December 18, 2025 • 17 mins
Austin talks Bearcats with Keegan Nickoson from Bearcat Journal about UC football and basketball, on ESPN 1530!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Tony Pikes since e three sixty about Cincinnati
from Cincinnati, sponsored in hard by Penn Station East Coast Subs.
Pancraft It hot grilled subs, fresh cut fries in lemonade.
It's all about good taste Penn Station East Coast Subs.
Order on mine today. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
(00:24):
Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hi, Hello, welcome in our number three Tony Pikes since
e three sixty. Here on ESPN fifteen thirty. I'm Austin Olmore,
No big fella today, Tony Beck tomorrow for a Friday
football frenzy. And it's been a frenzy, that's for sure.
Whether you're talking football or basketball, Bengal dumb or Bearcat Land,
(00:47):
there's a lot going on. I always think back to
what Moegar says, be good or be interesting. Well, the
Bengals and Bearcats have not been good, but they have
been interesting. And you see last night got a little
bit more interesting. So we go to Bearcat Journal dot
COM's Keegan Nickoson to join us now and talk about
the Bearcats. Keegan, are you keeping up with all the
stuff going on in Bearcat world right now?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Barely?
Speaker 4 (01:11):
I'm hanging on by a string. I don't know if
anyone can is capable.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Of keeping up with everything that's going.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
On at the moment.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Let's start with last night, Jigsel James returns. I think
my question is simple, how did we get here with
Gigsel James.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean he was dismissed from the team in
August and then he spent a lot of time in
Houston training at the John Lucas Facility.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Which kind of specializes.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
In rehabbing NBA and college players. And I think he
got back into town.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Around Louisville the Louisville game.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
And then ever since that Louisville game, you've had some injuries,
some guys who haven't been able to stay healthy and
be Before that, you lost Jalen Haynes for the year.
Lucas Atari from I believe he's from Brazil, came to
campus and didn't pass the physical because he had a
knee issue. So all of a sudden, you're looking at
(02:13):
this roster that is both struggling and unhealthy.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
And then Jisel was told that he wasn't going.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
To play this year, and he still told Wes Miller
that he wanted to come back and be a part
of the team and just be around the guys and
get ready for next season. But then Wes Miller is
kind of putting this impossible situation where he has this
talented player around the team who he can play this
year if.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
He can kind of figure out a way to make it.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Happen, And then ultimately he did just will kind of
reconcile with his teammates, earns.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
The trust back of the coaching staff and.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
His teammates, and ultimately goes back on the floor. So
it's been a really, really long road and I wouldn't
blame anyone who said it's.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
A desperation player by Wes Miller.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
But there was a lot more that went into it
to make sure that it was a decision that he.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
Could make that wasn't the best interest of both.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
His team and Jigsel James, Well, that's what I was
about to ask you, because that's the word I've seen
the most is desperation for Cincinnati. And I think it's
fair to say, based off the way the season has
started that there's a little bit of that in the air.
Do you think it's a desperation move and how much
from a basketball standpoint, how much of a difference.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Can he really make or do we not know?
Speaker 5 (03:30):
I do think it's a desperation move at this.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Point in the season, Like Tyler McKinley didn't play, and
he's not a guard, but he's struggling with kind of
I think it's a bone bruise issue. Shouldn't be long term.
Kerk c Reaese is shooting under thirty percent from three.
Speaker 5 (03:46):
I think he just went one for eight last night.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
He's averaging something around seven points a game. Keischan Tillery
hasn't been playing a ton. He's not really living up
to expectations, which moving the goalpost isn't really fair because
he wasn't expected to play this year a ton in
the first place, because Jigsel and Kerr were supposed to
be the point guards.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
For U see, and then all of a.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Sudden, you throw this true freshman into a really tough
situation since your hairs just struggling with the back issue.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
And it seems like data Thomas is the only guy
who's kind of completely healthy, so he didn't really have
a choice, which I guess means.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
That it's a desperation play.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
But it's not just this thing where Gisel was away
from the.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Team and had no interest.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
In coming back, and then he was offered this opportunity
because Wes just.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Like was begging him to come. He had to come back.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
And go through the right processes and take the necessary
steps to assimilate back and back with the team where
I'm pretty confident that he wouldn't be playing right now.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
By no means, I am not a basketball expert, but
it feels like in the West Miller era offense has
always been a struggle, and consistent offense has always been
a struggle.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Why do you think that is.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Well, that's a million dollar question or like ten million
dollar question.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
I really I don't know.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
I think his best offense.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Was year two when he had Lander's Dollee and David
de Julius and lambders Knowlledge just kind of went absolutely
bonkers from three, made a ton of shots, and then
you have a point guard who can go and get
you a bucket. And even that offense, I think it
was in like the.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Seventies or eighties.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
According to Ken palm Like it was by no means
the top offense in the country, but they had a
solid enough defense to have a pretty good season. I
think a lot of it is players just not panning
out and not being able to take the next step.
