December 3, 2024 • 21 mins
Andrew Carr sits down with Michelle Knezovic to discuss his journey to Kentucky, what the last couple months have been like, and how Mark Pope stood out in recruiting. Make sure to subscribe to the Behind Kentucky Basketball Podcast for your exclusive MBB content.
Presented by UK Federal Credit Union.
Presented by UK Federal Credit Union.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Travis almost took a fall. I don't know if you
guys missed.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
That, but tell us, tell us all, I'm I'm.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Thrown him out there. I'm exposing him. But one of
my favorite parts, you like almost slipped on his way down.
That would have been that would have been pretty crazy
if for and you play outside at the park, and
that was kind of what I did in the in
the summer, it wasn't really au for me, and then
it was really.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
All lacrosse in soccer.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
So I played travel lacrosse and travel soccer for most
of my life, and then going into my my freshman
year was kind of when I had a big gross
s Burt.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, good having you on, and we will root for
Philadelphia for you and some other friends that we know
are are big Philly fans.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
And brutal the last couple of years. A lot of heartbreak.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
But it's better to have heartbreak than none at all,
I think.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Okay, okay, that might be a quote that you might
need to get that on a T shirt. Welcome into
Behind Kentucky Basketball. I'm your host. Michellekensbik joined with Andrew
(01:13):
Carr this week Andrew nice and early this morning. Welcome
to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Thank you very much, pleasure to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
So we're going to kind of hit a lot of
different topics today. You've been playing college basketball for a
while you here at Kentucky, but I think we must
start with Big Blue Madness. You got your unofficial start
to college basketball season with Big Blue Madness, blue carpet
introductions in the stands with Big Blue Mannis. What was
it like and was did it live up to the hype?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yes, deph First of all, definitely lived up to the hype.
I think it was really cool to kind of for
everybody just to kind of show off a little bit
of personality and allow the fans to get to know
us a little bit better, a different side of us
than just playing basketball. So you know, that's always fun
when when we get the chance to do that, because
(02:02):
it's usually all business, but you know, it's it's always
fun to kind of show off, you know, a different
side of us. And then you know, just being able
to play in front of a pack through arena was
just you know, super special for us. For me, it
was the first time to be able to experience that
and it was really, I mean unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So Amari told us that when they told him your next,
your name's getting announced next, he kind of like blacked
out when he went out there, and then you just
have the spotlight on you. What was that moment for you?
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yeah, so I did a lot of preparation for trying
to dance, so I was really just locked in and focused.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
You had a choreographed you're ready.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
I had some backup dancers helping me too, so I
was trying to, you know, make sure I was locked
in and doing that. You know, I think it was
a lot of fun. I was towards the end of
the group, so I was trying to peek around and
see everybody on the jumbo tron and everything like that.
Travis almost took a fall. I don't know if you
(03:04):
guys missed that, but.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Tell us, tell us all.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I'm just I'm throwing him out there.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
I'm exposing him. But Freshman, one of my favorite parts.
He like almost slipped on his way down. That would
have been that would have been pretty crazy if you fell.
But you know, so I was just locked in, ready
to ready to get my dance on.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Hey he slipped, and how about the comeback? Win's a
three point contest.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
That's right, that's right, pretty good.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I love to come back. We love the comeback. I
have to ask you. Amara said that Lamont has been
practicing and writing songs all summer. Yes, what was that
like when he was the last person comes out rapping,
everybody starts to realize, wait a minute, this song is
about his team, the fan base. I mean a live
(03:49):
music video basically reperending, right, I mean.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
It's it's super cool. You know, Lament's one of one
of my closest friends. So just being able to you know,
hear him kind of messing around with songs and things
like that. To be able to actually go out there
and perform was I think it's a bigger jump than
a lot of people realize. And so it was just
really cool to be able to see him kind of
(04:15):
like we talked about showing the personality, but you know,
make his music debut at quite the stage of Big
Blue Madness.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
That was a pretty awesome for him, not.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Only in front of Big Blue Mannis on the glass floor,
yeah right, I mean all the video elements they were
able to add you're in front of Big Blue Madness,
and then to see him drop the music video a
couple days later, and us realized that there was so
much production to go into this, you know, parts where
you all have your phone light on and you're like
(04:45):
bobbing in the locker room to be a part of that,
And did he tell you guys? I mean, I'm sure
you knew he was writing a song, but how did
you all being in the music video or parts of
it come to be?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, that was awesome for us just to try and
you know, help him out. He kind of wrote the
song like right at the beginning of the summer, right
when we all got there, and then when Big when
he knew that he wanted to do it for Big
Boom Mess, he kind of tweaked it a little bit,
wanted to add some other stuff into it. So once
he kind of knew that that's what he was doing
and started working with you know, Jasper and some of
(05:18):
the other guys who did a really great job on
the production. You know, they started doing the music video
and and we all wanted to try and be be
a part of it as as best we could, And
so we spent a lot of time having a really
just great time in the locker room at RUP and
messing around and just having a great time. You know,
(05:39):
it just you know, brings us closer, and uh, it was,
it's been. It's been a lot of fun to do that.
