Dillon: Well, Mason, Colton, I I love that you brought this up because I was gonna I was gonna talk about this too. Is he said Mark Mitchell has got to be on the floor 32, 33 minutes. You know, here we go again, like Mark Pope. I better not see guys playing 24, 25 minutes. It just you just can't do it. I mean I know like Utah and I you know, I feel for these guys. I feel for the Ousmane, I feel for the Justin McBride, who was looking at a starting position probably. And if Mark Mitchell can play, that's just not gonna happen. You're not gonna sit a guy who was all SEC first team two years in a row, the leading scorer, like and who was by far the best player and will be arguably the best player on this year's roster, right? Like so like immediately, Mark Pole better not be mixing these minutes up. Play your studs, period. Mason: I agree completely and I'm glad y'all brought this up too, because going back to very, very quickly, going back to the we all Mark Pope apologies. This we we give him his flowers, right? I said when the offseason started, he either has to have a top high school recruiting class or a top transfer portal class to r prove that he can actually get guys to Kentucky. He did the latter, right? He had a top transfer class, but guess what? He still ain't played a game with this roster. So I ain't giving out no apologies. Nobody's sitting here crucifying Mark Pope, right? We're just giving criticism and seeing from our point of view what needs to improve. And I'll go into this a little bit. Dillon: Based on what we have said. Mason: Right. And I'll go into this a little bit more in our BSM from the stands. but absolutely, Dylan, that's like we haven't seen results yet. And who knows, if Mark Pope wants come out and play twelve guys, we might Dillon: Mm. Mason: not have the potential that we could if you only want to go eight or nine D. Right? So it's just Dillon: I think Colton may lose it if he does that. Mason: gosh. Kolton Myatt: yeah, I'm yeah, I'm going I'm gonna go crazy. I Dillon: Ha ha. Kolton Myatt: can't stand it. The subbing has been an issue. I cannot deal with it. Mason: Yeah. Dillon: Well you you you you talked about BSM from the stands. So whoever it is, take us into it. I don't know what it is. Let's go. Mason: Alright, so obviously it was our most recent reel with Colton kind of talking on Kolton Myatt: Guys. Mason: Mark Mitchell. And so like listen, I I see these kind of comments all the time and it's a longer comment, so I'm I'm just gonna try to kind of skim through it here and give you the gist of it. Basically he goes on, you know Dillon: Well, hold on, you gotta you gotta get a little backstory. I mean, don't make it long, but I mean obviously w let let them if they didn't watch Coton's reel Mason: Okay, I'll I'll read it. I'll read it. I'll Kolton Myatt: This r Mason: read it. I'll read it. Kolton Myatt: rate it I wanted. Bring it. Mason: Mark Pope's 2024-25 team was Final Four Brown. Injury destroyed 60% of the preseason projected NCAA tournament starting roster. We had the best point guard in the nation when it comes to prepared and ready for the Final Four that he had already been to. Owe, Car, Amari, Jackson, Almanor, Chandler, an elite team. Best three-point shooter in America, Brea, a total and complete set of tools. Then it happened again, 25-26, 60% of the preseason projected NCAA tournament starting roster. Was 25-26 Final Four capable if they all stay healthy and the And can make a run, we will never know. Not no, not no way, and your doom and gloom about it doesn't matter. You can't ignore it anymore. Injury destroys 60% of the preseason projected NCAA tournament starting roster of both teams. Face it and get over it. We know there's people crying in Louwood every year, every day. We don't care. They don't plug in microphones and self-soothe wearing the blue and white. So stop at the crap. You don't like Mark Pope, nobody cares. You don't need a microphone plugged in to get temporary grief dump therapy on the daily. And here's what I gotta say about this crap. All right. First off, doom and gloom. Nobody's bringing doom and gloom. Okay. We're getting on here. And and I really don't understand why people keep saying bring in the doom and gloom. How many times have we said that we like Mark Pope? We want what is best for Mark Pope. Okay, but the last seven years-ish of Kentucky basketball has been what? Mediocre at best? Mediocre. That is not. Dillon: Yeah, hold on. Before you go though, I think see I don't I I almost I think you just you said it in the wrong way. It's not so much about Mark Pope as is the University of Kentucky. okay. Mason: Yeah, that's what I'm getting at. Like it's it's not even about Mark Pope. Like we have said over and over again, like we like Mark Pope. It's nothing against Mark Pope. But at this point, Kentucky basketball is not where it has been in the past. And we want to get back to that. We're not okay