May 13, 2025 • 22 mins
Welcome to episode seeventeen of Behind Kentucky Basketball presented by UK Federal Credit Union! Twany Beckham sits down with Michelle Knezovic to discuss La Familia year 2 in the TBT tournament.
Presented by: UK Federal Credit Union
Presented by: UK Federal Credit Union
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As you as you head into year two, is it
easy to point to the success that the team had
last year.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Yeah, I think everybody, even you know, a ton of
NBA guys were following us to you know, I think
Anthony Davis was in the Olympics last year and he
was texting.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Me, what time do you all play? Yeah, so I
got a text from him.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And you know Devin Booker, you know, he provided the
shoes last year, and we had just a ton of
other guys, Tyres, Maxie, some other players.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
It just it was a.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Word comment on our social media post shurance some of
our stuff. And I think the Louisville game and people
seeing that, I think it really just drew people's attention
to what we were doing and how big, just dislot
familiar and TV thanking TVT think can be.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
So, man, I'm excited about it.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Welcome into another episode of Behind Kentucky Bastball podcast. I'm
your host Michelle Can has a big join now with
twenty Beckham, former Kentucky basketball player and former national champion.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Twenty Thanks for coming down to the studio today.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Man, thank you all for having me. I truly appreciate
this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
To be here so over the last year and a
half or so. Last year was the first year that
Kentucky basketball had a presence again in the TVT tournament.
You were the general manager of the law Famelia team,
and now we're just gearing back up for another year.
The tournament will be here in July and in a
new venue this year, Historic Memorial Cosseum. What was the
thought process in getting the tournament to stroke Memorial Cosseium
(01:34):
And how do you think it'll be a better home court.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Crowd from from the information that we received as we
started to prepare for this, you know, this journey again
for year two. You know, we were told that Reperena
was going to be undertaken in some some renovations, and
so you know, when the move was to you know,
move the games over to Memorial Coliseum. I thought that
(01:56):
would be awesome. Kind of a smaller venue, you know,
the fans that be on top of you, and plus
with the new renovations and Memorial College and I thought
that it would be awesome. So I'm looking forward to it.
I think a lot of our guys are looking forward
to it as well. We're familiar with the building being
practicing in, you know, the Joe Craft Center and sometimes
actually practicing in Memorial. So a lot of the guys
(02:18):
that are going to be playing on our team are
familiar with that building, so we're looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Have you were you able to go to any women's
games this year and see the atmosphere see atmosphere or
just see any videos on social media or photos of
what that arena can look like.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, I didn't get an opportunity to attend any games
this season, but of course I watched several of the games.
I was a fan of coach Brooks coming in and
the team he brought in, so I was able to
watch a couple of games. It just kind of saw
how electric the venue was, and you know, you can
kind of see on TV some of the renovations and stuff.
So I'm looking forward to for us to be able
(02:52):
to play in that venue.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So over this last you know, year and a half,
as you've taken on this general manager role in with
the TBT Tournament and the La Familia team, what has
it been like for you just to have this role
and then be able to reach out to former players
and the success that you guys.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Had last year It's been amazing for me, I tell people,
so I get that question at the time. And for me,
man I grew up a Kentucky fan. I was never
a little fan. I was always a Kentucky fan. And
you know, being close with Region Rondo and Derreck Henison,
two people that was from our community that played here,
just made me want a dream to play here. Then
(03:30):
I got the opportunity to come play here, like you mentioned, previously,
won a national championship with those guys and just still
live in this community and having this opportunity is like wow,
you know, I just go back to the times or
I'm just you know, it's such a huge child and
such a huge UK fan. And now being somebody that's
you know, kind of being the leader, not on the
(03:50):
forefront of getting these guys to come back and play
with the Kentucky with lat Familia across their chest. It's
been an unbelievable experience for me, said, We're only in
year or two, but it feels like like a kid
in Christmas, and I'm looking forward to continue to do
this for not only this year, but some years to come.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
What would you say your algorithm is when building your
roster and reaching out to guys and what is maybe
your recruiting pitch to say, hey, guys, come back, come
play for this team. It's going to be a lot
of fun.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
So for me, like last year when I started, man,
you know, you kind of just pull up the list
of Kentucky players who are playing professionally out of the
if it's eighty guys, seventy of them are playing in
the NBA, So you know, you don't really have a
lot of players to pick from. But the players that
you do have, you know, that are playing like overseas
(04:41):
or not in the NBA, are some really really good
players who were big time players here. So you know,
my pitch to them is and a lot of these
guys haven't been back in a long time. And while
these guys were here, you know, they were we loved
and you know, had a great time such as myself here.
So that's kind of my pitch has to come back
(05:02):
and getting this community again. I kind of touched the
people that loved you when you were here. Kind of
get that love again from the fan base. But it
actually hasn't been a hard sale. You know, the guys
that I've been able to connect with have all said, man,
I've been wanting the opportunity to get back.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
This was the perfect time, perfect chance. Let's do it.
