July 10, 2025 • 38 mins
Tom talks with Tayshaun Prince, Jack Givens, and Justin Rowland.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good day, everybody. Welcome into the Leech Report, presented always
by Bobcat Enterprises. Coming up today, we're gonna lead off
with Tayshawn Prince. Tayshawn's out on the West Coast. I
think it's assuming it's NBA Summer League. Got the West
sidus say West Coast. He may not be all the
(00:21):
way to California, but anyway, he's in the Pacific time zone,
so it would have been a little early to get
him on live. So taped him yesterday about his election
to the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. So we'll talk
about that honor and reminisce a little bit with Tayshawn
coming up here in a bit. He's still with the
Memphis Grizzlies front office. And then Jack Gibbons the Goose,
(00:44):
will join us. And then Justin Rowland from Cats Illustrated
and now on three Sports. So that's our lineup for
this Thursday. Wildcat News of the Day presented by Giuseppes
of Lexington. Multiple reports in the media about a bill
that is making some progress in Congress. It would give
(01:04):
colleges some of those enhanced structure or guard enhanced guardrails.
I guess is the word. It gets used a lot
in the world of nil and agents and player compensation, etc.
It's called the score Act and passage is not assured,
but I think it was. Ross Dellinger's article at Yahoo
Sports made the point that this one's maybe gotten farther
(01:29):
down the road than others have, so we'll see if
it can get across the finish line. But this is
something that colleges have been lobbying for. It would lock
in provisions and protections from that house settlement that we
heard so much about leading into this month of July.
(01:51):
So we'll continue to monitor that one. The PGA Tours
in Kentucky this week for the ISCO Championships in Louisville,
the first time at Herstborn Country Club, and there are
several golfers with Kentucky connections, former Wildcats. What I'm most
interested in is Jbie Holmes, multiple winner on the PGA Tour,
(02:14):
and he talked at his news conference this week about
how he stepped away to be able to spend more
time with a couple of young children in his life,
and so this is his first tournament of the year,
got a sponsors exemption. I remember watching him play I
had to go up to the Ryder Cup at Valhalla
the year it was there, and for I think the
(02:36):
Saturday matches and watched a lot of JB then and
just so much fun to watch him hammer the ball.
And then on Sunday I was watching the TV coverage
and he had the one drive where he actually lifted
his feet off the ground as he connected with the
ball to drive it I think up a hill at Valhalla.
(02:58):
So he's one of the many interesting names. Are several
past champions in there too, of this tournament when it
was held at Champions Trace here in central Kentucky, so
hopefully they'll get some good weather for that event this week.
And then Devin Booker has signed a two year extension
(03:18):
one hundred and forty five million dollars for the former Wildcats,
so Devon Cash is in on a fantastic deal. Congrats
to him. Links to the stories that we talk about
each day you can find those on the bud Light
Leech Report page at Tom leechky dot com. Our opening
segments presented by just Sepies of Lexington. Fantastic menu that
(03:40):
you can see at Joseeppes Lexington dot com. Lasagna is
always one of my favorites there, but you know, check
out some of the other dishes as well. They have
a lot of different homemade pasta dishes, the steaks are handcut,
some fantastic seafood dishes and the seafoods shipped in regularly
fresh and a lot of locally sourced ingredients for the sides.
To full wine and bourbon selections. Fantastic espresso martini there
(04:04):
and live jazz music to a coupany of your meal
when you sit in the lounge area at just Sepis.
We'll be right back here on the Leech Report Radio
Network presented by Bobcat Enterprises. Tayshawn Prince on deck. There's
the edition of the Leechs Report coming to you from
the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Make sure you signed up
for their Loyalty rewards program so you can get discounts
when you fill up or get discounts on items in
(04:27):
their stores and then return, refresh and refuel at Clark's. Yesterday,
we told you about Tayshawn Prince Randall Cobb being chosen
for the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, and I was
able to catch up to Tayshawn yesterday, Tayshawn, tell us
what it meant to you when you got the phone
call that you were going into the Kentucky Sports Hall
of Fame.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Uh, you know, obviously truly a blessing. Got the call
middle of last week, you know, just you know, won
a lifetime opportunity and one of those things where you know,
for not just four years of Kentucky basketball, but just
a lifetime of of you know, history of Bear and
(05:08):
just playing in the NBA and just being able to
have a fulfilled career. You know, just having that call
was just one of those things where it was just
like icing on the cake.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
What are your best memories of your time as a Wildcat?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I would say obviously the North Carolina game. You know,
it was one of the games that, you know, just
one of those where you just envision as a player
when you step on the floor, having that type of
moment and just envisioning the crowd and how they took
(05:43):
heed to what was going on. Was like just a
moment that you know, just you'll never forget. Obviously, just
building great relationship with my teammates, the City Wildcat Nation,
you know, Also the game against Tulsa. I think that's
(06:03):
just one of the special memories in itself. Obviously scoring
forty one and uh, you know I want to heard
you know, Jack goose Given did the same thing. It's
just one of those things where he's just like it's
hard to take certain I mean, just taking things into perspective,
like wow, just unbelievable accomplishment. But but there's there's so
(06:24):
many great memories there, and you know those are just
a few.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I can think that Carolina game. I mean that season
was the first season Mike Pratt and I were doing
the Kentucky basketball games, and so you know, as a broadcaster,
you live from for moments like that when there's the
team you're followings as a memorable moment. H that's one
of the loudest times I've ever heard it in Rupperena.
(06:49):
Can you remember what it felt like as you were
you know, hitting one, two, three, four and then five shots.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
You know, obviously going into the game, you just you
just never know how it's going to go. But once
you hit one, especially when you hit your first shot
of the game, you know you always want to try
to just you know, build up from there. But you know,
once you get hit back to back threes or back
to back shots. You want to just kind of get
the ball the next time down the court to you know,
(07:17):
get in a good position to you know, make something
successful happening to for yourself or your teammates. But at
this point, you know, our offense was really kind of
stagnant a little bit. Once I got to the third possession,
and then when I when I hit that one, at
that point, I knew I kind of had a great
rhythm going. So once once you see your teammates pulling
(07:39):
for you and obviously trying to find you in the offense,
and then the crowd is getting after it. I think
once I hit the fourth one, that's kind of when
everything just starts to start to really really you know,
get real hype in the building. And once they turned
it over for the fifth one, at that point I
just knew, you know, once I got across half, I
(08:01):
was just gonna let us fly on. Whatever happened was
going to happen. There was no question in my mind
I was going to let it go. So the unfortunate
thing was after the fifth one, you know, they turned
the ball over again and there was a time out.
We kind of just like killed the momentum, So who
knows what happened after that.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Oh, I always thought that as soon as I think
it was Fitch that stole the ball and threw it
to you, Uh, there was no doubt the shot was
going up. But I mean, you shot that thing. Uh.
We were actually doing taping a a show that's gonna
air later about with some classic moments being replayed, and
(08:39):
that was when we talked about and I think I
called it as being a thirty footer and Dick Gabriel
said he actually stepped it off later after the fact
that it was more like thirty seven feet. I mean,
why did you pull the trigger from there? Just hot me?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
And the big the biggest thing was just like not
letting the defense get set. Obviously Caple was kind of
far back. Obviously he didn't expect me to shoot it
from there as well. But you know, when a player
gets in a rhythm like that and you gotta be
ready for any and everything, and he wasn't ready for that,
you know, to step up at that time. But once again,
(09:16):
there was just no doubt in my mind that I
was going to let it go. Once I dribbled.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Across half, coming all the way across the country to
play at a program like Kentucky. Was that all overwhelming
it first for you or did it feel comfortable from
the start.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
It wasn't overwhelming at all. That just goes back to
AU basketball as a kid, you know, traveling all across
the country, you know, starting from you know, eight, nineteen
eleven years old, playing AU basketball, and you know, we
would always travel to Vegas. We always traveled, you know,
obviously the Nationals. I remember Nationals is Minneapolis when I
(09:54):
was twelve and under Salt Lake City, Like I was intrigue.
