April 1, 2025 • 27 mins
Darren Headrick gets you caught up on all things UK Athletics presented by Clark's Pump-n-Shop. Show is live from 7:30-8pm ET.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Across the forty here sidey five means as he's got
a house, damn fun touch.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Down Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
From the UK Sports Network. This is Clark's Pumpin' Shop,
Big Blue Nation Radio.
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Second for one, make the turn, got him, Game's over, Kentucky.
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Wab interact with the show by calling eight five nine
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Or tweet the show at UK Sports Network.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
Hi for the eighth time college basketball National Championship Trophy
is coming home to Kentucky.
Speaker 6 (00:54):
Now, your host Tarreon Hendrick, Hello everybody, and welcome in
to Clark's Pumpinshop BBN Radio. This is our final show
of the season. When we appreciate you for joining us
here tonight. Our guest with us, Andrew kappis the man
who covers Kentucky men's basketball from the studio, hosting halftime
(01:15):
in postgame. He also fills in for us doing volleyball, softball, baseball,
whatever he can get behind the mic for We appreciate
Andrew for being with us. Andrew. Let's dive right into
it the aftermath of the men's basketball season. The team
eliminated in the Sweet sixteen and now the offseason is here.
But before we dive into the future and the roster
(01:35):
construction this offseason, just to look back on what was
a fantastic year, great job by head coach Mark Pope
in year number one. This was a team that the
fans loved, with a lot of talent and a lot
of great wins.
Speaker 7 (01:48):
This year.
Speaker 8 (01:49):
Yeah, I don't think the fan base has ever been
this happy.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
I wouldn't say happy, but positive, I guess after a
Sweet sixteen exit. And I think that the simple fact is,
you look back to April when Mark Tope was hired.
Speaker 8 (02:02):
There was that initial.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Period of just kind of uncertainty that may have lingered
even past the press conference. I think the press conference
certainly alleviated a lot of those concerns, but remember he
had a month or so to put the team together.
And then the thing that I don't remember about this
whole thing, but we're reminded now is that the portal
had been open for a month by the time he
(02:24):
got a job lashed. So the fact he got not
only had to do it in a month, but he
was a month behind everybody else in putting his team together.
It's not like he took a BYU guys with him
and had a team, you know, much like like Louisville
did with a bunch of not a bunch, but a
couple of College of Charleston guys, and like you see
at other places. So the fact he was able to
(02:45):
do what he did on just such a short period
of time with a kind of a hodge podge roster.
And you also take into account how banged up this
team was. Jackson Robinson. I just saw a stat the
other night. I hadn't realized it, but he was playing
his best basketball when he got hurt. I think his
last five games he was averaging eighteen points a game,
shooting over fifty percent from three. So you plug at
(03:07):
healthy Jackson Robinson into that game on Friday night, I
think it's a very very different outcome.
Speaker 8 (03:13):
And I know we don't deal in what.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
Ifs and what could have beens, but that's a simple
fact that that your most dynamic scorer wasn't available in
a game that you really needed a dynamic scorer. And
then Lamont Butler just a warrior, the fact that he
was in so much pain. I think throughout the final
couple months of the year, he put in so much
work just to play and just to play in pain.
(03:35):
And that's how close this team was because that's the
kind of person that Lamont is. So I think so
many characters that DBN fell in love with and will
always love and will always be part of Big Blue Nation.
And it's a really exciting and great end of the
first chapter of the Mark Pope era. And now the
building continues as they say.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Yeah, no doubt about it, and then the portal's already active.
It's amazing how there's no well, there never was an
off season in college athletics, but it's more so now
as soon as the season's over, you're right back getting
ready for the next year. And we can talk about
that more coming up in just a few minutes. But
looking back on this team, and I think you can
throw the Kentucky women in there under first year coach
(04:17):
Kenny Brooks. Just the excitement and the new energy. But
also year one, these guys are beating the rivals. You know,
Mark Pope beats Duke, both of them beat Louisville, both
of them beat Tennessee. It just was a fun and
magical year with those wins bringing the excitement back. And
like you say, you don't want to play the WAF Games,
but you think back when that roster was full strength,
(04:40):
they beat Duke, and Duke looks like one of the
favorites to win the Final four now and to think
about you know, like you said, the would it could
have should as but that was just a special team
this year and a great group to set the foundation
and create the culture going forward under coach Pope.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Fifteen victories, I think you would have taken that every
day of the week, especially on April the twelfth when
the press conference happened, that if you would have said
to everybody outside, all twenty thousand people once they got inside, that.
Speaker 8 (05:12):
You would have eight top fifteen wins.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
I think you would have taken that even blind without
looking at what happened in the tournament. But then you
factor in the two tournament wins to get to the
Sweet sixteen. A lot of narratives that I think people
were afraid were going to become a thing got put
to rest, and maybe the biggest one is just constantly
heard about Mark Pope from outside that Mark Pope had
not won an NCAA tournament game, and that was quickly
(05:37):
put to rest. Then he won a second one against Illinois,
really a bad matchup for Kentucky, that they still handled
relative ease against a very good Illinois team in the
second round. So you put all that to rest the
question of Kenny recruit, Well, look at the high school
recruiting class coming in. And by the way, congrats, big
congrats to Malachai Moreno.
