Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, everybody, how you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Welcome into the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises. Coming
up on the show today, it's Lexington Herald Leader Beat
reporter Today John Hale covers Kentucky football, Ben Roberts Kentucky basketball,
and that's who we'll be talking to as the football
Cats get ready to take on Tennessee on Saturday night,
(00:22):
while the basketball team will start the season with an
exhibition game against the number one team in the country,
the Purdue Boilermakers. So we'll talk about all of that
coming up on the show today. Little news made yesterday
by Mark Pope at the tip Off luncheon for the
Greater Louisville UK Alumni Chapter, and that leads off our
(00:43):
Wildcat News of the day. They have been holding this
event for football and basketball in recent years at the
First Turn Club at Churchill Downs, which is a great
spot and it was packed yesterday for Coach Pope and
coach Kenny Brooks. And Coach Pope made some news when
I asked him how Jalen Lowe is doing coming off
(01:06):
that shoulder injury that he suffered in the Blue White
scrimmage last Friday night.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
He has improved so much in the last forty eight hours.
It's really really positive and so we'll kind of proceed
with caution, but he is an ultimate competitor and he's
doing great. He's going to be in really good shape.
We'll see, if you know, I'm gonna have to be
super courageous to throw him on the court here soon,
but we'll kind of see how that plays out.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
But he's doing really, really well.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
We've been really pleased with his progress last forty eight hours, but.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Was also asked about the options for the backup point
guard until Lowe is ready to return.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Denzil Aberdeen has been unbelievable at the point for US
so far in the first three and a half weeks
of training camp, he's been incredible. He's a veteran, veteran player.
You know, it's not that often that you have a
guy in your team that it was, you know, playing
as the as the horn sounded in the National Championship win. Right,
He's done seen it all. He's an incredible combo guard.
(02:03):
He's he's probably more comftable at the point than he's
the too, so he's gonna be great there. Jasper Johnson
has so an amazing acuity at the point. He's growing
so fast it is hard for rookies, and he's always
been a dangerous, dangerous, dangerous scorer. But he's got this
slippery vibe to him that you guys are gonna love
watching so much. Where he's he's he doesn't have a
(02:24):
huge physicality to his game, but but he's just so
slippery on offense and defense that he caused problems. He's
really got a great sense. He's probably our best trick
to tag guy on the whole roster in terms of
working off ball screens. And then Colin Chandler's gonna be
a formidable force. Otega is convinced that he is the
answer for us at the point, you know, as well
(02:46):
as all of our bigs, all your bigs all you know,
Malachim Reno watched Tomorrow last year.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
He's like, that's what I should be doing.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
So, you know, BG wants to step in those shoes.
Andrea knows that he's not allowed to dribble, he's allowed
to shoot.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
So he's the only.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Guy that probably is not vying for the point guard
position as a backup right now.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
So Pope have a little fun there with that part
of the answer. After that he took several questions from
the audience and nothing that you haven't heard before. He
loves the competitive fire of this team. Talked again as
he has before, about some comparisons in that area to
(03:26):
the ninety six championship team that he played on in
terms of the competitiveness of the practices and also how
not only he said, there's two things about that ninety
six team, that the practices were so competitive that they
were harder than the games. And then the other thing
was he said that they because they could just come
(03:47):
at you with so much firepower on both ends of
the court that they knew the opponent would break at
some point. It just didn't. It was just a matter
of when. And obviously he's hoping that his next team
has some level of that quality as well as that
team that he played on. So really good stuff yesterday
(04:08):
that the fans loved, and we will see the Cats
in action against Purdue on Friday night at six Eastern time.
Mark Stoops his Monday is media day as well, and
we'll get into some of the things that he was
talking about when John Hale joins us here in just
a moment. A couple of news items as far as
(04:29):
players status SETH McGowan should be good to return this week.
He was amazed when he returned the other night because
he left the field. Gabe told us from the sidelines
about the injury report for McGowan's shoulder that took him
to the hospital for an MRI, and I think we
all thought that he was done for the night at
that point. And then in the fourth quarter late in
(04:51):
the game, Cutter bully handed the ball off and in
my head, as I'm making the call of the play,
I'm thinking.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
That's mcgowant, but it can't be.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
So I don't think I named the runner until I
could for sure identify that was number three. And it
was so pretty tough guy to come back and go
out on the field and actually get a few carries
and a catch or two for his teammates after he
had been taken to the hospital to have his shoulder
checked on. So anyway, that's good to hear that he
(05:22):
should be back. DJ Waller had a setback ause you
heard in the pregame warm ups, and doesn't sound like
he's going to be able to get back on the
field anytime soon for the Wildcats. Thanks to the stories
that we talk about each day. You can find those
of the bud lightly Triport page at Tom Leachky dot com.
Our opening segments presented by just Sepies of Lexington, and
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they want you to know that the gift cards are
ready for the holiday season.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
It's just around the corner.
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swing by the restaurant pick them up.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
It is the Leech Report and John Hale will join
us when we return. We're presented each day by Bobcat
Enterprises Quarner past the top of the hour here on
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get an extra twenty percent off. And that is at
Cornbread Hemp dot com. This is the Good Life. John
Hale joins US now from the Lexington Harold Leader, where
he covers Kentucky football and Monday's end of the media
day each week with the news conference and then Coach
Stoops does his radio shows. So, John, anything that you
(07:17):
heard yesterday that was particularly noteworthy to you?
Speaker 4 (07:22):
I mean, I thought it was interesting that he started
the day by he got a question about Cutter Bowley's
kind of demeanor after the game and clearly being on upset,
you know, as you would expect after that kind of game,
and he kind of pivoted in his answer to talk
about his demeanor because so many people had made something
of the way that the mark sounded after the game,
(07:43):
and you know that he was resigned or defeated or whatever.
And he brought that up by himself really early in
the press conference yesterday to say, Yo, that was just
you know, it was a hard game and we had
a loss. Don't read it too much into that. So
I thought that was interesting. And then obviously he was
pretty defiant and in defending the decisions they made on
third and four down and overtime, so that he had
(08:04):
no regrets about those play calls, which I'm sure is
not what people wanted to hear, but I think that
kind of gives you an insight into where his mindset
is right now.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
On the first we'll go to the last point about
the play calls. On the radio show, he talked a
little bit about that last night. I said, did you
think at all about kicking the field goal there? When
it's first series of overtime? You know, if you don't
get the touchdown, obviously you put yourself in great peril
(08:34):
of losing, which they did. But his point was that
he felt if they got a touchdown, Texas wouldn't be
able to get a touchdown against the way the Kentucky
defense was playing and he's a half yard away from
getting the touchdown, and he said something that was interesting.
He said, look, if I kick it there and we
(08:56):
end up losing in second or third over time, he said, basically,
that would would always bother him. He said, going for
the touchdown there. They didn't make it, but he said
he could live with that easier than had he done
it the other way, and that thought it was just
(09:17):
an interesting insight into his his thinking. And I would
imagine for most people it's a even if you Van
Hiles was with us yesterday, he was arguing they should
have kicked the field goal there and it kept the
game going. And he but I would imagine most people
that have that opinion would understand at least the reasoning
(09:38):
where Stoops was coming from.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
When he made that explanation.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
Yeah, when I was sitting in the press box watching
it live, I said, well, you got to go for it.
So you know, I was in the same mindset as him,
because in my mind, you know, Texas was probably going
to score a touch It was different explanation because I had, well,
Texas scores here, then that's your only chance to prolong
the game. But then you think about it more and like,
the offense was better this week. They a put up
a bunch of yards, but they still are really struggling
(10:02):
in the red zone. And when it gets into those
short field situations like actually converting and that's all overtime is.
