BBN Radio presented by Clark's Pump-n-Shop with Kenny Brooks and Jack Givens

Join Darren Headrick for BBN Radio, presented by Clark's Pump-n-Shop. We are joined by Kentucky Women's Basketball Head Coach Kenny Brooks and Kentucky Men's Basketball Legend Jack Givens. 

Episode Transcript

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Kentucky from the UK Sports Network. This is Clark's Pumpin' Chop,
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Hi for the eighth time college basketball National champion Ship
Trophy is coming home to Kentucky.

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Now your host Jaron Hendrick, everybody, we.

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All could win to a special edition of BBN Radio
presented by Clark's Pumpin' Shop. Tonight, we are live from
Drakes at Brandon Crossing. I know the weather outside's pretty nasty,
but we appreciate everybody turning out here at Drakes and
we're happy to have you with us wherever you're listening tonight.
As the Kentucky women's basketball team has just returned from
a trip up to Buffalo where they were winners yesterday

(01:29):
eighty one to forty seven Head coach Kenny Brooks is
in the house with us tonight. We'll chat with him
and coming up in the second half of the hour,
we'll be joined by the Goose Jack Gibbons to talk
about the men's team as well. So we're excited to
be here at Drakes tonight, happy to have everybody with
us and stick around. We'll chat with Coach Brooks when
we come back here. On the UK Sports Network.

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Com Kentucky coming off a win over the Buffalo Bulls.
On Sunday eighty one forty seven, head coach Kenny Brooks
is with us here on bb AND Radio presented by

(05:17):
Clark's Pumping Shop and Cats are off to a three
and oh start. Coach, your thoughts on three games and
how this team continues to get better each time out.

Speaker 12 (05:24):
Each time this year, every year, this time of the year,
you just want to get some film, and you know,
you go against yourself for thirty days, forty days, and
then you get an opportunity to get out there and
play against someone different, which is very refreshing. So now
we have film to understand what we need to work on.
First live competition.

Speaker 13 (05:43):
It was a good week.

Speaker 12 (05:44):
It was a good week for us obviously when you
can go three and oh, but we also understand that.

Speaker 13 (05:48):
That we have a lot of work to be done.

Speaker 12 (05:50):
But you know, we've seen some things for some kids
and we really liked them, and we've seen some things
we need to work on. So it was a really
good week for us and we're looking forward to build
upon it.

Speaker 4 (06:00):
When you talk about continuing to build upon it and improve,
you know you've won games by fifty eight and thirty
four this early in the season. But I can tell
from the conversations you and I have this team has
more in it. Where does that come from?

Speaker 14 (06:13):
With you?

Speaker 4 (06:13):
What are you saying that tells you this team's got
a whole other level it can still get to.

Speaker 12 (06:17):
You know, I don't do a whole lot of social media,
but I do watch reels, and it's kind of ironic
that in the last day or two the two reels
that I saw, one was from Geno Arima and he
talked about, you know, understanding and learning to enjoy the wins,
even though it's this time of the year and you're
trying to get better.

Speaker 13 (06:35):
You know, win is a win. You need to enjoy it.

Speaker 12 (06:37):
Then I saw something from Nick Saban and he said,
you know, if you want to get to where you
want to get to, it's not just the end result,
it's also the process. And the process means that you
have to learn to get better each in every possession,
regardless of who you're playing, where you're playing, what the
score is, and those are the things that we're trying
to learn as a basketball unit. But it's only three
games in, so we've got some film we need to

(06:59):
understand and we'll work towards those goals.

Speaker 13 (07:01):
But we saw some things that we liked, but we
also saw some things we need to work on.

Speaker 4 (07:06):
You've been happy with the energy and intensity this team
has come out with the last two games.

Speaker 12 (07:10):
Yeah, you know, the first game, I thought it was
a little bit of nerves. You know, they had a
lot of players who had never played here before, never
played for me. Uh, they were nervous and uh and
it kind of showed. I think they put a lot
of pressure on themselves where it looked like they just
weren't having fun. We talked about it, we addressed it,
you know in meetings. They came out with much better
energy in the next two games and we were looking

(07:30):
more like the team that we can possibly be. So
it's gonna be a work in progress. We're still trying
to get that that leader, that natural leader. Obviously, when
you lose players like Georgia A. Moore and Dejah Lawrence,
you're gonna have to fill avoid. And we have some
players who are trying to learn how to be leaders.
And obviously Claire Strack is a is a candidate. Tiani

(07:50):
Key as a candidate, and we're gonna need them to
really step up to get everyone else on the same
page as they are on and then what would be
We'll be the team we want to be.

Speaker 4 (07:59):
One thing we all in the road trip yesterday was
this team kind of circled the wagons around each other
and had each other's backs and some we'll just call
them chippy moments.

