October 30, 2025 • 33 mins
UKSN Analyst Jack "The Goose" Givens joins the show to discuss his biggest takeaways from Purdue. Goose tells us his what he has seen in practice and what the fabase needs to know about this year's team. Next week is a busy week for basketball in the Bluegrass, Kentucky WBB's home opener is Monday vs Morehead State
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're going to see Malachi go through the same thing.
Because as a seven footer playing high school ball up
through high school, and everybody you play against is six six,
six four, maybe a six seven, maybe you don't have
to get real mean to do what you do. But
(00:22):
then in this level, when everybody is seven, or you
might have three or fourteen people on each team who
are seven footers, you better figure out how to get
mean and deliver some messages. And certainly he's done that.
I was really really impressed with how he played against
those bigs, because Purdue had some bigs and he played
(00:42):
very well.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Welcome into the Kentucky Basketball Podcast, Episode two, presented by
UK Federal Credit Union, And just like that, basketball season
is here. If you're a new listener, thank you so
much for joining us, and if you are a loyal listener,
thank you so much for coming back. No is out
this week, but don't worry, he will be back next
week to talk basketball. And today I am joined with
Kentucky Athletics Hall of Famer national Champion UK Sports Network
(01:18):
analyst the Legend Jack give Nis. Jack, thanks for coming
on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Thank you so much. Michelle. It's nice to be here.
With you.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, it is nice. It's nice to get out of
rup and be able to talk to talk basketball with
you in kind of a long form setting.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, relaxing. Then you would just sit back and talk
about what comes to mind. That's always good.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I know. I always see you on game day. I'm like, hi,
Gusie after the broadcast is done, and we're kind of
in that like go mode. But getting to have the
first exhibition game against the number one team in the
country in Purdue, let's just start off with what were
your initial takeaways from that game?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Well, my initial takeaway is the same takeaway I hope
I leave with every game, and that is we held
them to sixty five points. I mean, if we can
play defense as well as we played in that game,
understanding that that was the first opportunity for these guys
to see someone other than themselves, it could be an
(02:21):
amazing year. Because they were great on defense. We didn't
shoot it as well. There were some things on offense
that you expect this time of the year, but defensively
they were really good. So holding pur dudes who sixty
five points was really nice. And I hope we can
leave every game talking about how good the defense.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Was and I think that's a point that sometimes people
forgot to forget to hone in on. Right when Mark
Pope got this coaching job, you know, it was offense threes.
They're going to shoot a lot, and it's so easy
because those, of course are fun games when everybody's hitting
a lot of threes and it's one hundred point game.
I think of the one against Florida last year. But
when you talk about how much this team has grown
from the defensive side of things, and Coach Pope and
(03:04):
press conferences all summer talking about how it's so important
to have legal contest and knowing that you're heading into
an SEC that is an extremely physical league. I think
Mo Diabate had his maybe welcome to Kentucky moment when
how much fans saw he could be so effective on
the defensive side of things.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yeah, and MOI is one of the guys who will
help to make this team better on defense. I mean
understanding that we include. I include a lot of When
I talk defense, I'm talking rebounding as well, because if
you play great defense and you don't rebound, now you've
got to do that again and it's going to take
its toll. But Mo brings a toughness that we didn't
(03:46):
have last year, and I think the other guys on
the team appreciated, you know, because you're right, it's a
physical league we play in. It's every night you're going
to play big guys, strong guys who are going to
try to just destroy you physically. And when you are
the one leading out, leading off, dishing out that kind
(04:09):
of physicality, it kind of infiltrates the whole team. So
that's kind of what I see happening with this group.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And Mo a guy who's familiar with the SEC, coming
from Alabama, he knows how physical this league can be.
But another guy coming from the SEC is Denzel Aberdeen,
who got kind of the call up to start at
point guard after Jalen Lowe got hurt in the Blue
and White event earlier this month. What did you see
from him? And I know that you've got into watch
(04:37):
practice of j Lo and Denzel Aberdeen go against each other.
What's that like, Goose?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Well, Denzel brings a nastiness to the game and to
the team. I mean he is one of those guys
a lot like Mo in that as an offensive player,
I just don't want to play against the guy. You
know what I mean, he stopped nagging me, man, get
(05:03):
off of me. You know, he's just one of those
guys who, even when you don't have the ball, he's
in your face, he's in your ear, he's talking just
enough trash to get under your skin. So he brings
a nastiness. And then when you put him against Jalen Lowe,
who is also one of those junkyard dog kind of
(05:26):
players who accepts every challenge and likes it even more
when the challenge is physical, it's hard to have those
two guys go against each other. And it was interesting
because I think Mark Pope kind of designed things during
the early part of the workouts to make those two
(05:47):
guys play against each other to see how they handled it,
to see how they got along, to see how much
of this they were going to take, and then how
much of that they were going to dish out. I
think Mark did that by design, and it got to
the point where he said, well, we better put these
guys on the same team because it is just not
(06:11):
going to work. But it was fun watching them. It's
been fun and practice watching them. It's fun watching them
play together because now you got two really quick guys
who can play and who are kind of dogs and
who like the competition. It could be a fun backcourt
if those who guys end up in there together.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Well, you talk about kind of being a pesky point guard.
I think about how beneficial it could be for both
of those guys as they head into the SEC. Fans
know Zakai Ziegler at Tennessee is not there anymore, but
I think of him like that, that pesky point guard
that people just do not want to go again. They
never let you take a playoff. They will expose you
if you are not locked into the game. How much
(06:55):
of that edge, though, do you think those guys have
can maybe rub off on the rest of the guys
to kind of have that edge in a game.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Goose, Well, I think you've seen it already, and I
know we're probably going to talk about Jasper a little bit,
But Jasper every day in practice is going against one
of those two guys. And the good thing about that
for Jasper is number one, they both have worked very
(07:26):
hard to put him in his place. Now, I don't
mean that in a bad way. I mean that in
a very good veteran point guard, veteran guards, and those
two working against a freshman guard who likes himself a lot,
(07:47):
you know Jasper do, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying anything negative in this.
I'm just thinking back to when I came in as
a freshman and I had to play against some seniors,
Kevin Green and some other guys who wanted to make
sure I knew this is my team, this is my spot.
(08:07):
I don't care what you did in high school. This
is about me, and that is the best way for
a young player to learn. I mean, I'm just telling
you from guys on the floor who are making you
earn everything you do, that's a great way to learn.
