bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 0:12

​Welcome to Tracking the Cats. I'm Bob Saban, along with my co-host Steve White. We are here every two weeks talking about all things Catamount and we're as usual, brought to you by Stanbury Insurance. They do insurance throughout the Carolinas in the southeast. They will cover any of your needs in insurance, and they have four offices to serve you. One in Silva, Highlands, Clyde, and Waynesville. But. Steve. Wow. We have Coach Tim Kraft coming up in just a few minutes for talk a little bit about the new basketball season, and that's exciting.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 0:50

Yes, it

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 0:51

We have something that was very exciting for about two hours and 59 minutes the other day, and then it turned tragic, unfortunately.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 1:00

Yes, I tell you, I have not seen that kind of excitement, I guess intensity, enthusiasm in a football stadium in Colway since I really think the 94 game with App State, which set the attendance record I don't think we've had anything that's really maybe approach, but not. To that level that we had Saturday for the game against Mercer, and I'm sure homecoming had a lot to do with that. That helped. But boy, the the, the level enthusiasm Westerns fans, even the Mercer fans were excited. But it was it was special. It really was a special day.

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 1:40

Well, it was my 50th homecoming on the nose having graduated in 75 a long time ago. A lot of struggles behind us, but, you know, coach Bell really has. Taken this team to a new, new level. And it, it shows on the field. You know, we had a, a tough game on Saturday, but the offense was clicking most of the game. We got what, almost 600 yards of offense and really had a, a, a lot to show for it.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 2:12

Yeah, I sure did. And that, that performance by Taran Dickens, he did not win. The na, he got an honorable mention National Honor. Didn't even get the Southern conference for the offensive player of the week. When I can understand why, because we didn't win the ball game. And that usually goes to a guy that leads his team to win. But, but 551 yards. seven touchdowns. That's just unbelievable. 580, almost 600 yards of total offense. Counting his running in passing he's averaging right now over 400 yards a game, 33 touchdowns thus far, Bob, only two interceptions 70, almost 77%. Completion percentage. Those are video game numbers for him. And and that, that was exciting not to take anything away from the Mercer quarterback, Brandon Atkinson, who had a heck of a game too. But you know, he, they're one and two right now in the conference and right up there in the nation. One and two, three in all these categories. Passing yardage, touchdowns, completion percentage. So it was quite a show by those two quarterbacks. And unfortunately we came, you know, I kept thinking there at the end of the ball game, in know words what do we want to do here? When that last drive, you know, we had a couple of timeouts that we're gonna go ahead and try and score. And I'm sure this was, now I'm not. Saying, you know, I don't want to put my words into anyone's ears or mouth or anything like this, but I, I've got a feeling that Coach Bell was maybe thinking if we score with like a minute to play or something like this quickly as. Mercer has shown they can score. Don't give them the ball back. We don't want to have a situation where they get the ball back after we would say score and take the lead 50 49 and get let them, all they would have to do is get in field goal range. And they were very capable of that. But gosh, felt so bad for Marcus Trout. This guy's been just. Perfect. All season long. Just game winner at Wofford. Just just a great kicker, you know, probably a young DCI or Kirk Roach really in the way he kicks the ball. Yep.

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 4:26

He hasn't missed an extra point. He's got what? 40 41 extra points without a miss.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 4:31

About what that was. Maybe a couple yards. More than an extra point. Yeah. Yeah.