Speaker 12 (08:07):
That what you call those flavorant ones that they called. Yeah,
well yeah, you know they got that that rule. They
enforce their role a little bit too much, too easily.
But uh, you know, it's it's gonna be emotions, and
you want kids playing with emotions. When kids are playing
with emotions, both teams, Uh, they're gonna they're gonna have
some bumps and they're gonna have some little pushes, but
no harm, no foul. But I think they're just trying

(08:28):
to keep keep the game under wraps. But uh, you know,
I was proud of our kids for really standing up
for themselves. They just have to be a little bit
smarter so we don't give up two free throws.

Speaker 4 (08:36):
On the other end, you and I talked about it
after the game yesterday. One of my favorite things about
Clara Strack's game is she does it back down whenever somebody,
you know, tries to be physical, whether she gives it
right back in games.

Speaker 13 (08:47):
Clara, Clara is a rarity.

Speaker 12 (08:48):
You know, she's the kind of kid that she plays
with a lot of passion, but she holds it in
a lot. So sometimes you think she's this quiet kid,
but inside there there's someone who really will stand up
for herself. And uh and yeah, that's that's what we
love about her. You know, she plays with a lot
of passions. She's going to go out there, she's not
going to back down from anything or anyone, and that's
going to make her, you know, one of the best

(09:08):
players in the country and we're very fortunate to have her.
And you know, she's coming into her own. You know,
she's a young player. She had a really good year
last year and she's looking to build upon that. But
she's doing so in more ways and just her play
on the court. You know, she's becoming she's morphed into,
you know, our leader. Yesterday in particular, I heard her
talking more than I've ever heard her talk, really, and

(09:29):
she was really rallying the troops when we weren't playing
exceptionally well. And that those are the things that you
would love to see as a coach.

Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yeah, speaking or staying with that rarity theme that you
brought up, whether it's Clara Strack tianni Key, your bigs
can act as guards handling the basketball. How big is
that for this team?

Speaker 12 (09:48):
Well, I think when you lose a player like Georgia
and obviously Daja Lawrence did some help in a pinch
for us handling the basketball. You have a new point
guard and Tony Morgan, it's going to be more of
a handle the basket well by committee. And with those
two being able to handle the basketball as well as
they can, we want to make sure we involve them
in certain situations so they have their freedom to do

(10:10):
so they grab a rebound, they can push it up
the floor. It enhances our break, It makes our break
a little bit faster. And then once we really understand
it and people understand, you know, their roles, the routes
that they have to take on a fast break, I
think we're going to be a dangerous basketball team.

Speaker 13 (10:23):
But you know, we want to give them that opportunity.

Speaker 12 (10:25):
And I refer to them as unicorns sometimes because nobody
really has six foot five centers and power forwards who
can handle the basketball the way that those two can
handle it.

Speaker 4 (10:34):
So you played three games, and two of those at home.
For the fans that haven't had a chance to see
this team in person. We talk about bigs who can
play as guards. You've got some wings or maybe combo
guard bigs like a Jordan Obi and Amelia Hasset. They
can kind of blend in wherever you need them to.

Speaker 12 (10:50):
We're very unique basketball team. That's evident the way that
we've played three games and the way that we've been
guarded or the way that we are guarding people. So
you know, it takes a little bit of getting you
to as a coaching staff, you know, I've never had
a team like this, and we're trying to figure out
ways to put them in positions to be able to
be successful, which is totally different than the group that
we had last year.

Speaker 13 (11:10):
So you know, it's just a puzzle.

Speaker 12 (11:13):
You got to continue one piece at a time and
figure it all out, and you know, hopefully by you know,
December and in January, you're gonna be like a well
old machine and you're going to really have things figured
out with your identity. But right now, we're just a
work in progress and everyone has an opportunity to step
up and prove, you know, they should be in a rotation,
and that's what we're kind of looking at in the
first three games.

Speaker 4 (11:31):
How have you seen Jordan Obie settle into this group
of players and sort of find her footing after missing
a year.

Speaker 13 (11:38):
Yeah, she's still trying to figure it out. She's playing
out of position.

Speaker 12 (11:41):
You know, when she played at Penn, she was a
power forward and obviously you know Tiani's playing at the
power for spot. You know, Amelia is a power forward
by heart, but we're making her play some out of position,
so she's just trying to get used to it. It's
kind of very similar to what Amelia had to go
through last year, and you know, she's trying to get
used to being more on the perimeter. And we actually
even threw Jordan at the point guard the last three

(12:03):
minutes of the game yesterday to see how she can
handle it to be a point guard and pinch and
so everything is you know, it's something that we're working
towards and watching very closely, and it's probably going to
be like that for another probably for another moth, and
and we're going to continue to work hard and just
try to figure out everything as we go along.

Speaker 4 (12:21):
In terms of the consistency in shooting that you're looking
for right now. It's something you and I talked about
after the game last night. I watched this team in
practice in every like an Asia Boon for example, every
time I see her put it up, it's going in.
So how is the staff Can you guys help them
translate those practice shots to the game shot?

Speaker 12 (12:39):
You know, It's it's funny because you know, sometimes people
are referred to as game shooters.

Speaker 13 (12:44):
You know, some people are.