I think it's coming out officially on Apple Music and
Spotify here and a little bit, so all right.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Be on the lookout.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Be on the lookout for that. And then also you
can subscribe to Behind Kentucky Basketball podcast presented by UK
Federal Credit Union. It's available free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
I Hart Radio, and Official UK Athletics Up and also
Lamont Butler's rap that is also on Apple and Spotify
thanks to the plug there, Andrew, you guys could have
a career and maybe like backup dancing or in music
(06:11):
videos or something like that.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
If you saw the Bloopers, you'd probably disagree.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
That's the video that really needs to do.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Right, So Andrew, we're going to kind of transition into
you know, this will be your third school in college basketball.
Two years at Delaware, two years at wake Forest. Your
dad played at Delaware, your uncle played at Delaware, your
older brother played basketball. But I think one of the
most interesting things that I've read or heard you say
is you didn't play AAU until you're about a sophomore.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yes, that is correct.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Yeah, so basketball, even though it was so prevalent in
your family, kind of a later decision.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah. So I always loved basketball.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I really enjoyed and was always relatively successful when I
was playing, But just for me, it just never really
knew travel basketball. You know, in the summer, it was
you know, rec leagues, and you know, you go downtown
into UH and you play outside at the park, and
(07:12):
that was kind of what I did in the in
the summer. It wasn't really au for me. And then
it was really all lacrosse in soccer. So I played
travel lacrosse and travel soccer for most of my life,
and then going into my my freshman year was kind
of when I had a big gross s burt. In
my freshman year of high school, I really I only
(07:33):
played basketball and was on the teams for soccer and lacrosse,
but really didn't play them because my my knees were
hurting so bad. So I really tried to you know,
fight through for basketball. And then when I got into
you know, my sophomore year, started to see a little
bit more success. That was six five or six six
at that point. So then I really kind of made
(07:55):
the decision to focus only strictly on basketball. But you know,
all those other sports I think helped me, you know
more than a lot of people would realize. And footwork
and just how to you know, be a part of
a team and things like that, you know, helped me
grow into the perfect timing for me to be able
to try and focus on basketball when I did well.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
You think of soccer and you think of like, you know, agility,
you know, footwork, you think of lacrosse, you think hand
eye coordination. And when we were talking to Amari, which
I didn't even make this connection till now, he also
played soccer for a big part of you know, growing up,
and he said that his coaches have seen that soccer
has helped his passing. Yeah, do you feel like that
maybe is a connection that you see.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
I was a goalie, Well scratch that so but but definitely,
I mean even in lacrosse, it just helps you like
visualize what a play should look like, and so you're
you know, you're trying to anticipate the whole time about
what's what the defense is going to do, what's going
to be open, and things like that, which I think
(09:01):
can directly translate you know, like Amara was saying, to
basketball and just trying to be in certain like high
pressure situations and making a quick read.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
So maybe like rebounding or blocking.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
And I guess right exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So you've played college basketball for a couple of years now,
different programs, different coaches. Ye enter the transfer portal, you know,
you test the waters in the NBA, but you enter
the transfer portal this April. How did the conversation start
with coach Pope? And then how did you realize that
he was going to be your next basketball coach?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yeah, so conversations kind of started.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
They didn't it was just Coach Pope really, they didn't
really know who was going to be on the staff
officially of course yet. So you know, I'm so random,
like random weeknight and kind of I spent a couple
of weekends going back home trying to, you know, decipher
(09:59):
everything that was going on for me during the transfer portal,
and Coach Pope just you know, gives me a FaceTime
Callet get a FaceTime from a random number, and you know,
you see Coach Pope on the other side. So you know,
that's just out of the ordinary for a head coach to.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Be doing in general.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
But you know, spent even fifteen twenty thirty minutes on
the first FaceTime call with him, and you know, I
could just feel a connection already growing. We're so similar
and just the way that we were talking about our backgrounds,
how we got into basketball, the way we play basketball,
the way we think about basketball, all of those things.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
You know, really we're pretty similar.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
So it really became you know, natural to kind of
grow our relationship. And then the next weekend he was
able to come out to visit me and my family
and got to see him in a in a more
you know, coach aspect and broke a lot of film down,
broke some stuff down for for us, and and you know,
(11:02):
really you know, allowed me to kind of see how
knowledgeable he was and kind of exactly you know, you
can can say you like to play different and things
like that, but he really showed that to me, and
you know, showed the numbers and basically was like, hey,
here you're the number.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Show you're really good.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
At this, this and this, So that's why you would
be really good fit for what we like to do,
because this is what we focus on. So you know,
I think a lot of that really resonated with me.
