December 24, 2024 • 40 mins
Darren Headrick is joined by Christy Thomas Kutty and Dane Bradshaw to talk Kentucky Basketball
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Merry Christmas and happy Holidays. Everybody. Welcome into a special
edition of Clark's Pumpin' Shop BBN Radio. This week we're
going to preview the SEC. The league play for men's
and women's basketball is just around the corner. It starts
in January, so we thought we would take this week
to chat with some special guests about the upcoming season
(00:23):
and how they think Kentucky's done so far and where
Kentucky might fit in to these SEC races. So coming
up tonight on Clark's Pumpin's Shop BBN Radio, we'll have
Christy Thomas Scutty from SEC Network ESPN. She covers a
lot of women's basketball. She's seen Kentucky, she was at
Big Blue Madness. We'll chat with her about the women's
basketball team and the job that Kenny Brooks has done.
(00:45):
We will also hear from Dane Bradshaw of the SEC
Network at ESPN about the Kentucky men's team and just
to remind her. Next Monday night, we debut the Bluegrass
here in Clinic Kenny Brooks Show at seven o'clock. Bb
IN Radio will follow at seven point thirty. So an
exciting show coming up. We've got lots to get to
with Christy and Dane, so we'll go ahead and take
(01:08):
a time out and when we come back, we'll chat
with Christy Thomas Scutty about the Kentucky women's team and
year one under Kenny Brooks. This is Clark's Puppin Shop
BBN Radio on the UK Sports Network. We welcome you
back into Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio here on the
UK Sports Network, and I am excited to have a
special guest with us this week as we preview the
(01:30):
league portion of the basketball schedule. We're talking women's basketball
with SEC and ESPN Network analyst Christy Thomas Scutty and Christy. Obviously,
before we jump into basketball, I know the holidays are here,
so let me just wish you and yours a happy
Holidays and Merry Christmas right off the bat.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I appreciate that, Dan, you know, as a follow basketball coach,
it's still weird for me to actually get a holiday break.
So I'm going to take you everything I get and
spend the time with the family, no.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Doubt about it. Without question, we're all looking forward to that.
We're also looking forward to the SEC portion of the
schedule beginning But before we jump into that, I want
to ask you about this Kentucky team because you got
to see him at Big Blue Madness, and I know
you've got to turn their games on here and there
and watch a little bit as you try to study
all the teams in the league. First of all, watch
(02:18):
stands out about the way you have seen this team
kind of come together with all these brand new players,
new faces, new coaches and put together what has been
thus far an impressive record through the non conference portion
of the schedule.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well there, Before I answer that, what I want to
say is a comment I made back last April when
it was announced that Kenny Brooks is coming to Kentucky,
and that is that the SEC just got a lot better.
And that's my respect for Kenny as a coach, how
he develops players. And so now to take that to
answer your question, nothing that I've seen so far surprisingly
(02:54):
about Kentucky because it's the way Kenny, it's this culture,
it's his staff thing about it. And oh yeah, it's
Georgia Amore as the main leader who just brings everybody together.
You know, the two practices they got to watch. Amore's
voice was as I was, as any coach like they
were in a film session and she was the one
directing her teammates of this is what you had to do.
(03:17):
And that's so rare this day and age. You know,
I said at the time, when you when you see
a true point guard on the floor, you're looking at
one of the top teams in the country because it's
just a position we just don't see someone excel at anymore.
We have people who bring the bout before, but not
those true point guards. And that's what Kentucky has in
phase and Georgia aymore.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
And obviously as a graduate senior or a fifth year senior,
she has seen so much Christy, but I was so
impressed at Purdue. The boiler Makers threw a ton of
weird defenses at her, things like boxing one and and
you know some of these different junk defenses they call
them that you don't see many times. She recognized them
almost immediately. Kentucky adjusted. They took her off the ball,
(04:01):
they got her on the nail in the middle of
the zone. She got open looks. But for me, it's
just the amazing ability she has to get open to
get shots, especially when defenses are concentrating on her.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Well I think, you know, most teams are trying to
attack the head and snake and that's to her day Moore,
and so not surprised at all. Everybody's throwing the kitchen
sink at her. But I'd be shocked if theything's new,
because she's always been this way. She's always been the
leader on the floor, getting the ball not to the
(04:34):
right person, but to the right person in the right
way to make it easy for them to score. And
I think with so many new pieces around her, I mean, yes,
there's playing experience and not with her, not in Gunny system.
If I was an opposing coach, I would try that
now as we're all seeing most teams are failing at that.
(04:54):
And so her ball IQ is just tremendous and truly
it's extension of Kenny Brooks and his staff on the
floor and that's just so rare. I mean, that says
Kenny three timeouts a night, no doubt, that he doesn't
have to call time out to make that adjustment. George's
doing it for him.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
No doubt. And that's how as as a player you
get over two thousand points scored and approaching seven hundred
and thirty assists on her career. But there's some other
players I'd love to get your thoughts on, in particular
Tianni Key, because as important as Georgia is to this team,
I feel like Tianni, for lack of a better pun,
(05:32):
is a key for this group because of the way
she plays, the way she rebounds in that foe position.
She can be a matchup nightmare most nights against most teams.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I was gonna agree, like, she's a young lady coming
out of high school. I was following because obviously know
who her sister is in the SEC, and you know,
it's one of those things that when I watched her play,
I'm like, this is a different young lady. You know,
this is where the transfer foil is a good thing. Yeah,
because she got a new start and I think we're
seeing her really blossom on her team system. And Kenny
(06:04):
has been point blank about it. He needs her to
be good. He needs her to be assertive for one
to take crush off of Georgia, one to open up
the inside game. But I do think she is a
matchup issue and she's one of the I mean, let's
we're gonna talk about Georgia Amore throughout the season. She's
one who has me able to stay on the floor
for Kentucky to make a deep run.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
And not only is she rebounding, but she's blocking shots.
And Christy, it's so impressive to see her timing on
these block shots. She'll get called for her share one
or two fouls a game, but she's blocking these shots clean.
Her timing is really impressive in that low post area.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
She's an explosive leaper, she has wingspan, she has a
knack for the ball. I mean, because it's not just
the block, it's also coming up in her rebound avers.
I mean, she's almost at a double double right now,
and so nothing that she has shown me so far
surprises me. I just think this young lady is playing
with a lot of confidence, and she's finally showing us
(07:02):
what I think we've all been waiting for to see.
From Tank, we.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Could break down the entire starting five. Amelia Hassen is
unconscious right now. From three Deja Lawrence is an incredibly
experienced and explosive score. But you concentrate on all those
people Georgia Amore and etc. Christy, and all of a
sudden you forget, oh yeah, there's that six foot five
sophomore out of Buffalo standing at the center, Clara Strack,
and she has just been incredible and it almost makes
(07:29):
you forget that she's only nineteen years old. She's still growing.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
You know, when I watched her footwork, I was like,
oh my word, we're back to Virginia Tech right now,
you know. I mean, like, that's how much she is
ready for the spotlight. And this is where again, I mean,
I think opposing coaches has to pick their poison and
how they're going to decide to stand Kentucky this season. Now,
I will say this, I think the starting five for
(07:55):
Kentucky in my mind, they're top five in the league.
It could be anybody, I think right now, until some
of those bodies get back. That's my concerns for this
ball club because, as you just said, we've gone through
almost every starter right now, and they're all prime time
SEC players.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Our conversation with Christy Thomas Scutty will continue right after this.
It's Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio here on the UK
Sports Network. Welcome back to Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio
as we continue our chat with Christy Thomas Scutdy of
the SEC Network and ESPN. Let me ask you to
put your coaching cap on about this Kentucky team, because
they've got three players that are essentially averaging ten rebounds
(08:36):
a game. How daunting is that to prepare for as
a head coach?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
It's hard. I mean, you think about this league and
it has been built around defension rebounding, and so you
know he's got a different kind of defense too than
what we've been used to seeing in the SEC. And
I'm really eager to see how teams really try to
attack that. But the rebounding piece, it's like we dare
to make a shot because if you don't, we're getting
(09:02):
the rebound, and we know whose hands IS's going to
get on that ball, and that's George A. Moore, And
then we're pushing it down. We're running it down your throat.
