February 26, 2026 • 29 mins
Darren Headrick talks with Head Coach Kenny Brooks
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Speaker 1 (00:15):
No Big Clue.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
From the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Broad rises to their being in the freshetto.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
This is the Kenny Brooks Show presented by blue Grass
Hearing Clinic. Send your questions to Coach Brooks on the
Clark's pumpin Shop text line at eight five nine two
zero three one two three four. You can also post
your questions on x at UK Sports Network or on
the UK Sports Network Facebook page. The Kenny Brooks Show,
(00:47):
presented by Bluegrass Hearing Clinic, is brought to you by
Central Bank and by Coca Cola.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yeah Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Now alongside the coach, here's the voice of Kentucky Women's basketball,
Darren Hettrick.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Welcome into the Kitty Brooks Show. We're presented by Bluegrass
Hearing Clinic. I'm Darren Hedrick. Coach will be along coming
up after the break. We've got a lot to get
to over the next half hour. The Wildcats will be
on the road against Auburn this Thursday. It's a seven
o'clock Eastern tip off. Will be on the air at
six forty five with the UK Sports Network and it
is the last week of the regular season. Kentucky concludes
(01:26):
the season for the regular portion of it anyway. On
March first against South Carolina at home. We'll have more
information on that coming up during the half hour as well.
Kentucky twenty and eight on the season, seven and seven
in the SEC, and these next two games pivotal for positioning.
It's also been a historic season for several of the Wildcats.
We'll get into that as well. Stick around. This is
(01:48):
the Kitty Brooks Show, presented by Bluegrass Hearing Clinic and
you're listening to the UK Sports Network.
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For me, being a part of a community means a
shared philosophy of positive growth, lifting up those around you,
trying to change whatever you can for the better. Central
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Central Bank is proud to be part of this community
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Speaker 4 (04:55):
WO happy to have you with us this week as
the Wildcats get set to go on the road to
take on the Auburn Tigers. They'll also be at home
against South Carolina on Sunday for the regular season finale.
(05:17):
This is the Kenny Brooks Show presented by Bluegrass here
in Clinic and the coaches with us now and coach
only one game this past week. You had a well
earned by last Thursday. You played on the road at
number five Vanderbilt on Sunday. Well, a lot of like
with the way your team played, but coming up a
little bit short against Vanderbilt eighty one to seventy nine.
(05:37):
I'm sure you've had a chance to look at the
tape at this point. What did you see? Ah?
Speaker 1 (05:41):
You know, I saw a really good effort, just not
good enough to beat the fifth ranked team on their
home court. We did a lot of great things, got
off to a tremendous start, and then we just you know,
there's a game of that magnitude you know with teams,
you know, with a lot of steak you have to
minimize your mistakes. And I thought we had, you know,
a couple of too many that we could have you
(06:02):
rectified throughout the game. We didn't. Uh, And they they
made plays, you know, they they made plays. They made shots.
They have two tremendous guards who you put the ball
in their hand and you take away one thing and
they go to their counter and you take away that
and they go to the other counter, and and they
made some big shots against us. But uh, you know,
as crazy as it seems, I like where we're going.
(06:24):
And I've said that, and I know it's kind of
it's kind of been like an up and down season.
It's been a really weird season obviously, with you know,
us trying to figure out who we are. But what
we are is we're a good basketball team that can
go and play with anyone. If you can play with
someone who's on a who's on the line for a
one seat and you can go to their building and
it takes them a last second shot to win the game, uh,
(06:46):
you've got an opportunity to play a long time in March.
So we just have to continue to get better, understand
what we did wrong, fix those mistakes, and then capitalize
on them and just keep our confidence.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
I think the one thing about the NCAA tournament, it's
a few weeks away now going through the SEC. This
team has seen it all. There's not going to be
any surprises when you get to the big dance.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
No.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
You know, we we were talking about it as a
staff and we've we've played I think at least twelve
it will be twelve when we play on Sunday. Teams
that have or are rained and that that is. That
is a lot. You know, it's almost half of your schedule.
You're playing against ranked teams. So we're we're going to
be battle tested. We are, and you know you look
(07:31):
at those games. You go to Texas, Uh, it's a one,
one possession game going into the final time out. You
go to Vanderbilt, you know it's a last second, you
know shot. You played them twice. You win at LSU,
you beat Oklahoma, you win at at Louisville.
Speaker 12 (07:48):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So we're we're battle tested. You know, we just have
to continue to fight keeper confidence and and learn how
to win more of those games. And we do. You know,
we're putting ourselves in a position to be able to compete,
have a chance when It really matters in the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
When you play a team like Vanderbilt, and I thought
your group played well throughout the forty minutes. You were
able to get the shots you were looking for, some
wide open looks, you knocked them down. You held the
advantage for much of the afternoon. But in the aftermath
of a game like that where you come up two
point short, what is the process like of going back
and looking at it? But then, as you and many
(08:26):
coaches are always fond of seeing moving on from this, yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
You have to look at the positives. I mean the positives.
