April 1, 2025 • 58 mins
Hosted by the Voice of the Wildcats, Tom Leach. Coach Pope will take questions via X (@UKSportsNetwork) or Facebook.Watch the livestream on UKSN All Access.The show is broadcast in Lexington on 630 WLAP, online at UKathletics.com, on UK Sports Network affiliates,Fans can also download the show as a podcast through iTunes, Spotify and iHeart by searching “UK Sports Network Radio.” Additionally, you can locate the podcast at UKAthletics.com/audio.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
There is no look, let's apply, yes, man, come on.
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That's street ball.
Speaker 5 (00:20):
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Speaker 6 (00:28):
What makes us different than everybody else?
Speaker 7 (00:31):
Is you?
Speaker 8 (00:33):
From the UK's Sports Network. This is the UK Healthcare
Mark Pope Show. To talk to Coach Pope called the
Clark's Pumping.
Speaker 9 (00:42):
Shop phone line at eight five nine two eight zero
Cats that's eight five nine two eight zero two two
eight seven, or state wide at one eight hundred six
oh six game that's one eight hundred and six oh
six four two sixty three.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Cats guys, or you.
Speaker 8 (01:01):
Can tweet questions too at UK Sports Network Fort Kentucky.
The UK Healthcare Mark Polk Show begins now alongside the coach.
Here's the Voice Sun the Cats, Tom Leach, Good.
Speaker 10 (01:17):
Anything, everybody, and welcome into our show. It's the last
one of the season and Coach Pope is going to
be here to take your questions about Kentucky basketball for
the next hour via the social media feed at UK
Sports Network on x or Twitter if you prefer, and
you can also call us on the Clark's Pumping Shop
phone line at one eight hundred and six oh six
four two sixty three are inside Lexington. It's two eight
(01:39):
o cats tow atoh two to eight seven. Season came
to a close in the Sweet sixteen on Friday Night
up in Indianapolis with the lost by to the Tennessee Balls.
Kentucky finishes with the number of noteworthy achievements for this season.
They set a program record for making the most threes
in a season three hundred and forty one. That was
(02:02):
a record that went back to the nineteen to ninety
three Kentucky team. This was the first team in UK
history and anytime you say that it is notable at
the University of Kentucky. The first UK team ever to
have six players finished the season averaging in double figures.
Kentucky won an NCAA record tying eight games against ap
(02:23):
top fifteen teams. You had the first team to advance
to a Sweet sixteen without a single returning point from
the prior season. That had never happened in the history
of the NCAA tournament. And you had additional top ten
statistical finishes in program history for total points which was seventh,
(02:45):
total assists ninth, and three point field goal percentage which
was six. So just a few of several noteworthy achievements
for this team and some individual accomplishments that will take
note of over the course of the show.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I'm back.
Speaker 10 (03:00):
Coach Pope will join the program. We're coming to you
tonight from our nice new broadcast facility at the UK
Sports Network here in Lexington and we will chat with
Coach Pope and then get to your questions in just
a bit. This is the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show
on the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 8 (03:19):
You are listening to the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show
on the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
The Mark Pope Show is brought to you by Coca.
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Cola, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Little Caesars and by UK Healthcare.
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House tonight, UK.
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Fight, every single day for every single one.
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The Mark Pope Collins Show is brought to you locally
in Lexington by Baptist Health, Chick fil A, Skyline Chili
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A lot of Catch the Wildcats in Lexington all season
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Welcome back into our show as we are joined now
(06:26):
by coach Mark Pope. I was just taking off a
number of uh notable achievements for your team this season
and you mentioned this at some point in one of
our postgame interviews. Anytime you can do something at this
program that hadn't been done before, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
Yeah, it's really.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Cool, and it's a I couldn't be more proud of
our guys. I mean, sort of just finishing the job.
Speaker 15 (06:47):
I thought what they.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Did was just incredible and I'm really proud of them,
and and I think they're you know, they're they'll they'll
look back on this year with a ton of pride
and gratitude and everything you want out of season.
Speaker 10 (07:01):
The one thing that doesn't show up in all of
these lists of first and statistical things is the significant
achievement of the way they connected I think with the BBN. Nope,
Kentucky fans didn't know any of these guys when.
Speaker 7 (07:15):
They started back in April.
Speaker 10 (07:16):
If you were hired and it came to be I
think a team they enjoyed all going on the journey
with very much.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Yeah, I think it was. I think it was a
beautiful relationship. That's what it's supposed to be. That's what
it's supposed to be here at Kentucky, and our guys
understood that. They took it really seriously. They cared, they care,
they will always care. It was fun to hear the
guy's comments, you know, postgame about you know, refusing to
give back their jersey, refusing to take off their shoes,
(07:48):
and there's that's you know, there's some realness to that.
Speaker 15 (07:52):
In a special group.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
I also, I love how they bonded with with BBN
and I love how they bonded with each other.
Speaker 15 (07:58):
It's pretty extraordinary.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
So we we we were just the guys just absolutely
devastated after the game, a ton of tiers, a ton
of emotion, just on so many different levels sadness. And
so we finally made it back to the hotel. We
were together for about a half an hour as we
had the guys.
Speaker 15 (08:17):
Go through some some.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Just some last things, and then the guys just all
migrated up into one of their rooms. The whole team
was in there until about six o'clock in the morning.
Oh wow, just telling stories about the season and teasing
each other. And I've never seen that on a team before,
and it was, it was, it was exactly the right
(08:41):
kind of uh last night for those guys.
Speaker 15 (08:44):
I am really proud of them.
Speaker 10 (08:45):
I think Kerk Chrisa announced today he's putting his name
into the portal. There are some guys that can come
back for another season, and then you're you and your
staff are actively recruiting the portal. So just tell us
as much as you can about how all of that
plays out, meetings with the guys that could come back
the portal, recruitment, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
It's sure chaos, and it all happens at the same time,
and it's actually brilliant. It's beautiful, and you know it
was it was going on. We were deep in the
throws last week, we will be this week, and and
for the next weeks and months to come. There's even
more chaos because the settlement is pending out there and
that will change the way we're allowed to work in
(09:26):
the portal. And and so there's just there's chaos and
uncertainty and and all the things. And it's it's incredible
opportunity for all of our guys, uh to figure out
where they want to be and what their next step
is and and so it's it's very rarely one off conversations.
(09:46):
It's kind of daily conversations, and and uh, it's it's
it's fun, it's it's actually a beautiful way to filter.
Speaker 15 (09:55):
The guys that that are dying to be here and
do this.
Speaker 10 (09:58):
All right when we get to the first break and
will come back and start taking your questions and comments.
For Coach Pope, it's the UK Healthcare Mark Pope showing
this is the UK Sports network.
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Welcome back into the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show. As
the season has come to an end for the Wildcats,
so now it moves into recruiting season, which used to
be just a late signing period for freshman but obviously
it's much different now in the transfer portal era.
Speaker 7 (13:36):
So we're gonna jump right.
Speaker 10 (13:38):
Into this with questions you can send them in at
UK Sports Network on the social media feed, or you
can give us a call on the Clark's Pumping Shop
phone line two eight o cats to A two two
eight seven inside Lexington one eight hundred and six oh
six four two sixty three if you are outside of
Lexington and a question here from Pam, and she says,
(13:59):
ask him his timeline to get us back to the
Maui Invitational.
Speaker 15 (14:07):
Okay, timeline to get back to my invitational?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
That is that is there is nobody that would rather
be back there than me. Unfortunately that has slid down
the list of priorities right now. But when we do,
it's going to be epic because Bbi, I'll traveling will
be beautiful. Uh, it's it's it definitely won't be next year.
We have some we have some obligations here and RUP
(14:33):
in terms of number of games, and so until we
work out a couple other things that are in house,
MT is super important because it fulfills our obligation with
number of games. But but it is an aspiration that
we're all chasing. So uh, it's Pam right, yes, Pam,
when that happens, you and I'll be the two happiest
people in the room.
Speaker 10 (14:52):
I can't wait, Sarah says, congratulations on a great season.
College sports has changed so much over the last few years.
Is there any way to do a barnstorming tour like
you did when you were a senior at Kentucky or
is that a thing of the past?
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So I think that right now, I think tentatively, my
guess would be that barn Stormy would be happen immediately
following number nine, and so that's probably that's probably where we're.
Speaker 15 (15:19):
Living with that.
Speaker 10 (15:21):
From Chase, any thought about a new practice facility, is
that anything that's on the short term or long term agenda?
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Yeah, so our administration is always working hard ahead and
so that is uh that has certainly past the just
imagining phase. Still, there's a bunch of hurdles across and
and priorities that we have to refocus in this really dynamic,
changing landscape of college athletics. But that's something that that
(15:52):
is definitely in the working stages.
Speaker 10 (15:56):
From Alex a UK Sports Network, has there been any
discussion on a general manager for your program?
Speaker 7 (16:01):
Some schools are doing that thing.
Speaker 15 (16:03):
Yeah, So general managers is really interesting. It's it's it's.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
You know, designating someone exclusively in that spot is a
calculated decision that comes with all kinds of complications, and
so right now we're we're dealing with it in house
by dividing up those responsibilities, and we'll see. Like I said,
the entire landscape of college college athletics could change on
(16:35):
the sixth, which is exactly seven days from now. On
the seventh, I guess eight days from now, and so
that's gonna it could potentially send us on a brand
new trajectory, or nothing could happen and we could we
could continue down the road we are, And so I
(16:55):
think staff and responsibility change like that. Those decisions will
be forthcoming after we get more clarity on what the
world of college athletics.
Speaker 15 (17:04):
Going to look like.
Speaker 10 (17:05):
And for fans that don't get too deep into the
weeds on some of these off the court issues, that's
the date that a judge could approve and finalize the
I think it's called the House settlement. That we hear
that term a lot, but it could also be tabled
and pushed down the road a little bit.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Right it could be approved on the seventh. The seventh
will be the last time that the Ninth Court district
judge here that she hears commentary from the outside and
then it's solely in her hands to ratify.