And then when I was able to get on my
visit out here, it kind of all came together. I knew,
you know, Kentucky basketball, just the history and and I
(11:42):
know it's a special place. So you know, when I
got out here, really it felt right and it was
super excited to make that decision.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I need to run it back to this FaceTime. So
you said you were home, that's right, Yeah, Philadelphia, you're
what in your kitchen?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I was sitting on the couch, sitting on the couch.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
It's like probably like almost nine, like eight nine o'clock.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Okay, parents maybe in the kitchen.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Yeah, they're Yeah, they're hanging out in the kitchen. My
little brother was home. He was probably up in his
he was up in his room. He wasn't around at
the time. But Coach Pope's just in his office answering
and then he's you know, hooting and hollering, saying hey.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Trying to like you answered my phone call.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Endless energy for him. I think at the time he, uh,
when he first called, I think he only had Travis
and colink pretty sure, so kind of was uh trying
to trying to put together a whole team at that point,
you know, so.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
It was pretty cool. It was fun.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I think that's an incredible story that you just get
a random phone number and then all of a sudden
you're like Coach Pope and now he obviously is your
head coach here at Kentucky to be one of those
first puzzle pieces or big pillars right when Coach Pope
is quite literally building a roster from scratch. You know,
how does that feel to have a coach he went
out and he knows that he wanted you and that
(13:07):
you're going to be a pivotal puzzle piece in this
Kentucky team this year.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Andrew, Yeah, definitely. I think that's really you know, that's
really special. You know.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
I think for for me, you know, a big part
of trying to figure out whether I wanted to go
here was what the team was going to look like.
And so when talking with Coach Pope, you know, I
think the vision that he had with for who he
wanted to go get was pretty much who exactly who
(13:36):
he got, which is you know the power of Coach Pope,
but also the power of Kentucky and and you know,
the people that you're able to go and recruit.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
We got some really awesome people on this team.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
So you know, for me being able to be one
of the early ones, it was really cool to you know,
continue to follow, try and recruit and try and get
some other guys to come on board. But you know,
it really Coach Pope was just talked about it being
you know, having faith and making that commitment and and
(14:08):
he's just made me feel you know, if you come here,
everybody people are gonna want to come and play with you.
And to kind of be able to be you know,
the Domino kind of started everything, you know, early on
for the for the recruitment, So you know, that was
just a really cool opportunity and I was really happy
to be able to do that. And I'm super happy
(14:28):
with all the guys that we have and and you know,
I love this team. We've we've been, uh, we've been
able to grow super close.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I feel like from the outside looking in, it's clear
that you all are having a lot of fun between
the raps, between Jackson Robinson vlogging, you all tiktoks. Coach
Pope's energy, how much do you think you know, his
energy almost allows you all to be I don't want
to say goofy, but to have fun and to show
your personalities, but also no, you know, practice got serious,
(14:57):
got to get the work done. But we can have
fun and we can bond and really create like a
good culture here.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Yeah, definitely, you kind of just touched on.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
I think it's the it's the culture that you know,
starts with the head coach and trickles down to everybody else.
So Coach Pope just loves on everybody so hard and
and creates such a positive energy that you know, it
really allows us to be the best versions of ourselves.
And so, you know, I think that that's really special
(15:27):
for us and for the way that we play. It's
really important for everybody to be you know, ultimately almost
like blindly confident in.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
What we're doing.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
And so it started in June when we when we
started workouts and started to get to know each other.