Speaker 8 (05:55):
For the state championship.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
I think I don't know a whole lot about the
prep basketball scene, Daron, Sorry, but I don't want to
divert too much, but I know he had a lot
of pressure, a lot of offers to go outside and
play trep basketball. So I think it's really cool that
he stayed home and was able to cut down the
nets inside rupp Arena.
Speaker 8 (06:14):
But yeah, all those narratives kind of put to rest
in year one.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
Sometimes it takes a couple of years for those narratives
to get it extinguished. And I think just about every
negative narrative was put to rest in year one, So
I don't think you can really ask for much more.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Without question, I completely agree with you and That's why
I think there's so much excitement despite the disappointment of
the season coming to a premature end in the sweet sixteen.
And you've already mentioned some of the guys that really
shine this year, like a LaMonte Butler playing through the
pain and the injuries. Maari Williams was doing the same
thing there in the NCAA Tournament, and if you think
(06:49):
about what Amari meant to this team and the record
kind of year that he had, just a really special
guy that Mark Pope brought in to anchor the center. Man,
It's just there's a lot of fun things to look
back on with this year, and we'll continue to do
that here in just a moment. But first I'd like
to remind everybody about UKSN all Access. It's the best
(07:12):
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Speaker 6 (10:18):
We welcome you back into Clark's Pumpinshop BBN Radio here
on the UK Sports Network. Kind of looking at the
aftermath of the end the men's basketball season with the
run to the Sweet sixteen. And Andrew, I know a
lot of eyes are moving forward with optimism now and
some of the news that we heard today with Kerr
Cresa entering the transfer portal. But as Kentucky looks to
(10:39):
find a starting point guard in the transfer portal, they
also have an outstanding young man coming in and so
Mark Pope going to work now trying to fill that
backcourd in the needs there.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Yeah, I think you look at what Kerr's role would
have been on this team, this team meeting next year's team,
and I think both sides saw that it wasn't going
to be a very big role. And in his last
year of college, eil'tibility. He certainly deserves to be have
a much bigger role than what he would have had
next year, in the role that he would have had
honestly this year had he not gotten hurt. Remember that
that game that he got hurt in against Gonzaga, that
(11:13):
was his first start, and think about all the times
that Amari had to be the point guard, the center,
point center, wherever you want to call it, because Kerr
was hurt, a lot was banged up. But you're right,
they got some exciting young players at Cayden Lewis is
the name that I think is on the prospect ranking,
still a little bit undervalued, which nobody's going to complain about.
Excited to see what he can do. At Kentucky he's
(11:35):
in a more traditional point guard role, and then I
know everybody inside Kentucky Jasper Johnson is really really excited
to see what he can do. He's more of a
combo guard, not sure he's going to run the point
a whole lot, but he's certainly capable of running the point.
Speaker 8 (11:49):
And I think those two guys are going to be really,
really fun to watch next year.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
And Jasper's a guy that, man, if you could have
just got him eligible at seventeen this year, guy that
they could have used because he's a lot like Jackson Robinson,
a guy that is dynamic, that can create his own
shot while also helping get.
Speaker 8 (12:06):
Others their shot.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
And he's one of those guys where if you need
a basket and it seems like nobody else can hit
a basket, he's the guy that wants the ball.
Speaker 8 (12:15):
And you need those guys. You need those guys to
be healthy, and you need those guys.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
To contend and win NCAA Tournament games and go deep
in the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 8 (12:22):
So from a recruiting aspect, just on the high school.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Scene, I think that there's a lot to be excited about.
And then obviously the transfer portal will will hopefully bring
some some fruits as well. Already one commitment before they
even tipped off in the Sweet sixteen from the two
Lane Kit Cam Williams.
Speaker 8 (12:39):
So really exciting stuff on the horizon.
Speaker 6 (12:42):
No doubt, about it, and I was just thinking, barring
any surprises, you expect Mark Pope to bring back roughly
eight or nine guys on the roster this year, and
thinking about a guy like Colin Chandler and some of
the stuff he did, the potential that he flashed at
the end of the year and in the postseason, there's
you know, as excited as you can be for what's
(13:02):
incoming with the new faces, I think equally it's what's
returning guys like Chandler, otega Oway if you know, if
he ends up back, and then Trent Noah and Travis Perry. Uh,
there's a lot of excitement over the guys that are
coming back off this year's team that set the standard.
And so talk a little bit about the roster coming
back because you know, I like I say, Colin Chandler
(13:25):
really stood out, Travis Perry, Trent Noah definitely had moments
this year. And what can you say about otega Oway
coming back.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Yeah, I think we started to see Chandler really scratch
the surface of his potential.
Speaker 8 (13:38):
In the NCAA Tournament.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
He thought he played really well against Illinois and was
a big reason why that game was really never that interesting.
