This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Marc J. Spears, the NBA senior writer for ESPN's Andscapeand former Courier Journal reporter. Spears attended the NBA draft combine last week in Chicago and tells why he believes there's more value in this draft class than it's getting credit for having. He also discusses covering Bronny James and why Kentucky's Reed Sheppard conjured up Rex Chapman comparisons.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features ESPN SportsCenter anchor Michael Eaves, who is leading the network's coverage of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. Eaves, who is a University of Kentucky graduate, shares his thoughts on seeing UK recreate the 1996 national championship celebration — an event he covered as a young journalist — at the introductory news conference for head men's basketball coach Mark Pope. Eaves also discusses how much he thinks Tiger Woods has left and the golfers to beat this week at Valhalla.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Brian Hernandez Jr., who became the first jockey since Calvin Borel in 2009 to ride both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby winning horses. Hernandez discusses his thrilling photo-finish win in the 150th Run for the Roses, what it'd be like to pursue the Triple Crown on Mystik Dan and how he thinks the industry can capitalize on the record ratings for Derby 150.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features the "People's Champ" of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, trainer Larry Demeritte. A native of the Bahamas, Demeritte began training horses in 1981 but it's taken until now, with West Saratoga, for him to earn a Derby entrant.  Demeritte discusses how he beats the odds by not focusing on them. He is the first Black trainer to field a horse in the Derby since Hank Allen saddled Northern Wolf in 1989. Demeritte is also battling cancer for a third time since 1996. He explains how focusing on West Saratoga powers him through the days when his chemotherapy treatments have him feeling fatigued. And he shares what it would mean to be victorious in the 150th Run for the Roses.  (If you haven't read Jason Frakes' profile on Demeritte, check it out here.) 

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla, who had coaching stops at Manhattan, St. John's and New Mexico. Fraschilla had a front row seat watching Kentucky's new coach Mark Pope at BYU as the primary analyst on Big 12games. He explains why UK and John Calipari probably needed to part ways and how Pope will forge his own path in Lexington. Fraschilla also discusses Louisville's hire of Pat Kelsey and why he believes athletics director Josh Heird got a great fit. Hear why Fraschilla says Kelsey could have U of L in the top five of the ACC standings in Year 1. 

With the 2024 Kentucky Derby quickly approaching, this week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Ashley Anderson from Twinspires.com and Courier Journal horse racing reporter Jason Frakes to discuss developing stories and things to know before placing your bets. Frakes breaks down the odds on the quest to get trainer Bob Baffert's suspension lifted and explains why it could be a two-horse race.   Anderson provides an early handicap on some of the field's favorites, including Sierra Leone and Fierceness, along with a dark horse that could surprise.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features an all-star trio to discuss the biggest news from the final weekend of college basketball: John Calipari's decision to leave Kentucky for Arkansas. Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde admits being surprised by the move and discusses why Calipari cut and ran instead of staying to fix what he broke. Legendary basketball scribe Dick "Hoops" Weiss explains why Calipari needed a fresh start after his recent postseason failures, and why UK has to make a resourceful hire. Kentucky no longer has its pick of any coach it desires like it could have years ago, as ESPN.com's Jeff Borzello details.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's senior vice president for basketball.Gavitt, the son of former Big East commissioner Dave Gavitt, discusses his life in basketball including back when his father was president of USA Basketball and he got to witness the Dream Team in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Gavitt also explains why fears over NCAA Tournament expansion are a bit overstated.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show dives into the not-so-big gap between where things are with the men's basketball coaching jobs at Louisville and Kentucky.   Courier Journal beat writers Brooks Holton, who covers Louisville men's basketball, and Ryan Black, who covers UK, join the show. Holton discusses the latest candidates on U of L's wish list as it continues its search for a new head coach and why making a splash hire is giving way to making a competent one. Black breaks down how the Cats' roster may come together next season after another one-and-done postseason. 