Speaker 15 (17:36):
And I think.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
You know this is this is probably not exact, but
rarely has she when she's been faced with an issue
like this, has she kind of I don't even know
if ratified is the right word, but done that on
the day of the last hearing. Although that could happen,
it's been more of her my understanding, it's been more
of her deal to kind of at least a few
(18:00):
days or maybe take a week, ten days, but there's
no definite timeline, and so we're just we're just uh
in terms of that shift, we're just in a wait
and see mode. And then there's all the complications of
actually implementing the agreement and what that's going to look like.
So it's it's pretty exciting, man. Every day is something new.
Speaker 7 (18:20):
I don't know.
Speaker 10 (18:20):
Obviously you can't talk about the who in portal recruitment,
but can you talk about the what at all in
terms of what types of positions or whatever else that
you would be looking for?
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Yeah, yes, I mean I get nervous about even going
down that road right now because I don't want to
step out of bounds. But needless to say, I think
every team in the country is is really active in
the portal right now, especially with these pending dates where
things could change. It's a it's a it's a really
(18:55):
important time of year. It's really really condensed, it's really active,
it's incredibly dynamic and it's busy.
Speaker 10 (19:04):
Well, we're gonna get to a break. When we come back,
we'll get to more of your questions, so send them
in at UK Sports Network or you can give us
a call on the Clark's Pump and Shop bone line.
It's the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show and this is
the UK Sports Network.
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Good, Welcome back into the show.
Speaker 10 (21:31):
Watch BBN Game Day presented by Elliott's Services all season long.
The show airs Saturday mornings at nine on wl e
X and Lexington. Check UK Athletics dot com Slash UK
Sports Network for TV affiliates and times in your area.
If you're outside the state, watch on UK Athletics dot com,
Slash Videos or on the Kentucky Wildcats Facebook page. Let's
(21:51):
Go to the Clark's Pumpet Shop phone line. We'll start
in Grayson, Kentucky. Brian, you're all with coach.
Speaker 26 (21:56):
Pope Hey good eving Palm gooday and the coach.
Speaker 15 (22:00):
What's up my friends?
Speaker 26 (22:02):
Hey? I know, UH love nothing more than to be
playing this weekend. And I know you're probably uh you're
probably a little uh bummed about that too. You know
you always want to end your season, you know, playing
the last game, you know, the last game. But uh
bar and all that. You know, you guys have been
enjoyable this year. Had a great group of guys, got
to got to meet you know, most of the guys
(22:24):
there at one of the Club Blue events earlier before
the season started, and just a great group of guys.
And uh, I just can't wait. I can't wait for
next year to see, uh, to see where we're at.
And we're getting ready to take off the family. Here
we we go to the final four. We started we
started this to bear knife one and with that, I
(22:46):
didn't know if you guys or you'll be making any
appearances in San Antonio and if any of our guys
will be in any of the senior games or any
of the like A three point shoot out and that
sort of thing, or if you or if you know
that yet.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
First of all, man, I'm so sad that we're not
there playing for you to go to for you to
be at the Final four, and let's get that done
next year. Second of all, these ten days are just haunting.
They're the worst ten days. We were ten days short
of our goal, and so these ten days are.
Speaker 15 (23:16):
Really really tough. I will be at the Final Four.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
I have obligations at a coaches meeting on Friday morning
and then event Friday night, and I think most of
our coaches will be there.
Speaker 15 (23:31):
It's a it's a really active time for.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Coaches and network, trade ideas and and and build relationships,
so most of the staff will be in and out
at some point. I don't think any of our players
have signed on to play in the Reese's Game for seniors,
so I don't know if any of our guys. I
(23:55):
don't know off the top of my head if any
of our guys will be there right now. But men,
have a great trip, and even though the Cats aren't playing,
man still cheer for the Cats. That's why I'll be
doing it in my space.
Speaker 10 (24:07):
Thank you, Brian appreciate the call. Our next call comes
from right here in Lexington. Eric Eure up with coach Pope.
What do you have for us?
Speaker 27 (24:15):
Hey, hey, coach, how are you wonderful?
Speaker 15 (24:18):
Thanks?
Speaker 27 (24:19):
Eric, I just wanted to call. I've probably gone through
this comment in my head a thousand times, and I'll
probably stumble all over it because I'm a little emotional.
But I am also a girl dad and I have
two wonderful young women. One twenty she'll be twenty five
this year, graduate of UK and another one that is
will be twenty one here in a couple of days
(24:41):
and she will also be a graduate of the UK two,
something I'm extremely proud of. But the reason I call
is because we live in a country that is just
ripping itself in half, and I personally believe that happened
during COVID and my daughter, my oldest in youngest. You know,
we both have difference of opinions and we we drifted
(25:05):
apart a little bit. I mean, we live in the
same household, but we really couldn't talk to each other.
Speaker 28 (25:10):
And that's until this year.
Speaker 27 (25:12):
We've been able to sit down and enjoy watching you
guys perform, and it's been fun it's been at it's
been wonderful. You guys have just just brought us back together.
She has a love for Lamont Butler that I wish
her mother would have for me. And I I can't
thank you enough for that because we can sit down
(25:33):
and be a father and daughter again. And it may
be silly, but coach, that's that's nothing will ever change
that now.
Speaker 28 (25:40):
And and I can't thank you enough.
Speaker 15 (25:43):
Oh man.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
First of all, thank you for sharing that. And and
and uh, that's really special. And and I'll add a
couple of things. One, I love the Lamont Butler also
very deeply. And uh, there's nothing better in the world
than getting to have daughters. Man, It's the It's the
greatest thing in the world. And the truth is is
(26:04):
that my daughters rarely agree with anything I have to say,
but it is the greatest thing in the world. And
that's what That's what Kentucky basketball is supposed to be.
It's supposed to be. It's supposed to be a super
meaningful connection point. And I'm really grateful that it was
for you guys. That's that's super important. And and thank
(26:25):
you for sharing that.
Speaker 7 (26:26):
That's awesome, neat story.
Speaker 10 (26:27):
Thank you to follow up on Lamon I think in
the postgame news conference he said his shoulder was about
eighty percent. In these days, I mean, there's a lot
of people around players telling him things like, don't go
back out there unless you're one hundred percent.
Speaker 7 (26:41):
Don't you know, put yourself out there less than your best.
Speaker 10 (26:44):
And he continually came back at less than his best
to give you his best, which was really good in
those last two games.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Yeah, I mean, just you know, we talked about it. Fortunately,
we got to talk about it before he even got here,
about what a winner he is, and what a winning
spirit and character he has, and how much he cares
about his team, and how much he cares about Kentucky
and how much he cares about representing and and so
he had a you know, when the stakes get high,
usually you have a million ways to kind of get
(27:11):
out of it, to step aside, to to you know,
exit stage left, and he refused to do it. You know,
we've talked about this, but uh, you know, you know
there's a saying that that winners talk about what they
made happen, and losers talk about what happened to them.
And and Lamtt Butler is a winner he talks about
(27:34):
what he made happen. He doesn't talk about what slowed
him down, what got in the way, what was what
was controversial, or what was difficult, or what was adversity.
He talks about what he made happen. And in his
basketball career in college, he's made incredible things happen. In
his life, he's making beautiful things happen. And and man,
he's a real blessing to everybody here in BBM.
Speaker 10 (27:53):
And every year when Kentucky Lois will get together, people
talk about Rex's big game when he was a freshman,
and they'll talk about other big games, and they'll talk
about Lamont Butler's National Player of the Week performance ten
of ten from the field, six.
Speaker 7 (28:08):
Threes, thirty three points.
Speaker 15 (28:09):
Yep.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
That's a pretty cool place to have in UK.
Speaker 15 (28:13):
Awesome.
Speaker 10 (28:14):
Let's get to a question off the social media feed.
This one is from Washburton coach. What do you think
a sophomore Trent Noah will look like?
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Trent and I met for a long time yesterday.
Speaker 15 (28:28):
Man, he's he's just as special. He is special.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
And I think to start with what he's gonna look
like next year, I think you have to trace back
his trajectory. And one of the things that he said
to me is, like, Coach, you know, when I was
in high school, we played zone. I never guarded anybody,
and and man did he make incredible strides on the
defensive end. I still laugh at myself that we're at Alabama,
playing number four Alabama, playing the returning player of the
(28:55):
year in the SEC and Mark series, And I got
Trent Noah out there, matched up with him for about
fifteen minutes of the game, and then you know, he
talked about the speed and the speed and athleticism of
the guys, and and when he first got here it
was shocking to him. And and he just every day
picked up more and more and more and and and
(29:15):
he felt and I felt by the end of season,
he just felt like he belonged. That's an incredible transformation
as a freshman at this level, playing against the teams
he played against, with the players he played against, with
the stakes so high, and I expect him to continue
to get better and better. I think he's gonna you know,
(29:36):
I think he's going to continue to get better off
the bounce.
Speaker 15 (29:38):
I think he's going to continue to get.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
More and more confident defensively, you know, he's got a
real physicality on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 15 (29:45):
That's special. I think he's going to get better.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
And more creative with what he's doing in terms of
his reads. He's he's, he's, he's going to be a
tremendous player.
Speaker 15 (29:54):
You know.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
I'm excited for him to put on you know, over
the course of the next year or two a good
fifteen eighteen pounds where he is, he is going to
just inflict physical punishment on guys and really be able
to own his space. Plus, he's going to be a
special player. He's built, right, He's built. He's built in
a beautiful way.
Speaker 10 (30:14):
Two things about him. First, he seemed to just have
a knack for finding the ball to get fifty to
fifty balls. And he has a cool nickname as he does.
Speaker 15 (30:23):
Yes he does, Yes he does.
Speaker 10 (30:25):
We're halfway home at the UK Healthcare of Mark Pope Show.
We'll be right back for more of your questions for
the coach. We'll be right back on the UK Sports.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Network BBN Game Day.
Speaker 11 (30:33):
It's your weekly look inside UK athletics Senturdays at nine
am on l e X eighteen and stations across the state.
Check Ukathletics dot Com, Slash UK Sports Network for stations
and times in your area, BBN Game Day.
Speaker 29 (30:47):
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Speaker 5 (32:08):
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So gokay pizza Pizza.