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 4:35

Yep. But couple of the other standouts on offense who who do you think were nominees for offensive standout.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 4:44

Oh, well, we had so many players in that, in, in that game that that how many pass receptions how many different people caught passes in that ball game. But I tell you, Michael Rosson that. That young man is really jumping out at me. True freshman out of that, down south Florida. He really he really gets my attention and makes me feel great about the future. But, you know, the future means nothing anymore with the NIAL and the, and the portal and all these type of things. But I, I really, really liked what I saw from that young man. And, lots of wide receivers, Malik Knight a lot of people just jumped out. Yeah. Oh God. Yeah. Type boy, I tell you, he is as a pass receiver and as a runner, you know? Yeah. There, there's just so many offensive weapons that we have in there, gosh, six or seven. It's hard to choose who you're gonna play at the running back position, we got like six guys that can produce and what a dozen wide receivers. It's, it's really something poor James

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 5:45

it was good to see Branson Adams back though.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 5:48

You know, you could tell they were concentrating a little bit on James Tire defensively Mercer was, yeah. But again and I think, the East Tennessee state game coming up, we're gonna see probably us at our, our best level with the personnel that spent all season long since the season started. And that's good because that is a huge game Saturday with East Tennessee

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 6:11

It, it is, you know, in, in one way I worry because East Tennessee is a good team.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 6:18

Yes.

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 6:19

most of the games that they've lost have been close games. Right. And like Wofford, when we played Wofford, they had I think, four losses with the total of eight points differential on those four losses. East Tennessee has come close on so many of their games that they're gonna be pumped and ready. We've got the ability. I just hope that, that we're able to put out that energy for 60 minutes.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 6:45

Oh, yes. And, and there's no, you know, it's gonna take a few days for our team to get that momentum back, that enthusiasm they had for Saturday, but they'll come to realize maybe, you know, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, that, hey, this game is just as big now. As was the game last Saturday with Mercer, because again, the playoff situation, I'm still on the line. East Tennessee defensively was what really jumps out at me. Gosh, they're way up there in the sacks and and they, they just put a lot of pressure on your quarterback, do a great job defensively. Sometimes it's their offense that gets them in trouble, but they've got a pretty good running game too. So that's something that's given us some problems this season. So it's gonna be, they've still. Got a lot to play for. Again, they're trying to make amends for a slow start. And of course, I, I think come Friday, Friday evening, something like, so we're gonna realize, our team's gonna realize what's in front of us and hey, this is a huge, huge football game.

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 7:46

It is, and you know, if we are fortunate enough enough to win this, the following Saturday is a huge, huge football

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 7:54

Yeah.

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 7:54

game. You know, we have to win out in order to get any consideration. To go into the playoffs.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 8:00

Yes. And, and as Coach Bell says, the most important game is the next game we're playing. That's what he keeps

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 8:06

Yep.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 8:06

And it's like, yeah, that that is, and you know, again, Bob, I'm not gonna assume we're gonna win the next two ball games, but should we beat, handle. East Tennessee, and I think we have to be impressive. There have to be some impressive numbers in that ballgame. And the same thing the next week at VMI, it, we gotta be a, a little bit of a wow factor in both of those ballgame to refocus the attention from the selection committee and so forth. And that a lot of things going, and of course, you know, again. Conference Champions, 13 at large selections there, and I've looked at this thing, tried to analyze it, and I see only about six or seven possible open spots right now at large because you know, the Missouri Valley and the Big Sky, they always seem to take up half of your at large teams and, and sometimes the the, the. Athletic Conference used to be the Colonial Athletic Conference, the Richmond, William and Mary League over there and so forth, Villanova they usually get multiple teams in. So I really think that it might be down to a half a dozen at most going into these last two weeks this election. Now, crazy things can happen, but the big thing Western has to do is win and hope that some of these teams lose. Again, some things, I don't wanna be negative, but some negative things that are playing against us. might come down between us and Gardner Webb Webb's looks like. They have two very winnable games. We could end up with the same record, eight and four. Again, not assuming anything, but again, Tennessee Tech is the only really decent team in that league. The top flight team. The fact that Gardner Webb beat us here without Tiger Dickens I don't know if these people that's gonna factor that. We did not have our quarterback at that time, and Mercer can tell you what happened in their first two games without their quarterback. Again, that's, that's something to think about. fact that Presbyterian beat Mercer early in the season before Brandon Atkinson was the quarterback, as a factor two pc, a non-scholarship program, and really maybe still in the mix there, maybe a bubble team right now. Think about that. Only two winning records right now in the Southern Conference, Western Carolina and Mercer the best then. And we got two teams at 500. Everybody else with a losing record. No significant non-conference wins for the Southern Conference right up to this point, except for maybe Furman's win over William and Mary, which is a team that's considered at least on the bubble right now.