We did a lot of great things and you know,
we're a play away or you know, we had a
couple of really good looks down the stretch in the
last couple of minutes that you know, really could have
changed the whole complexion of the game. I think, you know,
Amelia had a really good look over on the wing.
We drop up a play out of the time out.
We had an option for Asia Boone coming at the
(08:51):
top of the key or Clara diving down to the post,
and we got a great look at the top. You know,
the ball just kind of just doesn't go our way.
It doesn't fall our way. And then you go down
to the last possession of the game for them, and
we probably defended that possession as well as we had
all night. And you know, it was a thirty second
(09:12):
shot clock. Uh. They shoot it with I think like
two seconds, and we had we guarded it and guarded it,
guarded it put him in a in a difficult position,
and they had the kid Gallvin step up and hit
like a nice little mid range shot. And so that's
that's the way that it goes. We go down to
the last play. You know, we had the look that
we wanted initially out of it, but they had a
(09:34):
foul to give and h we had Tony attack in
the basket and she was going to be able to
either create for herself or create for others. We had
some other kids open. They used their foul, you know,
Uh and rightfully so Uh. Then it changed it because
it put the ball on the baseline and uh. And
then it was like, okay, now you don't have the
opportunity to go downhill and uh. And we we drew
up a play we liked what we wanted. We didn't
(09:56):
have the spacing that we wanted initially. We wanted. We
wanted Asia Boone to clear out, but she popped up.
Her man was the one who deflected the basketball when
Clara tried to drive, and Clara went a little bit
too soon, and these are things that she'll learn from.
Speaker 12 (10:09):
You know.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
I wanted her to take her time, see the play,
see it developing, and if she had to choot a
little mid range, that would have been fine with me.
But she attacked a little bit too soon, and they
made a great play, they deflected the basketball, and they
came up with the wins. So it's it's difficult, you know,
it's hard. It's gut wrenching for our kids. But we'll
they'll be in there today watching film and we'll learn
from it.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
A couple of other notables from Sunday. You got Kayln
Carol KK in the game for a little over seven minutes,
and she hit two big threes and pulled down a
couple of key rebounds for you in.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
That game, you know what, it was so funny. You know,
I don't I don't do a lot of social media,
but you know, I was looking at reels and normally
when anything sports pops up, I'll just keep scrolling and
you know, but this time, you know, something stuck out
and it was talking about a coach was saying talking
about freshmen. A lot of freshmen in thinking that you know,
(11:01):
if they can score a bucket, that they're going to
be on the floor. And what really keeps them on
the floor is if they can play defense, you know,
And that's that's been you know, the whole thing with her.
We all know she can shoot it, shoot it with
the best of them, and she understands. It's just understanding
schemes and getting out there. And as a freshman, most
of the time, you just don't want to hurt your
team defensively, and then once you get to that point,
(11:23):
then you can start helping your team. And I thought
she was much better yesterday. Did a really good job.
This past week. It was probably a taxing week for
her mentally because we were really watching a lot of
the things that she did low minute scrimmish games. She
was the focal point. You know, a lot of her
veterans were sitting out. So she got some really good
minutes this week in practice, and it showed, and she
(11:46):
came out and she was much better on Sunday, and
we're gonna need her down the stretch to really provide
a punch off the bench.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
Getting ready to take on Auburn on the road Tomorrow
night seven o'clock. Is this show airs. We'll be on
the air at six forty five the pregame coverage Auburn's
under a new head coach Larry Vickers. And I understand
you guys have crossed paths before.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah, we have. You know Larry, you know, he was
coach at Norfolk State. Obviously I was I've been in Virginia,
you know, most of my life, all my life up
until I came to Kentucky and and and I make
no bones about it, you know, as an African American
male coach, you know, he's someone that you know, I'm
not gonna sit here and say I mentored him, but
anytime he would call me, I would pick up the phone,
(12:27):
you know, just offer advice. And you know, obviously watching
his success when he was at Norfolk State, I watched
him build it. You know, he switched over. Our paths
were similar because we both switched over from the men's side.
And you know, he asked me very early on in
his career just you know my take on it. You know,
what did I do. And then from that point on,
I was always you know, a fan watching him and
(12:49):
watched how he built that program in Norfolk State where
they were you know, constant champions at the at the MEAC,
and then he got an opportunity, you know, And I
think he and I are the only two African American
male coaches head coaches in the Power Four. And so
obviously other than Thursday night, I'm going to root for
him anytime I can, you know. But I think he's
(13:11):
done a really good job. You know, his first year
taking over at Auburn, whole new team. They play hard, regardless.
He actually has one of my former players on his
staff in Taja Cole, and you know, so there's there's
a lot of familiarity and and you know, and he's
done a really good job, and I think he will
continue to do a good job. And I think he's
(13:31):
going to help strengthen the SEC.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
It's hard to believe we're already talking about the last
week of the regular season. In the last home game
against South Carolina Sunday, March first, at two o'clock, it's
Senior Day game presented by UK Healthcare, Kentucky's number one hospital,
and the official health care provider of Big Blue Nation.
