Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Comedy Up Broadway in Lexington welcomes Greg Morton July eleven
through the thirteenth. Then catch Josh Sneive July nineteenth and
twenty eight, and don't miss Jeff Allen July twenty fifth
through the twenty seventh. Comedy Up Broadway opened in downtown
Lexington in nineteen eighty seven, and they're still bringing the
best and stand up comedy through the area thirty seven
(00:21):
years later. Call eight five, nine, two seven, one joke
or visit Comedy Up Broadway, dot com Comedy Off Broway.
This is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now
here's Matt Jones.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Well we are not Matt Jones, but we're going to
talk a lot about Kentucky basketball over the next two hours,
and we're gonna have fun doing it. And we've got
a loaded slave for you. I'm John Fanta. Happy Friday, everybody,
and I'm with Rob Dowster from the Field of sixty eight.
We do the DTF podcast with Terrence Oglesby weekly. We
do Feel the sixty eight after dark throughout college basketball season. Rob,
(01:01):
good morning, my friend. We always love doing this two
hours on KOs. Sorry, I was just thinking about this, Robert,
What a change from what we were doing this a
year ago?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Right, Yeah, it's uh, new rosters, new coaching staffs, new
teams to kind of break down and discuss it's it's
it's wild how much.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Can change in the span of one year. And I
guess in the case of Kentucky, how much can change
in the span of about four months when you're dealing
with programs and in the middle of the transfer portal
in the n N I L era. It's it's wild,
it's fun. It's great for people like us in the
content business, but it's it's been a little bit of
a world and I imagine four people in and around Lexington.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Look, we're gonna get to that here very shortly. We've
got a great show for you. And I'm not just
saying that like a Saturday Night Live host. We have
Tyler Eulis, we have Willie Coley Stein, and we have
Russ Smith coming up on today's show. Why do we
have all of those big time figures in the history
(02:09):
of Kentucky and Louisville basketball? Because Monday Night is the
biggest July basketball game you will ever see. I'm confident
in stating that and here's why they are expecting fifteen
(02:32):
thousand plus at Freedom Hall for the vill and La
Amilia in the basketball Tournament Monday night, nine Eastern time.
The game will be televised on FS one. This is TBT,
and you don't need me to tell you what it
is because all of you guys that are listening to
this know what's going on. The rivalry that is Kentucky
(02:55):
and Louisville. Let's face it, Rob, we have not talked
about it nationally in recent years because the Cardinals have
not been good. They've been well off the map. But
it feels like this offseason, from the very start of
the off season to now, that that rivalry has had
some injection of energy because of the hires that were made.
(03:16):
And Mark Pope doesn't like Louisville. And even though Pat
Kelsey's a guy who's, you know, coming into this job,
it's not like he played at Louisville. I know one thing.
Pat Kelsey's passionate as hell, and he's going to get
behind the whole not liking Kentucky thing, and those two
are going to provide just a different momentum and different
energy that we've seen over the offseason. You talk with
(03:38):
both fan bases, They're like, look, these guys have energized us.
They're getting on the community. They're shaking hands, they're kissing babies.
You have to do that as the coaches of Kentucky
and Louisville. For Louisville, it's a total breadth of fresh air.
For Kentucky, we know Cal did that, but but it
get gotten stale. Pope. Pope just gets the place well.
To me, I think that this is fit the rivalry,
(04:03):
the momentum for both programs. Rob is in place for
this upcoming years Kentucky Louisville game to be more interesting
than in recent years, to be really interesting. But maybe
there's been so much chatter, Hey, why don't we settle
on the court in July. That's what we're gonna get
Monday night. The TBT organizers are thrilled. This is the
biggest game in the history of their event. And this
(04:24):
is why you put together an event like this for
a night like Monday. It all becomes worth it when
you have that game Monday. But you're telling me that
Montres Harrell and Willie coley Stein are going to guard
each other in the paint. You're telling me that the
Harrison brothers are gonna be getting catch and shoot opportunities
at Freedom Hall and getting booed. You're telling me that
Peyton Siva and Russ Smith are gonna try to be pressuring,
(04:47):
pressuring the ball, pressuring Eric Bledsoe on Monday Night. I'm
amazed by one. Fifteen thousand plus never questioned the passion
of these two fan bases, rob and two. I just
think this is all perfect for Louisville Kentucky, one of
college basketball's best rivalries. I'd be curious to hear where
(05:09):
you rank it. It's great for this rivalry to get
a much needed summer injection of momentum men. I think
it's perfect timing then heading into the Pope and Kelsey
Aerras kicking off, well.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
I think the amount of attention that it's getting and
the amount of excitement and buzz. And you know, this
is Fanta, a tournament where the winner gets a million dollars, right,
what's year year ten? I believe for the tvt right,
And so we've had nine championship games with literally a
million dollars on the line, and the fact that in
(05:42):
the corner finals we have a Kentucky team and a
Louisville team playing each other, and this is the game
that everyone's going to be talking about, going to get
what like fifteen thousand people showing up in the building.