So the pitch has been, you know, fairly easy.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
As as you head into year two, is it easy
to point to the success that the team had last year?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, I think everybody, even you know, a ton of
NBA guys were following us to you know, I think
Anthony Davis was in the Olympics last year and he
was texting me, what time do you all play?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, so I got a text.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
From him, and you know Devin Booker, you know, he
provided us shoes last year, and we had just a
ton of other guys, Tyres MAXI that just kind of
came to the game with coach Kyle and some other players.
It just were comment on our social media post shurance
some of our stuff. And I think the Louisville game
and people seeing that, I think it really just drew
people to attention to what we were doing and how
(06:01):
big this this lot Familion TV thing can TVT thing
can be.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
So but I'm excited about it.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Are you already putting little nuggets in eighties years like, Hey,
if you ever ready to hang up the shoes?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Like we got.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I mean that's a part of their recruiting, you know,
and being a general manager you have to literally, I mean,
I take this serious. So you know, I got my
databases building. I mean, you gotta, you know, reach out
to guys. I mean, it's a full long recruiting thing.
So for most of the guys that are in the NBA,
you know, I'm tracking them and keeping track of with
their what they have going on, because you know, when
(06:34):
guys retired, you know, guys just don't put basketball down
right away. So this is something that guys can come
back to Lexington, you know, and still play meaningful basketball.
So yeah, I'm keeping keeping in tact with all the
guys that are currently playing in the league.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I know some fan favorites, the Harrison Twins just announced
this week that they are going to be back on
the team this year. How important was it to get
those two back to Lexington?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
And it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Again, the pitch wasn't really that hard because they both
play last year. And you know, even when those guys
were here last year, you know a lot of guys
made the comments of man, I'm so glad I'm back here.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
This is amazing.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
This is awesome, and so reaching back after those guys
was like, man, and I think losing last year in
the final four left us our tasting a lot of
our mouths. So guys want to you know, get back
into Lexington and try to make another run at it.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Having that success.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
You mentioned losing after that game, could you tell like
when you looked at some of those guys, oh they
were coming back for your two?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
All right, it meant a lot. You know, we lost.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Of course, coach came in and spoke to the group
and myself and the coaching staff like we sat outside
the locker room and and talk to us ourselves before
we went in and talked to the group, and you know,
you went in and it was you know, everybody was
sad or didn't feel good about losing, and you just
knew right there, and I think there were comments made
and man, we got to make runners back next year.
(07:54):
So I knew some of the guys that are returning
were going to come back just based on how our
last season ended.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
As you build the roster, what is it then like
to build the coaching staff? How do you approach that
and then what does that maybe that process look like
As you had into year two.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Would a love to, you know, have Tyler you list
back as the coach, but of course he's editor a
program and I'm happy for him.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
You know, we've talked several times about this process.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
You know, he would have loved to come back, but
we all know the situation and circumstance. So you know,
we're gonna run with the Sean Woods as our head
coach right now. And I know he just took a
high school job at Scott County, but he's still on board.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
And it's fun.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
You know, this position is fun because you know, I've
always had aspirations of like working in the NBA front
office or something like that, and so it is kind
of giving me that experience and kind of that that
feeling and that feel of being able to do that,
and so man, I love doing it.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Why did you want to be a part of this
TVT team? I mean, I know this is only year
two with you, but the tournament's been going on for
a couple of years now. I think it really popped
off during COVID because there was really nothing to watch
and it was a tournament that was going on.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
But what maybe intrigued you about it? And you know,
why do you think that it's been so successful.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yeah. First, I'm a basketball fan.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
So when TBT first you started getting you know, notoriety
throughout the country. You know, of course I tuned in
and watched and thought it was awesome. I thought that
elam ending was something that was unique and amazing. So
I was just a fan of the whole the whole
tournament in itself. Never in a meanion a million years
(09:31):
would have thought that, you know, I would be ahead
of the UK's TV a lot familiar TBT team, and
so when I got the opportunity, it wasn't a I
didn't even think about it. I wanted I was like, man,
I want to do that because that is fun and
this the monetary you know, beneficial part of it is
also is very enticing too. You know, you come together,
you win six games, and you know your whole organization
(09:51):
or team or team can win a million dollars. So
I thought that was pretty fun and Entyson as well.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
All right, listen, everybody, we need to take a brief
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as the official credit union of the University of Kentucky
UKFCU understands that students in support and that's why they've
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(10:19):
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account today. Federally insured by NCUA. So when you look
at this year's team, I mentioned the Harrison Twins, You've
got DeAndre Liggins, Jon lamb will who else?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Willie cally Stein?