Were just traveling all across the country to play basketball.
And when I did that in AAU, I knew at
that point, yes, at that age, that I wasn't going
to school in California. Once I got to the UK
as a freshman, Mike, I was a homesick, you know,
(10:15):
early on, of course, and it was more so just
because how long, you know, the year is and stuff
like that. It wasn't being homestick just because you know,
I need to go back home or anything like that.
But uh, but once I got comfortable at that point, man,
it was it was pretty much clockwork and it was
just a matter of just you know, staying focused on
(10:37):
my goals, and and and just you know, once again,
when you have the love for the game of basketball,
and you'll do anything that it takes.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
So let me ask you comparison question. When the ball
crosses mid court, were you more sure the fifth three
was going in against North Carolina or more sure you
were going to block Reggie Miller's shot at the off
the boards.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I was more sure I was blocking Reggie shot. I
thought that I thought the fifth III was a tad
bit too long, but I was. I was the reason
why I was so certain and sure I was going
to get Reggie shot because I knew Reggie didn't like
to dunk the basketball, you know, just the basketball awareness
of knowing what Reggie likes to do. I tell people
(11:17):
all the time that the situation was set up perfect
for myself. It was just a matter of getting there
before it would be go attended. But just knowing that
Reggie was a huge dunk guy set it up for
me perfectly.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
That's That's an interesting piece of info that says that
you know preparation, knowing know about all your opponents. You're
working in the front office now with Memphis, how are
you enjoying that part of basketball.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
It's been great. You know, definitely see things from a
different side. You know, when you're a former, you know,
when you were a player, and now I see on
the other side where you know, gems and VP's assistant
general managements and whatnot go through when they're building teams.
(12:04):
Now I get to understand, like when I was a player,
why the Pistons did certain things that they did and
stuff like that. So, you know, evaluating players and all
that stuff is very intriguing. You know, I would say
at the end of the day, like I think us
as NBA players are just basketball players in general. You
would love to be on the floor and help guys,
(12:25):
you know, whether it's player development, coaching and stuff like that.
But you know, being in the front office gives you
a different perspective, and you know, it is very tough
evaluating talent because there's a lot that goes into it.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Tay Shane, I appreciate the time. Congratulations on a very
well deserved honor. Look forward to seeing you in September
back here in Kentucky for the special night there at
Freedom Hall.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
All Right, thanks a lot, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
That is one cool customer there, Tayshawn Prince has always
been a great ambassador for Kentucky basketball. And this is
the lead Report. One of our great partners is Shufflebean Coffee.
They've been with us for over a decade now. Group
of Kentuckians came together to form the company and they
are committed to being the best goes from seed to cups.
What they like to say. You can sample it for
(13:13):
yourself by picking up some shuffle Bean coffee today at
a central Kentucky Myers store. You can get it through Amazon,
or you can go to the company's website Shufflebean dot us.
Read about the company, order some product while you're there.
Put some hustle in your shuffle with Kentucky based Shufflebean Coffee.
It is the Leech Report, and we'll be right back
twenty five past the top of the hour here on
(13:35):
this Thursday edition of The Leech Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
I want to remind you about a special event coming
up tonight here in Lexington at the Liquor Barn on
Beaumont's Center. J D. Shelburn has an nil deal. Kentucky's
rising country music star and great Wildcat fan is on
(13:55):
the label of a new bottle of bourbon from Inclusion Brand,
and he'll be signing it and also doing a little
performance tonight out at the Liquor Barn at Beaumont Center
here in Lexington. Starts at five o'clock. They'll go for
a couple of hours, so try to stop by if
you can join now by the Goose, Jack Gibbings and
so you're gonna hear in back to back segments here
(14:19):
two of the three guys that have scored forty or
more in an NCAA tournament game for the University of Kentucky.
So Tayshawn Prince and now the Goose and nice honor
for Tay and Randall Cobb and the others going into
the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame this week.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Yeah, it was. It was great here here in Tayshawn
on with you. Man. I appreciate you bringing him on.
And you know, I was just I was just thinking
as I was sitting there listening Tom and somehow he
managed to work my name and work a mention of
(14:58):
my name into into your interview with him, and I
and I just started thinking, now, you know, you talk
about what Kentucky basketball to us players and I'm sure
the fans also, but to uh, to us, it's it's
(15:19):
it really is a family, and any of those guys
who have come after me, I mean, I immediately think
of him as my little brother, you know, and you know,
to have your little brother figure out a way to
work the big brother name into it was just a
rare honor. And what a what a what a guy
(15:41):
he is, and you talk about success all the way
across the board, he is there, and you know he
and I both were number twenty one, So that's a
that's another special connection. Now we we didn't there There
was only one guy I think who wore twenty one
(16:02):
better than we did, and that was Cameron Mills. Okay,
Cameron is up at the top of the list, right
on that number twenty one. I've told Cameron, actually Cameron's
told me that before, so I just thought i'd give
Cameron to mention. But for you, Yeah, Tayshaan, what a
good honor for him. I'm so glad to see him
getting into the hall.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
And I've been trying to get Randall on here during
on vacation, so when I get back, I'll try to
catch up to Randall two will reminisce with him. But
in that interview with Taishan, you know the fact that
he recognized, you know, and appreciated where he you know,
stood historically with that game end against Tulsa. And then
you also heard him talk about, you know, how he
(16:42):
was able to block Reggie Miller's shot, how confident he
was he was going to block it because he had
scouted Reggie Miller's game so well. It just shows you,
you know, how much he was a great talent, but
he also understood and you know, had the high basketball
IQ that made him as successful as he's been.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Yeah, they they asked a day NBA and college, but
especially the NBA boy that you have to know everything
there is to know about the guys you're going to
be matched up against. Because you don't, they're gonna make
you look bad real quick. But that is one of
the one of the great plays and basketball on any level.
(17:23):
The effort it took for him to chase chase Reggie
down and then the timing that it took to get
up and block that shot. Reggie was really good at
drawing the foul, but Tayshawn came in and an angle
in his arms was so long he was able to
get that shot and that preserved a win for them.
That was simply amazing.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Coming up on the bottom of the hour here on
the Leech's Report, we'll be right back with the Goose.
Jack Gibbings from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio Return Refresh
and refuel at Clark's second half of the Leads Report,
presented each day by Bob kN Enter Prime. When you
need to buy or rent a piece of heavy equipment
for job, just google Bobcat Enterprises. There are four locations
(18:07):
in Kentucky. You'll find the one that's closest to you.
They'll all treat you right at Bobcat Enterprises. Chatting with
a Goose, Jag Evans from UK Radio Network here on
this Thursday edition of our show, and they did another
media session with a couple of the new players for
Mark Pope. This week it was Cam Williams, Jade and
Quainton's and Goose. Williams talked about the confidence he has
(18:30):
as a shooter. He said, I think I'm going to
win every single shooting contest we have. It'll be me
and then Trent Noah as my best competition. So he
doesn't lack for confidence. But what I liked is what
he said when somebody asked him about you know what
he's you know, watching one who he's watching when he's
out on the court. And this is also a little
insight into a basketball IQ from Tayshawn Prince that we
(18:53):
were talking about that you'll hear a little bit of
here from Cam Williams.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
I want to be like pretty much as good as
on ones player as he is, so I try to
play him as much as I can to, Like I
was say, hub grade pretty much every basketball aspect that
I can. He really knows how to type a defense
and in different gaps and a defense. So I kind
of just try to take up any type of like
you know, placed out he may have that's not my game,
and try to apply it to name.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
I missed the beginning of the bite when I edited it.