From a from a standpoint of the score, because he
hit some big shots. It seemed like anytime Illinois went
on a run, it was Colin Chandler, so that that
would hit a big to kind of answer and go
bar for bar there. But you mentioned otega Oway. I
think he's the centerpiece of this whole thing, right because
(14:01):
he played so well this year that you certainly couldn't
fault him. If he goes into the combine and they
tell him, hey, you got you got this grade, you
can turn pro, you certainly wouldn't fault him for doing
that because he had such a great year. He showed
that he can be an NBA player. But if you're
able to get him back, and I think there's value
for him to come back, But obviously that's a decision
(14:22):
that he has to make for himself and himself alone,
and I know he's got great people around him that
will will help him make that best choice for him.
But if he can, if he comes back, you're talking
about him being the centerpiece of this team next year.
That can help elevate that draft profile. But from a
Kentucky perspective, all of a sudden, you got a guy
(14:42):
that was that you leaned on for the last couple
of months to make the run. That wasn't expected to
be that guy coming in to this past season, but
there will be no surprises about it next year.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
That he might be the guy if if Kentucky's able
to retain him.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
But again, certainly couldn't fault him if he does try
to explore or attempt to explore the professional option because
he played so well, no.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
Doubt about it, and you know, oh way, I was
just thinking about all the things that he did offensively
that fans remember. The dunks, obviously the shots to beat
Oklahoma in both matchups, but to me, it was the
defense and the way he was able to create offense
off defense, and it was in big moments when the
team really needed it he seemed to just come out
of nowhere and swipe a pass and go the other
(15:25):
way with it. Just his ability to find the basketball
in big moments and score it when this team needed
it throughout the season. I think is like you say,
is why he is going to be a centerpiece to
next year's group.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
Yeah, if you got two guys that can guard on
the perimeter like you had with Lamont Butler, even when
he was hurt and then Otega. Oh, it's just so
difficult because it shows how they play off each other,
because it's not easy to get rid of the ball
when you have two guys like that guarding you on
the perimeter. Whether that's not easy to throw it inside,
and as Otega showed, it's not easy to toss it
(16:01):
outside either, because those guys are just harassing you on defense.
And I think that's an element that if he does
come back, I think that's an element that he's probably
going to elect to focus on because that is something
that NBA scouts will be very interested in seeing growing
because maybe the biggest question mark coming in for him
last year was scoring, and I think he answered that
(16:21):
this year with scoring. And I know with NBA, with shooting,
everybody can get better at shooting. And I know that's
going to be a big focus of his game in
the offseason and then early next season as well.
Speaker 6 (16:32):
It's a big off season for Mark Pope and the
Kentucky men's basketball team and already some exciting names out there,
and it looks like Kentucky definitely has momentum as coach
Pope looks to build that roster for another run next year,
we're going to take our final time out here on
Clark's Puppins Shop Radio. We'll visit with Andrew Cappus when
we come back here on the UK Sports Network.
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This is our final segment for Clark's Pumping Shop BBN
Radio four this season. We appreciate everyone for being with us,
including our guest on Tonight Show, Andrew Cappus, who joins
us on our Clark's Pumping Shop phone line. And Andrew,
you've had a chance to watch this Kentucky baseball team
as we switch sports to the springtime. A bit of
an up and down start to the season, but they
(20:27):
have been winning series and they're coming off their biggest
series win of the year to date, going down to
College Station Texas, taking two of three from Texas A
and M. The preseason number one team. I know they're
scuffling one in eight in SEC play, but that's the
preseason number one team, Kentucky Coast down there. Scores seven
runs in a two run loss Friday, they score fourteen
(20:50):
runs in a three run victory Saturday, and come away
with a ten to five win on Sunday. This offense
for Kentucky has a ton of potential to it, and
I think we're starting to see this batting nine click
as Nick MinJe Oon settles into a group. You know,
Ethan Hindle coming back from injury helps, but we're starting
to see a lineup that this staff likes and that
(21:13):
is really producing some runs for this team.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Yeah, I think early on it was just a bit
of an adventure for head coach Nick Minjeon to figure
out where exactly these guys needed to be in the lineup,
and that makes it so challenging because this isn't like
a basketball starting five where you have very specialized roles
and it's kind of easier, or at least the short
list that is much shorter for each spot at baseball
is just kind of wide open. But you're right, I
(21:37):
think he's finding that ideal tune. And then maybe the
biggest thing, at least the X factor for me is
Luke Lawrence because he was hitting well in the beginning
of SEC play. He was a guy that coming in
had a great pedigree two years at the Illinois State
of being over three thirty and well over three thirty,
and you figured would be a great bat to have
at the top of the lineup. Was kind of inconsistent
to start the year, but man, he has really started
(21:59):
to swing the bat well. And then the other big
question mark for me, not necessarily an X factor, was
how quickly was Tyler Bell going to adapt to college baseball.