Under two hundred tickets remain for this one against South Carolina,
and we want to see that place full because you
(13:54):
are going to honor some seniors who are very special
to this program and have really helped you build the
foundation and establish a culture for your program.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, you know, we got a little first look at
it lot yesterday. You know, Varonderbilt, you know, a very
class act. You know, they honored their seniors yesterday. They
gave our seniors some flowers, and it kind of that's
when it kind of hits you. You know, Man, that's
a lot of points gonna be walking out of the door.
But you know, I'm very thankful for our kids and
what they've contributed to this program. Two years, two years,
(14:26):
and you know, we've won a lot of basketball games,
you know, and a lot of times it's a it's
a rebuild, and it takes a few years to get
things going, especially culturally, and these seniors have done a
tremendous job of just really helping this program grow, not
from a just from a wind standpoint, but culturally. You know,
we're on really good ground and I think we're a
(14:47):
very attractive program for a lot of people to come
and a lot of it has to do with the
contributions of these kids and what they've been able to
help us establish in a very short amount of time.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
We've got to get to a break here on the
Kenny Brooks Show. We're presented by Bluegrass Here Clinic. We've
got another segment coming up here on the UK Sports Network.
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Speaker 4 (19:35):
Welcome back. It is the final segment of The Kenny
Brooks Show, presented by Bluegrass here in clinic for this week.
The Cats are busy on the road at Auburn tomorrow night,
and they'll host South Carolina in the regular season finale
on Sunday. Kentucky stays at number sixteen in the net,
which if you want to host in the NCAA tournament,
you want to get that net as high as you
can go. And boy, Kentucky, you guys have had a
(19:58):
difficult schedule a share at times, but this team has
been able to compete through it and that's been the
most fun to watch and coach through it all. You've
had five players average and double figures. You're one of
only five teams to have five players at least averaging
ten points. Talk a little bit about the floor ballance
you've seen from your team throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Well, this group is very unselfish, you know, and it
shows they'll move to basketball to try to find the
open person we have kids who are capable of putting
up big numbers, like Tony Morgan probably could put up
more numbers than she does. But she's such a great facilitator,
such a great teammate, and she really helps get the
other players going. You know, probably Amelia is a beneficiarya
(20:38):
that she needs Tony to really help her. And because
of that, you know, it makes us hard to really
focus on one person. And now teams really do lock
in and hone in on Clara, and you know, but
Clara can kick it out, you know, and she can
make she can make a play for someone else. But
a very balanced group and you know, obviously having Jordan
coming off the bench down too, she's right at ten
(20:59):
points a game. It just really makes it difficult to
hone in on one person. And when we have it
going and we're making shots, you know, we're very difficult out.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
When we're finished here on the Kenny Brooks Show presented
by Bluegrass, Here in Clinics, stick Around for Bed and
Radio presented by Clark's Pumping Shop. Tonight will be joined
by Andrew Kappus to talk a little baseball and basketball
as well. Uh going back to the net real quick,
you had the RPI, now you have the net. How
have those two formulas changed kind of or how you
(21:31):
how have you had to adapt to those to try
to help your team be best positioned for seating in
the tournament.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
They're they're they're totally different, and I think, you know,
we've done a really good job my staff, you know,
all the way back to my days at a tech
when when the nets start coming out, the net rewards
things that really don't seem like they're sportsman like. Uh
and like you know, they they reward you for beating
a team by a lot, you know, which you know
a lot of times when you get up, you know,
(21:59):
by a lot, you want to you want to play
some of the other players and who haven't really been
able to play a lot. But you know, they they
talk about your efficiency throughout the whole game, not just
portion of the game, and so you want to be
as efficient as you can. You saw us this year
go on the road to play at Marshall at Buffalo,
you know, play some games like that and it rewards
you for going on the road and winning by a
(22:21):
large margin. And so we've learned how to play to
it so that we can have any opportunity to host.
But the crazy thing is, like like this year, Darren
and I don't want I don't say this to downgrade
the the importance of playing at home, but like where
we are in this juncture of the season, we're just
really trying to get better, you know, you know, we're
(22:42):
not putting the pressure on the kids of hey, we
got to win this game, because if we do, we'll
be able to host. And I think a lot of
that has to do with that. We understand that we're
battle tested and we can go on the road and
play which we showed against Vanderbilts, which we showed against LSU,
which we showed against Louisville, And so I think the
most important thing we don't want to try to put
it in her head you have to win this game,
(23:03):
or you have to win this game. We have to
get better. We have to get better because we know
we're a team that can be reckoned with once the
NCAA tournament it comes along, and when that comes, we
want to be as competent, you know, in our abilities,
competent our play as possible, and that's what we're pushing
for right now.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
Well, in a few minutes, we have left on the
show this week, Let's talk about some of these battle
tested players and some of the accomplishments they've made. I
want to start with Asia Boone because this has been fun.
Eighty three pointers made on the season, She's one away
from being second on the all time single season list,
so she's won behind Sarah Potts, who had eighty one
in the two thousand and four two thousand and five season.
(23:41):
By the way, the record is held by Ryan Howard,
who had eighty four in the twenty nine twenty twenty season.