And that's on coaching. That's not me throwing the players
under the bus. If the players aren't getting better from
(05:53):
year to year, it's on the people who are supposed
to be developing them. You think Dan Skillings goes to
a baseball.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Game and gets on.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
An interview between innings and says, Yeah, I'm going to
play one more year at Cincinnatian and go to the NBA,
and then he has a really bad year and makes
a couple million dollars to go to Baylor. And you
think of Gisel James, who was supposed to be the
best player of the team last year and he really struggles.
Dylan Mitchell didn't have a great offensive season last year.
Simos Dukoshias started the season shooting like forty eight percent
(06:25):
from three, but then really really struggled.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
And he just couldn't put together a consistent season.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So I don't know if it's.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
The assistant coaches or there isn't just a great offensive plan,
but it seems like there's been a decent amount of
stuff thrown out the wall and it just hasn't hasn't
stuck like you're kind of counting on Kerkkrisa and saying, okay,
last his last year at West Virginia, he was good,
and then he goes to Kentucky and gets hurt and
only plays nine games. If we can get that West
(06:55):
Virginia Kerkkrisa, everything will be fine.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
But then you don't get them.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
And on Celesting has had a decent year but also
hasn't been great. And then Shawnabaiah, who's supposed to be
maybe your best shooter on the team him battling with Celestine,
is also kind of struggling from the from the free
throw line and the free point line, and now to
a point where Dade Thomas is kind of your most
most efficient shooter.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Which no one would have pictured two years ago.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
So I think a lot of it is it's development,
and a lot of it as players just not panning out.
I wouldn't say that they're constantly getting bad shots. A
lot of it is just you're not making shots. And
that's going to go back to what what are you practicing,
what are the drills they're doing, and just how locked
interview on those things.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
How would you assess the season that we've seen from
Shaunabaiah this year.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
I think I unfairly kind of saw him being.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
One of the highest rated recruits to.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Come to Cincinnati and said.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Okay, well, he's just going to be the best player
on the team, and I kind of expected him.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
To do much more, knowing that he was a really
really high four star of five star by some outlets,
and then you just kind of think about that and
you say, Okay, well, this kid's going to be a stud.
I think he definitely has to play better. And I
think if anyone asks him if he's played up to
his standard or what he believes he can play to.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
If you ask Wes.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Miller, both of them would say no, and that he
needs to play better and that he will play better.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
I mean, Wes Miller said.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
Last night he's going to shoot the ball well this season.
Take that to the bank. And you know, Wes has
also said that about free throws.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
And it hasn't really come true. So I don't know
how much credence you can give it. But I think
he's a really really talented player.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I think he's a smart player.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
I liked seeing him against Alabama State be aggressive on
takes to the rim and then kind of pass out,
or draw some foul shots, or get some layups.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
And not just settle for threes.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Because he's been a very, very high volume three point shooter,
so I'm expecting him to play much better.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
But I wouldn't argue with.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Anyone who says, you know, we saw the Michigan game
in the exhibition when he scored I think fifteen points
and looked great, and you're not just seeing that now.
So he's going to be really really tested at the
start of Big twelve play to see if he can
kind of come along.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Talking to Kegan nickoson Bearcat Journal dot Com, let's flip
over to football. There's a lot going on as the
Bearcats get set for the Liberty Bowl. The big news
this week, of course, Brendan Sorosby going into the transfer portal.
What did we learn from Scott Saderfield when he talked
earlier this week about Sorsby and about what the plan
might be to replace him.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
Yeah, I mean what we learned is that Cincinnati put
together a very competitive package and finance.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Wise to compete with other schools. But at the end
of the day, I just think this.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Was I think Brendan Soorzy wanted to play somewhere else.