And so you get the huge play on the first
play of overtime with kinder Claw for twenty two yards
or whatever, you get it inside the five. That certainly
feels like it's your best chance to get it in
the end zone that maybe you're going to get in
any overtime period. So if you kick the field goal
there and you hold Texas to a field goal and
(10:24):
send it to a second overtime, are you going to
get another chance to score a touchdown? Like the odds
with your offense converting multiple times in those situations seem
pretty low. And then even if you get to the
point where you're trading two point conversion, which are the
new rules after I think the second overtime, yes, like,
are we confident Kentucky has a good enough two point
conversion play to keep scoring on those? I don't think
we've seen that proof of that yet. So it did
(10:46):
feel like that was your opportunity to get a touchdown
and go win the game. So I did not have
a problem with him going for it there. You know,
I thought it was more interesting they didn't take a
shot at the end zone at the end of regulation,
which also makes sense because you know, cut of Rolie
don't want to get sacked, get out a field goal
range and all those things. But the interesting part is
when you decide to go for it. Sometimes it feels
(11:07):
like Mark when he is aggressive, he still does it
in kind of a conservative way. Conservative aggressive. Yes, yeah,
well we're going to go for it, but we're only
going to run it up the middle or as we
saw the short yards. I'm not saying they need to
throw a go route like they did at ole Miss
last year on fourth and short with Berry on Brown
every time. But maybe once you decide we're all in,
we're going for this, get a little more creative there.
(11:27):
And it doesn't seem like he has any regrets with
those calls.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
I would guess that of the regrets, any regrets on
the calls, it would be more on the first down
they told us I did it, yeah, from three yards out,
and then second to the second down they tried something
a little different. Third down, they actually got a yard.
They moved it from about a yard and a half
to uh half a yard or less. Uh But then
(11:51):
on fourth down would probably be of the four, that'd
be probably the the next one they would might rethink.
But yeah, and it's clear they didn't really want Valdell
to die or to delete, especially on the fourth down.
I mean, he got really close on the third down.
Mark brought that up I think multiple times yesterday. There
were just maybe a couple of inches from that crossing
the plane. But the second time, like Texas was clearly
(12:13):
prepared for him the leap there. So I don't know
that that was a great decision just individually, but I
don't think that was.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
What the play call was either. It is interesting. I mean,
there's been so much criticism that Seth mcgawan wasn't in
the game. He was pretty adamy yesterday that that was
he was fine with decision to put your two hundred
pound guy in there. And Daldell has not been great
since that Toledo game, and really outside of the one
seventy nine yard touchdown, he's averaging like two point nine
yards and here he since then. But you don't need
(12:38):
one yard there, so you get your you get your average,
you score the touchdown. So I understand why they had
him in there. It just didn't work. And when it
doesn't work, you're going to get questioned.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Twenty two past the top of the hour, would take
a quick break come back with John Hale from The
Harold Lexing and Harel leier On at Kentucky Sports dot Com.
Here on the Leachs Report presented by Bob kat Enterprises
leach Report from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio return Fresh
Refuel at Clark's. We talked with John Hale from The
Haroldleader in Kentucky Sports dot Com. Each week, John, you
do the mail bag where you invite listeners for a
(13:09):
friendly and kind exchange of views about UK football.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Right, Yeah, it's never never heeded. People don't ever have
strong opinions that it's just a nice little pleasant chat.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Obviously, you get a lot of questions from the reading
the piece of The Harold Leader about UH coach stops
and UH if you'll be Kentucky's coach for the next
season and beyond, and also about the O C all
of that. No, that's surprising, Uh, Mark, I guess at
(13:44):
the I don't know if you did. At the news
conference yesterday. On the radio last night, he at one
point was saying he was thanking the crowd and for
creating such great atmosphere, and he said, look, I hope
you know some people may have they feel a certain
way about me that I understand that, but appreciate the
support that they gave his players.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
So that was a little interesting.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Yeah, he did that after the game immediately on Saturday too,
which is why I think some people ran with you know,
reading into his demeanor and basically said, you know, I
have I've put people in the position to make decisions.
I don't know if he was specifically talking about like
the administration or talking about fans in terms of whether
to you know, support the team and be happy right now,
and he said that's on him. But he was very
adamant that the atmosphere was great and what they needed
(14:27):
is what his players deserved, and was very thankful for that.
You know, after the game the press conversationally on the
radio show last night, so he the fact that he
acknowledged it, I think was a change of was certainly
a different tone than after the Georgia game, when I
asked him about the radio report about him negotiating and
buy out, and he was so adamant that you know,
there's zero percent chance that's true or whatever. So that
(14:49):
was that was definitely interesting in the tone. And then
I asked him after the game too about the end
of the regulation thing and just you know, did you
consider going for the end zone? And he said no,
because of all the things we talked about. And he said,
if I go for it there, we get sacked. Do
I even walk in here to the press conference afterwards?
Was kind of the implication, And so like that he knows,
he hears it, he hears the chance, he sees the
(15:11):
shirts that say fire stoops or whatever. But his mindset
is still that the team's getting better and they're getting
improving week to week. And honestly, I believe him. I
think that is true. And I think the schedule sets
up in a way that like it would not shock
me at all if this team was playing Mobile in
the final game of the regular season to go to
a bowl for like bowl eligibility. I think that's possible
(15:31):
with the schedule coming up.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
They're more than a touchdown underdog against Tennessee. But if
we see the same team we saw against Texas, albeit
with a different level of challenge with the way Tennessee
scores offensively. But the next two games, if Auburn loses
at Arkansas on Saturday, they can be facing two straight
interim coaches and then a lower division team.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah, and like Vanderbilt is obviously really really good right
now and deserves to wear the ranking, but they're having
essentially the same schedule the season that Kentucky had in
twenty eighteen. I mean, Kentucky was seven to one that year,
beat a Florida team early that ended up ranking the
top ten, had a great win. But we saw what
happened with Kentucky that year when they lost that game
at Georgia for the East Championship, and the win kind
(16:16):
of went out their sales, like they lost a couple
in a row. And so for programs like Kentucky, like
Vanderbilt that are traditionally in the bottom half the SEC, like,
it's hard to maintain that for a whole year. So
by the time they go to Nashville, like Vanderbilt might
be a different team too. And like Louisville obviously had
a huge win over Miami over the weekend. But like
they you know, they got blown out in that game
last year, but it's not been that long since they
(16:36):
were really dominant in that series. Like, there are winnable
games down the stretch if the team continued to stay
engaged and motivated, which I thought was the most encouraging
part of Texas. Obviously, the way they lost is heartbreaking,
and you worried that that kind of loss makes things
spiral even more. But the fact that they were so
engaged when there was so much negativity around the program
for the two weeks before that game, like that gives
you hope that when these more manageable games on the
(16:59):
schedule come up, that they're going to have a chance.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
And there's nothing like a quarterback who's playing well to
lift all the boats around him on offense and defense.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Yeah. Absolutely, I mean, like, I think they made the
right decision to start Zach Calzada and then get of
the Year for all of the based on everything we've
seen in practice and heard from how those two guys
were performing. But there's the way it's played out for
them with Cutter, you know, essentially being forced into action
by Zach struggling and then getting hurt and then learning
on the job has just been like kind of the
best case scenario at that position realistically, because he gives
(17:30):
you hope for now, like the receivers are stepping up,
the passing games look better two games in a row.
But it also gives you hope for the future, like
regardless of who the coach is next year, if you
have a quarterback to build around your rosters, it is
such a better spot. And so his development down the
stretch is going to be the most important storyline on
the field for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
That's John Hale, and you can read about his latest
post on the five key guys for Kentucky starting with
Cutter Bowley to having success in the second half of
the season, which starts Saturday night.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Thank you, John, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
We'll be back with his colleague Ben Roberts in just
a moment.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
It's the Lates Report presented by Bobcat Enterprises. They have
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(18:25):
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Speaker 1 (18:38):
Joined now by Ben Roberts from the.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Lexington Herald Leader and Kentucky sports dot com, where he
covers Kentucky Ben's basketball And so with the season about
to start with the first exhibition game against Purdue, Ben's
going to join us here to talk about the Cats.
And we'll start Ben with hal Purdue And you wrote
about this in the Herald Leader. Help Purdue came to
be playing and Rap Arena on Friday night? Is the
(19:02):
number one team in the country going on the road
for an exhibition game.
Speaker 5 (19:06):
Yeah, I talked to their director of basketball ops.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
I was.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
I think everybody was a little surprised to see them
on the schedule a few months ago when that came out.