He was talking about Otaga oh way uh, and that's
who he's following, and that's the guy you know, he's
that's a position that you know he'll he'll have being
one of the guys on the wing. So you know,
you think, what it's understandable you'd pay attention to that,
but not everybody does. I mean you kind of get
into your own game and uh, but he's watching what
(19:38):
Otega does and trying to learn what he can. And
he also talked about, you know how quickly you have
to learn and process things in this system or you
get behind quickly.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Yeah, and you know, I've been over to watch a
couple of practices Tom and Uh, this young man can
can can flat shoot the basketball. That is going to
be something this team needs. So there's I think there
will always be minutes for him. I don't well, I'd
(20:09):
hate to sit down and have to say right now
what starting lineup might be in. He may not be
in it, but believe me, he's going to get as
many minutes as he as he wants because he's one
of those guys who can spread the floor. A little
better at putting the ball on the floor than I
thought he was, but he can create a little bit
(20:30):
as well at that small forward spot, the three position.
He might have to play two, but with as many
guys we have in that, I would see him at
three and maybe four. He'll need to get a little
stronger because coming into the SEC is well, it's mo
dia bante every day, every team you play and maybe
(20:54):
times two in some cases. So he's got room to improve.
But as long as he shoots the ball like that,
he's going to get his minutes.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Yeah. I think maybe some fans were surprised when an
NBA box draft came out and Jaden Quainton's was listed, understandably,
but then Cam was listed as a second round projection
and fairly high in the second round. So clearly he's
on the NBA radar and it's because of that shooting ability.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Yeah, yeah, no doubt about it. I like his approach.
I like the fact that he's like a sponge. It
seems to me he's like a sponge and he wants
to soak up as much as possible. And you know,
I think it speaks to Mark system that guys kind
of watched Kentucky last year because we were a fun
(21:43):
team to watch, and they understand that Mark's system is
NBA style, and you know, if you can play in
Mark system, I think you can play anywhere. But it
is kind of intricate where you have to learn certain
(22:04):
things and you have to make cuts and do certain things.
And it's the same way in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Talk with the Goose jag Evans here on the Leech
Report without giving away any secrets there from what they're doing.
Who else has kind of caught your eye in terms
just individual play, maybe does something better or differently than
you thought.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Well, let me let me first say, you know, this
time last year, Tom, when I walked into the gym
and I started watching these guys during the summer, I
was just amazed. I sat down and I said, man,
we have some men on the floor right now, not
these seventeen eighteen year old skinny guys who have to
get stronger and learn the game. I said, we have
(22:46):
some men. And then I walked in to watch these
guys last week for the first time, and I said,
we have men, but we have athletes too, man, I
mean we are. I mean, it's amazing and we and
I haven't even seen I mean, Jasper wasn't in last week,
and Quainton's wasn't in last week, and uh, of course
(23:08):
Yellowvick is not even here yet, or he wasn't last week.
So I just thought, man, once these guys get right
and everybody's in this thing, it's gonna be amazing to
watch them. But to answer your question, and again, okay,
it's early. Uh. I'm gonna temper this as much as
(23:32):
I can because a lot of things will happen between
now and when you get fully healthy and have everybody
in but the one guy if I if I name
one guy, okay, and again I'm gonna say, uh, Denzel,
I mean that that guy.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Man.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
He has been to me. He has been the three
or so workouts I've watched. Just I didn't know he
was as good as he's shown thus far. And again,
I don't know what's going to happen with starting and
all of that crap. I don't know, And really it
doesn't matter because everybody's going to get a lot of minutes.
(24:15):
But he shoots the ball so much better than I
thought he did. I'm talking about deep threes, I'm talking
about letting it go easy. He has been very impressive
to me. Colin Chandler has been really, really impressive to me.
And it just seems to me that he has taken
(24:38):
another step after being out for two years and finally
getting back and playing. And I think his last three
weeks or so of last season where he was called
on to do more, gave him a lot of confidence.
And he's playing like a twenty four year old, not
just the second year guy. He's playing with. It's some confidence,
(25:01):
so it was good. It was good watching watching him
as well. But a lot of guys are in shape,
a lot of guys are playing well, and it's going
to lead to some great competition when we get fully healthy.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Coaches use that phrase iron sharpens iron, and I was
thinking of that when you were talking about Aberdeen, because
that was a heck of a backcourt that Florida had
last year that he had to do battle with every
day in practice.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Yeah, yeah, So that's that's the experienced factor coming in.
I think the fact that you have to work against
people who are as good are better than you every day.
I think that's one reason why Trent Noah and Travis
Perry and even Colin Chandler had better years than everybody
(25:51):
kind of expected, was because they're working every day against
guys who are better than them, and you have to
get you have to get better. Even by default going
against guys every day who are better than you, you
you kind of have to get better. And again, the
thing that was amazing when we played that I really
(26:13):
appreciated was that practices for some of my teams were
harder than any of the games we were going to
play in. And when you practice against people who are
as good as what Kentucky has this year, this team
(26:34):
could be really really good, and especially good defensively. With
all the athletes we have, they'll rebound better, I think.
So it's going to be, Tom, It's going to be
potentially be a fun, fun year for all of us
who love Kentucky basketball.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Since the same thing in your voice I did this
type of year ago. Once you got to actually see
some practice, you wish the season would start tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Well, yeah, because you know, I mean, I want him
to get a little healthier. A couple of other guys
were kind of banged up when I watched him, went
over to watch last week. So I want to see
him get healthy. I want I want to see him
have another month together to really kind of figure each
other out. But yeah, I'm going to be excited when
(27:22):
that first tip office is on for the season. It's
going to be good.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Goose appreciated as always. Thank you, all right, Tom, Thanks,
that's Jack Evans. And don't forget about they call me Goose.
The book he did with Doug Brunk and if you're
looking for a gift for someone in your family. It's
a big Wildcat fan. Pick up a copy of that
and I'm sure you get a chance to get Goose
to sign it at an upcoming event or at a
game this season. I don't forget j D. Shelburne signing
(27:51):
the new Inclusion brand bottles with his face on the
label tonight at Liquor Barn at Beaumont Center here at
Lexington five to seven. He'll also do a little performance
while he's there after he's done signing the bottles. So
go ahead, me and Jany get your bottle signed tonight
at Liquorbarn on Bobot Center here in Lexington. We'll be
right back. We'll back on this Thursday edition of the
(28:12):
Leads Report and joined now by Justin Rowland from Cats
Illustrated and on three Sports to talk about the Cats.
Will start with football and Justin we haven't talked since
the commitment came through from the quarterback up at Cincinnati
Mohler Matt Ponitowski and how concerned should fans be about
(28:33):
the MLB angle to this or do you think he
is looking to be a college quarterback and baseball player.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
He really wants to play college football, like it seems
to be, it's really important to him. From what I've heard,
he's got it in his head that like it's it
would really have to be a lot of money and
a really good drafts slot for him for him not
to and that he said that in interviews before, and
I've talked to people kind of behind the scenes and
(29:03):
they underscored that that is that's how he seems to feel.
