Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wildcats. Tom Leech. It's the daily gathering spot for the
Big Blue Nation to hear the latest news and views
on the Cats. If you have a question for Tom,
email Leech Report at gmail dot com or send a
tweet to add Tom leech Ky. Now here's Tom.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good Day. Everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Welcome in to the Monday edition of The Leech Report,
presented by Bob Kat. Enterprises Coming up on the show today,
Jack Pilger will join us from on three Sports KSR
talk to Kentucky Basketball Aaron Gershan from the Cat's Pause
and we'll touch a lot of bases from UK baseball
(00:40):
to football and basketball, all of that with Aaron. Those
are our two guests today, and before we roll into
the normal routine, certainly have to say just that everybody's
thoughts and prayers are with the folks in Laurel County
and Pulaski County. It seemed like Laurel County got hit
(01:02):
the hardest down around London with the tornadoes on Friday night.
Loss of life, multiple people perished, just devastating damage and
injuries I know, as well as the loss of life,
and it is was you know, those scenes are just
(01:22):
so so sad it's the storm that kind of cut
through Saint Louis earlier in the day and just stayed
active pretty much going west to east for the rest
of the day and night. Saw pictures of Mark Pope
down there helping clear debris. Read Shepherd that's his hometown.
(01:45):
Our friend of the show, Corey Price as the status
for us in the UK football. I saw a tweet
from him where he had his car loaded down with packages,
you know, cases of bottled water to take down there.
God bless everybody who was to get in and help out.
The people there in the community are doing the best
(02:06):
that they can help gather everything up, clean it up
and start to rebuild. But God bless everybody who came
in from outside to offer help, as it is always
an example of how Kentuckians come together at times like this.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
So just.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
We all are thinking of the people and what they're
going through in that area. Will go on now to
what we normally do, I'd say, hopefully a diversion from
the things that are the most harshest parts of real life.
So Wildcat News of the Day presented by Joseppies of
Lexington and an incredible performance by journalism in the Preakness,
(02:49):
as he won the second leg of the Triple Crown
after finishing second in the Derby, and did so in
the most amazing fashion. Jocki Berto recently made the decision
around the far turn to stay inside rather than go outside,
and I wanted to save as much ground as possible
(03:11):
to help his horse rally. But when he ran up
the inside, there initially wasn't a spot there. Then goal
Oriented drifts just slightly and there is a very small
seam and he puts Journalism in there. And then goal
oriented comes back over lobby and Pratt try to direct
(03:32):
his horse back over to cut off journalism, and Journalism
would have none of it. He came bursting through. But
then when he emerges from all of that, like a
fullback running through the line. When he emerges, looks like
he's beat for sure. With about a sixteenth of a
mile ago, he's five links down and all of a
sudden he finds the gear he found. Remember back in
(03:56):
the Santa Anita Derby, we talked about this leading up
to the run for the Roses. That when he got
straightened out in the sant Anita Derby and went after Baeza,
I remember saying it was like Baeza's jockey was like
Roy Scheider and Jaws.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
You're going to need a bigger boat.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
And that's how it was for Oscar, who ran a
really spectacular race but could not hold off the late
charge of journalism. Just an amazing, amazing performance. And now,
for all of the talk that we've all been engaged
in about spacing of these Triple Crown races, what you
do have Sometimes things just kind of work out for
(04:34):
the support of horse racing. Now you have a Derby
winner and Sovereignty and a Preakness winn in journalism, both
very impressive in each of their performances. Now most likely
going to have the rubber match in the Belmont Stakes,
so there'll be a lot of interest for that. The
connections of journalism say they want to run, and they're
(04:56):
shipping the horse up to Saratoga to prepare to run,
but they are not committed to it till they see
how journalism comes out of the race and make sure
it didn't take too much out of him still eating well,
doing well.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Et cetera.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So looks like we'll have a showdown between the winners
of the first two legs of the triple Crown, which
will be exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
For the sport of racing.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
One Baseball note is the SEC Tournament gets set to
start tomorrow. D one Baseball is out with their projections
for the NCUBA Tournament and they have Kentucky as a
three seed the Coastal Carolina Regional. Kentucky's not on the
last four in lists, so if the D one Baseball
folks are correct, then hopefully the Wildcats are safely in
(05:39):
the field no matter what happens this week in Hoover, Alabama.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
But how were the Wildcats.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I'd want to win at least one to bolster the
case for the NCAA Tournament. They will take on Oklahoma
tomorrow and we'll talk more about that on the show tomorrow.
That particular matchup in the SEC Tournament for coach Ben
Gion in company. Thanks to the story as we talk
about each day and you can find those on the
bud Light Leach Report page at Tom leachk why dot com.
Heading to a break back with Jack Pilgrim here on
(06:07):
the Leech Report. Our opening segment's always presented by Giuseppes
of Lexington and go to open table. Make your reservations
for the next special occasion. Mother's Day's past us, but
Father's Days just around the corner. Take dad out for
a great meal at Giuseppes. Get to open table and
make your reservations for a really special night out at
Giuseppes here in Lexington, just off Nicholasville Road out past.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Man Or Boulevard. We'll be right back. Why do I
get to the Leach Report?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
By the way, our.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Triple Crown coverage again, the Springfro presented by Clayburne Farm
doing the usual, unusually well for more than a century.
I'm to talk some Kentucky man's basketball now as we
welcome Jack Pilgrim to the program via the Club Blueennile
dot com hotline. You read them in on three Sports
and KSR, and hear them on the Sunday Morning Sports
(06:57):
talk show and the Anthony White and Larry Vaught and
Vol Robinson on Sundays here in Lexington. And Jack, that
was one tall guy up on that roof down in
Laurel County yesterday.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Well it was funny, you know.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
He I was at the recruiting event down in Memphis
at the eyb L and he was there, you know,
throughout the weekend bouncing from court to court to court, and.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
I you know checked in with him on his way
out here.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
You coming back tomorrow morning for you know, talking about
Sunday morning, he said, now I'm out, So I just
assumed he was going to a different you know, recruiting
event or something. And then I'd wake up on Sunday
morning and he is on top of a roof in London.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
So yeah, it's very cool.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
Just to you know, a on one end, you know,
have all five assistant coaches were all you know, all
all coaches involved being able to go out on the live.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Period and get a lot of different eyes.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
I had Michael McLean on the road Friday, and then
had Mark Fox out out on the road on Sunday
along with the other three assistants as well. And then
obviously when when you have a disaster of that magnitude,
and you know, Mark Pope always wanted to you know,
be the first person to speak about it and do
about it. So it was just really really cool to
just watch him, you know, step up in a time
(08:11):
when when that community absolutely needs you know, all hands
on deck.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
He had his news conference last week, talked about a
lot of subjects. One of which was he talking about
what year two would be like for the staff and
now they'd be one hundred percent better for the year
that they had together. And that's something probably didn't get
talked about enough because we talked so much about, you know, building,
how the team came together from so many different places.
But it was that way with a staff too, because
(08:37):
Cody Figure came with him from BYU and Nick Robinson,
but a lot of the guys had not worked with
him or together before this had all started. He did
work briefly for coach Fox down at Georgia and known
him for a while, but still it was, Yeah, that
group seemed to be worked very efficiently during the season.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
Yeah, absolutely, And you know there's so much talk about
you know, NBA teams calling Jason hard and you know,
all the known come outit. You know, Alvin Brooks the
Third's names thrown. You know some of these mid major
kind of coaching searches. Is he's kind of working his
way up towards you know, he's at the tip top
of the assistant coaching ranks. Is that now his time
(09:19):
to you know, start hearing from these you know, lower
end head coaches.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
He starts working up the you know, head coaching ladder.
So you just.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Wondered, how likely is it that all of these guys
who are you know, seemingly rising stars all the way
down you know, up top down to you know, Michael MacLean,
who was kind of a relative unknown you know, this
time of year ago and now kind of seems to be,
you know, one of the brightest up and coming names
in the sports.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
So to to be able to get all of those
guys back for a year two.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
As much as Pope talks about you know, retention and
continuity with the roster and wanting to kind of develop
from within, yeah, there's just as much importance put put
on you know, retention with the coaching staff to get
just those familiar voices within that program and developing you know,
those those pieces from within as well.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
That news conference provided a lot of great content with
all of the subjects that Coach Pope touched on. What
were some of the more interesting things that you heard?