And so I think it is one of those things
that starts. You might not see it first quarter, but
you start seeing it later in games where teams know
we miss, we're running in transition because we don't have
a chance to get those second third opportunities. And the
(09:23):
best teams in this league are the ones that are
winning the offensive glass.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
What do you like most about the style of defense
that coach Brooks plays because it's not a style that
wears down opponents mentally with the press and turnovers. But
we have seen him and his team this year at
Kentucky and at Virginia Tech as well. They wear down
opponents because they force you into bad shots. It's almost
like a Venus fly trap. They just lure you in
(09:49):
and then all of a sudden they clamp down and
force you into bad looks or bad possessions, and it
feels like that just starts weighing on teams by the
fourth quarter.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Again, this is not a you know, our games in
such bad strait right now, but the basketball IQ is
not then elite the last couple of seasons. And that's
why another reason why I love Kingy's defense, because he's
making you feed him. He's sitting back and his teams
(10:19):
are so repped, they're so fundamental on the defensive end
that you made that one mistake that gonna pound and
they're going to make you pay for it. And it
is You're absolutely right, it's not wear you out physically,
but I think for point guards there's definitely a straight
on you to make sure that you stay dialed in
for forty minutes or they will exploit you.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, we're chatting with Christy Thomas Scutty from the SEC
Network in ESPN sort of a preview of the SEC
on the women's side of basketball. The transfer portal is
obviously a huge story and it will likely continue to
be one going forward because these off these not offenses,
but these rosters have become so transient. When we were
(11:02):
at North Carolina, Debbie Antonelli and Beth Mullens were working
our game, Christy, and they both brought up an interesting point,
And I'd love to get your thoughts on this. Outside
of TCU, in the Big twelve, Maryland and the Big Ten,
has there been a transfer or transfer portal class that
has made a bigger impact than the one that coach
(11:24):
Brooks has brought to Kentucky this year.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
No, again, you can call it that. Moments I said this,
really do I agree with that, But I'll miss what
I'm going to agree. You know, kind of the running
joke is that it's Blacksburg West because Kenny brought his system,
he brought his staff, and how do you build any programs?
You build it around your point guard and your five
(11:48):
and so because he brought those two key pieces who
know him, know his system. It just beeds the learning
curve for everyone else. As I already talked about Georgia
kind of running up a film session. You just don't
have to say it, she's saying. And we all know
that when Georgia seeks people listen, no doubt. And so
(12:08):
without a doubt this has been I mean you almost
equate it to Colorado football when Dion took over two
years ago. You know what I mean, that's just how
monumental it is.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
In my mind, is that where you think the biggest
impact has been on changing the game. Bigger picture overall
is that now a new coach can come into a
program and if he needs or she needs to, they
can turn this thing around in a year, maybe two
years if they get the right transfers in. It's no
longer a three to four year build. You can turn
(12:39):
this thing around pretty quick in hoops if you get
the right transfers right off the bat.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
I mean absolutely, and I have so much respect for
Tim Multy, but when LSU won the championship in her
second year, I said, oh, is not this doesn't both
well for coaches because now you've got a lot of
administrations out there. I think you should be able to
turn things around that quickly. But Kim did it through
the portals, you know, Eric Freedan. I had the chance
to do Stanford at LSU two weeks ago. And you
(13:07):
talk about the makeup of two teams. You know, Stamford
very difficult to get transferred in. They have their first
one in like twenty years, or first two in like
twenty years. And yet you see how LSU has really
built it the key part and now they're bringing all
these you know McDonald's all Americans, so it is a
quick way to do it. Now. You talk to coaches,
(13:30):
you know, especially coaches who have done it a long time,
that they do it because they have to, but it's
not the way they want to do it, you know.
I know most coaches miss that development of young people
and having the patients, having the young players have the
patience to know, I got to buy my time. And
then when at the third time they're gonna you know,
they're going to be great. That's that's the downside, you know.
(13:52):
And you see it more and more. No one is
carrying a full fifteen roster spot, you know, women's basketball
because they're saving the scholarship for the Cornal.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
We've got a final segment with Christy Thomas Scutty coming
up around the corner. Stay tuned. It's Clark's Pupping Shop
BBN Radio here on the UK Sports Network. Welcome back
into Clark's Pupping Shop BBN Radio. We've got a final
segment here with Christy Thomas Scutty, who's kind enough to
join us from the SEC network in ESPN and Christy
talking about this transfer portal when it first started, I
(14:24):
think one of the bigger concerns was between that and
the nil that the rich would get richer. But I
feel like we've kind of seen more parody grow from
this transfer portal. South Carolina is still South Carolina. LSU
under Kim Moulki is still going to be LSU. But
I feel like the SEC race this year is pretty
wide open. You could almost argue there might be four,
(14:46):
maybe five teams that if things break right, they could
win this league this year.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Don't you wrong? What Don Serry has done that's the
same next books remarkable. But this is the most excited
I had said about se the play probably as long
as I've done this job, because I one hundred percent
agree with you, Darren. I think it's truly gonna be
the game and every song football this season. There's no
equal scheduling. We know in the SEC you got a
(15:14):
home and away with one partner, and we know that
home court advantage is truly legitimized now in the SEC.
And so when you play a team, do you get
to play to that homer? Are you on the road?
Is it a Thursday game? Are you coming off another
road game? That scheduling dynamic is really good, I think
going to come into play and who winds up winning
(15:36):
the regular season in the SEC.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yeah, And I was just looking at the records as
we sit here. There are seven teams already with double
digit wins, and there are nine teams that I count
with one loss or no losses. It's just been a
really impressive run in the non conference. I know they've
been talking about that on the men's side. It needs
to be talked about on the women's side too, because
(15:59):
the SEC has really dominated through the early portions. Well,
let's call it the first two months of the season.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I mean, Darren, you and I both grew up in
SEC country, where it's always about football. Well, I think
we're flipping the script now and that basketball is so
relevant in the SEC, and it's been investment by administrations
and I mean look top to bottom of the SEC coaches. Yeah,
I mean I would love to sit in some of
the game planning meetings that these coaches are having to
(16:27):
attack one another, because there's some brilliance on the sideline
every night in the SEC. And that's why, again it's
going to be a gauntlet for our coaches and players
to go through this SEC season. It already was. Now
you add Texas and you had Oklahoma a little bit
further road trip for some teams, and two top ten
(16:50):
teams in the country right now, and it's going to
get really I mean, I don't there's no way someone
goes to the regular season undfeating. I said this a
couple of times now. I just it's too much respect
for our coaches and players and the level of skill
and athleticism that we have in this league. If someone
doesn't hash off to him, they deserve a number one
(17:12):
seed by nine. But I still think every night you
got to bring it. And I think you know, injury,
as we always we know, will always come into play,
but even more so now because you know, heaven forbid,
you know you've got a starter as in miss two games. Well,
if those are against you know, key competition, what happens, right, And.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
I am so excited to see the talent go up
against each other. You and I could sit here for
another probably hour two hours and talk about the star
players around the league. I remember voting on the media
preseason all Conference selections. I sit there for ten minutes
trying to decide amongst four or five players who I
(17:57):
thought deserve to be the preseason Player of the year.
It's just amazing the depth of the talent. And I
mean you look at who's leading the league in scoring
right now individually, and it's a player from Arkansas. It's
is he higginbottom? You think about the stars at LSU
and South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and so on. Arkansas's got
the top scorer in.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
The league is humbling, to say the least. And you
know this is where when you look at those top
five and I throw Kentucky and Tennessee in there, you'll
say top sixteens right now and actually Alabama as well. Yes,
such balance scoring is what we're seeing amongst the top
(18:36):
teams in the SEC, which, as from the coaches or seconds,
really difficult to stop for because any of those teams
top players think, go for thirty when I talk in ten,
when I talk in twenty, to go for thirty on
any given nights.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I'm glad you brought up Alabama because obviously LSU, South Carolina, Texas,
and Oklahoma there's going to be a lot of chatter
about those four teams. But is Alabama potentially that sleeper
or dark horse that might sneak up there this year
and make some noise because coach Curry's squad has been
putting up some impressive scores against competition through the first
(19:13):
two months.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
I don't disagree with whatsoever. I mean, I think what
Christy has as a veteran team, you add Bakeren, which
I think anyone's been around the SEC knows what this
young lady can do on the basketball court. And then
I mean, when you talk about just a great leader,
you have to talk about fair Ashtley Barker, and so
I think she's got veteran leaderships, she's got players who
(19:36):
can shoot the three, she's got playmakers, and you've got
a post player essence. Cody has improved down low, and
so you know, I think someone Alabama's that team always
that I think sneaks up and I'm always like, how
is this team sticking up on people? Christy's been consistent
with you know what she is built there. So out
(20:00):
of respect for Alabama, I'm not going to say they're
going to sneak up on anybody, because this is, you know,
a team that's made me kaa tournament consecutive years now.
But what I will say is I wouldn't be surprised again.
I mean, we saw it last year they finished fourth.
Could they sneak up in there?
Speaker 3 (20:17):
Now?