But he is a very legitimate baseball prospect, and I
don't know exactly where he projects, but it is something
that you're going to have to pay attention to.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Is my understanding with your site, do you guys get
to interact with fans and the message boards, et cetera.
And so what what the reaction has been like with
the recruiting success culminating with landing Ponitowski for Kentucky football
and if it's elevating optimism for the upcoming season. There
(29:42):
didn't seem to be a lot of that, But as
we get closer, I think human nature is such that
if you follow a team, you want to try to
find a way to be as optimistic as you can,
and that usually kicks in a little bit.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
Yeah, I could say, if I could say, maybe similar
to to the Caliperi year with reed and rob and
and Reeves, if that makes sense. There's already a lot
of frustration with how things had went the last two years,
but how could you how could you deny that they
had some pretty good fortune in a month of June,
(30:16):
and then you get a quarterback that's coveted and had
some really big names on his list, the receivers coach
that's come in with Damian Washington. People are really impressed
with what he's done. I think they survived tomorrow tomorrow
leaving for for Louisville. I think just the fact that
he picked Louisville kind of helped Stoops with the with
(30:38):
the public perception there that was going to kind of
sour people and get.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Him a little bit upset.
Speaker 5 (30:45):
So I think people are very much in believe it
when I see it mode for this season.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
The schedule is what it is, but I do sense that.
Speaker 5 (30:54):
More people are on board with the if we get
right this season, get it moving back in the right direction,
and maybe steps has a chance for kind of a
springboard year the following year. I think more people are
are coming to terms with that as a possible scenario.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
I think clearly the expectations barred too clear for what
would be for most I think considered a satisfying season,
you know, good enough or or even better than that.
That that bar is not set as high as it
has been. So that is helpful if you're you know,
(31:31):
the coach in that situation. They've got you know that
that first month is going to be so important. You know,
it's a couple of mac opponents, which can always be dangerous,
but if you're going to be truly better, you should
take care of business in those games. And then it's
you know, you get Ole Miss at home in South
Carolina on the road, and those are two programs that
(31:53):
regarded as being ahead of yours right now. And so
if you could take down your one or best case
scenario both of those, you make a strong statement.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
I mean, let's just be real. I mean, Kentucky needs
to win one of those two games. Kentucky needs to
beat either Ole Miss or South Carolina. And that's not
an easy, easy ask, you know. But the good news
is neither one of those teams is even in the
in the same tier as the top four teams on
last year's schedule. They're not one of those teams. It's
(32:22):
like I'd be surprised if they're not in the playoffs.
South Carolina may have a path to it. Ole Miss
may have a path to it, but I and even
even the even though can you.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Hear me just cut out there for a second, we'll
go ahead.
Speaker 5 (32:39):
Even even even the game the games later in the season,
you really need to win one of those games Old
Miss or South Carolina, maybe even for Bolo, And that's
a that's a tough realization about the schedule. But I
don't think you need to drop both of those early
in the season.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Yeah. No, I've always thought that if you can come
out of September three and one, you're in a great spot,
right right.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
So, but I get the sense that there are some
fans that no matter what happened there's they're going to
be frustrated and a voice that But I think the
quarterback on the heels of that run of good news
in June does have some people willing to modify what
they were saying before, which was maybe what was the
bar before that was going to be an acceptable season
(33:22):
eight wins? Well that that really might be more true
for Ole Miss or South Carolina this year than for Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Just realistically, everybody talks quarterback in O line when they
talk about the two position groups that need to perform
significantly better for Kentucky to be significantly better this season.
If the who would be the next one who would be?
Will be number three on your list.
Speaker 5 (33:47):
That's a really good question. Quarterback offensive line. I think
the secondary has a chance to be good because they've
got they've got some good players, young players on the
back end. You think about Nichols, you think about they'd
probably go four deep at safety. How how good is
the level of play going to be? We'll see. But
(34:09):
I just think the secondary is one place where they
have a lot of parts and they've got some experience,
and it needs to be a good group because there
are some questions elsewhere like inside linebacker and losing some
defensive lineman. The secondary needs to be a strength for
Stoops and I think I think it should be. But
how much of one we'll see?
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Any message to your subscribers that you need to get
to them, you've got a plant four here since you've
going through this merger with on three.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
Yeah, thanks, anybody still having issues coming over from the
old catsill sit on rivals, emails support at on three
dot com. But it's great to see so many people
at on three and we're really excited to be working
alongside KSR. We're still kind of competing in one in
one respect, but it's great to be on the same
team and have access to a lot of the people
that work over there as well.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Justin Rowland Katz Illustrated dot com. Thank you, sir, Thanks
a lot, Tom. It is the Lates Report and Radio Network.
We're presented by Bobcat Enterprises and we will be right
back last couple of days for the version of Prime
Days at Cornbreadhimp dot com. They're giving you a great
deal thirty percent off their full lineup of hemp products
(35:19):
exclusively on their website if you put in the code
prime at checkout talking about the infused seltzers. Their newest
product line, the Superior Fruit Flavors, with five milligrams of
hemp infusion for that light, enjoyable buzz without the hangover.
Only thirty calories per can, one hundred percent federally legal,
and all of their products made with Kentucky grown hemp
(35:41):
as well, they infused gummies, the sleep Gummies, Oil's topicals
thirty percent off on anything you order today and tomorrow
during the Prime Days at Cornbread Hemp dot Com. Just
put in the code prime at checkout. SEC Media Days
will get going next week in Atlanta. Marks Stoops and
if you didn't catch his birthday yesterday, so it's a
(36:01):
belated happy birthday to coach Stoops. He'll be talking on
Thursday down in Atlanta and they're going to take Alex Afari,
Jordan love It and Josh Catis along. So three Wildcats
will be doing the trip down to SEC Media Days
next week. This day Wildcat History nineteen ninety nine, they
staged an exhibition game between the ninety eight championship team
(36:21):
and the ninety six championship team and it ended in
a one thirty to one thirty tie. Nazi Muhammed how
about this stat line? Fifty one points and eighteen boards.
Mark Pope participated but had some back issues going on,
only got to play about six minutes in that game.
Happy birthday. C. J. Frederick Nice, young man from up
(36:42):
at Covington Catholic and has got to know him in
his one season here at Kentucky and then he moved
on to Cincinnati after coming in from Iowa, but had
a big role in that important win down at Tennessee
back in the twenty three season. Is one game I
remember in particular for CJ. This Day in Wildcat History
presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports Cards and Memorabilia. They're on
(37:02):
Romney Rode in Lexington and at roadshowcards dot com. How
Mummy is back on the sidelines. He will be the
offensive coordinator at Division three Centinary for the upcoming season.
So always glad to see how back on the sidelines.