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 10:51

No.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 10:52

again, we have not. Beating anybody with a winning record. Now, if you look at that up to this point,

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 10:59

You are right. But you know, and, and I agree. I agree that Missouri Valley and Big Sky have earned their reputations for multiple teams. I. The CAA, they've got teams with, you know, only one in two losses and they've played nobody and they've got nobody left on the schedule, which really scares me because we still have to play all the teams in the conference. And when you get into that conference thing, it's, it's, every game is tough,

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 11:32

Yeah.

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 11:33

but you play all the leaders and those teams in the CAA don't. So

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 11:38

well, the

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 11:39

I don't know.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 11:40

the CAA people might look and say, you've played two CAA teams, Elon and Campbell. Campbell has won three ball games. You beat them really a pretty, not a close game, but you lost Elon, which what has four wins right now? So these are arguments that people can throw out and justify what happens through these

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 11:59

And, and God bless the election committee, you know,'cause they've make the final choices.

squadcaster-14j8_1_11-11-2025_135825: 12:04

Yeah, because I, you know, I remember this vividly, Bob, back in 1983. know, when we came, we had a heck of a football team that eventually went on to play for the national championship. Pulled off three upsets to get to that point. Got in by the skin of our teeth. Very similar situation. Do we have coming into this year. We had to win convincingly and our last couple of ball games because we got off to that bad start. You remember losing the Clemson Wake Forest almost lost to East Tennessee State in the third game. Came on so strong at the, you know, nine consecutive weeks there without a loss. And so, but again, and it came down to that night and I'm sitting up there in the press box looking at the Middle Tennessee, Tennessee tech game. The northeast Louisiana against Northwestern State, Northeast is eight wins. Tennessee Tech middle Tennessee had eight wins. They were playing teams that had won. and three ball games that season upsets, they lose. We get in on a split vote and the rest is history. Maybe they should look back at that and see what this Western Carolina team look what they did. Yeah. 2000 how long ago? 20, 30 years ago.

bob-sabin_1_11-11-2025_135827: 13:23

You've been talking about 83 all year and the comparisons between the two. Let's just pray and hope that we wrap this thing up and, and earn our spot in these playoffs because we've got the, we've got the capability we gotta step into see basketball and talk to Coach Kraft. he's in the wings waiting for us. Let's move that way.