But Coach Pope really established that that's what he's looking for,
and we've been able to grow as a group in
that way. And and I think it's really cool. Everybody
knows that we have our we have our standards when
it comes to, like you said, practice in basketball and
(16:00):
the level of focus that it takes to accomplish what
we want to accomplish. So you know, everybody has a
good grasp I think of being able to lock in
and you know, if you're able to, you know, meet
the standards. We always talk about the standards being our
floor and things that are non negotiable, and so you know,
when we're able to complete those standards, to be able
(16:21):
to push those and be able to, like you kind
of said, have fun, show a little bit of personality
while still being able to maintain those standards.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
So we mentioned you played at Delaware for two years,
you played at Wake for two years. I'm sure you
knew of a lot of these guys you're not playing with, right.
You know Lamont hits the infamous shot in the Final
four a couple of years ago, Kobe Jackson or all
these different players, Amari, and to see them all at
different places and then you guys all come together. Was
(16:52):
there anybody that maybe surprised you in a practice like
seeing them play on a court right or on TV
or watching a college basketball game and then to be
practicing with them, Like, what is that like for you?
Was there somebody who maybe surprised you in practice.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Or surprise me?
Speaker 1 (17:07):
I don't really I don't know about necessarily surprise. So
I tried my best to watch as much film as
I could possibly on them, tried to get to know them,
you know, especially before we all got here. But you know,
I would say just watching Kobe in a shooting workout
(17:28):
is like, is unbelievable. You know. I think we have
a lot of really great shooters on our team, but
it's a little bit different watching someone shoot in a
game versus you know, shooting in a in a shooting
workout and he doesn't miss, So I think it's really
you know, I'd say that's probably be the most the
(17:51):
craziest thing of being able to translate from the game,
although he may over fifty percent in the games too,
But you know, seeing someone in a shooting workout is
kind of like you get to see the behind the scenes,
how much work they put in and everything is you know,
really cool to see.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
You're like, yeah, he shoots three hundred and fifty percent.
So let's talk a little bit about Lexington Andrew. We
were talking a little bit about this before we hopped
on the podcast, but what is maybe your favorite thing
or what you like about the city where where fans
might run into you I don't know.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
So I love me. I'm a big coffee drinker, big
coffee drinker. We love that.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Yes, so did you have your coffee at this morning?
Speaker 3 (18:34):
I did?
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Okay, yes, so I you know, I have a cureg
of course for the casual, but you know, sometimes walking
around different different coffee shops.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
And I also just love.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Being outside and for me, have been a cool part
going to h some different some different farms and things
like that out in Licenson and you know, I got
to see some Highland cows and feed them and hang
out with them. And so you know, for me, that's
kind of right on my right on my element. I
(19:09):
really enjoyed, you know, kind of being able to relax
a little.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Bit, you know, feed some cows.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Wow, that is like a Kentucky thing. You told me
you went to Keenlan again.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
All the Kentucky things.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Okay, Now we're gonna do a little quiz for you,
and okay, I'm ready. Just a couple of quick questions
about guys on your team and first name that comes
to mind when I say this. Okay, cool, best style, Otega,
easy one, funniest, best trash talker Okay, two for two
Carr best energy or vibe in practice.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Coach pub. Of course I'm gonna go.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Jackson Jackson, best shoe collection, Grant Derbyshire. Okay, best entrance
at Madness except yours, of course.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
I'm gonna go. I gotta give it a care too.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Give it a cur to Lamont with a good second.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Oh yeah, I didn't know we could choose Lamont too, Yeah,
I mean Lamont.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Sorry, sorry, Kerr, Sorry Kerr. You almost for three for
three off your.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Lamont's Like, yeah, that one was by far the best
but honorable mention.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Yeah, right there you go.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Well, Andrew, you survived your first Behind Kentucky Basketball podcast.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Thank you very much. It was my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Yeah, good having you on. And we will root for
Philadelphia for you and some other friends that we know
are our big Philly fans and.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Brutal the last couple of years, a lot of heartbreak.
Better to have heartbreak than none at all.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
I think.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Okay, Okay, that might be a quote that might we
might need to get that on a T shirt. It
is we might need what is it?
Speaker 3 (20:51):
It's better to have heartbreak than maybe to not be
in it at all.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Okay, that's fair. Okay, Well we gotta get those T
shirts done, Andrew Carr. I love it. I love it.
