SPEAKER_01 0:33

Welcome to the Five Arms and Lucky Finn podcast. I'm your host, Brendan McCormick, aka B Mac, and my co-host on the right side, David Soloway, aka Big Diesel. He is for the people. The people are for him. And David, we have the FIFA World Cup obviously going on. A lot to unpack with that. NBA free agency. A lot of different trades are being pushed around, some big names as well. And then, of course, gotta talk about our Indiana Hoosiers basketball having a top-rated transfer portal class. David, let's start with FIFA first. Pretty sure you watched the match, the game, of course, against Belgium. David, there was a lot of disappointment, shall I say, with this performance. I think every American sports fan was uber excited for this matchup. The United States have not had this success in a while with soccer. We've actually been probably a joke.

SPEAKER_00 1:56

Yeah, historically, we are not a soccer country. And I think that even with the success we had here, this is the first World Cup that's been 48 teams. So the the amount of teams you water down the lower end, and it makes you look better in the group stage when you're not playing as good a teams. We won our round of 32 match. Guess what? There's never been a round of 32 before. So saying we won a knockout stage game doesn't really mean anything. And we're really back in the same spot we've always been. We're we just love to lose in the round of 16. We're not a soccer country. This was supposed to be our golden generation, and they're all still pretty young, so they got another chance, but we hosted this one. When you got the crowd behind you, and you're going up against Belgium, you gotta put up a better performance than that. And they cratered under the pressure, they weren't ready for the moment.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

Yeah, cratered is probably the perfect, you know, description of what of what happened. I think that was one of the worst performances that I've seen in a long time of a united, you know, national team, David, from any you know point of view. You know, there was so much hype, so much momentum with this team moving forward, and they just completely crapped the bet.

SPEAKER_00 3:14

Yeah, I was trying to think about other moments where I've been pumped up for a game for one of my teams, whether it's you know, a national team, we had the hockey, the gold medal game just a few months ago, got hyped up for that one. I was trying to think of another time I got that hyped up, and then the team just laid an absolute egg. We were there, Notre Dame, Indiana football, 2024 playoff. I think that's the last time I had that feeling of I'm pumped up for this game. I believe in my team, we can do this, and then immediately Belgium scores in the eighth minute, I think it was, eighth or ninth minute? It was within the first 10 minutes for sure.

SPEAKER_01 3:55

Yeah, it was in the first 10 minutes for sure.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

It's kind of like that 99-yard touchdown that Notre Dame had. It just sucked the air out of out of the out of the the I mean me, out of me. It just sucked the air out of me.

SPEAKER_01 4:11

But he was also one of the fastest college football players that we've seen in the long time.

SPEAKER_00 4:15

Yeah, Belgium's guys are so much more athletic than ours. So yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

It's just like we overslept and like hit snooze. Like we just the the United States team looked completely laxadaisical and just lost. That's the nicest way to put it. And you have Pulisic, who obviously, yes, he hit someone's ankle while winding up trying to kick the ball. Obviously, it's not completely his fault, but David, but but in the butt are you are you coming out in that moment for your country, for your country on the line, and you decide, hey, hand up, I'm out, I'm out of the match. Out of the match.

SPEAKER_00 4:59

Okay, so yes, on one hand, I agree with you that if you are supposed to be the star player of our national team and we are hosting the World Cup, you should not come out in that moment. But also, his first half was one of the worst performances ever. Every time he touched the ball, he gave it up. Every time, every time, and so we probably may have been better off without him. We the game was over either way. Well, yeah, when once he left, but he it's not like he was playing great, so he he didn't show up. I don't even I know a lot of the discourses about him him coming out of the game early when we're down 3-1. Yeah, I'm more pissed that he didn't show up to begin with. If you're gonna be the guy, you gotta be the guy from from go. Yeah, like you're assigned to be the guy, and I know like his personality, it it seems like I'm I'm reading, I'm hearing. He doesn't want to be the guy, maybe he doesn't want to be the guy, and you know what? That's okay. Not everybody has to be the guy, and Balogun is an elite striker up front, so we've got the other pieces, and maybe in four years we have another couple pieces, and then we can have Polisic be the third or fourth guy when he's he's gonna be in his 30s at that point, and I think that would be better. It's kind of like when we made that run in I think 2014, uh, we had Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey near the ends of their careers. Um they were still big, big names, but they weren't like the best players on that team anymore. And I think if we can get some more names or some more guys into the system and just kind of shore up that that depth a little bit and make him the third or fourth best player in four years, maybe we got a chance.