13:48

Best for today. We've got, uh, head basketball coach Tim Kraft on the line. Steve and I have, uh, uh, been able to bring you in here for a third time. So you are a record setting, uh, the guest of ours so far and, and, and we appreciate your, your willingness to, to meet with us, uh, as often. But, um, you have had, um, a tough start with two very difficult power teams, uh, in Cincinnati and Duke, and you've got a couple more coming up in December. So this is gonna be a pretty, uh, strange, uh, and difficult start to the season for you with out of conference. That being said, um, our fans have very little. No knowledge of the, uh, team with only, uh, six upperclassmen returning and 10, uh, freshmen and red shirt, freshmen and sophomores, uh, on the team. Can you give us a little bit of a, a thought on how you've seen these guys play, not only over the last couple of months, but in the first couple of games? Uh, sure. And, and you know, we've got, um, we've got a half of our team was here last year and then half of them are new, so we got about eight and eight returners and eight new, new players. Um, so, uh, that's a, it's a pretty good mix of being able to have some continuity from last year's team, which is, uh, really important. Um, and so it's been a good, you know, we had a good summer, had a, had a good, uh, fall preseason and, um. You know, we've, we've been a little bit, uh, we've had a couple guys, um, dealing with some injuries. Um, but, um, the, the team has improved, uh, throughout practice and, um, you know, now it's trying to get game experience and, um. You know, we had, uh, the exhibition at Home Against Brevard, and then, um, you know, these two power conference teams on the road with Cincinnati and Duke. And then we have three, uh, in a row here at home, which is really exciting. So, um, yes, the, the, the non-conference is always, uh, it's a process of, um, you know, trying to. Kind of figure out, uh, who to play, when to play'em. Um, you know, and, uh, that takes some time. We got a lot of guys, we got a lot of depth. I think that's a, I think that's a real strength for us. Uh, it will be our depth, uh, is our depth. Um, but, um, you know, uh, I think the, the things that that. I think we've done well, uh, consistently is rebound. That's been a big emphasis for us, uh, both on the offensive and defensive ends and, um. You know, we got kind of historical number of rebounds against Brevard in the exhibition. Um, and then out rebounded Cincinnati, uh, you know, a big 12 team on the road. Um, and then, you know, at Duke we got out rebounded, but. You know, we shot such a low percentage, uh, that they had a lot of rebounds to get on the defensive end. Um, but even against Duke, we got 15 offensive rebounds. And, um, so I think that's probably the thing we've done most consistently well. Um, but, uh, again, we're excited to, to. Play here at home on Thursday and against, uh, Voorhees, which is a, uh, NAI program outta South Carolina. And then we've got, um, UNC Ash, or we've got, excuse me, Stetson coming in on Sunday and UNC Asheville the, the following week. So we're excited to kind of we're, get through those first games and get some experience and then, you know, continue to grow. Coach, other than the revenue produced and uh, the first two ball games, uh, what are the positives, maybe the negatives, if there is such a thing and playing teams like Cincinnati and Duke this early in this season? Is there, uh, just so how you look at it as a coach? Yeah. You know. So, you know, since I've been a head coach, Steve, I, you know, I've always, you know, it was 11 years at Gardner Webb and then, then here at Western. Um, so I've always been in, in a, in a position as a head coach where these games are ne necessary to play for revenue, uh, both for the school and, and now, uh, you know, with NI. Um, you know, for us to build a roster that's gonna compete in the Southern Conference, um, we have to bring in money some, some way. And so, um, you know, this is one, one of the ways you can do that. But, um, so, uh, I would say that there's some, some really good things about it. Um, you know, I've, again, my whole career we've played, uh, four to five, um, you know, power. Four type of games in the non-conference. So this is really nothing new, uh, for, for me. And I know Western has played a lot of those in the past too. Um, I, I think, uh, from a positive standpoint, our players wanna play those games. Um, I mean, they, they want to. Challenge themselves against the best, uh, players in the country. Um, you know, they want to have a chance to go and, and play in some of the most historical kind of venues in college basketball. Like at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Um, you know, there's only a handful of. You know, players that get a chance to do that. Uh, so I think, uh, that's a positive. Your players really wanna do that. I think it brings exposure to your school. Um, you know, when we played at Duke, uh, we were on the CW and, um, you know, it's millions of homes, uh, all across the country, uh, that we're watching our game. Um, so that's just a, that's a boost to the university. You know, not just our program, but, um, it's great marketing, uh, for Western Carolina University, uh, all across the nation. Uh, so, uh, those are some positive things about it. I think the other thing that I like as a coach is it, it kind of puts your team right in the pressure cooker, you know, right away. And, um, you know, you know, it's gonna be hard. There's gonna be some adversity because the players are really good. The crowds are big, the coaching's really good. So, um, you know, it's gonna, it's gonna be, there's gonna be some adversity. Um. And so it, it, it, it allows your team to have to deal with, uh, frustration and disappointment and, and all the different areas. And then, um, figure out how to stay together, how to continue to play hard, how to focus on the things you can control, uh, which basket in basketball is so important. You know, it's so important because it's such an up and down ebb and flow game of runs that, um, your ability to. Mentally focus on the next play and stay connected as a team through adversity And frustration is one of the most important things, uh, in terms of having a winning, winning team winning program. So, um, you know, going to play really good teams. Um. You know, put you in that situation where you're gonna have to handle some adversity. Um, and then the other thing I would say is, Hey, you get a chance to try to win some of those games, right? I mean, you know, we're going to try to go those places to win. We didn't win or come close to winning these, these last two. Um, but over the course of my career, you know, we were able to win five of these, um, in, in my 11 years where it's, again, it's great exposure for your school and, uh, great pride for, uh, the fans, um, uh, of, of the program and the university and the alums. So, um. You know, there's definitely some positives. The negatives, I would say can be, um, can be uh, just like, like how magnified your mistakes are in the games. You know, you make a couple mistakes that the other team is gonna capitalize on'em. They're gonna, they're gonna, when you leave somebody open, most of the time they're gonna make it. You know, when you miss a blockout, they're usually gonna get to rebound and score it. Uh, if you don't do exactly what you're supposed to do, uh, in transition defense, or you turn the ball over, probably gonna be a dump on the other end. Um, and so there's not a lot of room for error and, and you're playing against guys that are bigger, long, you know, longer, stronger. Um. You know, Cincinnati's front court was seven two and six 11. Um, and so, uh, everything is harder, you know, defensively, it's harder to generate a good shot. And so sometimes that can impact the confidence of your team early in the year. And, um. I've seen that, you know, from a negative standpoint at times. And, um, that's why you really need, you know, games like, uh, that where you, you on Thursday, you know, you have to go in and you have to play really well. Not there's, there's never a, a, a, a given that you can win the game. You have to go play like the better team. But, you know, to have a chance on Thursday to play a team that's, that's a non division one team that, uh, on paper, you know, you have more size and, and, uh, athleticism. Um, it's good to have those type of games to help to, to, to rebuild your confidence, so to speak. Um, but if you play well, but you gotta play well. Yeah. Um, that's definitely one of the things that I'm thinking about is, you know, I'm gonna go down to the Georgia game in December,'cause I live in Atlanta and I'll, I'll see you there and Great. And, uh, in the past it's been a winnable game. Now they're on the upswing. It'll be a challenge for us, but, uh, I think, um, it's something that, uh, we'll be able to, uh, at least be close on and we'll have, be further along on the season. On the other hand, um, you mentioned that. Uh, we've got eight returning players and the fans are aware of some of those guys, Marcus Ke, who's an all season, uh, all, all, um, conference preseason pick, uh, returning, uh, leading scorer, cord Stansberry, Highland Brown, McKee. Tell us a little bit about some of the new guys.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 23:57