He was the highest ranked, the highest drafted player not
to sign his professional contract, elected to come to campus
in Lexington and forego that professional opportunity. In the second
round with Tampa Bay. And the answer to that question
(22:20):
is there really wasn't an adjustment period. He's an electric
and he's getting better. You know, it's not like it's
a flash in the pan, like, oh, he was really hot,
now he's cooled off. He's actually getting better as the
season goes on, which is really hard to do, especially
in SEC play. I think everybody thought maybe he would
hit a little bit of a wall. It's one thing
to kind of beat up on the Belmonts and the
(22:41):
Lipscombs and the Hobsterras of the world. But the fact
that he's hitting against teams like Auburn, teams like Georgia
and then now Texas had a phenomenal weekend, You're.
Speaker 8 (22:50):
Really really excited about his future.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Just a true freshman at maybe the toughest position of
Diamond excelling.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Like he is, no question, and when you go back
and look and real quickly, I'll just mention. Tyler Bell
was named SEC Freshman of the Week for his efforts
at Texas A and M. Just listen to the weekend
he had on Saturday. He said a career high with
four hits and tied a career high with four RBIs
he doubled from both sides of the plate in that game.
(23:18):
He also came up with a two run single and
an eighth inning home run in Saturday's win. He had
six hits in six consecutive at bats over the weekend
and recorded multiple hits in all three games against Texas
A and M. And like you said, he's just scratching
the surface of how good he can be.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
Yeah, And the other fun thing about it is that
with baseball, it's not like basketball where you have to
worry he's good enough to go back into that draft.
Now he's got a wait a couple of years. And
that was that part of why that decision is so
difficult for those guys coming out of high school, especially
when you're picked that highly in the top seventy, like
Tyler was. And he was very candid about that situation
(23:59):
about how it kind of was almost fifty to fifty
there right up to the wire. But I don't think
I'll have to wait very long. If he continues to
play like he is right now, and you figure you
get you get another two and a half years of this,
I don't think he's going to have to wait very
long to hear his name in the two thousand and
what would it be twenty twenty seven draft, and that'll
(24:19):
be a very quick call, I think from somebody there
in the top ten if he continues to play like
he is.
Speaker 7 (24:24):
No question.
Speaker 6 (24:25):
We're chatting with Andrew Cappus and looking at the pitching
side of things right now for Kentucky. I think this
is a group that is still coming together. The starting
rotation is starting to click a little bit. They moved
Scott Rouse to the Friday night role. He was solid
for about three to four innings there against Texas A
and M Friday Night, and again A and m's got
(24:47):
a tremendous lineup, but Jay Slaviolette right in the middle
of it, one of the best players in college baseball.
But also Nick McKay moving to Saturday. But Ben Cleaver
has really established himself Andrew as the stopper. He's the
guy that when Kentucky they have a chance to win
at least one game every weekend because Ben Cleaver is
(25:08):
on the mound. He is turning into that kind of
a pitcher.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
Yeah, it's really exciting, especially when you consider similar to Bell.
I know he's not a freshman, but he for all
intensive purposes kind of is from a playing experience. You
only had six innings his freshman year with eleven strikeouts
and was limited because of injury. I think they wanted
them to be in the rotation last year, but just
in the injuries kind of complicated things and then obviously
(25:33):
slowed his season. But just as a sophomore, first time starter,
what he's doing against high level competition is just really
exciting and the stuff plays really well. The fastball won't
wow you, but he's got two breaking balls, like two
basically different types of curveballs that just compliment that fastball,
especially as Nick Manjione preaches about with the key to
(25:56):
Cleaver is that location, location, location. If that fastball look on,
then he's just really tough to hit, no.
Speaker 6 (26:04):
Question about it. And the bullpen is coming together. They're
figuring out ways to piece that one. I know there's
some guys that are still getting better, but obviously a
lot of season left. Only three weeks into the SEC
Kentucky four and five, they're right in the thick of
some things to try to finish in the top half
of that league and maybe get a bye in the
SEC tournament. Andrew Cappas has been our guest here on
Clark's Pumping Shop bb AND Radio. Andrew. It's always a
(26:26):
pleasure to visit with you, my friend, and we appreciate
you taking some time out from your baseball coverage, your
basketball coverage, and more so, I appreciate it all season long, man.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
Thank you, Darren, and I look forward to seeing an
next ball Let's do it.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
That's Andrew CAPPIs and that's going to do it for
us here on Clark's Pumping Shop bb AND Radio. Again,
this is our final show of the season. We want
to thank all of our guests who have been with
us throughout football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, softball, baseball, and everybody
else in between that has been a part of our
show this year. We appreciate you for listening. We'll be
(27:02):
back with you next fall once football gets up and going.
But that's going to be yet for us here, and
remember stay tuned. Coming up after this it's the Nick
men Jeone Radio Show. We'll talk Kentucky baseball with the
headman coming off the series win over Texas A and M.
And The Nick men Jones Show will continue through the
end of the regular season for baseball.
Speaker 7 (27:20):
But that's it.
Speaker 6 (27:21):
For us, this has been Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio
on the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
Kentucky, Entucky, Tony. On my mind, You've been.
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Listening to Clark's Pump and Shop Big Blue Nation Radio
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Across the forty here sidey five means as he's got
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Down Kentucky.
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From the UK Sports Network. This is Clark's Pumpin' Shop,
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Second for one, make the turn, got him, Game's over, Kentucky.