Speaker 2 (20:17):
We know with two new teams that's going to make
it a lot more difficult, But I wouldn't be surprised
to see that Tennessee is a team that I mean,
obviously everyone had them ranked low, but this system is
proving that you've got to have multiple guards who can
handle the pressure and the other one. Right now, I
don't think people are talking about enough of Auburn. I
think what Johnny has done, We've always done. The defense
(20:39):
is there. She's bought some players who's been score in
now and so that's another one I got my eye
on and let's talk forget Vanderbilt. I mean, they just
see getting some top players in that fit Shay system,
and so I mean, you know, we can talk about
the top four, top five or six, but I mean,
(20:59):
no part of me would I mean, I think ten
is a realistic number, if not eleven, for the SEC
to make it into the tournament.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
And that was going to bring me to my final
question for you. And we appreciate you being on with
us with the PAC twelve no longer taking up spots
because those teams are in the Big Ten and the
Big twelve for the most part. Now, does that open
the door for the SEC to get more into the
NCAA tournament versus what they might have had in prior
years because you have a power conference that's no longer there.
(21:29):
And so okay, well, here's like you said, maybe an
opportunity if you're the tenth or eleventh seed in the conference,
now you've got a chance to get in there and
make some noise in the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
You can't just say it's a benefit for the SEC,
because then you look at the ACC and the Big
Ten as well, we're all going to have more teams
in I mean the one power four who I don't
think it's really gonna help per se And maybe I'm
wrong in that because of Utah and Colorado is the
Big twelve. But already I think the last thing I
saw with ESPN's early season projections was in twelve for
(22:01):
the Big ten to get in ten for the ACC
and ten for the SEC. And so I think it's
it gets really interesting, you know, and this is where
you know it's coach speaks, but beats the teams you're
supposed to beat. I think the other piece that's really
going to I'm really easer to see over the next
three or four years is how coaches scheduled because of
(22:21):
the gauntlet of everybody's conference seasons. I've always been an opponent.
Our game is not there yet. And yes we had
historical year years on ratings and attendants and everything, Well
we're not there yet. And so that that's always my
message to coaches. Continue to schedule the big the big
game passed off to John Staley and how she's scheduled,
(22:43):
because it's important for our game to attract the new viewers.
And you know, I'm not going to be a hypocritic
because they also know you can't schedule ten Power four
teams in the non conference and then go through your
conference schedule, you know. But I do believe that we're
seeing more than these mtees because we all want the
(23:04):
good matchups. And you and I began this conversation. We're
ready to get the real games going because we're tired
of some of these blowouts. But as the SEC continues
to grow in popularity and continues to elevate itself because
of the coaches and players, I'm not going to be
surprised to see this league get twelve teams in and
in your future.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Yeah, it really is exciting. I can't wait to get
the league schedule started to see these teams go at
each other. It's going to be a war every night
Thursday and Sunday. And I'll be there with Kentucky and
Christy Thomas Scuddy will be there on the SEC network
in ESPN. I guess you're with Eric again this year.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
I go where they tell me. So far as they
live in a number time, someone's got to keep them
out of trouble, So I think that's right.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
That's right. Hey, Christy, thank you so much for taking
some time to join us, and we look forward to
seeing you at Historic Memorial Coliseum or maybe somewhere down
the road in the SEC that fury. Thank you, Dan,
and that's Christy Thomas Scuddy the SEC Network and ESPN.
Stay tuned. We'll have more of Clark's Pumping Shop BBN
Radio coming up. This is the UK Sports Network. Welcome
(24:13):
back into Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio here on the
UK Sports Network and we've got another great guests lined
up for you this week. We just talked to Christy
Thomas Scuddy about the women's side of SEC hoops this year,
and now we're going to get ready to talk about
the men's side as Dane Bradshaw of the SEC Network
and ESPN joins us and Dane, first of all, thanks
(24:34):
for the time, man. I know this is an exciting
part of the year as you wrap up non conference
play and man, the SEC is just around the corner.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Man, it's awesome. I don't see any reason why. I
think the hardest part of their schedule for conference or
non conference for the most part in the SEC is
behind them. So now you just avoid some of these
flip ups right before the holidays or ru that might
occur as you overlook a bonus because man, if the
(25:03):
SEC can just wrap up this incredible nonconference, you feel
like they're playing with house money going into conference play
and no.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Doubt about it. And when you look at the University
of Kentucky under first year coach Mark Pope, Dane, how
would you describe the job that Coach Pope, his staff
and these players have done. When you think about this
group already has wins over Gonzaga, They've got to win
over Duke, and they just beat their biggest rival of
Louisville at Rupp Arena, how would you describe the job
(25:30):
they've done in year one so far?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
It's Beenson say so on I think they have sold
themselves to this fan base that was so eager to
get behind a team. And look, I think a lot
of the frustration for the fan base was more on
games that they felt like they should have won and
the way seasons ended. Because you look back the year ago,
it's not like they didn't have a very likable team.
(25:54):
Last year. People loved that team. It just didn't go
as far as they wanted. But Mark Pope, after a
couple of days of digesting that higher, you guys know
better than me, everybody really came around to it. Then
you see the just a sensational press conference. You know,
it's hard not to win a press conference. People are
but man, you talk about just dominating in a runaway
(26:16):
victory with a press conference, he did it and so
and they've just kept that momentum throughout and the players
have come and faced adversity, they've been down, they've made adjustments,
all these things that have have just really made this
team such a likable group to watch. And I think
everybody also understands that they're they're you know, exceeding expectations.
(26:41):
And I think those expectations are tempered a little bit
because it's no disrespect to the roster, but I think
most fans realize, hey, this is not going to be
the most talented team night in, night out when you
step on the court.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
UH.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
And the fact that they're able to go toe to
toe with with everybody and they have overlooked opponent UH,
certainly is a joy to watch. And you know they
and I think they're mature enough. Coach Pope understands Kentucky
more than any coach ever could. He's composed enough because
because the worst is yet to come, for their season
(27:17):
in terms of I mean, they haven't they have not
experienced a losing streak. And with this type of SEC
and Kentucky is not alone on this, There's gonna be
some top twenty five teams sit there and say, oh
my gosh, we hadn't won a game in two weeks.
You know, a three to four game losing streak is
not unheard of. And so those those are the things
where all these teams are going to face some of that.
(27:41):
But it should it should be a great ide and
and I think that the best thing for the league
as a whole, of course, is is that if you
lose a few games, you've done your work in November
December to where it shouldn't hurt your resume too much
as long as you don't let that losing streak extend
too far.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
We've got to take a quick time out to get
caught back up. We'll continue with Dane Bradshaw right after this.
It's the UK Sports Network chatting with Dane Bradshaw here
on Clark's Pumping Shot BBN Radio. He is an analyst
for ESPN and the SEC Network and Dane, when you
think about the job that coach Pope, his staff and
(28:18):
players have done to this point, and how dynamic the
offense is. You played on some dynamic offenses. How difficult
is it when you've got a bunch of brand new
players like this, a new system, a new coach to
be able to do offensively what this team has done
so far and average over ninety points and be one
(28:40):
of the top offenses in the country. Just appreciate that
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
Yeah, I think it starts with an unselfishness. And when
you recruit what three former defensive players of the year,
like the defensive Player of the Year, guys are typically
never selfish players. I don't know as many. Then you got,
you know, a guy like Almanor, that Almanor that comes,
you know to his dream school, knows that he's probably
(29:08):
gonna be behind some guys that says, look at this
is this is where I've always wanted to be. And
these guys, while coach Popas certainly coached them up on
what a privilege it is to play for Kentucky, I
think a lot of those guys just had that natural
appreciation for the team and the opportunity, and then they've
been further educated and sort of nurtured to enhance that
(29:31):
even more so, I think it starts with the quality
of the players and the individual and most coaches will
tell you as they're going through a transfer portal, everybody
in the transfer portal typically is coming to get an
upgrade and not to be a role player. But there's
exceptions to that. I think guys have come in saying, hey,
I'm the make most of us and if I'm a starter, great,
(29:52):
If I've got to come off the bench, got it.
And I'd love to lead the team in scoring. But
if I got to be the third score instead, I'll
do that. And I think that just is it is
very noticeable as you watch this team play and look,
it's it's to me in a lot of ways, an
equal opportunity offense. There's a lot of motion to it.
There's a lot of dribble handoffs, of course. But what
(30:14):
I really like too is if teams start taking a
certain thing away, Mark Pope is not afraid to start
doing more set play calls and saying, you know what,
we're just going to post up Andrew Cock or you
know we got to get the ball to Jackson and
just kind of get out of the way. You know,
whatever the game calls for, they'll they'll make those necessary adjustments.