Okay. Yeah, so some of our new players I'll start with Abdul Kaba, who's been, you know, the last, three games. He's, he's started for us at the forward position. And he's done really well for us in the preseason. You know, Vernon Collins has been hurt. He's been out with an injury. He played a lot for us at that position last year. We're hoping to, to get him back soon, hopefully this week. But ab but Kaba has been great. an elite defender at this level. He got great size for a position big time rebounder I think he had 16 rebounds against Brevard. And, you know, has, has been a guy that can really protect a rim and you know, we're excited about him. He, he comes here from Denver. He was a freshman at Denver last year. Was one of the top post playing defenders in that league last year. So we're really excited about the presence he brings for our team defensively. The, another guy we've been playing a lot is a guy named Talend Petway. Talend Petway is a point guard out of new England. Really talented freshman who's you know, just very gifted offensively and it's got a great feel for the game. Talent. We picked him up late in the summer, so he actually wasn't here with us this summer, but he's done such a good job of learning quickly and you know, been able to, to, to, to play some good minutes for us at the point guard position. We've we've got a guy named Justin Johnson who's a 6 7, 6 8. You know. Guard wing kind of plays the two or the three. He's a guy that you know, has made a big impact from a scoring standpoint in practice. And you know, he's, he's, he's a young guy, was a transfer from Arkansas State, was a freshman there last year. Didn't play a whole lot last year. But he's a guy that's really getting better quickly. With all the things that the kind of the little things that go into winning. But he's a guy that can get to the basket, you know, he can get to the basket, can score at the rim has a knack for getting to the foul line. So we're excited about Justin and his continued development. We've got a guy by the name of Tejan, dsi who comes to