with mediocrity. Right? It's it's not about liking the coach that's here. It's about results. Point blank period. We're the University of Kentucky. We're supposed to be the Mecca of college basketball. Right now we are not that. And if you're okay with the last seven years of Kentucky basketball and being kind of at the middle of college basketball and not being at the top, and you don't think that they things need to change and get better, and nobody's sitting here saying that Mark Pope can't do it or he won't do it. We obviously want him to. We want it to turn around as quickly as possible. But if you're okay with this mediocrity, then you just pack up your bags and go on down to our little brother down the road and start cheering for them. They're okay with just bare minimum making the tournament every year. We are not okay with that crap. And and that's why we get on here and well, we're not saying, fire Mark Pope, fire Mark Pope, you know, do this. We just want Kentucky basketball back to the level that we know it can be. And in these first two years, yes, he's had some injuries. Sure. And I think that first year, more so than this second year, you know, it really hurt him. You know, losing Robinson, losing Butler. so I think that first year, yes, he had some injuries. And how many times have we said on here that he overachieved his first year? He did great his first year. Kudos to Mark Pope. He came in short time, built a great rock. I do think that team could have gone farther if we were fully healthy. Nobody's saying that. But last year comes in and we take a step back, and that's just not okay. Right? Like he had a full year to kind of get his feet underneath him. He doesn't really do great in the transfer portal, right? Like we just talked about that. All the players were kind of role players on the teams that they came from. He didn't get any studs. This year he has. So we want to see results. Dillon: I'm still trying to figure out what game he's watching, or he or she. I don't know who you're I I'm trying to figure out in what sentence Lamont Butler is the best point guard in the Mason: Ha ha ha. Dillon: nation. There's a guy named Walter Clayton Jr. that I got to watch an entire year dominate clutch shot after clutch shot and lead his I mean, I I just it's not the same game I'm watching. so that's the first thing when I'm hearing that whoa, pump the brakes. and then that team right there was final four bound. I will argue that to the end of time, that that team, and it always goes back, and I, you know, I will take this from Colton because Coton says a couple of things that are awful, but he says a lot of good things too. but Colton always has stood by and I think it goes back to his days whenever he was controlling the golf big tournaments. He's like, whenever based on performance, you always judge a player and a team based on at their best, not what they're capable of. But at their best. And that team, I say that because when thinking of that first year Marks Pope team at their best compared to other teams at their best, was not a Final Four team. At best, it was an Elite Eight team. And also I will bank on this is that it would have had to have taken a run. Like we would have had to have got hot. Injury or non-injury. With Lamont Butler healthy. Yes, I still make that statement. Like we just did not have the dudes compared to other rosters. We didn't. Did we gel well? Yes. Did we have good chemistry? Absolutely. I mean we beat Florida, yes, at home. But again, that was early. Teams get better throughout the season. Injuries stink? Absolutely. Yes, I understand that. But we've got to stop hanging our hats on this excuse of Mason: Yeah. Dillon: well, we would have been and done this had we got this, especially for last year's team. Mason: Okay. Dillon: Stop it. You you went out, you Mason: He recruited a guy. Dillon: were recruited a guy coming off an ACL injury. Did we like that? Yes, but also we knew and he should have knew and he did know that that's a chance that he was taking. I just can't and and I the loom and glue, you've already hit that, so I'm not gonna hit that. I I mean I'm not on here being depressed like I can't stand Mark Pope. Get rid of him. Get rid of him now. We've said that this Mason: Wha W one more thing. Dillon: is the year. This is the year that we will make that Mason: Yeah. Dillon: decision. Mason: And one more thing before I throw it over to Colton. Like I feel like a lot of these people feel like so many UK fans are it's title robust. We're not like that. Like we don't expect Dillon: No, I just wanna be competitive and be Mason: We don't expect a title every year, right? We just want to be up there in the conversation every year for potentially being one of the best teams in the country. Like March Madness is the hardest tournament, I think, in the world to win. I really think it is. But like we we want to get back to where we are top of