And both of those guys have done that with Jasper,
(08:28):
and that's one reason why Jasper was not shy or
afraid to step in and have the kind of game
he had against Purdue. He's been doing that every day
in practice because the guys he's playing against made him
do it that way. So it's a big benefit to
everyone on the team to go against those guys every day.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
You know, it was so funny, Goose. It's almost as
if you read my mind. We have little telepathy. I
was going to say, who were the guys when you
were a freshman that challenged you? And how beneficial Jasper
coming in as a freshman, Malachi coming in as a freshman,
because those were two of my biggest takeaways from that
Purdue game was watching the lights come on for them.
I know, there was a lot of questions surrounding Malachi,
(09:11):
who was a local kid, thinking, you know, he's a
seven footer. He's a seven footer. Can he, you know,
have a presence in the paint? Can he make himself known?
And I remember on the broadcast last year, you would
always in your headset say Amar dunk that ball. A
Mari dunk that ball. And I was thinking of it
in my head when Malachi played against Perdue the other night.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Well, you know, there are so many messages in a
dunk for the guy playing against you. It's not just
a dunk, but what it says to that other guy
who you're playing against every night, What it says to
them if you're going to get this, you better bring
it all because I'm going to put you and the
(09:54):
ball in the basket. And that's why. Because Amari was
such a gifted player, I mean, he was a gifted player.
And I remember, and it's that way with a lot
of seven footage when I say this, I remember how
Mark Pope described Amari this time of the year last year.
(10:15):
He said, Amari is a big guy, but he likes everybody.
He said, I will be glad when he gets mad
and doesn't like everyone. About halfway through the year, I
asked Mark, I said, have you seen that part of
Amari's game grow? He said, yeah, But Goose, he likes
(10:38):
some people and he doesn't like others. He said, I'm
waiting for him to get to the point where he
doesn't like anybody.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
That meanness.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
And then you look at him the last part of
the season. Look at Amari. I mean, he tried to
he'd win at everybody. You know. We had to back
him up and say, man, come down in a little bit,
you know. And I think you're going to see Malachi
go through the same thing. Because as a seven footer
playing high school ball up through high school, and everybody
(11:12):
you play against is six six six', four maybe a six,
seven maybe you don't have to get real mean to
do what you. Do but then in this level when
everybody is seven or you might have three or fourteen
people on each team who are seven, footers you better
figure out how to get mean and deliver some, messages
(11:35):
and certainly he's done. THAT i was really really impressed
with how he played against those, bigs Because purdue had
some bigs and he played very.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
WELL i was just going to Say purdue being a
veteran team where you've had kind of those core guys
for the last couple of years, now and that's becoming
extremely rare in college basketball with the transfer portal and
nil you see you guys jump from different Schoo BUT
i Think Matt painter has done a phenomenal job of
being able to keep his core group. Together that's been really.
(12:05):
Successful SO i think heading into That purdue, game you
knew you were getting an experienced team In purdue where
you knew what they were.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Right but a lot of.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
People Saw kentucky in the offseason with some. Returners of
Course otega coming, back which was, huge and then all
these different pieces that they've put, together there was a
question mark as to what this team could look. Like
what's the starting five going to look? Like because you
have so many different. Options you still HAVE, jq who's
nursing THAT acl. Injury Jalen lowe with the shoulder injury
(12:33):
now still kind of figuring out what his timeline looks.
Like from a depth perspective of This kentucky, team what
do you, Think goose when you see all of the
different options that this team could potentially, have BECAUSE i
think almost every single player had points on the board
that checked into the game Last.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Friday, yeah And otega he, played but he was limited twenty. Minutes,
yeah he could not go over twenty, minutes and he's
going to have a lot of games where he plays
over thirty. Minutes so, yeah they they're just not Quite
you don't know what you get, still which is a
(13:13):
good thing because you have these guys coming. Back as
far as to dip this, CONCERN i think you saw
that With jalen low beIN out and how it seems
as Though kentucky didn't miss a beat with him. Out
jq's out And kentucky still out Rebounded. Purdue so a
lot of good. THINGS i, Mean purdue being the veteran
(13:36):
team they, are there's not much they haven't, seen, Correct
BUT i don't know if it was being In Rupp
arena with this kind of, crowd with what plan a
game in this building MEANS i don't know if that
affected them or if it was the team the actual
(13:56):
guys who played that Affected. Purdue but for a veteran
team you let off talking about how much they are
veteran team and they've been, together they seemed a little shell,
shocked if you. Will they just didn't seem to be the. Team.
NOW i don't know IF i would want to play
them later in the year because they're going to be
(14:18):
a whole different team at that time than they were
in this. Game but it's really good to deliver the
Messages kentucky delivered to. Them so this team could be
a lot of things because of all the different talent they.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Have so you look At purdue and then Obviously georgetown
will Be thursday night coming to town with head Coach Ed.
Cooley Mark fox was on his staff a couple of
years ago before he Joined. Kentucky when you look at
both of these exhibition games Against power four, teams how.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Beneficial is, that, man that's huge.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
And playing in front of a.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
CROWD i mean that is huge that THE ncaa changed
that and now you can scale these kind of games
and they don't count against your. SCHEDULE i, mean how
nice is it to know win or lose plan against
a team Like. Purdue how nice is it to be
able to now go the next day and you have
(15:15):
quality video that you can show your. Team you're not
playing against A d three or AN, Naia you're playing
against the number one team in the, country and you
know when you when it's all said and, done win or.
Lose you knowing that next, day when you bring the
(15:37):
guys back together and you sit down and you roll that,
video they're going to be so many good. THINGS i,
MEAN i think my biggest, takeaway one of my bigger
takeaways from that game was the fact that we have
so much room to. Improve, YES i mean we have
(15:57):
A i mean we didn't shoot, well we missed some
stuff on, offense some cuts and all of this. Stuff,
defensively we played, well but we can certainly play better
than we. Played so that was one of the bigger
takeaways from me That, man we just beat what was
(16:18):
supposed to be the number one team in the country
and we didn't even play all that.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Well GOOSE i was thinking the same. Thing i'm standing
there watching this game and you didn't really know what
to expect. RIGHT i think the freshmen were a question,
mark you, know just different areas of the, roster guys
who you haven't seen. Play AND i think something that's
important to mention too is that there were a lot
of new guys on this roster who have never played
inside Of Rupp arena, before which, IS i, mean the
(16:45):
best place to have a home court in all of college.