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
What does the team look like right now where you're at,
and then maybe if you can give us some breadcrumbs
as to what BBN can expect in the next couple
of weeks as the tournaments here in July.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Yeah, we have I think seven guys committed right now,
so we're looking forward to maybe having I think ten
or eleven guys. But with the group that we got now,
and I mean we're very athletic, we're long and I
like to use the word doll.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Uh, you know, we got some dogs, we got some
some guys that gonna want to get down and play defense,
shooting in de Ron lamb Uh, and we're long we're tall,
and with the twins back, you know, we're gonna be
guarded centric. And so you know, I got some some
other guys that three or four guys that I'm just
kind of you know, playing the Dayton game with right now.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
You're dating them right.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Now, texting them, just trying to, you know, get a
feel on how they feel. So I think with the
last couple of people that, you know, we can add
to this roster. I think the fan base is gonna
be excited. And you know if me as a GM
and my coaching staff will as well.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
So put a.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Little pressure on that. So how do you guys practice?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Is there a time where you'll all come here before
the tournament starts or what does that look like?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (11:49):
So a good I'm great. It's a great question. So
you know, one thing, when I sat down and got
the opportunity, I'm a big community guy. I'll give my
time back a lot, my time a lot, and so
I pitched the East guy that. So we also put
together something called Champions Weekend, and it's built around bringing
the guys back and kind of ingratiating them with the community,
(12:12):
local business people, kids, and so we do something so
I try to bring the guys in a weekend ahead
of time, and we do like six different events in
the community. We do a free basketball camp, we do
a backpack giveaway, or do a networking event, and also
a golf outing, so guys get to come come back
to Lexington for a couple of days kind of you know,
(12:35):
get unpacked, relaxed, and then also do some community work.
And then Monday we start training campus or practice and
the UK's been just gracious to let us practice in
our facilities. Coach Pope last year was you know, we
did some some joint stuff with his team, and of
course we did a closed scrimmage and I think we're
(12:55):
looking at doing something like that again this year. And
so it's it's a week full on practice, full of practices,
and then Friday we'll play who.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Is the best golfer? Who is the best golfer last year?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
The best golfer? Man that's you know, that's that's close.
I would say Willie.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Okay, I was gonna I was gonna say him and.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Nate Cistinak like those two.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Watching those two play golfers like wow, like it made
me I've never picked up a golf club in my life.
But watching watching those twos swing swing the clubs, it
just looked they look like naturals and it was fun
watching those two go at it.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Were they competitive on the course.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Super competitive like I didn't I didn't know, like I've
never been never picked up a golf court a club,
never been on a golf course to even see or
hear the conversations, and it was just as competitive as
it is on the basketball court.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
So you you have all these outings, they immerged yourself
in the community. And then you mentioned training camp. Was
there were there any guys who got to training Camp
and they had maybe PTSD, PTSD in a good way
of being back you're on campus and maybe some of
those summer practices.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think my highlight of training Camp last year was
opening day practice and it just made me sit back
and realize, like, wow, we're really doing this. Was I
think Monday was the first day of practice and UK
worked with us on doing a media day, and so
when we walked into practice and you know, there was
(14:24):
a ton of media in all the media surround these
guys one by one, you know, and the different spots
in the gym like they doing a regular like the
day before a regular game.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
I think it's so thid for me.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
At that moment, I said, Wow, this is this is real,
like this is UK basketball.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
So I think that was my kind of life like.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Moment moment. Yeah, well, I mean in July.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
I mean, you know how the state of Kentucky just
absolutely loves basketball and to get some former guys here
to play in a tournament. They just salivate at the
fact that they've got basketball.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
So you talk.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
About training camp the tournaments in July, what do fans
need to know? I know that Kentucky is in a
ticket race with Louisville. I mean anything against.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Louisville is a huge rivalry.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Yes, but basically tell BBN why they need to buy
all the tickets so home court advantage can be here
in Lexington.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yes, like last year we had to travel, we went
to Louisville, we won that game, and we had to
travel at Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
This year, we got the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
You know, if we beat all the other regions to
the first to sell four thousand tickets, then if we
go and beat Louisville or beat whoever that that game is,
then we can potentially play here in Lexington. All the
way through to the final four and possibly win the
championship a memorial college him. So it's very crucial that
we beat Louisville or beat whoever else whatever other regions
(15:45):
are running for the are in the running for this
four k race. I think it's it's important and also
to it's it's fun.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
It's also Louisville Kentucky fans know what to do. Buy
your tickets because you want the championship game.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Right now, we're trailing. We're about eight hundred behind. Yeah,
Louisi sits I think right around three. I just got
the update before I got here.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Louis was right around three thousand, twenty two hundred, Okay,
so I think, uh, you know, with a little bump,
I think we can catch him.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So how cool was it to see coach Pope in
his first year. I know they traveled to Louisville to
that game. They're at some of the games here and RUP.
But maybe that collaboration as you guys head into your
two a new regime here at Kentucky and have some
of those guys meet some of the former players.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Yeah, it was awesome. You know, first, you know coach
you know when he got here. You know, uh, interesting story.