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Yeah, thank goodness.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
When wants to get into this time of the year,
you're you're just desperate for content, and he is, you know, he.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Is an endless supply of that. Uh.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Yeah, Honestly, I'll be honest, Jasper Johnson just you know,
you hear from you know, he's a top twenty five
kid and you know, an All American you know, different
different events and as talented as they come. But you
just wonder what his day one impact would be at Kentucky.
And to hear Mark Poten not just single him out
(10:44):
as like, yeah, you know he's a guy that we're
going to lean on to, you know, score and and
you know and produce at a high level from day one,
called him a superstar, said no, we need him to
step in and be that guy that that you know,
we recruited him to be. He he was a premium
product on the recruiting trail. You know, it's a you know,
not too much transparency with nil nowadays, but you know
(11:05):
they did not get a hometown discount for that kid.
They you know, paid a premium to bring him in
and be a premium you know, encore product, and you.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Know that's what they're expecting him to be.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
So I just liked the you know, the confidence from
Mark Pope to say, no, we want him to step
in and be that guy. And obviously you know the
Otaka Oway what he has to gain by coming back. Yes,
he's eliteed these things, but there's obviously so much.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
More room to grow and upside and you know that
all eyes on.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
May twenty eighth, and in his decision is as he
you know, weighs a return to Kentucky or keeping his
name in the draft, So you know how much more
room for growth he has. And in the excitement surrounding
what a year or two of Otaga away is what
would be you know, the surefire preseason SEC player of
the Year. I think that there's those are probably the
(11:55):
two biggest takeaways that I had listening to Pope.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Yeah, I think the player your talk, assuming Otega is
back is certainly a realistic one would think, because Kentucky
should be one of the top teams in the league
and he would be their top player.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
And and you know, it's one of the you know,
most valuable things about being at those recruiting events when
you can just kind of mingle and talk with all
these coaches and they bring up so you know Otega's back, right,
You know, they ask you just as much as you
asked them. And a lot of those guys were at
the combine and watched, you know, all of Otaga and said,
you know, he looked incredibly, he looked apart.
Speaker 6 (12:34):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
You know, they are all assuming that he's coming back
and have heard similar things about him coming back. And
I think they're all very scared as competitors and and
you know future opponents of Otega.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Going well, yeah, that's a you know that.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
We we wish that he had a little bit better
of a you know, combine performance so he could get.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
The heck out of the sec.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
But yeah, I think there's a lot of a lot
of confidence, you know, surrounding Otega and he is a
return to Kentucky and what that would mean because I
do think he has all American outside next season.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
We'll continue with Jack Pilgrim. We'll come right back. It
is the Leech Report. We're presented each day by Bobcat
Enterprises for locations around the state. So google Bobcat Enterprises
when you have a need to buy or rent a
piece of heavy equipment for a job site, talking excavators
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you need Bobcat Enterprises.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Come in here from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return
refresh and refuel at Clark's. And we are chatting with
Jack Pilgrim from On three Sports and ks are about
Kentucky men's basketball. You talked about covering this event down
in Memphis, you interact with a lot of coaches. What
are you hearing from coaches in terms of what's coming
(13:49):
on the NIL space and the house settlement situation and
will let fix it? And do they need Congress to
do something, et cetera.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Oh man, that was that was fun.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
Just so many differing opinions, you know, just ranging from uh,
the system was starting to regulate itself, you know, the
market was regulating itself with with NIL, you know, people overshooting,
undershooting and then finding kind of that happy medium. We
were starting to get that way. And now with these
you know, guardrails, supposedly you know coming is just going
(14:24):
to lead to just more cheating people teams going back
to cheating. That was kind of a common theme that
kept popping up of you know, I think it's going
to be more hectic and chaotic and more you know,
worse than things were. And you know, the commit the
NCAA committee that is going to kind of oversee a
lot of that. There was some you know, you know
talk you know, only ten human beings overseeing the you know,
(14:48):
the punishment side of things and enforcing that. You know,
how when they're going to be dozens upon dozens upon
dozens of violations, how can they you know, tackle those
things for all of college sports, let alone and just
college basketball or whatever.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
So yeah, definitely not super pleased with it.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
You know, I think that was a very common thing,
just wanting some type of clarity and thinking, you know,
it's just another day in the life of our jobs
of not knowing what you know, what our rules are
and how to you know, enforce them. But you know,
I think a lot of them are just like, well,
that's you know, we get paid a lot of money
to you know, do these things, so you know, there
there are worst things in the world, but you know,
(15:26):
it's not the most convenient thing. But I think that
a lot of them, you know, the fifteen scholarships and
you know kind of the grandfathered inns, they're all on
the same page with a lot of those things, and
you know, just needing some teas.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Cross and ies dottage with that.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
But you know they're expecting that to come come very
very very soon, but just you know, not totally pleased
with what the final product.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Is going to be.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
And then the Tennessee legislature has passed a law that
we basically since the schools of that state don't have
to adhere to n CLA rules that they don't want to.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
So that would suggest that they're gonna have to have
you know, some kind of federal uh intervention, because every
other state will do the same thing if that holds up, right.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
And yeah, that was kind of the just the common
theme with them was, you know, it's going to take
just one misstep beyond you know, the they'll think that
they have everything situated and to be perfect, and then
the first misstep will lead to the next next stages
of you know, fixing that.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
So they're just like, yeah, whatever.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Well, you know, you tell me the rules and we'll
we'll try to abide by them, and you know, let
the cheaters cheat it. There are a lot of a
lot of coaches that were you know, blaming other cheaters
and nobody, nobody taking ownership of themselves cheating.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
So I thought that that was pretty fascinating. Market pointing Mark.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Pope said that there's one more exhibition opponent to come,
and uh seemed to suggest it could be somebody that
an opponent that would excite fans. Any idea what he's
talking about.
Speaker 5 (17:03):
Yeah, I think, you know, there's some some talk of
you know, I'm not expecting it to be a you know,
national championship contender, you know, potential preseason number one like
like Purdue. There's some talk about you know, uh, you know,
very talented mid majors, uh, you know, D one opponents
rather than you know, it's just those exhibition games have
just been uh, you know, local D three's and n
(17:26):
i as and just you know, trying to just have
some type of game on the schedule, but never really
able to get much out of that. And and you know,
I think Mark Pope just saw it as an opportunity
is hey, let's uh, you know, let's let's load up
as many talented teams as we can on the schedule
and really test ourselves early. You know, a lot of
(17:47):
debate about the Louisville game set up, but I do
think kind of having one high profile matchup every single
week throughout the non conference schedule, I think is going
to be a really really fun way of doing things.
And I think you know leads, you know even as
early as the exhibition flight with the first to.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Be named one Jack. Thank you much, thank you man.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
It's Jackpilgrim at Jackpilgrim KSR on X Halfway Home on
the Leach Report, present it by bobcat Enterprises right back
with Erin Gersha Guess.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
On the Lead Report.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Come do you have you the Club Blue nil dot
com hotline. Club Blues an official nil fundraising partner for
UK Athletics and they have a new initiative, Club Blue Kids.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
You can get your.
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(18:50):
Blue with pride. That is at Club Blue ni l
dot com. We welcome to the program, Arion Ershan from
katspause dot com. We'll start with a little baseball Aaron,
as Kentucky gets set to take on Oklahoma and the
SEC Tournament tomorrow down in Hoover, Alabama, Kentucky's the thirteen seed,
Oklahoma the twelve. Do you think Kentucky has work to
(19:14):
do to get a bit or are they safely in
so it's hard to.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
Tell because it's a new SEC. Right typically, before Oklahoma
and Texas got added, fourteen regular season wins was kind
of the number you needed to feel like you were
pretty much a lock.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
If you remember in.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
Twenty eighteen that Kentucky team that was obviously coming off
the Super Regional had a lot of the same players.