And you know these days with with N I L
and and you know home and home promises. Uh, you
always think there's something more to to why a team
comes to to play in or route a high major team,
(19:32):
But you know they talking to them that they were
just looking for a competitive game. On the road in
the preseason. They, like Kentucky, have a really tough non
conference schedule, including a I think they played at Alabama
like two days after Kentucky plays at Louisville. Uh, they
were kind of looking for a tune up for that game.
(19:53):
And Matt Painter has done this in the past where
he he went to Creighton last season, played on the road,
went to Arkansas the season before that, played on the road.
They told me they played secret scrimmages against West Virginia
when when Bob Huggins coached that team. So they just
looked for something a little a little more competitive, a
little more challenging, especially challenging their own personnel. And they
(20:17):
had a connection with between Matt Painter and Mark Fox
here at Kentucky, and it all kind of came together.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Secret scrimmages had to be one of the sillier things
that's ever been done.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Yeah, they they actually because obviously for those who don't
know secret scrimmages it's just like a game, except there's
no fans, which makes it not like a game at all.
In high level college basketball, And for three or four
years they said they would they would each drive to
Columbus for doing West Virginia and played Ohio Dominicans gym,
(20:50):
so two teams, three referees and a completely empty gym,
and they said, you know, it was a great It
was a great challenge because especially the way Hugs teams defended,
you know, a unique defense and obviously something that you know,
that level of competition you're not going to find very
often that early in the season or preseason. But the
(21:11):
atmosphere itself left a lot to be desired, So they're
looking forward to coming into up and trying to simulate
that kind of fifteen twenty thousand loud atmosphere.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Probably arrived in like rental trucks to be complete. The
guys played at three in the morning.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
It was.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
It's it's a lot more fun. I think for fans
to be able to at least in one of the
two games, in Kentucky's case, it's going to be both
because they're playing the Georgetown Hoyes next week. To play
two major conference foes, it I think for fans gives
you a better sense of where your team is. And
there's no win lost penalty. Although if Kentucky beats Purdue
(21:55):
it will be celebrated to the rafters by the BBN,
and if they lose, it will be broken down to thee.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
Yeah, they say there's no no penal season. You know,
you don't lose anything for a loss. But we know
around here the result will still be scrutinized no matter
no matter which way it goes. But yeah, I mean,
I think it's it's obviously it's great for the team
to go off against the team of that caliber and
such a veteran team. You know, that group, that core
group has been together for so long, been to a
(22:26):
national title game together. You know, made another good run
last season preseason number one obviously, so the expectations are high.
You know, that's a great challenge for this Kentucky team
that's still kind of coming together. Obviously, you get Braden
Smith at the point, and I think with Jalen Lowe's injury,
I think this really gives you know, Kentucky's quote unquote
(22:49):
backup point guards a unique opportunity. You know, Pope's gonna
get to see you know, assuming Jalen doesn't play, which
I don't think he will, Pope's gonna get to see
guys like Collin Handler, Denzel Aberdeen. Uh Jasper Johnson go
up against what everybody thinks is going to be the
best player in college basketball this season. So that's a
(23:10):
really good opportunity. And then for the fans, you know,
I you know, most Kentucky fans, they like to know
what's going on around the country and college basketball. I
know a lot of the will be tuning into that
Purdue Alabama game. So you get to see another really
good team up close beginning of the season, and that's
obviously always a good thing.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
With Ben Roberts, he covers Kentucky men's basketball for The
Lexi and Harold Leader. Probably a lot of the BBN
did not sleep well on Friday night after hearing about
the news or being there to see it with Jalen Lowe,
sounds like for what Coach Pope said yesterday that it's
not a major issue and that he'll be it didn't
sound like you should expect to see him this Friday though, right.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
No, Yeah, no, he was obviously upstage, up on stage
with you at the luncheon yesterday.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
Made it made it sound not not incredibly serious, not
a long term injury, which kind of goes with with
I think everything that we've been hearing for the last
couple of days over the weekend after that injury happened.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
I would not.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Expect him Friday. If he said proceed with caution, I
think was his phrase yesterday. Uh, I think you probably
hold him out of the Georgetound game too, And and
that gives him a couple of weeks to get ready
for Nickels. And you know, the big one I think
everybody is obviously looking at is November eleventh at Louisville,
(24:34):
And ideally, if he's going to play in that game,
you'd probably like him to be on the court, uh,
you know, just to kind of get his bearings with
his new teammates in one of those first two regular
season games. But you know, as important as that rivalry
game is, as important as all these early season games are,
you're not going to rush him back. Every e's fresh
(24:54):
and everybody's memories what happened last year with injuries at
the point guard position. It's the end with shoulders at
the point guard position. So yeah, proceed with caution. We'll
see where he's at. And but yeah, I do not
expect to see him this week. And I'd be a
little surprised if he was out there next week too.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
The team that Mark played on in ninety six here
coach Patino had an abundance of talent, and Coach Pope
has talked about that group in terms of, you know,
just the waves that they sent at their opponents and
they were just confident that at some point the opponent
would break.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
He's in that position.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I don't know if he's you know, a paper doesn't
have the number of NBA draft picks that that team did,
and players were older than all of that. However, all
leading up to say that, even though there was the
wealth of talent, Rick still had his set starting lineup
(25:55):
pretty much that stayed the way the whole season and
his rotation. I I've always thought it's gonna be interesting
with this group because of, you know, the talent that
Coach Pope has and the versatile skill sets. To just
see how if he settles into you know, a a
starting five and a rotation or does that change from
(26:19):
game to game or week to week.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Yeah, it'll you know, And and Jalen's injury maybe throws
a little wrench in that. And obviously Jayden Quaintance's injury
and timeline throws a little wrench in that too. I
especially going off last season, going off what he's done
at his previous stops, if he finds a starting five
that works, I expect him to stick with that, you know,
(26:41):
barring obviously injuries. Uh, you know, last year when everybody
was healthy, he had that, he had that set starting
five that he liked to go with, you know, assuming
everybody's healthy on this team, low O Way and and Diabate,
I think you can write those guys in and pen
and then Brandon Garrison. I think it's pretty clear starts
(27:04):
the season as the five. And if he's if he's
humming along well by the time Quaintans comes back, I
don't know that you mess with that because I don't
know that you're gonna play Quaintance, you know, more than
twenty eighth minutes a game anyway. And then he obviously
would bring a very unique look off the bench and
spark off the bench and an energy off the bench
that no one in the country could match, especially at
(27:26):
that position. And I think the toss up has been
that other that other spot, you know, kind of in
the in the back quarter, in the middle of the lineup,
And based on everything I've seen this preseason, Denzel Aberdeen
looks like a just looks like a perfect fit for
that because I think he's a great compliment to what
Low and Oway can do. I think he offers a
different look from those guys. Talking to people behind the scenes,
(27:50):
I think he's going to bring a constant energy, especially
on the defensive side, but a guy who can hit
the three, stretch the floor, initiate offense, and do kind
of everything that Pope is gonna want him to do
on the offensive side. So yeah, I would imagine if
everybody's healthy, that's the starting five, and you still have
(28:10):
Colin Chandler, you still have Jasper Johnson, you still have
Cam Williams, you still have a wealth of front court talent.
Trent Noah has been really interesting to me this preseason,
both what I've heard and what I've seen. I don't know,
I don't know where the minutes come from and how
that works lineup wise, but I also don't know how
(28:31):
you can keep him off the court if he's shooting
the way he's shooting, and he's and he's doing some
of the other things that it sounds like he's doing
in practice. So yeah, he's, you know, good problem to have.
Is what all coaches would say, and I know what
Mark would say about this situation.
Speaker 4 (28:45):
But you know it will.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
Be, you know, kind of a work in progress, I think,
especially at the beginning of the season, to figure out
how to mix and match these guys and how to
get as many of these guys on the court for
as long as you can. But obviously there's only two
hundred minutes to go around for a lineup every night.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
That's Ben Roberts. He's joining us here on the Leech Report.
