Just The Cats · Michael T Bennett

Just The Cats 4-9-26

April 9, 2026·1 hr 34 min·8 clips

Matthew drops a bombshell: he's moving to Florida within a year, leaving the show's dynamic in question.

1. Just The Cats, hosted by Michael Bennett with fill-in co-host Matthew, covers Louisville sports, Kentucky basketball, and local culture on April 9, 2026. 2. Michael Bennett is the regular host of the show on Louisville radio, joined by Matthew as a two-day substitute while regular co-host Justin is on vacation. 3. The episode uses the start of The Masters golf tournament and upcoming Derby season as a launching pad to discuss local Louisville culture and Kentucky basketball roster moves. 4. Matthew reveals that his girlfriend Paulina accepted a full-time speech pathology position in Winter Haven, Florida, between Tampa and Orlando, and will move in July, with Matthew planning to follow by January at the latest. 5. Michael reacts to the news with evident sadness, saying 'I'm sad,' but acknowledges they had discussed the possibility before. 6. The primary sports story is Colin Chandler entering the transfer portal from UK, with Larry reporting that the coaching staff 'did not know this was coming,' a claim Michael and Matthew both doubt. 7. Michael argues that Chandler's 'do not contact' portal designation almost certainly means he already has a destination in mind, likely BYU, tied to his wife's desire to return to Utah. 8. Both hosts agree that if forced to keep either Cam Williams or Colin Chandler, Cam Williams is clearly the better choice due to his higher ceiling, defensive ability, and NBA draft potential. 9. Michael makes the argument that 'there are one bajillion Colin Chandler's out there' in the portal, meaning UK can find a comparable shooter at lower cost. 10. Matthew points out that Chandler 'is a uber athletic shooter that isn't great at defense,' and Michael adds this was a visible weakness throughout the season. 11. Michael explains the portal replacement dynamic: the moment a player announces portal intent, coaches are 'already calling on the phone looking to replace you immediately' and working 'what-if' lists all season. 12. A listener text cites the Isaac Brown situation from football as evidence that players on 'do not contact' can return if their preferred destination falls through, which Michael gives a 40% chance for Chandler. 13. A discussion of AAU basketball culture frames Chandler's defensive shortcomings: Michael agrees with a texter that AAU prioritizes offense because highlight tapes and showcases reward scoring over defense. 14. Rajon Rondo is mentioned as an example of a former AAU player who has become a reasonably good coach, though Michael is skeptical of AAU coaching quality generally. 15. The Masters is a recurring background topic, with Michael noting the first tee-off occurred approximately one hour into the show and mentioning he is watching the OBS sales horse-workout stream simultaneously. 16. A segment on Dipping Dots reveals they were originally founded in Paducah, Kentucky, a fact neither host knew, and that the CEO of Dipping Dots appeared on Undercover Boss at Kentucky Kingdom around 2019. 17. Michael and Matthew debate Thunder over Louisville crowd tolerance: Michael says he parks two miles away and walks, while Matthew prefers watching from home due to crowd anxiety. 18. The show has a casual, conversational format built around Louisville local culture and Kentucky sports, with frequent listener texts read on air and genuine off-script moments like Matthew's Florida news. 19. Louisville-area sports fans and Kentucky basketball followers who enjoy personality-driven local radio will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners who want data-heavy analysis, national sports coverage, or only college basketball talk without local Louisville culture will likely tune out.

As heard by us

Masters week, warm weather, and a plainspoken discussion of AAU, defense, and why offense looks better on highlight clips.

The episode opens around Masters week, with Michael Bennett and Matthew settling into golf, warm weather, and the feeling that spring is finally here.

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Why you'd press play

Masters week, a T-shirt day, and a loose Kentucky sports hangout that keeps circling back to defense.

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