It ended up sending thirteen players to the MLB Draft
after the season. They had a strong year. They kind
of had a rough end SEC play. I think they
got swept by Vandy the last series of the year
(19:52):
and they ended up at thirteen SEC wins. I believe
they went one and done in Hoover and then they
missed the tournament. So it's hard to say. Because of
this new SEC, Kentucky has the benefit of having not
played Missouri, who obviously I think, only ended up with
three SEC wins, all against Texas, A and M. Though
(20:12):
Kentucky did one of their series wins is A and
M SO and they have a couple of midweek losses
that leaves their resume a little bit to be desired.
So I think if you know you want to be safe,
you definitely want to at least get one down in Hoover,
you know, coming up on Tuesday against Oklahoma. I think
they should be in regardless, probably a three seed in
(20:34):
someone's region. But it's it's I don't think they're set
in stone since they weren't able to grab one of
those wins against Vandy this weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
They've got swept in Vandy, could have swept the Commodorees.
They should have won the first two games, certainly they
were heading the bottom of the ninth and got walked
off both times.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
Yeah, what's crazy about this season for Kentucky is they've
had the lead in twenty seven to thirty SEC games.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
That's amazing, and they've.
Speaker 6 (21:02):
And they've only won. Yeah, and they've only won thirteen
and most of them. I got to give credit to
Dan Hagar of three on that one, but I saw
he had a stat. I don't have it in front
of me, But basically, they're run differential in the first
five innings in SEC games compared to the bottom four
innings or the last four innings in SEC play. It's
(21:24):
just crazy how seemingly it just changes. They just have
had trouble closing games really all year long in conference play,
and you know, you hope that doesn't come back to
bite them on Selection Monday next week.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
The guys up the road in Cincinnati have had that
issue as well, so they sure have.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
I mean it's something in the.
Speaker 6 (21:46):
That for years.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Yeah, maybe it's filtering down, but it was, you know, frustrating,
I'm sure for the coaches and players, you know, to
Thursday night, Friday night, the way that they especially Friday,
they'd come from behind to go ahead in the top
of the ninth and then to give it back. So yeah,
(22:07):
now they they were away. Yeah, one strike away, two outs,
two strikes. They play with Oklahoma and if they win,
they would get Georgia Tournament this year. For fans of
maybe casual baseball fans, it's just like the Sweet sixteen
of high school. Well I say it's like that. It's
there's buys and things involved, but it's you know, no
(22:28):
double elimination anymore in this tournament.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
Yeah, which I kind of you know a lot of
people are kind of sud about it. I kind of
like it. I think it was a little it was
a little confusing the whole you know, win one and
then you move into a double sixuation. I don't know,
I thought it was a little bit for a cat,
like you said, for the casual fan who is kind
of a postseason guy. It's kind of just it's hard
to it was a little bit hard to follow. So
(22:53):
and I understand like you could probably go without having
all of these sixteen teams in it. You know, Missouri definitely.
I don't think it doesn't necessarily deserve to be in it,
but uh, you know, I kind of like the one
in dune system.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yeah, it's it's a team.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
As you said, with that that stat that they have
had the lead in so many of their SEC games,
and uh so they've you know, it's it's rare that
anybody's beaten them convincingly. And until three weeks ago, they
hadn't been swept at all, and then they got swept, swept,
Oklahoma got swept again. But the thing, I guess the
point we p to is if they are if they
(23:31):
make it into the n CUAA Tournament, they would have
a chance to you know, come out of a regional
because you would think wherever they are because they seemingly
play everybody tough.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
They have no question about it. And and the offense
has been pretty solid, you know, the last month of
the season. You know, yes, they have their their breakdowns
too in the late innings. It seems like they kind
of struggle against back ends with some of these bullpens.
But you know, it's been a pretty consistent offense for
a good month. The starting pitching has been really good
pretty much all year. It's just kind of been that
(24:03):
back end of the bullpen that that's faltered. But when
you have strong starting pitching, as we've seen at the
major league level, I mean, it gives you a chance
to win every single game. And that's why Kentucky's had
the lead in twenty seven to thirty SEC games. I mean,
Nick McKay and Ben Cleaver is a one two punch.
It was Tony V. Teller who said it, that's as
good as any in the SEC. So we'll see what
(24:25):
happens then, hopefully, you know, into next weekend. But I
think you I think you're probably in regardless, but winning
that game on Tuesday, I think would make you feel
a lot better.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Sorry with Ericar Shankatz pause Dot com. We'll take a
quick break and come right back to continue the conversation
here on the Leech Report, presented by Bob Kat Enterprises
seventeen away from the top.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Of the hour.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Here on the Leech Report, the LPGA Legends are coming
to Woodford County. It's the Woodford Legends Invitational Golf Tournament
on Saturday and Sunday, June seventh, eight. That's at the
Woodford Club and for sales, and it will feature some
of the best female golfers in the history of the game,
talking about Laura Davies, Julie Yankster, Pat Bradley and more.
Woodford Clubfoundation dot org is where you go to get tickets.
(25:13):
They're just fifteen dollars a day. Proceeds benefit KVC Kentucky.
Joining us are with us here on the Clublueenile dot
com hotline is Aaron Gershaan from the Cat's Pause at
A Gershan ninety nine.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
G E R.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
S h O in Talking UK sports, And we'll go
to a little football report last week from John Hale,
the Harold Leader about ticket sales season ticket sales being
off significantly. Probably not a big surprise, is it, Aaron.
Speaker 6 (25:41):
Yeah, Look, there's a there's some proven it to do
for that program right now. You know, they're coming off
a four and eight campaign. They're worse than Mark Steus's
first year here. That comes after the two seven and
six campaigns, when especially twenty twenty two was disappointing when
they were pick to finish second in the SEC East
(26:03):
down in Atlanta at media days and then pick to
finish third in the conference overall.
Speaker 4 (26:08):
So it's been a.
Speaker 6 (26:10):
Disappointing last couple of years. And then you kind of
look at this this roster and I think it has
a chance to be improved with what they did in
the portal, but it's so hard to tell because there's
so much new. I mean, forty plus players almost half
the roster, if not more. There's not really a guy
that you could gravitate tour as like, oh, this is
(26:30):
our best player, this is this is our superstar right here.
Like you know, last year you had Deon Walker and
Max Harrison going into the year. Obviously the year before
that you had the two receivers, Ray Davis. I think
obviously it was better than expected, but felt good about him.
You know, even Devin Leary was the number one portal
quarterback Deon Walker at a great freshman year, like there
(26:52):
were guys fans gravitated toured. Obviously twenty twenty two you had,
you know a lot of hype going to that year
where there's just not that guy on this rock. That's
not saying there can't someone can't emerge and be that guy,
or there aren't guys that are really likable and guys
who have played really hard here the last couple of years,
or aren't some players in the transferport that can come
in and be really really good. It's just they haven't
(27:15):
done enough to earn that status yet, so it's hard
to market, and I understand why the season tickets are
a little lower. And then you know the most important
aspect of them all, they haven't won an SEC game
at home since I believe first SEC game in twenty
twenty three against Florida, Like they got to start stacking
(27:35):
some wins at home in the SEC.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
The problem is their.
Speaker 6 (27:39):
Home games in the SEC this year are Ole, Miss Texas,
Tennessee and the fourth one. Slipping me, who's the fourth one?
It's not easy, that's all I know.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Yes, who is it?
Speaker 3 (27:51):
It's Jon to Blank as well, But they've got the
first game, first conference game in the second game on
the schedule is Ole Miss and it's a team that
they have played close and just about every game in
recent years. Got the upset last year, but the other
games have been close when they've played in recent years.
So September is very important for Kentucky football. Gives them
(28:16):
a chance to to get people back on their bandwagon
with You've got that game, and you've got the game
at South Carolina in that first month, plus a couple
of non cons that you would be expected to win.
So you know, three and one, four and oh coming
out of September, then you know you've you've built some momentum.
(28:36):
Less than that, then you got work to do.