Another episode of Behind Kentucky Basketball. You can subscribe to
Behind Kentucky Basketball podcast, presented by UK Federal Credit Union today.
It's available free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and the
official UK Athletics app.
Travis almost took a fall. I don't know if you
guys missed.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
That, but tell us, tell us all, I'm I'm.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Thrown him out there. I'm exposing him. But one of
my favorite parts, you like almost slipped on his way down.
That would have been that would have been pretty crazy
if for and you play outside at the park, and
that was kind of what I did in the in
the summer, it wasn't really au for me, and then
it was really.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
All lacrosse in soccer.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
So I played travel lacrosse and travel soccer for most
of my life, and then going into my my freshman
year was kind of when I had a big gross
s Burt.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, good having you on, and we will root for
Philadelphia for you and some other friends that we know
are are big Philly fans.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
And brutal the last couple of years. A lot of heartbreak.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
But it's better to have heartbreak than none at all,
I think.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Okay, okay, that might be a quote that you might
need to get that on a T shirt. Welcome into
Behind Kentucky Basketball. I'm your host. Michellekensbik joined with Andrew
(01:13):
Carr this week Andrew nice and early this morning. Welcome
to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Thank you very much, pleasure to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
So we're going to kind of hit a lot of
different topics today. You've been playing college basketball for a
while you here at Kentucky, but I think we must
start with Big Blue Madness. You got your unofficial start
to college basketball season with Big Blue Madness, blue carpet
introductions in the stands with Big Blue Mannis. What was
it like and was did it live up to the hype?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yes, deph First of all, definitely lived up to the hype.
I think it was really cool to kind of for
everybody just to kind of show off a little bit
of personality and allow the fans to get to know
us a little bit better, a different side of us
than just playing basketball. So you know, that's always fun
when when we get the chance to do that, because
(02:02):
it's usually all business, but you know, it's it's always
fun to kind of show off, you know, a different
side of us. And then you know, just being able
to play in front of a pack through arena was
just you know, super special for us. For me, it
was the first time to be able to experience that
and it was really, I mean unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So Amari told us that when they told him your next,
your name's getting announced next, he kind of like blacked
out when he went out there, and then you just
have the spotlight on you. What was that moment for you?
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yeah, so I did a lot of preparation for trying
to dance, so I was really just locked in and focused.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
You had a choreographed you're ready.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
I had some backup dancers helping me too, so I
was trying to, you know, make sure I was locked
in and doing that. You know, I think it was
a lot of fun. I was towards the end of
the group, so I was trying to peek around and
see everybody on the jumbo tron and everything like that.
Travis almost took a fall. I don't know if you
(03:04):
guys missed that, but.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Tell us, tell us all.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I'm just I'm throwing him out there.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
I'm exposing him. But Freshman, one of my favorite parts.
He like almost slipped on his way down. That would
have been that would have been pretty crazy if you fell.
But you know, so I was just locked in, ready
to ready to get my dance on.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Hey he slipped, and how about the comeback? Win's a
three point contest.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
That's right, that's right, pretty good.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I love to come back. We love the comeback. I
have to ask you. Amara said that Lamont has been
practicing and writing songs all summer. Yes, what was that
like when he was the last person comes out rapping,
everybody starts to realize, wait a minute, this song is
about his team, the fan base. I mean a live
(03:49):
music video basically reperending, right, I mean.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
It's it's super cool. You know, Lament's one of one
of my closest friends. So just being able to you know,
hear him kind of messing around with songs and things
like that. To be able to actually go out there
and perform was I think it's a bigger jump than
a lot of people realize. And so it was just
really cool to be able to see him kind of
(04:15):
like we talked about showing the personality, but you know,
make his music debut at quite the stage of Big
Blue Madness.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
That was a pretty awesome for him, not.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Only in front of Big Blue Mannis on the glass floor,
yeah right, I mean all the video elements they were
able to add you're in front of Big Blue Madness,
and then to see him drop the music video a
couple days later, and us realized that there was so
much production to go into this, you know, parts where
you all have your phone light on and you're like
(04:45):
bobbing in the locker room to be a part of that,
And did he tell you guys? I mean, I'm sure
you knew he was writing a song, but how did
you all being in the music video or parts of
it come to be?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, that was awesome for us just to try and
you know, help him out. He kind of wrote the
song like right at the beginning of the summer, right
when we all got there, and then when Big when
he knew that he wanted to do it for Big
Boom Mess, he kind of tweaked it a little bit,
wanted to add some other stuff into it. So once
he kind of knew that that's what he was doing
and started working with you know, Jasper and some of
(05:18):
the other guys who did a really great job on
the production. You know, they started doing the music video
and and we all wanted to try and be be
a part of it as as best we could, And
so we spent a lot of time having a really
just great time in the locker room at RUP and
messing around and just having a great time. You know,
(05:39):
it just you know, brings us closer, and uh, it was,
it's been. It's been a lot of fun to do that.