Basketball so not only Is purdue walking into an environment
like this where there are the away, team but all
of these guys On kentucky who are Not Trent colin
b G, otega they're walking into an environment THAT i,
mean some of them have played in Repera Denzel aberdeen
on the other side of, things but walking into this insane. Environment,
(17:08):
yes it's an exhibition, game but you've got twenty thousand
people in, there the lights are, on you're going through,
Introductions LIKE i think it's important to mention that that
is also, too such a big factor in playing your
first exhibition game in front of an audience like.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
That, YEAH i, mean you, know the experience of playing
here is different than anywhere else in the. Country AND
i think if you even if you go To denzel
and Say denzel you've been here. Before you were in
that other locker, room but you've been in this building.
(17:44):
Before you go TO mo and you, SAY, mo you've
been here. Before you, know what is it like being
in The kentucky locker room coming in? Here because teams
when they come to play Against, kentucky they feed off
of the energy. Reperna that's one of the THINGS i
don't like About reperena because every dagone body who comes
(18:05):
here seems to play. Well, yeah seems to have big.
Games BUT i would ask those, guys how was, it,
man coming in playing this, atmosphere even though the game
was an exhibition all of. THAT i think they'll tell, you,
man this WAS i wasn't even expecting, this And i've been,
here so, yeah for all those guys who had not been,
(18:27):
here had not worn the, blue coming in this, building
it had to have been a great experience for them
to be a part. Of and everybody played, well you,
know as far as what they wanted to. DO i,
mean it was really a nice first time for these
guys to play against somebody else and a.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Really good team. WIN i know it doesn't, count but
a good team win that was spread spread across a
lot of different guys on that. ROSTER i mentioned the
scoring was pretty spread. Out there was nobody who was
leaps and bounds above had a thirty point game or
something like. That one of my favorite things about being
back In reperina is just watching some of the new
guys walk in and take a moment to give their
(19:09):
eyes and look at what it's going to.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Be.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
LIKE i talked To Jalen lowe in the off season
AND i was, like are you ready for Big Blue?
Madness and he was telling me how he's LIKE i
was watching YouTube videos to get ready for the, moment
and then now at the, Question i'm, like are you
ready for a first? Game and That purdue game was in,
there AND i kind of looked at him when he
walked out and they all take a moment to look
at everybody around there in the. Spectacle and one of
(19:34):
my favorite parts was coach McLean walked out and he
just looked. Around he, said, baby we're, Back and that
got me so fired up before the basketball even. Tipped
feels so good to be back in basketball season and
with a team that is coming off that great performance Against.
Purdue now you turn the page To georgetown what do
you want to? See what improvements do you want to
(19:55):
see from the first exhibition game to the SECOND x
oh my goodness exhibition.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Game, WELL i think because our defense is gonna be
so important this. YEAR i, mean last year we had
to outscore teams to, win and we did a good
job of. It and for somebody like, me that was
a lot of fun BECAUSE i like, offense there's no
question about. It but we're gonna have to be better.
Defensively all the teams who win championships are much better
(20:24):
defensively than we were last. Year So i'm wanting the
defense and rebound to. Continue guys to continue to build on,
that see improvements in that, area and so that's the first. Thing,
offensively because of the Way mark system, WORKS i think
(20:45):
we're gonna be all right. OFFENSIVELY i think most nights
we're gonna with all this, talent we're gonna have somebody making,
shots somebody scoring. POINTS i don't see that as an,
issue but hope we don't get into another situation where
we just have to outscore people in order to, win
because it takes a toll on the. Team so continued
(21:08):
success on defense and on the, Defense van and floor
and rebound in the basketball is What i'm looking.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
For all, Right, listen, everybody we need to take a
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(21:34):
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look at the guys who are in year two Of
Coach pope's, system when you look at the call in
the Trent OTEGA, bg what have you seen from them
in their first year to now heading into their second
(21:57):
year teaching all the new.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Guys, hey this is.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Standard this is what you should expect in being in
that second year of A Coach pope.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
System, yeah it's been fun to watch that Because, mark
something will happen in the flow of practice in The florida.
Game you, know they're, scrimmaging they're going at each, other
and something will happen And mark at half. Court it
might happen on this in the, floor and That mark's
standing at half court and he blows the whistle and
starts walking that, way and by the time he gets
(22:26):
to the free throw, line the guys are already huddled
up and you should have gone, here and you needed
to be, here And i'm going to set the screen,
here so you might want to fade as opposed to
coming around and you, know and you Know mark wanted
to say, that but it's already been. Said so he'll
turn and walk the other way and, Say, okay let's.
Go let's go. Boys you, know that's what he. Says
(22:48):
so that's the value in having guys who have experienced
What mark wants to get out of his. Offense now this,
year with those guys who are, There mark's going to
get a little bit deeper into the options of what
his offense can. Deliver AND i have seen some of.
(23:09):
That but you also have some experienced players on the
floor who have been there and done that as, Well
so that's probably that's one of the good things is
that you have these guys who have experience In mark's
system kind of leading the way And the best way
as a player for you to, learn for me to
(23:30):
learn is from learning from, you Because i'm playing with,
you not the coaching. Staff and that is What i've
seen in practice thus, far Because mark will let the guys.
Talk he wants them, talking he wants them figuring it,
out and it seems like they're doing that.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Well it's like when they're on the, court they need
to be the ones to figure it. OUT i think
Of Jackson robinson last, year who had played with Coach
pope AT. Byu he kind of had the understanding of
how he liked to run things and coming into the.
System and of course you Had butler who is a big.
Leader so being able to have those guys lead and
can show their coaches, like, hey we got, It, yeah
we got, it probably gives them a lot of confidence in.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Themselves, Absolutely and we have some of those guys, AGAIN i,
mean just think About denzel playing with those guards At. Florida,
YES i mean, THAT i mean those. Guys so, yeah
he comes in with a lot of experience going against
some really good competition every day in. Practice so, again
there's not much he hasn't seen.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
ALREADY i love. It, well what about something that you
like to do to prepare for basketball, season because do
you get in like a mental state where you're, like let's,
Go we're about to go into basketball until Hopefully.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
April, well, yeah you. Know my thing IS i like
to talk to the assistant. Coaches, OKAY i like. THAT
i MEAN i. UNDERSTAND i MEAN i Watch mark popen
practice every day AND i hear him AND i understand
what he wants and what he's trying to. Get BUT
i like talking to the assistance go To, alvin you,
SEE i MEAN i go To alvin every, before every,
(25:06):
game after every shoot. Around i'll try to get With
alvin a lot of. Times Mark, pope excuse, Me Mark.