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features former Kentucky star guard Tony Delk, who called games at the 2024 SEC Tournament for the league's radio network. He also serves as a scout for the Dallas Mavericks. Delk, who played for the Wildcats under former coach Rick Pitino from 1992-96, discusses his playing days, why he wore No. 00 and his brothers' influence on his game. He also dives into UK's current roster, what it will take for the Cats to make a run to the Final Four and why he's skeptical of the possible defensive 'tweak' coach John Calipari hinted at making. If you haven't filled out an NCAA Tournament bracket, tune into the C.L. Sounds Off segment for tips on picking the upsets and forming a winner.  

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features CBS Sports college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg. Kellogg reveals what was said about Kentucky during CBS' discussions with Marquette's Shaka Smart ahead of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. He also explains why the defensive metrics that defined previous national champions may not limit the Wildcats' chances of winning.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Florida State's Leonard Hamilton, the longest-tenured men's basketball head coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Hamilton discusses the biggest changes in the ACC since he first joined the league as FSU's coach in 2002. He also makes a case for NCAA Tournament expansion and explains what he feels the NET rankings get wrong.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Josh Pastner, the former head coach at Memphis (2009-16) and Georgia Tech (2016-2023). Pastner, who spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Memphis under John Calipari, discusses why Calipari's squad at Kentucky could win the national title — or lose in an early round. He also makes a case for why Kenny Payne should get a third season at Louisville, details the toughest part of being on the hot seat as a coach and shares his thoughts on court storming in light of Kyle Filipowski's injury following Duke's loss at Wake Forest.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features a trio of NBA reporters in Gary Washburn from the Boston Globe, Marc Spears with ESPN and David Aldridge from The Athletic discussing how changes in the NBA will affect college basketball. Aldridge explains why name, image and likeness may put the NBA's G League Ignite team out of business. Spears, a former Courier Journal reporter, highlights how disparities between blue bloods like Kentucky and mid-majors like Murray State are why some elite players will still decide not to play in college. Washburn breaks down players entering the draft early only to have short NBA careers and the greater problem that reveals with the future of college basketball.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features University of Louisville guard Tre White, a 6-foot-7 Dallas native who transferred after playing his first season of college basketball at USC. White explains why his shooting percentage jumped from 40 to nearly 55% after missing three games with an injury. He also talks about using blackout googles, meditating, his Muhammad Ali tattoo and how the Cardinals have stuck together through bad losses and lengthy losing streaks. The C.L. Sounds Off segment highlights a particularly bad weekend of officiating in college basketball, starting with U of L's loss at Syracuse in women's basketball and why officials should have to answer questions after games.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas.  Bilas shares his thoughts on Kenny Payne's status at Louisville, how many NCAA Tournament bids will come out of the ACC and coaches who complain about the changing landscape in college basketball.  He also breaks down how Kentucky's ability to score so easily factors into its struggles on defense and the football season mindset that has crept into college hoops — to the detriment of the sport. 