Speaker 12 (12:45):
Referred to as practice shooters. And I've seen some of
the best shooter I've ever seen in my life. Her
name is Kayla King, and she played for me at
Virginia Tech. And and she I mean I saw her
make seventy two out of seventy four or three pointers
one time. And and but in the game, you know,
sometimes she would hit, sometimes she wouldn't. But then I

(13:05):
had a player like an Asia Shepherd or even Georgia Amore,
they were more game shooters. And so we're just trying
to figure out, you know, the kids and uh and
what they what they are like, what they understand because
Asria Boone you know, when she shoots the basketball, I
think she never should miss, you know, but she's been
she struggled a little bit, you know. To start off,
Amelia has sid had shot the ball exceptionally well throughout

(13:27):
the preseason. She's struggled a little bit, Kayln Carroll. She's
a great shooter. I really couldn't get one to fall
until late yesterday. So it's just been that's probably been
the biggest inconsistency that we've had. You know, we started
off four for twenty four the first night, then we
make seventeen the second night, and then we only make
five to third and so that's something If we can

(13:49):
get that consistent, it's going to really complement the rest
of our of our play, and we need those shots
to fall in order.

Speaker 4 (13:55):
For us to be successful. And Tony Morgan has done
a nice job facilitating your offense. Eighteen assists in the
last two games.

Speaker 12 (14:01):
Yeah, you know, she's doing a good job we've had.
You know, she's she's one, she's a she's a film aholic.
She loves to watch film and learning and how I
want her to play, And the last couple of games,
she's really pushed the tempo. We've played a lot faster,
and you know, she's still learning, you know, the things
that we want. And I think that she can create
a lot for herself if she just learns to play
the defense that we really want her to play, because

(14:22):
she's gifted and she can do those things. And we're
looking forward to her creating some offense for not only
herself but others from her defense. And uh and so
the thing I love about her is that she does
not have it down pat yet, but she is working
tirelessly to get it down pat. And that's what I
really love about her and her energy. And you know,
we're asking her to be a lot. You know, she's
a shy kid by nature, a quiet kid by nature,

(14:44):
but we need her to step.

Speaker 13 (14:45):
Up and be a vocal leader for us. And again,
you know, she's learning to do that.

Speaker 4 (14:49):
I was just about to ask you if she's becoming
more vocal now in pros.

Speaker 13 (14:52):
Yeah, I can see her becoming more vocal.

Speaker 12 (14:54):
But this is like a this is like a crash course,
you know, this is this is one of those courses
that I need her to to figure out really quickly
so we can benefit from it and or earlier. And
we need that from our point guard. And so she's
she's willing, she's willing, she's able, and she comes in
and she wants to get better. And you know, I've
seen her get better incrementally, and we just need her
to get better quickly.

Speaker 4 (15:15):
Wildcats are back in action this Wednesday at Historic Memorial Coliseum.
They'll take on USC Upstate, who's playing tonight against Georgia
down in Athens. The Lady Dogs have a thirty two
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in the first half, so the Spartans will come north
to take on the Cats Wednesday night, six thirty. Tip
Off will be on the air at six fifteen with
the pregame show, and that game is presented by Cartown Key.

(15:39):
Let's take a quick time out here on BBN Radio.
We're presented by Clark's Pumping Shop and we'll continue our
chat with Coach Brooks when we come back here on
the UK Sports Network. Hey, you've reached Jim.

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Speaker 4 (20:27):
We are back here at Drake's Brandon Crossing in Lexington
for BBN Radio, presented by Clark's Pumping Shop. Head coach
Kenny Brooks's with us as the Wildcats are off to
a three and oh start and again they'll take on
usc Upstate Wednesday night. Coach on social media on x
or Twitter, we got a question from Brad With five
the next seven games away from home, is there anything

(20:48):
that the team can take from this past weekend's road
trip going forward in terms of settling into routines away
from Lexington.

Speaker 12 (20:55):
YEA, that's great question. What we did early was intentional.
We want to get on the road. Obviously, there's a
metric called the net that will will reward you more
so if you play away from home and win games,
uh than if you're doing at home. And our goal
is always to be able to host in the first
and second rounds of the NCAA tournament. And and then
it's also twofold because it gives you an opportunity to

(21:17):
have a drive run, to learn how to get the
kinks out when you're traveling as a group for the
first time. And then you go into an environment and
yesterday's was a good environment. Even though it's probably fifty
to fifty uh, you know, with fans of hours, but
you want to be able to you know, handle adversity
on the road. So you know, these are all just
you know, precursors to what's going to happen, not only
you know this year, but also in the sec UH

(21:40):
we thought we were going to have one more home
game with the sec ACC Challenge. We went on the
road last year and so typically when you go on
the road, the next year, you play at home, and
I just didn't work out for us. They sent us
on the road two times in a row. So that
that's that's the reason why we got the extra road game.
But I thought yesterday was a success, not up for

(22:01):
a lot of different reasons for Clara going back home,
but also for us to you know, just understand how
to how we handle business on the road, and then
obviously the win.