Is the game where it's going to actually make a
splash in terms of national television ratings. Like, I think
that tells you everything you need to know. And as
much as I would like to pretend like this is,
(06:05):
you know, oh, Russ Smith's gonna have a chance to
guard Eric Bledsoe, and we're gonna see Montrez Harrol uh
and Willie Carley Stein going up against each other. And
as much as I want to say that this is about,
you know, a couple of alumni teams going head to head,
I think that this says everything about the excitement that
you see with those two fan bases in terms of
what their coaching staff has done to be able to
(06:29):
reinvigorate the fan base.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Right, we don't need to.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Everyone knows what happened at Louisville the last couple of seasons,
and we don't need to rub salt in the wound,
although this is probably the show if we're going to
rub salt in the room where they would support that
more than any other show that we're on FANTA. But
I think that even with Cal last year, right, there
was there was some excitement and and and the way
that they played, And I think that people saw a
Kentucky team that kind of brought back memories of of
(06:57):
of when the when the program was kind of at
their peak, right, but it ended in a first round loss.
And I think that being able to have a little
bit of new blood there and a new person in
charge and a new kind of voice around the program,
I think all of that matters. And that's a long
way of saying the excitement off of this off season
for both of these programs, I think is why we're
(07:18):
seeing as much attention being given to this because it's
like Louisville fans can't wait to see Louisville play again, right,
and they can't wait for the opportunity to see their
cards be a team that they want to support. We
talked about this on the pot we did yesterday, and
I think with Kentucky fans, they have their coach back
in the place, they have a Kentucky guy running the
(07:39):
Kentucky team again, and I'm just I'm excited to see
what this rivalry will turn into long term again, because
I think that that is one of those games where
you know, at the start of the season, fan and
we circle a lot of games and say that's something
that we got to be able to get to, and
I think it's back to being Kentucky Louisville is one
of those games that you have to make sure that
you are in front of a television or in the
building to be able to watch.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Hey, give us a call Clark's Pumping Shop phone line
eighty five nine two aight oh two two eight seven.
We will take calls here. We will take calls in
a little bit again. The number to call eight five
nine two to aight, oh two to eight seven. All right,
rob let's turn to Kentucky. We will get Willie cally Stein,
(08:22):
Tyler lyss at ten thirty. We got Russ Smith at eleven.
Can't wait. Let's look at this Kentucky team. Okay, just
from talking with some of the coaching staff members from
my time in Lexington last week, here's here's what could
be gathered. Number One, they really believe that Kobe Brea
(08:44):
is as impactful a transfer as as any that there
was in the portal, as any that they got because
you look at the last ten years and you look
at the shooting figures, he's as he's the most efficient
of any player that you will find. Just defines afficiency.
Jackson Robinson a killer and a guy who gets what
Mark Pope wants. I think that was so important that
(09:06):
he followed Pope. They are they are really they love
what they're getting from Kirk Crisa. Look, Kirk Creese has
been through a lot in his college basketball career. He
provides experience and they've they've got to keep him composed
and keep him from turning the ball over. But they're
really bullish on him. And then the front court. It's
going to be interesting to see how the minutes get distributed.
(09:29):
But I think when I look at this roster, Rob,
you know, they they've got some things to figure out
in terms of two minutes to go in a game,
and it's tied, how's who's who's taking that big shot?
But to me, Rob, the depth is real and in
today's climate of college basketball, looking up and down this roster,
(09:51):
they're not going to be over relying on any one piece,
at least on paper.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Yeah, and there's balance, there's gonna have to be a
h kind of a depth chart that forms throughout the
off season and the fall and heading into some of
these non conference games. But I was able to catch
up with Jason Hard at Peach Jam last week, and
the two things that I kind of heard were that
one the player that's been really the most impressive for
(10:17):
him in terms of what he kind of expected versus
what he's seen through practice so far has been Andrew Carr.
He said that Andrew car has really come along well.
But the other thing you mentioned kerk Creasa, right, Like,
I think that you're you're correct, and that they've been
very impressed with how he's kind of embraced this leadership role,
this point guard role, to the point where we made
(10:38):
jokes when Kerr was at Arizona right about head band Kerr,
about the way that he played about kind of the
swagger and the personality and the intensity and the fact
that he wasn't scared to kind of talk a little
bit on the floor, right. We called him head band Kerr.