Fox i'll get With. Mark BUT i like to get
with those two guys and, say what do we need
to do to beat this? Team and they'll give me
their thoughts on this or that or the. Other. End
i'll ask, Him, yeah but what do you have to
(25:29):
get out Of denzel?
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Tonight?
Speaker 1 (25:32):
YEAH i, mean and how are you going to stop this?
GUY i mean he's putting up someone from the other.
TEAM i, mean he's putting up big. Numbers and they
tell me stuff THAT i KNOW i can use in the.
GAME i, mean if we got to force him, left
or we got to take the ball out of his,
hands and once he gives it, up we don't want
him to get it. Back and if that's happening in the,
(25:55):
GAME i can say that's just how they practice. It
if it's not, HAPPENING i can, say, man you got
to keep the ball out of his. Hands you get
can't and if you give it, up you can't let
him get it. Back you. KNOW i can use those
kind of things in the. GAME i, MEAN i get
and you, know a packet of notes before every game
(26:15):
with every stat and every fact about every, player AND
i mean stuff THAT i would never have time to.
Use SO i have to figure that. Out BUT i
can learn a lot more of the THINGS i need
to talk about during the game that people don't know
but they need to. HEAR i find that out from
(26:37):
the assistant.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Coaches how satisfying is it when you talk to Coach
Alvin brooks out a shoot around and then you're on
the call With Tom leach for the game and you
see it come to fruition time after. Time how satisfying is?
Speaker 1 (26:50):
That? Right, yeah that's. Great my two. Things one THING
i always try to. DO i try to throw something
At Alvin ord Or. Fox i'll try to throw something
at them that makes them. Think last game Against, PURDUE
(27:12):
i Asked alvin a question and his answer, was, well
we're not as mature as we were last. Year we're
not quite. There AND i, said, well does that hurt
you more on offense or? Defense? Okay and he looked at.
Me he, said that's a good. QUESTION i, said got,
(27:34):
HIM i, said BECAUSE i mean it seems like to
me what we need to do this, year it'll hurt
us more on. Defense people always think. Offensively we got
to come. Together but and he, said that's a great,
question and we discussed that and how we're going to
be better on. Defense and, yeah when it happens during
(27:56):
the game and you see them working on something in
practice and they run it and you get a basket
out of, it those kind of. THINGS i think the
people listening The Big Blue, nation and WHEN i point
those kind of things, OUT i think that's the kind of.
Stuff they don't want to know how many points he
scored against who knows about four years. Ago they want
(28:18):
to know what's happening right. Now and that's WHAT i
try to convey during the.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Game what is one thing that you think the fan
base needs to know about this. TEAM i know that
a lot of the coaches have, said you, know this
is one of the most competitive teams that we've been
a part of or that we've watched in. Practice from
your point of, View, goose what do you think is
one thing that this fan base should.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
KNOW i think they need to know going in that
this team is not as mature as a team was last,
year and because of, that you don't know how it's
going to manifest itself over the course of the. Season
i've been thinking about last year and, man was there
(29:01):
a time when the guys just didn't get? Along was
there a time WHEN.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
I, mean it's just, Sports, yeah being a part of a,
team of, course.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
There's just being a part of a team where you,
know guys go at each. OTHER i mean last year's,
TEAM i don't know if they ever had a time
when they when two guys Or i'm not getting enough playing,
time coaching or. MAD i, MEAN i don't know if
there was a.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Time which are real problems that happened on winning teams
across every single level of.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Sports absolutely so with them being a little bit, more
a little bit less. MATURE i don't want to say,
immature because you, know if that does, happen and IF
i feel LIKE i need to be playing more and
why are not getting? Minutes AM i going to? Pout
and AM i going to take it out on my?
(29:59):
Team or AM i not going to share the? Ball
AM i going to hog the? Ball and you know
WHETHER i, MEAN i don't know if that would happen
with this. Team it didn't happen last. Year but when
you're young and a lot of times you think it's
all about, you you have a tendency to get that.
WAY i think people need to know that this is
(30:23):
a different, team should be better than last. Year but
you just hope a lot of that kind of stuff
doesn't creep into the. Picture and that's not another thing
That mark has to deal. With so those kind of
those kind of things a little bit less mature than last,
(30:44):
year and how are they going to deal with that
over the course of the.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Year, well it is going to be a long basketball,
season and we get to preview a little bit of
it this. Week you have got a packed week of
college basketball for all fans Around. Kentucky Goose i've seen
you at some women's games last. Year Coach Kenny brooks
and his team is gearing up for their home opener
On monday Against Morehead. State than On, tuesday you've got
(31:09):
the men's basketball first regular season game Against. Nichols Then,
thursday women's basketball will Host, bondmouth and Then friday he'll
finish out the week With kentucky basketball Against. VALPO i,
mean that seems like a perfect week For kentucky.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Fans, Yeah and what a great Job kenny's. DOING i,
mean isn't he just? WONDERFUL i, mean he is just
a good dude to talk. To he pours everything into his,
program into his, coaching as you would expect him to
do with the success he's. Had he has a good,
team really good, team some really good. Players so, yeah
(31:48):
it's gonna be a good week for basketball here in The.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
BLUEGRASS a very tall team this. Year we talked a
little bit about it On week ones podcast Episode, Goose
BUT i mean he broke twelve records year one and
was very very close from a couple more records that
could potentially be broken this. Year so extremely excited to
see them for the first. Time they didn't have an
exhibition game, open but their first regular season game will
(32:11):
Be monday Against Morehead. State on the other side of the,
bench the head coach At Moorhead state Is Ashton. Feldhouse,
feldhouses of, course got a high pedigree in the state
Of kentucky and specifically in the basketball. World but before
we let you go, TODAY i want to take a
brief moment to. Think our podcast sponsor Uk Federal Credit,
union as the official credit union of The university Of.
(32:33):
KENTUCKY ukfcu understands that students need support and that's why
they've created The Student Rewards, account which offers five percent
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to twenty. Five you can VISIT ukfcu dot org or
stop by one of their seven local branches and open account.
Today thank you so much for coming on the. Podcast
(32:55):
you love talk and some college BASKETBALL i. Have well
you know where to. Find Jack gibbons is court side
every home game and travels with the team on THE
Uk Sports network Alongside Tom. Leach you can hear Him.
Thursday tip off is at seven pm Against. Georgetown so
Excited basketball season is here and there's no turning. Back
episode two of The Kentucky Basketball. Podcast we'll see you
(33:16):
guys next.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Week
You're going to see Malachi go through the same thing.