bob-sabin_3_11-11-2025_125039: 25:58

Hi.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 25:58

Southern. He's originally from France and Tejan has been, you know, rehab and, and recovering from an injury that he suffered last season. And it's the, the, the, just the rehab has and the progress with that. It's been a little slower than we thought it was gonna be, but it's, he's really on a great track right now. And he's been practicing you know, live five on five for about a week and a half or so two weeks maybe. And, it's been able to play a little bit in the first three games, but you know, he's a guy that's just gonna ha we're gonna have to bring him along. And you know, he, he really hadn't played in 11 months. You know,'cause he got hurt early last year. So we're, we're, we're really excited about his progress though. He's a, he's a a big guard who can play, you know, a variety of positions. He's a really, really good passer. He averaged about five assist game and, you know, can also score. And, but he's a guy that you know, we, we can, could really help us on the defensive end too, you know, a, a bigger, stronger athletic perimeter defender. so he's again, working really hard to get healthy and we're proud of all the work that he's put forth so far. The other guys play a lot for us here is a freshman by the name of Samuel Dadda. And Samuel is a, again, he's a freshman from Nigeria, was at link year. Prep a really kind of a elite prep school in Missouri where you know, he was last year. He's done a good job for us. You know, we, we didn't really necessarily expect him to be playing almost, you know, 20 minutes a game, last couple games. But Vern's, Vernon Collins has been out. So it's allowed him to get a lot more reps. He's really benefited from that. He's taken advantage of that. He's played really getting, getting better every day. He's a terrific kid. But he's about you know, 6, 8, 6 9 he's about. You know, 230 pounds. So he's a physical guy and has really done a nice job for us early on as a freshman. And then we've got Tay Smith. And Tay Smith is a freshman out of the Raleigh area who played at, played for the, the blue checks in the, the OTE League Combine Academy. And he's, he's like a big wing forward type of guy. Got a big body. He's about two, you know, 230 plus pounds six seven really long. And, and he's really, you know, improving rapidly. And he played played six minutes against Duke. We, he didn't play against Cincinnati, but he's a guy that you know, we're excited about his progress and he'll continue to get better. Just a phenomenal work ethic and, and coachable young man.

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 28:31

All right, coach any thing right now that maybe the biggest difference between year one and year two? And I know there's gotta be coming in here when you did last year and, and so forth and with the situation, but just maybe the biggest difference is what, you know, you, you see, and maybe what our fans will see the difference between year one and year two.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 28:54

Yeah, I think the biggest difference is just our experience level and you know, just having you know, last year we had one player that had ever started any division one games, and this year we have eight different guys, you know, that have started division one games over the, over the course of their career. and as I say that, I, I did leave out a guy, know, new guy, Julian Samma, who's started for us on a perimeter. but I. Right, right, right. He's not new to me, so maybe that's why I left him out. But he played for me at Gardner Webb and Julian's kind of a combo guard that he does just a lot of things well. He's a good leader. He's really competitive. He's a good shooter. Good passer leads us in assist over the course of practice our, our preseason practices. He's just got, you know, he is got a lot of experiences. This is his fifth year in college basketball. So he, he's also a solid defender, you know, he's played in our system from our time at, together at Gardner Webb. So you know, I've been, been thankful and pleased to see him really get off to a good start in these first two games where you know, he's, he's been pretty consistent you know, scoring 12, 14 points a game in those two games and shooting the ball. Well, so I did, I'm just looking at looking, kind of looking at my box score here, and I somehow missed his name. But I, I would say that Steve, the biggest difference is, is the experience of our team. Just guys that have, have played in division one games and last year we didn't, we didn't have that. And

bob-sabin_3_11-11-2025_125039: 30:17

Okay.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 30:17

you know, that that's a big deal. It's a big deal. So, you know, we're like everybody else early in the year trying to kind of figure out a lot of things you know, rotations and who to play, who not to play. Some of that's just gotta work itself at, with who, know, guys kind of earning roles. It's it's been a good group to work with and you know, I'm thankful for the team and their work ethic.