And what Jason was saying is like he kind of
wants to bring a little bit more that back, like
it's gotten he's swung too far in the opposite direction.
(10:59):
I think that playing for a West Virginia team that
was not very good at all this past season, the
amount of losing that they had last year, the fact
that he had to sit out some games through a suspension,
kind of impacted him. And we're seeing him kind of
grow and mature a little bit, and now they're trying
to get him to kind of be that guy again
(11:20):
and play with that swagger again and play with that
level of confidence again. So the question I had, it's
not just the go to guy that you kind of
referenced fant, it's you know, can you trust kerk Crisa
as a point guard on a team that is going
to win the level that Kentucky fans are going to
expect them to win? And I get the sense that
you can. I think we're going to see a really
good year out of him, you know, with the amount
(11:40):
of shooting they have. The big question and we'll probably
get into this a little bit more later in the show,
but the single biggest question I have is there's a
lot of guys that are very good at doing certain
things right, like a Mari Williams will take away Lamont Butler.
Are guys that you kind of circle us saying those
guys are going to be elite defenders. You look at
someone like the Kobe, look at someone like of the freshmen,
and you circle them and say, those guys are going
(12:02):
to be very very good shooters. Right even to Jackson Robinson,
My big question is what's the overlap between Kentucky's best
defensive five and best offensive five? And does this team
have maybe too many specialists? And maybe it's just kind
of picking it when we when say that, but I
do think that that is the one question I have
(12:23):
is how does this roster all kind of come together?
Because there's a lot of guys that are really good
at a certain thing, but sometimes you need to be
a basketball player more than just a shooter, or a
basketball player more than just a rimp protector kind of
the deal.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
It's a great point, it really is. And then I
just between that offensive and defensive five, like Amari Williams
is an elite defender, how do they shelve out the
offensive game because the offensive game is inconsistent? It is,
what I can tell you is and I'm sure you
may have heard the say they're really pleased with Andrew Carr.
They love what he's going to bring to the table. Hey,
(12:57):
we keep talking about this, but I said, the phone
lines are all so I'm not gonna lie to you.
The phone lines are open. We have a caller right
off the top to set the tone. We've got Shannon,
our producer. Who do we got here?
Speaker 5 (13:07):
Yeah? We got Jordan on with us.
Speaker 6 (13:10):
Who ahead?
Speaker 5 (13:10):
Jordan?
Speaker 7 (13:11):
Hi, Jordan more gentleman. It's good to talk to y'all.
I was going to say, so, I was ten when
cal Perry first came as coach. Do I don't really
know what it's like to have a different coach And
I'm too young to know this is the nostalgia for Coke,
But I think he's just done such a great job
(13:31):
of winning the fan base over and kind of uniting
us into, you know, a new era and a new season.
The two questions I have for y'all is one, do
you think it's more or less likely we have a
better regular season than we did last year? And then
my second question would be, this kind of feels like
(13:54):
we don't know this team as much. And I know
y'all are talking about the players, but where do you
what do you think would be a good way for
the basketball program to really introduce them to the fan
base because there is just a lot of turnover and
new spaces and new names that we're adjusting to you.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Well, I'll give it to Rob after and great call man,
thank you, thank you so much for calling us this morning.
I think that there's that The first question is you
might not have the same regular season, right. I think
this past year you had several terrific moments in the
regular season. And read Shepard and Rob Dillinghand dazzled and
and look he gets the NCAA term and to get embarrassed.
(14:34):
But the measuring stick at Kentucky's not the regular season.
It's what you do in March. So the sec is
deep and only got and only got deeper in the offseason, Rob,
So there could be some growing pains, there could be
some learning moments. But at the end of the day,
if you make the Sweet sixteen, that's that's going to
reinvigorate this fan base because it hasn't happened when when
(14:56):
they step on the floor in the twenty twenty five
NCAA Tournament will have been six years. As for getting
the team to know the fans, that comes down to engagement,
engagement events, that comes down to book using your nil events,
meetups at different restaurants, coaches shows, which I'm sure that
there will be. Mark Pope's gonna do a coaches show,
(15:17):
you know that. I don't think that's gonna be a
problem because this staff is not like that. They're not
closed off. They just engaging with the community. I would
I would guess they do a little preseason you know,
around Lexington type of type of tour. You know, maybe
maybe in future years when you're Kentucky you could play
an exhibition, a charity exhibition somewhere else. Cal did that
from time to time. But in terms of the regular season,
(15:39):
this is something that we talked about Rob on our
show you what are you and please call the hotline?