That is his natural habitat calling plays and being the
(37:22):
mad genius with his air raid offense. So we'll follow
Centinary little well, I say, a little closer. We weren't
following them at all until now, so we'll follow them
some this coming season. And again JD. Shelburne doing a
bottle signing for his new bourbon with Inclusion Brands coming
up tonight at Liquor Barn on Beaumont Center here in Lexington,
(37:42):
five o'clock. He'll be there for a couple of hours
signing bottles, doing a performance, and then same thing on
Sunday afternoon down in Etown at their Liquor Barn location
starting at two o'clock on Sunday. So go see JD,
get your bottle sign, listen to his performance, talk about
the Cats, and get your bourbon from Inclusion Brands. J
D Shelburne on the cover We'll see you tomorrow here
on the Leach Report Radio Network, presented by Bobcat Enterprises
Good day, everybody. Welcome into the Leech Report, presented always
by Bobcat Enterprises. Coming up today, we're gonna lead off
with Tayshawn Prince. Tayshawn's out on the West Coast. I
think it's assuming it's NBA Summer League. Got the West
sidus say West Coast. He may not be all the
(00:21):
way to California, but anyway, he's in the Pacific time zone,
so it would have been a little early to get
him on live. So taped him yesterday about his election
to the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. So we'll talk
about that honor and reminisce a little bit with Tayshawn
coming up here in a bit. He's still with the
Memphis Grizzlies front office. And then Jack Gibbons the Goose,
(00:44):
will join us. And then Justin Rowland from Cats Illustrated
and now on three Sports. So that's our lineup for
this Thursday. Wildcat News of the Day presented by Giuseppes
of Lexington. Multiple reports in the media about a bill
that is making some progress in Congress. It would give
(01:04):
colleges some of those enhanced structure or guard enhanced guardrails.
I guess is the word. It gets used a lot
in the world of nil and agents and player compensation, etc.
It's called the score Act and passage is not assured,
but I think it was. Ross Dellinger's article at Yahoo
Sports made the point that this one's maybe gotten farther
(01:29):
down the road than others have, so we'll see if
it can get across the finish line. But this is
something that colleges have been lobbying for. It would lock
in provisions and protections from that house settlement that we
heard so much about leading into this month of July.
(01:51):
So we'll continue to monitor that one. The PGA Tours
in Kentucky this week for the ISCO Championships in Louisville,
the first time at Herstborn Country Club, and there are
several golfers with Kentucky connections, former Wildcats. What I'm most
interested in is Jbie Holmes, multiple winner on the PGA Tour,
(02:14):
and he talked at his news conference this week about
how he stepped away to be able to spend more
time with a couple of young children in his life,
and so this is his first tournament of the year,
got a sponsors exemption. I remember watching him play I
had to go up to the Ryder Cup at Valhalla
the year it was there, and for I think the
(02:36):
Saturday matches and watched a lot of JB then and
just so much fun to watch him hammer the ball.
And then on Sunday I was watching the TV coverage
and he had the one drive where he actually lifted
his feet off the ground as he connected with the
ball to drive it I think up a hill at Valhalla.
(02:58):
So he's one of the many interesting names. Are several
past champions in there too, of this tournament when it
was held at Champions Trace here in central Kentucky, so
hopefully they'll get some good weather for that event this week.
And then Devin Booker has signed a two year extension
(03:18):
one hundred and forty five million dollars for the former Wildcats,
so Devon Cash is in on a fantastic deal. Congrats
to him. Links to the stories that we talk about
each day you can find those on the bud Light
Leech Report page at Tom leechky dot com. Our opening
segments presented by just Sepies of Lexington. Fantastic menu that
(03:40):
you can see at Joseeppes Lexington dot com. Lasagna is
always one of my favorites there, but you know, check
out some of the other dishes as well. They have
a lot of different homemade pasta dishes, the steaks are handcut,
some fantastic seafood dishes and the seafoods shipped in regularly
fresh and a lot of locally sourced ingredients for the sides.
To full wine and bourbon selections. Fantastic espresso martini there
(04:04):
and live jazz music to a coupany of your meal
when you sit in the lounge area at just Sepis.
We'll be right back here on the Leech Report Radio
Network presented by Bobcat Enterprises. Tayshawn Prince on deck. There's
the edition of the Leechs Report coming to you from
the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Make sure you signed up
for their Loyalty rewards program so you can get discounts
when you fill up or get discounts on items in
(04:27):
their stores and then return, refresh and refuel at Clark's. Yesterday,
we told you about Tayshawn Prince Randall Cobb being chosen
for the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, and I was
able to catch up to Tayshawn yesterday, Tayshawn, tell us
what it meant to you when you got the phone
call that you were going into the Kentucky Sports Hall
of Fame.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Uh, you know, obviously truly a blessing. Got the call
middle of last week, you know, just you know, won
a lifetime opportunity and one of those things where you know,
for not just four years of Kentucky basketball, but just
a lifetime of of you know, history of Bear and
(05:08):
just playing in the NBA and just being able to
have a fulfilled career. You know, just having that call
was just one of those things where it was just
like icing on the cake.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
What are your best memories of your time as a Wildcat?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I would say obviously the North Carolina game. You know,
it was one of the games that, you know, just
one of those where you just envision as a player
when you step on the floor, having that type of
moment and just envisioning the crowd and how they took
(05:43):
heed to what was going on. Was like just a
moment that you know, just you'll never forget. Obviously, just
building great relationship with my teammates, the City Wildcat Nation,
you know, Also the game against Tulsa. I think that's
(06:03):
just one of the special memories in itself. Obviously scoring
forty one and uh, you know I want to heard
you know, Jack goose Given did the same thing. It's
just one of those things where he's just like it's
hard to take certain I mean, just taking things into perspective,
like wow, just unbelievable accomplishment. But but there's there's so
(06:24):
many great memories there, and you know those are just
a few.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I can think that Carolina game. I mean that season
was the first season Mike Pratt and I were doing
the Kentucky basketball games, and so you know, as a broadcaster,
you live from for moments like that when there's the
team you're followings as a memorable moment. H that's one
of the loudest times I've ever heard it in Rupperena.
(06:49):
Can you remember what it felt like as you were
you know, hitting one, two, three, four and then five shots.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
You know, obviously going into the game, you just you
just never know how it's going to go. But once
you hit one, especially when you hit your first shot
of the game, you know you always want to try
to just you know, build up from there. But you know,
once you get hit back to back threes or back
to back shots. You want to just kind of get
the ball the next time down the court to you know,
(07:17):
get in a good position to you know, make something
successful happening to for yourself or your teammates. But at
this point, you know, our offense was really kind of
stagnant a little bit. Once I got to the third possession,
and then when I when I hit that one, at
that point, I knew I kind of had a great
rhythm going. So once once you see your teammates pulling
(07:39):
for you and obviously trying to find you in the offense,
and then the crowd is getting after it. I think
once I hit the fourth one, that's kind of when
everything just starts to start to really really you know,
get real hype in the building. And once they turned
it over for the fifth one, at that point I
just knew, you know, once I got across half, I
(08:01):
was just gonna let us fly on. Whatever happened was
going to happen. There was no question in my mind
I was going to let it go. So the unfortunate
thing was after the fifth one, you know, they turned
the ball over again and there was a time out.
We kind of just like killed the momentum, So who
knows what happened after that.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Oh, I always thought that as soon as I think
it was Fitch that stole the ball and threw it
to you, Uh, there was no doubt the shot was
going up. But I mean, you shot that thing. Uh.
We were actually doing taping a a show that's gonna
air later about with some classic moments being replayed, and
(08:39):
that was when we talked about and I think I
called it as being a thirty footer and Dick Gabriel
said he actually stepped it off later after the fact
that it was more like thirty seven feet. I mean,
why did you pull the trigger from there? Just hot me?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
And the big the biggest thing was just like not
letting the defense get set. Obviously Caple was kind of
far back. Obviously he didn't expect me to shoot it
from there as well. But you know, when a player
gets in a rhythm like that and you gotta be
ready for any and everything, and he wasn't ready for that,
you know, to step up at that time. But once again,
(09:16):
there was just no doubt in my mind that I
was going to let it go. Once I dribbled.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Across half, coming all the way across the country to
play at a program like Kentucky. Was that all overwhelming
it first for you or did it feel comfortable from
the start.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
It wasn't overwhelming at all. That just goes back to
AU basketball as a kid, you know, traveling all across
the country, you know, starting from you know, eight, nineteen
eleven years old, playing AU basketball, and you know, we
would always travel to Vegas. We always traveled, you know,
obviously the Nationals. I remember Nationals is Minneapolis when I
(09:54):
was twelve and under Salt Lake City, Like I was intrigue.