Speaker 6 (28:39):
Yeah, absolutely that. I think if you can steal one
of those two sec games, I mean, man, I mean,
obviously it'd be great to go four and oh, but
I think even if you go three and one and
it happens to be South like South Carolina, the game
that Kentucky has was dominated for almost eight years, even
you know, before they got the thing rolling. They beat
him in twenty fourteen, and they beat him in twenty fifteen,
(29:01):
and you know, at the end of Spurrier's time there,
so that the game used to just walk up as
a win. And obviously there's kind of been some bad
blood there. He had the comments that Mark Seuss made
at STC Media Days that Shane Beemer took personally, and
ever since then, you know, South Carolina's really got up
for Kentucky. And you know, obviously they had two really
good seasons in there as well, and they won three
(29:22):
in a row. And if you can go down there
and win one and all three of those games, really
Kentucky had a really good chance. Even last year, the
score wasn't necessarily reflective of how South Carolina played. I
think Kentucky just killed themselves in that game. But if
you can go steal that game, I think that would
do a lot of good will with the fans because
that game has become kind of a rivalry, kind of
(29:43):
personal when you know some of the other rivalries Kentucky
has outside of Louisville has kind of just been well,
we I mean, kind of got to do our part,
like Tennessee. So if you can go steal that one,
I think that would get a lot of good will
with the fans, because you know, that's what it's one
of those that they've they've come to really really care about.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Florida is the other game that we were struggling to
come up with, and they'll get them in November up
in Herey, Kentucky in November for the first time I
think since nineteen ninety so that used to be a
regular fixture on the schedule in the month of November
and always maybe a little little edge for Kentucky when
the Gators had to come up from the Deep South
(30:24):
in November shift gears to a little basketball. It was
eight days ago that or six days ago. Mark Pope
did his news conference kind of after the rosters mostly
set or maybe totally set for the upcoming season. What
were your takeaways from what you heard? Anything that was
most noteworthy to you?
Speaker 6 (30:44):
Yeah, nothing crazy, nothing that wasn't you know, to to
earth shattering there. Definitely the quote I think the fan
base grated stated Sports as you know, he made the
joke about the nil they roll. I guess he could
say with a two hundred million, But then he is
kind of like, you just want to be the best
(31:05):
at everything, and he rattled off all these things, you know,
from uniforms to obviously winning National Championships highest nil and
I think that really fired fans up. And I think
you know, one thing about Mark Pope, I think that
gets kind of I wouldn't say overlooked. I would say
overlooked honestly, at least from maybe Kentucky fans see it.
But I think opposing fan bases maybe don't necessarily like
(31:30):
he is as obviously he has a big personality. He's
super kind, he's super you know, religious when he's very humble.
He's just a guy that doesn't make it about himself.
But and he's funny like, he's quirky, like, he's sometimes
even as corny like he kind of comes off as
this I wouldn't say character, but he's just a big personality.
(31:53):
And sometimes people don't attribute that with kind of having
that killer in thinking that just absolute COMPETI being just
a total competitor. But you saw his he made the
joke about the two hundred million, and then you go
look at his body language and go look at his
facial expressions like he is dead serious and locked in,
(32:16):
and you saw it after every loss, how personally he
takes it, how frustrated he would get. You know, obviously
Kentucky fans obviously know that with the old miss game
where he's a big cut on his hand, like this
guy wants it badly, and he was the same way.
You know, it's probably even more so now that he's
at his own honor where he won a national championship.
But you know, when I went back to kind of
(32:37):
see what we were getting into from the media standpoint
and looking at some of his press conference after a
loss of the BYU, it was the same thing, like,
this guy is a real, real competitor, and he means
what he says when he wants to be the best
at everything, and anything short of it bothers him. So
that was kind of what stood out to me, just reinforcing.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
That, Yeah, you're in the news conferences with him after
games and I've got him one on one for our network,
and I remember after the Alabama game in the SEC tournament,
he was just struggling to really even I mean, he
he didn't really want to talk at all about that.
He was just kind of gut punch whatever you want
to call it. He takes it hard.
Speaker 6 (33:17):
Yeah, and what's that game? Like the fan base wasn't
even too upset knowing the situation and knowing, Hey, like,
bigger things are ahead of us. We got the win
last night. Let's get the heck out of here and
get ready for the big one. But yeah, that's that
just speaks of it. Man. He really, really really cares
and he does not say losing well, and you know,
you see it on the court, like he I don't
(33:39):
think I've ever seen him sit down during a game,
Like he just is locked in from opening tips, even
if they're up forty at the end of the game,
I feel like he's standing and he's just so so competitive.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
He he challenged his old coach on the attire for
the Kentucky Saint John's game, and uh, he is a
little like his old coach in terms of that competitive fire.
Really that doesn't come out quite in the same way maybe,
but it's every bit as strong.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (34:13):
No, he's not gonna curse at you, and he's not gonna,
you know, blow.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Up on a guy and fire everybody.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Everybody. He's not gonna do anything irrational. But man, that
that guy takes it personally, and he's a he's a
heck of a competitor. I mean, and you know, even
I know he wasn't the greatest NBA player. But you know,
the Pacers and Knicks are about to play in the
Eastern Conference finals. He was on those spacer teams and
god knows how, Like just I can't imagine how competitive
(34:40):
those games were to be a part of and be
even just on the bench, uh, to to watch and
see those games, so you know, and obviously what he
did here as a player, like, this guy's just been
around it and it's densely showing off as a coach.
And I think, you know, I think most of Kentucky,
most of the Big Blue Nation understands it, but I
I thinks some still see the quirkiness and the corniness
(35:02):
and like, oh, he doesn't yell at the rest like
Cal did. But man, this guy, this guy shows it
in different ways.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Aaron, thanks so much.
Speaker 6 (35:11):
You got it.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
You can read them at catspause dot com at a
Gershwan ninety nine on ex aeron Gershawn joining us here
on the Leach Report, presented by bobcat Enterprise's final segment
coming up cornbreadamp dot com. That's where you go to
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Cornbreadhemp dot com. This is the Good Life is Dan
In Wildcat History two thousand and nine, John Wall committed
to play for the Wildcats.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
That worked out pretty well.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
One of the all time greats, and then Basil Hayden,
the first All American for Kentucky men's basketball, was born
on this day. Our Wildcat History notes each day are
presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports cards and Memorabilia. They're at
Romney Road here in Lexington and at roadshow cards dot Com.
UK women's basketball has added an international player from Sweden
(36:42):
six foot five Elsa Vadforz if I'm pronouncing that correctly,
just nineteen years old. So it doesn't have any particularly
impressive numbers in terms of points or rebounds, but depth.
A player that can provide depth and would imagine the
upside would be pretty strong for coach Brooks to bring
(37:03):
her into his program. UK softball season came to an end.
Clemson eliminated Kentucky yesterday in the regional five to one.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Shuffle.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
Being Coffee is the official coffee of ropp Arena, the
KFCM Center, and you can make it the official coffee
of your home by picking some up today at Central
Kentucky Myers stores or ordering it through Amazon, or you
can go to the company's website and order product there
and you can read a little bit about this commitment
to quality that they have. It's a Kentucky based company,
(37:34):
group of Kentuckians formed it more than a decade ago.
Fantastic Coffee all about being the best at shuffle bean coffee,
So put some hustle in your shuffle. The NBA finals
in each conference are now set and there's a Kentucky
Wildcat at least one on every team OKC and Minnesota
in the Western Conference, New York Knicks and the Indiana
(37:56):
Pacers in the Eastern Conference, and ish Randall in particular
has been having his some of his best playing some
of his best basketball in the playoffs for Minnesota, of course,
she's had an MVP caliber here.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
For OKC.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Karl Anthony Town's doing really well with the Nicks is
kind of the number two to Jalen Brunson there. So
good luck to all the Kentucky guys. Well see you
tomorrow on the Leads Report.