What are your expectations for this team? I like the
question there. Robbie says, well, our regular season be better.
To me, it's like if it comes at the cost
of a couple of losses more, but you win in
the NCAA tournament, that's what can hockey fans are going
(16:00):
to get excited about.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Yeah, look, it's going to be hard to be better
than a three seed when you have thirteen brand new
players on your roster. Right in the last three years,
we haven't seen one team that returned less than fifteen
percent of their minutes from the high major ranks even
make the NCAA tournament. Utah State did the last year
out of the Mountain West.
Speaker 5 (16:20):
That's it.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
So getting to the quite literally getting to the dance
would be unprecedented in the transfer era for this Kentucky team
with the amount of turnover that they had. So my
expectation is they're going to be in and around the
top twenty five. They're going to be in and around
the top five in the SEC, which is going to
be very very good, and they're going to find a
way to be able to make it exciting enough that
that Kentucky fans are engaged. But you're exactly right. It's
(16:44):
a success in March that is going to matter and
is going to be the differentiator for Pope in this program.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Eight five nine two eight ZHO two two eight seven
is the number to call. Coming up at ten thirty
Willie Coley Stein and Tyler you was if you list
the coach of La Familia College, Steime, one of the
all time favorites in Lexington. I'll tell you why after this.
This is John Fans and Rob Dasser filling in for
Matt Jones, just getting started on KASAR At one time
(17:13):
was calling a game and this song was playing and
the officials were at the monitor, and it took the
entire song for the review. We finished the entire Welcome
to the Jungle. And it's at that point when you
finished the entire version of Welcome to the Jungle, Rob Dopster,
that you probably should make up your mind.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Yeah, there's nothing more college basketball than officials going to
the monitor and just staring at it for minutes on it.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
But we love it. We can't wait for it. We
live for for all that. Tyler. You listen Willie College
Styte coming up at ten thirty, so we have just
a few minutes for your phone calls. Eight five nine
two eight oh two two eight seven. What is your
honest expectation for Kentucky this season? What do you look
at with this? I think that Rob, you know, the
(18:04):
big picture element of the state of Kentucky basketball is
this it all things come to an end. And John Caliperry,
how he gets received. We've talked about this. He's gonna
get I think a nice applause from Kentucky fans when
he comes back, and because at the end of the day,
(18:25):
he provided some outstanding moments for the program. But let's
face it, Cal, the last couple of years of his tenure,
whether it was with the media or whether it was
just overall with the results in March, it just had
run its course. Mark Pope is authentic, he's energetic, he
(18:47):
wants to win more than anybody. Why because he was
an untouchable and he gets the program, he gets the
fan base. His wife and his daughters show up to
the TBT games. They're sitting court side, they're taking it
all in. He's wearing a La Amelia jersey to the games.
That to me, Rob was like, it's like medicine for
this fan base. You know, they're not they haven't been
(19:10):
in this dark of a place as Louisville. Far far,
far from it. But when you're not winning in the
tournament and you have a coach who kind of was
trying to just run it back, continue to do things
the same way, you know it's it was time. It
was time. And I think that that Kentucky they end
up being the big winner from this. The Mitch Barnhardt
(19:31):
sit down with Cal. You know, I remember watching that
thinking man that I don't think this this works out
for them at the end of the day. If the
writing's on the wall, the writing's on the wall. And
I know that the search was was interesting and that
they reached out to the different candidates and didn't end
up being the right way. But I know this much.
This guy that's that's currently in the head coach chair
(19:52):
is so well liked and took BYU Robin in the
Big Twelve this past year, the hardest league in college basketball,
and they had a great season and hovered around the
top twenty five the whole year. And if Mark Pope
does that with this Kentucky team and they win an
NCAA Tournament game, if not too, you're gonna look at
year one as a resounding success. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
I agree with all that, But do you really think
that Kyle's gonna get a friendly reception the first time
he comes back to Lexington. I think it's gonna be
a little, uh, a little, a little more disfriendly. I
think there's gonna be some boozy.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Because why why because he left.
Speaker 8 (20:29):
He left for an sec rival, took a bunch of
players with him, took a bunch of recruits with him.