So we coach did his press conference, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Of course Rebarena.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
It was sold out, sure, and I went right up
to him, shook his hand, first time ever meeting them,
shook his hand and said, Coach, I'm doing this TVT thing.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I would love your support.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Nice and shoat your shot.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Yeah shot, shut my shot, And Coach Pope Man literally
said give me a number.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
I'm gonna call you.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
I'm gonna put you in contact on my team, and
I want to support list. I want to do what
I can. And that's just like wow, this dude like
that meant a lie to me, and so it literally
he did.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
We got in contact, and then when we.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Talked weekly up until leads to the game started and
seeing his guys come in and get get an opportunity
to scrimmage with those guys and them seeing like all
the guys that have paid the way, you know, during
the you know, that era of Coach Kyle and you know,
being able to you know, be there and like kind
of welcome the new guys in and practice and just
the sad conversations they were having. It was just amazing
(17:30):
to see. And then of course we run out in
Freedom Hall and you see some of the players and
coach Pope and his staff and all the people from
the UK Athletics.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Like I was like, wow, this is crazy. So it
was a big time thing.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I feel like that group got a taste of what
the Kentucky Louisville rivalry was a little bit in the
summer because a lot of them had are pretty much
the entire team is new. You know, Trent now being
from Kentucky probably understood it, but them being at that game,
they got to understand a little bit of what that
rivalry looked like. So this year, you know, he's got
(18:05):
a bunch of new guys coming in. I think one
of the coolest things for me was I heard Lamont
Butler he got to meet like Eric Blutsoe last year,
and he had.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Met him when he was a younger.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Saw the story.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
For you to see stories.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Like that and have both teams connect newer generation, older
generation you playing here, what is maybe that look like
to you?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
It's amazing again, Like you know, of course all of
this is you know, how Lamont butlerfield is how I feel,
you know, these guys are you know, I'm growing up
in Louisver, Kentucky and these are my.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Superheroes people to put the jersey on.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
So again, just being able to be somebody that's in
charge in leading this or even if I wasn't in charge,
be a part of it. Yeah, you know, I had
my best friend who I grow with in Louisville, was
also a Kentucky fan and he plays professionally in Italy
and he had an opportunity to come back last year
and be on a part of the coaching staff. So
it's also too given opportunities to John Hoot John Hood
(19:00):
who actually who as well played at Kentucky was able
to be a part of the coaching staff, so you know,
him being able to coach his peers.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
It was just awesome. It was an awesome.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
Opportunity for you twenty.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
I know you mentioned growing up you loved watching Rondo,
But was there somebody on last year's team or this
year that when you got to meet them maybe for
the first time in person, that was that was a
cool moment remember watching them or you guys maybe missed
each other in the times that you were here.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
I would say Eric Blesso, you know, and Eric Blesso
and John Wall those guys were here with coach Kyle.
I was at Missippi State, so I was at another
SEC school, but I didn't miss a Kentucky game.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
I did not miss a game.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
And so it was just this is awesome just to
you know, get to know Eric and just see he's
really down the earth guys played, you know, ten plus
years in the NBA and just a regularly human being
and somebody who loved this place. And I got a
chance to ask him a ton of questions. And now he's,
you know, in the next phase of his life in business,
(20:03):
and we was able to connect about that.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
So yeah, I say, Eric Blesso is one of those guys.
I love connecting with them.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Well, I know, I'm sure you're excited to put the
next couple pieces of this puzzle together as you formulate
your roster. But what do fans need to know. I
know you guys are selling gear. I know that there
needs to be a ticket goal to beat Louisville, right,
beat Louisville and anything that Kentucky can do, But where
can they find you tickets?
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Gear?
Speaker 1 (20:28):
And looking for the next couple of announcements as you
round out this roster.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Yeah, so we were released a new website, Lotfamiliar TVT
dot com and we did some interesting this year. We
we wanted to come up with some different ways to
support the players, so you know, we created you know,
these shirts with the players faces on and love Familiar
jerseys with their signatures. So you know, you can go
(20:53):
by their their gear on Lafamilia dot com uh Loffamilia
TVT dot com. There's a section that says shop and
you can kick players and you can see all their shirts,
or you could just go bad lot Familiar gear if
you want to support. But yeah, I mean takets on
own sale right now, we're trying to get the four
thousand and be full little with does. Of course, anybody
(21:14):
who comes out and supports us, man, it means a lot.