Speaker 25 (32:17):
You've heard the term buy local? How about play local?
When you play Keno and other games from the Kentucky Lottery,
your dollars are going directly to fund scholarships and grants
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Speaker 30 (32:28):
Play Keino anywhere Kentucky lottery is sold, convenience stores, bars,
on your laptop or on your mobile device. Visit kylottery
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Speaker 25 (32:40):
Please play local, have fun, and help Kentucky students too.
Play responsibly.
Speaker 5 (32:45):
Remember it's just a game, Hey, BBN coach Pope here.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Our program's mentality is relentless, twenty four to seven work,
total dedication every day. What it takes to raise banners,
and it's what it takes to tackle the Commonwealth's biggest
healthcare challenges, Big Blue Determination. It's why UK Healthcare is
the number one hospital in Kentucky and the official healthcare
(33:15):
partner of UK Athletics.
Speaker 11 (33:18):
BBN Game Day h your weekly look inside UK Athletics
Senturdays at nine am on l e X eighteen and
stations across the state. Check uk Athletics dot com slash
UK Sports Network for stations and times in your area.
Speaker 4 (33:32):
BBN Game Day.
Speaker 10 (33:44):
Jackie Basketball podcast. It's presented by UK Federal Credit Union.
It is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio,
and the official UK Athletics app. It's the Mark Prope
Show fotal one for this season, and we're taking your
calls and your questions on social media or on the
Clark's Pumping Shop phone line. Let's go back to the
phones and we'll head to Shepherdsville. Terry, you're up with
(34:05):
Coach Pope. What do you have for us tonight?
Speaker 31 (34:07):
Terry, Coach Pope, congratulations on a great season of all
the adversity and injuries you had to go through. Was
great getting that far and I just I wish we
had anybody but Tennessee and that spot, in that two spot,
because when you beat a team twice, if that team's
worth their mantle at all, they're going to really come
(34:27):
out and give it all they can to beat you,
not only to move on, but revenge factor. And that
proved out as Tennessee had nothing left for Houston on Sunday.
My going forward, I don't want you to say names
or anything, but do you anticipate any other current players
going into the portal then cur today? And do you
(34:50):
have a timeline when you think the roster may be finished?
Great job, coach, Thanks.
Speaker 15 (34:56):
Hey, thanks so much, And yep, yes, you know.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
I don't know.
Speaker 15 (35:02):
I don't know what the rhyme or reason is to
how games work out, but.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
I think, uh, yeah, I I couldn't. I couldn't.
Speaker 32 (35:12):
Uh.
Speaker 15 (35:13):
I liked our draw a lot.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
I liked the fact that we were getting to play
Tennessee a third time and they were just better than
us on Friday night.
Speaker 15 (35:22):
They were just better. It's it's hard to swallow. Uh.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
In terms of the roster, I think everybody, I think
every player in the country right now is considering, you know, uh,
a hundred different things in terms of entering the portal,
staying on their current roster trying to figure that out.
And I think it probably changes every single day, and
I think with every single move that teams make, it changes.
(35:51):
It's going to continue to be the dynamic for some time.
And so it's it's just a it's just a new
maybe just a small window for this era, but it's
a new era. And so I don't know when the
roster will be finished. Actually, I think you could get
to a place where you think you finish a roster,
(36:12):
but because of the roster composition, somebody makes late decisions
to to kind of change what they're doing. So and
I think there there, you know, there's always gonna be
guys that are going through the draft process that would
be late additions to a roster, and so you know, well,
it's just it's just, you know, we're gonna pound it
(36:34):
every single day like we're doing and put together a
great group of guys and and it'll come together the
way it's supposed to. But it's gonna be fun. I mean,
it's gonna be fun to pay attention every single day
because every single day the narrative is gonna change.
Speaker 7 (36:45):
Is super cool.
Speaker 10 (36:47):
Go next to Richmond, Kentucky, Shane, you're up with coach
Mark Pope.
Speaker 7 (36:51):
Shane, what's on your mind, Sean?
Speaker 33 (36:53):
I'm sorry, Tom, Hey, coach, this is Sean. Yeah.
Speaker 17 (36:57):
Coach.
Speaker 33 (36:57):
First of all, thank you so much for UH for
the year.
Speaker 15 (37:02):
It was.
Speaker 33 (37:02):
It was exhilarating to follow and the fund was back
in Kentucky basketball man, it was, Uh, it was. It
was so great And I love just thinking. I mean,
you think you hate playing the what if game, right,
but to know we beat UH two of the of
the final four teams, and you know, just what what if?
(37:23):
It's without the injuries. But that's you know, that's why
you play the game. So you know, it is what
it is.
Speaker 31 (37:29):
But I just.
Speaker 33 (37:31):
Wondered, after going through the SEC gauntlet for a year
and playing Duke and Gonzaga and the other tough teams
that we played, Clemson, all those guys, does that change
after you do your own self scout? Does that change
any of your any of the basics of your offensive
or defensive schemes sort of as your own self scout?
(37:53):
And then two, does it change any of the sort
of the player composition that you you you know, you
originally came into this with coming from BYU.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Yeah, sean really good question, and I hope it does.
I hope it changes. I hope we learned from every experience.
I think the complication and when you get really good
at this, what you do is you have pretty good
insight on what changes to go wholesale, on what changes
to just dip your toe on, and where to stay
true to the things that are your identity and make
(38:26):
you successful. And so we do an autopsy after every game.
We do a post non conference autopsy, a post conference autopsy,
and then a post season autopsy, which we're just in
the very The post season autopsy is super extensive and
so we're barely in the beginnings of that. But we're
(38:46):
having these conversations for sure about building this roster. In
the portal right now, we're having live, real time conversations
kind of autopsy related on the season about like, Okay,
this is how we went into last season thinking and
doing roster construction. This is actually the roster we built.
This is the roster that we actually got to play
(39:09):
the season with. Where's the disparity in there? Because we
don't want to, you know, there were a lot of
things that I think we got really, really, really right,
and and so just trying to make those nuanced decisions
about changes we make is probably the beautiful artistic part
of roster construction.
Speaker 15 (39:26):
And it's really fun.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
And and you just tease out scenario after scenario after scenario,
and and as we go through, we literally, you know,
every every coaching staff in America is just going down
a list of players and watching video and checking numbers
and and and and doing deep dives into analytics and
and and background and and you know, every every every
player is.
Speaker 15 (39:48):
A different human being. It's hard to put them in
a box. So so.
Speaker 1 (39:53):
You know, considering all those different aspects and then putting
them into a team.
Speaker 15 (39:59):
One of the fun.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Things that we really learned last year that's gonna certainly
bear true this year is every single team, time we
add a piece, it changes the dynamics of the next.
Speaker 15 (40:10):
Piece we'd be looking for.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
It's not like we can do cookie cutter pieces into
the one, two, three, four, five. Right If I if
I find my way into a five that's got a
certain unique skill set, it's gonna change very much who
I could play at the four and what I look
for in a backup five, for example, Right, if we're
just playing that just random game, and so I hope
(40:35):
we're taking all of the information and experience the data
that we learned through the SEC and that's having some
impact on our decision making around Otherwise it's be a waste, right,
So it's it's pretty fun that way.
Speaker 10 (40:43):
A couple of segments left. There's a few player achievements
will take note of. Numerous guys had career highs in
multiple categories. Otega Oway led that way in that department
with thirteen different categories where he had a new personal best.
Jackson Robinson's the finalist for the Julia Serving Small Forward
of the Year.
Speaker 7 (41:01):
One of five.
Speaker 10 (41:02):
Ansley Almanor first player in UK history to be a
fifty to forty ninety guy with a minimum of one
hundred field goal attempts. That's fifty percent from the field,
forty percent as a three point shooter, and ninety percent
or better at the free throw line, and a Mari
Williams became the fourth player in UK history to register
a triple double. Happened down at Ole Miss.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
We'll get that's that's you think about all those guys
like Fromart we won for Ansley to be a one
of one. He was the fourth most efficient offensive player
in the entire country last year.
Speaker 15 (41:34):
And for Jacks to do that to.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Be a finalist with just a half a season of work,
man and and what Lamar did And listen you go
down the list with Kobe and Andrew Carr and manicipan
special group.
Speaker 7 (41:49):
A couple of segments left.
Speaker 10 (41:50):
We'll get to more of your questions for Coach Pope
when we come right back on the UK Healthcare Mark
Pope Show on the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
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Speaker 1 (43:54):
Go Cats.
Speaker 31 (43:57):
Later.
Speaker 10 (44:06):
Bb in Tonight, presented by UK Healthcare every weeknight at
seven thirty on w l e X and Lexington. Fans
can also watch archived shows at bbntonight dot com. Let
us go back to the Clark's pumping Shop phone line.
Jake and Hickory, what do you have for us?
Speaker 7 (44:23):
Jake? Coach coach here?
Speaker 35 (44:24):
Hey guys, how are you doing this evening?
Speaker 7 (44:27):
So well? Thanks? Shake?
Speaker 35 (44:30):
Hey, I just wanted to express my thanks to you
and Jack for what you guys do almost on the broadcast.
I'm blind and I can't see, and I just appreciate
what you and Jack do every week bringing the games
to us.
Speaker 10 (44:47):
Well, that is always one of the nicest compliments to get,
so I appreciate that a lot.
Speaker 7 (44:53):
Jake, thank you, and thank you for Jack. I'll speak for.
Speaker 35 (44:55):
Him too, Thank you very much, sir.
Speaker 10 (45:00):
Okay, uh Bob and Jamestown.
Speaker 7 (45:05):
You're next up with coach Pope.
Speaker 36 (45:07):
What do you say, guys? What can you say about that, Jake. Now, Tom,
you and Goose, you've got it going on. And that
previous comment just says it all right there, here's a
guy that can't see and I mean, you put the
game right there to it. And I'd like to thank
Billy Rutt. Let's take my calls this year once again,
and Coach, I mean, I mean you have just instilled
(45:30):
this ignited a fire under this big Blue nation, and
once again you see how how tough the SEC Conference is.