(30:37):
And and obviously it was really cool to see Lamont
Butler have such a career offensive game the other night.
But his is certainly his defense being the head of
the snake, because I think a lot of teams are
still going to look at Kentucky and say, let's test
their physicality. And it doesn't mean they're not tough people
or or tough players, or they've priven to be mentally tough,
(30:58):
but how physical of a team can they be? And
I think teams are going to try to punk them.
And when Lamont Butler's out there as that head of
the snake, the same way a guy like Si Kai
Ziegler is for Tennessee, there's something about that leader at
that spot on the perimeter that permeates and strengthens the
(31:18):
rest of the rest of the guys from the physical standpoint.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Chatting with Dane Bradshaw of the SEC Network in ESPN,
and we've already talked a little bit about the SEC
but let's dive into it because it is just around
the corner. Man. When you look Dane at just the
top twenty five alone, you see three SEC teams in
the top five. I think there's five in the top ten,
and then eight in the top twenty. I don't ever
(31:44):
remember this league has always been good, but I don't
ever remember it being this deep in terms of teams
that might jump up there and make a Final four.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Certainly not in the SEC. And right now the numbers
don't lie. And I mean, it wasn't like a historic
season for a conference. Of course, you want to be
in the file four, and you want to win the
national championship with the non conference and number of teams
getting into in the NCAA tournament, and then also like
(32:18):
that the percentage of teams in your league. So you
could argue, well, they got more teams in their conferences
than some other conferences, so of course they might have
more teams. No, this thing is is legit, and you
compare it to some of the great Big East seasons
or ACC or Big twelve, and lo and behold, the
SEC is there. And I was told by the other day,
(32:39):
I know NILS has certainly changed the landscape of college basketball.
But if some schools trying to say, well, yeah, the
SEC is, you know, they're just spending more on n
I l I don't know if they are or aren't,
but I know it wasn't just an il. This has
been a decade of steps upward for this league with facilities, hires,
(33:00):
scheduling all these things to where when nil came into
the picture, it was just another piece of the puzzle
to say, hey, we're going to do that really well too.
And so I think that the league has just done
a tremendous job. And you guys have seen it before,
Like you look at the schedule for a Kentucky or
whatever whoever your team is. Obviously I'm talking to most
(33:21):
of the Kentucky fans on this show, but usually you
look at that conference planet like, oh man, that back
half of January lightens up a little bit, or what
like you can't find that now to say, I like,
right now in the SEC if you were to just
forecast and say I can't believe we lost, to fill
(33:41):
in the blank, like there's not a team you would
insert into that blank as an inexplicable loss. Right now,
everybody is a legit threat without it being coached.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
No, you're exactly right, And I was just thinking you
brought it up a little bit among the many ways
that this league is proved. But just in the head
coaches that are in this league. Now you've got Mark
here at Kentucky, You've got Rick Barnes at Tennessee, Bruce
Pearl at Auburn, you know, Natoates at Alabama. You can
go on and on, John Caliperiot Arkansas, Beard at Old
miss The list of incredible coaches just goes on and
(34:19):
on in this league. And it's really fun to see.
It's going to be fun to see the nightly matchups
among these head coaches and how they adjust in this league.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
Yeah, and I tell you what's nice for Kentucky. And
while Kentucky's always going to get everybody's best shot before
everybody's super Bowl, the good news is it's not going
to be just them. It might be a little bit
louder for Kentucky as it always is. But guess what
when Mississippi State rolls into you know, maybe Oklahoma, that's
(34:52):
prot that's going to be a you know, a pretty
big matchup because it's going to be top twenty five
two tournament teams. So fan there might not be the
rivalries and the target on the back of some of
these schools that you traditionally aren't used to seeing being
so competitive. But when there's that rank number next to
them and your team at home is that competitive. You're
(35:12):
not just showing up to watch the opponent. You're showing
up to watch your team because because your your team
is relevant at this point in the season and you're
playing meaningful games. And in the past, so many times
it was, you know, maybe twenty five percent of the
league weren't playing meaningful games unless a big time opponent
was coming in and their fans are showing up more
(35:34):
so to see, Hey, Kentucky's in town, or Tennessee is
in town. Alberts of town. Now it's hey, our team
has got a chance to knock off another top opponent.
I just I think for Kentucky fans it's always gonna
be tougher when you go on the road. You're gonna
get everybody's best shot. But I think other teams are
going to start to get a little bit of a
(35:54):
feel of what it's like to be a you know,
a mini Kentucky going on the road when they say,
man and people are hey, we used to be just overlooked,
and now things might be ready to rush the court
on us. And that's that's going to be a new
feeling for a lot of these rosters and programs.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
We've got one more segment with Dane coming up. This
is Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio in the UK Sports Network.
A couple of minutes left here with Dane Bradshaw of
the SEC Network in ESPN as we welcome you back
in to Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio and Dane, I
wanted to get your thoughts on who do you think
might be a dark horse in the SEC this year?
(36:31):
Maybe that fringe top twenty team right now, but by
the end of the year you might say, whoa where
did this group come from? A team that's suddenly in
the mix.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
I'm keeping my eye on Georgia. I just I think
they've got they've got some carryover from the year before
they got with now a rising sophomore in Sidelus of
Demery in the back court as well as Blue Tane,
two guys in your back court who had good freshman
season that sometimes in today's era might go elsewhere. Mike
(37:03):
White was able to retain them, and then they added
a superstar freshman kid named asan New out of Mount
Verb that originally from destin Florida. He's been sensational download
so he gives them that inside, outside presence. And this
is kind of Georgia team that, you know, when it
got down to the crunch time, that's usually when they
(37:24):
were not really at their best. A year ago, they
had so many opportunities to close out some big games.
Granted they weren't always the better team on the floor,
but just those last five to ten minutes seemed to
creep up on them. And now here they are sitting
at nine and one, and they've avoided some of those
bad losses and not only that but picked up some
(37:46):
good ones and so you know, it's very simple. But
bottom line is, you will make the NCAA tournament when
the games you're supposed to win and pick up a
few that you're not supposed to win. And Georgia's done that.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
I've got to ask you about Tennessee because defensively they
might be one of the best teams out there this year,
at least what we've seen so far through their schedule,
going on the road and getting a huge win at Illinois.
What do you see out of Tennessee in terms of
the defense and is it elite enough to carry them
where they want to get to this year.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
It is now. I know the numbers can be skewed
some when they hold certain opponents, but you know, the
other night they didn't allow against Western Carolina. They didn't
allow a two point field goal in one of the halfs. Wow,
like they just they're scoring eighty one a game and
they're giving up fifty five. That's insane. I don't know,
regardless of having a few of those weaker opponents, but
(38:42):
you talk about not playing down to your competition, I
mean they're ready to play and go, you know, go
all out, whether they're going up against Baylor or Illinois
that they've had on their schedule, or if it's a
Western Carolina and so they are. There's an intimidation factor
and nobody wants to have to play Tennessee because of
(39:05):
that defense. That doesn't mean teams won't want to embrace
that and say, hey, we're about to go prove that
we're the tougher team. It's not just Tennessee. And that's
that's gonna be good bulletin boar material. But it's gonna
be one of those where you got to say, hey,
this might not be my career night. This isn't about
me trying to go for twenty on Tennessee. We're just
going to have to grind this thing out, and I
think you I think you can. I mean, Illinois showed
(39:27):
that despite the foul trouble Tennessee had, but to where
you probably want to try to win the game and
keep keep it in that sixty to seventy range because
it's gonna be hard to get much more than that
against this Tennessee team. But they've they've got some As
Jay Billis has pointed out, they're more consistent offensively. Obviously
(39:47):
Dalton connect would bail them out at times last year,
but they're just a little bit more consistent all around
offensively to where their defense and our offense didn't put
so much pressure on their defense to win the game.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Dane, we appreciate you taking some time with us for
the show this week. We hope you and yours have
a very merry Christmas and a happy Holidays, and man,
we look forward to getting this thing off the ground
come January.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
You got it the same to you guys, and really
appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Again. He's Dane Bradshaw of the SEC Network and ESPN.
That's going to do it for our show this week.
Reminder that next Monday, December thirtieth, will debut the Bluegrass
Hearing Clinic Kenny Brooks Show for the twenty twenty four
season as the Kentucky women's team gets ready for SEC play.
So we'll have the Coach brook Show beginning at seven
(40:36):
o'clock and then Clark's Pumping Shot BBN Radio at seven thirty.
We hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season
this week, enjoyed time off with your family and friends.