Because as a seven footer playing high school ball up
through high school, and everybody you play against is six six,
six four, maybe a six seven, maybe you don't have
to get real mean to do what you do. But
(00:22):
then in this level, when everybody is seven, or you
might have three or fourteen people on each team who
are seven footers, you better figure out how to get
mean and deliver some messages. And certainly he's done that.
I was really really impressed with how he played against
those bigs, because Purdue had some bigs and he played
(00:42):
very well.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Welcome into the Kentucky Basketball Podcast, Episode two, presented by
UK Federal Credit Union, And just like that, basketball season
is here. If you're a new listener, thank you so
much for joining us, and if you are a loyal listener,
thank you so much for coming back. No is out
this week, but don't worry, he will be back next
week to talk basketball. And today I am joined with
Kentucky Athletics Hall of Famer national Champion UK Sports Network
(01:18):
analyst the Legend Jack give Nis. Jack, thanks for coming
on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Thank you so much. Michelle. It's nice to be here.
With you.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, it is nice. It's nice to get out of
rup and be able to talk to talk basketball with
you in kind of a long form setting.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, relaxing. Then you would just sit back and talk
about what comes to mind. That's always good.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I know. I always see you on game day. I'm like, hi,
Gusie after the broadcast is done, and we're kind of
in that like go mode. But getting to have the
first exhibition game against the number one team in the
country in Purdue, let's just start off with what were
your initial takeaways from that game?
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Well, my initial takeaway is the same takeaway I hope
I leave with every game, and that is we held
them to sixty five points. I mean, if we can
play defense as well as we played in that game,
understanding that that was the first opportunity for these guys
to see someone other than themselves, it could be an
(02:21):
amazing year. Because they were great on defense. We didn't
shoot it as well. There were some things on offense
that you expect this time of the year, but defensively
they were really good. So holding pur dudes who sixty
five points was really nice. And I hope we can
leave every game talking about how good the defense.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Was and I think that's a point that sometimes people
forgot to forget to hone in on. Right when Mark
Pope got this coaching job, you know, it was offense threes.
They're going to shoot a lot, and it's so easy
because those, of course are fun games when everybody's hitting
a lot of threes and it's one hundred point game.
I think of the one against Florida last year. But
when you talk about how much this team has grown
from the defensive side of things, and Coach Pope and
(03:04):
press conferences all summer talking about how it's so important
to have legal contest and knowing that you're heading into
an SEC that is an extremely physical league. I think
Mo Diabate had his maybe welcome to Kentucky moment when
how much fans saw he could be so effective on
the defensive side of things.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yeah, and MOI is one of the guys who will
help to make this team better on defense. I mean
understanding that we include. I include a lot of When
I talk defense, I'm talking rebounding as well, because if
you play great defense and you don't rebound, now you've
got to do that again and it's going to take
its toll. But Mo brings a toughness that we didn't
(03:46):
have last year, and I think the other guys on
the team appreciated, you know, because you're right, it's a
physical league we play in. It's every night you're going
to play big guys, strong guys who are going to
try to just destroy you physically. And when you are
the one leading out, leading off, dishing out that kind
(04:09):
of physicality, it kind of infiltrates the whole team. So
that's kind of what I see happening with this group.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And Mo a guy who's familiar with the SEC, coming
from Alabama, he knows how physical this league can be.
But another guy coming from the SEC is Denzel Aberdeen,
who got kind of the call up to start at
point guard after Jalen Lowe got hurt in the Blue
and White event earlier this month. What did you see
from him? And I know that you've got into watch
(04:37):
practice of j Lo and Denzel Aberdeen go against each other.
What's that like, Goose?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Well, Denzel brings a nastiness to the game and to
the team. I mean he is one of those guys
a lot like Mo in that as an offensive player,
I just don't want to play against the guy. You
know what I mean, he stopped nagging me, man, get
(05:03):
off of me. You know, he's just one of those
guys who, even when you don't have the ball, he's
in your face, he's in your ear, he's talking just
enough trash to get under your skin. So he brings
a nastiness. And then when you put him against Jalen Lowe,
who is also one of those junkyard dog kind of
(05:26):
players who accepts every challenge and likes it even more
when the challenge is physical, it's hard to have those
two guys go against each other. And it was interesting
because I think Mark Pope kind of designed things during
the early part of the workouts to make those two
(05:47):
guys play against each other to see how they handled it,
to see how they got along, to see how much
of this they were going to take, and then how
much of that they were going to dish out. I
think Mark did that by design, and it got to
the point where he said, well, we better put these
guys on the same team because it is just not
(06:11):
going to work. But it was fun watching them. It's
been fun and practice watching them. It's fun watching them
play together because now you got two really quick guys
who can play and who are kind of dogs and
who like the competition. It could be a fun backcourt
if those who guys end up in there together.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Well, you talk about kind of being a pesky point guard.
I think about how beneficial it could be for both
of those guys as they head into the SEC. Fans
know Zakai Ziegler at Tennessee is not there anymore, but
I think of him like that, that pesky point guard
that people just do not want to go again. They
never let you take a playoff. They will expose you
if you are not locked into the game. How much
(06:55):
of that edge, though, do you think those guys have
can maybe rub off on the rest of the guys
to kind of have that edge in a game.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Goose, Well, I think you've seen it already, and I
know we're probably going to talk about Jasper a little bit,
But Jasper every day in practice is going against one
of those two guys. And the good thing about that
for Jasper is number one, they both have worked very
(07:26):
hard to put him in his place. Now, I don't
mean that in a bad way. I mean that in
a very good veteran point guard, veteran guards, and those
two working against a freshman guard who likes himself a lot,
(07:47):
you know Jasper do, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying anything negative in this.
I'm just thinking back to when I came in as
a freshman and I had to play against some seniors,
Kevin Green and some other guys who wanted to make
sure I knew this is my team, this is my spot.
(08:07):
I don't care what you did in high school. This
is about me, and that is the best way for
a young player to learn. I mean, I'm just telling
you from guys on the floor who are making you
earn everything you do, that's a great way to learn.
And both of those guys have done that with Jasper,
(08:28):
and that's one reason why Jasper was not shy or
afraid to step in and have the kind of game
he had against Purdue. He's been doing that every day
in practice because the guys he's playing against made him
do it that way. So it's a big benefit to
everyone on the team to go against those guys every day.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
You know, it was so funny, Goose. It's almost as
if you read my mind. We have little telepathy. I
was going to say, who were the guys when you
were a freshman that challenged you? And how beneficial Jasper
coming in as a freshman, Malachi coming in as a freshman,
because those were two of my biggest takeaways from that
Purdue game was watching the lights come on for them.