Wildcats. Tom Leech. It's the daily gathering spot for the
Big Blue Nation to hear the latest news and views
on the Cats. If you have a question for Tom,
email Leech Report at gmail dot com or send a
tweet to add Tom leech Ky. Now here's Tom.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good Day. Everybody.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Welcome in to the Monday edition of The Leech Report,
presented by Bob Kat. Enterprises Coming up on the show today,
Jack Pilger will join us from on three Sports KSR
talk to Kentucky Basketball Aaron Gershan from the Cat's Pause
and we'll touch a lot of bases from UK baseball
(00:40):
to football and basketball, all of that with Aaron. Those
are our two guests today, and before we roll into
the normal routine, certainly have to say just that everybody's
thoughts and prayers are with the folks in Laurel County
and Pulaski County. It seemed like Laurel County got hit
(01:02):
the hardest down around London with the tornadoes on Friday night.
Loss of life, multiple people perished, just devastating damage and
injuries I know, as well as the loss of life,
and it is was you know, those scenes are just
(01:22):
so so sad it's the storm that kind of cut
through Saint Louis earlier in the day and just stayed
active pretty much going west to east for the rest
of the day and night. Saw pictures of Mark Pope
down there helping clear debris. Read Shepherd that's his hometown.
(01:45):
Our friend of the show, Corey Price as the status
for us in the UK football. I saw a tweet
from him where he had his car loaded down with packages,
you know, cases of bottled water to take down there.
God bless everybody who was to get in and help out.
The people there in the community are doing the best
(02:06):
that they can help gather everything up, clean it up
and start to rebuild. But God bless everybody who came
in from outside to offer help, as it is always
an example of how Kentuckians come together at times like this.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
So just.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
We all are thinking of the people and what they're
going through in that area. Will go on now to
what we normally do, I'd say, hopefully a diversion from
the things that are the most harshest parts of real life.
So Wildcat News of the Day presented by Joseppies of
Lexington and an incredible performance by journalism in the Preakness,
(02:49):
as he won the second leg of the Triple Crown
after finishing second in the Derby, and did so in
the most amazing fashion. Jocki Berto recently made the decision
around the far turn to stay inside rather than go outside,
and I wanted to save as much ground as possible
(03:11):
to help his horse rally. But when he ran up
the inside, there initially wasn't a spot there. Then goal
Oriented drifts just slightly and there is a very small
seam and he puts Journalism in there. And then goal
oriented comes back over lobby and Pratt try to direct
(03:32):
his horse back over to cut off journalism, and Journalism
would have none of it. He came bursting through. But
then when he emerges from all of that, like a
fullback running through the line. When he emerges, looks like
he's beat for sure. With about a sixteenth of a
mile ago, he's five links down and all of a
sudden he finds the gear he found. Remember back in
(03:56):
the Santa Anita Derby, we talked about this leading up
to the run for the Roses. That when he got
straightened out in the sant Anita Derby and went after Baeza,
I remember saying it was like Baeza's jockey was like
Roy Scheider and Jaws.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
You're going to need a bigger boat.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
And that's how it was for Oscar, who ran a
really spectacular race but could not hold off the late
charge of journalism. Just an amazing, amazing performance. And now,
for all of the talk that we've all been engaged
in about spacing of these Triple Crown races, what you
do have Sometimes things just kind of work out for
(04:34):
the support of horse racing. Now you have a Derby
winner and Sovereignty and a Preakness winn in journalism, both
very impressive in each of their performances. Now most likely
going to have the rubber match in the Belmont Stakes,
so there'll be a lot of interest for that. The
connections of journalism say they want to run, and they're
(04:56):
shipping the horse up to Saratoga to prepare to run,
but they are not committed to it till they see
how journalism comes out of the race and make sure
it didn't take too much out of him still eating well,
doing well.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Et cetera.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So looks like we'll have a showdown between the winners
of the first two legs of the triple Crown, which
will be exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
For the sport of racing.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
One Baseball note is the SEC Tournament gets set to
start tomorrow. D one Baseball is out with their projections
for the NCUBA Tournament and they have Kentucky as a
three seed the Coastal Carolina Regional. Kentucky's not on the
last four in lists, so if the D one Baseball
folks are correct, then hopefully the Wildcats are safely in
(05:39):
the field no matter what happens this week in Hoover, Alabama.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
But how were the Wildcats.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I'd want to win at least one to bolster the
case for the NCAA Tournament. They will take on Oklahoma
tomorrow and we'll talk more about that on the show tomorrow.
That particular matchup in the SEC Tournament for coach Ben
Gion in company. Thanks to the story as we talk
about each day and you can find those on the
bud Light Leach Report page at Tom leachk why dot com.
Heading to a break back with Jack Pilgrim here on
(06:07):
the Leech Report. Our opening segment's always presented by Giuseppes
of Lexington and go to open table. Make your reservations
for the next special occasion. Mother's Day's past us, but
Father's Days just around the corner. Take dad out for
a great meal at Giuseppes. Get to open table and
make your reservations for a really special night out at
Giuseppes here in Lexington, just off Nicholasville Road out past.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Man Or Boulevard. We'll be right back. Why do I
get to the Leach Report?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
By the way, our.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Triple Crown coverage again, the Springfro presented by Clayburne Farm
doing the usual, unusually well for more than a century.
I'm to talk some Kentucky man's basketball now as we
welcome Jack Pilgrim to the program via the Club Blueennile
dot com hotline. You read them in on three Sports
and KSR, and hear them on the Sunday Morning Sports
(06:57):
talk show and the Anthony White and Larry Vaught and
Vol Robinson on Sundays here in Lexington. And Jack, that
was one tall guy up on that roof down in
Laurel County yesterday.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Well it was funny, you know.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
He I was at the recruiting event down in Memphis
at the eyb L and he was there, you know,
throughout the weekend bouncing from court to court to court, and.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
I you know checked in with him on his way
out here.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
You coming back tomorrow morning for you know, talking about
Sunday morning, he said, now I'm out, So I just
assumed he was going to a different you know, recruiting
event or something. And then I'd wake up on Sunday
morning and he is on top of a roof in London.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
So yeah, it's very cool.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
Just to you know, a on one end, you know,
have all five assistant coaches were all you know, all
all coaches involved being able to go out on the live.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Period and get a lot of different eyes.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
I had Michael McLean on the road Friday, and then
had Mark Fox out out on the road on Sunday
along with the other three assistants as well. And then
obviously when when you have a disaster of that magnitude,
and you know, Mark Pope always wanted to you know,
be the first person to speak about it and do
about it. So it was just really really cool to
just watch him, you know, step up in a time
(08:11):
when when that community absolutely needs you know, all hands
on deck.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
He had his news conference last week, talked about a
lot of subjects. One of which was he talking about
what year two would be like for the staff and
now they'd be one hundred percent better for the year
that they had together. And that's something probably didn't get
talked about enough because we talked so much about, you know, building,
how the team came together from so many different places.
But it was that way with a staff too, because
(08:37):
Cody Figure came with him from BYU and Nick Robinson,
but a lot of the guys had not worked with
him or together before this had all started. He did
work briefly for coach Fox down at Georgia and known
him for a while, but still it was, Yeah, that
group seemed to be worked very efficiently during the season.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
Yeah, absolutely, And you know there's so much talk about
you know, NBA teams calling Jason hard and you know,
all the known come outit. You know, Alvin Brooks the
Third's names thrown. You know some of these mid major
kind of coaching searches. Is he's kind of working his
way up towards you know, he's at the tip top
of the assistant coaching ranks. Is that now his time
(09:19):
to you know, start hearing from these you know, lower
end head coaches.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
He starts working up the you know, head coaching ladder.
So you just.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Wondered, how likely is it that all of these guys
who are you know, seemingly rising stars all the way
down you know, up top down to you know, Michael MacLean,
who was kind of a relative unknown you know, this
time of year ago and now kind of seems to be,
you know, one of the brightest up and coming names
in the sports.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
So to to be able to get all of those
guys back for a year two.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
As much as Pope talks about you know, retention and
continuity with the roster and wanting to kind of develop
from within, yeah, there's just as much importance put put
on you know, retention with the coaching staff to get
just those familiar voices within that program and developing you know,
those those pieces from within as well.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
That news conference provided a lot of great content with
all of the subjects that Coach Pope touched on. What
were some of the more interesting things that you heard?