Right now, we're going to San Antonio. We're in the
greatest conference and I'm looking forward to seeing Malachi out there.
I know you've got a big, big job ahead, coach,
putting together another roster, but we're looking forward to it.
(45:53):
And do you ever get down to the Cumberland Lake, Coach,
if you spend any time down here at the lake.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
I look forward to getting back to Lake Cumberland. So
when I was here in college, the great Vinnie Tatum
would take Sheppe and I down to the lake and
we would sit on a little, uh one of those
little bars, little little boats, no like a little just
a flatbed boat, I don't know what it is, and
(46:20):
sit there all day and just we wouldn't move. We
would get down there would be so exhausted workhouse. We
we wouldn't even get in the water. We would just
sit there, slumpt over in a chair for four hours.
They go home. But it was the greatest. It was
like pure blessed joy. So I have great members of
Lake Cumberland, Bob, anything else.
Speaker 36 (46:38):
It's going now, that's great and once again we're looking
forward to a new season. It's beautiful. You guys have
a great summer, and coach see it down here at
Lake Cumberland.
Speaker 1 (46:48):
Thank you so much, hey, and thanks for bringing up
Malachi Mareno. This this guy not only does he win
mister Basketball in the state of Kentucky and win a
state championship in rupp Arena and be one of the
finest young men that you ever meet, but tomorrow night
he's playing in the McDonald's game. He is, he is,
(47:09):
He is a tour de force right now, and I
can't wait till he gets on campus.
Speaker 10 (47:13):
Named the MVP at the state tournament. And congratulations to
Great Crossing for their win and to Sacred Heart for
the win in the girls sweet sixteen. And we get
so wrapped up into all whether it's the high school,
the colleges, and then it just all ends so abruptly.
Speaker 15 (47:29):
Yes, it does.
Speaker 10 (47:31):
If you have question or comment for coach Boche, give
us a shout on the Clarks Pumping Shop phone line,
or you can send them in via social media as
Brian has done.
Speaker 7 (47:39):
How much do you.
Speaker 10 (47:40):
Think you need to up the physicality of play in
the offense or defense next season?
Speaker 15 (47:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Both, I think we needed both. You know, we were
actually one of that. We were the second best defensive
rebounding team in our conference this year, which is really
saying something. We were right number two in the defensive
reunited percentage and still we got really hurt in the
sweet sixteen game against Tennessee.
Speaker 15 (48:06):
It was really tough.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
And so that is a that is a continual process
of getting more and more diligent, more and more physical,
more and more capable of staying out of rotation so
we can we can block out.
Speaker 15 (48:16):
That's one example.
Speaker 1 (48:17):
We also Tennessee did an unbelievable job of kind of
handling our cut game and and we have to be
more physical there.
Speaker 15 (48:25):
We've actually toyed with.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
The idea of kind of installing in one half of
our court this summer these blocking dummies that football players
run through. Uh, just to get our guys used to
the the physicality of doing it and making change of
direction cuts.
Speaker 35 (48:41):
Uh.
Speaker 15 (48:41):
So I'll be.
Speaker 1 (48:43):
Working with coach Stoops on that see if we can
see if we're gonna make that happen. And and but
all of that's a it's a real part of getting better,
and it's learning the league and and it's understanding.
Speaker 15 (48:52):
You know, ways where we can get closer to our ceiling.
Speaker 10 (48:55):
From Jeff at UK Sports Network as coach Pope, which
of the out going players he thinks would make a
good coach.
Speaker 1 (49:03):
Well, it's interesting because I could see a lot of
these guys becoming coaches. Really, they might not say that
right now, but it was fun.
Speaker 15 (49:13):
We were at.
Speaker 1 (49:14):
A practice in Lucas Oil the day before the game
and we finished and the guys had some free shoot time,
and so Lamont went sat down on the one stool
that was on the court that was reserved for the coaches,
and I was like, yep, I can totally see that.
I could see him being there. He'd be an elite
level coach. Andrew Carr be a great coach, Kobe Braile
(49:35):
would be a great coach Annsley Almanor. I mean, listen,
if this works right, those guys are gonna go enjoy
their prokers and I'll be able to hire me here
his assistant coaches get them started.
Speaker 10 (49:47):
When everybody knows your story about medical school and the
transition to coaching. But when you were playing, did you
see yourself as a coach?
Speaker 1 (49:56):
Never?
Speaker 7 (49:57):
Never, not in the least Coach Patino.
Speaker 1 (50:01):
No, I don't know about Koch p. Actually, you'd have
to ask coach P that maybe that'd be a maybe.
Speaker 7 (50:09):
All right.
Speaker 10 (50:10):
One last segment to get to for complete coverage of
the Cats. Like UK sports Network on Facebook, follow us
on Instagram at UK Underscore Sports Network, and on x
it's at UK Sports Network, which is the address to
which you.
Speaker 7 (50:22):
Can send in questions for our final segment.
Speaker 10 (50:25):
A call or two left to get to as well,
will be right back here on the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 29 (50:30):
Kentucky basketball doesn't just play on hardwood at Rubberina. It
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Those baseline tip or not athlet UK Athletics would like
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Speaker 22 (51:53):
Thank you to our official cornerstone partners who play a
vital role in the success of the University of Kentucky Athletics.
Speaker 5 (52:00):
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Speaker 10 (53:31):
Wow, Welcome back into the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show
and our next call on the Clark's Pumping Chop phone
line comes from Henderson, Kentucky.
Speaker 7 (53:48):
Jeremy, what's on your mind? Yeah?
Speaker 32 (53:53):
Hey, coach bo Jeremy, Hey, Hey, thank you? Hey, have
it going wonderfully. I want to thank you for resurrect
in Kentucky basketball. It's been a great year and uh
all the BBN as inspired for sure. A couple of
questions I have are you gonna go after dig Z
and the portal you're gonna bring him back? Or do
(54:14):
you know?
Speaker 10 (54:17):
Yeah, he can't talk about individual guys. It's just like recruiting.
Speaker 1 (54:21):
Sorry to give you a breakdown on everything we do,
but I'm gonna get fired if.
Speaker 32 (54:26):
I do that.
Speaker 28 (54:29):
Well, we don't want you to get fired for sure.
Then another thing, you know, I'm in Travis Perry lamb
so Henderson. You know, we watched him play a lot
in high school, so I believe he's already permitted to stand.
So we look forward to watching him continue his career
at Kentucky. Then, uh, pal, who was the walk on
from Madisonville? Are you gonna have walk on tryout again
(54:52):
for the one day contract next year?
Speaker 15 (54:55):
Yeah? So it's so one.
Speaker 1 (54:57):
This Travis Perry is really special man, like what what
unbelievable young man? And he is he is going to
carry this Kentucky banners. He's pretty extraordinary. And two is
in terms of walk on triuts. So a lot of
it depends on this settlement. So if this settlement goes through,
it actually gives us a hard roster limit that actually
(55:18):
might do away with the chance to have.
Speaker 15 (55:21):
A walk on. So the roster limit includes walk on.
Speaker 1 (55:24):
So we'll know more about those details here in the
next couple of weeks if we are able. I love
having to walk on trials.
Speaker 15 (55:31):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (55:32):
And and Zach Tao was an incredible addition to our
team this year that we found through walk on trials.
Speaker 15 (55:39):
He was so good for us.
Speaker 1 (55:40):
So if the NC double allows it will do it
and if they don't, we'll find other ways.
Speaker 10 (55:45):
Yeah, we were down the elevator of Indianapolis with his
parents and the biggest smile on their faces. What a
cool moment he got when he got to get in
the game officially be in the record book.
Speaker 1 (55:54):
Ye, I think that get I think getting in the
game was especially him.
Speaker 15 (55:57):
I think getting the jersey was even more specialty.
Speaker 10 (55:59):
Bad from Tyler. What do you want to emphasize when
building your roster for.
Speaker 1 (56:04):
Next year, Well, we'll always emphasize. First, we're going to
emphasize the character of the guys. They have to meet
a threshold in terms of being here to wear this
jersey that's really really important to us. And the Connective
Tissues team is incredibly important. And then of course we're
looking for the same thing everybody's looking. I value shooting,
and I value decision making. Decision making, decision making. We
(56:24):
love motor so much, and motor plus length is even better,
you know, we like right now.
Speaker 15 (56:33):
One of the things we're learning about this.
Speaker 1 (56:34):
League is the brutal physicality of the glass, and so
you can get there two different ways. You can either
be one hundred percent diligent every single possession which is
a really special talent, or you could just have a
brutal physicality to kind of get the job done. And
so so you know that's clearly going to be a
priority for us. Just the physicality of the game is
(56:56):
going to be really important. There's a lot of factors
that go into kind of determin where we're thinking with players.
Speaker 10 (57:01):
At thirty seconds. So it's your last time to talk
to the BBN for this season.
Speaker 7 (57:04):
Anything you want to say, thank you, that's it.
Speaker 15 (57:08):
You know what, I've said this a million times. Nobody
gets to do what we get to do.
Speaker 1 (57:11):
Nobody gets to put on this jersey, Nobody gets to
be the coach.
Speaker 15 (57:15):
Of this basketball team.
Speaker 1 (57:17):
And what makes it so incredibly special is is being
able to be in this community and people have been
so kind and gracious and appropriately demanding of the standards
of Kentucky basketball. And there is nowhere in the world
that my family and I would rather be. It's it's
it's it's the greatest opportunity of lifetime. So thank you,
thank you, thank you to BEBA.
Speaker 10 (57:37):
Well, that's a good way to close it out, and
we'll see you it come September when things get cranked
back up for football right here on the UK sports.
Speaker 8 (57:45):
Ewek This say It has been the UK Healthcare mark
Top show on the UK Sports Network, The Mark Tope Show.
What's brought to you by Coca Cola, Appalachian Regional Healthcare,
Little Caesars and by UK Healthcare.
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What makes us different than everybody else?
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Is you?
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From the UK's Sports Network. This is the UK Healthcare
Mark Pope Show. To talk to Coach Pope called the
Clark's Pumping.