SPEAKER_01 6:46

Yeah, I mean, I definitely agree with with that point of view and that angle, but I I I just think if you're politic and you don't want to be the guy, you you gotta speak up, you gotta let the people know.

SPEAKER_00 6:57

You know, even I think his actions are telling us that he doesn't want to be the guy. I think he's speaking pretty loudly.

SPEAKER_01 7:04

Well, what do you think about all this backlash? Like, if he truly doesn't want to be the guy, he should just say it. Hey, I don't want to be the guy. Let's not be the guy. Yeah, you gotta speak up.

SPEAKER_00 7:16

You know, every no, I don't know. Every corporate America doesn't want to be the guy. I'm sure he wants to be the guy, but he's not the type of guy who can be the guy.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

I don't he is he's not gonna be the guy. So we're obviously in four years, this is a long time, and I forget one announcer it was, but she was breaking down how the age of the players that were now on that team, on the current team, and next, and obviously they're well probably be on the years, the next year's the next World Cups teams is what I'm saying in four years. I think maybe that window is gonna be a lot harder in the next four years because they'll be a lot older. But then you have, you know, obviously the three or four stars that were younger. I don't know their complete names, but they'll be obviously, you know, in their mid-20s. So there's some angles saying that this team in four years will actually be probably arguably one of the best FIFA World Cup teams USA will will ever have.

SPEAKER_00 8:23

Yeah, I think I think our team in four years should be everybody talks about this year as the golden generation's year to come through. And I think they did show some show some good things. They there was some light. First game against Paraguay was awesome, and you can never take that away from us. The the problem I have is, and I I think we're gonna bring back a lot of guys, I'm sure there's some young guys in our system that are coming up because soccer's bigger now than it was 20 years ago, so I'm sure we've got some young guys who will make a difference in four years. We just don't know their names yet, right? But what do you think about the coach? Because I've got two, I'm battling two different opinions. One opinion is we showed an ability on the world stage for the first time ever to beat up on teams. Even in the past, when we were supposed to win a game, you win it 1-0. You don't win it 4-1 or 2-0 like we did against Australia. We dominated those first two games. But on the other hand, when you're brought in to be the coach, you're brought in to win that game against Belgium. You're not brought in win to beat up on Paraguay, you're not brought in to beat Australia. We should be beating those teams no matter who the coach is. He was brought in to beat Belgium and win a round of 16 game, and he failed to do so. What do you think?

SPEAKER_01 9:47

Listen. Listen. I feel like this is like an NBA little bit situation. Did he get us there?

SPEAKER_00 9:58

Did he get us to where? Where's there?

SPEAKER_01 10:02

Did he get us out of the group stage?

SPEAKER_00 10:07

Yes. Most of our coaches have. Yes. Yeah. We've always was in around 16, just like we did this year.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

Listen. It that wasn't totally on the coach. He was getting, I mean, I could see the passion, the enthusiasm on the side when they scored that first goal for Belgium. It it wasn't it you as a coach, you can only do so much. You can't go out there and play, David. So no, I I don't agree with these people trying to trying to blame the coach. That's just that's I I don't agree with that. I do agree that he should have pulled Polisic earlier. Here's why. I'm gonna go, I'm let me go with this. He looked like he didn't even want to play or be there. Yep. You gotta shuffle people around. That's your job as a coach. You gotta move them around. I don't care what sport it is, you gotta you gotta see the best fit, the best group that is able to give you the best results. And that clearly was not the best group to start off with. Am I wrong with that? I mean, those are our best players, so they are our best players, but that is not the best unit you you need to put out there the cohesiveness.

SPEAKER_00 11:31

That unit beat Paraguay for four to one.