Were just traveling all across the country to play basketball.
And when I did that in AAU, I knew at
that point, yes, at that age, that I wasn't going
to school in California. Once I got to the UK
as a freshman, Mike, I was a homesick, you know,
(10:15):
early on, of course, and it was more so just
because how long, you know, the year is and stuff
like that. It wasn't being homestick just because you know,
I need to go back home or anything like that.
But uh, but once I got comfortable at that point, man,
it was it was pretty much clockwork and it was
just a matter of just you know, staying focused on
(10:37):
my goals, and and and just you know, once again,
when you have the love for the game of basketball,
and you'll do anything that it takes.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
So let me ask you comparison question. When the ball
crosses mid court, were you more sure the fifth three
was going in against North Carolina or more sure you
were going to block Reggie Miller's shot at the off
the boards.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I was more sure I was blocking Reggie shot. I
thought that I thought the fifth III was a tad
bit too long, but I was. I was the reason
why I was so certain and sure I was going
to get Reggie shot because I knew Reggie didn't like
to dunk the basketball, you know, just the basketball awareness
of knowing what Reggie likes to do. I tell people
(11:17):
all the time that the situation was set up perfect
for myself. It was just a matter of getting there
before it would be go attended. But just knowing that
Reggie was a huge dunk guy set it up for
me perfectly.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
That's That's an interesting piece of info that says that
you know preparation, knowing know about all your opponents. You're
working in the front office now with Memphis, how are
you enjoying that part of basketball.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
It's been great. You know, definitely see things from a
different side. You know, when you're a former, you know,
when you were a player, and now I see on
the other side where you know, gems and VP's assistant
general managements and whatnot go through when they're building teams.
(12:04):
Now I get to understand, like when I was a player,
why the Pistons did certain things that they did and
stuff like that. So, you know, evaluating players and all
that stuff is very intriguing. You know, I would say
at the end of the day, like I think us
as NBA players are just basketball players in general. You
would love to be on the floor and help guys,
(12:25):
you know, whether it's player development, coaching and stuff like that.
But you know, being in the front office gives you
a different perspective, and you know, it is very tough
evaluating talent because there's a lot that goes into it.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Tay Shane, I appreciate the time. Congratulations on a very
well deserved honor. Look forward to seeing you in September
back here in Kentucky for the special night there at
Freedom Hall.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
All Right, thanks a lot, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
That is one cool customer there, Tayshawn Prince has always
been a great ambassador for Kentucky basketball. And this is
the lead Report. One of our great partners is Shufflebean Coffee.
They've been with us for over a decade now. Group
of Kentuckians came together to form the company and they
are committed to being the best goes from seed to cups.
What they like to say. You can sample it for
(13:13):
yourself by picking up some shuffle Bean coffee today at
a central Kentucky Myers store. You can get it through Amazon,
or you can go to the company's website Shufflebean dot us.
Read about the company, order some product while you're there.
Put some hustle in your shuffle with Kentucky based Shufflebean Coffee.
It is the Leech Report, and we'll be right back
twenty five past the top of the hour here on
(13:35):
this Thursday edition of The Leech Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
I want to remind you about a special event coming
up tonight here in Lexington at the Liquor Barn on
Beaumont's Center. J D. Shelburn has an nil deal. Kentucky's
rising country music star and great Wildcat fan is on
(13:55):
the label of a new bottle of bourbon from Inclusion Brand,
and he'll be signing it and also doing a little
performance tonight out at the Liquor Barn at Beaumont Center
here in Lexington. Starts at five o'clock. They'll go for
a couple of hours, so try to stop by if
you can join now by the Goose, Jack Gibbings and
so you're gonna hear in back to back segments here
(14:19):
two of the three guys that have scored forty or
more in an NCAA tournament game for the University of Kentucky.
So Tayshawn Prince and now the Goose and nice honor
for Tay and Randall Cobb and the others going into
the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame this week.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Yeah, it was. It was great here here in Tayshawn
on with you. Man. I appreciate you bringing him on.
And you know, I was just I was just thinking
as I was sitting there listening Tom and somehow he
managed to work my name and work a mention of
(14:58):
my name into into your interview with him, and I
and I just started thinking, now, you know, you talk
about what Kentucky basketball to us players and I'm sure
the fans also, but to uh, to us, it's it's
(15:19):
it really is a family, and any of those guys
who have come after me, I mean, I immediately think
of him as my little brother, you know, and you know,
to have your little brother figure out a way to
work the big brother name into it was just a
rare honor. And what a what a what a guy
(15:41):
he is, and you talk about success all the way
across the board, he is there, and you know he
and I both were number twenty one, So that's a
that's another special connection. Now we we didn't there There
was only one guy I think who wore twenty one
(16:02):
better than we did, and that was Cameron Mills. Okay,
Cameron is up at the top of the list, right
on that number twenty one. I've told Cameron, actually Cameron's
told me that before, so I just thought i'd give
Cameron to mention. But for you, Yeah, Tayshaan, what a
good honor for him. I'm so glad to see him
getting into the hall.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
And I've been trying to get Randall on here during
on vacation, so when I get back, I'll try to
catch up to Randall two will reminisce with him. But
in that interview with Taishan, you know the fact that
he recognized, you know, and appreciated where he you know,
stood historically with that game end against Tulsa. And then
you also heard him talk about, you know, how he
(16:42):
was able to block Reggie Miller's shot, how confident he
was he was going to block it because he had
scouted Reggie Miller's game so well. It just shows you,
you know, how much he was a great talent, but
he also understood and you know, had the high basketball
IQ that made him as successful as he's been.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Yeah, they they asked a day NBA and college, but
especially the NBA boy that you have to know everything
there is to know about the guys you're going to
be matched up against. Because you don't, they're gonna make
you look bad real quick. But that is one of
the one of the great plays and basketball on any level.
(17:23):
The effort it took for him to chase chase Reggie
down and then the timing that it took to get
up and block that shot. Reggie was really good at
drawing the foul, but Tayshawn came in and an angle
in his arms was so long he was able to
get that shot and that preserved a win for them.
That was simply amazing.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Coming up on the bottom of the hour here on
the Leech's Report, we'll be right back with the Goose.
Jack Gibbings from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio Return Refresh
and refuel at Clark's second half of the Leads Report,
presented each day by Bob kN Enter Prime. When you
need to buy or rent a piece of heavy equipment
for job, just google Bobcat Enterprises. There are four locations
(18:07):
in Kentucky. You'll find the one that's closest to you.
They'll all treat you right at Bobcat Enterprises. Chatting with
a Goose, Jag Evans from UK Radio Network here on
this Thursday edition of our show, and they did another
media session with a couple of the new players for
Mark Pope. This week it was Cam Williams, Jade and
Quainton's and Goose. Williams talked about the confidence he has
(18:30):
as a shooter. He said, I think I'm going to
win every single shooting contest we have. It'll be me
and then Trent Noah as my best competition. So he
doesn't lack for confidence. But what I liked is what
he said when somebody asked him about you know what
he's you know, watching one who he's watching when he's
out on the court. And this is also a little
insight into a basketball IQ from Tayshawn Prince that we
(18:53):
were talking about that you'll hear a little bit of
here from Cam Williams.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
I want to be like pretty much as good as
on ones player as he is, so I try to
play him as much as I can to, Like I
was say, hub grade pretty much every basketball aspect that
I can. He really knows how to type a defense
and in different gaps and a defense. So I kind
of just try to take up any type of like
you know, placed out he may have that's not my game,
and try to apply it to name.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
I missed the beginning of the bite when I edited it.