Speaker 9 (00:42):
Shop phone line at eight five nine two eight zero
Cats that's eight five nine two eight zero two two
eight seven, or state wide at one eight hundred six
oh six game that's one eight hundred and six oh
six four two sixty three.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Cats guys, or you.
Speaker 8 (01:01):
Can tweet questions too at UK Sports Network Fort Kentucky.
The UK Healthcare Mark Polk Show begins now alongside the coach.
Here's the Voice Sun the Cats, Tom Leach, Good.
Speaker 10 (01:17):
Anything, everybody, and welcome into our show. It's the last
one of the season and Coach Pope is going to
be here to take your questions about Kentucky basketball for
the next hour via the social media feed at UK
Sports Network on x or Twitter if you prefer, and
you can also call us on the Clark's Pumping Shop
phone line at one eight hundred and six oh six
four two sixty three are inside Lexington. It's two eight
(01:39):
o cats tow atoh two to eight seven. Season came
to a close in the Sweet sixteen on Friday Night
up in Indianapolis with the lost by to the Tennessee Balls.
Kentucky finishes with the number of noteworthy achievements for this season.
They set a program record for making the most threes
in a season three hundred and forty one. That was
(02:02):
a record that went back to the nineteen to ninety
three Kentucky team. This was the first team in UK
history and anytime you say that it is notable at
the University of Kentucky. The first UK team ever to
have six players finished the season averaging in double figures.
Kentucky won an NCAA record tying eight games against ap
(02:23):
top fifteen teams. You had the first team to advance
to a Sweet sixteen without a single returning point from
the prior season. That had never happened in the history
of the NCAA tournament. And you had additional top ten
statistical finishes in program history for total points which was seventh,
(02:45):
total assists ninth, and three point field goal percentage which
was six. So just a few of several noteworthy achievements
for this team and some individual accomplishments that will take
note of over the course of the show.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I'm back.
Speaker 10 (03:00):
Coach Pope will join the program. We're coming to you
tonight from our nice new broadcast facility at the UK
Sports Network here in Lexington and we will chat with
Coach Pope and then get to your questions in just
a bit. This is the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show
on the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 8 (03:19):
You are listening to the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show
on the UK Sports Network.
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The Mark Pope Show is brought to you by Coca.
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Cola, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Little Caesars and by UK Healthcare.
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Tell me who's in that.
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House tonight, UK.
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Fight, every single day for every single one.
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The Mark Pope Collins Show is brought to you locally
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Hey Beautiful of Fiery God.
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A lot of Catch the Wildcats in Lexington all season
long on your home for Kentucky Basketball the UK Sports Network.
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Welcome back into our show as we are joined now
(06:26):
by coach Mark Pope. I was just taking off a
number of uh notable achievements for your team this season
and you mentioned this at some point in one of
our postgame interviews. Anytime you can do something at this
program that hadn't been done before, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
Yeah, it's really.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Cool, and it's a I couldn't be more proud of
our guys. I mean, sort of just finishing the job.
Speaker 15 (06:47):
I thought what they.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Did was just incredible and I'm really proud of them,
and and I think they're you know, they're they'll they'll
look back on this year with a ton of pride
and gratitude and everything you want out of season.
Speaker 10 (07:01):
The one thing that doesn't show up in all of
these lists of first and statistical things is the significant
achievement of the way they connected I think with the BBN. Nope,
Kentucky fans didn't know any of these guys when.
Speaker 7 (07:15):
They started back in April.
Speaker 10 (07:16):
If you were hired and it came to be I
think a team they enjoyed all going on the journey
with very much.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Yeah, I think it was. I think it was a
beautiful relationship. That's what it's supposed to be. That's what
it's supposed to be here at Kentucky, and our guys
understood that. They took it really seriously. They cared, they care,
they will always care. It was fun to hear the
guy's comments, you know, postgame about you know, refusing to
give back their jersey, refusing to take off their shoes,
(07:48):
and there's that's you know, there's some realness to that.
Speaker 15 (07:52):
In a special group.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
I also, I love how they bonded with with BBN
and I love how they bonded with each other.
Speaker 15 (07:58):
It's pretty extraordinary.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
So we we we were just the guys just absolutely
devastated after the game, a ton of tiers, a ton
of emotion, just on so many different levels sadness. And
so we finally made it back to the hotel. We
were together for about a half an hour as we
had the guys.
Speaker 15 (08:17):
Go through some some.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Just some last things, and then the guys just all
migrated up into one of their rooms. The whole team
was in there until about six o'clock in the morning.
Oh wow, just telling stories about the season and teasing
each other. And I've never seen that on a team before,
and it was, it was, it was exactly the right
(08:41):
kind of uh last night for those guys.
Speaker 15 (08:44):
I am really proud of them.
Speaker 10 (08:45):
I think Kerk Chrisa announced today he's putting his name
into the portal. There are some guys that can come
back for another season, and then you're you and your
staff are actively recruiting the portal. So just tell us
as much as you can about how all of that
plays out, meetings with the guys that could come back
the portal, recruitment, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
It's sure chaos, and it all happens at the same time,
and it's actually brilliant. It's beautiful, and you know it
was it was going on. We were deep in the
throws last week, we will be this week, and and
for the next weeks and months to come. There's even
more chaos because the settlement is pending out there and
that will change the way we're allowed to work in
(09:26):
the portal. And and so there's just there's chaos and
uncertainty and and all the things. And it's it's incredible
opportunity for all of our guys, uh to figure out
where they want to be and what their next step
is and and so it's it's very rarely one off conversations.
(09:46):
It's kind of daily conversations, and and uh, it's it's
it's fun, it's it's actually a beautiful way to filter.
Speaker 15 (09:55):
The guys that that are dying to be here and
do this.
Speaker 10 (09:58):
All right when we get to the first break and
will come back and start taking your questions and comments.
For Coach Pope, it's the UK Healthcare Mark Pope showing
this is the UK Sports network.
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Speaker 15 (13:09):
Wow.
Speaker 10 (13:20):
Welcome back into the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show. As
the season has come to an end for the Wildcats,
so now it moves into recruiting season, which used to
be just a late signing period for freshman but obviously
it's much different now in the transfer portal era.
Speaker 7 (13:36):
So we're gonna jump right.
Speaker 10 (13:38):
Into this with questions you can send them in at
UK Sports Network on the social media feed, or you
can give us a call on the Clark's Pumping Shop
phone line two eight o cats to A two two
eight seven inside Lexington one eight hundred and six oh
six four two sixty three if you are outside of
Lexington and a question here from Pam, and she says,
(13:59):
ask him his timeline to get us back to the
Maui Invitational.
Speaker 15 (14:07):
Okay, timeline to get back to my invitational?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
That is that is there is nobody that would rather
be back there than me. Unfortunately that has slid down
the list of priorities right now. But when we do,
it's going to be epic because Bbi, I'll traveling will
be beautiful. Uh, it's it's it definitely won't be next year.
We have some we have some obligations here and RUP
(14:33):
in terms of number of games, and so until we
work out a couple other things that are in house,
MT is super important because it fulfills our obligation with
number of games. But but it is an aspiration that
we're all chasing. So uh, it's Pam right, yes, Pam,
when that happens, you and I'll be the two happiest
people in the room.
Speaker 10 (14:52):
I can't wait, Sarah says, congratulations on a great season.
College sports has changed so much over the last few years.
Is there any way to do a barnstorming tour like
you did when you were a senior at Kentucky or
is that a thing of the past?
Speaker 1 (15:06):
So I think that right now, I think tentatively, my
guess would be that barn Stormy would be happen immediately
following number nine, and so that's probably that's probably where we're.
Speaker 15 (15:19):
Living with that.
Speaker 10 (15:21):
From Chase, any thought about a new practice facility, is
that anything that's on the short term or long term agenda?
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Yeah, so our administration is always working hard ahead and
so that is uh that has certainly past the just
imagining phase. Still, there's a bunch of hurdles across and
and priorities that we have to refocus in this really dynamic,
changing landscape of college athletics. But that's something that that
(15:52):
is definitely in the working stages.
Speaker 10 (15:56):
From Alex a UK Sports Network, has there been any
discussion on a general manager for your program?
Speaker 7 (16:01):
Some schools are doing that thing.
Speaker 15 (16:03):
Yeah, So general managers is really interesting. It's it's it's.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
You know, designating someone exclusively in that spot is a
calculated decision that comes with all kinds of complications, and
so right now we're we're dealing with it in house
by dividing up those responsibilities, and we'll see. Like I said,
the entire landscape of college college athletics could change on
(16:35):
the sixth, which is exactly seven days from now. On
the seventh, I guess eight days from now, and so
that's gonna it could potentially send us on a brand
new trajectory, or nothing could happen and we could we
could continue down the road we are, And so I
(16:55):
think staff and responsibility change like that. Those decisions will
be forthcoming after we get more clarity on what the
world of college athletics.
Speaker 15 (17:04):
Going to look like.
Speaker 10 (17:05):
And for fans that don't get too deep into the
weeds on some of these off the court issues, that's
the date that a judge could approve and finalize the
I think it's called the House settlement. That we hear
that term a lot, but it could also be tabled
and pushed down the road a little bit.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Right it could be approved on the seventh. The seventh
will be the last time that the Ninth Court district
judge here that she hears commentary from the outside and
then it's solely in her hands to ratify.
Speaker 15 (17:36):
And I think.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
You know this is this is probably not exact, but
rarely has she when she's been faced with an issue
like this, has she kind of I don't even know
if ratified is the right word, but done that on
the day of the last hearing. Although that could happen,
it's been more of her my understanding, it's been more
of her deal to kind of at least a few
(18:00):
days or maybe take a week, ten days, but there's
no definite timeline, and so we're just we're just uh
in terms of that shift, we're just in a wait
and see mode. And then there's all the complications of
actually implementing the agreement and what that's going to look like.
So it's it's pretty exciting, man. Every day is something new.
Speaker 7 (18:20):
I don't know.
Speaker 10 (18:20):
Obviously you can't talk about the who in portal recruitment,
but can you talk about the what at all in
terms of what types of positions or whatever else that
you would be looking for?