Speaker 4 (22:10):
Your next home game after USC Upstate is Tuesday, November
eighteenth against Purdue, Big Night at the historic Memorial Coliseum.
Want to see that place filled up to take on
the boiler Makers out of the Big Ten. That's a
seven o'clock tip off Tuesday, November eighteenth. It's also the
wear Blue game for the Wildcats. So Purdue one of
those power for teams coming in on the eighteenth. It

(22:31):
should be a great night. That's coming off the trip
to Marshall.

Speaker 12 (22:34):
Yeah, that'd be a big game for us. Obviously, you know,
we've got a lot of Purdue alum within our staff.
Coach keV Our strength conditioning coach Courtney Jones, our our
athletic trainer, and then coach Hicks. They're all Purdue alum
so with their allegiances to Kentucky, so we don't worry about.

Speaker 13 (22:52):
That, but we we need everyone to come back out.

Speaker 12 (22:53):
That'll be a really big game for us, and we're
looking forward to you know, just you know, building building
momentum because we're gonna need the crowd in order for
us to be a really good basketball.

Speaker 13 (23:02):
Team this year.

Speaker 4 (23:04):
For the fans coming Wednesday night to watch the Cats
take on usc Upstate, they might get to see something
new to women's college basketball this year. Is One of
the big stories coming out of last year was all
the replay reviews initiated by the officials. That has changed
where now it's coaches asking for the appeals and basically

(23:24):
the way I was told coaches, you get unlimited challenges,
but if you run out of timeouts, you better be right.

Speaker 13 (23:30):
Appeals appeals.

Speaker 4 (23:31):
Appeals, I'm sorry, appeals.

Speaker 13 (23:33):
Yeah, they made it very clear that we're calling it appeals. Yeah.

Speaker 12 (23:37):
You know, it was ironic because yesterday's game I thought
was long, and we had a couple opportunities for them
to go to the monitor. We actually asked them to
go to the monitor twice. You know, I think there
was one, the flagrant one they called on their player
when she threw an elbow to Alexi blues face. We
won that appeal, and then we went to a situation

(23:58):
where the ball was off They called the ball off
of Clara's foot. I looked at Clara, and obviously I
trust Clara, and I said, was it off your foot?
And she says, no, one was off her foot, and
so uh and so we appeal that one and we
got it. And then obviously we had the little uh
scuffle that they took a long time to look. We
didn't none of us ask for that, but but it
was a long time. They went to the to the

(24:19):
monitor three times.

Speaker 13 (24:20):
I think it was.

Speaker 12 (24:21):
But it is something new for us, and uh, you know,
there are repercussions. If you don't win the appeal, you
lose the timeout. And if you don't have any timeouts
and it's a technical foul where they get two shots
on the ball back.

Speaker 13 (24:32):
So it does.

Speaker 12 (24:33):
Strategy does come in. You know, you have to make
sure that you have the timeouts and if you're willing
to lose a time out.

Speaker 4 (24:39):
If not, that was gonna be My next question is
how to strategize as best you can because I guess
is it kind of like the other sports where you'll
get a couple of seconds, but you better be ready
to tell them whether you want to appeal it or not.

Speaker 12 (24:51):
Well, for anyone that that doesn't know, we have an
iPad on our on our bench and and it's real time,
and so I mean as soon as the play happens,
I can look back and we have our guy who
has the iPad, and I'll ask him is it worth it?

Speaker 13 (25:04):
Is it worth it? And Uh, he's got a lot
of pressure.

Speaker 12 (25:06):
On him because he has to tell me, yeah, better
be right, and so he'll let me know whether it's
worth it.

Speaker 4 (25:12):
Or not and and so.

Speaker 12 (25:14):
And it also helps you too because when you do
challenge it or peel it, Uh, you can still look
at it and you can see if you're gonna win
it or not. And then you can you can address
your offense or address your defense during that time. Uh
So it's just something that we all are getting used to.
I think it will benefit the game. I think it
will continue to change where you know, they're going to
have more plays getting gotten right than missings.

Speaker 4 (25:37):
We had another question from social media. Uh, this is
a young man up in Canada who's following the team
and uh he says that he's drinking all the kool
aid on this year's team, but he wants to know
what is the ceiling of what this team can be
this year?

Speaker 12 (25:51):
You know what, it's still it's still work in progress.
We have the talent, we've got some depth now that
we can move some players in and out and now
it's just the the the age old question and we
build the chemistry together. And you're going to see that
a lot with a lot of basketball teams around the country,
men's women's football. I think you're seeing it in now
with a transfer portal. You don't just add player and

(26:11):
the instantly be, you know, a great basketball team. You
have to build that chemistry. They have to learn how
to play with each other. You know, Tony Morgan's only
been here for like what four month?

Speaker 4 (26:20):
Five months?

Speaker 12 (26:21):
You know, and you know, everyone has to understand each
other in a very short amount of time, and so
that's just what everything is going through right now.

Speaker 13 (26:29):
So you know, we're seeing the remnants of it right now.