I know, there was a lot of questions surrounding Malachi,
(09:11):
who was a local kid, thinking, you know, he's a
seven footer. He's a seven footer. Can he, you know,
have a presence in the paint? Can he make himself known?
And I remember on the broadcast last year, you would
always in your headset say Amar dunk that ball. A
Mari dunk that ball. And I was thinking of it
in my head when Malachi played against Perdue the other night.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Well, you know, there are so many messages in a
dunk for the guy playing against you. It's not just
a dunk, but what it says to that other guy
who you're playing against every night, What it says to
them if you're going to get this, you better bring
it all because I'm going to put you and the
(09:54):
ball in the basket. And that's why. Because Amari was
such a gifted player, I mean, he was a gifted player.
And I remember, and it's that way with a lot
of seven footage when I say this, I remember how
Mark Pope described Amari this time of the year last year.
(10:15):
He said, Amari is a big guy, but he likes everybody.
He said, I will be glad when he gets mad
and doesn't like everyone. About halfway through the year, I
asked Mark, I said, have you seen that part of
Amari's game grow? He said, yeah, But Goose, he likes
(10:38):
some people and he doesn't like others. He said, I'm
waiting for him to get to the point where he
doesn't like anybody.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
That meanness.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
And then you look at him the last part of
the season. Look at Amari. I mean, he tried to
he'd win at everybody. You know. We had to back
him up and say, man, come down in a little bit,
you know. And I think you're going to see Malachi
go through the same thing. Because as a seven footer
playing high school ball up through high school, and everybody
(11:12):
you play against is six six six', four maybe a six,
seven maybe you don't have to get real mean to
do what you. Do but then in this level when
everybody is seven or you might have three or fourteen
people on each team who are seven, footers you better
figure out how to get mean and deliver some, messages
(11:35):
and certainly he's done. THAT i was really really impressed
with how he played against those, bigs Because purdue had
some bigs and he played very.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
WELL i was just going to Say purdue being a
veteran team where you've had kind of those core guys
for the last couple of years, now and that's becoming
extremely rare in college basketball with the transfer portal and
nil you see you guys jump from different Schoo BUT
i Think Matt painter has done a phenomenal job of
being able to keep his core group. Together that's been really.
(12:05):
Successful SO i think heading into That purdue, game you
knew you were getting an experienced team In purdue where
you knew what they were.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Right but a lot of.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
People Saw kentucky in the offseason with some. Returners of
Course otega coming, back which was, huge and then all
these different pieces that they've put, together there was a
question mark as to what this team could look. Like
what's the starting five going to look? Like because you
have so many different. Options you still HAVE, jq who's
nursing THAT acl. Injury Jalen lowe with the shoulder injury
(12:33):
now still kind of figuring out what his timeline looks.
Like from a depth perspective of This kentucky, team what
do you, Think goose when you see all of the
different options that this team could potentially, have BECAUSE i
think almost every single player had points on the board
that checked into the game Last.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Friday, yeah And otega he, played but he was limited twenty. Minutes,
yeah he could not go over twenty, minutes and he's
going to have a lot of games where he plays
over thirty. Minutes so, yeah they they're just not Quite
you don't know what you get, still which is a
(13:13):
good thing because you have these guys coming. Back as
far as to dip this, CONCERN i think you saw
that With jalen low beIN out and how it seems
as Though kentucky didn't miss a beat with him. Out
jq's out And kentucky still out Rebounded. Purdue so a
lot of good. THINGS i, Mean purdue being the veteran
(13:36):
team they, are there's not much they haven't, seen, Correct
BUT i don't know if it was being In Rupp
arena with this kind of, crowd with what plan a
game in this building MEANS i don't know if that
affected them or if it was the team the actual
(13:56):
guys who played that Affected. Purdue but for a veteran
team you let off talking about how much they are
veteran team and they've been, together they seemed a little shell,
shocked if you. Will they just didn't seem to be the. Team.
NOW i don't know IF i would want to play
them later in the year because they're going to be
(14:18):
a whole different team at that time than they were
in this. Game but it's really good to deliver the
Messages kentucky delivered to. Them so this team could be
a lot of things because of all the different talent they.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Have so you look At purdue and then Obviously georgetown
will Be thursday night coming to town with head Coach Ed.
Cooley Mark fox was on his staff a couple of
years ago before he Joined. Kentucky when you look at
both of these exhibition games Against power four, teams how.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Beneficial is, that, man that's huge.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
And playing in front of a.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
CROWD i mean that is huge that THE ncaa changed
that and now you can scale these kind of games
and they don't count against your. SCHEDULE i, mean how
nice is it to know win or lose plan against
a team Like. Purdue how nice is it to be
able to now go the next day and you have
(15:15):
quality video that you can show your. Team you're not
playing against A d three or AN, Naia you're playing
against the number one team in the, country and you
know when you when it's all said and, done win or.
Lose you knowing that next, day when you bring the
(15:37):
guys back together and you sit down and you roll that,
video they're going to be so many good. THINGS i,
MEAN i think my biggest, takeaway one of my bigger
takeaways from that game was the fact that we have
so much room to. Improve, YES i mean we have
(15:57):
A i mean we didn't shoot, well we missed some
stuff on, offense some cuts and all of this. Stuff,
defensively we played, well but we can certainly play better
than we. Played so that was one of the bigger
takeaways from me That, man we just beat what was
(16:18):
supposed to be the number one team in the country
and we didn't even play all that.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Well GOOSE i was thinking the same. Thing i'm standing
there watching this game and you didn't really know what
to expect. RIGHT i think the freshmen were a question,
mark you, know just different areas of the, roster guys
who you haven't seen. Play AND i think something that's
important to mention too is that there were a lot
of new guys on this roster who have never played
inside Of Rupp arena, before which, IS i, mean the
(16:45):
best place to have a home court in all of college.
Basketball so not only Is purdue walking into an environment
like this where there are the away, team but all
of these guys On kentucky who are Not Trent colin
b G, otega they're walking into an environment THAT i,
mean some of them have played in Repera Denzel aberdeen
on the other side of, things but walking into this insane. Environment,
(17:08):
yes it's an exhibition, game but you've got twenty thousand
people in, there the lights are, on you're going through,
Introductions LIKE i think it's important to mention that that
is also, too such a big factor in playing your
first exhibition game in front of an audience like.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
That, YEAH i, mean you, know the experience of playing
here is different than anywhere else in the. Country AND
i think if you even if you go To denzel
and Say denzel you've been here. Before you were in
that other locker, room but you've been in this building.