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Rob Dauster, who founded The Field of 68 media network. Dauster previews No. 8 Kentucky's SEC showdown with No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday at Rupp Arena. He breaks down everything from the team effort it will take for UK to defend Tennessee's leading scorer Dalton Knecht to why Antonio Reeves is worthy of receiving more All-American chatter and Justin Edwards' struggles.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Jeff Goodman, a senior college basketball insider for The Messenger. Goodman explains why Louisville coach Kenny Payne topped his list of the 20 worst college basketball hires since 2000. He also dives into possible replacements for Payne. On the UK side, Goodman discusses Zvonimir Ivišić's debut for the Wildcats after finally being cleared by the NCAA and UK's potential this postseason.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, a junior forward with Louisville men's basketball. Huntley-Hatfield, one of just four holdovers from last season's U of L roster, was ranked No. 26 nationally in the Class of 2021, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. He played his first season at Tennessee before transferring to Louisville after one season. Huntley-Hatfield discusses how he deals with criticisms, what has spurred on his four double-doubles in his last seven games and how the Cards' locker room has stayed united behind coach Kenny Payne despite their struggles this season.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show was taped in Houston at the College Football Playoff national championship game. An all-star collective of national college football reporters joined the show to discuss the future of the sport with the 12-team playoff on the horizon. Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde, a former Courier Journal columnist, explains why he won't be sad to see bowl games eventually get phased out by the playoff.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist David Teel and the elder statesman of ACC media coverage. Teel breaks down why it's nearly impossible to predict the outcome of Florida State's lawsuit to break the ACC's grant of rights and why having "fewer Louisville's" makes ACC basketball better this season, even though it still falls short of where it has been historically.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features former Courier Journal reporter Kyle Tucker, who now covers Kentucky basketball for The Athletic. Tucker admits he was like many others who initially thought last summer the Wildcats would be way too young to contend for anything this season. But two roster moves and seeing them play changed his outlook. Tucker breaks down why the word "fun" best describes this version of the Wildcats under coach John Calipari and how that could translate into contending for a national title. Tucker also ranks where this team fits against the other teams he's covered during Calipari's tenure in Lexington.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features college basketball insider Gary Parrish of CBS Sports to discuss the very different ways Louisville and Kentucky are entering their annual rivalry game on Thursday. Parrish, who also hosts a daily radio show in Memphis, breaks down the pros and cons of firing a head coach during the season and why he believes the compassionate thing for U of L to do would be to let Kenny Payne go now. Parrish also explains why he thinks UK could be a Final Four contender.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy, who has covered 32 Final Fours and has been the college basketball columnist at TSN since 1995. DeCourcy discusses the versatility Aaron Bradshaw adds to Kentucky's lineup after returning from a foot injury that caused him to miss seven games. And he explains why it's too early to be concerned with Justin Edwards' struggles. DeCourcy also explains why Louisville's non-conference schedule isn't doing coach Kenny Payne any favors.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Erik Moses, the executive director and CEO of the Fiesta Bowl, and Brooks Holton, The Courier Journal Louisville men's basketball beat writer. Fiesta Bowl CEO Erik Moses breaks down the CFP selection process and Brooks Holton talks Louisville basketball's outlook on this week's episode.

It's all about the ACC championship game between Louisville football and Florida State this week on The C.L. Brown Show. The Cardinals are making their first appearance since joining the ACC in 2014 and the Seminoles are playing for the conference title for the first time since that season. Ehsan Kassim, FSU beat reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, joins the show to help break down the matchup. Kassim speaks to how the game might factor into the Noles' College Football Playoff hopes, how their offense is different since backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker stepped in for an injured Jordan Travis, and how Louisville running backs Jahwar Jordan and Isaac Guerendo might be the key to a Cardinals' upset.

It's rivalry week on the latest episode of The C.L. Brown Show as Kentucky football will try to keep the Governor's Cup from Louisville for a fifth straight year. UK linebacker and Louisville native J.J. Weaver joins the show along with U of L cornerback Quincy Riley.  Weaver discusses how he nearly signed to play for Jeff Brohm at Purdue, what kind of legacy he wants to leave at UK, and why it would be “lame” if the series is no longer played.  Riley explains how the Cards' goal line stand in Week 3 against Indiana helped fuel a similar stand to secure the win against Miami. He also details when he realized U of L would be good team and why he plans on getting his “nose bloodied” against the UK run game. 