the SEC, top ten, you know, and if you're okay with what we've seen these last six or seven years, then you're just okay with mediocrity, and that's not Kentucky basketball. Dillon: Cotton, what do you think Mason: Hold dog. Dillon: about it? Mason: He said this to you. He said this to you, so Kolton Myatt: Thanks guys. I appreciate I appreciate the backup. Listen, that this guy's ridiculous. I mean, it it's Dillon: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: not really worth my time. look, the injuries are I'm I'm not doing with the injury excuse. You wanna say that about the first year, sure. I I really like that team, but at the end of the day, that's worth Dylan said my stance on it. They were a good team. They they they were s a veteran team. They had a lot of seniors. Had had a lot of experience. They jailed well together. But like we we beat Tennessee twice that season. And before we got beat to him in the NC tournament, the the two games we played Tennessee, they went eleven for sixty-six from three point range. We got we beat Duke, but we were down twenty. We beat Gonzaga, we were down twenty. Like We were pulling out some wins on paper that were like, Hey, we we beat Florida. We shot seventy percent from the field and we won by four. Right? Like those are great wins on paper. And and kudos for the wins. But you you watch teams and you're like If Cooper Flag and them really won if they didn't if they wanted to step on our throats and they played a really good game the rest of that way, are we coming back from down twenty? Probably at their best Dillon: At their best and our best, who you who you Kolton Myatt: no. Right. No, exactly. It wasn't happening. And so that's where I'm at on that one. Now last year I get so tired of that. He built the roster. He he bragged about being getting depth. He went and got a guy that you knew wasn't coming back at the start of the season. You knew you were even going to miss some games with him. And at that point, yeah, you already Mason: About half the season, more than likely, yeah. Kolton Myatt: knew you were going to miss games with him by recruiting him. And he ended up never barely being able to play. Yes, the Jalen Lowe thing is tough. But at this at the same time, Jalen Lowe played when we got blown out to Michigan State. When we got we were down by a lot more than what we got beat to Louisville. Jalen Lowe was played during the Gonzaga game that we were at. Right? So like we let's stop trying to pretend like some of these guys weren't there. We've got to stop making excuses. I'll just say this. I know I I bring up Cal. I'm not even bringing up Cal for this reason. But Cal earned the right to be criticized. on the last few years of his coaching tenure here because of the lack of achievement and the lack of performance. But if a guy with a national title lost in another national title game, eight Elite Eights in like a ten year span can can get that criticism for the lack of performance because it's the University of Kentucky, Dillon: Mm. Kolton Myatt: so can Mark Pope. And that's not just Dillon: Facts. Kolton Myatt: towards Mark Pope, but he can be criticized and it's okay. It's Mason: Bike truck. Dillon: And and another Kolton Myatt: not just personal towards him. We're just criticizing Dillon: another thing, Kolton Myatt: the performance. Dillon: you're looking at last year's team. We I think we went 22 and 14. If you have Jalen Lowe, you wasn't going to have it is he really going to I mean how many more games do you win with a Jalen Lowe? I mean I say Mason: The work. Dillon: I that's my tops is four at at best four. So you're still you're Mason: Trying to look with all we lost. Dillon: still looking at a 26 and 10 season, which is good, but not what we you know, UK would want to be, right? And again, it goes back to what Mason said, not a championship or bus type thing. I'll end it with this, because we got into this, so keeping in mind, like why is this being talked about? It's because of on the BSM from the stands, we read a comment. That is not this year's team. Until proven otherwise, bluegrass state of mind is optimistic and we are going to stay that way, right? All of that, and may I Colton I couldn't say it better. If if a guy that had all of those accolades can be criticized. So can a guy who has only made it to a sweet sixteen in the round of thirty-two at the University of Kentucky. Now you can say, give me more time, give me more time. You can't say that. Kolton Myatt: In in his whole career, that's what he's made. A sixteen Mason: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: and around a thirty two. Like he hadn't won a tournament game beforehand. So that's like well Like, yeah. I don't Dillon: It's just it's it's so laughable whenever whenever people who don't know us, Mason: Okay. Dillon: which again, the I mean that that comes with having a podcast, but it it's so funny. Like they think like