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Yeah, thank goodness.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
When wants to get into this time of the year,
you're you're just desperate for content, and he is, you know, he.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Is an endless supply of that. Uh.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Yeah, Honestly, I'll be honest, Jasper Johnson just you know,
you hear from you know, he's a top twenty five
kid and you know, an All American you know, different
different events and as talented as they come. But you
just wonder what his day one impact would be at Kentucky.
And to hear Mark Poten not just single him out
(10:44):
as like, yeah, you know he's a guy that we're
going to lean on to, you know, score and and
you know and produce at a high level from day one,
called him a superstar, said no, we need him to
step in and be that guy that that you know,
we recruited him to be. He he was a premium
product on the recruiting trail. You know, it's a you know,
not too much transparency with nil nowadays, but you know
(11:05):
they did not get a hometown discount for that kid.
They you know, paid a premium to bring him in
and be a premium you know, encore product, and you.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Know that's what they're expecting him to be.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
So I just liked the you know, the confidence from
Mark Pope to say, no, we want him to step
in and be that guy. And obviously you know the
Otaka Oway what he has to gain by coming back. Yes,
he's eliteed these things, but there's obviously so much.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
More room to grow and upside and you know that
all eyes on.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
May twenty eighth, and in his decision is as he
you know, weighs a return to Kentucky or keeping his
name in the draft, So you know how much more
room for growth he has. And in the excitement surrounding
what a year or two of Otaga away is what
would be you know, the surefire preseason SEC player of
the Year. I think that there's those are probably the
(11:55):
two biggest takeaways that I had listening to Pope.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Yeah, I think the player your talk, assuming Otega is
back is certainly a realistic one would think, because Kentucky
should be one of the top teams in the league
and he would be their top player.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
And and you know, it's one of the you know,
most valuable things about being at those recruiting events when
you can just kind of mingle and talk with all
these coaches and they bring up so you know Otega's back, right,
You know, they ask you just as much as you
asked them. And a lot of those guys were at
the combine and watched, you know, all of Otaga and said,
you know, he looked incredibly, he looked apart.
Speaker 6 (12:34):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
You know, they are all assuming that he's coming back
and have heard similar things about him coming back. And
I think they're all very scared as competitors and and
you know future opponents of Otega.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Going well, yeah, that's a you know that.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
We we wish that he had a little bit better
of a you know, combine performance so he could get.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
The heck out of the sec.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
But yeah, I think there's a lot of a lot
of confidence, you know, surrounding Otega and he is a
return to Kentucky and what that would mean because I
do think he has all American outside next season.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
We'll continue with Jack Pilgrim. We'll come right back. It
is the Leech Report. We're presented each day by Bobcat
Enterprises for locations around the state. So google Bobcat Enterprises
when you have a need to buy or rent a
piece of heavy equipment for a job site, talking excavators
and forklifts and tractors, et cetera. They will have what
you need Bobcat Enterprises.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Come in here from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return
refresh and refuel at Clark's. And we are chatting with
Jack Pilgrim from On three Sports and ks are about
Kentucky men's basketball. You talked about covering this event down
in Memphis, you interact with a lot of coaches. What
are you hearing from coaches in terms of what's coming
(13:49):
on the NIL space and the house settlement situation and
will let fix it? And do they need Congress to
do something, et cetera.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Oh man, that was that was fun.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
Just so many differing opinions, you know, just ranging from uh,
the system was starting to regulate itself, you know, the
market was regulating itself with with NIL, you know, people overshooting,
undershooting and then finding kind of that happy medium. We
were starting to get that way. And now with these
you know, guardrails, supposedly you know coming is just going
(14:24):
to lead to just more cheating people teams going back
to cheating. That was kind of a common theme that
kept popping up of you know, I think it's going
to be more hectic and chaotic and more you know,
worse than things were. And you know, the commit the
NCAA committee that is going to kind of oversee a
lot of that. There was some you know, you know
talk you know, only ten human beings overseeing the you know,
(14:48):
the punishment side of things and enforcing that. You know,
how when they're going to be dozens upon dozens upon
dozens of violations, how can they you know, tackle those
things for all of college sports, let alone and just
college basketball or whatever.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
So yeah, definitely not super pleased with it.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
You know, I think that was a very common thing,
just wanting some type of clarity and thinking, you know,
it's just another day in the life of our jobs
of not knowing what you know, what our rules are
and how to you know, enforce them. But you know,
I think a lot of them are just like, well,
that's you know, we get paid a lot of money
to you know, do these things, so you know, there
there are worst things in the world, but you know,
(15:26):
it's not the most convenient thing. But I think that
a lot of them, you know, the fifteen scholarships and
you know kind of the grandfathered inns, they're all on
the same page with a lot of those things, and
you know, just needing some teas.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Cross and ies dottage with that.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
But you know they're expecting that to come come very
very very soon, but just you know, not totally pleased
with what the final product.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Is going to be.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
And then the Tennessee legislature has passed a law that
we basically since the schools of that state don't have
to adhere to n CLA rules that they don't want to.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
So that would suggest that they're gonna have to have
you know, some kind of federal uh intervention, because every
other state will do the same thing if that holds up, right.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
And yeah, that was kind of the just the common
theme with them was, you know, it's going to take
just one misstep beyond you know, the they'll think that
they have everything situated and to be perfect, and then
the first misstep will lead to the next next stages
of you know, fixing that.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
So they're just like, yeah, whatever.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Well, you know, you tell me the rules and we'll
we'll try to abide by them, and you know, let
the cheaters cheat it. There are a lot of a
lot of coaches that were you know, blaming other cheaters
and nobody, nobody taking ownership of themselves cheating.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
So I thought that that was pretty fascinating. Market pointing Mark.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Pope said that there's one more exhibition opponent to come,
and uh seemed to suggest it could be somebody that
an opponent that would excite fans. Any idea what he's
talking about.
Speaker 5 (17:03):
Yeah, I think, you know, there's some some talk of
you know, I'm not expecting it to be a you know,
national championship contender, you know, potential preseason number one like
like Purdue. There's some talk about you know, uh, you know,
very talented mid majors, uh, you know, D one opponents
rather than you know, it's just those exhibition games have
just been uh, you know, local D three's and n
(17:26):
i as and just you know, trying to just have
some type of game on the schedule, but never really
able to get much out of that. And and you know,
I think Mark Pope just saw it as an opportunity
is hey, let's uh, you know, let's let's load up
as many talented teams as we can on the schedule
and really test ourselves early. You know, a lot of
(17:47):
debate about the Louisville game set up, but I do
think kind of having one high profile matchup every single
week throughout the non conference schedule, I think is going
to be a really really fun way of doing things.
And I think you know leads, you know even as
early as the exhibition flight with the first to.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Be named one Jack. Thank you much, thank you man.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
It's Jackpilgrim at Jackpilgrim KSR on X Halfway Home on
the Leach Report, present it by bobcat Enterprises right back
with Erin Gersha Guess.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
On the Lead Report.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Come do you have you the Club Blue nil dot
com hotline. Club Blues an official nil fundraising partner for
UK Athletics and they have a new initiative, Club Blue Kids.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
You can get your.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Youngster signed up by going to Club bluenil dot com
and clicking on the Kids tab. They'll get membership card
and a lanyard and a T shirt, plus access to
exclusive events, meeting greets, athlete experiences. It's big things are
coming soon, So get your young cat fans signed up
now for Club Blue Kids, where future Wildcats rep the
(18:50):
Blue with pride. That is at Club Blue ni l
dot com. We welcome to the program, Arion Ershan from
katspause dot com. We'll start with a little baseball Aaron,
as Kentucky gets set to take on Oklahoma and the
SEC Tournament tomorrow down in Hoover, Alabama, Kentucky's the thirteen seed,
Oklahoma the twelve. Do you think Kentucky has work to
(19:14):
do to get a bit or are they safely in
so it's hard to.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
Tell because it's a new SEC. Right typically, before Oklahoma
and Texas got added, fourteen regular season wins was kind
of the number you needed to feel like you were
pretty much a lock.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
If you remember in.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
Twenty eighteen that Kentucky team that was obviously coming off
the Super Regional had a lot of the same players.