Speaker 12 (26:31):
Like last year, you know, we were probably ahead of
the curve more so than we are this year because
we had Georgia, who was the point guard for me
for the last five years, and so now we're just
trying to get used to each other and and so
sometimes there's some great moments that we have and then
there's some times where we just miss something just because
of miscommunication. So the ceiling is extremely high, but we
also have to put it together in order for us

(26:52):
to reach our potential.

Speaker 4 (26:53):
Got a couple of minutes left with you, coach, and
I wanted to circle back to Kaitlin Carrol KKH because
we saw against buff Well, she's not afraid to put
up shots when she's open, and you've described her as fearless.
And so my question to you is, when you have
a player that's fearless like her, how easier or maybe
how fun is it to coach somebody like that who
you you don't have to instill any of that in her.

(27:15):
You just go out there and coach with her abilities.

Speaker 12 (27:18):
I think some of her fearlessness comes from she just
doesn't know any better right now.

Speaker 13 (27:22):
She's just she's just young.

Speaker 4 (27:23):
You know.

Speaker 12 (27:24):
It's always it's always fun to coach young kids who
really don't understand.

Speaker 13 (27:28):
A whole lot.

Speaker 12 (27:29):
We're gonna have a whole lot of them next year,
you know, so uh uh, but you know they're they're
they're refreshing, they're youthful. They come in and she's she's
actually the funniest kid on the team, you know. So
it's fun to be around her. But she's got a
she's got a long ways to go in which I
know she'll get there. It's just that she has to
learn it. She has to learn how to play at
this level. And I think she's gonna be able to

(27:50):
contribute a lot for us. And you know, she got
a great size, she shoots the basketball exceptionally well.

Speaker 4 (27:54):
Uh.

Speaker 12 (27:55):
She has to learn a few more things to be
able to be successful at this level, but what I
know she will.

Speaker 4 (28:00):
We've had some questions about Josie Gilvin and how she's
adapting to your style.

Speaker 12 (28:05):
It's different, it's very different, and obviously at Western I
think they ran around, they pressed a little bit more.
They gambled as a strong word, but they played the
passing lanes and they and they tried to cause more
havoc in a different way. And we're asking her to
be a little bit more disciplined and then once she
gets that down path, then we'll turn her.

Speaker 13 (28:22):
Loose a little bit.

Speaker 12 (28:22):
So you know, it's always going to be a struggle
in the beginning for anyone who transfers in. I don't
care how good you are, You're going to have to adapt.
And she's doing that and she's going to continue to
work hard. And you know, the one thing that I
do know is that she she loves being here and
she wants to be a part of what we're doing.
And she's going to have every opportunity to continue to
get better and I know she will, and I'm excited
for her to get comfortable. And when she does, I

(28:44):
think she's going to add you know, she's going to
add value to us on both ends of the floor.

Speaker 4 (28:48):
Coach, speaking of exciting, it's been a lot of fun
to have you here at Drake's at Brandon Crossings and
not this is something that new that we're trying. This
year and we're going to be back here a few
more times.

Speaker 12 (28:57):
Well good, you know, this is fantastic to be able
to come out, you know, and I know the weather
was bad tonight and anybody comes out and you know,
they'll they'll get it, They'll get they'll get a candid
Coach Brooks, you know, and be able to be in
this setting is wonderful. Drake's Malone's, you know all day
there are all my favorite places to eat really quick,
nice and fun.

Speaker 13 (29:14):
Food's great. So look forward to coming back here next time.

Speaker 4 (29:17):
Absolutely, coach, we appreciate it and we'll see you on
Wednesday night when your team takes on USC Upstate at
Historic Memorial Coliseum.

Speaker 13 (29:24):
Go CAATs.

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That's head coach Kenny Brooks. We're here at Drakes at
Brandon crossing the Wednesday night game with the Spartans, presented
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Speaker 4 (32:49):
Wow, Welcome back into Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio here
on the UK Sports Network and sometimes this happens in
live radio, especially when the weather outside isn't cooperating. We

(33:11):
were hoping to have Jack Gibbons live here with us
at Drake's at Brandon Crossing, but unfortunately we turned him
Loose for safety. He's with us on the phone instead,
and Goose, we appreciate the effort getting here, Man, It
just it's one of those nights around Lexington where we
hope everybody's safe because it's it's nasty out there.

Speaker 25 (33:31):
Well, there were a lot of people like me who
were not ready to start driving in the snow. Man.
There Actually there must have been a period here where
we had ice as opposed to snow, because I know
I have passed at least fifteen crashes. Oh my gosh,

(33:55):
cars turned around on New Circle Road going the wrong
direction in the median up against Ray. I mean, it's
been crazy. So I'm just getting to Hardsburg Roads, so
I'm gonna pull off and we can we can talk basketball,
but I'm not going to try to drive with the roads.