I understand it to kind of run its course. But
it's not like he left for UCLA. It's not like
he left to go coach to Brooklyn Nets. He went
to Arkansas.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
He's coming back as the team is going to be
competing for SEC championships and final fours and five star
recruits like he is in conference. You know, he's not
that far away. He's a razorback now. It's not like
he left the he didn't even leave the league. He's
staying in the SEC. I don't know if he's going
to necessarily get warm applause. You're coming in as a rival.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
You don't think that he'll get so I would, I
think and give us a call here, give us a call,
because I'd love to hear from you. We do have
Tyler Ullis and Willie Caley Stide coming up, but after
they they come out Rush Smith design at eleven as well.
But I do want to hear from you. What kind
of reception will cal get versus what kind of reception
(21:24):
should he get? Those are two different questions, Rob.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Well, he should it should be friendly. Right, he won
a title, he made a bunch of final fours. It
wasn't great. The last four years, but it was really
good the eight or nine years before that. But I
just I have a hard time seeing a whole bunch
of fans stand up there and clap for the guy
(21:48):
that's coming in wearing the maroon red suits. He's coming
out of the razorback. You know, maybe one day you
can give h an applause when he comes back. Not
the first time. Nobody's coming in and trying to beat you,
nobody's coming in as a rival.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
What is that?
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Is that game going to be in in w or
whatever it is?
Speaker 5 (22:03):
It's good.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
They're going to be fighting for a league championship in
a league place there. So it's uh yeah, I don't
I don't know if he's gonna get in the Flaws.
Maybe some will. I bet there's gonna be as many
booze as a will be cheers. That's my bet.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Well, whose team will be better? I mean, that's that's
the other big question here is who who? In twenty
five seconds, Rob, who's going to be better?
Speaker 4 (22:25):
Oh man, they're putting me on the spot now. I
will say this. I like the roster build and the
balance more with Kentucky, But I don't think that Arkansas
is gonna have the best player out of the group
in Janelle Davis.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Hmm. Coming up next, Tyler Ulis, Willie Coley Stey. How
should Calby received? What's the TBT Rubb been like? For
Love Familia, We'll tell you TJ.
Speaker 4 (22:47):
Smith, personal injury attorney called TJ.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
He'll make them pay. Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio
present it by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Well, we're not Matt Jones. We're John Fanta and Rob
Dallaster here on a Friday morning with you Love Familiar
on the Kentucky Alumni Team. Second time the Kentucky's Field
and Alumni team in the Basketball Tournament, and this time
they've got a guy who spent time in the NBA.
He was the sixth overall pick in the twenty fifteen
(23:21):
draft of the Sacramento Kings, ended up playing in the
league for eight years Kings, Warriors, MAVs, seventy six ers.
It's the guy who was a first team All American
in twenty fifteen, SEC Defensive Player of the Year in
twenty fifteen. And he is just such a fan favorite.
Why because he loves Kentucky, He loves Big Blue Nation
(23:43):
and they love him back. These people were waiting an
hour after the game last Friday, the first game that
lat Familiar played him, just to make sure that they
could see Willie colly Stein or get his get his
shoes and get his seat band, get something signed, because
that's who Willy is in the community. Willie khley Stein
is joining us now at Kentucky Sports Radio. Willie, good morning,
(24:06):
Good morning.
Speaker 6 (24:06):
How y'all doing.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
We're doing great. We're doing great, John Fans or Rob
Dust Willie. I'll start I'll start this with this. What
has this been like being back in Lexington and suiting
up in Kentucky blue and white and playing again for
for this university and seeing the amount of support, getting
this chance to play in TBT Because I know you
(24:29):
said going in this you wanted to feel that energy again,
you wanted to feel that vibe again. What's what has
it been like?
Speaker 6 (24:38):
Yeah? Oh man, you know I'm getting exactly what I wanted.
Like the love and support out here is I'm real.
So every every everywhere I go, you know, dinner, dinner, store, wherever.
It's just it's love everywhere, man, And that's a special fooling.
(25:00):
So I think the first time around. You know, we're younger,
we kind of tend to overlook how special that is.
And so like now being older, having kids, understanding what
life is all about.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
You know, I'm just.
Speaker 6 (25:14):
Cherishing all this, you know, and even just getting a
chance to play with the same guys ten years later
with you know, everybody kind of elevated their skill so
a whole another level, and like we're getting to put
it on display now. And it looks like we've all
been playing together for multiple, multiple years and it's only
been a week.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
Hey, Willa, Rob Duster here. What does it say about
this Kentucky Louisville rivalry that there's gonna be fifteen fifteen
thousand people in the stands to watch a bunch of
alumni play against each other?
Speaker 5 (25:46):
Is this?
Speaker 4 (25:47):
Is this the best rivalry in college basketball? Is that
what it says?
Speaker 5 (25:51):
I mean, numbers don't lie.