bob-sabin_3_11-11-2025_125039: 30:40

Yep. One of the things that fans love to talk about, particularly post-game, is the officiating and seems like Southern Conference officials take more guff than a lot of other places, but are, have you noticed are there any new rules that you need to be aware of that. They're gonna be calling things on or that you've gotta follow. Your players have to be aware of during the games.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 31:03

of big changes. You know, there's not a lot. One of the things that they're trying to do is speed up the games. And so I think the fans would, you know, will appreciate that. I think the games, just the overall time. You're, you're at the game or you're, you're watching a game they're trying to speed the game up. So you know, some of the ways that that, that they're doing that is trying to put the ball in play quicker. After stoppages trying to get guys to the foul line, shooting the free throws quicker. They've, they've changed kind of what they review and what they don't review, they've, they've limited that you know, and, you know, for instance, like in the last two minutes they, they would look at almost every out of bounds play if it was close. you know, which I, I kind of liked

bob-sabin_3_11-11-2025_125039: 31:50

Yeah.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 31:51

you know, to make sure you get it right, you know. But, when you're in a tight ball game that can lead to or four reviews in the last minute. And that last minute can all of a sudden take 30 minutes of real time. They've limited that where they're not just going to the monitor on all those type of things. And then they've given you a, they've given a coach's challenge. Where you can challenge a call. and so, you know, if you, there's an out of bounds play that you think they missed in the last, well, anytime in a game, you can challenge that I. There's only a couple things you can challenge. Three, three things you can challenge. It's you know, goal tending or basket interference throughout the course of the game. it's out of bounds plays and then it's res restricted arc plays, you know, if they call it block or a charge. You think the guy was, you know, whether your defender was, not in the ra and they called a block. he, they said he was in the ra. could have him go back and look at that. So they're, they've, they've cut down on the things that they're gonna review right away. And they've, they've, they've given the coaches a challenge that the coaches can use. But if you don't, if the challenge if it doesn't get overturned, then you get charged a timeout, so there's a penalty there in terms of you being able to use it.

bob-sabin_3_11-11-2025_125039: 33:20

Yeah. Well that last two minutes comment reminded me of something I heard recently about what, when my wife says I'm gonna be down in the, in two minutes, it's kind of like the last two minutes of a basketball game. So.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 33:33

Ah,

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 33:33

But you, I hope your wife doesn't watch this, Bob. Yeah, coach, speaking of wives and so forth, let's get away from the basketball court for just a second. And how's your family adjusted in schools and sports since you know, I know your, your daughter's Lola and Macy were all star selections at Smokey Mountain High School and in the soccer season back in the fall. And excuse me, last spring.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 34:01

Mm-hmm.

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 34:02

Macy's playing volleyball. Well played volleyball for Spooky Mountain. And how about the boys Bennett and Christian? How is everybody adjusting?

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 34:10

Well, thanks for asking Steve.