So Asia's getting up there in some rarefied air with
some big time legends in Kentucky women's basketball.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
And deservedly so. She works really hard. We put her
in position her teammates really find her the confidence to
step up and shoot the basketball. And we recruited her
as a shooter. We knew that she was going to
be an asset to us. You know, I saw her
in the portal and you know, playing against them last
year in the NCAA tournament. I knew she could be
that sniper that we needed. The beautiful thing about it
(24:16):
is it happens so organically. I've never told her not
to shoot. I've never told her to shoot, and she's
figured out her way in this system just organically, and
that's what makes it very natural and it's not forced,
and she's not hesitant. When she's got the opportunity, you know,
she steps up and she knocks them down.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
Clara Strack seventy five blocks. She broke her old record
of seventy three, only player in Kentucky women's basketball history
to have multiple seventy blocks seasons. She was sec Defensive
Player the Year last year. I have to think she's
a contender for that again this year, along with some
other national awards.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Be Ben, We're very fortunate to have her and and
you know, you're watching greatness and we can't overlook it.
And what she does on the floor for us, I
don't even really understand it, you know.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
I'm not.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
I know a lot of people will think, well, she's
a great player, but if you really dive into it
and you watch film, the little things that she does,
it doesn't show up on the stat sheet, it doesn't
show up to the to the normal eye. Uh, it's amazing.
Her basketball IQ is through the roof and what she
does for us, she she erases a lot of mistakes
that we make and uh and we ask a lot
of her and to the point where I probably need
(25:23):
to ask a little bit lesser of her and more
of others. But she does a lot of things out
there on the basketball. For she's she's probably one of
the smartest players I've ever coached. UH and she's one
of the best players I've ever coached, and she wants
to continue to get better. So bright future ahead, BBN.
You know, don't take it for granted. You know, we're
very fortunate. I had some Uh, I had some. I
(25:43):
went to see one of my players play in the
Athletes Unlimited uh Kayana Trailer who played for me at
bo Tech, and uh when I was there, there were
a couple of hockey fans there and they were like, Okay,
we're coming to the game tomorrow because we finally get
to see Clara play in person. And UH. So she
has a following and h I think a lot of
people are really appreciate her greatness, and I, for one,
do not take it for granted.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
And the one of the things I think we talk
about the least with her game. She's third on the
team and assists and only one behind Asia Boone with
fifty six, and it just feels like Claire is in
control all the time.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
I said it yesterday in my post press conference, I said,
you know, I think she's the best center in the country.
You know, she's right up there with all the centers
in the country and points, she's right she at the
top in rebounds, she leads in blocks, and she's right
up there and assist. You know, she just does it
all and and I wouldn't trade her for anyone in
the country. And she she's got a fire to her.
(26:39):
She's a really competitive kid, and she's a great leader
for us. And I'm just looking forward to, you know,
the next run with her, and then her senior year.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
And then Tony Morgan. Every time she steps on the court,
she's breaking records.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Is Tony's Tony's done a tremendous job. Very proud of her.
You know, the transition has gone really, really smooth, you know,
from from an All American point guard to have in Tony,
and I'm very, very appreciative of what she's been able
to do.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Amelia Hasset Boone has eighty three pointers made. Amelia's right
behind her with seventy three on the season, and man
she came out on fire against Vanderbilt Sunday.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
She did. I'm very happy for Millie, very proud of
her because she went there a little stretch, was a
little bit difficult, but you know, she's a veteran and
she does her job. It does it really well. You know,
she was guarding Blake's for most of the game yesterday
in the first half, and then we asked her to
step up and make shots, and you know, she plays
exceptionally well against Vanderbilt. But you know, Milly is one
(27:35):
of the most humble, likable kids you ever will meet,
and she's been a blessing for us and helping you
build what we've done in two years.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Here, Coach. We got a little over minute left in
the show, and I wanted the last question to be
a little off topic because it made national news this week.
ESPN's moving on from Sunday Night Baseball and they announced
that in the place of Sunday Night Baseball is basically
a block dedicate to women's athletics, including the w NBA
and soccer. How big is that for young girls and
(28:06):
their families across the country to see ESPN devote that
and aspire to want to play on a Sunday night
WNBA game.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Well, first and foremost, to me, it was bittersweet. I'm
a big baseball fan. I love sitting there on Sunday
night watching baseball or listening to baseball. But you know,
it's for a great cause. And obviously this is going
to be tremendous for women's sports. The boost. It's going
to be tremendous for our young people to be able
to watch it. And you know, when I look into
the stands and you know, after a game, regardless of
(28:35):
what the outcome is, and you see these young girls
and they're looking up to you know, our players and everybody.