East Ticket ball Eacht ticket sell means a lot to
us for people in this community to support something like
this in the summertime when I know people could be
on vacation and spending that money on their children to
come out and support these guys.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
We're truly truly thankful for that.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
So you heard twenty. You can find them on loat Familiar.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
They also have a Twitter account, Instagram account where you
can find them laft Amelia TBT tournament not hard to
find on there, and that's really where I find all
my news when you guys announce new players. But I
know everybody in Big Blue Nation will probably be tuned
in to see Belts is going to be on this
roster twenty. Thank you so much for coming down to
the studios today talking a little bit about the tournament
and you know, just gearing up for basketball and for
(21:56):
some months here and let's say, right.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Yeah, thank you for having me and I definitely I
truly appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Well, another episode of Behind Kentucky Basketball. Will see you
next week than.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
I I know.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Thank h
As you as you head into year two, is it
easy to point to the success that the team had
last year.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Yeah, I think everybody, even you know, a ton of
NBA guys were following us to you know, I think
Anthony Davis was in the Olympics last year and he
was texting.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Me, what time do you all play? Yeah, so I
got a text from him.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And you know Devin Booker, you know, he provided the
shoes last year, and we had just a ton of
other guys, Tyres, Maxie, some other players.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
It just it was a.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Word comment on our social media post shurance some of
our stuff. And I think the Louisville game and people
seeing that, I think it really just drew people's attention
to what we were doing and how big, just dislot
familiar and TV thanking TVT think can be.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
So, man, I'm excited about it.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Welcome into another episode of Behind Kentucky Bastball podcast. I'm
your host Michelle Can has a big join now with
twenty Beckham, former Kentucky basketball player and former national champion.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Twenty Thanks for coming down to the studio today.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Man, thank you all for having me. I truly appreciate
this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
To be here so over the last year and a
half or so. Last year was the first year that
Kentucky basketball had a presence again in the TVT tournament.
You were the general manager of the law Famelia team,
and now we're just gearing back up for another year.
The tournament will be here in July and in a
new venue this year, Historic Memorial Cosseum. What was the
thought process in getting the tournament to stroke Memorial Cosseium
(01:34):
And how do you think it'll be a better home court.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Crowd from from the information that we received as we
started to prepare for this, you know, this journey again
for year two. You know, we were told that Reperena
was going to be undertaken in some some renovations, and
so you know, when the move was to you know,
move the games over to Memorial Coliseum. I thought that
(01:56):
would be awesome. Kind of a smaller venue, you know,
the fans that be on top of you, and plus
with the new renovations and Memorial College and I thought
that it would be awesome. So I'm looking forward to it.
I think a lot of our guys are looking forward
to it as well. We're familiar with the building being
practicing in, you know, the Joe Craft Center and sometimes
actually practicing in Memorial. So a lot of the guys
(02:18):
that are going to be playing on our team are
familiar with that building, so we're looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Have you were you able to go to any women's
games this year and see the atmosphere see atmosphere or
just see any videos on social media or photos of
what that arena can look like.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, I didn't get an opportunity to attend any games
this season, but of course I watched several of the games.
I was a fan of coach Brooks coming in and
the team he brought in, so I was able to
watch a couple of games. It just kind of saw
how electric the venue was, and you know, you can
kind of see on TV some of the renovations and stuff.
So I'm looking forward to for us to be able
(02:52):
to play in that venue.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So over this last you know, year and a half,
as you've taken on this general manager role in with
the TBT Tournament and the La Familia team, what has
it been like for you just to have this role
and then be able to reach out to former players
and the success that you guys.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Had last year It's been amazing for me, I tell people,
so I get that question at the time. And for me,
man I grew up a Kentucky fan. I was never
a little fan. I was always a Kentucky fan. And
you know, being close with Region Rondo and Derreck Henison,
two people that was from our community that played here,
just made me want a dream to play here. Then
(03:30):
I got the opportunity to come play here, like you mentioned, previously,
won a national championship with those guys and just still
live in this community and having this opportunity is like wow,
you know, I just go back to the times or
I'm just you know, it's such a huge child and
such a huge UK fan. And now being somebody that's
you know, kind of being the leader, not on the
(03:50):
forefront of getting these guys to come back and play
with the Kentucky with lat Familia across their chest. It's
been an unbelievable experience for me, said, We're only in
year or two, but it feels like like a kid
in Christmas, and I'm looking forward to continue to do
this for not only this year, but some years to come.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
What would you say your algorithm is when building your
roster and reaching out to guys and what is maybe
your recruiting pitch to say, hey, guys, come back, come
play for this team. It's going to be a lot
of fun.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
So for me, like last year when I started, man,
you know, you kind of just pull up the list
of Kentucky players who are playing professionally out of the
if it's eighty guys, seventy of them are playing in
the NBA, So you know, you don't really have a
lot of players to pick from. But the players that
you do have, you know, that are playing like overseas
(04:41):
or not in the NBA, are some really really good
players who were big time players here. So you know,
my pitch to them is and a lot of these
guys haven't been back in a long time. And while
these guys were here, you know, they were we loved
and you know, had a great time such as myself here.
So that's kind of my pitch has to come back
(05:02):
and getting this community again. I kind of touched the
people that loved you when you were here. Kind of
get that love again from the fan base. But it
actually hasn't been a hard sale. You know, the guys
that I've been able to connect with have all said, man,
I've been wanting the opportunity to get back.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
This was the perfect time, perfect chance. Let's do it.
So the pitch has been, you know, fairly easy.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
As as you head into year two, is it easy
to point to the success that the team had last year?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, I think everybody, even you know, a ton of
NBA guys were following us to you know, I think
Anthony Davis was in the Olympics last year and he
was texting me, what time do you all play?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, so I got a text.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
From him, and you know Devin Booker, you know, he
provided us shoes last year, and we had just a
ton of other guys, Tyres MAXI that just kind of
came to the game with coach Kyle and some other players.
