The Matt Cave

Matt Smith
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The Voice for all things Utah sports, Matt gives you his unedited and unbridled opinion on the current events around the state. Sprinkled in are video game reviews and talk about important national sports stories. Listen now and become a spelunker today!

  1. BYU’s Basketball Collapse, Utah Jazz Signal the End of the Rebuild, and the State of Utah Hoops

    -3 J

    BYU’s Basketball Collapse, Utah Jazz Signal the End of the Rebuild, and the State of Utah Hoops

    Send us a text In this episode of The Matt Cave Podcast, Matt breaks down a turbulent week in Utah sports, starting with BYU basketball’s alarming collapse at the worst possible time. Despite elite talent at the top, the Cougars’ flaws are being exposed — poor free throw shooting, disappearing secondary scorers, and a lack of depth that raises serious questions about their ceiling under Kevin Young. Matt also examines Utah State’s continued dominance as the class of the Mountain West, contrasting the Aggies’ consistency with BYU’s unraveling. Utah basketball gets a reality check as well, as the program continues to search for direction in the modern Big 12 landscape. On the pro side, the Utah Jazz finally make moves that matter. Matt explains why the recent trades signal the end of the rebuild, how Danny Ainge has positioned the franchise for real contention, and why this roster suddenly has a clear identity — and a future worth believing in. The episode wraps with thoughts on the decline of Overwatch, gaming rebrands gone wrong, and how mismanagement can kill even the most beloved franchises. Support the show

    30 min
  2. BYU’s Reality Check, Utah State Takes Control, and the Utah Mammoth’s Costly Collapse

    1 FÉVR.

    BYU’s Reality Check, Utah State Takes Control, and the Utah Mammoth’s Costly Collapse

    Send us a text This week on The Matt Cave Podcast, Matt breaks down a tough reality check for BYU basketball after a brutal Big 12 stretch reveals the team’s true ceiling. With expectations sky-high, Matt explains why BYU is still ahead of schedule and why perspective matters when an 18-year-old star is carrying the weight of a program. Utah State, meanwhile, has officially separated itself as the class of the Mountain West. After a statement win over San Diego State, the Aggies look like legitimate favorites to win both the regular season and conference tournament, with multiple contributors stepping up at the right time. Matt also dives into another maddening week for the Utah Mammoth, a team capable of trading punches with the NHL’s best but sabotaged by penalties, special teams failures, and preventable mistakes. From blown leads to a league-worst power play, Matt examines what’s holding the Mammoth back and whether a bold trade could change everything. Honest, measured, and unfiltered, this episode focuses on context over hot takes and long-term vision over panic. Support the show

    19 min
  3. Holy War Redux, the Jazz’s Tank Note Era, and a Mammoth Team Ready to Move

    25 JANV.

    Holy War Redux, the Jazz’s Tank Note Era, and a Mammoth Team Ready to Move

    Send us a text In this episode of The Matt Cave Podcast, Matt dives headfirst into a full Utah sports spiral! Starting with college basketball and ending with a full-on plea for the Utah Mammoth to stop waiting and make a move. Matt breaks down Utah State’s sudden stumble after earning national respect, reacts to the final Holy War of the season as BYU takes down Utah behind a historic night from AJ Dybantsa, and takes a realistic look at where Utah basketball stands in year one of a rebuild that’s going to require patience (whether fans like it or not). Then it’s time for the Jazz… and yeah, it’s not pretty. Matt unloads on the directionless tank, questions whether Utah is repeating the same mistakes with another volume-scoring guard, and explains why this rebuild feels fundamentally broken. Finally, the mood flips completely as Matt dives into the Utah Mammoth’s red-hot stretch, why they’re one of the NHL’s best teams in 2026 so far, and why standing pat at the trade deadline would be a mistake. Center depth, trade targets, and why now actually matters. It’s all here. Spelunk in. 🦇 Support the show

    30 min
  4. Transfer Dust Settling, Basketball Reality Checks, and a Red-Hot Utah Mammoth

    18 JANV.

    Transfer Dust Settling, Basketball Reality Checks, and a Red-Hot Utah Mammoth

    Send us a text The transfer portal door may be closed, but the ripple effects are still shaping Utah and BYU heading into next season. Matt breaks down where both programs stand, why BYU’s talent retention under Kalani Sitake continues to separate them nationally, and how Utah has quietly reloaded after significant departures. The episode then shifts to the Utah Mammoth, who are riding one of the best stretches in the NHL and holding firm in the playoff picture. Defensive consistency, unexpected contributors, and looming trade deadline questions take center stage as Utah proves it can skate with the league’s best. Basketball closes the show, with a blunt look at the Utah Jazz’s continued struggles, Utah State’s reality check against Grand Canyon, Utah’s uphill battle in the Big 12, and BYU’s tough loss to Texas Tech as conference play tightens. Support the show

    30 min
  5. BYU’s Portal Masterclass, Holy War Hoops Chaos, Utah State’s Rise & Mammoth Momentum

    11 JANV.

    BYU’s Portal Masterclass, Holy War Hoops Chaos, Utah State’s Rise & Mammoth Momentum