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Yeah, yes, I mean I get nervous about even going
down that road right now because I don't want to
step out of bounds. But needless to say, I think
every team in the country is is really active in
the portal right now, especially with these pending dates where
things could change. It's a it's a it's a really
(18:55):
important time of year. It's really really condensed, it's really active,
it's incredibly dynamic and it's busy.
Speaker 10 (19:04):
Well, we're gonna get to a break. When we come back,
we'll get to more of your questions, so send them
in at UK Sports Network or you can give us
a call on the Clark's Pump and Shop bone line.
It's the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show and this is
the UK Sports Network.
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Oh?
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Good, Welcome back into the show.
Speaker 10 (21:31):
Watch BBN Game Day presented by Elliott's Services all season long.
The show airs Saturday mornings at nine on wl e
X and Lexington. Check UK Athletics dot com Slash UK
Sports Network for TV affiliates and times in your area.
If you're outside the state, watch on UK Athletics dot com,
Slash Videos or on the Kentucky Wildcats Facebook page. Let's
(21:51):
Go to the Clark's Pumpet Shop phone line. We'll start
in Grayson, Kentucky. Brian, you're all with coach.
Speaker 26 (21:56):
Pope Hey good eving Palm gooday and the coach.
Speaker 15 (22:00):
What's up my friends?
Speaker 26 (22:02):
Hey? I know, UH love nothing more than to be
playing this weekend. And I know you're probably uh you're
probably a little uh bummed about that too. You know
you always want to end your season, you know, playing
the last game, you know, the last game. But uh
bar and all that. You know, you guys have been
enjoyable this year. Had a great group of guys, got
to got to meet you know, most of the guys
(22:24):
there at one of the Club Blue events earlier before
the season started, and just a great group of guys.
And uh, I just can't wait. I can't wait for
next year to see, uh, to see where we're at.
And we're getting ready to take off the family. Here
we we go to the final four. We started we
started this to bear knife one and with that, I
(22:46):
didn't know if you guys or you'll be making any
appearances in San Antonio and if any of our guys
will be in any of the senior games or any
of the like A three point shoot out and that
sort of thing, or if you or if you know
that yet.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
First of all, man, I'm so sad that we're not
there playing for you to go to for you to
be at the Final four, and let's get that done
next year. Second of all, these ten days are just haunting.
They're the worst ten days. We were ten days short
of our goal, and so these ten days are.
Speaker 15 (23:16):
Really really tough. I will be at the Final Four.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
I have obligations at a coaches meeting on Friday morning
and then event Friday night, and I think most of
our coaches will be there.
Speaker 15 (23:31):
It's a it's a really active time for.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Coaches and network, trade ideas and and and build relationships,
so most of the staff will be in and out
at some point. I don't think any of our players
have signed on to play in the Reese's Game for seniors,
so I don't know if any of our guys. I
(23:55):
don't know off the top of my head if any
of our guys will be there right now. But men,
have a great trip, and even though the Cats aren't playing,
man still cheer for the Cats. That's why I'll be
doing it in my space.
Speaker 10 (24:07):
Thank you, Brian appreciate the call. Our next call comes
from right here in Lexington. Eric Eure up with coach Pope.
What do you have for us?
Speaker 27 (24:15):
Hey, hey, coach, how are you wonderful?
Speaker 15 (24:18):
Thanks?
Speaker 27 (24:19):
Eric, I just wanted to call. I've probably gone through
this comment in my head a thousand times, and I'll
probably stumble all over it because I'm a little emotional.
But I am also a girl dad and I have
two wonderful young women. One twenty she'll be twenty five
this year, graduate of UK and another one that is
will be twenty one here in a couple of days
(24:41):
and she will also be a graduate of the UK two,
something I'm extremely proud of. But the reason I call
is because we live in a country that is just
ripping itself in half, and I personally believe that happened
during COVID and my daughter, my oldest in youngest. You know,
we both have difference of opinions and we we drifted
(25:05):
apart a little bit. I mean, we live in the
same household, but we really couldn't talk to each other.
Speaker 28 (25:10):
And that's until this year.
Speaker 27 (25:12):
We've been able to sit down and enjoy watching you
guys perform, and it's been fun it's been at it's
been wonderful. You guys have just just brought us back together.
She has a love for Lamont Butler that I wish
her mother would have for me. And I I can't
thank you enough for that because we can sit down
(25:33):
and be a father and daughter again. And it may
be silly, but coach, that's that's nothing will ever change
that now.
Speaker 28 (25:40):
And and I can't thank you enough.
Speaker 15 (25:43):
Oh man.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
First of all, thank you for sharing that. And and
and uh, that's really special. And and I'll add a
couple of things. One, I love the Lamont Butler also
very deeply. And uh, there's nothing better in the world
than getting to have daughters. Man, It's the It's the
greatest thing in the world. And the truth is is
(26:04):
that my daughters rarely agree with anything I have to say,
but it is the greatest thing in the world. And
that's what That's what Kentucky basketball is supposed to be.
It's supposed to be. It's supposed to be a super
meaningful connection point. And I'm really grateful that it was
for you guys. That's that's super important. And and thank
(26:25):
you for sharing that.
Speaker 7 (26:26):
That's awesome, neat story.
Speaker 10 (26:27):
Thank you to follow up on Lamon I think in
the postgame news conference he said his shoulder was about
eighty percent. In these days, I mean, there's a lot
of people around players telling him things like, don't go
back out there unless you're one hundred percent.
Speaker 7 (26:41):
Don't you know, put yourself out there less than your best.
Speaker 10 (26:44):
And he continually came back at less than his best
to give you his best, which was really good in
those last two games.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Yeah, I mean, just you know, we talked about it. Fortunately,
we got to talk about it before he even got here,
about what a winner he is, and what a winning
spirit and character he has, and how much he cares
about his team, and how much he cares about Kentucky
and how much he cares about representing and and so
he had a you know, when the stakes get high,
usually you have a million ways to kind of get
(27:11):
out of it, to step aside, to to you know,
exit stage left, and he refused to do it. You know,
we've talked about this, but uh, you know, you know
there's a saying that that winners talk about what they
made happen, and losers talk about what happened to them.
And and Lamtt Butler is a winner he talks about
(27:34):
what he made happen. He doesn't talk about what slowed
him down, what got in the way, what was what
was controversial, or what was difficult, or what was adversity.
He talks about what he made happen. And in his
basketball career in college, he's made incredible things happen. In
his life, he's making beautiful things happen. And and man,
he's a real blessing to everybody here in BBM.
Speaker 10 (27:53):
And every year when Kentucky Lois will get together, people
talk about Rex's big game when he was a freshman,
and they'll talk about other big games, and they'll talk
about Lamont Butler's National Player of the Week performance ten
of ten from the field, six.
Speaker 7 (28:08):
Threes, thirty three points.
Speaker 15 (28:09):
Yep.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
That's a pretty cool place to have in UK.
Speaker 15 (28:13):
Awesome.
Speaker 10 (28:14):
Let's get to a question off the social media feed.
This one is from Washburton coach. What do you think
a sophomore Trent Noah will look like?
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Trent and I met for a long time yesterday.
Speaker 15 (28:28):
Man, he's he's just as special. He is special.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
And I think to start with what he's gonna look
like next year, I think you have to trace back
his trajectory. And one of the things that he said
to me is, like, Coach, you know, when I was
in high school, we played zone. I never guarded anybody,
and and man did he make incredible strides on the
defensive end. I still laugh at myself that we're at Alabama,
playing number four Alabama, playing the returning player of the
(28:55):
year in the SEC and Mark series, And I got
Trent Noah out there, matched up with him for about
fifteen minutes of the game, and then you know, he
talked about the speed and the speed and athleticism of
the guys, and and when he first got here it
was shocking to him. And and he just every day
picked up more and more and more and and and
(29:15):
he felt and I felt by the end of season,
he just felt like he belonged. That's an incredible transformation
as a freshman at this level, playing against the teams
he played against, with the players he played against, with
the stakes so high, and I expect him to continue
to get better and better. I think he's gonna you know,
(29:36):
I think he's going to continue to get better off
the bounce.
Speaker 15 (29:38):
I think he's going to continue to get.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
More and more confident defensively, you know, he's got a
real physicality on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 15 (29:45):
That's special. I think he's going to get better.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
And more creative with what he's doing in terms of
his reads. He's he's, he's, he's going to be a
tremendous player.
Speaker 15 (29:54):
You know.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
I'm excited for him to put on you know, over
the course of the next year or two a good
fifteen eighteen pounds where he is, he is going to
just inflict physical punishment on guys and really be able
to own his space. Plus, he's going to be a
special player. He's built, right, He's built. He's built in
a beautiful way.
Speaker 10 (30:14):
Two things about him. First, he seemed to just have
a knack for finding the ball to get fifty to
fifty balls. And he has a cool nickname as he does.
Speaker 15 (30:23):
Yes he does, Yes he does.
Speaker 10 (30:25):
We're halfway home at the UK Healthcare of Mark Pope Show.
We'll be right back for more of your questions for
the coach. We'll be right back on the UK Sports.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Network BBN Game Day.
Speaker 11 (30:33):
It's your weekly look inside UK athletics Senturdays at nine
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Check Ukathletics dot Com, Slash UK Sports Network for stations
and times in your area, BBN Game Day.
Speaker 29 (30:47):
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Speaker 5 (32:45):
Remember it's just a game, Hey, BBN coach Pope here.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Our program's mentality is relentless, twenty four to seven work,
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Speaker 11 (33:18):
BBN Game Day h your weekly look inside UK Athletics
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stations across the state. Check uk Athletics dot com slash
UK Sports Network for stations and times in your area.
Speaker 4 (33:32):
BBN Game Day.
Speaker 10 (33:44):
Jackie Basketball podcast. It's presented by UK Federal Credit Union.
It is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio,
and the official UK Athletics app. It's the Mark Prope
Show fotal one for this season, and we're taking your
calls and your questions on social media or on the
Clark's Pumping Shop phone line. Let's go back to the
phones and we'll head to Shepherdsville. Terry, you're up with
(34:05):
Coach Pope. What do you have for us tonight?