He was talking about Otaga oh way uh, and that's
who he's following, and that's the guy you know, he's
that's a position that you know he'll he'll have being
one of the guys on the wing. So you know,
you think, what it's understandable you'd pay attention to that,
but not everybody does. I mean you kind of get
into your own game and uh, but he's watching what
(19:38):
Otega does and trying to learn what he can. And
he also talked about, you know how quickly you have
to learn and process things in this system or you
get behind quickly.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Yeah, and you know, I've been over to watch a
couple of practices Tom and Uh, this young man can
can can flat shoot the basketball. That is going to
be something this team needs. So there's I think there
will always be minutes for him. I don't well, I'd
(20:09):
hate to sit down and have to say right now
what starting lineup might be in. He may not be
in it, but believe me, he's going to get as
many minutes as he as he wants because he's one
of those guys who can spread the floor. A little
better at putting the ball on the floor than I
thought he was, but he can create a little bit
(20:30):
as well at that small forward spot, the three position.
He might have to play two, but with as many
guys we have in that, I would see him at
three and maybe four. He'll need to get a little
stronger because coming into the SEC is well, it's mo
dia bante every day, every team you play and maybe
(20:54):
times two in some cases. So he's got room to improve.
But as long as he shoots the ball like that,
he's going to get his minutes.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Yeah. I think maybe some fans were surprised when an
NBA box draft came out and Jaden Quainton's was listed, understandably,
but then Cam was listed as a second round projection
and fairly high in the second round. So clearly he's
on the NBA radar and it's because of that shooting ability.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Yeah, yeah, no doubt about it. I like his approach.
I like the fact that he's like a sponge. It
seems to me he's like a sponge and he wants
to soak up as much as possible. And you know,
I think it speaks to Mark system that guys kind
of watched Kentucky last year because we were a fun
(21:43):
team to watch, and they understand that Mark's system is
NBA style, and you know, if you can play in
Mark system, I think you can play anywhere. But it
is kind of intricate where you have to learn certain
(22:04):
things and you have to make cuts and do certain things.
And it's the same way in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Talk with the Goose jag Evans here on the Leech
Report without giving away any secrets there from what they're doing.
Who else has kind of caught your eye in terms
just individual play, maybe does something better or differently than
you thought.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Well, let me let me first say, you know, this
time last year, Tom, when I walked into the gym
and I started watching these guys during the summer, I
was just amazed. I sat down and I said, man,
we have some men on the floor right now, not
these seventeen eighteen year old skinny guys who have to
get stronger and learn the game. I said, we have
(22:46):
some men. And then I walked in to watch these
guys last week for the first time, and I said,
we have men, but we have athletes too, man, I
mean we are. I mean, it's amazing and we and
I haven't even seen I mean, Jasper wasn't in last week,
and Quainton's wasn't in last week, and uh, of course
(23:08):
Yellowvick is not even here yet, or he wasn't last week.
So I just thought, man, once these guys get right
and everybody's in this thing, it's gonna be amazing to
watch them. But to answer your question, and again, okay,
it's early. Uh. I'm gonna temper this as much as
(23:32):
I can because a lot of things will happen between
now and when you get fully healthy and have everybody
in but the one guy if I if I name
one guy, okay, and again I'm gonna say, uh, Denzel,
I mean that that guy.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Man.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
He has been to me. He has been the three
or so workouts I've watched. Just I didn't know he
was as good as he's shown thus far. And again,
I don't know what's going to happen with starting and
all of that crap. I don't know, And really it
doesn't matter because everybody's going to get a lot of minutes.
(24:15):
But he shoots the ball so much better than I
thought he did. I'm talking about deep threes, I'm talking
about letting it go easy. He has been very impressive
to me. Colin Chandler has been really, really impressive to me.
And it just seems to me that he has taken
(24:38):
another step after being out for two years and finally
getting back and playing. And I think his last three
weeks or so of last season where he was called
on to do more, gave him a lot of confidence.
And he's playing like a twenty four year old, not
just the second year guy. He's playing with. It's some confidence,
(25:01):
so it was good. It was good watching watching him
as well. But a lot of guys are in shape,
a lot of guys are playing well, and it's going
to lead to some great competition when we get fully healthy.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Coaches use that phrase iron sharpens iron, and I was
thinking of that when you were talking about Aberdeen, because
that was a heck of a backcourt that Florida had
last year that he had to do battle with every
day in practice.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Yeah, yeah, So that's that's the experienced factor coming in.
I think the fact that you have to work against
people who are as good are better than you every day.
I think that's one reason why Trent Noah and Travis
Perry and even Colin Chandler had better years than everybody
(25:51):
kind of expected, was because they're working every day against
guys who are better than them, and you have to
get you have to get better. Even by default going
against guys every day who are better than you, you
you kind of have to get better. And again, the
thing that was amazing when we played that I really
(26:13):
appreciated was that practices for some of my teams were
harder than any of the games we were going to
play in. And when you practice against people who are
as good as what Kentucky has this year, this team
(26:34):
could be really really good, and especially good defensively. With
all the athletes we have, they'll rebound better, I think.
So it's going to be, Tom, It's going to be
potentially be a fun, fun year for all of us
who love Kentucky basketball.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Since the same thing in your voice I did this
type of year ago. Once you got to actually see
some practice, you wish the season would start tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Well, yeah, because you know, I mean, I want him
to get a little healthier. A couple of other guys
were kind of banged up when I watched him, went
over to watch last week. So I want to see
him get healthy. I want I want to see him
have another month together to really kind of figure each
other out. But yeah, I'm going to be excited when
(27:22):
that first tip office is on for the season. It's
going to be good.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Goose appreciated as always. Thank you, all right, Tom, Thanks,
that's Jack Evans. And don't forget about they call me Goose.
The book he did with Doug Brunk and if you're
looking for a gift for someone in your family. It's
a big Wildcat fan. Pick up a copy of that
and I'm sure you get a chance to get Goose
to sign it at an upcoming event or at a
game this season. I don't forget j D. Shelburne signing
(27:51):
the new Inclusion brand bottles with his face on the
label tonight at Liquor Barn at Beaumont Center here at
Lexington five to seven. He'll also do a little performance
while he's there after he's done signing the bottles. So
go ahead, me and Jany get your bottle signed tonight
at Liquorbarn on Bobot Center here in Lexington. We'll be
right back. We'll back on this Thursday edition of the
(28:12):
Leads Report and joined now by Justin Rowland from Cats
Illustrated and on three Sports to talk about the Cats.
Will start with football and Justin we haven't talked since
the commitment came through from the quarterback up at Cincinnati
Mohler Matt Ponitowski and how concerned should fans be about
(28:33):
the MLB angle to this or do you think he
is looking to be a college quarterback and baseball player.
Speaker 5 (28:42):
He really wants to play college football, like it seems
to be, it's really important to him. From what I've heard,
he's got it in his head that like it's it
would really have to be a lot of money and
a really good drafts slot for him for him not
to and that he said that in interviews before, and
I've talked to people kind of behind the scenes and
(29:03):
they underscored that that is that's how he seems to feel.