Speaker 4 (34:16):
Like they yell. It's for sure, no, And we hope
you get back home safely, And we do appreciate you
making all the efforts to join us on the show tonight.
I was really excited and looking forward to it because
of what we've got coming up for this Kentucky men's team.
It's the big rivalry tomorrow night against the Louisville Cardinals.
And eight o'clock tip off at the Young Center. I
know you're excited to be there alongside Tom Leach and Jack.

(34:40):
When I think about this rivalry, I guess the biggest
thing for you is when you look back, is is
this one of those games that you wish you could
have played in? You know, it just gets the blood
pumping when you think about it, right.

Speaker 25 (34:53):
Oh man, Yeah, I would I would love to have
been able to play the Cards. You know, we never
had them on the schedule. It was one of those
situations where coach Hall and Cliff Hagen, who was the
athletics director, they felt like there was not a real

(35:14):
big advantage for us to play teams in the state
because they felt we had more to lose and nothing
to gain by playing those games. But yeah, I would have.
I would love to have been able to play the Cards,
but I never did.

Speaker 4 (35:32):
You know, one thing the fans have been talking about
with this rivalry is how early it is this year
November eleventh, and I've heard people discussing, well, you know,
these two teams, they're not going to be the finished
product that we're going to see in March and in
the NCAA tournament. So is it more or less importance
because it's so early. But I'm kind of of the

(35:53):
opinion Jack, that it's still Kentucky and Louisville no matter
when you play it on the calendar, it's still a
big game.

Speaker 25 (36:00):
Well, I think we can make that call officially after
we see who wins the game. Okay, yeah, like that, Yeah,
because if Kentucky wins, the cards are going to be saying, well,
it's early, so it really doesn't matter. And then if
Louisville wins, we'll be able to say, well it's early,

(36:21):
it doesn't matter. We didn't have JQ, and as soon
as we get him back, you'll see we're gonna be
a totally different team. So it actually comes down I
think who wins the game. But okay, it is Kentucky
in Louisville. It is Kentucky and Louisville, so it's gonna
be a big game.

Speaker 4 (36:39):
Yeah, no doubt about it. We've already heard the talk
from both sides, the trash talking going on, so we
know this is on the radar both teams. Looking at Louisville,
they had that tough exhibition lost to Kansas ninety to
eighty two. Since then, they've rolled through three teams, Bucknell,
South Carolina State, and Jackson State. And when you kind

(36:59):
of turn on the tape or sit down and look
at a box score with Louisville, I know they've got
a couple of talented guards, but jack what do you
what do you see? What will be the biggest challenge
for the Wildcats tomorrow night at the Young Center.

Speaker 25 (37:11):
Our biggest challenge, I think, Darren is, is that we
get off to a good start. They're gonna come at us.
They're gonna come at us really hard early. I mean,
and we're gonna have to weather the storm because they
finally have a big crowd in there. And I say
finally because we've all seen some of the games they've

(37:33):
had the last couple of years, previous couple of years.
Pat Kelsey has done a great job of getting the
cards back on the map and uh in the top
twenty like they supposed to be. But I think we
have to make sure we keep them under control early,
not let the crowd get into the game take us.

(37:55):
For Kentucky fans, this year gonna be a little bit
more difficult to get because the cards will not their
fans will not be selling all the tickets like they
normally do. So just get off to a good start
and be ready for what the Cards are going to try.

Speaker 4 (38:11):
To bring at us. Yeah, and you know, one thing,
I was just looking over the stack comparison the tail
of the tape, if you will. And I know you're
going to break this down in more detail with Tom
and the guys tomorrow night. But one thing that stuck
out to me is how both offenses distribute the basketball
assist per game. Kentucky twenty four, Louisvill's right there at
twenty three and a half. So you're talking about two

(38:34):
offenses that really know how to get after it and
also share the ball and put the pressure on the defense.

Speaker 25 (38:40):
Well, that happens when you play with pace, and that
is what both teams want to do. And I don't know, frankly,
which team that favors. I think it would favor Kentucky
because of we can go a little deeper than they
can and we can bring more players in the mix.

(39:04):
Uh so, But I mean that suits their style of
play as well, So it's gonna be interesting to see
which team that favors the most. But I love Kentucky
in an up and down game A lot more than
I do in a half court game. And now that
our point guards are back and healthy and playing, we

(39:26):
should be able to run with anybody.

Speaker 4 (39:28):
Yeah, and that was going to be my next thing
for you, Jack, is just the growth of this Kentucky
team through their early season games. We really still have
not got a sense of the full capabilities of this
team just because of the injuries. They're just trying to
get healthy right now in this early in the season.

Speaker 25 (39:46):
Yeah, yeah, and that's unfortunate. That's one reason why I
wish the game was a little bit later. But with
the with the way injuries affected us last year, that's
no guarantee that we would be healthy. So it's good
to get this one over with. It's gonna be a
good marker for both teams for sure.