It just were comment on our social media post shurance
some of our stuff. And I think the Louisville game
and people seeing that, I think it really just drew
people to attention to what we were doing and how
(06:01):
big this this lot Familion TV thing can TVT thing
can be.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
So but I'm excited about it.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Are you already putting little nuggets in eighties years like, Hey,
if you ever ready to hang up the shoes?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Like we got.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I mean that's a part of their recruiting, you know,
and being a general manager you have to literally, I mean,
I take this serious. So you know, I got my
databases building. I mean, you gotta, you know, reach out
to guys. I mean, it's a full long recruiting thing.
So for most of the guys that are in the NBA,
you know, I'm tracking them and keeping track of with
their what they have going on, because you know, when
(06:34):
guys retired, you know, guys just don't put basketball down
right away. So this is something that guys can come
back to Lexington, you know, and still play meaningful basketball.
So yeah, I'm keeping keeping in tact with all the
guys that are currently playing in the league.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I know some fan favorites, the Harrison Twins just announced
this week that they are going to be back on
the team this year. How important was it to get
those two back to Lexington?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
And it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Again, the pitch wasn't really that hard because they both
play last year. And you know, even when those guys
were here last year, you know a lot of guys
made the comments of man, I'm so glad I'm back here.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
This is amazing.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
This is awesome, and so reaching back after those guys
was like, man, and I think losing last year in
the final four left us our tasting a lot of
our mouths. So guys want to you know, get back
into Lexington and try to make another run at it.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Having that success.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
You mentioned losing after that game, could you tell like
when you looked at some of those guys, oh they
were coming back for your two?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
All right, it meant a lot. You know, we lost.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Of course, coach came in and spoke to the group
and myself and the coaching staff like we sat outside
the locker room and and talk to us ourselves before
we went in and talked to the group, and you know,
you went in and it was you know, everybody was
sad or didn't feel good about losing, and you just
knew right there, and I think there were comments made
and man, we got to make runners back next year.
(07:54):
So I knew some of the guys that are returning
were going to come back just based on how our
last season ended.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
As you build the roster, what is it then like
to build the coaching staff? How do you approach that
and then what does that maybe that process look like
As you had into year two.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Would a love to, you know, have Tyler you list
back as the coach, but of course he's editor a
program and I'm happy for him.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
You know, we've talked several times about this process.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
You know, he would have loved to come back, but
we all know the situation and circumstance. So you know,
we're gonna run with the Sean Woods as our head
coach right now. And I know he just took a
high school job at Scott County, but he's still on board.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
And it's fun.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
You know, this position is fun because you know, I've
always had aspirations of like working in the NBA front
office or something like that, and so it is kind
of giving me that experience and kind of that that
feeling and that feel of being able to do that,
and so man, I love doing it.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Why did you want to be a part of this
TVT team? I mean, I know this is only year
two with you, but the tournament's been going on for
a couple of years now. I think it really popped
off during COVID because there was really nothing to watch
and it was a tournament that was going on.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
But what maybe intrigued you about it? And you know,
why do you think that it's been so successful.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yeah. First, I'm a basketball fan.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
So when TBT first you started getting you know, notoriety
throughout the country. You know, of course I tuned in
and watched and thought it was awesome. I thought that
elam ending was something that was unique and amazing. So
I was just a fan of the whole the whole
tournament in itself. Never in a meanion a million years
(09:31):
would have thought that, you know, I would be ahead
of the UK's TV a lot familiar TBT team, and
so when I got the opportunity, it wasn't a I
didn't even think about it. I wanted I was like, man,
I want to do that because that is fun and
this the monetary you know, beneficial part of it is
also is very enticing too. You know, you come together,
you win six games, and you know your whole organization
(09:51):
or team or team can win a million dollars. So
I thought that was pretty fun and Entyson as well.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
All right, listen, everybody, we need to take a brief
moment to thank our podcast sponsored UK Federal Credit Union
as the official credit union of the University of Kentucky
UKFCU understands that students in support and that's why they've
created the Student Rewards Account, which offers them five percent
cash back on all debit card purchases to students aged
thirteenth to twenty five. Visit UKFCU dot org for stop
(10:19):
by one of their seven local branches to open an
account today. Federally insured by NCUA. So when you look
at this year's team, I mentioned the Harrison Twins, You've
got DeAndre Liggins, Jon lamb will who else?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Willie cally Stein?