For all of us here at the UK Sports Network,
we wish you Merry Christmas and happy holidays. This is
Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio and you've been listening to
the UK Sports Network
Merry Christmas and happy Holidays. Everybody. Welcome into a special
edition of Clark's Pumpin' Shop BBN Radio. This week we're
going to preview the SEC. The league play for men's
and women's basketball is just around the corner. It starts
in January, so we thought we would take this week
to chat with some special guests about the upcoming season
(00:23):
and how they think Kentucky's done so far and where
Kentucky might fit in to these SEC races. So coming
up tonight on Clark's Pumpin's Shop BBN Radio, we'll have
Christy Thomas Scutty from SEC Network ESPN. She covers a
lot of women's basketball. She's seen Kentucky, she was at
Big Blue Madness. We'll chat with her about the women's
basketball team and the job that Kenny Brooks has done.
(00:45):
We will also hear from Dane Bradshaw of the SEC
Network at ESPN about the Kentucky men's team and just
to remind her. Next Monday night, we debut the Bluegrass
here in Clinic Kenny Brooks Show at seven o'clock. Bb
IN Radio will follow at seven point thirty. So an
exciting show coming up. We've got lots to get to
with Christy and Dane, so we'll go ahead and take
(01:08):
a time out and when we come back, we'll chat
with Christy Thomas Scutty about the Kentucky women's team and
year one under Kenny Brooks. This is Clark's Puppin Shop
BBN Radio on the UK Sports Network. We welcome you
back into Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio here on the
UK Sports Network, and I am excited to have a
special guest with us this week as we preview the
(01:30):
league portion of the basketball schedule. We're talking women's basketball
with SEC and ESPN Network analyst Christy Thomas Scutty and Christy. Obviously,
before we jump into basketball, I know the holidays are here,
so let me just wish you and yours a happy
Holidays and Merry Christmas right off the bat.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I appreciate that, Dan, you know, as a follow basketball coach,
it's still weird for me to actually get a holiday break.
So I'm going to take you everything I get and
spend the time with the family, no.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Doubt about it. Without question, we're all looking forward to that.
We're also looking forward to the SEC portion of the
schedule beginning But before we jump into that, I want
to ask you about this Kentucky team because you got
to see him at Big Blue Madness, and I know
you've got to turn their games on here and there
and watch a little bit as you try to study
all the teams in the league. First of all, watch
(02:18):
stands out about the way you have seen this team
kind of come together with all these brand new players,
new faces, new coaches and put together what has been
thus far an impressive record through the non conference portion
of the schedule.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well there, Before I answer that, what I want to
say is a comment I made back last April when
it was announced that Kenny Brooks is coming to Kentucky,
and that is that the SEC just got a lot better.
And that's my respect for Kenny as a coach, how
he develops players. And so now to take that to
answer your question, nothing that I've seen so far surprisingly
(02:54):
about Kentucky because it's the way Kenny, it's this culture,
it's his staff thing about it. And oh yeah, it's
Georgia Amore as the main leader who just brings everybody together.
You know, the two practices they got to watch. Amore's
voice was as I was, as any coach like they
were in a film session and she was the one
directing her teammates of this is what you had to do.
(03:17):
And that's so rare this day and age. You know,
I said at the time, when you when you see
a true point guard on the floor, you're looking at
one of the top teams in the country because it's
just a position we just don't see someone excel at anymore.
We have people who bring the bout before, but not
those true point guards. And that's what Kentucky has in
phase and Georgia aymore.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
And obviously as a graduate senior or a fifth year senior,
she has seen so much Christy, but I was so
impressed at Purdue. The boiler Makers threw a ton of
weird defenses at her, things like boxing one and and
you know some of these different junk defenses they call
them that you don't see many times. She recognized them
almost immediately. Kentucky adjusted. They took her off the ball,
(04:01):
they got her on the nail in the middle of
the zone. She got open looks. But for me, it's
just the amazing ability she has to get open to
get shots, especially when defenses are concentrating on her.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Well I think, you know, most teams are trying to
attack the head and snake and that's to her day Moore,
and so not surprised at all. Everybody's throwing the kitchen
sink at her. But I'd be shocked if theything's new,
because she's always been this way. She's always been the
leader on the floor, getting the ball not to the
(04:34):
right person, but to the right person in the right
way to make it easy for them to score. And
I think with so many new pieces around her, I mean, yes,
there's playing experience and not with her, not in Gunny system.
If I was an opposing coach, I would try that
now as we're all seeing most teams are failing at that.
(04:54):
And so her ball IQ is just tremendous and truly
it's extension of Kenny Brooks and his staff on the
floor and that's just so rare. I mean, that says
Kenny three timeouts a night, no doubt, that he doesn't
have to call time out to make that adjustment. George's
doing it for him.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
No doubt. And that's how as as a player you
get over two thousand points scored and approaching seven hundred
and thirty assists on her career. But there's some other
players I'd love to get your thoughts on, in particular
Tianni Key, because as important as Georgia is to this team,
I feel like Tianni, for lack of a better pun,
(05:32):
is a key for this group because of the way
she plays, the way she rebounds in that foe position.
She can be a matchup nightmare most nights against most teams.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I was gonna agree, like, she's a young lady coming
out of high school. I was following because obviously know
who her sister is in the SEC, and you know,
it's one of those things that when I watched her play,
I'm like, this is a different young lady. You know,
this is where the transfer foil is a good thing. Yeah,
because she got a new start and I think we're
seeing her really blossom on her team system. And Kenny
(06:04):
has been point blank about it. He needs her to
be good. He needs her to be assertive for one
to take crush off of Georgia, one to open up
the inside game. But I do think she is a
matchup issue and she's one of the I mean, let's
we're gonna talk about Georgia Amore throughout the season. She's
one who has me able to stay on the floor
for Kentucky to make a deep run.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
And not only is she rebounding, but she's blocking shots.
And Christy, it's so impressive to see her timing on
these block shots. She'll get called for her share one
or two fouls a game, but she's blocking these shots clean.
Her timing is really impressive in that low post area.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
She's an explosive leaper, she has wingspan, she has a
knack for the ball. I mean, because it's not just
the block, it's also coming up in her rebound avers.
I mean, she's almost at a double double right now,
and so nothing that she has shown me so far
surprises me. I just think this young lady is playing
with a lot of confidence, and she's finally showing us
(07:02):
what I think we've all been waiting for to see.
From Tank, we.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Could break down the entire starting five. Amelia Hassen is
unconscious right now. From three Deja Lawrence is an incredibly
experienced and explosive score. But you concentrate on all those
people Georgia Amore and etc. Christy, and all of a
sudden you forget, oh yeah, there's that six foot five
sophomore out of Buffalo standing at the center, Clara Strack,
and she has just been incredible and it almost makes
(07:29):
you forget that she's only nineteen years old. She's still growing.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
You know, when I watched her footwork, I was like,
oh my word, we're back to Virginia Tech right now,
you know. I mean, like, that's how much she is
ready for the spotlight. And this is where again, I mean,
I think opposing coaches has to pick their poison and
how they're going to decide to stand Kentucky this season. Now,
I will say this, I think the starting five for
(07:55):
Kentucky in my mind, they're top five in the league.
It could be anybody, I think right now, until some
of those bodies get back. That's my concerns for this
ball club because, as you just said, we've gone through
almost every starter right now, and they're all prime time
SEC players.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Our conversation with Christy Thomas Scutty will continue right after this.
It's Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio here on the UK
Sports Network. Welcome back to Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio
as we continue our chat with Christy Thomas Scutdy of
the SEC Network and ESPN. Let me ask you to
put your coaching cap on about this Kentucky team, because
they've got three players that are essentially averaging ten rebounds
(08:36):
a game. How daunting is that to prepare for as
a head coach?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
It's hard. I mean, you think about this league and
it has been built around defension rebounding, and so you
know he's got a different kind of defense too than
what we've been used to seeing in the SEC. And
I'm really eager to see how teams really try to
attack that. But the rebounding piece, it's like we dare
to make a shot because if you don't, we're getting
(09:02):
the rebound, and we know whose hands IS's going to
get on that ball, and that's George A. Moore, And
then we're pushing it down. We're running it down your throat.