But he is a very legitimate baseball prospect, and I
don't know exactly where he projects, but it is something
that you're going to have to pay attention to.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Is my understanding with your site, do you guys get
to interact with fans and the message boards, et cetera.
And so what what the reaction has been like with
the recruiting success culminating with landing Ponitowski for Kentucky football
and if it's elevating optimism for the upcoming season. There
(29:42):
didn't seem to be a lot of that, But as
we get closer, I think human nature is such that
if you follow a team, you want to try to
find a way to be as optimistic as you can,
and that usually kicks in a little bit.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
Yeah, I could say, if I could say, maybe similar
to to the Caliperi year with reed and rob and
and Reeves, if that makes sense. There's already a lot
of frustration with how things had went the last two years,
but how could you how could you deny that they
had some pretty good fortune in a month of June,
(30:16):
and then you get a quarterback that's coveted and had
some really big names on his list, the receivers coach
that's come in with Damian Washington. People are really impressed
with what he's done. I think they survived tomorrow tomorrow
leaving for for Louisville. I think just the fact that
he picked Louisville kind of helped Stoops with the with
(30:38):
the public perception there that was going to kind of
sour people and get.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
Him a little bit upset.
Speaker 5 (30:45):
So I think people are very much in believe it
when I see it mode for this season.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
The schedule is what it is, but I do sense that.
Speaker 5 (30:54):
More people are on board with the if we get
right this season, get it moving back in the right direction,
and maybe steps has a chance for kind of a
springboard year the following year. I think more people are
are coming to terms with that as a possible scenario.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
I think clearly the expectations barred too clear for what
would be for most I think considered a satisfying season,
you know, good enough or or even better than that.
That that bar is not set as high as it
has been. So that is helpful if you're you know,
(31:31):
the coach in that situation. They've got you know that
that first month is going to be so important. You know,
it's a couple of mac opponents, which can always be dangerous,
but if you're going to be truly better, you should
take care of business in those games. And then it's
you know, you get Ole Miss at home in South
Carolina on the road, and those are two programs that
(31:53):
regarded as being ahead of yours right now. And so
if you could take down your one or best case
scenario both of those, you make a strong statement.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
I mean, let's just be real. I mean, Kentucky needs
to win one of those two games. Kentucky needs to
beat either Ole Miss or South Carolina. And that's not
an easy, easy ask, you know. But the good news
is neither one of those teams is even in the
in the same tier as the top four teams on
last year's schedule. They're not one of those teams. It's
(32:22):
like I'd be surprised if they're not in the playoffs.
South Carolina may have a path to it. Ole Miss
may have a path to it, but I and even
even the even though can you.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Hear me just cut out there for a second, we'll
go ahead.
Speaker 5 (32:39):
Even even even the game the games later in the season,
you really need to win one of those games Old
Miss or South Carolina, maybe even for Bolo, And that's
a that's a tough realization about the schedule. But I
don't think you need to drop both of those early
in the season.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
Yeah. No, I've always thought that if you can come
out of September three and one, you're in a great spot,
right right.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
So, but I get the sense that there are some
fans that no matter what happened there's they're going to
be frustrated and a voice that But I think the
quarterback on the heels of that run of good news
in June does have some people willing to modify what
they were saying before, which was maybe what was the
bar before that was going to be an acceptable season
(33:22):
eight wins? Well that that really might be more true
for Ole Miss or South Carolina this year than for Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Just realistically, everybody talks quarterback in O line when they
talk about the two position groups that need to perform
significantly better for Kentucky to be significantly better this season.
If the who would be the next one who would be?
Will be number three on your list.
Speaker 5 (33:47):
That's a really good question. Quarterback offensive line. I think
the secondary has a chance to be good because they've
got they've got some good players, young players on the
back end. You think about Nichols, you think about they'd
probably go four deep at safety. How how good is
the level of play going to be? We'll see. But
(34:09):
I just think the secondary is one place where they
have a lot of parts and they've got some experience,
and it needs to be a good group because there
are some questions elsewhere like inside linebacker and losing some
defensive lineman. The secondary needs to be a strength for
Stoops and I think I think it should be. But
how much of one we'll see?
Speaker 1 (34:27):
Any message to your subscribers that you need to get
to them, you've got a plant four here since you've
going through this merger with on three.
Speaker 5 (34:36):
Yeah, thanks, anybody still having issues coming over from the
old catsill sit on rivals, emails support at on three
dot com. But it's great to see so many people
at on three and we're really excited to be working
alongside KSR. We're still kind of competing in one in
one respect, but it's great to be on the same
team and have access to a lot of the people
that work over there as well.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Justin Rowland Katz Illustrated dot com. Thank you, sir, Thanks
a lot, Tom. It is the Lates Report and Radio Network.
We're presented by Bobcat Enterprises and we will be right
back last couple of days for the version of Prime
Days at Cornbreadhimp dot com. They're giving you a great
deal thirty percent off their full lineup of hemp products
(35:19):
exclusively on their website if you put in the code
prime at checkout talking about the infused seltzers. Their newest
product line, the Superior Fruit Flavors, with five milligrams of
hemp infusion for that light, enjoyable buzz without the hangover.
Only thirty calories per can, one hundred percent federally legal,
and all of their products made with Kentucky grown hemp
(35:41):
as well, they infused gummies, the sleep Gummies, Oil's topicals
thirty percent off on anything you order today and tomorrow
during the Prime Days at Cornbread Hemp dot Com. Just
put in the code prime at checkout. SEC Media Days
will get going next week in Atlanta. Marks Stoops and
if you didn't catch his birthday yesterday, so it's a
(36:01):
belated happy birthday to coach Stoops. He'll be talking on
Thursday down in Atlanta and they're going to take Alex Afari,
Jordan love It and Josh Catis along. So three Wildcats
will be doing the trip down to SEC Media Days
next week. This day Wildcat History nineteen ninety nine, they
staged an exhibition game between the ninety eight championship team
(36:21):
and the ninety six championship team and it ended in
a one thirty to one thirty tie. Nazi Muhammed how
about this stat line? Fifty one points and eighteen boards.
Mark Pope participated but had some back issues going on,
only got to play about six minutes in that game.
Happy birthday. C. J. Frederick Nice, young man from up
(36:42):
at Covington Catholic and has got to know him in
his one season here at Kentucky and then he moved
on to Cincinnati after coming in from Iowa, but had
a big role in that important win down at Tennessee
back in the twenty three season. Is one game I
remember in particular for CJ. This Day in Wildcat History
presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports Cards and Memorabilia. They're on
(37:02):
Romney Rode in Lexington and at roadshowcards dot com. How
Mummy is back on the sidelines. He will be the
offensive coordinator at Division three Centinary for the upcoming season.
So always glad to see how back on the sidelines.
That is his natural habitat calling plays and being the
(37:22):
mad genius with his air raid offense. So we'll follow
Centinary little well, I say, a little closer. We weren't
following them at all until now, so we'll follow them
some this coming season. And again JD. Shelburne doing a
bottle signing for his new bourbon with Inclusion Brands coming
up tonight at Liquor Barn on Beaumont Center here in Lexington,
(37:42):
five o'clock. He'll be there for a couple of hours
signing bottles, doing a performance, and then same thing on
Sunday afternoon down in Etown at their Liquor Barn location
starting at two o'clock on Sunday. So go see JD,
get your bottle sign, listen to his performance, talk about
the Cats, and get your bourbon from Inclusion Brands. J
D Shelburne on the cover We'll see you tomorrow here
on the Leach Report Radio Network, presented by Bobcat Enterprises
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.