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Hi for the eighth time college basketball National Championship Trophy
is coming home to Kentucky.
Speaker 6 (00:54):
Now, your host Tarreon Hendrick, Hello everybody, and welcome in
to Clark's Pumpinshop BBN Radio. This is our final show
of the season. When we appreciate you for joining us
here tonight. Our guest with us, Andrew kappis the man
who covers Kentucky men's basketball from the studio, hosting halftime
(01:15):
in postgame. He also fills in for us doing volleyball, softball, baseball,
whatever he can get behind the mic for We appreciate
Andrew for being with us. Andrew. Let's dive right into
it the aftermath of the men's basketball season. The team
eliminated in the Sweet sixteen and now the offseason is here.
But before we dive into the future and the roster
(01:35):
construction this offseason, just to look back on what was
a fantastic year, great job by head coach Mark Pope
in year number one. This was a team that the
fans loved, with a lot of talent and a lot
of great wins.
Speaker 7 (01:48):
This year.
Speaker 8 (01:49):
Yeah, I don't think the fan base has ever been
this happy.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
I wouldn't say happy, but positive, I guess after a
Sweet sixteen exit. And I think that the simple fact is,
you look back to April when Mark Tope was hired.
Speaker 8 (02:02):
There was that initial.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Period of just kind of uncertainty that may have lingered
even past the press conference. I think the press conference
certainly alleviated a lot of those concerns, but remember he
had a month or so to put the team together.
And then the thing that I don't remember about this
whole thing, but we're reminded now is that the portal
had been open for a month by the time he
(02:24):
got a job lashed. So the fact he got not
only had to do it in a month, but he
was a month behind everybody else in putting his team together.
It's not like he took a BYU guys with him
and had a team, you know, much like like Louisville
did with a bunch of not a bunch, but a
couple of College of Charleston guys, and like you see
at other places. So the fact he was able to
(02:45):
do what he did on just such a short period
of time with a kind of a hodge podge roster.
And you also take into account how banged up this
team was. Jackson Robinson. I just saw a stat the
other night. I hadn't realized it, but he was playing
his best basketball when he got hurt. I think his
last five games he was averaging eighteen points a game,
shooting over fifty percent from three. So you plug at
(03:07):
healthy Jackson Robinson into that game on Friday night, I
think it's a very very different outcome.
Speaker 8 (03:13):
And I know we don't deal in what.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
Ifs and what could have beens, but that's a simple
fact that that your most dynamic scorer wasn't available in
a game that you really needed a dynamic scorer. And
then Lamont Butler just a warrior, the fact that he
was in so much pain. I think throughout the final
couple months of the year, he put in so much
work just to play and just to play in pain.
(03:35):
And that's how close this team was because that's the
kind of person that Lamont is. So I think so
many characters that DBN fell in love with and will
always love and will always be part of Big Blue Nation.
And it's a really exciting and great end of the
first chapter of the Mark Pope era. And now the
building continues as they say.
Speaker 6 (03:54):
Yeah, no doubt about it, and then the portal's already active.
It's amazing how there's no well, there never was an
off season in college athletics, but it's more so now
as soon as the season's over, you're right back getting
ready for the next year. And we can talk about
that more coming up in just a few minutes. But
looking back on this team, and I think you can
throw the Kentucky women in there under first year coach
(04:17):
Kenny Brooks. Just the excitement and the new energy. But
also year one, these guys are beating the rivals. You know,
Mark Pope beats Duke, both of them beat Louisville, both
of them beat Tennessee. It just was a fun and
magical year with those wins bringing the excitement back. And
like you say, you don't want to play the WAF Games,
but you think back when that roster was full strength,
(04:40):
they beat Duke, and Duke looks like one of the
favorites to win the Final four now and to think
about you know, like you said, the would it could
have should as but that was just a special team
this year and a great group to set the foundation
and create the culture going forward under coach Pope.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Fifteen victories, I think you would have taken that every
day of the week, especially on April the twelfth when
the press conference happened, that if you would have said
to everybody outside, all twenty thousand people once they got inside, that.
Speaker 8 (05:12):
You would have eight top fifteen wins.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
I think you would have taken that even blind without
looking at what happened in the tournament. But then you
factor in the two tournament wins to get to the
Sweet sixteen. A lot of narratives that I think people
were afraid were going to become a thing got put
to rest, and maybe the biggest one is just constantly
heard about Mark Pope from outside that Mark Pope had
not won an NCAA tournament game, and that was quickly
(05:37):
put to rest. Then he won a second one against Illinois,
really a bad matchup for Kentucky, that they still handled
relative ease against a very good Illinois team in the
second round. So you put all that to rest the
question of Kenny recruit, Well, look at the high school
recruiting class coming in. And by the way, congrats, big
congrats to Malachai Moreno.
Speaker 8 (05:55):
For the state championship.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
I think I don't know a whole lot about the
prep basketball scene, Daron, Sorry, but I don't want to
divert too much, but I know he had a lot
of pressure, a lot of offers to go outside and
play trep basketball. So I think it's really cool that
he stayed home and was able to cut down the
nets inside rupp Arena.