I don't think it was a thing where he was
willing to come back and kind of in a sense
start over offensively because of all the players that they're losing.
I know for a fact after last season he turned
down higher paying offers because he saw.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
What they were building.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
He saw Joe Royer, he saw the wide receivers they
could bring in, and Cyrus All and Jeff Caudwell, Caleb Goody,
he saw Evan Pryor the offensive line, and he knew
that he had something to build around.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
And then you know, kind of.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Just looking at the situation and going in the next year,
you have to think, you know, how much better can
I get?
Speaker 5 (10:32):
How much can I raise my stock for the NFL?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
And at this point he thinks he's either going to
go to the NFL or he's going to trainsfer somewhere
else and try to raise.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
That stock even more. A school like Texas Tech, who.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Has a forty million dollar roster this year and has
a ton of money. Maybe Indiana, where he played for
multiple years, and that's where you see got him out
of after a successful stint. I've heard some Tennessee I've
hurt some Miami, but I ultimately think it's going to
come down to Texas Tech and Indiana if he doesn't
end up going to the draft.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
So yeah, it's it's tough.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Scott Saderfield basically said, look, we couldn't afford him, and
you know, I don't think anybody.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Should be surprised by that.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
He's one of the best quarterbacks in the country, especially
when you look at who's coming back for next season.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
He's going to be.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
One of the most sought after quarterbacks. So you know,
you see, he's in a tough spot and they're going
to have to replace him with the transfer quarterbacks. He's
going to have to come in and really battle for
a starting spot next year.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Not only is their roster turnover, but there's turnover on
the people that help build the roster. They've lost a
couple of guys in their player development and the portal
operations and all that stuff. What is the latest on
replacing them so that they can continue to acquire talent
through the portal and otherwise.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
Yeah, it hasn't been officially announced yet by Cincinnati, but
they're replacing Jack Griffith with Nick Lematina from Western Kentucky.
He was an intern at Western Kentucky under Zach Grant
and I believe twenty twenty and then he's been there since,
and he was one of Tyson Hilton's biggest player personnel guys.
(12:14):
He actually was a lead guy in replacing a team
that won eight games and then lost sixty players after
the twenty twenty four season, and then they replaced the
sixty players that they lost and then won.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Eight more games this past year.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
So he knows about roster turnover, he knows how to
evaluate talent. They sent defensive linemen to I think Auburn,
Florida State, Wake Forest, and Alabama after the last season,
so he's been involved in all that kind of stuff.
Everything I've heard from everyone is that he's a stud.
And you know, I'm very very high on Jack Griffith.
(12:50):
I think he was one of the best portal evaluators
and hardest working guys in college football. And it sounds
like they got a guy to kind of rivaled that
or at least get close to it, especially when we're
only a couple weeks away from the portal here.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Speaking of the portal, it feels like there's a thousand
Bearcats in it right now. I say this like jokingly,
but also not like are there going to be enough
people to play in the Liberty Bowl against Navy, especially
in the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
The defensive backfield might be a question, but we're going
to be seeing a lot of true freshmen and red
shirt freshmen who haven't seen a lot of snaps in
their Cincinnati careers. We actually talked to Tyson Bite today
after practice and he said to look out for Patrick Williams,
a corner from Florida who's a true freshman who has
really taken on that mantle.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
And taken the opportunity to get.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Those extra snaps, and he's taken advantage of it. You
saw Michael Coleman enter the portal today. He hasn't been
at practice. But yet they're going to have enough guys.
It just might not be the usual product that you
saw at the end of the year from an experience perspective,
but I would say that a lot of Cincinnati fans
(14:02):
weren't very satisfied with what they saw in the first place.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
To getting some new.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Blood out there against Navy might be a good thing.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Well, like going up against a team like Navy and
with everything you just mentioned and the inexperience and all
the turnover, Like how much can you really get from
the Liberty Bowl? Like does winning it matter that much?
Do those snaps matter that much? Like how much are
you actually getting out of this game?
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
I mean, there's a few names that I'm interested in.