You want them to have opportunities to be able to
see sports that they can play on ESPN where their
dads are watching TV. So I think it's monumental and
I'm looking forward to it. And I've missed the baseball
but if it has to be a replacement, this is
(28:57):
a tremendous placement and I'm very happy and excited for it.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Absolutely, coach, fun show. We'll see you at Auburn.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Thanks you very much.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Then, this has been the Kenny Brooks Show presented by
Bluegrass Here in Clinic Stay tuned BBN Radio presented by
Clark's Pumping Shop comes your way. Next, this is the
UK Sports Network
No Big Clue.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
From the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Broad rises to their being in the freshetto.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
This is the Kenny Brooks Show presented by blue Grass
Hearing Clinic. Send your questions to Coach Brooks on the
Clark's pumpin Shop text line at eight five nine two
zero three one two three four. You can also post
your questions on x at UK Sports Network or on
the UK Sports Network Facebook page. The Kenny Brooks Show,
(00:47):
presented by Bluegrass Hearing Clinic, is brought to you by
Central Bank and by Coca Cola.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yeah Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Now alongside the coach, here's the voice of Kentucky Women's basketball,
Darren Hettrick.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Welcome into the Kitty Brooks Show. We're presented by Bluegrass
Hearing Clinic. I'm Darren Hedrick. Coach will be along coming
up after the break. We've got a lot to get
to over the next half hour. The Wildcats will be
on the road against Auburn this Thursday. It's a seven
o'clock Eastern tip off. Will be on the air at
six forty five with the UK Sports Network and it
is the last week of the regular season. Kentucky concludes
(01:26):
the season for the regular portion of it anyway. On
March first against South Carolina at home. We'll have more
information on that coming up during the half hour as well.
Kentucky twenty and eight on the season, seven and seven
in the SEC, and these next two games pivotal for positioning.
It's also been a historic season for several of the Wildcats.
We'll get into that as well. Stick around. This is
(01:48):
the Kitty Brooks Show, presented by Bluegrass Hearing Clinic and
you're listening to the UK Sports Network.
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For me, being a part of a community means a
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Speaker 4 (04:55):
WO happy to have you with us this week as
the Wildcats get set to go on the road to
take on the Auburn Tigers. They'll also be at home
against South Carolina on Sunday for the regular season finale.
(05:17):
This is the Kenny Brooks Show presented by Bluegrass here
in Clinic and the coaches with us now and coach
only one game this past week. You had a well
earned by last Thursday. You played on the road at
number five Vanderbilt on Sunday. Well, a lot of like
with the way your team played, but coming up a
little bit short against Vanderbilt eighty one to seventy nine.
(05:37):
I'm sure you've had a chance to look at the
tape at this point. What did you see? Ah?
Speaker 1 (05:41):
You know, I saw a really good effort, just not
good enough to beat the fifth ranked team on their
home court. We did a lot of great things, got
off to a tremendous start, and then we just you know,
there's a game of that magnitude you know with teams,
you know, with a lot of steak you have to
minimize your mistakes. And I thought we had, you know,
a couple of too many that we could have you
(06:02):
rectified throughout the game. We didn't. Uh, And they they
made plays, you know, they they made plays. They made shots.
They have two tremendous guards who you put the ball
in their hand and you take away one thing and
they go to their counter and you take away that
and they go to the other counter, and and they
made some big shots against us. But uh, you know,
as crazy as it seems, I like where we're going.
(06:24):
And I've said that, and I know it's kind of
it's kind of been like an up and down season.
It's been a really weird season obviously, with you know,
us trying to figure out who we are. But what
we are is we're a good basketball team that can
go and play with anyone. If you can play with
someone who's on a who's on the line for a
one seat and you can go to their building and
it takes them a last second shot to win the game, uh,
(06:46):
you've got an opportunity to play a long time in March.
So we just have to continue to get better, understand
what we did wrong, fix those mistakes, and then capitalize
on them and just keep our confidence.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
I think the one thing about the NCAA tournament, it's
a few weeks away now going through the SEC. This
team has seen it all. There's not going to be
any surprises when you get to the big dance.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
No.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
You know, we we were talking about it as a
staff and we've we've played I think at least twelve
it will be twelve when we play on Sunday. Teams
that have or are rained and that that is. That
is a lot. You know, it's almost half of your schedule.
You're playing against ranked teams. So we're we're going to
be battle tested. We are, and you know you look
(07:31):
at those games. You go to Texas, Uh, it's a one,
one possession game going into the final time out. You
go to Vanderbilt, you know it's a last second, you
know shot. You played them twice. You win at LSU,
you beat Oklahoma, you win at at Louisville.
Speaker 12 (07:48):
Ye.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So we're we're battle tested. You know, we just have
to continue to fight keeper confidence and and learn how
to win more of those games. And we do. You know,
we're putting ourselves in a position to be able to compete,
have a chance when It really matters in the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
When you play a team like Vanderbilt, and I thought
your group played well throughout the forty minutes. You were
able to get the shots you were looking for, some
wide open looks, you knocked them down. You held the
advantage for much of the afternoon. But in the aftermath
of a game like that where you come up two
point short, what is the process like of going back
and looking at it? But then, as you and many
(08:26):
coaches are always fond of seeing moving on from this, yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
You have to look at the positives. I mean the positives.
We did a lot of great things and you know,
we're a play away or you know, we had a
couple of really good looks down the stretch in the
last couple of minutes that you know, really could have
changed the whole complexion of the game. I think, you know,
Amelia had a really good look over on the wing.
We drop up a play out of the time out.