Speaker 8 (06:14):
But yeah, all those narratives kind of put to rest
in year one.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
Sometimes it takes a couple of years for those narratives
to get it extinguished. And I think just about every
negative narrative was put to rest in year one, So
I don't think you can really ask for much more.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Without question, I completely agree with you and That's why
I think there's so much excitement despite the disappointment of
the season coming to a premature end in the sweet sixteen.
And you've already mentioned some of the guys that really
shine this year, like a LaMonte Butler playing through the
pain and the injuries. Maari Williams was doing the same
thing there in the NCAA Tournament, and if you think
(06:49):
about what Amari meant to this team and the record
kind of year that he had, just a really special
guy that Mark Pope brought in to anchor the center. Man,
It's just there's a lot of fun things to look
back on with this year, and we'll continue to do
that here in just a moment. But first I'd like
to remind everybody about UKSN all Access. It's the best
(07:12):
way to get official, radio, TV and digital content about
the Cats from the UK Sports Network. UKSN all Access
is presented by UK Federal Credit Union and is available
on the UK Athletics App, or you can go to
uksnallaccess dot com to set up a free account. Today,
Clark's Pumpinshop BBN Radio rolls on after this on the
(07:34):
UK Sports Network.
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Speaker 6 (10:18):
We welcome you back into Clark's Pumpinshop BBN Radio here
on the UK Sports Network. Kind of looking at the
aftermath of the end the men's basketball season with the
run to the Sweet sixteen. And Andrew, I know a
lot of eyes are moving forward with optimism now and
some of the news that we heard today with Kerr
Cresa entering the transfer portal. But as Kentucky looks to
(10:39):
find a starting point guard in the transfer portal, they
also have an outstanding young man coming in and so
Mark Pope going to work now trying to fill that
backcourd in the needs there.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Yeah, I think you look at what Kerr's role would
have been on this team, this team meeting next year's team,
and I think both sides saw that it wasn't going
to be a very big role. And in his last
year of college, eil'tibility. He certainly deserves to be have
a much bigger role than what he would have had
next year, in the role that he would have had
honestly this year had he not gotten hurt. Remember that
that game that he got hurt in against Gonzaga, that
(11:13):
was his first start, and think about all the times
that Amari had to be the point guard, the center,
point center, wherever you want to call it, because Kerr
was hurt, a lot was banged up. But you're right,
they got some exciting young players at Cayden Lewis is
the name that I think is on the prospect ranking,
still a little bit undervalued, which nobody's going to complain about.
Excited to see what he can do. At Kentucky he's
(11:35):
in a more traditional point guard role, and then I
know everybody inside Kentucky Jasper Johnson is really really excited
to see what he can do. He's more of a
combo guard, not sure he's going to run the point
a whole lot, but he's certainly capable of running the point.
Speaker 8 (11:49):
And I think those two guys are going to be really,
really fun to watch next year.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
And Jasper's a guy that, man, if you could have
just got him eligible at seventeen this year, guy that
they could have used because he's a lot like Jackson Robinson,
a guy that is dynamic, that can create his own
shot while also helping get.
Speaker 8 (12:06):
Others their shot.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
And he's one of those guys where if you need
a basket and it seems like nobody else can hit
a basket, he's the guy that wants the ball.
Speaker 8 (12:15):
And you need those guys. You need those guys to
be healthy, and you need those guys.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
To contend and win NCAA Tournament games and go deep
in the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 8 (12:22):
So from a recruiting aspect, just on the high school.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Scene, I think that there's a lot to be excited about.
And then obviously the transfer portal will will hopefully bring
some some fruits as well. Already one commitment before they
even tipped off in the Sweet sixteen from the two
Lane Kit Cam Williams.
Speaker 8 (12:39):
So really exciting stuff on the horizon.
Speaker 6 (12:42):
No doubt, about it, and I was just thinking, barring
any surprises, you expect Mark Pope to bring back roughly
eight or nine guys on the roster this year, and
thinking about a guy like Colin Chandler and some of
the stuff he did, the potential that he flashed at
the end of the year and in the postseason, there's
you know, as excited as you can be for what's
(13:02):
incoming with the new faces, I think equally it's what's
returning guys like Chandler, otega Oway if you know, if
he ends up back, and then Trent Noah and Travis Perry. Uh,
there's a lot of excitement over the guys that are
coming back off this year's team that set the standard.
And so talk a little bit about the roster coming
back because you know, I like I say, Colin Chandler
(13:25):
really stood out, Travis Perry, Trent Noah definitely had moments
this year. And what can you say about otega Oway
coming back.
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Yeah, I think we started to see Chandler really scratch
the surface of his potential.
Speaker 8 (13:38):
In the NCAA Tournament.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
He thought he played really well against Illinois and was
a big reason why that game was really never that interesting.