Speaker 31 (34:07):
Terry, Coach Pope, congratulations on a great season of all
the adversity and injuries you had to go through. Was
great getting that far and I just I wish we
had anybody but Tennessee and that spot, in that two spot,
because when you beat a team twice, if that team's
worth their mantle at all, they're going to really come
(34:27):
out and give it all they can to beat you,
not only to move on, but revenge factor. And that
proved out as Tennessee had nothing left for Houston on Sunday.
My going forward, I don't want you to say names
or anything, but do you anticipate any other current players
going into the portal then cur today? And do you
(34:50):
have a timeline when you think the roster may be finished?
Great job, coach, Thanks.
Speaker 15 (34:56):
Hey, thanks so much, And yep, yes, you know.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
I don't know.
Speaker 15 (35:02):
I don't know what the rhyme or reason is to
how games work out, but.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
I think, uh, yeah, I I couldn't. I couldn't.
Speaker 32 (35:12):
Uh.
Speaker 15 (35:13):
I liked our draw a lot.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
I liked the fact that we were getting to play
Tennessee a third time and they were just better than
us on Friday night.
Speaker 15 (35:22):
They were just better. It's it's hard to swallow. Uh.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
In terms of the roster, I think everybody, I think
every player in the country right now is considering, you know, uh,
a hundred different things in terms of entering the portal,
staying on their current roster trying to figure that out.
And I think it probably changes every single day, and
I think with every single move that teams make, it changes.
(35:51):
It's going to continue to be the dynamic for some time.
And so it's it's just a it's just a new
maybe just a small window for this era, but it's
a new era. And so I don't know when the
roster will be finished. Actually, I think you could get
to a place where you think you finish a roster,
(36:12):
but because of the roster composition, somebody makes late decisions
to to kind of change what they're doing. So and
I think there there, you know, there's always gonna be
guys that are going through the draft process that would
be late additions to a roster, and so you know, well,
it's just it's just, you know, we're gonna pound it
(36:34):
every single day like we're doing and put together a
great group of guys and and it'll come together the
way it's supposed to. But it's gonna be fun. I mean,
it's gonna be fun to pay attention every single day
because every single day the narrative is gonna change.
Speaker 7 (36:45):
Is super cool.
Speaker 10 (36:47):
Go next to Richmond, Kentucky, Shane, you're up with coach
Mark Pope.
Speaker 7 (36:51):
Shane, what's on your mind, Sean?
Speaker 33 (36:53):
I'm sorry, Tom, Hey, coach, this is Sean. Yeah.
Speaker 17 (36:57):
Coach.
Speaker 33 (36:57):
First of all, thank you so much for UH for
the year.
Speaker 15 (37:02):
It was.
Speaker 33 (37:02):
It was exhilarating to follow and the fund was back
in Kentucky basketball man, it was, Uh, it was. It
was so great And I love just thinking. I mean,
you think you hate playing the what if game, right,
but to know we beat UH two of the of
the final four teams, and you know, just what what if?
(37:23):
It's without the injuries. But that's you know, that's why
you play the game. So you know, it is what
it is.
Speaker 31 (37:29):
But I just.
Speaker 33 (37:31):
Wondered, after going through the SEC gauntlet for a year
and playing Duke and Gonzaga and the other tough teams
that we played, Clemson, all those guys, does that change
after you do your own self scout? Does that change
any of your any of the basics of your offensive
or defensive schemes sort of as your own self scout?
(37:53):
And then two, does it change any of the sort
of the player composition that you you you know, you
originally came into this with coming from BYU.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Yeah, sean really good question, and I hope it does.
I hope it changes. I hope we learned from every experience.
I think the complication and when you get really good
at this, what you do is you have pretty good
insight on what changes to go wholesale, on what changes
to just dip your toe on, and where to stay
true to the things that are your identity and make
(38:26):
you successful. And so we do an autopsy after every game.
We do a post non conference autopsy, a post conference autopsy,
and then a post season autopsy, which we're just in
the very The post season autopsy is super extensive and
so we're barely in the beginnings of that. But we're
(38:46):
having these conversations for sure about building this roster. In
the portal right now, we're having live, real time conversations
kind of autopsy related on the season about like, Okay,
this is how we went into last season thinking and
doing roster construction. This is actually the roster we built.
This is the roster that we actually got to play
(39:09):
the season with. Where's the disparity in there? Because we
don't want to, you know, there were a lot of
things that I think we got really, really, really right,
and and so just trying to make those nuanced decisions
about changes we make is probably the beautiful artistic part
of roster construction.
Speaker 15 (39:26):
And it's really fun.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
And and you just tease out scenario after scenario after scenario,
and and as we go through, we literally, you know,
every every coaching staff in America is just going down
a list of players and watching video and checking numbers
and and and and doing deep dives into analytics and
and and background and and you know, every every every
player is.
Speaker 15 (39:48):
A different human being. It's hard to put them in
a box. So so.
Speaker 1 (39:53):
You know, considering all those different aspects and then putting
them into a team.
Speaker 15 (39:59):
One of the fun.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Things that we really learned last year that's gonna certainly
bear true this year is every single team, time we
add a piece, it changes the dynamics of the next.
Speaker 15 (40:10):
Piece we'd be looking for.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
It's not like we can do cookie cutter pieces into
the one, two, three, four, five. Right If I if
I find my way into a five that's got a
certain unique skill set, it's gonna change very much who
I could play at the four and what I look
for in a backup five, for example, Right, if we're
just playing that just random game, and so I hope
(40:35):
we're taking all of the information and experience the data
that we learned through the SEC and that's having some
impact on our decision making around Otherwise it's be a waste, right,
So it's it's pretty fun that way.
Speaker 10 (40:43):
A couple of segments left. There's a few player achievements
will take note of. Numerous guys had career highs in
multiple categories. Otega Oway led that way in that department
with thirteen different categories where he had a new personal best.
Jackson Robinson's the finalist for the Julia Serving Small Forward
of the Year.
Speaker 7 (41:01):
One of five.
Speaker 10 (41:02):
Ansley Almanor first player in UK history to be a
fifty to forty ninety guy with a minimum of one
hundred field goal attempts. That's fifty percent from the field,
forty percent as a three point shooter, and ninety percent
or better at the free throw line, and a Mari
Williams became the fourth player in UK history to register
a triple double. Happened down at Ole Miss.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
We'll get that's that's you think about all those guys
like Fromart we won for Ansley to be a one
of one. He was the fourth most efficient offensive player
in the entire country last year.
Speaker 15 (41:34):
And for Jacks to do that to.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Be a finalist with just a half a season of work,
man and and what Lamar did And listen you go
down the list with Kobe and Andrew Carr and manicipan
special group.
Speaker 7 (41:49):
A couple of segments left.
Speaker 10 (41:50):
We'll get to more of your questions for Coach Pope
when we come right back on the UK Healthcare Mark
Pope Show on the UK Sports Network.
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Go Cats.
Speaker 31 (43:57):
Later.
Speaker 10 (44:06):
Bb in Tonight, presented by UK Healthcare every weeknight at
seven thirty on w l e X and Lexington. Fans
can also watch archived shows at bbntonight dot com. Let
us go back to the Clark's pumping Shop phone line.
Jake and Hickory, what do you have for us?
Speaker 7 (44:23):
Jake? Coach coach here?
Speaker 35 (44:24):
Hey guys, how are you doing this evening?
Speaker 7 (44:27):
So well? Thanks? Shake?
Speaker 35 (44:30):
Hey, I just wanted to express my thanks to you
and Jack for what you guys do almost on the broadcast.
I'm blind and I can't see, and I just appreciate
what you and Jack do every week bringing the games
to us.
Speaker 10 (44:47):
Well, that is always one of the nicest compliments to get,
so I appreciate that a lot.
Speaker 7 (44:53):
Jake, thank you, and thank you for Jack. I'll speak for.
Speaker 35 (44:55):
Him too, Thank you very much, sir.
Speaker 10 (45:00):
Okay, uh Bob and Jamestown.
Speaker 7 (45:05):
You're next up with coach Pope.
Speaker 36 (45:07):
What do you say, guys? What can you say about that, Jake. Now, Tom,
you and Goose, you've got it going on. And that
previous comment just says it all right there, here's a
guy that can't see and I mean, you put the
game right there to it. And I'd like to thank
Billy Rutt. Let's take my calls this year once again,
and Coach, I mean, I mean you have just instilled
(45:30):
this ignited a fire under this big Blue nation, and
once again you see how how tough the SEC Conference is.
Right now, we're going to San Antonio. We're in the
greatest conference and I'm looking forward to seeing Malachi out there.
I know you've got a big, big job ahead, coach,
putting together another roster, but we're looking forward to it.
(45:53):
And do you ever get down to the Cumberland Lake, Coach,
if you spend any time down here at the lake.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
I look forward to getting back to Lake Cumberland. So
when I was here in college, the great Vinnie Tatum
would take Sheppe and I down to the lake and
we would sit on a little, uh one of those
little bars, little little boats, no like a little just
a flatbed boat, I don't know what it is, and
(46:20):
sit there all day and just we wouldn't move. We
would get down there would be so exhausted workhouse. We
we wouldn't even get in the water. We would just
sit there, slumpt over in a chair for four hours.
They go home. But it was the greatest. It was
like pure blessed joy. So I have great members of
Lake Cumberland, Bob, anything else.
Speaker 36 (46:38):
It's going now, that's great and once again we're looking
forward to a new season. It's beautiful. You guys have
a great summer, and coach see it down here at
Lake Cumberland.
Speaker 1 (46:48):
Thank you so much, hey, and thanks for bringing up
Malachi Mareno. This this guy not only does he win
mister Basketball in the state of Kentucky and win a
state championship in rupp Arena and be one of the
finest young men that you ever meet, but tomorrow night
he's playing in the McDonald's game. He is, he is,
(47:09):
He is a tour de force right now, and I
can't wait till he gets on campus.
Speaker 10 (47:13):
Named the MVP at the state tournament. And congratulations to
Great Crossing for their win and to Sacred Heart for
the win in the girls sweet sixteen. And we get
so wrapped up into all whether it's the high school,
the colleges, and then it just all ends so abruptly.