Zion Johnson, a running back, is one. What does he
do as possibly a starting running back? I think Evan
Pryor's status for whether Hill player or not is kind
of up in the air. Zion Johnson's a really really fast,
true freshman who's expected to have a big role on
the team in the future. So I'm going to be
watching him Sadderfield said that both quarterbacks, Brady Littenberg and
(14:53):
Samage Jones will play, and I think this is a
great chance for Samage Jones to prove to the coaching
staff whether he can and compete for the starting job
next year. How aggressive do they have to be in
the portal going after a guy? And you know, Navy
isn't like the most talented team in the country, but
they're gonna play discipline, and they're gonna play really, really
hard and really aggressive brand of football. So it'll be
(15:16):
a good test for the quarterbacks other than Matt I'm
looking at I'm looking at dB like I mentioned earlier,
how does Patrick Williams play?
Speaker 3 (15:24):
How to CJ.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Krit play a safety who I'm really intrigued by. They
brought in some true freshmen last year with some length
and size, which is what Scott Saidifield said they needed
to get in the offseason. So just looking at those
kind of things, red shirt freshmen, true freshman who could
possibly have an impact next year. And also like the
offensive line is looking like it's going to stay together
(15:46):
pretty well, as they just announced that they're all coming
back next year, So see how those guys can continue
to gel against the Navy defensive line.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Good stuff, Keegan, appreciate your time. Before I let you go.
What are you working on and how can people follow along?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (16:02):
I got a bunch of portal stuff coming. It opens
on January tewod and then going to continue to have
bowl game and basketball coverage coming.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Make sure to subscribe to Barcott.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
Journal, follow me at k Nickison forty two on X
and you should see all my stuff.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Awesome, Keegan, we'll talk to you in a couple of weeks. Man.
Thank you and having Merry Christmas. Thanks awesome, you too.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
That is Keegan nickoson Bearcat journal dot Com. About half
an hour from right now, we'll be talking to the
head hont show of Bearcat Journal dot Com. Chadbrindle is
going to stop buy for quick hits because Chad has
most show this afternoon from three to six. It'll be
the Chadbrendle Show on The Moegger Show. Got an update
from Bengals practice when we get back, and we'll do
a quick whip around college basketball here from West Miller,
(16:47):
from Richard Patino, from Darren Horn all after games last
night here in the Cincinnati area. This is Tony Pikes
Sincy three. Sixty hour three continues next on the Home
of the Bengals, ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Is it possible to me
This is Tony Pikes since e three sixty about Cincinnati
from Cincinnati, sponsored in hard by Penn Station East Coast Subs.
Pancraft It hot grilled subs, fresh cut fries in lemonade.
It's all about good taste Penn Station East Coast Subs.
Order on mine today. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
(00:24):
Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hi, Hello, welcome in our number three Tony Pikes since
e three sixty. Here on ESPN fifteen thirty. I'm Austin Olmore,
No big fella today, Tony Beck tomorrow for a Friday
football frenzy. And it's been a frenzy, that's for sure.
Whether you're talking football or basketball, Bengal dumb or Bearcat Land,
(00:47):
there's a lot going on. I always think back to
what Moegar says, be good or be interesting. Well, the
Bengals and Bearcats have not been good, but they have
been interesting. And you see last night got a little
bit more interesting. So we go to Bearcat Journal dot
COM's Keegan Nickoson to join us now and talk about
the Bearcats. Keegan, are you keeping up with all the
stuff going on in Bearcat world right now?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Barely?
Speaker 4 (01:11):
I'm hanging on by a string. I don't know if
anyone can is capable.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Of keeping up with everything that's going.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
On at the moment.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Let's start with last night, Jigsel James returns. I think
my question is simple, how did we get here with
Gigsel James.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean he was dismissed from the team in
August and then he spent a lot of time in
Houston training at the John Lucas Facility.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Which kind of specializes.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
In rehabbing NBA and college players. And I think he
got back into town.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Around Louisville the Louisville game.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
And then ever since that Louisville game, you've had some injuries,
some guys who haven't been able to stay healthy and
be Before that, you lost Jalen Haynes for the year.
Lucas Atari from I believe he's from Brazil, came to
campus and didn't pass the physical because he had a
knee issue. So all of a sudden, you're looking at
(02:13):
this roster that is both struggling and unhealthy.