Speaker 4 (40:09):
Yeah, it's just weird to be talking about Kentucky Louisville because,
you know, I heard somebody else say, basically, you feel
like this is the Champion's Classic, But no, it's Kentucky
Louisville already, just the second week of the season. So
we're talking with Jack Gibbons will be on the call
alongside Tom Leach at the Young Center tomorrow night. It's
an eight o'clock tip off, and our coverage will begin

(40:31):
at six point thirty with the Jack Burford Chevrolet Countdown
to tip Off as Andrew Cappus, Stave Baker and Cameron
Mills will break down the matchup of the Cats and
the Cardinals. We're going to take a quick break, we'll
come back and we'll chat more with the Goose on
the other side. As you listen to BBN Radio presented
by Clark's Pumping Shop on the UK Sports Network.

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Speaker 4 (45:27):
Final segment of the show this week here on bb
AND Radio, presented by Clark's Pumping Shop, we're joined by
the Goose, Jack Gibbons, on the line with us as
the Wildcats get set to take on the Louisville Cardinals
at the Young Center tomorrow night at eight o'clock. And Jack,
I was just thinking about this rivalry and kind of
where the sport is these days. Everybody seems to have

(45:49):
new rosters every year, whether it's graduation or guy's being
drafted or transfer portal, whatever it is. And I think
on Kentucky's roster there might be what four maybe five
guys that have experienced a Kentucky Louisville rivalry, But everybody's
going to feel it for the first time as the
road team tomorrow, right, Yeah.

Speaker 25 (46:11):
And you know, the four or five guys who know
what it's all about, they know what it's all about
because they they've grown up here and they've grown up
with the rivalry. And I'm sure every one of them,
all four of those guys have thought about what's going
to happen when they play in this series. Of course,

(46:33):
Colin Chandler got a taste of it last year, so
it's good to have some experience. But I would like
to say it's just another game. I know that would
be nice, but the fact of the matter is it
means a lot to both teams and guys on both teams.
So we're just gonna have tossed it up, man. I

(46:57):
mean those kind of games are the best. We just talked,
I sit up and see what happens.

Speaker 4 (47:01):
That's right. And you know, I was thinking about one
guy in particular, Otega Oway, who was in last year's game.
He played, he has played in some big games, especially
with Kentucky. How big will his experience be helping the
guys that are that are feeling the heat in this
rivalry for the first time tomorrow night.

Speaker 25 (47:20):
Yeah, I forgot to throw Otega in there. Yeah, he's
been there and done that. I kind of like the
way Otega addressed it on the clip that I heard
listening to one of the radio stations. I mean, uh,
he he knows it's a special game, but he said, hey, listen,
I'm not going to change my regular routine. I'm not

(47:43):
gonna do anything any differently. I'm gonna play like I
always play, basically, and that's what I like to hear.
I mean, you look at some of the other things
that have been said, and believe the guys are gonna
pin that up on the bullet on board man, and
they're going to talk about it, and you know, you

(48:03):
don't want to add any fuel to the fire. So
I'm really really pleased that Otega handled himself very well
and he's going to be ready to play. I mean,
he's looking good, he's physical, he's in really good condition.
So again I'm anxious to just toss it up and
see what happens.

Speaker 4 (48:24):
Yeah. Absolutely, And you know I was Jalen Lowe's another guy.
How big was it just to get him back against Valpo?
The energy and reperna when he entered the ballgame, and
just the way he made an immediate impact on this team.
How big that's going to be tomorrow night in this
road environment.

Speaker 25 (48:42):
Yeah, it certainly makes our team look different. I mean
that just opens things up for everybody else on the floor.
The other good thing is j Lo has has played
against the Cards. He I heard he had one game
had thirty points in the game. Again, so he's he's
been involved in those kind of games and he knows

(49:05):
what to expect having played their pitt So yeah, again,
you you just have to as much as possible, play
your game, don't try to do too much, don't step
out of what you used to doing and what the
team concept is to try to do it all yourself.

(49:27):
I don't think you'll see Kentucky do that.

Speaker 4 (49:30):
Yeah. We just had Coach Brooks on the show in
the first half hour and he was talking about how
despite the dominant scores his teams have put up early
in the season, they're still striving for more. They're striving
for that excellence. And I know coach Pope and his
squad they're doing the same. Jack. How have you seen
them continue to improve from the preseason through these first

(49:51):
couple of games, and what are some other areas that
you see that they're really working on to continue getting
better so that they're where they need to be when
the SEC gets here and into March.

Speaker 25 (50:04):
Yeah, it was great watching the Lady Cats yesterday play
up at Buffalo. I am excited about what they're gonna do,
but I also just kind of feel that Kentucky has
a long way to go. I mean, they really do.

Speaker 4 (50:21):
Both teams.

Speaker 25 (50:22):
I mean, I heard coach Brooks say the same thing
and it made me think about the men, and I say, man,
he's saying the same thing I see. And they played
well they haven't. They have beaten some teams by big margins,
as has Kentucky the men's side. But there's just no
way this time of the year you're gonna be where

(50:44):
you want to get to. You can't be there. If
I were coaching and I said, man, this is as
good as we can get, this is as good as
we can play, I'm gonna be concerned because there's too
much time left. So I want to be happy with
what I'm seeing. But the main thing I'm want to

(51:04):
be happy about this time of year is the improvement
as individuals and as a team, and I think both
the men and the women have room to do just that.