I think it's coming out officially on Apple Music and
Spotify here and a little bit, so all right.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Be on the lookout.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Be on the lookout for that. And then also you
can subscribe to Behind Kentucky Basketball podcast presented by UK
Federal Credit Union. It's available free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
I Hart Radio, and Official UK Athletics Up and also
Lamont Butler's rap that is also on Apple and Spotify
thanks to the plug there, Andrew, you guys could have
a career and maybe like backup dancing or in music
(06:11):
videos or something like that.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
If you saw the Bloopers, you'd probably disagree.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
That's the video that really needs to do.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Right, So Andrew, we're going to kind of transition into
you know, this will be your third school in college basketball.
Two years at Delaware, two years at wake Forest. Your
dad played at Delaware, your uncle played at Delaware, your
older brother played basketball. But I think one of the
most interesting things that I've read or heard you say
is you didn't play AAU until you're about a sophomore.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yes, that is correct.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Yeah, so basketball, even though it was so prevalent in
your family, kind of a later decision.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah. So I always loved basketball.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I really enjoyed and was always relatively successful when I
was playing, But just for me, it just never really
knew travel basketball. You know, in the summer, it was
you know, rec leagues, and you know, you go downtown
into UH and you play outside at the park, and
(07:12):
that was kind of what I did in the in
the summer. It wasn't really au for me. And then
it was really all lacrosse in soccer. So I played
travel lacrosse and travel soccer for most of my life,
and then going into my my freshman year was kind
of when I had a big gross s burt. In
my freshman year of high school, I really I only
(07:33):
played basketball and was on the teams for soccer and lacrosse,
but really didn't play them because my my knees were
hurting so bad. So I really tried to you know,
fight through for basketball. And then when I got into
you know, my sophomore year, started to see a little
bit more success. That was six five or six six
at that point. So then I really kind of made
(07:55):
the decision to focus only strictly on basketball. But you know,
all those other sports I think helped me, you know
more than a lot of people would realize. And footwork
and just how to you know, be a part of
a team and things like that, you know, helped me
grow into the perfect timing for me to be able
to try and focus on basketball when I did well.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
You think of soccer and you think of like, you know, agility,
you know, footwork, you think of lacrosse, you think hand
eye coordination. And when we were talking to Amari, which
I didn't even make this connection till now, he also
played soccer for a big part of you know, growing up,
and he said that his coaches have seen that soccer
has helped his passing. Yeah, do you feel like that
maybe is a connection that you see.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
I was a goalie, Well scratch that so but but definitely,
I mean even in lacrosse, it just helps you like
visualize what a play should look like, and so you're
you know, you're trying to anticipate the whole time about
what's what the defense is going to do, what's going
to be open, and things like that, which I think
(09:01):
can directly translate you know, like Amara was saying, to
basketball and just trying to be in certain like high
pressure situations and making a quick read.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
So maybe like rebounding or blocking.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
And I guess right exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So you've played college basketball for a couple of years now,
different programs, different coaches. Ye enter the transfer portal, you know,
you test the waters in the NBA, but you enter
the transfer portal this April. How did the conversation start
with coach Pope? And then how did you realize that
he was going to be your next basketball coach?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Yeah, so conversations kind of started.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
They didn't it was just Coach Pope really, they didn't
really know who was going to be on the staff
officially of course yet. So you know, I'm so random,
like random weeknight and kind of I spent a couple
of weekends going back home trying to, you know, decipher
(09:59):
everything that was going on for me during the transfer portal,
and Coach Pope just you know, gives me a FaceTime
Callet get a FaceTime from a random number, and you know,
you see Coach Pope on the other side. So you know,
that's just out of the ordinary for a head coach to.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Be doing in general.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
But you know, spent even fifteen twenty thirty minutes on
the first FaceTime call with him, and you know, I
could just feel a connection already growing. We're so similar
and just the way that we were talking about our backgrounds,
how we got into basketball, the way we play basketball,
the way we think about basketball, all of those things.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
You know, really we're pretty similar.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
So it really became you know, natural to kind of
grow our relationship. And then the next weekend he was
able to come out to visit me and my family
and got to see him in a in a more
you know, coach aspect and broke a lot of film down,
broke some stuff down for for us, and and you know,
(11:02):
really you know, allowed me to kind of see how
knowledgeable he was and kind of exactly you know, you
can can say you like to play different and things
like that, but he really showed that to me, and
you know, showed the numbers and basically was like, hey,
here you're the number.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Show you're really good.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
At this, this and this, So that's why you would
be really good fit for what we like to do,
because this is what we focus on. So you know,
I think a lot of that really resonated with me.