Speaker 5 (02:19):
And then Jisel was told that he wasn't going.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
To play this year, and he still told Wes Miller
that he wanted to come back and be a part
of the team and just be around the guys and
get ready for next season. But then Wes Miller is
kind of putting this impossible situation where he has this
talented player around the team who he can play this
year if.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
He can kind of figure out a way to make it.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Happen, And then ultimately he did just will kind of
reconcile with his teammates, earns.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
The trust back of the coaching staff and.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
His teammates, and ultimately goes back on the floor. So
it's been a really, really long road and I wouldn't
blame anyone who said it's.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
A desperation player by Wes Miller.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
But there was a lot more that went into it
to make sure that it was a decision that he.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
Could make that wasn't the best interest of both.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
His team and Jigsel James, Well, that's what I was
about to ask you, because that's the word I've seen
the most is desperation for Cincinnati. And I think it's
fair to say, based off the way the season has
started that there's a little bit of that in the air.
Do you think it's a desperation move and how much
from a basketball standpoint, how much of a difference.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Can he really make or do we not know?
Speaker 5 (03:30):
I do think it's a desperation move at this.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Point in the season, Like Tyler McKinley didn't play, and
he's not a guard, but he's struggling with kind of
I think it's a bone bruise issue. Shouldn't be long term.
Kerk c Reaese is shooting under thirty percent from three.
Speaker 5 (03:46):
I think he just went one for eight last night.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
He's averaging something around seven points a game. Keischan Tillery
hasn't been playing a ton. He's not really living up
to expectations, which moving the goalpost isn't really fair because
he wasn't expected to play this year a ton in
the first place, because Jigsel and Kerr were supposed to
be the point guards.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
For U see, and then all of a.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Sudden, you throw this true freshman into a really tough
situation since your hairs just struggling with the back issue.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
And it seems like data Thomas is the only guy
who's kind of completely healthy, so he didn't really have
a choice, which I guess means.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
That it's a desperation play.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
But it's not just this thing where Gisel was away
from the.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Team and had no interest.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
In coming back, and then he was offered this opportunity
because Wes just.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Like was begging him to come. He had to come back.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
And go through the right processes and take the necessary
steps to assimilate back and back with the team where
I'm pretty confident that he wouldn't be playing right now.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
By no means, I am not a basketball expert, but
it feels like in the West Miller era offense has
always been a struggle, and consistent offense has always been
a struggle.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Why do you think that is.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Well, that's a million dollar question or like ten million
dollar question.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
I really I don't know.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
I think his best offense.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Was year two when he had Lander's Dollee and David
de Julius and lambders Knowlledge just kind of went absolutely
bonkers from three, made a ton of shots, and then
you have a point guard who can go and get
you a bucket. And even that offense, I think it
was in like the.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Seventies or eighties.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
According to Ken palm Like it was by no means
the top offense in the country, but they had a
solid enough defense to have a pretty good season. I
think a lot of it is players just not panning
out and not being able to take the next step.
And that's on coaching. That's not me throwing the players
under the bus. If the players aren't getting better from
(05:53):
year to year, it's on the people who are supposed
to be developing them. You think Dan Skillings goes to
a baseball.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Game and gets on.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
An interview between innings and says, Yeah, I'm going to
play one more year at Cincinnatian and go to the NBA,
and then he has a really bad year and makes
a couple million dollars to go to Baylor. And you
think of Gisel James, who was supposed to be the
best player of the team last year and he really struggles.
Dylan Mitchell didn't have a great offensive season last year.
Simos Dukoshias started the season shooting like forty eight percent
(06:25):
from three, but then really really struggled.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
And he just couldn't put together a consistent season.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So I don't know if it's.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
The assistant coaches or there isn't just a great offensive plan,
but it seems like there's been a decent amount of
stuff thrown out the wall and it just hasn't hasn't
stuck like you're kind of counting on Kerkkrisa and saying, okay,
last his last year at West Virginia, he was good,
and then he goes to Kentucky and gets hurt and
only plays nine games. If we can get that West
(06:55):
Virginia Kerkkrisa, everything will be fine.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
But then you don't get them.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
And on Celesting has had a decent year but also
hasn't been great. And then Shawnabaiah, who's supposed to be
maybe your best shooter on the team him battling with Celestine,
is also kind of struggling from the from the free
throw line and the free point line, and now to
a point where Dade Thomas is kind of your most
most efficient shooter.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Which no one would have pictured two years ago.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
So I think a lot of it is it's development,
and a lot of it as players just not panning out.