SPEAKER_01 11:34

It is Paraguay!

SPEAKER_00 11:35

They're not they're not Belgium. Hey, Paraguay beat Germany.

SPEAKER_01 11:43

All I'm saying is that this team, when the moment was there, it it was just so embarrassing. And I think the Indiana Notre Dame game is a perfect example of what you're comparing it to and what we've attended and seen. So I agree with that point and angle. What is your take on that, David, with the coaching situation and angles that people are trying to throw out?

SPEAKER_00 12:07

I think one of the biggest problems with international soccer is when you do change the coach too often. Because in soccer, you have these pockets of international windows.

SPEAKER_01 12:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:20

Every year there's there's three or four windows where you'll play a couple friendlies, or you'll have the gold cup or the Kunkal qualifying, that type of stuff for the World Cup. And I think if you're just changing coaches all the time, then the players can't adjust to that style of play when they come back to play for the U.S. team. So I think it's actually I think it's bad that he lost and that we got embarrassed because we should have been more ready for the game. But I think having continuity in the coaching position is more important than just making a a rash decision to fire him, just or not fire him, but his contract's up, not bring him back just because we got embarrassed in that round.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

Yeah. I'm with you. I'm with you. I I just man, I was I was so excited for that game. I haven't been that excited for a game since, well, I mean, the national championship for Indiana, but we're not gonna talk about that. But it's that was the last time I was just as excited, but I was way more excited for Indiana.

SPEAKER_00 13:21

I mean, oh, I was so fired up for that. Really? We took Canada's national support from them. Wow. We did, we own hockey now. I don't know if the Canadian viewers of most will agree with that, but yeah, we just we own hockey. When's the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yep. And when's the last time they won a gold medal at the Olympics? Because it wasn't this year. It wasn't this year, it was the previous one, but it was not this year.

SPEAKER_01 14:02

I was gonna say they normally win. We own hockey.

SPEAKER_00 14:06

And we could have owned soccer, we could have taken soccer from the rest of the world.

SPEAKER_01 14:11

I think I think my favorite experience from X and just the world FIFA World Cup experience have been the you know, the people visiting America and saying how big our roads are, how big our vehicles are, how awesome chips and salsa are and buckies and Walmart and all these different things. You know what that's telling me, David? I am proud to be an American, and I think it's just awesome that other people can see that us Americans aren't that bad.

SPEAKER_00 14:41

It really goes to show you that the media tries to show all of the bad things about America, but there's so so many good things about America. It's the greatest country on earth.

SPEAKER_01 14:53

Can't agree more, can't agree more, can't agree more. And the beautiful thing is we don't have to agree on everything, David. We don't, and we can still get along with each other. Crazy world, crazy world. Best advice I can give you, uh, listeners and viewers, for that. You can disagree and still like each other. There you go. Oh, David. Let's talk about NBA, free agency and some of these trades, David. You know, Lamella Ball goes over to Minnesota, Jalen Brown to Philly, and of course, LeBron James free agency right now. A lot, a lot to unpack in in the NBA world, David, and obviously Giannis to Miami. What do you think? I mean, we know about the NBA and all these different trades, but why why does the Boston Celtics and other teams think Paul George is worth all this hype? Because the man is not it.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

Yeah, I don't think the Celtics wanted Paul George. I don't think that was the reason for the trade. I think it was the first-round picks and getting rid of they had to get rid of Jalen Brown. Obviously, that relationship was on the rocks, so they had to get rid of him, and they probably just found what they thought was the best trade scenario for them. I agree with you. Paul George, not a winner. He'll struggle to win in in Boston, even though he'll have Jason Tatum, who's still one of the best 10 to 15 players in the league.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

Yeah. What do you what do you think of the front court though, with Jason Tatum and obviously Paul George? I you have two people who like to have the ball, who need the ball in their hands.

SPEAKER_00 16:50

I would I would hope that at this point Paul George is willing to give up the ball a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

No, there's no way.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

No, there's no way he is, he is. Come on.

SPEAKER_01 17:00

No, no. This man chucks up at least 15 to 18 shots a game.