they don't know us and like you don't ever get us on here ever saying, I wish Kentucky would look like what no like what what Mason: Ha ha. Dillon: Like we wanna win. That's all that matters is like we want to win, right? Mason: Keyboard Warriors. One of our top fans, he comments on almost everything now. Dillon: well if he actually listened to the show instead maybe the reels, he would realize, hey, these three guys, like they just are critical whenever there's a time to be critical and they praise whenever there's a time to be praised. You call it as it is, call a spade a spade. I don't know what else to say about it like that. but interesting, very interesting. I still can't get over the Lamont Butler being the best point guard in the nation over a Walter Clayton Jr. I don't know about that one. but Anyways, good discussion. Let's get into our last top. Is there another topic I'm skipping over? I can't even I I it was we're coming up on 54 minutes. So let's get into the tour championship. Colton, we've had a change of things, but kind of lead us into this. I didn't prep you for this, but I know you got it. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, so the tour championship is it's it will begin tomorrow. we're recording this on a Wednesday or begin tomorrow. Last tournament of the year. obviously the way that the format is set up that whoever wins this tour championship, it's just a regular stroke play tournament across four days, held in East Lake at Atlanta, Georgia. you know, whoever wins this tournament is essentially it's the top thirty in the left in the FedEx Cup standings. Whoever wins this tournament is essentially the FedEx Cup champion of the year. You know, they had they went away from the strokes last couple years. you know, before that they were ranking, you know, you started out at a certain score if you were number one through thirty, and they kinda gave the first bot an advantage, like trying to get the guys, you know, some advantage in that aspect. But anyhow, they went back to just regular whoever's gonna win this tournament is essentially gonna be the FedEx Cup champion this year. Well, this is the last year of this, right? And the PGA came out with some Pretty big announcement on format changes to the tour championship beginning next year. And you know, do you want me to go into it, DG, or do you want to go into it? But okay. So essentially Dillon: Nah, you go for it, big dog. I mean I get it, but you do it. Kolton Myatt: essentially the tour championship next year will consist of a like a championship series that will essentially end in a match play tournament for the tour championship. And the way that it's pretty much described is that they're gonna have a a they're gonna have a two weekends. And one weekend you're gonna be in a group of four and you're gonna play each person one time. The top two in points or or whoever wins the most matches, the two people in that group of four will advance to the final weekend and then it will be seeded essentially one through I think it's sixteen. One through sixteen will advance and they'll see that and it'll be You'll play a match a day essentially, and whoever Mason: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: will go undefeated will be your tour champion. And so I saw where the biggest thing that this does is number one, it allows you to go one-on-one with the other person. Right? You're not just playing the course. You're not just playing, you're playing the person now. And so it's head to head. So it's whoever wins it is gonna have to go undefeated. So you're gonna take down four of the top sixteen players in the all in a four day span, one on one. I mean, that to me is a more proven champion than just getting hot this one tournament here, the last tournament, and winning the and winning the FedEx Cup. and then number two, I also saw the the capabilities that it's going to allow for the f the fan experience. Did y'all see where, you know, a lot of there's a lot of courses around the world are so nice. But they can't the PGA can't use them because the course doesn't want to have twenty thousand fans on it. They don't want to provide the infrastructure that it costs to host 140 play fields, all this stuff. And so they talked about being able to actually have these match play and these tour championships at different courses that they've never been able to have before. And the fans being able to have experiences like right there on top of the players. And man, I I just think that the tour has got this right. I do. I think that Finally have figured it out. I think it's just gonna you know, the tourist viewership has gone up this year. In the last couple of years, it's gone way up. And I just think that this is really gonna improve it even more. They've made some really good changes. And I think with the chaos that Liv is in, I think all this couldn't come at a better time. I'm excited to see