We're presented by Bob kat Enterprises, and we'll be right
back Leach. Apart from the Clark's Pumping Shot Studio return
refreshed refewal at Clark's. Ben Roberts swis from The Herald
Leader Kentucky sports dot com Your Collie Caamdreben has a
story about m P four t. Apparently it's something that
(29:28):
is heard often at Kentucky basketball practices. Make plays for teammates, right.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
Yeah, make plays for teammates. And it's you know, you
think about making plays in the traditional sense, and you know,
you think about assists or maybe passing up a good
shot for a great shot, and that's that's part of this.
But you know it really you know, poping this staff's
kind of approach to this team is is doing really
(29:57):
anything at all on the court to uh, to put
your teammates in the and to put your team in
a better situation too to either score or get a stop.
And that could be just simply just spacing the floor.
That could be as we heard a lot last season,
cut it cutting off the ball, you know, to to
kind of uh disassociate the defense and and get them
(30:19):
a little discombobulated. Uh, it's really just being in the
right spot at the right time, making the right reads
to to put the rest of your team in the
right situation. And then and it's something that that yes
says that has apparently often been heard around the Joe
Craft Center, you know, this summer and fall, and I
(30:39):
think it, you know, and and this kind of the
whole idea is I think goes hand in hand with
you know, Pope's usual style and approach anyway. But when
you have a roster like this, with so many guys
who can make plays both on and off the ball,
I think maybe that's why it gets stressed a little
more that you know, hey, if you're out there, there's
(31:00):
four other guys out there who can who can get
a basket or get a key defensive play. So as
long as you're doing the right thing, as long as
you're doing the most unselfish team, uh, the most unselfish
thing to put your team in the right situation, good
things are going to happen no matter how good the
opponent is. And I think that just speaks to the
(31:21):
depth of this roster. You know, I think there's a
lot of high IQ guys spread around this roster. Obviously,
a lot of a lot more athleticism and length on
this roster, and then I think was on the last one.
So you know, they they feel like they they got
the personnel, personnel, and it's just a matter of you know,
kind of getting everybody on the right page and and uh,
(31:42):
informing that chemistry right now. And this is a big
part of it.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Back to Trent and Noah. Everybody talks about players is
you know, coaches about how well he's shooting the ball,
and it's I mean, he's a great shooter in high school.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
I guess that's not a huge shock.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
But we also saw last year that there were other
things that he did when he's out on the court,
and mainly it was just kind of having a knack
for being around the basketball, coming up with rebounds, loose balls,
et cetera.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Right, Yeah, he really has a nose for the action.
And again that's not even and it is getting after
the ball and getting those loose rebounds and loose balls
and fighting for those loose rebounds, but it's also just
putting a body on somebody, you know, the wedging that
Pope talks about, you know, blocking out in key situations.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
He's not.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
And we saw last year that he's not afraid to
go up against much, much bigger players, sometimes guys approaching
seven foot two hundred and fifty pounds. I remember, especially
in sec action, him just banging down low with guys
like that. And one that coaching staff takes notice when
you do that. Teammates take notice when.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
You do that.
Speaker 5 (32:51):
You get a lot of respect in the locker room,
which I think he is already, even though he hadn't
even started his sophomore season, especially with the guys coming back,
I think he's really earned that. But yeah, the shooting
piece to it too. I was in Pope's office a
couple of weeks ago and he told me that Noah
to that point was in the low sixties from three
(33:14):
and five on five action in their scrimmages, which if
you think about it, is crazy. He said, the coaches
and these scrimmages are have actually had actually already started
like game planning for him, that they were you know,
it wasn't supposed to be. It was supposed to be
just kind of five on five, get your bearings, but
(33:34):
teams were actually scheming the team that Trent wasn't on
to try to keep him from getting those shots. So obviously,
he said, that is the greatest of compliment that at
this early stage in the preseason, opposing scrimmage coaches are
are trying to keep him off the perimeter. So yeah,
I just and watching him Friday night at the Blue
(33:55):
White game. Obviously he hit some threes, but it was
the other stuff. It was with the spacing, it was
the being in the right spot, it was the battling
for those those loose balls, and it's just you know,
he's not the tallest, he's not the most athletic on
the team, but if he's doing stuff like that, it's
it's gonna be hard to not get him some minutes.
(34:16):
And I'm talking minutes in big games too, because he
can you know, he hits a couple of those shots
that can be a real game changer, and if he's
helping you in other areas, then yeah, it's it's gonna
be hard to keep him off the court.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
One thing that's frequently said is that the Kentucky doesn't
have a Kobe Brea. I'm just looking up here and
punching up Kobe's career stats. His first year at Dayton,
he was eleven of thirty one, thirty six percent thirty
five point five on three pointers. So Kobe Brea was
not Kobe Brean. His first year. He was just kind
of solid. Uh, and then he was over forty percent
in three of the next four seasons. And certainly not
(34:52):
I mean, Kobe shot forty three point five last year.
It wouldn't be a shock if a Tredonoah or Cam
Williams shot forty three point five this season.
Speaker 5 (35:02):
Right, Yeah, yeah, certainly Trent. And then yeah, it's you
mentioned Cam Williams. I was talking to Cody Figer a
couple of weeks ago and we were talking about Cam
and he he said, I think there's a little Kobe
Bryant and The context was that if you remember last year,
Jackson Robinson was the guy who just had I mean,
everybody had the green light, but he was the only
(35:23):
one who was really taking it.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
You know.
Speaker 5 (35:25):
He was the one who was super comfortable in Pope's offense,
especially shooting threes early on, which understandable he'd already played
for him and Kobe. Even though he had some big
games early, great percentage early, was still a little hesitant,
was still like, you guys really want me to shoot
this ball. And Cody Figer was saying that Cam has
been like that this preseason and they've just been they've
(35:46):
had him in the offices, they've just been drilling him
with video of what Jackson looked like last season, what
Kobe looked like in the second half of last season.
Just taking that initiative to yes, if you have the
open shot and you're eater set, and you're pointed at
the basket and it's a good looking shot, take it
and and the rest will take care of itself. Because
(36:07):
they feel like Cam Williams can be that that Kobe
Braya type of guy if he's if he's just willing
to put him up at a high volume and put him
up in the rhythm of the offense and and and
put him up the way that they want this team
to put him up, which is again they're they're going
for that thirty five threes and they want Cam to
be a big part of that. And they, I mean,
(36:28):
they feel like he can he can put up some
big numbers if he does.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Ben, thank you much, Yep, thanks a lot of time.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
Ben Roberts from the Heel Leader Kentucky Sports dot Com
will finish utt in just a moment.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
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Speaker 2 (36:40):
Group of Kentuckians more than a decade ago and they
have the company still going strong with a commitment to
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So it starts with the very best of coffee beans
to come come out of this rich volcanic soil out
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The roma well knock your socks off and then you
(37:01):
will love the taste of Shufflebean coffee. So pick some
up today at a central Kentucky Myer store, order it
through Amazon, or get it from the company's website. Just
put some hustle in your shuffle at shufflebeant Us with
Shufflebean coffee stand. Wildcat History is the service of Kentucky
road Shows, sports cards and memorabilia. They're at Romney Road
(37:23):
here in Lexington. You can find them at roadshowcards dot com.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
The Stay.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
In two thousand, Jared Lorenzen set a school single game
record for passing yards through for five hundred and twenty
eight yards in a thirty four to thirty loss at
home to Georgia. That was the game in which he
had the famous behind his head throw completion to Derek Homer.
Happy birthday, former Kentucky coach Bill Curry, and a happy
(37:48):
birthday to Dallas Owens, who we lost much too soon,
a one of the all time great defensive backs in
Alaffiat High School. Product from here at Lexington for the Wildcats.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Have a great day, everybody.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
You will see tomorrow on the lead T Report presented
by Bob Kaed Enterprises
Hey, everybody, how you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Welcome into the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises. Coming
up on the show today, it's Lexington Herald Leader Beat
reporter Today John Hale covers Kentucky football, Ben Roberts Kentucky basketball,
and that's who we'll be talking to as the football
Cats get ready to take on Tennessee on Saturday night,
(00:22):
while the basketball team will start the season with an
exhibition game against the number one team in the country,
the Purdue Boilermakers. So we'll talk about all of that
coming up on the show today. Little news made yesterday
by Mark Pope at the tip Off luncheon for the
Greater Louisville UK Alumni Chapter, and that leads off our
(00:43):
Wildcat News of the day. They have been holding this
event for football and basketball in recent years at the
First Turn Club at Churchill Downs, which is a great
spot and it was packed yesterday for Coach Pope and
coach Kenny Brooks. And Coach Pope made some news when
I asked him how Jalen Lowe is doing coming off
(01:06):
that shoulder injury that he suffered in the Blue White
scrimmage last Friday night.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
He has improved so much in the last forty eight hours.