SPEAKER_00 17:05

Are you sure about that this year when he was playing on an actually good team?

SPEAKER_01 17:10

With the Clippers?

SPEAKER_00 17:12

No. He was on the Sixers.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

He was on the Sixers the past couple years.

SPEAKER_01 17:19

Oh. Because you just show how much I follow Paul George and all his greatness.

SPEAKER_00 17:25

14 shots per game each of the past two years.

SPEAKER_01 17:30

That was close.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

Yeah, but how many how many shots are NBA teams taking these days in the game? That is a great question. Yeah. Hey, it's all about threes.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

It's all about the offensive flow, David. It's all about the offensive flow. Do you think Giannis and Bam is a better front court?

SPEAKER_00 17:47

That's the question I have for you. Giannis and Bam. How's that gonna work? Who's shooting the ball? It's gotta be Giannis. No, but who's shooting from three? They gotta go get a shot. You gotta be threes to win in today's game. And they've got two two interior guys. Not not that Giannis and Bam aren't gonna shoot threes, but they're not like Tyler Hero got traded to the Bucks in this trade. It would have been huge to keep him.

SPEAKER_01 18:16

Yeah, but you can't keep him in that.

SPEAKER_00 18:20

No, obviously. They had they had they had include him to make the money work, to make the trade work.

SPEAKER_01 18:25

But yeah, they got that Tim Hardaway. They got Team Hard Tim Hardaway Jr. to shoot those things.

SPEAKER_00 18:32

LeBron might go there.

SPEAKER_01 18:35

No, LeBron's going to Golden State.

SPEAKER_00 18:38

No, come on. We're not doing that.

SPEAKER_01 18:42

LeBron's not gonna win in Miami if he goes there and joins them. Why? He already did it twice. He's not gonna join Giannis and there's no way.

SPEAKER_00 18:54

They're in the mix. They're the second favorite right now.

SPEAKER_01 18:57

Golden State's favorite?

SPEAKER_00 18:58

No, Golden State's third.

SPEAKER_01 19:00

Who's the number one?

SPEAKER_00 19:03

You go back, Cavs are actually pretty decent. He would actually supplement that team quite well.

SPEAKER_01 19:09

If he goes back and wins with that roster, you could win with that roster.

SPEAKER_00 19:13

Why not?

SPEAKER_01 19:16

Come on, man. Come on. Why not? They got they got Spider. Spider ain't gonna do jack crap.

SPEAKER_00 19:26

Okay. We're kind of getting back into the politic thing. Spider. If he's the best player on a team, I agree with you. That team's not going anywhere. But if he's the second best player, because LeBron at 41 years old would still be the best player on most teams in the NBA.

SPEAKER_01 19:45

He would at least give you 18 and 10 a game. Without a doubt. I already know that. With him being older, he might have even a few more points than that. I would say maybe 21.

SPEAKER_00 19:55

Probably like 22, 8, 7 still. I mean, let's let's take a look. What did he do last year? Because it it had to be fishing.

SPEAKER_01 20:04

Yeah, it was silly fishing. I don't think it was really much of a drop, but it did drop uh probably a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 20:11

21, 6, and 7.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:14

I mean, what what any player that's giving you that, that's the best player on your team.

SPEAKER_01 20:20

What do you think of the money being thrown around in the NBA? I mean, what a time to be an NBA player. Do you see what Spider signed for? I think it was 240, 248 million. It's just Donovan Mitchell, man. Get in the bag on that one. Get in the bag.

SPEAKER_00 20:35

I mean they're all getting the bag.

SPEAKER_01 20:37

The Cavs have a solid roster, too, David. I know.

SPEAKER_00 20:41

They were one of the best teams in the East this year. They were the best team in the East last year.

SPEAKER_01 20:44

Would they have to give up James Harden to get LeBron? Because I don't think they will.

SPEAKER_00 20:47

Well, I think they have. I don't think LeBron can sign for the Max, but it's his last year. I don't like it. He might be willing to take up a little bit less in order to get on one of these teams that he actually wants to be on.