And so I think it is one of those things
that starts. You might not see it first quarter, but
you start seeing it later in games where teams know
we miss, we're running in transition because we don't have
a chance to get those second third opportunities. And the
(09:23):
best teams in this league are the ones that are
winning the offensive glass.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
What do you like most about the style of defense
that coach Brooks plays because it's not a style that
wears down opponents mentally with the press and turnovers. But
we have seen him and his team this year at
Kentucky and at Virginia Tech as well. They wear down
opponents because they force you into bad shots. It's almost
like a Venus fly trap. They just lure you in
(09:49):
and then all of a sudden they clamp down and
force you into bad looks or bad possessions, and it
feels like that just starts weighing on teams by the
fourth quarter.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Again, this is not a you know, our games in
such bad strait right now, but the basketball IQ is
not then elite the last couple of seasons. And that's
why another reason why I love Kingy's defense, because he's
making you feed him. He's sitting back and his teams
(10:19):
are so repped, they're so fundamental on the defensive end
that you made that one mistake that gonna pound and
they're going to make you pay for it. And it
is You're absolutely right, it's not wear you out physically,
but I think for point guards there's definitely a straight
on you to make sure that you stay dialed in
for forty minutes or they will exploit you.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, we're chatting with Christy Thomas Scutty from the SEC
Network in ESPN sort of a preview of the SEC
on the women's side of basketball. The transfer portal is
obviously a huge story and it will likely continue to
be one going forward because these off these not offenses,
but these rosters have become so transient. When we were
(11:02):
at North Carolina, Debbie Antonelli and Beth Mullens were working
our game, Christy, and they both brought up an interesting point,
And I'd love to get your thoughts on this. Outside
of TCU, in the Big twelve, Maryland and the Big Ten,
has there been a transfer or transfer portal class that
has made a bigger impact than the one that coach
(11:24):
Brooks has brought to Kentucky this year.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
No, again, you can call it that. Moments I said this,
really do I agree with that, But I'll miss what
I'm going to agree. You know, kind of the running
joke is that it's Blacksburg West because Kenny brought his system,
he brought his staff, and how do you build any programs?
You build it around your point guard and your five
(11:48):
and so because he brought those two key pieces who
know him, know his system. It just beeds the learning
curve for everyone else. As I already talked about Georgia
kind of running up a film session. You just don't
have to say it, she's saying. And we all know
that when Georgia seeks people listen, no doubt. And so
(12:08):
without a doubt this has been I mean you almost
equate it to Colorado football when Dion took over two
years ago. You know what I mean, that's just how
monumental it is.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
In my mind, is that where you think the biggest
impact has been on changing the game. Bigger picture overall
is that now a new coach can come into a
program and if he needs or she needs to, they
can turn this thing around in a year, maybe two
years if they get the right transfers in. It's no
longer a three to four year build. You can turn
(12:39):
this thing around pretty quick in hoops if you get
the right transfers right off the bat.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
I mean absolutely, and I have so much respect for
Tim Multy, but when LSU won the championship in her
second year, I said, oh, is not this doesn't both
well for coaches because now you've got a lot of
administrations out there. I think you should be able to
turn things around that quickly. But Kim did it through
the portals, you know, Eric Freedan. I had the chance
to do Stanford at LSU two weeks ago. And you
(13:07):
talk about the makeup of two teams. You know, Stamford
very difficult to get transferred in. They have their first
one in like twenty years, or first two in like
twenty years. And yet you see how LSU has really
built it the key part and now they're bringing all
these you know McDonald's all Americans, so it is a
quick way to do it. Now. You talk to coaches,
(13:30):
you know, especially coaches who have done it a long time,
that they do it because they have to, but it's
not the way they want to do it, you know.
I know most coaches miss that development of young people
and having the patients, having the young players have the
patience to know, I got to buy my time. And
then when at the third time they're gonna you know,
they're going to be great. That's that's the downside, you know.
(13:52):
And you see it more and more. No one is
carrying a full fifteen roster spot, you know, women's basketball
because they're saving the scholarship for the Cornal.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
We've got a final segment with Christy Thomas Scutty coming
up around the corner. Stay tuned. It's Clark's Pupping Shop
BBN Radio here on the UK Sports Network. Welcome back
into Clark's Pupping Shop BBN Radio. We've got a final
segment here with Christy Thomas Scutty, who's kind enough to
join us from the SEC network in ESPN and Christy
talking about this transfer portal when it first started, I
(14:24):
think one of the bigger concerns was between that and
the nil that the rich would get richer. But I
feel like we've kind of seen more parody grow from
this transfer portal. South Carolina is still South Carolina. LSU
under Kim Moulki is still going to be LSU. But
I feel like the SEC race this year is pretty
wide open. You could almost argue there might be four,
(14:46):
maybe five teams that if things break right, they could
win this league this year.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Don't you wrong? What Don Serry has done that's the
same next books remarkable. But this is the most excited
I had said about se the play probably as long
as I've done this job, because I one hundred percent
agree with you, Darren. I think it's truly gonna be
the game and every song football this season. There's no
equal scheduling. We know in the SEC you got a
(15:14):
home and away with one partner, and we know that
home court advantage is truly legitimized now in the SEC.
And so when you play a team, do you get
to play to that homer? Are you on the road?
Is it a Thursday game? Are you coming off another
road game? That scheduling dynamic is really good, I think
going to come into play and who winds up winning
(15:36):
the regular season in the SEC.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Yeah, And I was just looking at the records as
we sit here. There are seven teams already with double
digit wins, and there are nine teams that I count
with one loss or no losses. It's just been a
really impressive run in the non conference. I know they've
been talking about that on the men's side. It needs
to be talked about on the women's side too, because
(15:59):
the SEC has really dominated through the early portions. Well,
let's call it the first two months of the season.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I mean, Darren, you and I both grew up in
SEC country, where it's always about football. Well, I think
we're flipping the script now and that basketball is so
relevant in the SEC, and it's been investment by administrations
and I mean look top to bottom of the SEC coaches. Yeah,
I mean I would love to sit in some of
the game planning meetings that these coaches are having to
(16:27):
attack one another, because there's some brilliance on the sideline
every night in the SEC. And that's why, again it's
going to be a gauntlet for our coaches and players
to go through this SEC season. It already was. Now
you add Texas and you had Oklahoma a little bit
further road trip for some teams, and two top ten
(16:50):
teams in the country right now, and it's going to
get really I mean, I don't there's no way someone
goes to the regular season undfeating. I said this a
couple of times now. I just it's too much respect
for our coaches and players and the level of skill
and athleticism that we have in this league. If someone
doesn't hash off to him, they deserve a number one
(17:12):
seed by nine. But I still think every night you
got to bring it. And I think you know, injury,
as we always we know, will always come into play,
but even more so now because you know, heaven forbid,
you know you've got a starter as in miss two games. Well,
if those are against you know, key competition, what happens, right, And.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
I am so excited to see the talent go up
against each other. You and I could sit here for
another probably hour two hours and talk about the star
players around the league. I remember voting on the media
preseason all Conference selections. I sit there for ten minutes
trying to decide amongst four or five players who I
(17:57):
thought deserve to be the preseason Player of the year.
It's just amazing the depth of the talent. And I
mean you look at who's leading the league in scoring
right now individually, and it's a player from Arkansas. It's
is he higginbottom? You think about the stars at LSU
and South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and so on. Arkansas's got
the top scorer in.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
The league is humbling, to say the least. And you
know this is where when you look at those top
five and I throw Kentucky and Tennessee in there, you'll
say top sixteens right now and actually Alabama as well. Yes,
such balance scoring is what we're seeing amongst the top
(18:36):
teams in the SEC, which, as from the coaches or seconds,
really difficult to stop for because any of those teams
top players think, go for thirty when I talk in ten,
when I talk in twenty, to go for thirty on
any given nights.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I'm glad you brought up Alabama because obviously LSU, South Carolina, Texas,
and Oklahoma there's going to be a lot of chatter
about those four teams. But is Alabama potentially that sleeper
or dark horse that might sneak up there this year
and make some noise because coach Curry's squad has been
putting up some impressive scores against competition through the first
(19:13):
two months.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
I don't disagree with whatsoever. I mean, I think what
Christy has as a veteran team, you add Bakeren, which
I think anyone's been around the SEC knows what this
young lady can do on the basketball court. And then
I mean, when you talk about just a great leader,
you have to talk about fair Ashtley Barker, and so
I think she's got veteran leaderships, she's got players who
(19:36):
can shoot the three, she's got playmakers, and you've got
a post player essence. Cody has improved down low, and
so you know, I think someone Alabama's that team always
that I think sneaks up and I'm always like, how
is this team sticking up on people? Christy's been consistent
with you know what she is built there. So out
(20:00):
of respect for Alabama, I'm not going to say they're
going to sneak up on anybody, because this is, you know,
a team that's made me kaa tournament consecutive years now.
But what I will say is I wouldn't be surprised again.
I mean, we saw it last year they finished fourth.
Could they sneak up in there?
Speaker 3 (20:17):
Now?