We had an option for Asia Boone coming at the
(08:51):
top of the key or Clara diving down to the post,
and we got a great look at the top. You know,
the ball just kind of just doesn't go our way.
It doesn't fall our way. And then you go down
to the last possession of the game for them, and
we probably defended that possession as well as we had
all night. And you know, it was a thirty second
(09:12):
shot clock. Uh. They shoot it with I think like
two seconds, and we had we guarded it and guarded it,
guarded it put him in a in a difficult position,
and they had the kid Gallvin step up and hit
like a nice little mid range shot. And so that's
that's the way that it goes. We go down to
the last play. You know, we had the look that
we wanted initially out of it, but they had a
(09:34):
foul to give and h we had Tony attack in
the basket and she was going to be able to
either create for herself or create for others. We had
some other kids open. They used their foul, you know,
Uh and rightfully so Uh. Then it changed it because
it put the ball on the baseline and uh. And
then it was like, okay, now you don't have the
opportunity to go downhill and uh. And we we drew
up a play we liked what we wanted. We didn't
(09:56):
have the spacing that we wanted initially. We wanted. We
wanted Asia Boone to clear out, but she popped up.
Her man was the one who deflected the basketball when
Clara tried to drive, and Clara went a little bit
too soon, and these are things that she'll learn from.
Speaker 12 (10:09):
You know.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
I wanted her to take her time, see the play,
see it developing, and if she had to choot a
little mid range, that would have been fine with me.
But she attacked a little bit too soon, and they
made a great play, they deflected the basketball, and they
came up with the wins. So it's it's difficult, you know,
it's hard. It's gut wrenching for our kids. But we'll
they'll be in there today watching film and we'll learn
from it.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
A couple of other notables from Sunday. You got Kayln
Carol KK in the game for a little over seven minutes,
and she hit two big threes and pulled down a
couple of key rebounds for you in.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
That game, you know what, it was so funny. You know,
I don't I don't do a lot of social media,
but you know, I was looking at reels and normally
when anything sports pops up, I'll just keep scrolling and
you know, but this time, you know, something stuck out
and it was talking about a coach was saying talking
about freshmen. A lot of freshmen in thinking that you know,
(11:01):
if they can score a bucket, that they're going to
be on the floor. And what really keeps them on
the floor is if they can play defense, you know,
And that's that's been you know, the whole thing with her.
We all know she can shoot it, shoot it with
the best of them, and she understands. It's just understanding
schemes and getting out there. And as a freshman, most
of the time, you just don't want to hurt your
team defensively, and then once you get to that point,
(11:23):
then you can start helping your team. And I thought
she was much better yesterday. Did a really good job.
This past week. It was probably a taxing week for
her mentally because we were really watching a lot of
the things that she did low minute scrimmish games. She
was the focal point. You know, a lot of her
veterans were sitting out. So she got some really good
minutes this week in practice, and it showed, and she
(11:46):
came out and she was much better on Sunday, and
we're gonna need her down the stretch to really provide
a punch off the bench.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
Getting ready to take on Auburn on the road Tomorrow
night seven o'clock. Is this show airs. We'll be on
the air at six forty five the pregame coverage Auburn's
under a new head coach Larry Vickers. And I understand
you guys have crossed paths before.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah, we have. You know Larry, you know, he was
coach at Norfolk State. Obviously I was I've been in Virginia,
you know, most of my life, all my life up
until I came to Kentucky and and and I make
no bones about it, you know, as an African American
male coach, you know, he's someone that you know, I'm
not gonna sit here and say I mentored him, but
anytime he would call me, I would pick up the phone,
(12:27):
you know, just offer advice. And you know, obviously watching
his success when he was at Norfolk State, I watched
him build it. You know, he switched over. Our paths
were similar because we both switched over from the men's side.
And you know, he asked me very early on in
his career just you know my take on it. You know,
what did I do. And then from that point on,
I was always you know, a fan watching him and
(12:49):
watched how he built that program in Norfolk State where
they were you know, constant champions at the at the MEAC,
and then he got an opportunity, you know, And I
think he and I are the only two African American
male coaches head coaches in the Power Four. And so
obviously other than Thursday night, I'm going to root for
him anytime I can, you know. But I think he's
(13:11):
done a really good job. You know, his first year
taking over at Auburn, whole new team. They play hard, regardless.
He actually has one of my former players on his
staff in Taja Cole, and you know, so there's there's
a lot of familiarity and and you know, and he's
done a really good job, and I think he will
continue to do a good job. And I think he's
(13:31):
going to help strengthen the SEC.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
It's hard to believe we're already talking about the last
week of the regular season. In the last home game
against South Carolina Sunday, March first, at two o'clock, it's
Senior Day game presented by UK Healthcare, Kentucky's number one hospital,
and the official health care provider of Big Blue Nation.
Under two hundred tickets remain for this one against South Carolina,
and we want to see that place full because you
(13:54):
are going to honor some seniors who are very special
to this program and have really helped you build the
foundation and establish a culture for your program.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, you know, we got a little first look at
it lot yesterday. You know, Varonderbilt, you know, a very
class act. You know, they honored their seniors yesterday. They
gave our seniors some flowers, and it kind of that's
when it kind of hits you. You know, Man, that's
a lot of points gonna be walking out of the door.