Speaker 6 (25:53):
Numbers don't lie. Man. I think I think it's absolutely.
I mean, is buzzing right now. The state is buzzing.
Like I was just I was just outing Lovoe yesterday,
taking a golf lesson with Corey Hoffman, and I end
up playing a Part three course with a bunch of
kids from out there and there was you know, we
(26:15):
was all getting John back and forth about the game.
So like just that energy even it's carried all the
way to you know, in the middle of nowhere at
golf Court, and I don't know, it's fun. It's fun, man,
I can't wait. I'm glad. You know, there's a few
days to get the energy really buzzing, so that Monday's
gonna be one.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
For the book.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Willie. By the way, nine o'clock Monday night, it's on
Freedom It's at Freedom Hall. It's on FS one. For
those who can't make I don't know how you couldn't
get there. Freedom Hall is going to be rocking on
Monday night with the Sea of Blue and the Sea
of Red. Willie cully Stein's our guest, Willie. Chris Jones
of the Ville team said, well, there could be some blood.
There could be some blood when when we face off.
(26:59):
That's just how this is. How do you respond to that?
Speaker 6 (27:04):
It is what it is, coulb It's like it's that,
it is that type of game, it is that type
of energy it is. It is probably gonna get hippy,
but ship that's what we want, that's what that's what
the fans. But that's what that's what this rivalry is about.
You know, you can go bro game, the game in history,
through all throughout, all throughout the history of both both teams,
(27:25):
going back and forth, and it is that it's been
that way. So it doesn't matter if this is an
alumni game or not. I mean all of us are
are pros or or right outside of pros. So you
know it's gonna be serious. It's not gonna be like
a pickup game.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Wellie, So the name of the Kentucky team and TBT
is lit familiar. And the guy that kind of brought
all of these guys together kind of built this era
of the family, so to speak, was John Calli Parry.
Obviously he left for Arkansas and the offseason. How did
you find out about that? And now that you are,
you are older, and you're obviously more mature and you've
(28:03):
kind of been in the basketball business, how do you
view his decision to leave and take another job in
the SEC?
Speaker 5 (28:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (28:12):
Man, I mean should I found out just like everybody
else woke up, woke up that morning, was like, dang,
I just signed a lot familiar too, So I was
excited to come in and see see what. You know,
it's been cooking up. And but man, I think it's
I think it's good. I think it's good. I think
you know, in the time, you know, people love John
(28:33):
out here, people love coach cal So you know, hearing
hearing that kind of you know, it was a blow.
But I think in the grand scheme of things, things
was getting kind of stagnant and in the program a
little bit just you know, couldn't get over a hump.
I feel like, so, I mean, there needs to at
that point. There does need to be a change. And
(28:54):
that's real, that's part of basketball, it's part of the way.
Coach knew that, that's why, that's why he did it.
And uh, you know, now he's got a different buzz
going around him. It's a different energy, I think, you know,
going to Arkansas, you know, it kind of takes a
lot of pressure off him in the sense of, like
you know, here in Kentucky, you gotta win, you gotta
(29:16):
win now, and and we don't want to hear nothing
else about it. It's we're trying to win, and we're
trying to win now, and so that pressure is deep,
that pressure, that pressure, can you know, turn turn your
hair great can make.
Speaker 5 (29:28):
You lose your hair.
Speaker 6 (29:30):
So I feel like, uh, you know, he's getting kind
of started, a recharge, refreshed and in a good community
that's gonna, you know, like do exactly what this community did.
They're gonna they're gonna fall in love with them, just
like this community.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
Really a quick follow up for you. We we talked
about this, John and I before we went to the
last break, But what do you think the reaction for
Kentucky Finn should be the first time that that cal
wall into Rough as the Arkansas head coach.
Speaker 6 (30:04):
I mean I would be I mean I would be
kind of disappointed if it was anything but love. Yeah,
m hm, He's done a lot. He's done a lot
for the community. I mean that can't be dismissed. You know,
whether it's you know, he's he's on a new team
or not. I feel like, yeah, you gotta shut them
(30:25):
flowers and then it's on, like you know what I mean,
you got and then then it's on. You know, that's
that's first name.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
At the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
I agree with you we were just talking about in
the previous segment. I mean, he did do a lot
of good and I think that that that Willie, and
I don't know how you feel about this. Look, the
last few years we were tough. We know what the
measuring stick is. Part of it was because of what
he created, though, part of part of those you know
(30:57):
when when you're falling in the NCAA tournament, well you're
used to going deep going, I mean in the on
your teams to start a season thirty eight. No, I
wanted to ask you about that. How was how would
you describe the the idea of week after week after week,
(31:17):
you guys just have not lost a game? How did that?