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Louisville defensive coordinator Ron English as the Cardinals prepare for Miami in a game that could clinch a berth in the ACC championship game. English discusses how he's grown as a coach since his first stint as U of L's defensive coordinator in 2008 under coach Steve Kragthorpe. He details why losses to Appalachian State and Oregon while at Michigan made him return to coaching toughness and effort instead of scheme. And he explains how head coach Jeff Brohm's input on quarterbacks is like unlocking cheat codes to stop opponents.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz and longtime college basketball reporter Andy Katz. Walz tells why he kind of likes the Cardinals being picked fourth in the ACC preseason poll and how the biggest adjustment for his newcomers might be more about how opponents mark U of L as a marquee game. Katz, who works with the Big Ten Network, NCAA.com and Turner, explains why he believes Louisville men's basketball coach Kenny Payne needs patience he probably isn't going to get to turn things around. And he notes some early barometers Kentucky coach John Calipari will have that will tell us just how good his young players are.   

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features conversations with Louisville men's basketball coach Kenny Payne, guard Mike James and former player Luke Hancock, who is now an ACC Network college basketball analyst. Payne explains why he's OK with being reminded of last year's 4-28 record and how Kentucky coach John Calipari supported him during the rough season. James shares how he began following U of L as a kid after watching the 2013 national championship game and why it was a surreal experience when he finally met Peyton Siva in person. While Hancock believes this season will be the first where Payne can really rebuild the program, he notes how hard it will be to keep fans patient. Programming note: These conversations took place before U of L lost to Kentucky Wesleyan in exhibition play on Monday night.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Raleigh News & Observer columnist Luke DeCock, who breaks down Louisville football's upcoming game against Duke and discusses the state of ACC basketball and how it can return to its elite status. DeCock believes the health of running back Jawhar Jordan and his ability to get explosive plays could be the key to U of L's offense against the Blue Devils.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Louisville point guard Skyy Clark. The 6-foot-3 native of Los Angeles was the Cardinals' first big get from the transfer portal in the Class of 2023. Clark discusses why it took two years for him to feel like he was over the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered before his senior year of high school, how he helped recruit Tre White to transfer from USC to U of L, and what he believes is the biggest misconception people have of him. Plus, he explains why he thinks the Cards can make the NCAA Tournament.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features ESPN.com college football reporter Andrea Adelson, who was well ahead of the bandwagon crowd on Louisville. She picked the Cardinals as her ACC darkhorse during the preseason. Adelson breaks down U of L's showing against Notre Dame and discusses what's next for the Cards after their signature win. She explains how the Irish's conversion on a fourth-and-16 play against Duke helped shape U of L coach Jeff Brohm's game plan. And what happens if Florida State, North Carolina and U of L all finish in a three-way tie for first place in the ACC? Adelson talks about the chaos that could ensue while also adding a tidbit on why Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary's struggles may have started well before he transferred from N.C. State.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features reporter Matt Fortuna, who breaks down the state of Kentucky's biggest weekend in college football ever. Fortuna, who spent more than a decade as a national college football reporter for ESPN.com and The Athletic and now has his own website called The Inside Zone with Matt Fortuna, discusses why UK won't be able to sneak up on Georgia and why Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman isn't likely to have another performance like his trip to Louisville last year with Wake Forest.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Kentucky's leading receiver Tayvion Robinson, who discusses what it's going to take for the Cats to play faster on offense heading into their game with Florida. The Virginia Beach, Virginia, native, who spent his first three seasons at Virginia Tech, also reveals the cheat code for transfers and the differences between the ACC and SEC. J.B. Ricks Sr., a Spectrum News 1 sports anchor based in Raleigh, N.C., also joins the show to explain why Louisville's matchup with N.C. State is a litmus test for both teams and why he can't settle on the second best team in the ACC behind Florida State.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Charles Arbuckle, a college football analyst for ESPN and Fox. Arbuckle, who has seen all angles of the game as a former UCLA tight end who played six seasons in the NFL and even had a stint coaching in the Alliance of American Football, breaks down how Louisville coach Jeff Brohm is ahead of the curve with his use of the transfer portal. He also explains why college football coaches are starting to mimic NFL front offices when it comes to personnel decisions. Courier Journal beat writers Alexis Cubit, who covers U of L football, and Ryan Black, who covers Kentucky, also join the show to assess where the Cards and Cats are heading into the thick of play in their respective conferences. Cubit explains how Jawhar Jordan has helped make the Cards a running team. Black shares why UK's 3-0 start comes with an offensive caveat — the Cats rank second to last nationally in plays per game.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Peyton Siva, who played point guard on Louisville's 2013 national championship team. Siva talks about his new basketball venture, explains why the 2023-24 U of L men's basketball team could become one of the most beloved in program history and why he's not mad at Trentyn Flowers for leaving the program so close to the start of school. David Ubben, a senior college football writer for The Athletic, also joins the show. He discusses where Jeff Brohm's Cardinals rank in the ACC hierarchy this season, how this could be a big weekend for the league and why UK's slow start only registers as a 2 out of 10 on his panic meter.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show features Louisville athletic director Josh Heird, who explains why he believes the Cardinals will be well positioned as future change unfolds in college sports. He also tells listeners why he was cheering for Florida State and how Stanford has been better than Georgia in football the last decade. Andscape columnist Bill Rhoden is also on this week's show and discusses everything from Deion Sanders' vindictive press conference following Colorado's win over TCU to why we all need to get used to new traditions in college football as conference affiliations have decimated old rivalries.

