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Real Salt Lake makes it four unbeaten, but are they for real? Diego Luna's return sparks life into the squad, but will he even be here for their next match? Matt dives deep into RSL's win over Houston, Luna's looming transfer, and the growing tension between short-term results and long-term planning.

Then it's Big 12 Media Days recap time: BYU and Utah showed up in full fluff mode, but there were still some nuggets to break down. Matt gives his honest take on Devin Dampier, Utah's new offense, Kalani Sitake's refreshing NIL perspective, and who he thinks should be QB1 for the Cougars (spoiler: it's not McCae Hillstead).

Plus, some props to Kyle Whittingham and a brutally honest look at what both programs need to prove heading into the fall.

Rate, review, subscribe, and as always—share the show with just one person who'd enjoy spelunking into the Cave.

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Matt’s back after the holiday weekend with a three-segment breakdown across soccer and hockey, starting with Real Salt Lake’s chaotic 3-2 win over St. Louis City FC. Two own goals, clueless defending, and somehow a win? Yeah, it’s that kind of year in Sandy.

Then it’s all eyes on the USMNT as Matt breaks down their undefeated Gold Cup run and explains why this “C team” is actually putting pressure on the World Cup roster. Three new locks, a goalie controversy, and a whole lot of grit.

Finally, the Utah Mammoth’s first real free agency period gets the Matt Cave treatment. No stars? No problem. Matt breaks down why leadership, playoff rings, and a patient strategy might be exactly what Utah needs to hit the postseason for the first time.

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This week, Matt dives into the 2025 NBA and NHL Drafts, and for once, he’s giving himself a little credit. The Utah Jazz surprised fans by drafting Ace Bailey at #5, trading up for Walter Clayton Jr., and grabbing John Tonje in Round 2. He breaks down each pick, roasts ESPN’s anti-small-market narratives, and celebrates a rare aggressive move by Utah’s front office.

Then it’s over to the ice, where Utah Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong pulls off a blockbuster trade for JJ Peterka and follows it up with two big draft-day hits in Caleb Desnoyers (Matt called it) and Max Psenicka. Matt hands out grades, praise, and a little friendly sarcasm along the way. (While still mispronouncing hockey players names...)

Finally, Real Salt Lake didn’t lose to Sporting KC, without Diego Luna! Is the team finally stabilizing? Or are we just in the calm before the (transfer window) storm?

Plus: A few Fourth of July jokes, Matt’s Canadian birthday, and a reminder to always read local over national when it comes to sports media.

👉 RATE, REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE — and keep spelunking!

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This week on The Matt Cave Podcast, host Matt Smith dives into the high-stakes world of draft strategy as the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth prepare for back-to-back draft nights. With both teams holding top-5 picks, the pressure is on—so Matt’s breaking down what he thinks they’ll do versus what they should do.

🏀 For the Jazz, Matt predicts a predictable pick (hello, Trey Johnson) and calls out the team’s addiction to “upside” and inaction in trade talks.
🏒 For the Mammoth, he sees potential for a bold, franchise-defining move—maybe even a trade for a top-six forward.
📺 And yes, ESPN gets absolutely roasted for its lazy coverage of Utah’s sports scene.

Plus, Matt opens up about losing his day job and how that might impact game reviews going forward.

Subscribe, rate, and leave a review (especially on Spotify), and don’t forget to follow The Matt Cave on Facebook and Instagram.

📬 Email: themattcavepod@gmail.com

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Real Salt Lake finally ends their brutal winless streak — and they did it without Diego Luna.

With the Gold Cup underway, Matt breaks down the USMNT’s roster, their chances (spoiler: not great), and why Luna’s value keeps rising.

On the gaming front, Xbox’s showcase delivered big with Clockwork Revolution, Beast of Reincarnation (yes, from Game Freak!), and news of a Halo Combat Evolved remaster. Plus: Is the Xbox Ally handheld the console killer we didn’t know we needed?

Matt wraps with early impressions of Dune: Awakening, and what it offers for fans tired of traditional MMOs.

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It was a quiet week in Utah sports—but not without drama. In this episode of The Matt Cave:

🇺🇸 Diego Luna earns the start for the USMNT against Turkey and makes a strong case for next summer’s World Cup roster.

🏀 BYU extends Kevin Young after one season. Is it a savvy move or a leap of faith in the new NIL era?

💰 The NCAA’s pay-for-play shift is official—what it means for schools like BYU, Utah, and Utah State going forward.

🎮 And Summer Game Fest 2025… well, it happened. While most reveals fell flat, a few standouts (Mina the Hollower, Mouse P.I.) gave gamers a glimmer of hope.

Subscribe, spelunk, and stay informed—new episodes every Sunday.

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Real Salt Lake keeps finding new ways to disappoint, gifting the LA Galaxy their first win of the season in spectacular fashion. Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth lock in two towering Russian prospects to bolster the blue line. And in gaming, Matt breaks down why Elden Ring: Night Reign flopped and how AAA studios are cashing in on your loyalty — again.

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In this Memorial Day weekend edition of The Matt Cave, Matt breaks down Real Salt Lake’s gut-wrenching 2-3 collapse against Vancouver and raises serious questions about the club's leadership, captaincy choices, and lackluster roster beyond Diego Luna.

He then celebrates Team USA’s exhilarating overtime win over Switzerland at the IIHF World Championship, led by Utah Mammoth stars Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, Josh Doan, and Michael Kesselring.

Shifting gears, Matt previews the Mammoth’s exciting offseason—armed with the #4 pick, cap space, and a hunger for star power (hello, Mitch Marner?).

On the gaming front, he reviews Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (verdict: buy it!) and looks ahead to Dune: Awakening, Borderlands 4, and EA Sports College Football 26—while also dragging Randy Pitchford’s tone-deaf pricing comments through the mud.

Whether you're into soccer, hockey, or controller-clutching chaos, this week's spelunk through the Cave has something for you.

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