But you know, I'm very thankful for our kids and
what they've contributed to this program. Two years, two years,
(14:26):
and you know, we've won a lot of basketball games,
you know, and a lot of times it's a it's
a rebuild, and it takes a few years to get
things going, especially culturally, and these seniors have done a
tremendous job of just really helping this program grow, not
from a just from a wind standpoint, but culturally. You know,
we're on really good ground and I think we're a
(14:47):
very attractive program for a lot of people to come
and a lot of it has to do with the
contributions of these kids and what they've been able to
help us establish in a very short amount of time.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
We've got to get to a break here on the
Kenny Brooks Show. We're presented by Bluegrass Here Clinic. We've
got another segment coming up here on the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
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Hi, This is Claire Shock from Kentucky Women's Basketball. I
like to thank our official cornerstone partners, Central Bank, the
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Big Blue Nation. One more time, a big thank you
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For me, being a part of a community means a
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Speaker 4 (19:35):
Welcome back. It is the final segment of The Kenny
Brooks Show, presented by Bluegrass here in clinic for this week.
The Cats are busy on the road at Auburn tomorrow night,
and they'll host South Carolina in the regular season finale
on Sunday. Kentucky stays at number sixteen in the net,
which if you want to host in the NCAA tournament,
you want to get that net as high as you
can go. And boy, Kentucky, you guys have had a
(19:58):
difficult schedule a share at times, but this team has
been able to compete through it and that's been the
most fun to watch and coach through it all. You've
had five players average and double figures. You're one of
only five teams to have five players at least averaging
ten points. Talk a little bit about the floor ballance
you've seen from your team throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Well, this group is very unselfish, you know, and it
shows they'll move to basketball to try to find the
open person we have kids who are capable of putting
up big numbers, like Tony Morgan probably could put up
more numbers than she does. But she's such a great facilitator,
such a great teammate, and she really helps get the
other players going. You know, probably Amelia is a beneficiarya
(20:38):
that she needs Tony to really help her. And because
of that, you know, it makes us hard to really
focus on one person. And now teams really do lock
in and hone in on Clara, and you know, but
Clara can kick it out, you know, and she can
make she can make a play for someone else. But
a very balanced group and you know, obviously having Jordan
coming off the bench down too, she's right at ten
(20:59):
points a game. It just really makes it difficult to
hone in on one person. And when we have it
going and we're making shots, you know, we're very difficult out.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
When we're finished here on the Kenny Brooks Show presented
by Bluegrass, Here in Clinics, stick Around for Bed and
Radio presented by Clark's Pumping Shop. Tonight will be joined
by Andrew Kappus to talk a little baseball and basketball
as well. Uh going back to the net real quick,
you had the RPI, now you have the net. How
have those two formulas changed kind of or how you
(21:31):
how have you had to adapt to those to try
to help your team be best positioned for seating in
the tournament.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
They're they're they're totally different, and I think, you know,
we've done a really good job my staff, you know,
all the way back to my days at a tech
when when the nets start coming out, the net rewards
things that really don't seem like they're sportsman like. Uh
and like you know, they they reward you for beating
a team by a lot, you know, which you know
a lot of times when you get up, you know,
(21:59):
by a lot, you want to you want to play
some of the other players and who haven't really been
able to play a lot. But you know, they they
talk about your efficiency throughout the whole game, not just
portion of the game, and so you want to be
as efficient as you can. You saw us this year
go on the road to play at Marshall at Buffalo,
you know, play some games like that and it rewards
you for going on the road and winning by a
(22:21):
large margin. And so we've learned how to play to
it so that we can have any opportunity to host.
But the crazy thing is, like like this year, Darren
and I don't want I don't say this to downgrade
the the importance of playing at home, but like where
we are in this juncture of the season, we're just
really trying to get better, you know, you know, we're
(22:42):
not putting the pressure on the kids of hey, we
got to win this game, because if we do, we'll
be able to host. And I think a lot of
that has to do with that. We understand that we're
battle tested and we can go on the road and
play which we showed against Vanderbilts, which we showed against LSU,
which we showed against Louisville, And so I think the
most important thing we don't want to try to put
it in her head you have to win this game,
(23:03):
or you have to win this game. We have to
get better. We have to get better because we know
we're a team that can be reckoned with once the
NCAA tournament it comes along, and when that comes, we
want to be as competent, you know, in our abilities,
competent our play as possible, and that's what we're pushing
for right now.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
Well, in a few minutes, we have left on the
show this week, Let's talk about some of these battle
tested players and some of the accomplishments they've made. I
want to start with Asia Boone because this has been fun.
Eighty three pointers made on the season, She's one away
from being second on the all time single season list,
so she's won behind Sarah Potts, who had eighty one
in the two thousand and four two thousand and five season.
(23:41):
By the way, the record is held by Ryan Howard,
who had eighty four in the twenty nine twenty twenty season.