SPEAKER_01 21:02

Right, right, right. Do you think if him I mean, obviously he wants to go off in glory. Do you think wherever he signs, he will win? Whoever goes, whoever he signs with that team will win, is what I'm asking.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

Uh, not necessarily.

SPEAKER_01 21:19

Okay. That's why I agree with that.

SPEAKER_00 21:21

I mean, the the top five teams right now in in the odds are the Cavs, the Heat, the Warriors, the Sixers, and the T-Wolves.

SPEAKER_01 21:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:33

None of those teams were at the top of the league this year, so it's not like he's ring chasing in that in the same way Kevin Durant did, going to the 73 9 Warriors.

SPEAKER_01 21:43

Can you can a Steph Curry, though, and LeBron James win? Because I think they would be able to dominate, even being old. Yeah, and I think definitely. I think if Steph were to win with him, he might retire. That's my take.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

I think both are very close to retirement. And yeah, if they won, they could, yeah, right off into the sunset together. But I was telling you. Do you think it tarnishes LeBron's legacy at all to go to the Warriors? Because as a LeBron guy, I think it does. The number one criticism of the of the Kevin Durant arc of his career was that he went to the Warriors to ring chase. And that was after the LeBron Cavs beat that 73 and 9 Warriors team. And now you're telling me LeBron could go join the Warriors? No, I can't have it. Can't have it.

SPEAKER_01 22:42

The difference is, the difference is here, if you'll hear me out, as a neutral. Kevin Durant in his prime said, I'm gonna go join one of the best team ever.

SPEAKER_00 22:54

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 22:54

Yeah. Arguably.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

I know. I know.

SPEAKER_01 23:03

But visual on. What are we talking about?

SPEAKER_00 23:09

I don't want to see it.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

See, you're you're you're getting mixed up here. I've seen the greatest shooter and arguably the greatest player joining teams. That's I would watch every game. Every game I would watch. And I don't love DMB. No, I would.

SPEAKER_00 23:29

No, you wouldn't. You know why? You know why you wouldn't?

SPEAKER_01 23:32

Oh my mama.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

Load management. They're not playing every game.

SPEAKER_01 23:37

Well, towards the end of the season. Okay, that's that that is fair. I mean, LeBron, hey, LeBron's a big supporter of load management now, David.

SPEAKER_00 23:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:49

He's gonna take he's gotta take care of his body.

SPEAKER_00 23:51

I mean, and that's LeBron, Steph, and Draymond would be quite the trio. But it would work, dude. But it would work. They were the villain. They were the villain to those LeBron, the LeBron second act with the Cavs teams. That was the villain. You cannot join the villain. I think if it's your last year, remember when LeBron should have won finals MVP when they lost 4-1. Yes. And now you're telling me he's gonna go join that team? No. No, no. Don't do it, LeBron. Don't do it. And don't go to the heat either. That's so boring. Just go to the Cavs, go back to where you're from and call it a day.

SPEAKER_01 24:34

I think I think if you were to go back home, that would be pretty, pretty epic, too. So either of those two scenarios I'm kind of rooting for. I do not necessarily want the heat scenario.

SPEAKER_00 24:45

The other thing with the Cavs, as opposed to the Warriors, is the East. Yes, I know the Knicks just won it, but the East is significantly more wide open than the West is.

SPEAKER_01 24:54

Well, yeah, it'll be a lot easier. Yeah, it'll be a lot easier. Yeah, I don't think anyone would argue that was where the East and West is right now, but the East did win.

SPEAKER_00 25:05

The East did win, absolutely. The Pacers are gonna be back this year. Oh, still gonna be Holly Martin, baby. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 25:15

Oh, I can't wait to watch Holly.

SPEAKER_00 25:27

The T-Wolves with Ant and Lamello. Like, there's a lot. There's a lot in the West.

SPEAKER_01 25:32

I love you, Holly. Man, love that guy. What a guy for Indiana.

SPEAKER_00 25:36

I saw someone the other day arguing that the team that they're assembling this for this next year is better than the team that went to the finals. And all-time hilarious take.

SPEAKER_01 25:49

That probably went viral, I'm assuming.