the tour championship this week. the last time of it and could be the last time at East Lake itself also. so I'm excited, you know I don't know if y'all want to get predictions, but what do y'all but we'll get to that, but what do y'all think of the new format, Mason? Mason: Yeah, so I I like it. I agree with you, Colton. I think that, you know, kind of the format that they have laid out gives you a better idea of, you know, going up against all these top guys, right? I what's the what's the first weekend gonna be like how many? Is it the top forty? Thirty-two. Okay. Okay. Kolton Myatt: It's it's it's thirty two. There's eight groups of four and then the top sixteen advanced. Mason: Okay. So yeah, I mean you're going up against the top thirty two. And another thing for me is like We talked a little bit about this earlier when we were texting about some other things, but like for me, like it just makes it feel more relatable, right? Because like how many of us go out there and actually play in golf tournaments now and play against a whole field? Right? Like we may do that a couple of times a year, but ninety percent of the time you're going out there and you're playing your buddies and you're going head to head with your buddies, right? So like it's just kind of cool to see guys out there, like, okay, these two guys are going head to head right now. Right, it it it also brings in, you know, you're gonna see some guys playing different, right? At during this match play, right? Because they're gonna be like, Okay, well, I'm down two, you know, so I think it's fun, I think it's exciting. I agree, like I I think the way it is now, you know, we'll give our picks here in a minute if we want, but like I seen people talking about Cantley, about how he's playing so well right now, but he hasn't won in four years. Right? So what if he comes out and wins the tour championship this weekend, right? Like like they were saying he's s second in Tita Green strokes gained and you know, second iron play Like he's kind of turned he played well last week, right? So like let's say he comes out and everything's clicking this week. He hasn't won in four years, but he's your tour champion because he won this one event. So I agree. I think they got it right. Dillon: Yeah, that's that's that's what I was gonna get into. I think I thought said it last year. I I ha I I think the I think the PGA screwed up so bad on the FedEx Cup the past couple of years when they changed. I actually think that it was still kind of odd how that works, but at least it made sense of having a season long FedEx Cup champion and then the separate champion who won that actual tournament. 'Cause I can't and it's not just because it's Scotty, but like it it it hurts me for him and for anybody else and it just doesn't make sense. Like they call it the season long race. And it just it's last year's the perfect example. Tommy Fleetwood, yes, was he he was up there, but he he didn't win other than that tournament. And because he won that tournament he was the FedEx Cup champion. Like don't put season long race with that if it's going to be a season long race. Season long means it's for its entirety for the whole season. Like so I think correct me if I'm wrong, but I love this format because it is the match play, it is the head to head, but also they're going to do kind of a separate system of awarding the season long, and then this is kind of gonna be it its separate entity. Is that right? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, yeah, that is true. They are bringing that part back to where they're gonna r award the season long points leader at the end of the season regular season. Right, and then you're gonna have essentially the yeah. Mason: Kinda like regular season champ and then you have yeah, tournament champ, basically. Yeah. Kolton Myatt: Yep, pretty much. Dillon: Which which which makes sense. Like that that like Mason: Absolutely. Dillon: 'cause then and like I love the the perfect like Patrick Canley, that's the perfect person. Like, yes, he is on fire. But I mean he's not won in four years, but he's gonna be possibly the FedEx Cup champion? Like, if I'm Scotty Scheffler or if I'm Wyndham Clark, I'm sitting there, I'm like, What in the world? That makes no sense. so I I I think I like sh I think they nailed it. I mean, I think that It is. And again, getting into the live stuff, like these guys have got to be like, my goodness, what have I done? I mean, I know money talks. Money talks. I even said like they're I I would probably I mean, not saying I wouldn't take that money because that that's a lot of money. However though, you kind of saw this coming, right, at some point. Kolton Myatt: For sure. I I think it's exciting. I'm excited though for it to the seat 'cause it could be at East Lake for the last time. So I'm excited. So why don't we g I'll give one pick and one sleeper pick, but we're we're gonna leave out