I wouldn't say that they're constantly getting bad shots. A
lot of it is just you're not making shots. And
that's going to go back to what what are you practicing,
what are the drills they're doing, and just how locked
interview on those things.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
How would you assess the season that we've seen from
Shaunabaiah this year.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
I think I unfairly kind of saw him being.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
One of the highest rated recruits to.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Come to Cincinnati and said.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Okay, well, he's just going to be the best player
on the team, and I kind of expected him.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
To do much more, knowing that he was a really
really high four star of five star by some outlets,
and then you just kind of think about that and
you say, Okay, well, this kid's going to be a stud.
I think he definitely has to play better. And I
think if anyone asks him if he's played up to
his standard or what he believes he can play to.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
If you ask Wes.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Miller, both of them would say no, and that he
needs to play better and that he will play better.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
I mean, Wes Miller said.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
Last night he's going to shoot the ball well this season.
Take that to the bank. And you know, Wes has
also said that about free throws.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
And it hasn't really come true. So I don't know
how much credence you can give it. But I think
he's a really really talented player.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I think he's a smart player.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
I liked seeing him against Alabama State be aggressive on
takes to the rim and then kind of pass out,
or draw some foul shots, or get some layups.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
And not just settle for threes.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Because he's been a very, very high volume three point shooter,
so I'm expecting him to play much better.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
But I wouldn't argue with.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Anyone who says, you know, we saw the Michigan game
in the exhibition when he scored I think fifteen points
and looked great, and you're not just seeing that now.
So he's going to be really really tested at the
start of Big twelve play to see if he can
kind of come along.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Talking to Kegan nickoson Bearcat Journal dot Com, let's flip
over to football. There's a lot going on as the
Bearcats get set for the Liberty Bowl. The big news
this week, of course, Brendan Sorosby going into the transfer portal.
What did we learn from Scott Saderfield when he talked
earlier this week about Sorsby and about what the plan
might be to replace him.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
Yeah, I mean what we learned is that Cincinnati put
together a very competitive package and finance.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Wise to compete with other schools. But at the end
of the day, I just think this.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Was I think Brendan Soorzy wanted to play somewhere else.
I don't think it was a thing where he was
willing to come back and kind of in a sense
start over offensively because of all the players that they're losing.
I know for a fact after last season he turned
down higher paying offers because he saw.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
What they were building.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
He saw Joe Royer, he saw the wide receivers they
could bring in, and Cyrus All and Jeff Caudwell, Caleb Goody,
he saw Evan Pryor the offensive line, and he knew
that he had something to build around.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
And then you know, kind of.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Just looking at the situation and going in the next year,
you have to think, you know, how much better can
I get?
Speaker 5 (10:32):
How much can I raise my stock for the NFL?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
And at this point he thinks he's either going to
go to the NFL or he's going to trainsfer somewhere
else and try to raise.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
That stock even more. A school like Texas Tech, who.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Has a forty million dollar roster this year and has
a ton of money. Maybe Indiana, where he played for
multiple years, and that's where you see got him out
of after a successful stint. I've heard some Tennessee I've
hurt some Miami, but I ultimately think it's going to
come down to Texas Tech and Indiana if he doesn't
end up going to the draft.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
So yeah, it's it's tough.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Scott Saderfield basically said, look, we couldn't afford him, and
you know, I don't think anybody.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Should be surprised by that.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
He's one of the best quarterbacks in the country, especially
when you look at who's coming back for next season.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
He's going to be.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
One of the most sought after quarterbacks. So you know,
you see, he's in a tough spot and they're going
to have to replace him with the transfer quarterbacks. He's
going to have to come in and really battle for
a starting spot next year.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Not only is their roster turnover, but there's turnover on
the people that help build the roster. They've lost a
couple of guys in their player development and the portal
operations and all that stuff. What is the latest on
replacing them so that they can continue to acquire talent
through the portal and otherwise.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
Yeah, it hasn't been officially announced yet by Cincinnati, but
they're replacing Jack Griffith with Nick Lematina from Western Kentucky.
He was an intern at Western Kentucky under Zach Grant
and I believe twenty twenty and then he's been there since,
and he was one of Tyson Hilton's biggest player personnel guys.