(17:44):
Before you go TO mo and you, SAY, mo you've
been here. Before you, know what is it like being
in The kentucky locker room coming in? Here because teams
when they come to play Against, kentucky they feed off
of the energy. Reperna that's one of the THINGS i
don't like About reperena because every dagone body who comes
(18:05):
here seems to play. Well, yeah seems to have big.
Games BUT i would ask those, guys how was, it,
man coming in playing this, atmosphere even though the game
was an exhibition all of. THAT i think they'll tell, you,
man this WAS i wasn't even expecting, this And i've been,
here so, yeah for all those guys who had not been,
(18:27):
here had not worn the, blue coming in this, building
it had to have been a great experience for them
to be a part. Of and everybody played, well you,
know as far as what they wanted to. DO i,
mean it was really a nice first time for these
guys to play against somebody else and a.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Really good team. WIN i know it doesn't, count but
a good team win that was spread spread across a
lot of different guys on that. ROSTER i mentioned the
scoring was pretty spread. Out there was nobody who was
leaps and bounds above had a thirty point game or
something like. That one of my favorite things about being
back In reperina is just watching some of the new
guys walk in and take a moment to give their
(19:09):
eyes and look at what it's going to.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Be.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
LIKE i talked To Jalen lowe in the off season
AND i was, like are you ready for Big Blue?
Madness and he was telling me how he's LIKE i
was watching YouTube videos to get ready for the, moment
and then now at the, Question i'm, like are you
ready for a first? Game and That purdue game was in,
there AND i kind of looked at him when he
walked out and they all take a moment to look
at everybody around there in the. Spectacle and one of
(19:34):
my favorite parts was coach McLean walked out and he
just looked. Around he, said, baby we're, Back and that
got me so fired up before the basketball even. Tipped
feels so good to be back in basketball season and
with a team that is coming off that great performance Against.
Purdue now you turn the page To georgetown what do
you want to? See what improvements do you want to
(19:55):
see from the first exhibition game to the SECOND x
oh my goodness exhibition.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Game, WELL i think because our defense is gonna be
so important this. YEAR i, mean last year we had
to outscore teams to, win and we did a good
job of. It and for somebody like, me that was
a lot of fun BECAUSE i like, offense there's no
question about. It but we're gonna have to be better.
Defensively all the teams who win championships are much better
(20:24):
defensively than we were last. Year So i'm wanting the
defense and rebound to. Continue guys to continue to build on,
that see improvements in that, area and so that's the first. Thing,
offensively because of the Way mark system, WORKS i think
(20:45):
we're gonna be all right. OFFENSIVELY i think most nights
we're gonna with all this, talent we're gonna have somebody making,
shots somebody scoring. POINTS i don't see that as an,
issue but hope we don't get into another situation where
we just have to outscore people in order to, win
because it takes a toll on the. Team so continued
(21:08):
success on defense and on the, Defense van and floor
and rebound in the basketball is What i'm looking.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
For all, Right, listen, everybody we need to take a
brief moment to thank our podcast sponsor Uk Federal Credit,
union as the official credit union of The university Of.
KENTUCKY ukfcu understands that students need support and that's why
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(21:34):
aged thirteen to twenty. Five VISIT ukfcu dot org or
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an account. Today federally insured BY. Ncua so when you
look at the guys who are in year two Of
Coach pope's, system when you look at the call in
the Trent OTEGA, bg what have you seen from them
in their first year to now heading into their second
(21:57):
year teaching all the new.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Guys, hey this is.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Standard this is what you should expect in being in
that second year of A Coach pope.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
System, yeah it's been fun to watch that Because, mark
something will happen in the flow of practice in The florida.
Game you, know they're, scrimmaging they're going at each, other
and something will happen And mark at half. Court it
might happen on this in the, floor and That mark's
standing at half court and he blows the whistle and
starts walking that, way and by the time he gets
(22:26):
to the free throw, line the guys are already huddled
up and you should have gone, here and you needed
to be, here And i'm going to set the screen,
here so you might want to fade as opposed to
coming around and you, know and you Know mark wanted
to say, that but it's already been. Said so he'll
turn and walk the other way and, Say, okay let's.
Go let's go. Boys you, know that's what he. Says
(22:48):
so that's the value in having guys who have experienced
What mark wants to get out of his. Offense now this,
year with those guys who are, There mark's going to
get a little bit deeper into the options of what
his offense can. Deliver AND i have seen some of.
(23:09):
That but you also have some experienced players on the
floor who have been there and done that as, Well
so that's probably that's one of the good things is
that you have these guys who have experience In mark's
system kind of leading the way And the best way
as a player for you to, learn for me to
(23:30):
learn is from learning from, you Because i'm playing with,
you not the coaching. Staff and that is What i've
seen in practice thus, far Because mark will let the guys.
Talk he wants them, talking he wants them figuring it,
out and it seems like they're doing that.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Well it's like when they're on the, court they need
to be the ones to figure it. OUT i think
Of Jackson robinson last, year who had played with Coach
pope AT. Byu he kind of had the understanding of
how he liked to run things and coming into the.
System and of course you Had butler who is a big.
Leader so being able to have those guys lead and
can show their coaches, like, hey we got, It, yeah
we got, it probably gives them a lot of confidence in.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Themselves, Absolutely and we have some of those guys, AGAIN i,
mean just think About denzel playing with those guards At. Florida,
YES i mean, THAT i mean those. Guys so, yeah
he comes in with a lot of experience going against
some really good competition every day in. Practice so, again
there's not much he hasn't seen.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
ALREADY i love. It, well what about something that you
like to do to prepare for basketball, season because do
you get in like a mental state where you're, like let's,
Go we're about to go into basketball until Hopefully.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
April, well, yeah you. Know my thing IS i like
to talk to the assistant. Coaches, OKAY i like. THAT
i MEAN i. UNDERSTAND i MEAN i Watch mark popen
practice every day AND i hear him AND i understand
what he wants and what he's trying to. Get BUT
i like talking to the assistance go To, alvin you,
SEE i MEAN i go To alvin every, before every,
(25:06):
game after every shoot. Around i'll try to get With
alvin a lot of. Times Mark, pope excuse, Me Mark.