And then when I was able to get on my
visit out here, it kind of all came together. I knew,
you know, Kentucky basketball, just the history and and I
(11:42):
know it's a special place. So you know, when I
got out here, really it felt right and it was
super excited to make that decision.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I need to run it back to this FaceTime. So
you said you were home, that's right, Yeah, Philadelphia, you're
what in your kitchen?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I was sitting on the couch, sitting on the couch.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
It's like probably like almost nine, like eight nine o'clock.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Okay, parents maybe in the kitchen.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Yeah, they're Yeah, they're hanging out in the kitchen. My
little brother was home. He was probably up in his
he was up in his room. He wasn't around at
the time. But Coach Pope's just in his office answering
and then he's you know, hooting and hollering, saying hey.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Trying to like you answered my phone call.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Endless energy for him. I think at the time he, uh,
when he first called, I think he only had Travis
and colink pretty sure, so kind of was uh trying
to trying to put together a whole team at that point,
you know, so.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
It was pretty cool. It was fun.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I think that's an incredible story that you just get
a random phone number and then all of a sudden
you're like Coach Pope and now he obviously is your
head coach here at Kentucky to be one of those
first puzzle pieces or big pillars right when Coach Pope
is quite literally building a roster from scratch. You know,
how does that feel to have a coach he went
out and he knows that he wanted you and that
(13:07):
you're going to be a pivotal puzzle piece in this
Kentucky team this year.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Andrew, Yeah, definitely. I think that's really you know, that's
really special. You know.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
I think for for me, you know, a big part
of trying to figure out whether I wanted to go
here was what the team was going to look like.
And so when talking with Coach Pope, you know, I
think the vision that he had with for who he
wanted to go get was pretty much who exactly who
(13:36):
he got, which is you know the power of Coach Pope,
but also the power of Kentucky and and you know,
the people that you're able to go and recruit.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
We got some really awesome people on this team.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
So you know, for me being able to be one
of the early ones, it was really cool to you know,
continue to follow, try and recruit and try and get
some other guys to come on board. But you know,
it really Coach Pope was just talked about it being
you know, having faith and making that commitment and and
(14:08):
he's just made me feel you know, if you come here,
everybody people are gonna want to come and play with you.
And to kind of be able to be you know,
the Domino kind of started everything, you know, early on
for the for the recruitment, So you know, that was
just a really cool opportunity and I was really happy
to be able to do that. And I'm super happy
(14:28):
with all the guys that we have and and you know,
I love this team. We've we've been, uh, we've been
able to grow super close.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I feel like from the outside looking in, it's clear
that you all are having a lot of fun between
the raps, between Jackson Robinson vlogging, you all tiktoks. Coach
Pope's energy, how much do you think you know, his
energy almost allows you all to be I don't want
to say goofy, but to have fun and to show
your personalities, but also no, you know, practice got serious,
(14:57):
got to get the work done. But we can have
fun and we can bond and really create like a
good culture here.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Yeah, definitely, you kind of just touched on.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
I think it's the it's the culture that you know,
starts with the head coach and trickles down to everybody else.
So Coach Pope just loves on everybody so hard and
and creates such a positive energy that you know, it
really allows us to be the best versions of ourselves.
And so, you know, I think that that's really special
(15:27):
for us and for the way that we play. It's
really important for everybody to be you know, ultimately almost
like blindly confident in.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
What we're doing.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
And so it started in June when we when we
started workouts and started to get to know each other.