It's really really positive and so we'll kind of proceed
with caution, but he is an ultimate competitor and he's
doing great. He's going to be in really good shape.
We'll see, if you know, I'm gonna have to be
super courageous to throw him on the court here soon,
but we'll kind of see how that plays out.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
But he's doing really, really well.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
We've been really pleased with his progress last forty eight hours, but.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Was also asked about the options for the backup point
guard until Lowe is ready to return.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Denzil Aberdeen has been unbelievable at the point for US
so far in the first three and a half weeks
of training camp, he's been incredible. He's a veteran, veteran player.
You know, it's not that often that you have a
guy in your team that it was, you know, playing
as the as the horn sounded in the National Championship win. Right,
He's done seen it all. He's an incredible combo guard.
(02:03):
He's he's probably more comftable at the point than he's
the too, so he's gonna be great there. Jasper Johnson
has so an amazing acuity at the point. He's growing
so fast it is hard for rookies, and he's always
been a dangerous, dangerous, dangerous scorer. But he's got this
slippery vibe to him that you guys are gonna love
watching so much. Where he's he's he doesn't have a
(02:24):
huge physicality to his game, but but he's just so
slippery on offense and defense that he caused problems. He's
really got a great sense. He's probably our best trick
to tag guy on the whole roster in terms of
working off ball screens. And then Colin Chandler's gonna be
a formidable force. Otega is convinced that he is the
answer for us at the point, you know, as well
(02:46):
as all of our bigs, all your bigs all you know,
Malachim Reno watched Tomorrow last year.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
He's like, that's what I should be doing.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
So, you know, BG wants to step in those shoes.
Andrea knows that he's not allowed to dribble, he's allowed
to shoot.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
So he's the only.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Guy that probably is not vying for the point guard
position as a backup right now.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
So Pope have a little fun there with that part
of the answer. After that he took several questions from
the audience and nothing that you haven't heard before. He
loves the competitive fire of this team. Talked again as
he has before, about some comparisons in that area to
(03:26):
the ninety six championship team that he played on in
terms of the competitiveness of the practices and also how
not only he said, there's two things about that ninety
six team, that the practices were so competitive that they
were harder than the games. And then the other thing
was he said that they because they could just come
(03:47):
at you with so much firepower on both ends of
the court that they knew the opponent would break at
some point. It just didn't. It was just a matter
of when. And obviously he's hoping that his next team
has some level of that quality as well as that
team that he played on. So really good stuff yesterday
(04:08):
that the fans loved, and we will see the Cats
in action against Purdue on Friday night at six Eastern time.
Mark Stoops his Monday is media day as well, and
we'll get into some of the things that he was
talking about when John Hale joins us here in just
a moment. A couple of news items as far as
(04:29):
players status SETH McGowan should be good to return this week.
He was amazed when he returned the other night because
he left the field. Gabe told us from the sidelines
about the injury report for McGowan's shoulder that took him
to the hospital for an MRI, and I think we
all thought that he was done for the night at
that point. And then in the fourth quarter late in
(04:51):
the game, Cutter bully handed the ball off and in
my head, as I'm making the call of the play,
I'm thinking.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
That's mcgowant, but it can't be.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
So I don't think I named the runner until I
could for sure identify that was number three. And it
was so pretty tough guy to come back and go
out on the field and actually get a few carries
and a catch or two for his teammates after he
had been taken to the hospital to have his shoulder
checked on. So anyway, that's good to hear that he
(05:22):
should be back. DJ Waller had a setback ause you
heard in the pregame warm ups, and doesn't sound like
he's going to be able to get back on the
field anytime soon for the Wildcats. Thanks to the stories
that we talk about each day. You can find those
of the bud lightly Triport page at Tom Leachky dot com.
Our opening segments presented by just Sepies of Lexington, and
(05:42):
they want you to know that the gift cards are
ready for the holiday season.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
It's just around the corner.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
They will take care of making them look really nice
and then sending them out to you, or you can
go pick them up at the restaurant just off Nicholasville
Road out past Mana War Boulevard here in Lexington. And
it's a great for somebody that's hard to buy for them.
They will love getting a chance to go dine at Giuseppe,
So check those out at Giuseppes Lexington dot com or
(06:10):
swing by the restaurant pick them up.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
It is the Leech Report and John Hale will join
us when we return. We're presented each day by Bobcat
Enterprises Quarner past the top of the hour here on
the Leech Report, and it is fall and cornbread Hemp
is helping folks settle into the season with a little
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(06:34):
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(06:55):
get an extra twenty percent off. And that is at
Cornbread Hemp dot com. This is the Good Life. John
Hale joins US now from the Lexington Harold Leader, where
he covers Kentucky football and Monday's end of the media
day each week with the news conference and then Coach
Stoops does his radio shows. So, John, anything that you
(07:17):
heard yesterday that was particularly noteworthy to you?
Speaker 4 (07:22):
I mean, I thought it was interesting that he started
the day by he got a question about Cutter Bowley's
kind of demeanor after the game and clearly being on upset,
you know, as you would expect after that kind of game,
and he kind of pivoted in his answer to talk
about his demeanor because so many people had made something
of the way that the mark sounded after the game,
(07:43):
and you know that he was resigned or defeated or whatever.
And he brought that up by himself really early in
the press conference yesterday to say, Yo, that was just
you know, it was a hard game and we had
a loss. Don't read it too much into that. So
I thought that was interesting. And then obviously he was
pretty defiant and in defending the decisions they made on
third and four down and overtime, so that he had
(08:04):
no regrets about those play calls, which I'm sure is
not what people wanted to hear, but I think that
kind of gives you an insight into where his mindset
is right now.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
On the first we'll go to the last point about
the play calls. On the radio show, he talked a
little bit about that last night. I said, did you
think at all about kicking the field goal there? When
it's first series of overtime? You know, if you don't
get the touchdown, obviously you put yourself in great peril
(08:34):
of losing, which they did. But his point was that
he felt if they got a touchdown, Texas wouldn't be
able to get a touchdown against the way the Kentucky
defense was playing and he's a half yard away from
getting the touchdown, and he said something that was interesting.
He said, look, if I kick it there and we
(08:56):
end up losing in second or third over time, he said, basically,
that would would always bother him. He said, going for
the touchdown there. They didn't make it, but he said
he could live with that easier than had he done
it the other way, and that thought it was just
(09:17):
an interesting insight into his his thinking. And I would
imagine for most people it's a even if you Van
Hiles was with us yesterday, he was arguing they should
have kicked the field goal there and it kept the
game going. And he but I would imagine most people
that have that opinion would understand at least the reasoning
(09:38):
where Stoops was coming from.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
When he made that explanation.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
Yeah, when I was sitting in the press box watching
it live, I said, well, you got to go for it.
So you know, I was in the same mindset as him,
because in my mind, you know, Texas was probably going
to score a touch It was different explanation because I had, well,
Texas scores here, then that's your only chance to prolong
the game. But then you think about it more and like,
the offense was better this week. They a put up
a bunch of yards, but they still are really struggling
(10:02):
in the red zone. And when it gets into those
short field situations like actually converting and that's all overtime is.