Speaker 2 (20:17):
We know with two new teams that's going to make
it a lot more difficult, But I wouldn't be surprised
to see that Tennessee is a team that I mean,
obviously everyone had them ranked low, but this system is
proving that you've got to have multiple guards who can
handle the pressure and the other one. Right now, I
don't think people are talking about enough of Auburn. I
think what Johnny has done, We've always done. The defense
(20:39):
is there. She's bought some players who's been score in
now and so that's another one I got my eye
on and let's talk forget Vanderbilt. I mean, they just
see getting some top players in that fit Shay system,
and so I mean, you know, we can talk about
the top four, top five or six, but I mean,
(20:59):
no part of me would I mean, I think ten
is a realistic number, if not eleven, for the SEC
to make it into the tournament.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
And that was going to bring me to my final
question for you. And we appreciate you being on with
us with the PAC twelve no longer taking up spots
because those teams are in the Big Ten and the
Big twelve for the most part. Now, does that open
the door for the SEC to get more into the
NCAA tournament versus what they might have had in prior
years because you have a power conference that's no longer there.
(21:29):
And so okay, well, here's like you said, maybe an
opportunity if you're the tenth or eleventh seed in the conference,
now you've got a chance to get in there and
make some noise in the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
You can't just say it's a benefit for the SEC,
because then you look at the ACC and the Big
Ten as well, we're all going to have more teams
in I mean the one power four who I don't
think it's really gonna help per se And maybe I'm
wrong in that because of Utah and Colorado is the
Big twelve. But already I think the last thing I
saw with ESPN's early season projections was in twelve for
(22:01):
the Big ten to get in ten for the ACC
and ten for the SEC. And so I think it's
it gets really interesting, you know, and this is where
you know it's coach speaks, but beats the teams you're
supposed to beat. I think the other piece that's really
going to I'm really easer to see over the next
three or four years is how coaches scheduled because of
(22:21):
the gauntlet of everybody's conference seasons. I've always been an opponent.
Our game is not there yet. And yes we had
historical year years on ratings and attendants and everything, Well
we're not there yet. And so that that's always my
message to coaches. Continue to schedule the big the big
game passed off to John Staley and how she's scheduled,
(22:43):
because it's important for our game to attract the new viewers.
And you know, I'm not going to be a hypocritic
because they also know you can't schedule ten Power four
teams in the non conference and then go through your
conference schedule, you know. But I do believe that we're
seeing more than these mtees because we all want the
(23:04):
good matchups. And you and I began this conversation. We're
ready to get the real games going because we're tired
of some of these blowouts. But as the SEC continues
to grow in popularity and continues to elevate itself because
of the coaches and players, I'm not going to be
surprised to see this league get twelve teams in and
in your future.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Yeah, it really is exciting. I can't wait to get
the league schedule started to see these teams go at
each other. It's going to be a war every night
Thursday and Sunday. And I'll be there with Kentucky and
Christy Thomas Scuddy will be there on the SEC network
in ESPN. I guess you're with Eric again this year.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
I go where they tell me. So far as they
live in a number time, someone's got to keep them
out of trouble, So I think that's right.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
That's right. Hey, Christy, thank you so much for taking
some time to join us, and we look forward to
seeing you at Historic Memorial Coliseum or maybe somewhere down
the road in the SEC that fury. Thank you, Dan,
and that's Christy Thomas Scuddy the SEC Network and ESPN.
Stay tuned. We'll have more of Clark's Pumping Shop BBN
Radio coming up. This is the UK Sports Network. Welcome
(24:13):
back into Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio here on the
UK Sports Network and we've got another great guests lined
up for you this week. We just talked to Christy
Thomas Scuddy about the women's side of SEC hoops this year,
and now we're going to get ready to talk about
the men's side as Dane Bradshaw of the SEC Network
and ESPN joins us and Dane, first of all, thanks
(24:34):
for the time, man. I know this is an exciting
part of the year as you wrap up non conference
play and man, the SEC is just around the corner.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Man, it's awesome. I don't see any reason why. I
think the hardest part of their schedule for conference or
non conference for the most part in the SEC is
behind them. So now you just avoid some of these
flip ups right before the holidays or ru that might
occur as you overlook a bonus because man, if the
(25:03):
SEC can just wrap up this incredible nonconference, you feel
like they're playing with house money going into conference play
and no.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Doubt about it. And when you look at the University
of Kentucky under first year coach Mark Pope, Dane, how
would you describe the job that Coach Pope, his staff
and these players have done. When you think about this
group already has wins over Gonzaga, They've got to win
over Duke, and they just beat their biggest rival of
Louisville at Rupp Arena, how would you describe the job
(25:30):
they've done in year one so far?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
It's Beenson say so on I think they have sold
themselves to this fan base that was so eager to
get behind a team. And look, I think a lot
of the frustration for the fan base was more on
games that they felt like they should have won and
the way seasons ended. Because you look back the year ago,
it's not like they didn't have a very likable team.
(25:54):
Last year. People loved that team. It just didn't go
as far as they wanted. But Mark Pope, after a
couple of days of digesting that higher, you guys know
better than me, everybody really came around to it. Then
you see the just a sensational press conference. You know,
it's hard not to win a press conference. People are
but man, you talk about just dominating in a runaway
(26:16):
victory with a press conference, he did it and so
and they've just kept that momentum throughout and the players
have come and faced adversity, they've been down, they've made adjustments,
all these things that have have just really made this
team such a likable group to watch. And I think
everybody also understands that they're they're you know, exceeding expectations.
(26:41):
And I think those expectations are tempered a little bit
because it's no disrespect to the roster, but I think
most fans realize, hey, this is not going to be
the most talented team night in, night out when you
step on the court.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
UH.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
And the fact that they're able to go toe to
toe with with everybody and they have overlooked opponent UH,
certainly is a joy to watch. And you know they
and I think they're mature enough. Coach Pope understands Kentucky
more than any coach ever could. He's composed enough because
because the worst is yet to come, for their season
(27:17):
in terms of I mean, they haven't they have not
experienced a losing streak. And with this type of SEC
and Kentucky is not alone on this, There's gonna be
some top twenty five teams sit there and say, oh
my gosh, we hadn't won a game in two weeks.
You know, a three to four game losing streak is
not unheard of. And so those those are the things
where all these teams are going to face some of that.
(27:41):
But it should it should be a great ide and
and I think that the best thing for the league
as a whole, of course, is is that if you
lose a few games, you've done your work in November
December to where it shouldn't hurt your resume too much
as long as you don't let that losing streak extend
too far.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
We've got to take a quick time out to get
caught back up. We'll continue with Dane Bradshaw right after this.
It's the UK Sports Network chatting with Dane Bradshaw here
on Clark's Pumping Shot BBN Radio. He is an analyst
for ESPN and the SEC Network and Dane, when you
think about the job that coach Pope, his staff and
(28:18):
players have done to this point, and how dynamic the
offense is. You played on some dynamic offenses. How difficult
is it when you've got a bunch of brand new
players like this, a new system, a new coach to
be able to do offensively what this team has done
so far and average over ninety points and be one
(28:40):
of the top offenses in the country. Just appreciate that
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
Yeah, I think it starts with an unselfishness. And when
you recruit what three former defensive players of the year,
like the defensive Player of the Year, guys are typically
never selfish players. I don't know as many. Then you got,
you know, a guy like Almanor, that Almanor that comes,
you know to his dream school, knows that he's probably
(29:08):
gonna be behind some guys that says, look at this
is this is where I've always wanted to be. And
these guys, while coach Popas certainly coached them up on
what a privilege it is to play for Kentucky, I
think a lot of those guys just had that natural
appreciation for the team and the opportunity, and then they've
been further educated and sort of nurtured to enhance that
(29:31):
even more so, I think it starts with the quality
of the players and the individual and most coaches will
tell you as they're going through a transfer portal, everybody
in the transfer portal typically is coming to get an
upgrade and not to be a role player. But there's
exceptions to that. I think guys have come in saying, hey,
I'm the make most of us and if I'm a starter, great,
(29:52):
If I've got to come off the bench, got it.
And I'd love to lead the team in scoring. But
if I got to be the third score instead, I'll
do that. And I think that just is it is
very noticeable as you watch this team play and look,
it's it's to me in a lot of ways, an
equal opportunity offense. There's a lot of motion to it.
There's a lot of dribble handoffs, of course. But what
(30:14):
I really like too is if teams start taking a
certain thing away, Mark Pope is not afraid to start
doing more set play calls and saying, you know what,
we're just going to post up Andrew Cock or you
know we got to get the ball to Jackson and
just kind of get out of the way. You know,
whatever the game calls for, they'll they'll make those necessary adjustments.