Scotty 'cause we're just gonna I think I think we all always agree that if Scotty's playing, he's a favorite. So don't pick Scotty but give give one Mason: Ha ha. Kolton Myatt: guy a pick and then one maybe somewhat of a sleeper, although when you only have thirty players there's not as many sleepers, right? So give one of y who's your very favorite but you but you would want to also like you could see winning. Dillon: Hm. If y'all already young, go ahead. I gotta th I know who my sleeper is. Other than Scotty or but Mason: I'll go. I'm right. Dillon: I'm trying to think of who maybe Mason: I'm gonna go with Rory as a favorite. obviously he played well last week. you know, I saw some comments where he's basically saying it's you the playoffs are three week, you know, three week long event. I think he's getting it dialed in a little bit. you know, obviously he has the ability. I think he's won here three times. Is that right? I think he's won the championship three times. So yeah, I mean I could see Rory having a a good week. and then my sleeper I talked about a minute ago, Patrick Hamley. He's playing well right now. you know, he hadn't one in a while, but played well last week. You know, he was kinda right up there near the top. if he can hit some putts, watch out. Kolton Myatt: that. I'm I'm gonna go with so I I'm gonna go with Fitzpatrick. I I I think Matt Fitzpatrick has also had a good season and I think that he's gonna win, which would technically be I wanna say his fourth win of the season. and so I think that he could maybe even c get into that player of the year conversation after this one. But I think he's had a good year and I I could see him finishing it off with this. And then my sleeper's my sleeper's gonna be Chris Godderup. I think he's had a great year too. he's he's a good ball striker. If he can just make enough putts and and get off the T decent he he's a he's had a great season also, three wins. I I think Goder up's gonna be my sleeper for this week. Dillon: man, this is really tough. I'll start with my sleeper because I really like my sleeper. I'm gonna go Siwoo Kim. I think he has played really well the past three weeks. He just hasn't been able to get over the finish line. He's like really had to fight himself into each position. he's caught caught fire here, it seems like the latter half of the season. So that's gonna be my sleeper. He is playing, right? He did make it. He made it finally because Kolton Myatt: Yeah, yeah. yeah. Dillon: I know he was out at one point, he had to come in. But and then My favorite other than Scotty and and without him, I I was gonna say Chris Goddard up, but I'm gonna shift gears and I'm gonna say Xander. Xander last week. The weekend finally started playing well. he he's just I don't know. He he when Xander is playing at his best, I think he's up there with Scotty and Rory. and I I just think that you know he he had the injury, took him a little while to get back in the flow of things. but I'm gonna go Xander. That's based off just a pure guess, not really in particular reason other than because I I think Scotty and I was gonna say Chris Goddard up, but I'll just go Xander. Kolton Myatt: He plays East Lake well, Xander has in the past. I mean he plays East Lake very Dillon: yeah, that is right. That was it live scare? Kolton Myatt: well. I'm well, I mean he he had three or four straight years there where he's constant top five at East Lake, so right, in in in so many. He Dillon: I know, but last year was the first time he hadn't, I think, cracked like top five in so many years. Kolton Myatt: but you're right, Xander's a great player. He's one of those that doesn't have a whole lot of weaknesses. Like he's when he he's just one of those if he can if when he's making putts, he's as tough as anyone to beat. Just like Scotty. When they're making putts, those two guys their ball striking and everything's so good that it's just you know, it's tough to beat if they can make enough putts, so Dillon: Yeah. Well, man, what a episode. What a lot of information to unpack. And it's not even over yet. I will say this exciting news though. This time next week, we will be prepping for Kentucky and Youngtown Youngstown State. Kentucky kicks off not this Saturday, but next Saturday. Exciting stuff. College football starts up Friday. man, it's here. well hey, thank you all for listening in. this has been another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. Please go ahead and follow us on YouTube, hit that subscribe button, our socials on X, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and follow us on our podcast shows, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. And yeah, I mean, fellas, if we want Kentucky to succeed, it's all we want, right? Mason: Absolutely. Doom and gloom. Dillon: So what there we go. What's what they talking about? So with that being said, as always, go cats. Mason: Go cast. Kolton Myatt: Cats.