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 34:11

Yeah.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 34:12

everybody's adjusting. Well, I can tell you that the boys are having a good time today with the snow on the ground and no

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 34:18

Yeah.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 34:19

roaming around the neighborhood right now with the sleds and. there's a group of, a group of little boys in the neighborhood that are all similar ages, and so they just run around and have a great time. But, but you know, it's, it's, it's, it's been really good. It's been a great transition. You know, sitting here now, I feel we all feel a lot more settled and obviously we did this time last year, which, you know, helps everything and, and you know, they're, love the, the cat mounts and they've all enjoyed cheering on the other teams and going to the other games. Macy had a good volleyball season this year and, and the team did as well, had a, they went to the one of my, my, my. Ga AJ Stroop, his wife is the, the head coach. Adrian l Stroop was the head coach this year, and they went to the playoff, they hosted a playoff game for the first time in 25 years with the volleyball team. So that was exciting for all

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 35:09

Yeah.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 35:10

Macy will be fired up getting ready for soccer next semester. Lola is in her first semester at, at college here at Western. So she's living on campus and studying nutrition and having a good, so far a good, good fall semester. And, you know, we're, we're, we're getting here past midterms and hopefully those grades continue to stay up as we get you know, towards the end of the semester. But the, and the boys are doing great. So Jess has really enjoyed it here and she's you know, really, really I think gonna finding some community and that type of thing, which is important.

bob-sabin_3_11-11-2025_125039: 35:46

Well one last question before we close it out, and that is stepping away from our team, how does the rest of the SoCon look and how competitive is that gonna be in this upcoming season, starting in January?

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 35:58

Bob, you know, I don't, I haven't looked at a ton of scores honestly, here in the first week. I saw Wofford had a big win over Milwaukee. Milwaukee was, you know, supposed to be really good and so that I, I did see that. So I haven't, I haven't paid a ton of attention. You know, obviously you see where the, the, the standings are and, and how the preseason, you know, poll goes and I just think that, you know, there's so many people in the league that, that have new teams, new players. There was a lot of turnover. Only one all conference player from last year is back. Rick, Ricky Bradley at V-M-I-V-M, I has a lot of guys back. I know they're gonna be good. Furman has a, a good amount of players back. But, but other than that, we have a lot of players back. Other than that, a lot of the, the league has new players. So yeah, we'll see. I, you, you know, it's gonna be really competitive. The coaches are so good in this league. So, you know, it's gonna be a really good league. And I think at this point in the year, everybody's trying to figure out exactly what they have and just try to get better. Just trying to get better to push towards end of December when we open up conference play.

bob-sabin_3_11-11-2025_125039: 37:05

Well appreciate those insights and everything we've talked about this morning. We're, that's gonna about wrap it up here. Steve, you got anything? Last? Close it out.

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 37:14

that you usually in our pre-conference schedule, there's not many real exciting games in November and December, but taste a little bit different. Uhs. Good Stetson team. Coming in here Sunday, that double header at the Ramsey Center. I think we play at one o'clock. The. Cata Mouse against Stetson. Our women's team plays Oklahoma. I think they're number six in the nation in that second game on Sunday, UNCA. That's always a great game coming in. And then you go on the road, of course, El Lipscomb and High Point, which is really looking like a heck of a team this year. And then, of course Virginia Tech and Georgia later on. But like I say this, preseason conference non pre-conference schedule is probably the toughest. I've seen a Western Carolina team play in a very, very long time, and

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 38:01

Yeah,

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 38:02

I know it couldn't help.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 38:03

forget, don't then, don't forget High Point.

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 38:06

Yeah,

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 38:06

know, high Point, high, high Point. Be Furman by like 25, 28 or something like

squadcaster-ah2e_2_11-11-2025_125036: 38:12

Oh, they had a heck of a team last year. Yeah.

squadcaster-6226_2_11-11-2025_125036: 38:15

they're almost like almost like a Power four kind of with the, the resources they have to recruit and all that. So, it's a. Yeah, it's a difficult schedule, but you know, we're excited about the team for sure. Thanks, Steve.

bob-sabin_3_11-11-2025_125039: 38:30

Well that about does it for this edition of Tracking the Cats brought to you as always by Stanbury Insurance. They've got four offices, Clyde Waynesville Highlands, and their home office in Silva. And we will see y'all again in no more than two weeks on tracking the cats.