From a from a standpoint of the score, because he
hit some big shots. It seemed like anytime Illinois went
on a run, it was Colin Chandler, so that that
would hit a big to kind of answer and go
bar for bar there. But you mentioned otega Oway. I
think he's the centerpiece of this whole thing, right because
(14:01):
he played so well this year that you certainly couldn't
fault him. If he goes into the combine and they
tell him, hey, you got you got this grade, you
can turn pro, you certainly wouldn't fault him for doing
that because he had such a great year. He showed
that he can be an NBA player. But if you're
able to get him back, and I think there's value
for him to come back, But obviously that's a decision
(14:22):
that he has to make for himself and himself alone,
and I know he's got great people around him that
will will help him make that best choice for him.
But if he can, if he comes back, you're talking
about him being the centerpiece of this team next year.
That can help elevate that draft profile. But from a
Kentucky perspective, all of a sudden, you got a guy
(14:42):
that was that you leaned on for the last couple
of months to make the run. That wasn't expected to
be that guy coming in to this past season, but
there will be no surprises about it next year.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
That he might be the guy if if Kentucky's able
to retain him.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
But again, certainly couldn't fault him if he does try
to explore or attempt to explore the professional option because
he played so well, no.
Speaker 6 (15:03):
Doubt about it, and you know, oh way, I was
just thinking about all the things that he did offensively
that fans remember. The dunks, obviously the shots to beat
Oklahoma in both matchups, but to me, it was the
defense and the way he was able to create offense
off defense, and it was in big moments when the
team really needed it he seemed to just come out
of nowhere and swipe a pass and go the other
(15:25):
way with it. Just his ability to find the basketball
in big moments and score it when this team needed
it throughout the season. I think is like you say,
is why he is going to be a centerpiece to
next year's group.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
Yeah, if you got two guys that can guard on
the perimeter like you had with Lamont Butler, even when
he was hurt and then Otega. Oh, it's just so
difficult because it shows how they play off each other,
because it's not easy to get rid of the ball
when you have two guys like that guarding you on
the perimeter. Whether that's not easy to throw it inside,
and as Otega showed, it's not easy to toss it
(16:01):
outside either, because those guys are just harassing you on defense.
And I think that's an element that if he does
come back, I think that's an element that he's probably
going to elect to focus on because that is something
that NBA scouts will be very interested in seeing growing
because maybe the biggest question mark coming in for him
last year was scoring, and I think he answered that
(16:21):
this year with scoring. And I know with NBA, with shooting,
everybody can get better at shooting. And I know that's
going to be a big focus of his game in
the offseason and then early next season as well.
Speaker 6 (16:32):
It's a big off season for Mark Pope and the
Kentucky men's basketball team and already some exciting names out there,
and it looks like Kentucky definitely has momentum as coach
Pope looks to build that roster for another run next year,
we're going to take our final time out here on
Clark's Puppins Shop Radio. We'll visit with Andrew Cappus when
we come back here on the UK Sports Network.
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Speaker 6 (20:04):
This is our final segment for Clark's Pumping Shop BBN
Radio four this season. We appreciate everyone for being with us,
including our guest on Tonight Show, Andrew Cappus, who joins
us on our Clark's Pumping Shop phone line. And Andrew,
you've had a chance to watch this Kentucky baseball team
as we switch sports to the springtime. A bit of
an up and down start to the season, but they
(20:27):
have been winning series and they're coming off their biggest
series win of the year to date, going down to
College Station Texas, taking two of three from Texas A
and M. The preseason number one team. I know they're
scuffling one in eight in SEC play, but that's the
preseason number one team, Kentucky Coast down there. Scores seven
runs in a two run loss Friday, they score fourteen
(20:50):
runs in a three run victory Saturday, and come away
with a ten to five win on Sunday. This offense
for Kentucky has a ton of potential to it, and
I think we're starting to see this batting nine click
as Nick MinJe Oon settles into a group. You know,
Ethan Hindle coming back from injury helps, but we're starting
to see a lineup that this staff likes and that
(21:13):
is really producing some runs for this team.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Yeah, I think early on it was just a bit
of an adventure for head coach Nick Minjeon to figure
out where exactly these guys needed to be in the lineup,
and that makes it so challenging because this isn't like
a basketball starting five where you have very specialized roles
and it's kind of easier, or at least the short
list that is much shorter for each spot at baseball
is just kind of wide open. But you're right, I
(21:37):
think he's finding that ideal tune. And then maybe the
biggest thing, at least the X factor for me is
Luke Lawrence because he was hitting well in the beginning
of SEC play. He was a guy that coming in
had a great pedigree two years at the Illinois State
of being over three thirty and well over three thirty,
and you figured would be a great bat to have
at the top of the lineup. Was kind of inconsistent
to start the year, but man, he has really started
(21:59):
to swing the bat well. And then the other big
question mark for me, not necessarily an X factor, was
how quickly was Tyler Bell going to adapt to college baseball.