But Coach Pope really established that that's what he's looking for,
and we've been able to grow as a group in
that way. And and I think it's really cool. Everybody
knows that we have our we have our standards when
it comes to, like you said, practice in basketball and
(16:00):
the level of focus that it takes to accomplish what
we want to accomplish. So you know, everybody has a
good grasp I think of being able to lock in
and you know, if you're able to, you know, meet
the standards. We always talk about the standards being our
floor and things that are non negotiable, and so you know,
when we're able to complete those standards, to be able
(16:21):
to push those and be able to, like you kind
of said, have fun, show a little bit of personality
while still being able to maintain those standards.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
So we mentioned you played at Delaware for two years,
you played at Wake for two years. I'm sure you
knew of a lot of these guys you're not playing with, right.
You know Lamont hits the infamous shot in the Final
four a couple of years ago, Kobe Jackson or all
these different players, Amari, and to see them all at
different places and then you guys all come together. Was
(16:52):
there anybody that maybe surprised you in a practice like
seeing them play on a court right or on TV
or watching a college basketball game and then to be
practicing with them, Like, what is that like for you?
Was there somebody who maybe surprised you in practice.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Or surprise me?
Speaker 1 (17:07):
I don't really I don't know about necessarily surprise. So
I tried my best to watch as much film as
I could possibly on them, tried to get to know them,
you know, especially before we all got here. But you know,
I would say just watching Kobe in a shooting workout
(17:28):
is like, is unbelievable. You know. I think we have
a lot of really great shooters on our team, but
it's a little bit different watching someone shoot in a
game versus you know, shooting in a in a shooting
workout and he doesn't miss, So I think it's really
you know, I'd say that's probably be the most the
(17:51):
craziest thing of being able to translate from the game,
although he may over fifty percent in the games too,
But you know, seeing someone in a shooting workout is
kind of like you get to see the behind the scenes,
how much work they put in and everything is you know,
really cool to see.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
You're like, yeah, he shoots three hundred and fifty percent.
So let's talk a little bit about Lexington Andrew. We
were talking a little bit about this before we hopped
on the podcast, but what is maybe your favorite thing
or what you like about the city where where fans
might run into you I don't know.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
So I love me. I'm a big coffee drinker, big
coffee drinker. We love that.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Yes, so did you have your coffee at this morning?
Speaker 3 (18:34):
I did?
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Okay, yes, so I you know, I have a cureg
of course for the casual, but you know, sometimes walking
around different different coffee shops.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
And I also just love.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Being outside and for me, have been a cool part
going to h some different some different farms and things
like that out in Licenson and you know, I got
to see some Highland cows and feed them and hang
out with them. And so you know, for me, that's
kind of right on my right on my element. I
(19:09):
really enjoyed, you know, kind of being able to relax
a little.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Bit, you know, feed some cows.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Wow, that is like a Kentucky thing. You told me
you went to Keenlan again.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
All the Kentucky things.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Okay, Now we're gonna do a little quiz for you,
and okay, I'm ready. Just a couple of quick questions
about guys on your team and first name that comes
to mind when I say this. Okay, cool, best style, Otega,
easy one, funniest, best trash talker Okay, two for two
Carr best energy or vibe in practice.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Coach pub. Of course I'm gonna go.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Jackson Jackson, best shoe collection, Grant Derbyshire. Okay, best entrance
at Madness except yours, of course.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
I'm gonna go. I gotta give it a care too.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Give it a cur to Lamont with a good second.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Oh yeah, I didn't know we could choose Lamont too, Yeah,
I mean Lamont.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Sorry, sorry, Kerr, Sorry Kerr. You almost for three for
three off your.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Lamont's Like, yeah, that one was by far the best
but honorable mention.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Yeah, right there you go.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Well, Andrew, you survived your first Behind Kentucky Basketball podcast.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Thank you very much. It was my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Yeah, good having you on. And we will root for
Philadelphia for you and some other friends that we know
are our big Philly fans and.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Brutal the last couple of years, a lot of heartbreak.
Better to have heartbreak than none at all.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
I think.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Okay, Okay, that might be a quote that might we
might need to get that on a T shirt. It
is we might need what is it?
Speaker 3 (20:51):
It's better to have heartbreak than maybe to not be
in it at all.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Okay, that's fair. Okay, Well we gotta get those T
shirts done, Andrew Carr. I love it. I love it.
Another episode of Behind Kentucky Basketball. You can subscribe to
Behind Kentucky Basketball podcast, presented by UK Federal Credit Union today.
It's available free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and the
official UK Athletics app.
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