Speaker 15 (47:29):
Yes, it does.
Speaker 10 (47:31):
If you have question or comment for coach Boche, give
us a shout on the Clarks Pumping Shop phone line,
or you can send them in via social media as
Brian has done.
Speaker 7 (47:39):
How much do you.
Speaker 10 (47:40):
Think you need to up the physicality of play in
the offense or defense next season?
Speaker 15 (47:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Both, I think we needed both. You know, we were
actually one of that. We were the second best defensive
rebounding team in our conference this year, which is really
saying something. We were right number two in the defensive
reunited percentage and still we got really hurt in the
sweet sixteen game against Tennessee.
Speaker 15 (48:06):
It was really tough.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
And so that is a that is a continual process
of getting more and more diligent, more and more physical,
more and more capable of staying out of rotation so
we can we can block out.
Speaker 15 (48:16):
That's one example.
Speaker 1 (48:17):
We also Tennessee did an unbelievable job of kind of
handling our cut game and and we have to be
more physical there.
Speaker 15 (48:25):
We've actually toyed with.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
The idea of kind of installing in one half of
our court this summer these blocking dummies that football players
run through. Uh, just to get our guys used to
the the physicality of doing it and making change of
direction cuts.
Speaker 35 (48:41):
Uh.
Speaker 15 (48:41):
So I'll be.
Speaker 1 (48:43):
Working with coach Stoops on that see if we can
see if we're gonna make that happen. And and but
all of that's a it's a real part of getting better,
and it's learning the league and and it's understanding.
Speaker 15 (48:52):
You know, ways where we can get closer to our ceiling.
Speaker 10 (48:55):
From Jeff at UK Sports Network as coach Pope, which
of the out going players he thinks would make a
good coach.
Speaker 1 (49:03):
Well, it's interesting because I could see a lot of
these guys becoming coaches. Really, they might not say that
right now, but it was fun.
Speaker 15 (49:13):
We were at.
Speaker 1 (49:14):
A practice in Lucas Oil the day before the game
and we finished and the guys had some free shoot time,
and so Lamont went sat down on the one stool
that was on the court that was reserved for the coaches,
and I was like, yep, I can totally see that.
I could see him being there. He'd be an elite
level coach. Andrew Carr be a great coach, Kobe Braile
(49:35):
would be a great coach Annsley Almanor. I mean, listen,
if this works right, those guys are gonna go enjoy
their prokers and I'll be able to hire me here
his assistant coaches get them started.
Speaker 10 (49:47):
When everybody knows your story about medical school and the
transition to coaching. But when you were playing, did you
see yourself as a coach?
Speaker 1 (49:56):
Never?
Speaker 7 (49:57):
Never, not in the least Coach Patino.
Speaker 1 (50:01):
No, I don't know about Koch p. Actually, you'd have
to ask coach P that maybe that'd be a maybe.
Speaker 7 (50:09):
All right.
Speaker 10 (50:10):
One last segment to get to for complete coverage of
the Cats. Like UK sports Network on Facebook, follow us
on Instagram at UK Underscore Sports Network, and on x
it's at UK Sports Network, which is the address to
which you.
Speaker 7 (50:22):
Can send in questions for our final segment.
Speaker 10 (50:25):
A call or two left to get to as well,
will be right back here on the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 29 (50:30):
Kentucky basketball doesn't just play on hardwood at Rubberina. It
plays on Kwood, as in Kwood Court, named after legendary
Kentucky announce there Kwood Ledford. Kwood was the voice of
Kentucky for thirty nine years, and if you appreciate longevity,
you should know. Kentucky Farm Bureau has been the insurance
company of Kentucky for eighty plus yars. Folks across the
(50:52):
Commonwealth view Farm Bureau as a true Kentucky original, just
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Speaker 16 (51:00):
What keeps you going? Your love for the game, your
teammates of victory. At arch Orthopedics, our goal is to
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(51:21):
is entirely centered around you. Visit ARH dot org slash
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Speaker 22 (51:29):
Those baseline tip or not athlet UK Athletics would like
to thank our official cornerstone partners, Central Bank, the official
bank of UK Athletics, Kentucky Farm Buro Insurance, Big on
Commitment and UK Healthcare, official healthcare partner of Big Blue
Nations STO Kentucky.
Speaker 2 (51:46):
Who pays take the learning.
Speaker 23 (51:48):
Track walking in Kentucky goes some seventy two once again.
Speaker 22 (51:53):
Thank you to our official cornerstone partners who play a
vital role in the success of the University of Kentucky Athletics.
Speaker 5 (52:00):
Hey Wildcat fans.
Speaker 18 (52:02):
Little Caesars, the home of Hot and Ready Pizza, invites
you to try our world famous Crazy Bread with Crazy Sauce,
Caesar Wings, Italian Cheese, bread Tanned, our New Cookie, Old
Brownie dessert, and Little Caesar's. We begin each day with
dough made fresh from scrash, fresh never frozen cheese, and
the tastiest topping. Little Caesars is also a proud partner
(52:24):
of UK Athletics and an enthusiastic member of Big Blue Nation.
Speaker 5 (52:28):
So Go Cat Pizza.
Speaker 3 (52:30):
DQ presents the sound of your next meal at DQ.
It's the sound of savoring a signature stackburger, loving a
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seven dollars meal deal. Wait, where is the sound? Am
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Speaker 10 (53:31):
Wow, Welcome back into the UK Healthcare Mark Pope Show
and our next call on the Clark's Pumping Chop phone
line comes from Henderson, Kentucky.
Speaker 7 (53:48):
Jeremy, what's on your mind? Yeah?
Speaker 32 (53:53):
Hey, coach bo Jeremy, Hey, Hey, thank you? Hey, have
it going wonderfully. I want to thank you for resurrect
in Kentucky basketball. It's been a great year and uh
all the BBN as inspired for sure. A couple of
questions I have are you gonna go after dig Z
and the portal you're gonna bring him back? Or do
(54:14):
you know?
Speaker 10 (54:17):
Yeah, he can't talk about individual guys. It's just like recruiting.
Speaker 1 (54:21):
Sorry to give you a breakdown on everything we do,
but I'm gonna get fired if.
Speaker 32 (54:26):
I do that.
Speaker 28 (54:29):
Well, we don't want you to get fired for sure.
Then another thing, you know, I'm in Travis Perry lamb
so Henderson. You know, we watched him play a lot
in high school, so I believe he's already permitted to stand.
So we look forward to watching him continue his career
at Kentucky. Then, uh, pal, who was the walk on
from Madisonville? Are you gonna have walk on tryout again
(54:52):
for the one day contract next year?
Speaker 15 (54:55):
Yeah? So it's so one.
Speaker 1 (54:57):
This Travis Perry is really special man, like what what
unbelievable young man? And he is he is going to
carry this Kentucky banners. He's pretty extraordinary. And two is
in terms of walk on triuts. So a lot of
it depends on this settlement. So if this settlement goes through,
it actually gives us a hard roster limit that actually
(55:18):
might do away with the chance to have.
Speaker 15 (55:21):
A walk on. So the roster limit includes walk on.
Speaker 1 (55:24):
So we'll know more about those details here in the
next couple of weeks if we are able. I love
having to walk on trials.
Speaker 15 (55:31):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (55:32):
And and Zach Tao was an incredible addition to our
team this year that we found through walk on trials.
Speaker 15 (55:39):
He was so good for us.
Speaker 1 (55:40):
So if the NC double allows it will do it
and if they don't, we'll find other ways.
Speaker 10 (55:45):
Yeah, we were down the elevator of Indianapolis with his
parents and the biggest smile on their faces. What a
cool moment he got when he got to get in
the game officially be in the record book.
Speaker 1 (55:54):
Ye, I think that get I think getting in the
game was especially him.
Speaker 15 (55:57):
I think getting the jersey was even more specialty.
Speaker 10 (55:59):
Bad from Tyler. What do you want to emphasize when
building your roster for.
Speaker 1 (56:04):
Next year, Well, we'll always emphasize. First, we're going to
emphasize the character of the guys. They have to meet
a threshold in terms of being here to wear this
jersey that's really really important to us. And the Connective
Tissues team is incredibly important. And then of course we're
looking for the same thing everybody's looking. I value shooting,
and I value decision making. Decision making, decision making. We
(56:24):
love motor so much, and motor plus length is even better,
you know, we like right now.
Speaker 15 (56:33):
One of the things we're learning about this.
Speaker 1 (56:34):
League is the brutal physicality of the glass, and so
you can get there two different ways. You can either
be one hundred percent diligent every single possession which is
a really special talent, or you could just have a
brutal physicality to kind of get the job done. And
so so you know that's clearly going to be a
priority for us. Just the physicality of the game is
(56:56):
going to be really important. There's a lot of factors
that go into kind of determin where we're thinking with players.
Speaker 10 (57:01):
At thirty seconds. So it's your last time to talk
to the BBN for this season.
Speaker 7 (57:04):
Anything you want to say, thank you, that's it.
Speaker 15 (57:08):
You know what, I've said this a million times. Nobody
gets to do what we get to do.
Speaker 1 (57:11):
Nobody gets to put on this jersey, Nobody gets to
be the coach.
Speaker 15 (57:15):
Of this basketball team.
Speaker 1 (57:17):
And what makes it so incredibly special is is being
able to be in this community and people have been
so kind and gracious and appropriately demanding of the standards
of Kentucky basketball. And there is nowhere in the world
that my family and I would rather be. It's it's
it's it's the greatest opportunity of lifetime. So thank you,
thank you, thank you to BEBA.
Speaker 10 (57:37):
Well, that's a good way to close it out, and
we'll see you it come September when things get cranked
back up for football right here on the UK sports.
Speaker 8 (57:45):
Ewek This say It has been the UK Healthcare mark
Top show on the UK Sports Network, The Mark Tope Show.
What's brought to you by Coca Cola, Appalachian Regional Healthcare,
Little Caesars and by UK Healthcare.
Speaker 5 (58:04):
We are here to win
Speaker 8 (58:06):
Banners Kentucky Basketball is a presentation of the UK Sports
Network Let's Go Cast, powered by JMI Sports
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