This week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show includes a throwback of sorts with Washington Post columnist Jerry Brewer, a Paducah native and former Courier Journal sports columnist, who joined the podcast to discuss Jeff Brohm's inaugural season leading Louisville football, the challenges that come with leading his hometown team and why he believes Brohm will be successful. Brewer also talks about the reconstruction of college football and explains why he's against super leagues. U of L offensive coordinator Brian Brohm is featured on this episode and discusses his return to his hometown, what his 18-year-old self would say about his career in coaching and his desire to lead a program one day.

ESPN's Myron Medcalf joins The C.L. Brown Show this week to discuss Trentyn Flowers' decision to leave the Louisville basketball program to play professionally in Australia and what could be ahead for Kentucky basketball following the program's late roster additions. UK offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who is back with the Wildcats after spending a year in the same role with the Los Angeles Rams, also joins this week's show. Coen talks about everything from what Lexington has that the Greater Los Angeles area doesn't to how coaching the college game compares to the NFL and what fans can expect from Devin Leary and the UK offense this season.

Brett McMurphy, college football insider for Action Network, joins this week's episode of The C.L. Brown Show. McMurphy explains why he had Louisville at No. 16 on his preseason Associated Press top 25 ballot and discusses what the future could be for the Cardinals if top programs depart the ACC. Could U of L be a better fit in the Big 12? Tom McMillen, the president and CEO of Lead1 Association, the organization that represents athletic directors from every Football Bowl Subdivision school, also joins this week's show, which is devoted to conference realignment and the future of college football.

Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary joins this week's show to discuss his decision to transfer from N.C. State; how he bounced back ahead of schedule from a torn pectoral injury; the differences between rivalries in the Commonwealth and the Triangle, and more. Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@gannett.com, follow him on Twitter at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at profile.courier-journal.com/newsletters/cl-browns-latest to make sure you never miss one of his columns.

Welcome to The C.L. Brown Show, a new weekly podcast from Courier Journal sports columnist C.L. Brown. University of Louisville head football coach Jeff Brohm is featured in this inaugural episode. He discusses a variety of topics, including how he has evolved in the way he communicates with his quarterbacks and the future of the Governor's Cup series. Chip Patterson, of CBS Sports, also joins the show. He talks about the unique pressure Brohm faces in coaching his hometown program, a likely impact player for the Cardinals and transfer-heavy teams that have seen recent success. You can listen to this episode of The C.L. Brown Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcast, Audible and Stitcher, among others. Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@gannett.com, follow him on Twitter at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at profile.courier-journal.com/newsletters/cl-browns-latest to make sure you never miss one of his columns.