Fox i'll get With. Mark BUT i like to get
with those two guys and, say what do we need
to do to beat this? Team and they'll give me
their thoughts on this or that or the. Other. End
i'll ask, Him, yeah but what do you have to
(25:29):
get out Of denzel?
Speaker 2 (25:31):
Tonight?
Speaker 1 (25:32):
YEAH i, mean and how are you going to stop this?
GUY i mean he's putting up someone from the other.
TEAM i, mean he's putting up big. Numbers and they
tell me stuff THAT i KNOW i can use in the.
GAME i, mean if we got to force him, left
or we got to take the ball out of his,
hands and once he gives it, up we don't want
him to get it. Back and if that's happening in the,
(25:55):
GAME i can say that's just how they practice. It
if it's not, HAPPENING i can, say, man you got
to keep the ball out of his. Hands you get
can't and if you give it, up you can't let
him get it. Back you. KNOW i can use those
kind of things in the. GAME i, MEAN i get
and you, know a packet of notes before every game
(26:15):
with every stat and every fact about every, player AND
i mean stuff THAT i would never have time to.
Use SO i have to figure that. Out BUT i
can learn a lot more of the THINGS i need
to talk about during the game that people don't know
but they need to. HEAR i find that out from
(26:37):
the assistant.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Coaches how satisfying is it when you talk to Coach
Alvin brooks out a shoot around and then you're on
the call With Tom leach for the game and you
see it come to fruition time after. Time how satisfying is?
Speaker 1 (26:50):
That? Right, yeah that's. Great my two. Things one THING
i always try to. DO i try to throw something
At Alvin ord Or. Fox i'll try to throw something
at them that makes them. Think last game Against, PURDUE
(27:12):
i Asked alvin a question and his answer, was, well
we're not as mature as we were last. Year we're
not quite. There AND i, said, well does that hurt
you more on offense or? Defense? Okay and he looked at.
Me he, said that's a good. QUESTION i, said got,
(27:34):
HIM i, said BECAUSE i mean it seems like to
me what we need to do this, year it'll hurt
us more on. Defense people always think. Offensively we got
to come. Together but and he, said that's a great,
question and we discussed that and how we're going to
be better on. Defense and, yeah when it happens during
(27:56):
the game and you see them working on something in
practice and they run it and you get a basket
out of, it those kind of. THINGS i think the
people listening The Big Blue, nation and WHEN i point
those kind of things, OUT i think that's the kind of.
Stuff they don't want to know how many points he
scored against who knows about four years. Ago they want
(28:18):
to know what's happening right. Now and that's WHAT i
try to convey during the.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Game what is one thing that you think the fan
base needs to know about this. TEAM i know that
a lot of the coaches have, said you, know this
is one of the most competitive teams that we've been
a part of or that we've watched in. Practice from
your point of, View, goose what do you think is
one thing that this fan base should.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
KNOW i think they need to know going in that
this team is not as mature as a team was last,
year and because of, that you don't know how it's
going to manifest itself over the course of the. Season
i've been thinking about last year and, man was there
(29:01):
a time when the guys just didn't get? Along was
there a time WHEN.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
I, mean it's just, Sports, yeah being a part of a,
team of, course.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
There's just being a part of a team where you,
know guys go at each. OTHER i mean last year's,
TEAM i don't know if they ever had a time
when they when two guys Or i'm not getting enough playing,
time coaching or. MAD i, MEAN i don't know if
there was a.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Time which are real problems that happened on winning teams
across every single level of.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Sports absolutely so with them being a little bit, more
a little bit less. MATURE i don't want to say,
immature because you, know if that does, happen and IF
i feel LIKE i need to be playing more and
why are not getting? Minutes AM i going to? Pout
and AM i going to take it out on my?
(29:59):
Team or AM i not going to share the? Ball
AM i going to hog the? Ball and you know
WHETHER i, MEAN i don't know if that would happen
with this. Team it didn't happen last. Year but when
you're young and a lot of times you think it's
all about, you you have a tendency to get that.
WAY i think people need to know that this is
(30:23):
a different, team should be better than last. Year but
you just hope a lot of that kind of stuff
doesn't creep into the. Picture and that's not another thing
That mark has to deal. With so those kind of
those kind of things a little bit less mature than last,
(30:44):
year and how are they going to deal with that
over the course of the.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Year, well it is going to be a long basketball,
season and we get to preview a little bit of
it this. Week you have got a packed week of
college basketball for all fans Around. Kentucky Goose i've seen
you at some women's games last. Year Coach Kenny brooks
and his team is gearing up for their home opener
On monday Against Morehead. State than On, tuesday you've got
(31:09):
the men's basketball first regular season game Against. Nichols Then,
thursday women's basketball will Host, bondmouth and Then friday he'll
finish out the week With kentucky basketball Against. VALPO i,
mean that seems like a perfect week For kentucky.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Fans, Yeah and what a great Job kenny's. DOING i,
mean isn't he just? WONDERFUL i, mean he is just
a good dude to talk. To he pours everything into his,
program into his, coaching as you would expect him to
do with the success he's. Had he has a good,
team really good, team some really good. Players so, yeah
(31:48):
it's gonna be a good week for basketball here in The.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
BLUEGRASS a very tall team this. Year we talked a
little bit about it On week ones podcast Episode, Goose
BUT i mean he broke twelve records year one and
was very very close from a couple more records that
could potentially be broken this. Year so extremely excited to
see them for the first. Time they didn't have an
exhibition game, open but their first regular season game will
(32:11):
Be monday Against Morehead. State on the other side of the,
bench the head coach At Moorhead state Is Ashton. Feldhouse,
feldhouses of, course got a high pedigree in the state
Of kentucky and specifically in the basketball. World but before
we let you go, TODAY i want to take a
brief moment to. Think our podcast sponsor Uk Federal Credit,
union as the official credit union of The university Of.
(32:33):
KENTUCKY ukfcu understands that students need support and that's why
they've created The Student Rewards, account which offers five percent
cash back on all debit card purchases students age thirteen
to twenty. Five you can VISIT ukfcu dot org or
stop by one of their seven local branches and open account.
Today thank you so much for coming on the. Podcast
(32:55):
you love talk and some college BASKETBALL i. Have well
you know where to. Find Jack gibbons is court side
every home game and travels with the team on THE
Uk Sports network Alongside Tom. Leach you can hear Him.
Thursday tip off is at seven pm Against. Georgetown so
Excited basketball season is here and there's no turning. Back
episode two of The Kentucky Basketball. Podcast we'll see you
(33:16):
guys next.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Week
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