So Asia's getting up there in some rarefied air with
some big time legends in Kentucky women's basketball.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
And deservedly so. She works really hard. We put her
in position her teammates really find her the confidence to
step up and shoot the basketball. And we recruited her
as a shooter. We knew that she was going to
be an asset to us. You know, I saw her
in the portal and you know, playing against them last
year in the NCAA tournament. I knew she could be
that sniper that we needed. The beautiful thing about it
(24:16):
is it happens so organically. I've never told her not
to shoot. I've never told her to shoot, and she's
figured out her way in this system just organically, and
that's what makes it very natural and it's not forced,
and she's not hesitant. When she's got the opportunity, you know,
she steps up and she knocks them down.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
Clara Strack seventy five blocks. She broke her old record
of seventy three, only player in Kentucky women's basketball history
to have multiple seventy blocks seasons. She was sec Defensive
Player the Year last year. I have to think she's
a contender for that again this year, along with some
other national awards.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Be Ben, We're very fortunate to have her and and
you know, you're watching greatness and we can't overlook it.
And what she does on the floor for us, I
don't even really understand it, you know.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
I'm not.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
I know a lot of people will think, well, she's
a great player, but if you really dive into it
and you watch film, the little things that she does,
it doesn't show up on the stat sheet, it doesn't
show up to the to the normal eye. Uh, it's amazing.
Her basketball IQ is through the roof and what she
does for us, she she erases a lot of mistakes
that we make and uh and we ask a lot
of her and to the point where I probably need
(25:23):
to ask a little bit lesser of her and more
of others. But she does a lot of things out
there on the basketball. For she's she's probably one of
the smartest players I've ever coached. UH and she's one
of the best players I've ever coached, and she wants
to continue to get better. So bright future ahead, BBN.
You know, don't take it for granted. You know, we're
very fortunate. I had some Uh, I had some. I
(25:43):
went to see one of my players play in the
Athletes Unlimited uh Kayana Trailer who played for me at
bo Tech, and uh when I was there, there were
a couple of hockey fans there and they were like, Okay,
we're coming to the game tomorrow because we finally get
to see Clara play in person. And UH. So she
has a following and h I think a lot of
people are really appreciate her greatness, and I, for one,
do not take it for granted.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
And the one of the things I think we talk
about the least with her game. She's third on the
team and assists and only one behind Asia Boone with
fifty six, and it just feels like Claire is in
control all the time.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
I said it yesterday in my post press conference, I said,
you know, I think she's the best center in the country.
You know, she's right up there with all the centers
in the country and points, she's right she at the
top in rebounds, she leads in blocks, and she's right
up there and assist. You know, she just does it
all and and I wouldn't trade her for anyone in
the country. And she she's got a fire to her.
(26:39):
She's a really competitive kid, and she's a great leader
for us. And I'm just looking forward to, you know,
the next run with her, and then her senior year.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
And then Tony Morgan. Every time she steps on the court,
she's breaking records.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Is Tony's Tony's done a tremendous job. Very proud of her.
You know, the transition has gone really, really smooth, you know,
from from an All American point guard to have in Tony,
and I'm very, very appreciative of what she's been able
to do.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Amelia Hasset Boone has eighty three pointers made. Amelia's right
behind her with seventy three on the season, and man
she came out on fire against Vanderbilt Sunday.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
She did. I'm very happy for Millie, very proud of
her because she went there a little stretch, was a
little bit difficult, but you know, she's a veteran and
she does her job. It does it really well. You know,
she was guarding Blake's for most of the game yesterday
in the first half, and then we asked her to
step up and make shots, and you know, she plays
exceptionally well against Vanderbilt. But you know, Milly is one
(27:35):
of the most humble, likable kids you ever will meet,
and she's been a blessing for us and helping you
build what we've done in two years.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Here, Coach. We got a little over minute left in
the show, and I wanted the last question to be
a little off topic because it made national news this week.
ESPN's moving on from Sunday Night Baseball and they announced
that in the place of Sunday Night Baseball is basically
a block dedicate to women's athletics, including the w NBA
and soccer. How big is that for young girls and
(28:06):
their families across the country to see ESPN devote that
and aspire to want to play on a Sunday night
WNBA game.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Well, first and foremost, to me, it was bittersweet. I'm
a big baseball fan. I love sitting there on Sunday
night watching baseball or listening to baseball. But you know,
it's for a great cause. And obviously this is going
to be tremendous for women's sports. The boost. It's going
to be tremendous for our young people to be able
to watch it. And you know, when I look into
the stands and you know, after a game, regardless of
(28:35):
what the outcome is, and you see these young girls
and they're looking up to you know, our players and everybody.
You want them to have opportunities to be able to
see sports that they can play on ESPN where their
dads are watching TV. So I think it's monumental and
I'm looking forward to it. And I've missed the baseball
but if it has to be a replacement, this is
(28:57):
a tremendous placement and I'm very happy and excited for it.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Absolutely, coach, fun show. We'll see you at Auburn.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Thanks you very much.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
Then, this has been the Kenny Brooks Show presented by
Bluegrass Here in Clinic Stay tuned BBN Radio presented by
Clark's Pumping Shop comes your way. Next, this is the
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