How did that happen? How much pressure was there on
you when you got to the tournament and you went
into it having not lost a game?
Speaker 6 (31:30):
Yeah? Man, I think coach did a good job of
keeping us in in into week to week and not
really getting ahead of ourselves. Like I visially remember just
enjoying that whole time like I wasn't. I wasn't, and
I don't think anybody else was. I think everybody was
kind of like, you know, where we're doing something some
(31:50):
super super special here, let's let's enjoy. But I think
it goes back even farther than that, like the Bahamas
that summer like.
Speaker 5 (32:00):
Like we were a close team.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
Outside looking in you would think you would think that
we were super super super close, you know, but that summer,
now we were fighting like we was fighting like it
was a fight, like we were practicing it's a fight,
and coaches is letting it happen like like this is
this is every day. This is every day for like
the first first couple of months of playing pickup, like
we know how the twins are, we know how book is,
(32:23):
we know how Tyler is. Like everybody's dogs. So we
was in there getting to it and at the end
of the day, it just made us so so close,
Like now it's just so much love, like we went
we went to for a real war, you know. And
practices like the games was easy. Shit, we ain't even
be we was playing. We was playing more minutes in
practice and we got to play in the game so soon.
(32:46):
By the time we got to get into games, it
was like, you know, we're seeing stakes, We're seeing steak
and lobster, like you know, we're about to eat.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
Willie. You've you've got a chance to be coached by
Tyler Ulis here in the last couple of weeks, how
good does he give me the scout of report on
Tyler Ewlis in this new new era of his basketball career.
Speaker 6 (33:08):
Oh man, Tyler Tyler. Yeah, I mean, Tyler's had a
couple of conversations about about the coaching thing. He's a
good coach man. He's just just like, I mean, just
the way it looks like he's got a bunch of
you know, pros bought in to what he wants us
(33:29):
to do, and it looks good and we're and we're rocking,
and like nobody's complaining and nobody's you know, it's all respect.
But we know what Tyler's trying. So you know, we're
just respecting that to the highest degree. And that was
one of the things when he says, just like everybody,
respect everybody, everybody, but he's game everybody, you know, respect
everybody's effort into this whole, this whole situation right now,
(33:54):
because you know, we've got a lot of people behind
the scenes making making a lot of a lot of
you know, things us on the back end. And uh
so that goes to that too, you know, disrespecting that
like who put it all together and who's keeping it together.
So you know, that's a special thing for.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Willie colly Stein, Will we really appreciate you taking the
time and and thanks for going down memory lane, but
also a new memory gets formed on Monday night. What's
your message to Big Blue Nation as you guys are
heading into enemy territory Freedom Hall Monday evening.
Speaker 6 (34:32):
So they know the vibes, they know the vibes, they
know what we're there for. I want, I'm trying to.
I'm trying to hear it loud. I'm trying to, I'm
trying to build. I'm trying to feel the energy out.
I mean, I have no doubt that's gonna happen, but
I don't know. This is this is this is probably
one of the best Louisville, Kentucky games in history. And
(34:53):
when you put it on paper, who's really on the teams,
And uh, we're all in our prime. So it's like
like we're seeing something crazy right now. We really, we
really are going to see something crazy. Like just the
way how PVT is set up, like it's ended on
the game winner regardless, like this is going to be
the energy is going to be wild.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
More red than blue in there.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
I need to see more blue than red for sure.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Exactly.
Speaker 6 (35:23):
I know how we get down. I know how we
get down to ask Andy, I know how we get down. Yeah,
it's a blue country when we go up there. So
that's what I'm trying to see.
Speaker 5 (35:33):
Your cancer.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
And last I checked, you have a four game winning
streak against Louisville.
Speaker 6 (35:41):
Hey man, blessed.
Speaker 5 (35:43):
We're blessed.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
We're blessed, aren't we?
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Yes you are. Willie cauley Stein. We'll see you Monday night.
Thanks for taking the time. We'll take a break after this.
We'll get your reactions to that interview. Have you got
a favorite Willie colley Stein memory? Share with us and
we'll talk about what your expectations. What do you expect
(36:07):
one from Mark Pope this upcoming season? And two how
will you receive John cal Perry when he comes back
to ropp Arena? How will you react when he comes
on that tunnel? Will you give him an applause? Will
you just give him a chorus of booz? This is KSR.
We'll get your answers next, Little Chris Tapleton on a
Friday morning. This is ks R, Kentucky Sports Radio. Willie
(36:29):
colley Stein was fantastic number to call A five nine two,
A zero two two eight seven. Let's go back to
the phones right now. Who do we got.