SPEAKER_00 25:52

No, no, no. It was the one I know personally. It was on Facebook.

SPEAKER_01 25:56

Oh, Lord have mercy. I don't know what they were drinking, sipping, smoking. Don't worry about it.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

They've just they signed like Kelly Ubre this week and Larry or yeah, Larry Nance. Yeah. This dude was this dude was like, that move puts his team over the top. This team's better than the team that went to the finals. It's like, all right, buddy. Chill.

SPEAKER_01 26:18

I think it might be worse.

SPEAKER_00 26:20

And you know, no, like they're I think it's pretty comparable, but like acting like those are the two pieces that put this team on top of Kelly Ubre and Larry Nance.

SPEAKER_01 26:31

All right, chill junior, junior, junior.

SPEAKER_00 26:34

The junior version, of course. I think they're both juniors.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

Let's look up the junior. Yes. Look at let's look at the Pacers roster real quick. I'm I'm gonna just see who they uh who they got. Uh they got Zubak, you know.

SPEAKER_00 26:49

Yeah, that was another that was another thing in the in the post is that Zubak is apparently like a beast. All right. Miles Turner was great in that I was about to say they do a Brayton Smith. Brayton Smith.

SPEAKER_01 27:02

Yeah, he's Purdue guy. We don't talk about Purdue. Speaking, let's head into a little Indiana Hooser's basketball, David. Obviously, DeVries was able to put together a master class in the Transfer Portal, putting a top transfer portal class together officially, as it's been across multiple uh outlets, I guess is the right word. 247 and other outlets, sports outlets as well of uh sports media. So that that's really interesting to see that. David, obviously, we've we we love our Indiana Hoosers, and and Indiana basketball is very special to us. We try not to be biased, we try to be real for the listeners and viewers because most Indiana fans are delusional. We love y'all, but y'all y'all are pretty delusional. What what is your what is your feelings towards this roster with obviously some footage? My first uh personal feeling before we get yours, David, is that we are we have a lot of length. We have a lot of length, is my first uh take from this roster.

SPEAKER_00 28:14

Yeah, I mean I haven't seen these dudes all lined up, so I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 28:20

Right. All over the I mean Indian basketball posts, like clips and things, so I've seen them. Yeah, but I don't I don't watch any of that.

SPEAKER_00 28:27

I'm a football guy.

SPEAKER_01 28:28

Yeah, that's fair. That's fair.

SPEAKER_00 28:31

Uh I I'm very cautiously optimistic.

SPEAKER_01 28:37

Yes, that's right.

SPEAKER_00 28:39

I have very high expectations for this team, and I think this year alone. No, no, no, listen. Okay, based on what we've put together on paper, I think this year alone will be a good trial run for if we can truly believe in the DeVries era. And I know I know it's early to say that, but these days it doesn't take long, so this should be the year where we're able to put some things together. I'm not saying we have to win the natty, but be like a top 25-ish team all year. Get in with like an eight or better seed. I don't want to see us on the bubble again. If I have to see Indiana in the last four in or first four out, one more time, I'm gonna, I'm gonna freak out. We can't have it. Just be safely in. I don't need you to be a top seed, just be safely in.

SPEAKER_01 29:28

Give me a nine or eight for criminal.

SPEAKER_00 29:30

I'm fine with that. Yeah, and I think I think we're gonna do that, and I think that's a good uh launching pad for the breeze to go into into recruits homes in the next few years and keep trying to get guys and restocking the portal, restocked with high schoolers if he decides to go that route as well. Uh so but I also don't want to get my hopes too high because we've been fooled by the whole transfer portal ranking thing before.

SPEAKER_01 29:57

Yeah, no, I agree with everything you said. Just just make the tournament. That's where I'm at. Just just make the tournament. We have a solid roster, we have a scoring point guard, a handling point guard. I'm very excited for Burton. Really excited for the pieces we grabbed, and also the momentum through recruiting that DeVries has had is really good too. I mean, obviously, stars are, as we know, stars because we don't really know what they'll look like on a college court yet. But it it's looking really promising for the future, David. Because I think he's doing doing the right thing, kind of like what Sig does. He he obviously recruits well to build these players up, hoping they stay and to get um key players through the portal for obviously key positions. So I think I think he's doing a great job of that so far.