And so you get the huge play on the first
play of overtime with kinder Claw for twenty two yards
or whatever, you get it inside the five. That certainly
feels like it's your best chance to get it in
the end zone that maybe you're going to get in
any overtime period. So if you kick the field goal
there and you hold Texas to a field goal and
(10:24):
send it to a second overtime, are you going to
get another chance to score a touchdown? Like the odds
with your offense converting multiple times in those situations seem
pretty low. And then even if you get to the
point where you're trading two point conversion, which are the
new rules after I think the second overtime, yes, like,
are we confident Kentucky has a good enough two point
conversion play to keep scoring on those? I don't think
we've seen that proof of that yet. So it did
(10:46):
feel like that was your opportunity to get a touchdown
and go win the game. So I did not have
a problem with him going for it there. You know,
I thought it was more interesting they didn't take a
shot at the end zone at the end of regulation,
which also makes sense because you know, cut of Rolie
don't want to get sacked, get out a field goal
range and all those things. But the interesting part is
when you decide to go for it. Sometimes it feels
(11:07):
like Mark when he is aggressive, he still does it
in kind of a conservative way. Conservative aggressive. Yes, yeah,
well we're going to go for it, but we're only
going to run it up the middle or as we
saw the short yards. I'm not saying they need to
throw a go route like they did at ole Miss
last year on fourth and short with Berry on Brown
every time. But maybe once you decide we're all in,
we're going for this, get a little more creative there.
(11:27):
And it doesn't seem like he has any regrets with
those calls.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
I would guess that of the regrets, any regrets on
the calls, it would be more on the first down
they told us I did it, yeah, from three yards out,
and then second to the second down they tried something
a little different. Third down, they actually got a yard.
They moved it from about a yard and a half
to uh half a yard or less. Uh But then
(11:51):
on fourth down would probably be of the four, that'd
be probably the the next one they would might rethink.
But yeah, and it's clear they didn't really want Valdell
to die or to delete, especially on the fourth down.
I mean, he got really close on the third down.
Mark brought that up I think multiple times yesterday. There
were just maybe a couple of inches from that crossing
the plane. But the second time, like Texas was clearly
(12:13):
prepared for him the leap there. So I don't know
that that was a great decision just individually, but I
don't think that was.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
What the play call was either. It is interesting. I mean,
there's been so much criticism that Seth mcgawan wasn't in
the game. He was pretty adamy yesterday that that was
he was fine with decision to put your two hundred
pound guy in there. And Daldell has not been great
since that Toledo game, and really outside of the one
seventy nine yard touchdown, he's averaging like two point nine
yards and here he since then. But you don't need
(12:38):
one yard there, so you get your you get your average,
you score the touchdown. So I understand why they had
him in there. It just didn't work. And when it
doesn't work, you're going to get questioned.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Twenty two past the top of the hour, would take
a quick break come back with John Hale from The
Harold Lexing and Harel leier On at Kentucky Sports dot Com.
Here on the Leachs Report presented by Bob kat Enterprises
leach Report from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio return Fresh
Refuel at Clark's. We talked with John Hale from The
Haroldleader in Kentucky Sports dot Com. Each week, John, you
do the mail bag where you invite listeners for a
(13:09):
friendly and kind exchange of views about UK football.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Right, Yeah, it's never never heeded. People don't ever have
strong opinions that it's just a nice little pleasant chat.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Obviously, you get a lot of questions from the reading
the piece of The Harold Leader about UH coach stops
and UH if you'll be Kentucky's coach for the next
season and beyond, and also about the O C all
of that. No, that's surprising, Uh, Mark, I guess at
(13:44):
the I don't know if you did. At the news
conference yesterday. On the radio last night, he at one
point was saying he was thanking the crowd and for
creating such great atmosphere, and he said, look, I hope
you know some people may have they feel a certain
way about me that I understand that, but appreciate the
support that they gave his players.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
So that was a little interesting.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Yeah, he did that after the game immediately on Saturday too,
which is why I think some people ran with you know,
reading into his demeanor and basically said, you know, I
have I've put people in the position to make decisions.
I don't know if he was specifically talking about like
the administration or talking about fans in terms of whether
to you know, support the team and be happy right now,
and he said that's on him. But he was very
adamant that the atmosphere was great and what they needed
(14:27):
is what his players deserved, and was very thankful for that.
You know, after the game the press conversationally on the
radio show last night, so he the fact that he
acknowledged it, I think was a change of was certainly
a different tone than after the Georgia game, when I
asked him about the radio report about him negotiating and
buy out, and he was so adamant that you know,
there's zero percent chance that's true or whatever. So that
(14:49):
was that was definitely interesting in the tone. And then
I asked him after the game too about the end
of the regulation thing and just you know, did you
consider going for the end zone? And he said no,
because of all the things we talked about. And he said,
if I go for it there, we get sacked. Do
I even walk in here to the press conference afterwards?
Was kind of the implication, And so like that he knows,
he hears it, he hears the chance, he sees the
(15:11):
shirts that say fire stoops or whatever. But his mindset
is still that the team's getting better and they're getting
improving week to week. And honestly, I believe him. I
think that is true. And I think the schedule sets
up in a way that like it would not shock
me at all if this team was playing Mobile in
the final game of the regular season to go to
a bowl for like bowl eligibility. I think that's possible
(15:31):
with the schedule coming up.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
They're more than a touchdown underdog against Tennessee. But if
we see the same team we saw against Texas, albeit
with a different level of challenge with the way Tennessee
scores offensively. But the next two games, if Auburn loses
at Arkansas on Saturday, they can be facing two straight
interim coaches and then a lower division team.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah, and like Vanderbilt is obviously really really good right
now and deserves to wear the ranking, but they're having
essentially the same schedule the season that Kentucky had in
twenty eighteen. I mean, Kentucky was seven to one that year,
beat a Florida team early that ended up ranking the
top ten, had a great win. But we saw what
happened with Kentucky that year when they lost that game
at Georgia for the East Championship, and the win kind
(16:16):
of went out their sales, like they lost a couple
in a row. And so for programs like Kentucky, like
Vanderbilt that are traditionally in the bottom half the SEC, like,
it's hard to maintain that for a whole year. So
by the time they go to Nashville, like Vanderbilt might
be a different team too. And like Louisville obviously had
a huge win over Miami over the weekend. But like
they you know, they got blown out in that game
last year, but it's not been that long since they
(16:36):
were really dominant in that series. Like, there are winnable
games down the stretch if the team continued to stay
engaged and motivated, which I thought was the most encouraging
part of Texas. Obviously, the way they lost is heartbreaking,
and you worried that that kind of loss makes things
spiral even more. But the fact that they were so
engaged when there was so much negativity around the program
for the two weeks before that game, like that gives
you hope that when these more manageable games on the
(16:59):
schedule come up, that they're going to have a chance.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
And there's nothing like a quarterback who's playing well to
lift all the boats around him on offense and defense.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Yeah. Absolutely, I mean, like, I think they made the
right decision to start Zach Calzada and then get of
the Year for all of the based on everything we've
seen in practice and heard from how those two guys
were performing. But there's the way it's played out for
them with Cutter, you know, essentially being forced into action
by Zach struggling and then getting hurt and then learning
on the job has just been like kind of the
best case scenario at that position realistically, because he gives
(17:30):
you hope for now, like the receivers are stepping up,
the passing games look better two games in a row.
But it also gives you hope for the future, like
regardless of who the coach is next year, if you
have a quarterback to build around your rosters, it is
such a better spot. And so his development down the
stretch is going to be the most important storyline on
the field for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
That's John Hale, and you can read about his latest
post on the five key guys for Kentucky starting with
Cutter Bowley to having success in the second half of
the season, which starts Saturday night.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Thank you, John, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
We'll be back with his colleague Ben Roberts in just
a moment.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
It's the Lates Report presented by Bobcat Enterprises. They have
four locations in Kentucky for those times when you have
a project going on where you need have you equipment
to help finish it off. Maybe it's a forklift or
a tractor or just a Bobcat. If somebody's helping you
(18:25):
with some kind of cleanup project, whatever it might be.
Or if you know somebody who needs such equipment, send
them to Bobcat Enterprises and you will get what you
need and you'll get fantastic service after the sale.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Joined now by Ben Roberts from the.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Lexington Herald Leader and Kentucky sports dot com, where he
covers Kentucky Ben's basketball And so with the season about
to start with the first exhibition game against Purdue, Ben's
going to join us here to talk about the Cats.