He was the highest ranked, the highest drafted player not
to sign his professional contract, elected to come to campus
in Lexington and forego that professional opportunity. In the second
round with Tampa Bay. And the answer to that question
(22:20):
is there really wasn't an adjustment period. He's an electric
and he's getting better. You know, it's not like it's
a flash in the pan, like, oh, he was really hot,
now he's cooled off. He's actually getting better as the
season goes on, which is really hard to do, especially
in SEC play. I think everybody thought maybe he would
hit a little bit of a wall. It's one thing
to kind of beat up on the Belmonts and the
(22:41):
Lipscombs and the Hobsterras of the world. But the fact
that he's hitting against teams like Auburn, teams like Georgia
and then now Texas had a phenomenal weekend, You're.
Speaker 8 (22:50):
Really really excited about his future.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Just a true freshman at maybe the toughest position of
Diamond excelling.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Like he is, no question, and when you go back
and look and real quickly, I'll just mention. Tyler Bell
was named SEC Freshman of the Week for his efforts
at Texas A and M. Just listen to the weekend
he had on Saturday. He said a career high with
four hits and tied a career high with four RBIs
he doubled from both sides of the plate in that game.
(23:18):
He also came up with a two run single and
an eighth inning home run in Saturday's win. He had
six hits in six consecutive at bats over the weekend
and recorded multiple hits in all three games against Texas
A and M. And like you said, he's just scratching
the surface of how good he can be.
Speaker 5 (23:37):
Yeah, And the other fun thing about it is that
with baseball, it's not like basketball where you have to
worry he's good enough to go back into that draft.
Now he's got a wait a couple of years. And
that was that part of why that decision is so
difficult for those guys coming out of high school, especially
when you're picked that highly in the top seventy, like
Tyler was. And he was very candid about that situation
(23:59):
about how it kind of was almost fifty to fifty
there right up to the wire. But I don't think
I'll have to wait very long. If he continues to
play like he is right now, and you figure you
get you get another two and a half years of this,
I don't think he's going to have to wait very
long to hear his name in the two thousand and
what would it be twenty twenty seven draft, and that'll
(24:19):
be a very quick call, I think from somebody there
in the top ten if he continues to play like
he is.
Speaker 7 (24:24):
No question.
Speaker 6 (24:25):
We're chatting with Andrew Cappus and looking at the pitching
side of things right now for Kentucky. I think this
is a group that is still coming together. The starting
rotation is starting to click a little bit. They moved
Scott Rouse to the Friday night role. He was solid
for about three to four innings there against Texas A
and M Friday Night, and again A and m's got
(24:47):
a tremendous lineup, but Jay Slaviolette right in the middle
of it, one of the best players in college baseball.
But also Nick McKay moving to Saturday. But Ben Cleaver
has really established himself Andrew as the stopper. He's the
guy that when Kentucky they have a chance to win
at least one game every weekend because Ben Cleaver is
(25:08):
on the mound. He is turning into that kind of
a pitcher.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
Yeah, it's really exciting, especially when you consider similar to Bell.
I know he's not a freshman, but he for all
intensive purposes kind of is from a playing experience. You
only had six innings his freshman year with eleven strikeouts
and was limited because of injury. I think they wanted
them to be in the rotation last year, but just
in the injuries kind of complicated things and then obviously
(25:33):
slowed his season. But just as a sophomore, first time starter,
what he's doing against high level competition is just really
exciting and the stuff plays really well. The fastball won't
wow you, but he's got two breaking balls, like two
basically different types of curveballs that just compliment that fastball,
especially as Nick Manjione preaches about with the key to
(25:56):
Cleaver is that location, location, location. If that fastball look on,
then he's just really tough to hit, no.
Speaker 6 (26:04):
Question about it. And the bullpen is coming together. They're
figuring out ways to piece that one. I know there's
some guys that are still getting better, but obviously a
lot of season left. Only three weeks into the SEC
Kentucky four and five, they're right in the thick of
some things to try to finish in the top half
of that league and maybe get a bye in the
SEC tournament. Andrew Cappas has been our guest here on
Clark's Pumping Shop bb AND Radio. Andrew. It's always a
(26:26):
pleasure to visit with you, my friend, and we appreciate
you taking some time out from your baseball coverage, your
basketball coverage, and more so, I appreciate it all season long, man.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
Thank you, Darren, and I look forward to seeing an
next ball Let's do it.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
That's Andrew CAPPIs and that's going to do it for
us here on Clark's Pumping Shop bb AND Radio. Again,
this is our final show of the season. We want
to thank all of our guests who have been with
us throughout football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, softball, baseball, and everybody
else in between that has been a part of our
show this year. We appreciate you for listening. We'll be
(27:02):
back with you next fall once football gets up and going.
But that's going to be yet for us here, and
remember stay tuned. Coming up after this it's the Nick
men Jeone Radio Show. We'll talk Kentucky baseball with the
headman coming off the series win over Texas A and M.
And The Nick men Jones Show will continue through the
end of the regular season for baseball.
Speaker 7 (27:20):
But that's it.
Speaker 6 (27:21):
For us, this has been Clark's Pumping Shop BBN Radio
on the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
Kentucky, Entucky, Tony. On my mind, You've been.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Listening to Clark's Pump and Shop Big Blue Nation Radio
on the UK Sports network Big Blue Nation Radio. It's
a presentation of the UK Sports Network powered by Shami Sports.
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