Welcome into the CC podcast, everybody. It is the evening of Wednesday, March 19th. The Eve of the Madness, the Eve of Louisville's return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years. Dancinard in Columbus, Ohio. Mike Rutherford here in Louisville, Kentucky. We're recording this at about 10.20 p.m. So you're listening to this late night because

you can't sleep because you're excited about the game, nervous about the game, whatever about the

gamer you're listening to this in the morning to get ready for the game. Regardless,

I can only imagine that you're feeling all the emotions that I think both of us are right now.

It really hit me this afternoon, Dan, a little bit last

night, but this afternoon really, when we started doing like radio coverage, and I'm looking at

the clock and I'm like, you know, 24 hours from now, like, going to know one way or the other

if it's like the best afternoon night of all time or if it's like the worst afternoon night

of all time. And, you know, this is this is what we've been looking forward to night of all time. And, you know, this is, this is what we've been

looking forward to for a long time. I, you know, I was thinking about this today. Like,

we started doing the pot in 2020. We had COVID immediately wrecked the tournament. First team left

out in 2021. Chris Mack, the season falling apart in 2022. Don't need to think about what happened the last two years, but my God, it's been a long road to get to this point. And now it's, it's all about to happen. The card's taken on Creighton, 1215 tip-off, CBS, Thursday afternoon, the first game of the tournament to get going. I've said this on the radio show a couple times this week about you, Dan.

I don't think I've ever seen you this, like, I don't know how to describe it. Like,

nervous slash excited slash desperate for us to get a win. You are very, very committed to Louisville

advancing in this tournament. You couldn't have hit the nail more on the head. There's, there's definitely a nervous

like desperation, um, inside my soul right now. And it's like, you know, it's not for me. It's,

it's for the team. I just, I don't want it to end. I love these guys. Like everything about it,

you know, it's a corny thing to say. You know, I don't want it to end. I love these guys. Like everything about it, you know, it's a corny thing to say,

you know, I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. Like, I hope it goes well. But in the case that it doesn't, like this team has left such a mark, like not only in the whole city, but like, for God's sake, they left a mark on my family. Like, I feel like, like, mark, like, not only in the whole city, but, like, for God's sake, they left a mark

on my family. Like, I feel like, like, this is, like, the kickoff to, like, me and my kids, like,

having to follow Louisville basketball, like, forever. And I have this team to thank. So,

um, it's just one of those things, like, you just don't want this ride to stop.

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