And we'll start Ben with hal Purdue And you wrote
about this in the Herald Leader. Help Purdue came to
be playing and Rap Arena on Friday night? Is the
(19:02):
number one team in the country going on the road
for an exhibition game.
Speaker 5 (19:06):
Yeah, I talked to their director of basketball ops.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
I was.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
I think everybody was a little surprised to see them
on the schedule a few months ago when that came out.
And you know these days with with N I L
and and you know home and home promises. Uh, you
always think there's something more to to why a team
comes to to play in or route a high major team,
(19:32):
But you know they talking to them that they were
just looking for a competitive game. On the road in
the preseason. They, like Kentucky, have a really tough non
conference schedule, including a I think they played at Alabama
like two days after Kentucky plays at Louisville. Uh, they
were kind of looking for a tune up for that game.
(19:53):
And Matt Painter has done this in the past where
he he went to Creighton last season, played on the road,
went to Arkansas the season before that, played on the road.
They told me they played secret scrimmages against West Virginia
when when Bob Huggins coached that team. So they just
looked for something a little a little more competitive, a
little more challenging, especially challenging their own personnel. And they
(20:17):
had a connection with between Matt Painter and Mark Fox
here at Kentucky, and it all kind of came together.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Secret scrimmages had to be one of the sillier things
that's ever been done.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Yeah, they they actually because obviously for those who don't
know secret scrimmages it's just like a game, except there's
no fans, which makes it not like a game at all.
In high level college basketball, And for three or four
years they said they would they would each drive to
Columbus for doing West Virginia and played Ohio Dominicans gym,
(20:50):
so two teams, three referees and a completely empty gym,
and they said, you know, it was a great It
was a great challenge because especially the way Hugs teams defended,
you know, a unique defense and obviously something that you know,
that level of competition you're not going to find very
often that early in the season or preseason. But the
(21:11):
atmosphere itself left a lot to be desired, So they're
looking forward to coming into up and trying to simulate
that kind of fifteen twenty thousand loud atmosphere.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Probably arrived in like rental trucks to be complete. The
guys played at three in the morning.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
It was.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
It's it's a lot more fun. I think for fans
to be able to at least in one of the
two games, in Kentucky's case, it's going to be both
because they're playing the Georgetown Hoyes next week. To play
two major conference foes, it I think for fans gives
you a better sense of where your team is. And
there's no win lost penalty. Although if Kentucky beats Purdue
(21:55):
it will be celebrated to the rafters by the BBN,
and if they lose, it will be broken down to thee.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
Yeah, they say there's no no penal season. You know,
you don't lose anything for a loss. But we know
around here the result will still be scrutinized no matter
no matter which way it goes. But yeah, I mean,
I think it's it's obviously it's great for the team
to go off against the team of that caliber and
such a veteran team. You know, that group, that core
group has been together for so long, been to a
(22:26):
national title game together. You know, made another good run
last season preseason number one obviously, so the expectations are high.
You know, that's a great challenge for this Kentucky team
that's still kind of coming together. Obviously, you get Braden
Smith at the point, and I think with Jalen Lowe's injury,
I think this really gives you know, Kentucky's quote unquote
(22:49):
backup point guards a unique opportunity. You know, Pope's gonna
get to see you know, assuming Jalen doesn't play, which
I don't think he will, Pope's gonna get to see
guys like Collin Handler, Denzel Aberdeen. Uh Jasper Johnson go
up against what everybody thinks is going to be the
best player in college basketball this season. So that's a
(23:10):
really good opportunity. And then for the fans, you know,
I you know, most Kentucky fans, they like to know
what's going on around the country and college basketball. I
know a lot of the will be tuning into that
Purdue Alabama game. So you get to see another really
good team up close beginning of the season, and that's
obviously always a good thing.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
With Ben Roberts, he covers Kentucky men's basketball for The
Lexi and Harold Leader. Probably a lot of the BBN
did not sleep well on Friday night after hearing about
the news or being there to see it with Jalen Lowe,
sounds like for what Coach Pope said yesterday that it's
not a major issue and that he'll be it didn't
sound like you should expect to see him this Friday though, right.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
No, Yeah, no, he was obviously upstage, up on stage
with you at the luncheon yesterday.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
Made it made it sound not not incredibly serious, not
a long term injury, which kind of goes with with
I think everything that we've been hearing for the last
couple of days over the weekend after that injury happened.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
I would not.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Expect him Friday. If he said proceed with caution, I
think was his phrase yesterday. Uh, I think you probably
hold him out of the Georgetound game too, And and
that gives him a couple of weeks to get ready
for Nickels. And you know, the big one I think
everybody is obviously looking at is November eleventh at Louisville,
(24:34):
And ideally, if he's going to play in that game,
you'd probably like him to be on the court, uh,
you know, just to kind of get his bearings with
his new teammates in one of those first two regular
season games. But you know, as important as that rivalry
game is, as important as all these early season games are,
you're not going to rush him back. Every e's fresh
(24:54):
and everybody's memories what happened last year with injuries at
the point guard position. It's the end with shoulders at
the point guard position. So yeah, proceed with caution. We'll
see where he's at. And but yeah, I do not
expect to see him this week. And I'd be a
little surprised if he was out there next week too.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
The team that Mark played on in ninety six here
coach Patino had an abundance of talent, and Coach Pope
has talked about that group in terms of, you know,
just the waves that they sent at their opponents and
they were just confident that at some point the opponent
would break.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
He's in that position.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I don't know if he's you know, a paper doesn't
have the number of NBA draft picks that that team did,
and players were older than all of that. However, all
leading up to say that, even though there was the
wealth of talent, Rick still had his set starting lineup
(25:55):
pretty much that stayed the way the whole season and
his rotation. I I've always thought it's gonna be interesting
with this group because of, you know, the talent that
Coach Pope has and the versatile skill sets. To just
see how if he settles into you know, a a
starting five and a rotation or does that change from
(26:19):
game to game or week to week.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Yeah, it'll you know, And and Jalen's injury maybe throws
a little wrench in that. And obviously Jayden Quaintance's injury
and timeline throws a little wrench in that too. I
especially going off last season, going off what he's done
at his previous stops, if he finds a starting five
that works, I expect him to stick with that, you know,
(26:41):
barring obviously injuries. Uh, you know, last year when everybody
was healthy, he had that, he had that set starting
five that he liked to go with, you know, assuming
everybody's healthy on this team, low O Way and and Diabate,
I think you can write those guys in and pen
and then Brandon Garrison. I think it's pretty clear starts
(27:04):
the season as the five. And if he's if he's
humming along well by the time Quaintans comes back, I
don't know that you mess with that because I don't
know that you're gonna play Quaintance, you know, more than
twenty eighth minutes a game anyway. And then he obviously
would bring a very unique look off the bench and
spark off the bench and an energy off the bench
that no one in the country could match, especially at
(27:26):
that position. And I think the toss up has been
that other that other spot, you know, kind of in
the in the back quarter, in the middle of the lineup,
And based on everything I've seen this preseason, Denzel Aberdeen
looks like a just looks like a perfect fit for
that because I think he's a great compliment to what
Low and Oway can do. I think he offers a
different look from those guys. Talking to people behind the scenes,
(27:50):
I think he's going to bring a constant energy, especially
on the defensive side, but a guy who can hit
the three, stretch the floor, initiate offense, and do kind
of everything that Pope is gonna want him to do
on the offensive side. So yeah, I would imagine if
everybody's healthy, that's the starting five, and you still have
(28:10):
Colin Chandler, you still have Jasper Johnson, you still have
Cam Williams, you still have a wealth of front court talent.
Trent Noah has been really interesting to me this preseason,
both what I've heard and what I've seen. I don't know,
I don't know where the minutes come from and how
that works lineup wise, but I also don't know how
(28:31):
you can keep him off the court if he's shooting
the way he's shooting, and he's and he's doing some
of the other things that it sounds like he's doing
in practice. So yeah, he's, you know, good problem to have.
Is what all coaches would say, and I know what
Mark would say about this situation.
Speaker 4 (28:45):
But you know it will.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
Be, you know, kind of a work in progress, I think,
especially at the beginning of the season, to figure out
how to mix and match these guys and how to
get as many of these guys on the court for
as long as you can. But obviously there's only two
hundred minutes to go around for a lineup every night.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
That's Ben Roberts. He's joining us here on the Leech Report.