    Send us a text This week’s episode of The Matt Cave Podcast is packed with storylines across Utah sports. The show opens with a full transfer portal breakdown across Utah State, Utah, and BYU — including why Kalani Sitake’s ability to retain elite talent has been one of the most impressive developments of the offseason. While there are still fair questions about BYU’s defensive coordinator hire, the overall roster retention and portal additions put the Cougars in an outstanding position heading into next season. From there, the focus shifts to the Holy War on the hardwood, where BYU earns a hard-fought 89–84 win at the Huntsman Center in a rivalry game that lived up to its chaotic reputation. The episode breaks down what BYU did well, what still needs tightening, and why Utah — despite its Big 12 struggles — showed signs of real potential. The spotlight then moves north to Logan, where Utah State basketball continues to be overlooked nationally. At 14–1, blowing out conference opponents and sharing offensive production, the Aggies look every bit like a Top-25 team and a serious Mountain West title contender. There’s also a candid look at the Utah Jazz, whose struggles without Lauri Markkanen have turned patience into frustration, followed by an encouraging update on the Utah Mammoth, who have won four of their last five games and are entering a crucial homestand with playoff positioning firmly in sight. From transfer portal chaos to rivalry intensity to pro teams moving in opposite directions, it’s a full Sunday spelunk into the state of Utah sports. Support the show

    30 min
  6. BYU’s DC Options, Utah’s Coaching Exodus, Mammoth Inconsistency & AJ Dybantsa’s Rise | Utah Sports to Start 2026

    4 JANV.

    BYU’s DC Options, Utah’s Coaching Exodus, Mammoth Inconsistency & AJ Dybantsa’s Rise | Utah Sports to Start 2026

    Send us a text The first episode of 2026 is a full-state check-in on Utah sports — and it starts with BYU finally having real options. Matt breaks down the Cougars’ defensive coordinator search and explains why this hire is different from past cycles, with deep dives on Shaun Nua, Vic So’oto, Gary Andersen, Justin Ena, and why an in-house move would be settling. From there, the focus shifts north to a University of Utah program in flux, examining the coaching exodus to Michigan, the loss of elite offensive line development, roster departures, and the pressure now facing Morgan Scalley. The episode also tackles the Utah Mammoth’s maddening inconsistency, questioning roster construction, special teams accountability, and whether lingering Coyotes-era holdovers are preventing real progress — while giving a well-earned Olympic shoutout to Clayton Keller. The Utah Jazz’s directionless rebuild comes under fire next, followed by Real Salt Lake’s Ojeda sale, what it means financially, and why the January transfer window complicates attacking upgrades. Finally, Matt closes with BYU basketball and the AJ Dybantsa show, breaking down elite production, turnover concerns, short rotation warning signs, and why this Cougar trio might be the best in the country. This episode sets the tone for 2026: less patience, more accountability, and real expectations across Utah sports. Support the show

    30 min
  7. Utah Football’s Bowl Finale, BYU & Aggies Predictions, Jazz Defensive Collapse, Mammoth Playoff Fight & A Thank You Message

    21/12/2025

    Utah Football’s Bowl Finale, BYU & Aggies Predictions, Jazz Defensive Collapse, Mammoth Playoff Fight & A Thank You Message

    Send us a text It’s the final Matt Cave Sunday of the year, so buckle up — because we’re hitting every major Utah team before we head into 2026. Matt starts things off with bowl season, where Utah State gets a legit coin-flip matchup with Washington State, BYU gets a winnable showdown with Georgia Tech, and Utah walks into Kyle Whittingham’s last-ever game as a 16.5-point favorite in the Las Vegas. Then we jump to college hoops: Utah State looks like the class of the Mountain West.Utah gears up for Big 12 play with Arizona waiting.And BYU heads into conference play behind the 7–9 million dollar man AJ Dybantsa, who just dropped 35.From there, we go pro: Real Salt Lake is quiet as usual, the Utah Jazz don’t play defense (seriously, not once under 100 allowed all season), and the Utah Mammoth sit just outside the wild card with a positive goal differential… but a real offensive problem. And to close out 2025: a thank-you message straight from Matt to you. This year was the hardest Matt has had since starting The Matt Cave — and also the most successful. You showed up, you shared the show, you supported it, and you helped it grow into something that opened doors Matt never thought he’d walk through. Thank you, Spelunkers. Enjoy the final episode of the year, and Matt’ll see you in 2026. Support the show

    30 min
  8. “Stepping Down” Isn’t Retiring, Bowl Season Apathy, and a Rare Win for the VGAs

    14/12/2025

    “Stepping Down” Isn’t Retiring, Bowl Season Apathy, and a Rare Win for the VGAs

    Send us a text This week’s episode of The Matt Cave Podcast opens with a deep dive into the University of Utah’s oddly worded announcement that Kyle Whittingham is “stepping down” — not retiring — and why the timing of that decision raises real questions. With a $500 million private equity partnership suddenly entering the picture, Matt breaks down why the language matters, why the silence around it is strange, and why the story may not be as simple as it seems. From there, the show turns to bowl season — and whether it has meant anything for years now. Utah, BYU, and Utah State all earn postseason games, but opt-outs, transfers, and shifting incentives continue to erode what bowl games used to represent. Matt still walks through the matchups, expectations, and transfer portal implications, even while questioning why fans should care at all. The episode wraps with a full reaction to The Game Awards, which finally felt like an actual awards show again. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominates the night for good reason, while the absence of Call of Duty, Destiny 2, and World of Warcraft sends a clear message about the current state of AAA and live-service gaming. Utah sports, college football, gaming culture, and context — all in one Sunday episode. Support the show

    34 min
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À propos

The Voice for all things Utah sports, Matt gives you his unedited and unbridled opinion on the current events around the state. Sprinkled in are video game reviews and talk about important national sports stories. Listen now and become a spelunker today!

Informations

  • Création
    Matt Smith
  • Années d’activité
    2020 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    299
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Matt Cave
  • Site web de l’émission
    The Matt Cave

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