Speaker 4 (51:17):
Where are some areas of this team that you like?
Or what are some areas of this team that you like?
Right now? Having watched them play Perdue, Georgetown and their
first couple of regular season games, we have.

Speaker 25 (51:29):
Been really good on defense. Except for the Georgetown game,
we have been really good. But I'm glad we had
the Georgetown game. And I know that sounds kind of
crazy because we lost, but I'm glad we had that
game because for Mark Pope and his staff, he can
say very clearly on video, here's what you did and

(51:51):
the other games, here's what you did in the Georgetown game.
What team are we going to be? How are you
going to play? And you know, I just think I
like our defense. Of course, I love that we are
sharing the ball. We still have not shot the ball
as well as I know this team will shoot it,

(52:13):
and I'm seeing them shooting practice. And I love Coach
Brooks because some are practice shooters, some are game shooters.
But you've got to figure out how to bring it
over to the games. I mean, you have to do
that because we know you can do it. And sometimes
a player just has to make a couple I say
that about Cam Williams. Sometimes it just helps to see

(52:37):
a ball go through the net. So we've been good
on defense. Tomorrow will be a challenge, but I want
to see us shoot the ball better because if we
get to where we're knocking them down more than we
have thus far, we will be really, really good.

Speaker 4 (52:56):
You talk about being good on defense. What has made
this team good on defense early in the season. What
are they doing that that sticks out to you.

Speaker 25 (53:05):
I think we have better athletes, uh than we had
last year. We had great players last last year. So
don't get me wrong, but I think in addition to
having great players, we have great athletes, better athletes than
we had last year. And when you anchor your defense
with Modiabatte, you anchor your defense with him. You have

(53:29):
uh Denzel who is a dog and takes it personal
when a guy scores on him. You have those kind
of guys. And then even with Malachi who has proven
to be a much better defender and mix and not
afraid to mix it up and get physical in the paint,

(53:51):
when you have a guy like that, and Colin Chandler
has gotten better on defense, I mean, you can go
all through it, but I think we have better athletes
than we had last year. Mark has put a lot
of time on the defensive end of the floor work
with his guys, so all of that has made us
better defensively. We still have a ways to go now,

(54:14):
don't get me wrong, We still can get better, but
certainly the extra work Mark has put In and the
athletes have made it a little bit easier for coach
Pope to get his point across on the defensive end
of the floor.

Speaker 4 (54:29):
Colin Chandler, you mentioned him, he's been shooting the ball
extremely well. Watching him in practice, does where is that
confidence coming from? What's leading to him just having no
fear and absolute confidence that those shots are going to
fall when he takes him.

Speaker 25 (54:44):
Look, there has not been a play that I've seen
in practices, and I've watched at least two or three
a week since they started back in the summer, there
has not been a play where Colin Chandler has taken
can that play off? He goes at it every minute

(55:06):
he's on the floor, and that is really really good.
But then here's the real point. Colin is a natural two,
not a point guard. And the biggest difference between being
a two and a sometimes point guard, a point guard
that has been forced into starting because Kentucky had injuries,

(55:30):
is that you know, you have to start the offense,
but you also have to figure out how to score.
And Colin can do that for two minute stretches, but
for eight or ten minute stretch in the first half,
and then eight or ten minute stretches in the second

(55:52):
half at that point guard spot. That is not where
he's at his best. So I like him at the
two guard spot, sometimes planning three, because that gives him
a lot of opportunities to post up in the man
and if he excuse me, to spot up, and if
he spots up and gets those feats that he makes
a high percentage of those.

Speaker 4 (56:14):
We've got less than two minutes left in the show, Jack,
I guess I'll wrap up with this. We've got some
outstanding freshmen on this team. They are paired up with
these veteran guys that have been around the block like
a diabate or an o way. How has that experienced
helped these guys acclimate to the high major D one
level at Kentucky in less than a minute.

Speaker 25 (56:34):
Well, for Malachi, having JQ out and forcing him to
play all the minutes against Brandon has really helped him
a lot. And then for Jasper, I just mentioned uh
Denzel Aberdeen. He's had to work against Denzel most of

(56:55):
the time he's been here, and Denzel has put him
through the ring man but a fan off and you
can see it. Those bets of really teaching.

Speaker 4 (57:04):
The young guys tied to play Jack. Thanks so much, man.
We got to get out of here and I hope
you get home safe. Thanks for trying to be on
the show with us tonight, buddy, and we appreciate it.
Good luck tomorrow night.

Speaker 25 (57:14):
Thanks Darren.

Speaker 4 (57:16):
That's Jack Gibbons. We'll be on the call with Tom Leech.
This is our show. Thanks for being with us here
on BBN Radio, presented by Clark's Pumping Shop at Drake's
and Brandon Crossing. This is the UK Sports Network.

Speaker 2 (57:33):
Good Entucky, Goodentucky.

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