We're presented by Bob kat Enterprises, and we'll be right
back Leach. Apart from the Clark's Pumping Shot Studio return
refreshed refewal at Clark's. Ben Roberts swis from The Herald
Leader Kentucky sports dot com Your Collie Caamdreben has a
story about m P four t. Apparently it's something that
(29:28):
is heard often at Kentucky basketball practices. Make plays for teammates, right.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
Yeah, make plays for teammates. And it's you know, you
think about making plays in the traditional sense, and you know,
you think about assists or maybe passing up a good
shot for a great shot, and that's that's part of this.
But you know it really you know, poping this staff's
kind of approach to this team is is doing really
(29:57):
anything at all on the court to uh, to put
your teammates in the and to put your team in
a better situation too to either score or get a stop.
And that could be just simply just spacing the floor.
That could be as we heard a lot last season,
cut it cutting off the ball, you know, to to
kind of uh disassociate the defense and and get them
(30:19):
a little discombobulated. Uh, it's really just being in the
right spot at the right time, making the right reads
to to put the rest of your team in the
right situation. And then and it's something that that yes
says that has apparently often been heard around the Joe
Craft Center, you know, this summer and fall, and I
(30:39):
think it, you know, and and this kind of the
whole idea is I think goes hand in hand with
you know, Pope's usual style and approach anyway. But when
you have a roster like this, with so many guys
who can make plays both on and off the ball,
I think maybe that's why it gets stressed a little
more that you know, hey, if you're out there, there's
(31:00):
four other guys out there who can who can get
a basket or get a key defensive play. So as
long as you're doing the right thing, as long as
you're doing the most unselfish team, uh, the most unselfish
thing to put your team in the right situation, good
things are going to happen no matter how good the
opponent is. And I think that just speaks to the
(31:21):
depth of this roster. You know, I think there's a
lot of high IQ guys spread around this roster. Obviously,
a lot of a lot more athleticism and length on
this roster, and then I think was on the last one.
So you know, they they feel like they they got
the personnel, personnel, and it's just a matter of you know,
kind of getting everybody on the right page and and uh,
(31:42):
informing that chemistry right now. And this is a big
part of it.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Back to Trent and Noah. Everybody talks about players is
you know, coaches about how well he's shooting the ball,
and it's I mean, he's a great shooter in high school.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
I guess that's not a huge shock.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
But we also saw last year that there were other
things that he did when he's out on the court,
and mainly it was just kind of having a knack
for being around the basketball, coming up with rebounds, loose balls,
et cetera.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Right, Yeah, he really has a nose for the action.
And again that's not even and it is getting after
the ball and getting those loose rebounds and loose balls
and fighting for those loose rebounds, but it's also just
putting a body on somebody, you know, the wedging that
Pope talks about, you know, blocking out in key situations.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
He's not.
Speaker 5 (32:31):
And we saw last year that he's not afraid to
go up against much, much bigger players, sometimes guys approaching
seven foot two hundred and fifty pounds. I remember, especially
in sec action, him just banging down low with guys
like that. And one that coaching staff takes notice when
you do that. Teammates take notice when.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
You do that.
Speaker 5 (32:51):
You get a lot of respect in the locker room,
which I think he is already, even though he hadn't
even started his sophomore season, especially with the guys coming back,
I think he's really earned that. But yeah, the shooting
piece to it too. I was in Pope's office a
couple of weeks ago and he told me that Noah
to that point was in the low sixties from three
(33:14):
and five on five action in their scrimmages, which if
you think about it, is crazy. He said, the coaches
and these scrimmages are have actually had actually already started
like game planning for him, that they were you know,
it wasn't supposed to be. It was supposed to be
just kind of five on five, get your bearings, but
(33:34):
teams were actually scheming the team that Trent wasn't on
to try to keep him from getting those shots. So obviously,
he said, that is the greatest of compliment that at
this early stage in the preseason, opposing scrimmage coaches are
are trying to keep him off the perimeter. So yeah,
I just and watching him Friday night at the Blue
(33:55):
White game. Obviously he hit some threes, but it was
the other stuff. It was with the spacing, it was
the being in the right spot, it was the battling
for those those loose balls, and it's just you know,
he's not the tallest, he's not the most athletic on
the team, but if he's doing stuff like that, it's
it's gonna be hard to not get him some minutes.
(34:16):
And I'm talking minutes in big games too, because he
can you know, he hits a couple of those shots
that can be a real game changer, and if he's
helping you in other areas, then yeah, it's it's gonna
be hard to keep him off the court.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
One thing that's frequently said is that the Kentucky doesn't
have a Kobe Brea. I'm just looking up here and
punching up Kobe's career stats. His first year at Dayton,
he was eleven of thirty one, thirty six percent thirty
five point five on three pointers. So Kobe Brea was
not Kobe Brean. His first year. He was just kind
of solid. Uh, and then he was over forty percent
in three of the next four seasons. And certainly not
(34:52):
I mean, Kobe shot forty three point five last year.
It wouldn't be a shock if a Tredonoah or Cam
Williams shot forty three point five this season.
Speaker 5 (35:02):
Right, Yeah, yeah, certainly Trent. And then yeah, it's you
mentioned Cam Williams. I was talking to Cody Figer a
couple of weeks ago and we were talking about Cam
and he he said, I think there's a little Kobe
Bryant and The context was that if you remember last year,
Jackson Robinson was the guy who just had I mean,
everybody had the green light, but he was the only
(35:23):
one who was really taking it.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
You know.
Speaker 5 (35:25):
He was the one who was super comfortable in Pope's offense,
especially shooting threes early on, which understandable he'd already played
for him and Kobe. Even though he had some big
games early, great percentage early, was still a little hesitant,
was still like, you guys really want me to shoot
this ball. And Cody Figer was saying that Cam has
been like that this preseason and they've just been they've
(35:46):
had him in the offices, they've just been drilling him
with video of what Jackson looked like last season, what
Kobe looked like in the second half of last season.
Just taking that initiative to yes, if you have the
open shot and you're eater set, and you're pointed at
the basket and it's a good looking shot, take it
and and the rest will take care of itself. Because
(36:07):
they feel like Cam Williams can be that that Kobe
Braya type of guy if he's if he's just willing
to put him up at a high volume and put him
up in the rhythm of the offense and and and
put him up the way that they want this team
to put him up, which is again they're they're going
for that thirty five threes and they want Cam to
be a big part of that. And they, I mean,
(36:28):
they feel like he can he can put up some
big numbers if he does.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Ben, thank you much, Yep, thanks a lot of time.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
Ben Roberts from the Heel Leader Kentucky Sports dot Com
will finish utt in just a moment.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Shuffle Bean Coffee was started by a.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Group of Kentuckians more than a decade ago and they
have the company still going strong with a commitment to
excellence that they like to say goes from seed to cup.
So it starts with the very best of coffee beans
to come come out of this rich volcanic soil out
of Costa Rica. Turn him into a fantastic cup of coffee.
The roma well knock your socks off and then you
(37:01):
will love the taste of Shufflebean coffee. So pick some
up today at a central Kentucky Myer store, order it
through Amazon, or get it from the company's website. Just
put some hustle in your shuffle at shufflebeant Us with
Shufflebean coffee stand. Wildcat History is the service of Kentucky
road Shows, sports cards and memorabilia. They're at Romney Road
(37:23):
here in Lexington. You can find them at roadshowcards dot com.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
The Stay.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
In two thousand, Jared Lorenzen set a school single game
record for passing yards through for five hundred and twenty
eight yards in a thirty four to thirty loss at
home to Georgia. That was the game in which he
had the famous behind his head throw completion to Derek Homer.
Happy birthday, former Kentucky coach Bill Curry, and a happy
(37:48):
birthday to Dallas Owens, who we lost much too soon,
a one of the all time great defensive backs in
Alaffiat High School. Product from here at Lexington for the Wildcats.
Speaker 1 (37:59):
Have a great day, everybody.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
You will see tomorrow on the lead T Report presented
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