It ended up sending thirteen players to the MLB Draft
after the season. They had a strong year. They kind
of had a rough end SEC play. I think they
got swept by Vandy the last series of the year
(19:52):
and they ended up at thirteen SEC wins. I believe
they went one and done in Hoover and then they
missed the tournament. So it's hard to say. Because of
this new SEC, Kentucky has the benefit of having not
played Missouri, who obviously I think, only ended up with
three SEC wins, all against Texas, A and M. Though
(20:12):
Kentucky did one of their series wins is A and
M SO and they have a couple of midweek losses
that leaves their resume a little bit to be desired.
So I think if you know you want to be safe,
you definitely want to at least get one down in Hoover,
you know, coming up on Tuesday against Oklahoma. I think
they should be in regardless, probably a three seed in
(20:34):
someone's region. But it's it's I don't think they're set
in stone since they weren't able to grab one of
those wins against Vandy this weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
They've got swept in Vandy, could have swept the Commodorees.
They should have won the first two games, certainly they
were heading the bottom of the ninth and got walked
off both times.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
Yeah, what's crazy about this season for Kentucky is they've
had the lead in twenty seven to thirty SEC games.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
That's amazing, and they've.
Speaker 6 (21:02):
And they've only won. Yeah, and they've only won thirteen
and most of them. I got to give credit to
Dan Hagar of three on that one, but I saw
he had a stat. I don't have it in front
of me, But basically, they're run differential in the first
five innings in SEC games compared to the bottom four
innings or the last four innings in SEC play. It's
(21:24):
just crazy how seemingly it just changes. They just have
had trouble closing games really all year long in conference play,
and you know, you hope that doesn't come back to
bite them on Selection Monday next week.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
The guys up the road in Cincinnati have had that
issue as well, so they sure have.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
I mean it's something in the.
Speaker 6 (21:46):
That for years.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Yeah, maybe it's filtering down, but it was, you know, frustrating,
I'm sure for the coaches and players, you know, to
Thursday night, Friday night, the way that they especially Friday,
they'd come from behind to go ahead in the top
of the ninth and then to give it back. So yeah,
(22:07):
now they they were away. Yeah, one strike away, two outs,
two strikes. They play with Oklahoma and if they win,
they would get Georgia Tournament this year. For fans of
maybe casual baseball fans, it's just like the Sweet sixteen
of high school. Well I say it's like that. It's
there's buys and things involved, but it's you know, no
(22:28):
double elimination anymore in this tournament.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
Yeah, which I kind of you know a lot of
people are kind of sud about it. I kind of
like it. I think it was a little it was
a little confusing the whole you know, win one and
then you move into a double sixuation. I don't know,
I thought it was a little bit for a cat,
like you said, for the casual fan who is kind
of a postseason guy. It's kind of just it's hard
to it was a little bit hard to follow. So
(22:53):
and I understand like you could probably go without having
all of these sixteen teams in it. You know, Missouri definitely.
I don't think it doesn't necessarily deserve to be in it,
but uh, you know, I kind of like the one
in dune system.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yeah, it's it's a team.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
As you said, with that that stat that they have
had the lead in so many of their SEC games,
and uh so they've you know, it's it's rare that
anybody's beaten them convincingly. And until three weeks ago, they
hadn't been swept at all, and then they got swept, swept,
Oklahoma got swept again. But the thing, I guess the
point we p to is if they are if they
(23:31):
make it into the n CUAA Tournament, they would have
a chance to you know, come out of a regional
because you would think wherever they are because they seemingly
play everybody tough.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
They have no question about it. And and the offense
has been pretty solid, you know, the last month of
the season. You know, yes, they have their their breakdowns
too in the late innings. It seems like they kind
of struggle against back ends with some of these bullpens.
But you know, it's been a pretty consistent offense for
a good month. The starting pitching has been really good
pretty much all year. It's just kind of been that
(24:03):
back end of the bullpen that that's faltered. But when
you have strong starting pitching, as we've seen at the
major league level, I mean, it gives you a chance
to win every single game. And that's why Kentucky's had
the lead in twenty seven to thirty SEC games. I mean,
Nick McKay and Ben Cleaver is a one two punch.
It was Tony V. Teller who said it, that's as
good as any in the SEC. So we'll see what
(24:25):
happens then, hopefully, you know, into next weekend. But I
think you I think you're probably in regardless, but winning
that game on Tuesday, I think would make you feel
a lot better.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Sorry with Ericar Shankatz pause Dot com. We'll take a
quick break and come right back to continue the conversation
here on the Leech Report, presented by Bob Kat Enterprises
seventeen away from the top.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Of the hour.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Here on the Leech Report, the LPGA Legends are coming
to Woodford County. It's the Woodford Legends Invitational Golf Tournament
on Saturday and Sunday, June seventh, eight. That's at the
Woodford Club and for sales, and it will feature some
of the best female golfers in the history of the game,
talking about Laura Davies, Julie Yankster, Pat Bradley and more.
Woodford Clubfoundation dot org is where you go to get tickets.
(25:13):
They're just fifteen dollars a day. Proceeds benefit KVC Kentucky.
Joining us are with us here on the Clublueenile dot
com hotline is Aaron Gershaan from the Cat's Pause at
A Gershan ninety nine.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
G E R.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
S h O in Talking UK sports, And we'll go
to a little football report last week from John Hale,
the Harold Leader about ticket sales season ticket sales being
off significantly. Probably not a big surprise, is it, Aaron.
Speaker 6 (25:41):
Yeah, Look, there's a there's some proven it to do
for that program right now. You know, they're coming off
a four and eight campaign. They're worse than Mark Steus's
first year here. That comes after the two seven and
six campaigns, when especially twenty twenty two was disappointing when
they were pick to finish second in the SEC East
(26:03):
down in Atlanta at media days and then pick to
finish third in the conference overall.
Speaker 4 (26:08):
So it's been a.
Speaker 6 (26:10):
Disappointing last couple of years. And then you kind of
look at this this roster and I think it has
a chance to be improved with what they did in
the portal, but it's so hard to tell because there's
so much new. I mean, forty plus players almost half
the roster, if not more. There's not really a guy
that you could gravitate tour as like, oh, this is
(26:30):
our best player, this is this is our superstar right here.
Like you know, last year you had Deon Walker and
Max Harrison going into the year. Obviously the year before
that you had the two receivers, Ray Davis. I think
obviously it was better than expected, but felt good about him.
You know, even Devin Leary was the number one portal
quarterback Deon Walker at a great freshman year, like there
(26:52):
were guys fans gravitated toured. Obviously twenty twenty two you had,
you know a lot of hype going to that year
where there's just not that guy on this rock. That's
not saying there can't someone can't emerge and be that guy,
or there aren't guys that are really likable and guys
who have played really hard here the last couple of years,
or aren't some players in the transferport that can come
in and be really really good. It's just they haven't
(27:15):
done enough to earn that status yet, so it's hard
to market, and I understand why the season tickets are
a little lower. And then you know the most important
aspect of them all, they haven't won an SEC game
at home since I believe first SEC game in twenty
twenty three against Florida, Like they got to start stacking
(27:35):
some wins at home in the SEC.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
The problem is their.
Speaker 6 (27:39):
Home games in the SEC this year are Ole, Miss Texas,
Tennessee and the fourth one. Slipping me, who's the fourth one?
It's not easy, that's all I know.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Yes, who is it?
Speaker 3 (27:51):
It's Jon to Blank as well, But they've got the
first game, first conference game in the second game on
the schedule is Ole Miss and it's a team that
they have played close and just about every game in
recent years. Got the upset last year, but the other
games have been close when they've played in recent years.
So September is very important for Kentucky football. Gives them
(28:16):
a chance to to get people back on their bandwagon
with You've got that game, and you've got the game
at South Carolina in that first month, plus a couple
of non cons that you would be expected to win.
So you know, three and one, four and oh coming
out of September, then you know you've you've built some momentum.