Speaker 5 (36:38):
We've got Rob another Rob on the line with us.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
Wow, Rob, good morning, Hey guys.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
Uh. As far as your question goes about being booed,
that's kind of a no brainer for a Kentucky saying,
I'm a little surprised you even asking the question. He's
gonna get booed because when he put on Arkansas Red
and he enters in tar Arena, he's now the enemy.
(37:07):
Now it's guys, it's gonna happen. I'll bet you now, Rob,
get off the line. I'll bet you whatever you want.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
No, Rob, I'm gonna ask you this. You're still I'm Ron. Yeah.
So here's my question for you. How would you categorize
than the John Caliperry era? Uh? In full? How would
you categorize?
Speaker 5 (37:28):
I like John in full? Absolutely? I mean I was
a fan until you know, the last year I felt
it was time to go. You know, the gig was up.
Everything in God's fell. I'm glad he's gone, but he's
still put on an interconference team. He's coming back. There
wasn't a lot of love with a lot of the fans.
(37:49):
I actually had a defending to most of the people,
and I'm just telling you I know the temperature of
Big Blue. They are a lot more angry at John
Caliperry than I am.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Do you think, Well, obviously you think, But I want
to know what your honest expectations are for Mark Pope
this year and what you think he's going to be
at Kentucky.
Speaker 5 (38:15):
I think you guys assessed it right. He's gonna be
top twenty five, probably a sweet sixteen. We're not going
to hold his feet to the fire, but in the
day of Nil, the Kentucky brand and the Coffers, he
should be able to be made by year three making
a run for the title.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Rob, thank you for the call year three.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
I like it.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Yeah, that's what Rob says. Do you agree, Rob? Is
that fair? I actually think I think that's fair, like
going into year three off the first two then fully
building it out like the thing is though, Rob, and
I know you've got thoughts on this transfer portal versus
true freshman five star route versus versus getting the best
(39:03):
in the portal. This was a this roster the way
that Mark Pope constructed me. He got a lot of
good transfers, a couple of great ones a couple of
questions to answer, but he filled up at the portal
because he in the portal because he had to. It'd
just be interesting to see if he continues to go
that route more so than than doing what Cal did.
(39:24):
And then to that point, you know, if you're a
high schooler, is that still in your mind in a
world where Bill self and Dan Hurley are are kings
right now? Hurley being the main king. You know what
kind of what do we see in the distribution between
like a Kansas duke Carolina Arkansas now because of Cal
(39:44):
and Kentucky in terms of the five star freshmen.
Speaker 4 (39:47):
Well, look, I think continuity matters. I think if you
look at the way that Yukon was able to develop
guys over two and three years to get them to
the point where they were pros matters. I think when
you look at when Kansas won two with Christian Brown
and Jalen Wilson and those guys, the continuity they're mattered.
Look at Baylor in twenty twenty one, the continuity there mattered.
(40:07):
They had upperclassmen that had been in the program for two, three,
four years. And I think if you look at kind
of hope had to go out and get guys that
could contribute right away, because when you have to fill
thirteen roster spots, like bakers can't be choosers at that point, right,
Like you need bodies more than anything else. And he's
got a bunch of guys that are going to be
here for one year and gone. But he's also got
(40:30):
Travis Perry and Colin Chandler, He's got Trentonoah and Brandon
Garrison will take it away. Is probably going to end
up being a two year guys my guess, right, So
there is going to be a level of developing a
program and a culture and a team and not just
having it be a turned over, one and done factory.
You do want some of those guys because quite often
(40:52):
a player like in Aj Debonsa or somebody at that
level is going to end up being one of the
best players in college basketball. So it helps having those guys,
a player of that caliber, like a hole fill a need,
do a job via Steph Castle, be a Dono m Klingen,
all of that stuff helps. But being able to have
the base of six, seven, eight guys returning every single
year so you can maintain that level of culture, maintain
(41:15):
that level of a player run program, a player coach program,
so to speak. I think all that stuff matters, and
you can see the basis of it there, you know,
in terms of does he have to win a title
by his third season? No, like if you if it's
national title or bust, like three hundred and sixty one
coaches would be out of the job every single season
that was the case, right. But I do think by
(41:37):
year three you want to have a team that's like
entering the season and the conversation for top eight nationally, right.
I think that's fair.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
I think that's fair. We've got Russ Smith coming up
talk about the villain lot familiar. That's gonna be an
interesting interview on this year station. Stay with us. This
is Kentucky Sports Radio.