(30:37):
And and obviously it was really cool to see Lamont
Butler have such a career offensive game the other night.
But his is certainly his defense being the head of
the snake, because I think a lot of teams are
still going to look at Kentucky and say, let's test
their physicality. And it doesn't mean they're not tough people
or or tough players, or they've priven to be mentally tough,
(30:58):
but how physical of a team can they be? And
I think teams are going to try to punk them.
And when Lamont Butler's out there as that head of
the snake, the same way a guy like Si Kai
Ziegler is for Tennessee, there's something about that leader at
that spot on the perimeter that permeates and strengthens the
(31:18):
rest of the rest of the guys from the physical standpoint.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Chatting with Dane Bradshaw of the SEC Network in ESPN,
and we've already talked a little bit about the SEC
but let's dive into it because it is just around
the corner. Man. When you look Dane at just the
top twenty five alone, you see three SEC teams in
the top five. I think there's five in the top ten,
and then eight in the top twenty. I don't ever
(31:44):
remember this league has always been good, but I don't
ever remember it being this deep in terms of teams
that might jump up there and make a Final four.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Certainly not in the SEC. And right now the numbers
don't lie. And I mean, it wasn't like a historic
season for a conference. Of course, you want to be
in the file four, and you want to win the
national championship with the non conference and number of teams
getting into in the NCAA tournament, and then also like
(32:18):
that the percentage of teams in your league. So you
could argue, well, they got more teams in their conferences
than some other conferences, so of course they might have
more teams. No, this thing is is legit, and you
compare it to some of the great Big East seasons
or ACC or Big twelve, and lo and behold, the
SEC is there. And I was told by the other day,
(32:39):
I know NILS has certainly changed the landscape of college basketball.
But if some schools trying to say, well, yeah, the
SEC is, you know, they're just spending more on n
I l I don't know if they are or aren't,
but I know it wasn't just an il. This has
been a decade of steps upward for this league with facilities, hires,
(33:00):
scheduling all these things to where when nil came into
the picture, it was just another piece of the puzzle
to say, hey, we're going to do that really well too.
And so I think that the league has just done
a tremendous job. And you guys have seen it before,
Like you look at the schedule for a Kentucky or
whatever whoever your team is. Obviously I'm talking to most
(33:21):
of the Kentucky fans on this show, but usually you
look at that conference planet like, oh man, that back
half of January lightens up a little bit, or what
like you can't find that now to say, I like,
right now in the SEC if you were to just
forecast and say I can't believe we lost, to fill
(33:41):
in the blank, like there's not a team you would
insert into that blank as an inexplicable loss. Right now,
everybody is a legit threat without it being coached.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
No, you're exactly right, And I was just thinking you
brought it up a little bit among the many ways
that this league is proved. But just in the head
coaches that are in this league. Now you've got Mark
here at Kentucky, You've got Rick Barnes at Tennessee, Bruce
Pearl at Auburn, you know, Natoates at Alabama. You can
go on and on, John Caliperiot Arkansas, Beard at Old
miss The list of incredible coaches just goes on and
(34:19):
on in this league. And it's really fun to see.
It's going to be fun to see the nightly matchups
among these head coaches and how they adjust in this league.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
Yeah, and I tell you what's nice for Kentucky. And
while Kentucky's always going to get everybody's best shot before
everybody's super Bowl, the good news is it's not going
to be just them. It might be a little bit
louder for Kentucky as it always is. But guess what
when Mississippi State rolls into you know, maybe Oklahoma, that's
(34:52):
prot that's going to be a you know, a pretty
big matchup because it's going to be top twenty five
two tournament teams. So fan there might not be the
rivalries and the target on the back of some of
these schools that you traditionally aren't used to seeing being
so competitive. But when there's that rank number next to
them and your team at home is that competitive. You're
(35:12):
not just showing up to watch the opponent. You're showing
up to watch your team because because your your team
is relevant at this point in the season and you're
playing meaningful games. And in the past, so many times
it was, you know, maybe twenty five percent of the
league weren't playing meaningful games unless a big time opponent
was coming in and their fans are showing up more
(35:34):
so to see, Hey, Kentucky's in town, or Tennessee is
in town. Alberts of town. Now it's hey, our team
has got a chance to knock off another top opponent.
I just I think for Kentucky fans it's always gonna
be tougher when you go on the road. You're gonna
get everybody's best shot. But I think other teams are
going to start to get a little bit of a
(35:54):
feel of what it's like to be a you know,
a mini Kentucky going on the road when they say,
man and people are hey, we used to be just overlooked,
and now things might be ready to rush the court
on us. And that's that's going to be a new
feeling for a lot of these rosters and programs.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
We've got one more segment with Dane coming up. This
is Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio in the UK Sports Network.
A couple of minutes left here with Dane Bradshaw of
the SEC Network in ESPN as we welcome you back
in to Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio and Dane, I
wanted to get your thoughts on who do you think
might be a dark horse in the SEC this year?
(36:31):
Maybe that fringe top twenty team right now, but by
the end of the year you might say, whoa where
did this group come from? A team that's suddenly in
the mix.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
I'm keeping my eye on Georgia. I just I think
they've got they've got some carryover from the year before
they got with now a rising sophomore in Sidelus of
Demery in the back court as well as Blue Tane,
two guys in your back court who had good freshman
season that sometimes in today's era might go elsewhere. Mike
(37:03):
White was able to retain them, and then they added
a superstar freshman kid named asan New out of Mount
Verb that originally from destin Florida. He's been sensational download
so he gives them that inside, outside presence. And this
is kind of Georgia team that, you know, when it
got down to the crunch time, that's usually when they
(37:24):
were not really at their best. A year ago, they
had so many opportunities to close out some big games.
Granted they weren't always the better team on the floor,
but just those last five to ten minutes seemed to
creep up on them. And now here they are sitting
at nine and one, and they've avoided some of those
bad losses and not only that but picked up some
(37:46):
good ones and so you know, it's very simple. But
bottom line is, you will make the NCAA tournament when
the games you're supposed to win and pick up a
few that you're not supposed to win. And Georgia's done that.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
I've got to ask you about Tennessee because defensively they
might be one of the best teams out there this year,
at least what we've seen so far through their schedule,
going on the road and getting a huge win at Illinois.
What do you see out of Tennessee in terms of
the defense and is it elite enough to carry them
where they want to get to this year.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
It is now. I know the numbers can be skewed
some when they hold certain opponents, but you know, the
other night they didn't allow against Western Carolina. They didn't
allow a two point field goal in one of the halfs. Wow,
like they just they're scoring eighty one a game and
they're giving up fifty five. That's insane. I don't know,
regardless of having a few of those weaker opponents, but
(38:42):
you talk about not playing down to your competition, I
mean they're ready to play and go, you know, go
all out, whether they're going up against Baylor or Illinois
that they've had on their schedule, or if it's a
Western Carolina and so they are. There's an intimidation factor
and nobody wants to have to play Tennessee because of
(39:05):
that defense. That doesn't mean teams won't want to embrace
that and say, hey, we're about to go prove that
we're the tougher team. It's not just Tennessee. And that's
that's gonna be good bulletin boar material. But it's gonna
be one of those where you got to say, hey,
this might not be my career night. This isn't about
me trying to go for twenty on Tennessee. We're just
going to have to grind this thing out, and I
think you I think you can. I mean, Illinois showed
(39:27):
that despite the foul trouble Tennessee had, but to where
you probably want to try to win the game and
keep keep it in that sixty to seventy range because
it's gonna be hard to get much more than that
against this Tennessee team. But they've they've got some As
Jay Billis has pointed out, they're more consistent offensively. Obviously
(39:47):
Dalton connect would bail them out at times last year,
but they're just a little bit more consistent all around
offensively to where their defense and our offense didn't put
so much pressure on their defense to win the game.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Dane, we appreciate you taking some time with us for
the show this week. We hope you and yours have
a very merry Christmas and a happy Holidays, and man,
we look forward to getting this thing off the ground
come January.
Speaker 3 (40:11):
You got it the same to you guys, and really
appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Again. He's Dane Bradshaw of the SEC Network and ESPN.
That's going to do it for our show this week.
Reminder that next Monday, December thirtieth, will debut the Bluegrass
Hearing Clinic Kenny Brooks Show for the twenty twenty four
season as the Kentucky women's team gets ready for SEC play.
So we'll have the Coach brook Show beginning at seven
(40:36):
o'clock and then Clark's Pumping Shot BBN Radio at seven thirty.
We hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season
this week, enjoyed time off with your family and friends.
For all of us here at the UK Sports Network,
we wish you Merry Christmas and happy holidays. This is
Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio and you've been listening to
the UK Sports Network
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