(28:36):
Less than that, then you got work to do.
Speaker 6 (28:39):
Yeah, absolutely that. I think if you can steal one
of those two sec games, I mean, man, I mean,
obviously it'd be great to go four and oh, but
I think even if you go three and one and
it happens to be South like South Carolina, the game
that Kentucky has was dominated for almost eight years, even
you know, before they got the thing rolling. They beat
him in twenty fourteen, and they beat him in twenty fifteen,
(29:01):
and you know, at the end of Spurrier's time there,
so that the game used to just walk up as
a win. And obviously there's kind of been some bad
blood there. He had the comments that Mark Seuss made
at STC Media Days that Shane Beemer took personally, and
ever since then, you know, South Carolina's really got up
for Kentucky. And you know, obviously they had two really
good seasons in there as well, and they won three
(29:22):
in a row. And if you can go down there
and win one and all three of those games, really
Kentucky had a really good chance. Even last year, the
score wasn't necessarily reflective of how South Carolina played. I
think Kentucky just killed themselves in that game. But if
you can go steal that game, I think that would
do a lot of good will with the fans because
that game has become kind of a rivalry, kind of
(29:43):
personal when you know some of the other rivalries Kentucky
has outside of Louisville has kind of just been well,
we I mean, kind of got to do our part,
like Tennessee. So if you can go steal that one,
I think that would get a lot of good will
with the fans, because you know, that's what it's one
of those that they've they've come to really really care about.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Florida is the other game that we were struggling to
come up with, and they'll get them in November up
in Herey, Kentucky in November for the first time I
think since nineteen ninety so that used to be a
regular fixture on the schedule in the month of November
and always maybe a little little edge for Kentucky when
the Gators had to come up from the Deep South
(30:24):
in November shift gears to a little basketball. It was
eight days ago that or six days ago. Mark Pope
did his news conference kind of after the rosters mostly
set or maybe totally set for the upcoming season. What
were your takeaways from what you heard? Anything that was
most noteworthy to you?
Speaker 6 (30:44):
Yeah, nothing crazy, nothing that wasn't you know, to to
earth shattering there. Definitely the quote I think the fan
base grated stated Sports as you know, he made the
joke about the nil they roll. I guess he could
say with a two hundred million, But then he is
kind of like, you just want to be the best
(31:05):
at everything, and he rattled off all these things, you know,
from uniforms to obviously winning National Championships highest nil and
I think that really fired fans up. And I think
you know, one thing about Mark Pope, I think that
gets kind of I wouldn't say overlooked. I would say
overlooked honestly, at least from maybe Kentucky fans see it.
But I think opposing fan bases maybe don't necessarily like
(31:30):
he is as obviously he has a big personality. He's
super kind, he's super you know, religious when he's very humble.
He's just a guy that doesn't make it about himself.
But and he's funny like, he's quirky, like, he's sometimes
even as corny like he kind of comes off as
this I wouldn't say character, but he's just a big personality.
(31:53):
And sometimes people don't attribute that with kind of having
that killer in thinking that just absolute COMPETI being just
a total competitor. But you saw his he made the
joke about the two hundred million, and then you go
look at his body language and go look at his
facial expressions like he is dead serious and locked in,
(32:16):
and you saw it after every loss, how personally he
takes it, how frustrated he would get. You know, obviously
Kentucky fans obviously know that with the old miss game
where he's a big cut on his hand, like this
guy wants it badly, and he was the same way.
You know, it's probably even more so now that he's
at his own honor where he won a national championship.
But you know, when I went back to kind of
(32:37):
see what we were getting into from the media standpoint
and looking at some of his press conference after a
loss of the BYU, it was the same thing, like,
this guy is a real, real competitor, and he means
what he says when he wants to be the best
at everything, and anything short of it bothers him. So
that was kind of what stood out to me, just reinforcing.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
That, Yeah, you're in the news conferences with him after
games and I've got him one on one for our network,
and I remember after the Alabama game in the SEC tournament,
he was just struggling to really even I mean, he
he didn't really want to talk at all about that.
He was just kind of gut punch whatever you want
to call it. He takes it hard.
Speaker 6 (33:17):
Yeah, and what's that game? Like the fan base wasn't
even too upset knowing the situation and knowing, Hey, like,
bigger things are ahead of us. We got the win
last night. Let's get the heck out of here and
get ready for the big one. But yeah, that's that
just speaks of it. Man. He really, really really cares
and he does not say losing well, and you know,
you see it on the court, like he I don't
(33:39):
think I've ever seen him sit down during a game,
Like he just is locked in from opening tips, even
if they're up forty at the end of the game,
I feel like he's standing and he's just so so competitive.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
He he challenged his old coach on the attire for
the Kentucky Saint John's game, and uh, he is a
little like his old coach in terms of that competitive fire.
Really that doesn't come out quite in the same way maybe,
but it's every bit as strong.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (34:13):
No, he's not gonna curse at you, and he's not gonna,
you know, blow.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Up on a guy and fire everybody.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Everybody. He's not gonna do anything irrational. But man, that
that guy takes it personally, and he's a he's a
heck of a competitor. I mean, and you know, even
I know he wasn't the greatest NBA player. But you know,
the Pacers and Knicks are about to play in the
Eastern Conference finals. He was on those spacer teams and
god knows how, Like just I can't imagine how competitive
(34:40):
those games were to be a part of and be
even just on the bench, uh, to to watch and
see those games, so you know, and obviously what he
did here as a player, like, this guy's just been
around it and it's densely showing off as a coach.
And I think, you know, I think most of Kentucky,
most of the Big Blue Nation understands it, but I
I thinks some still see the quirkiness and the corniness
(35:02):
and like, oh, he doesn't yell at the rest like
Cal did. But man, this guy, this guy shows it
in different ways.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Aaron, thanks so much.
Speaker 6 (35:11):
You got it.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
You can read them at catspause dot com at a
Gershwan ninety nine on ex aeron Gershawn joining us here
on the Leach Report, presented by bobcat Enterprise's final segment
coming up cornbreadamp dot com. That's where you go to
get a variety of products that can help address issues
you might be having, like achy joints, their bombs and
(35:33):
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with Kentucky Grown him highest quality relief. You can buy
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Cornbreadhemp dot com. This is the Good Life is Dan
In Wildcat History two thousand and nine, John Wall committed
to play for the Wildcats.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
That worked out pretty well.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
One of the all time greats, and then Basil Hayden,
the first All American for Kentucky men's basketball, was born
on this day. Our Wildcat History notes each day are
presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports cards and Memorabilia. They're at
Romney Road here in Lexington and at roadshow cards dot Com.
UK women's basketball has added an international player from Sweden
(36:42):
six foot five Elsa Vadforz if I'm pronouncing that correctly,
just nineteen years old. So it doesn't have any particularly
impressive numbers in terms of points or rebounds, but depth.
A player that can provide depth and would imagine the
upside would be pretty strong for coach Brooks to bring
(37:03):
her into his program. UK softball season came to an end.
Clemson eliminated Kentucky yesterday in the regional five to one.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Shuffle.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
Being Coffee is the official coffee of ropp Arena, the
KFCM Center, and you can make it the official coffee
of your home by picking some up today at Central
Kentucky Myers stores or ordering it through Amazon, or you
can go to the company's website and order product there
and you can read a little bit about this commitment
to quality that they have. It's a Kentucky based company,
(37:34):
group of Kentuckians formed it more than a decade ago.
Fantastic Coffee all about being the best at shuffle bean coffee,
So put some hustle in your shuffle. The NBA finals
in each conference are now set and there's a Kentucky
Wildcat at least one on every team OKC and Minnesota
in the Western Conference, New York Knicks and the Indiana
(37:56):
Pacers in the Eastern Conference, and ish Randall in particular
has been having his some of his best playing some
of his best basketball in the playoffs for Minnesota, of course,
she's had an MVP caliber here.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
For OKC.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Karl Anthony Town's doing really well with the Nicks is
kind of the number two to Jalen Brunson there. So
good luck to all the Kentucky guys. Well see you
tomorrow on the Leads Report.
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