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
What does the team look like right now where you're at,
and then maybe if you can give us some breadcrumbs
as to what BBN can expect in the next couple
of weeks as the tournaments here in July.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Yeah, we have I think seven guys committed right now,
so we're looking forward to maybe having I think ten
or eleven guys. But with the group that we got now,
and I mean we're very athletic, we're long and I
like to use the word doll.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Uh, you know, we got some dogs, we got some
some guys that gonna want to get down and play defense,
shooting in de Ron lamb Uh, and we're long we're tall,
and with the twins back, you know, we're gonna be
guarded centric. And so you know, I got some some
other guys that three or four guys that I'm just
kind of you know, playing the Dayton game with right now.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
You're dating them right.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Now, texting them, just trying to, you know, get a
feel on how they feel. So I think with the
last couple of people that, you know, we can add
to this roster. I think the fan base is gonna
be excited. And you know if me as a GM
and my coaching staff will as well.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
So put a.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Little pressure on that. So how do you guys practice?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Is there a time where you'll all come here before
the tournament starts or what does that look like?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (11:49):
So a good I'm great. It's a great question. So
you know, one thing, when I sat down and got
the opportunity, I'm a big community guy. I'll give my
time back a lot, my time a lot, and so
I pitched the East guy that. So we also put
together something called Champions Weekend, and it's built around bringing
the guys back and kind of ingratiating them with the community,
(12:12):
local business people, kids, and so we do something so
I try to bring the guys in a weekend ahead
of time, and we do like six different events in
the community. We do a free basketball camp, we do
a backpack giveaway, or do a networking event, and also
a golf outing, so guys get to come come back
to Lexington for a couple of days kind of you know,
(12:35):
get unpacked, relaxed, and then also do some community work.
And then Monday we start training campus or practice and
the UK's been just gracious to let us practice in
our facilities. Coach Pope last year was you know, we
did some some joint stuff with his team, and of
course we did a closed scrimmage and I think we're
(12:55):
looking at doing something like that again this year. And
so it's it's a week full on practice, full of practices,
and then Friday we'll play who.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Is the best golfer? Who is the best golfer last year?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
The best golfer? Man that's you know, that's that's close.
I would say Willie.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Okay, I was gonna I was gonna say him and.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Nate Cistinak like those two.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Watching those two play golfers like wow, like it made
me I've never picked up a golf club in my life.
But watching watching those twos swing swing the clubs, it
just looked they look like naturals and it was fun
watching those two go at it.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Were they competitive on the course.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Super competitive like I didn't I didn't know, like I've
never been never picked up a golf court a club,
never been on a golf course to even see or
hear the conversations, and it was just as competitive as
it is on the basketball court.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
So you you have all these outings, they immerged yourself
in the community. And then you mentioned training camp. Was
there were there any guys who got to training Camp
and they had maybe PTSD, PTSD in a good way
of being back you're on campus and maybe some of
those summer practices.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think my highlight of training Camp last year was
opening day practice and it just made me sit back
and realize, like, wow, we're really doing this. Was I
think Monday was the first day of practice and UK
worked with us on doing a media day, and so
when we walked into practice and you know, there was
(14:24):
a ton of media in all the media surround these
guys one by one, you know, and the different spots
in the gym like they doing a regular like the
day before a regular game.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
I think it's so thid for me.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
At that moment, I said, Wow, this is this is real,
like this is UK basketball.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
So I think that was my kind of life like.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Moment moment. Yeah, well, I mean in July.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
I mean, you know how the state of Kentucky just
absolutely loves basketball and to get some former guys here
to play in a tournament. They just salivate at the
fact that they've got basketball.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
So you talk.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
About training camp the tournaments in July, what do fans
need to know? I know that Kentucky is in a
ticket race with Louisville. I mean anything against.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Louisville is a huge rivalry.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Yes, but basically tell BBN why they need to buy
all the tickets so home court advantage can be here
in Lexington.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yes, like last year we had to travel, we went
to Louisville, we won that game, and we had to
travel at Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
This year, we got the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
You know, if we beat all the other regions to
the first to sell four thousand tickets, then if we
go and beat Louisville or beat whoever that that game is,
then we can potentially play here in Lexington. All the
way through to the final four and possibly win the
championship a memorial college him. So it's very crucial that
we beat Louisville or beat whoever else whatever other regions
(15:45):
are running for the are in the running for this
four k race. I think it's it's important and also
to it's it's fun.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
It's also Louisville Kentucky fans know what to do. Buy
your tickets because you want the championship game.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Right now, we're trailing. We're about eight hundred behind. Yeah,
Louisi sits I think right around three. I just got
the update before I got here.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Louis was right around three thousand, twenty two hundred, Okay,
so I think, uh, you know, with a little bump,
I think we can catch him.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
So how cool was it to see coach Pope in
his first year. I know they traveled to Louisville to
that game. They're at some of the games here and RUP.
But maybe that collaboration as you guys head into your
two a new regime here at Kentucky and have some
of those guys meet some of the former players.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Yeah, it was awesome. You know, first, you know coach
you know when he got here. You know, uh, interesting story.