(12:14):
He actually was a lead guy in replacing a team
that won eight games and then lost sixty players after
the twenty twenty four season, and then they replaced the
sixty players that they lost and then won.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Eight more games this past year.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
So he knows about roster turnover, he knows how to
evaluate talent. They sent defensive linemen to I think Auburn,
Florida State, Wake Forest, and Alabama after the last season,
so he's been involved in all that kind of stuff.
Everything I've heard from everyone is that he's a stud.
And you know, I'm very very high on Jack Griffith.
(12:50):
I think he was one of the best portal evaluators
and hardest working guys in college football. And it sounds
like they got a guy to kind of rivaled that
or at least get close to it, especially when we're
only a couple weeks away from the portal here.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Speaking of the portal, it feels like there's a thousand
Bearcats in it right now. I say this like jokingly,
but also not like are there going to be enough
people to play in the Liberty Bowl against Navy, especially
in the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
The defensive backfield might be a question, but we're going
to be seeing a lot of true freshmen and red
shirt freshmen who haven't seen a lot of snaps in
their Cincinnati careers. We actually talked to Tyson Bite today
after practice and he said to look out for Patrick Williams,
a corner from Florida who's a true freshman who has
really taken on that mantle.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
And taken the opportunity to get.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Those extra snaps, and he's taken advantage of it. You
saw Michael Coleman enter the portal today. He hasn't been
at practice. But yet they're going to have enough guys.
It just might not be the usual product that you
saw at the end of the year from an experience perspective,
but I would say that a lot of Cincinnati fans
(14:02):
weren't very satisfied with what they saw in the first place.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
To getting some new.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Blood out there against Navy might be a good thing.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Well, like going up against a team like Navy and
with everything you just mentioned and the inexperience and all
the turnover, Like how much can you really get from
the Liberty Bowl? Like does winning it matter that much?
Do those snaps matter that much? Like how much are
you actually getting out of this game?
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
I mean, there's a few names that I'm interested in.
Zion Johnson, a running back, is one. What does he
do as possibly a starting running back? I think Evan
Pryor's status for whether Hill player or not is kind
of up in the air. Zion Johnson's a really really fast,
true freshman who's expected to have a big role on
the team in the future. So I'm going to be
watching him Sadderfield said that both quarterbacks, Brady Littenberg and
(14:53):
Samage Jones will play, and I think this is a
great chance for Samage Jones to prove to the coaching
staff whether he can and compete for the starting job
next year. How aggressive do they have to be in
the portal going after a guy? And you know, Navy
isn't like the most talented team in the country, but
they're gonna play discipline, and they're gonna play really, really
hard and really aggressive brand of football. So it'll be
(15:16):
a good test for the quarterbacks other than Matt I'm
looking at I'm looking at dB like I mentioned earlier,
how does Patrick Williams play?
Speaker 3 (15:24):
How to CJ.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Krit play a safety who I'm really intrigued by. They
brought in some true freshmen last year with some length
and size, which is what Scott Saidifield said they needed
to get in the offseason. So just looking at those
kind of things, red shirt freshmen, true freshman who could
possibly have an impact next year. And also like the
offensive line is looking like it's going to stay together
(15:46):
pretty well, as they just announced that they're all coming
back next year, So see how those guys can continue
to gel against the Navy defensive line.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Good stuff, Keegan, appreciate your time. Before I let you go.
What are you working on and how can people follow along?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (16:02):
I got a bunch of portal stuff coming. It opens
on January tewod and then going to continue to have
bowl game and basketball coverage coming.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Make sure to subscribe to Barcott.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
Journal, follow me at k Nickison forty two on X
and you should see all my stuff.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Awesome, Keegan, we'll talk to you in a couple of weeks. Man.
Thank you and having Merry Christmas. Thanks awesome, you too.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
That is Keegan nickoson Bearcat journal dot Com. About half
an hour from right now, we'll be talking to the
head hont show of Bearcat Journal dot Com. Chadbrindle is
going to stop buy for quick hits because Chad has
most show this afternoon from three to six. It'll be
the Chadbrendle Show on The Moegger Show. Got an update
from Bengals practice when we get back, and we'll do
a quick whip around college basketball here from West Miller,
(16:47):
from Richard Patino, from Darren Horn all after games last
night here in the Cincinnati area. This is Tony Pikes
Sincy three. Sixty hour three continues next on the Home
of the Bengals, ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Is it possible to me
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