SPEAKER_00 30:54

I have an Indiana basketball adjacent question for you.

SPEAKER_01 30:58

Okay, I love it.

SPEAKER_00 30:59

From an Indiana basketball fan's perspective, what are your thoughts on Dusty May going to the NBA?

SPEAKER_01 31:10

Dusty May to the NBA. I think and I love I love that you asked that because it's been a little bit since we've talked, and obviously that has happened, and that was really big.

SPEAKER_00 31:23

Massive move, yeah, massive move. Yeah, it was massive for both college basketball and the NBA. I think he's yeah, I think the Mavericks might have gotten a good good coach.

SPEAKER_01 31:33

I don't obviously know what his feelings were, but it sounds like his adoration was always to go to the NBA, it was never to stay in college. So I really feel like even though Indiana wanted him so bad that we dodged a bullet in a good way, because let's say we had this type of success at Indiana on the basketball side, but it was only this short stint, and now we gotta completely start over. But now I think DeVreeze, I really think this is this is the guy. I really do, and I don't I don't say that all the time. With some of the coaches we've hired, it's been like, what are we doing? Especially Woody. I was just like, I I mean, I thought it was at the time a good hire, but I didn't I didn't think that he was the long-term solution. I thought he was the one to get us back on track, and I really think DeVries is committed to this program and building to what it used to be, and that's it, that's really exciting for a fan. And I really feel like there's there's some wheels chugging, there's a lot of momentum in the program, and I just think it's a wonderful time to be an Indiana Hoosers fan on both angles of football and basketball. Um, so it's just it's it's a great time, and I really feel like this roster has the potential to be a five or six seed. That that's my prediction if I had to put one out there.

SPEAKER_00 33:00

So yeah, that's what I would hope for. Um on the Dusty May point, like I think you're you're looking too small picture.

SPEAKER_01 33:08

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 33:11

I think let's say De Breeze doesn't pan out in four years. He's gonna switch around. Let's say Cooper Flag leaves the Mavs in four years.

SPEAKER_01 33:22

Could happen. Free agency, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:24

And Dusty May's like, you know what? This NBA thing's not for me.

SPEAKER_01 33:31

It could happen. And we align.

SPEAKER_00 33:34

We align, we align, and we get Dusty May. That's what I'm hoping for. Not really. I obviously I want DeVries to be the guy. If he's the guy, then I won't care about that at all. No, but it is nice knowing that if things don't work out, we might have a fallback plan with Dusty May.

SPEAKER_01 33:51

I agree.

SPEAKER_00 33:52

So yeah, we'll see. But but I would have traded, I mean, you said we dodged a bullet. I would have traded a natty for him leaving us two years in to go to the NBA. And you would have too.

SPEAKER_01 34:03

Yeah, yeah. I I won't deny that. I would love a natty in Indiana basketball. Uh thought we would get one before football because I don't think we ever thought football was uh ever gonna happen.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

But yeah, now the question is what what do we uh end up with more of by 2050? Football championships in our school's history or basketball. I would find one right now, but football's well on their way to tying that up.

SPEAKER_01 34:31

Yeah, yeah, I completely agree with you. It'll be a very, very sad day, David, when we're in our probably mid-40s, early 40s, and Signetti Signetti hangs it up.

SPEAKER_00 34:44

Yeah, unfortunately won't exist by then, so that that we are on that trajectory.

SPEAKER_01 34:51

We are on that trajectory right now. We can argue that.

SPEAKER_00 34:55

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 34:55

Signetti will definitely agree with you on that. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. As always, guys, we appreciate your support. Go follow us on X, Instagram, FiveLF Podcast, and also TikTok. Give us a subscribe on YouTube, Five Arms and a Lucky Finn. Got some content headed your way, as always. Give us a like and comment on this episode. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We love you guys. We'll see you in the next one. Peace. Five arms and a lucky and lucky.