So we coach did his press conference, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Of course Rebarena.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
It was sold out, sure, and I went right up
to him, shook his hand, first time ever meeting them,
shook his hand and said, Coach, I'm doing this TVT thing.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
I would love your support.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Nice and shoat your shot.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Yeah shot, shut my shot, And Coach Pope Man literally
said give me a number.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
I'm gonna call you.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
I'm gonna put you in contact on my team, and
I want to support list. I want to do what
I can. And that's just like wow, this dude like
that meant a lie to me, and so it literally
he did.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
We got in contact, and then when we.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Talked weekly up until leads to the game started and
seeing his guys come in and get get an opportunity
to scrimmage with those guys and them seeing like all
the guys that have paid the way, you know, during
the you know, that era of Coach Kyle and you know,
being able to you know, be there and like kind
of welcome the new guys in and practice and just
the sad conversations they were having. It was just amazing
(17:30):
to see. And then of course we run out in
Freedom Hall and you see some of the players and
coach Pope and his staff and all the people from
the UK Athletics.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Like I was like, wow, this is crazy. So it
was a big time thing.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I feel like that group got a taste of what
the Kentucky Louisville rivalry was a little bit in the
summer because a lot of them had are pretty much
the entire team is new. You know, Trent now being
from Kentucky probably understood it, but them being at that game,
they got to understand a little bit of what that
rivalry looked like. So this year, you know, he's got
(18:05):
a bunch of new guys coming in. I think one
of the coolest things for me was I heard Lamont
Butler he got to meet like Eric Blutsoe last year,
and he had.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Met him when he was a younger.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Saw the story.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
For you to see stories.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Like that and have both teams connect newer generation, older
generation you playing here, what is maybe that look like
to you?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
It's amazing again, Like you know, of course all of
this is you know, how Lamont butlerfield is how I feel,
you know, these guys are you know, I'm growing up
in Louisver, Kentucky and these are my.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Superheroes people to put the jersey on.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
So again, just being able to be somebody that's in
charge in leading this or even if I wasn't in charge,
be a part of it. Yeah, you know, I had
my best friend who I grow with in Louisville, was
also a Kentucky fan and he plays professionally in Italy
and he had an opportunity to come back last year
and be on a part of the coaching staff. So
it's also too given opportunities to John Hoot John Hood
(19:00):
who actually who as well played at Kentucky was able
to be a part of the coaching staff, so you know,
him being able to coach his peers.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
It was just awesome. It was an awesome.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
Opportunity for you twenty.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
I know you mentioned growing up you loved watching Rondo,
But was there somebody on last year's team or this
year that when you got to meet them maybe for
the first time in person, that was that was a
cool moment remember watching them or you guys maybe missed
each other in the times that you were here.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
I would say Eric Blesso, you know, and Eric Blesso
and John Wall those guys were here with coach Kyle.
I was at Missippi State, so I was at another
SEC school, but I didn't miss a Kentucky game.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
I did not miss a game.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
And so it was just this is awesome just to
you know, get to know Eric and just see he's
really down the earth guys played, you know, ten plus
years in the NBA and just a regularly human being
and somebody who loved this place. And I got a
chance to ask him a ton of questions. And now he's,
you know, in the next phase of his life in business,
(20:03):
and we was able to connect about that.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
So yeah, I say, Eric Blesso is one of those guys.
I love connecting with them.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Well, I know, I'm sure you're excited to put the
next couple pieces of this puzzle together as you formulate
your roster. But what do fans need to know. I
know you guys are selling gear. I know that there
needs to be a ticket goal to beat Louisville, right,
beat Louisville and anything that Kentucky can do, But where
can they find you tickets?
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Gear?
Speaker 1 (20:28):
And looking for the next couple of announcements as you
round out this roster.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Yeah, so we were released a new website, Lotfamiliar TVT
dot com and we did some interesting this year. We
we wanted to come up with some different ways to
support the players, so you know, we created you know,
these shirts with the players faces on and love Familiar
jerseys with their signatures. So you know, you can go
(20:53):
by their their gear on Lafamilia dot com uh Loffamilia
TVT dot com. There's a section that says shop and
you can kick players and you can see all their shirts,
or you could just go bad lot Familiar gear if
you want to support. But yeah, I mean takets on
own sale right now, we're trying to get the four
thousand and be full little with does. Of course, anybody
(21:14):
who comes out and supports us, man, it means a lot.
East Ticket ball Eacht ticket sell means a lot to
us for people in this community to support something like
this in the summertime when I know people could be
on vacation and spending that money on their children to
come out and support these guys.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
We're truly truly thankful for that.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
So you heard twenty. You can find them on loat Familiar.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
They also have a Twitter account, Instagram account where you
can find them laft Amelia TBT tournament not hard to
find on there, and that's really where I find all
my news when you guys announce new players. But I
know everybody in Big Blue Nation will probably be tuned
in to see Belts is going to be on this
roster twenty. Thank you so much for coming down to
the studios today talking a little bit about the tournament
and you know, just gearing up for basketball and for
(21:56):
some months here and let's say, right.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Yeah, thank you for having me and I definitely I
truly appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Well, another episode of Behind Kentucky Basketball. Will see you
next week than.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
I I know.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Thank h
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