Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good day, everybody. Welcome into another week of shows here
on the Leech Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises, and lots
to talk about. Today, we're gonna chat with Van Hiles
for our final shuffle being coffee Monday morning quarterback edition
of the show, and until yesterday probably we're gonna talk
(00:21):
to Van about a little bit on the Louisville game,
and then a little bit on looking forward for the
next season. And now there's a different topic to discuss
for Kentucky football. And then Brandon Ramsay will join us
second half of the show ahead of Kentucky basketball's big
game against North Carolina tomorrow night, so we'll chat with
(00:45):
Brandon about what that matchup can look like. So let's
get into the Wildcat news of the day. It is
a service of just Sepies of Lexington, And of course,
the big news broke yesterday with the news that Mark
Stoops is being relieved of his duties as the head
coach at Kentucky after thirteen seasons on the job. The
(01:09):
two kind of feels like the two lopsided losses to
end the season to Vanderbilt and Louisville, or the final
two deciding statistics or events that happened that brought the
decision to where it came. Yesterday, there are various reports,
(01:31):
I think Chris Lowe maybe from ESPN at the first
one saying that Mark Stoops has agreed to allow the
thirty eight million dollar or nearly thirty eight million dollar buyout.
His contract says he has to be paid in sixty
days to be spread over a longer period of time.
So that would be a very positive development for Kentucky
(01:53):
from the standpoint of managing the finances and being able
to still have the money to get the next coach
and to get the foster built and all of those
things that go into it. So something that Stoops by
contract wouldn't have to do, certainly, but it's a big
plus for a place that he certainly has a tremendous
(02:16):
affection for and had an outstanding run building the program
from a very low point when he arrived in twenty
thirteen to the point where Kentucky had two Citrus Bowl
wins to ten win seasons, first win since nineteen seventy
seven and end of the streak with Florida, got the
(02:40):
first win at Tennessee since eighty four, and a lot
of other noteworthy achievements. I don't have the stats in
front of me, but some outstanding stats in terms of
number of wins over ranked teams. But the last couple
of seasons, not being able to get back to postseason
play and keep that streak going became too much to continue,
(03:04):
and so Mark Stoops, the Mark Stoops here comes to
an end at the University of Kentucky. We'll get I'm
sure a lot of the details today. There is the
final edition of the Coaches Show tonight, so I'm not
sure exactly how that will work. We'll find out as
the day goes on, and then the Coach pok Show
will follow at seven. This speculation now begins on the successor,
(03:28):
and a lot of names thrown out, the ones that
seem to show up the most on lists or highest
on lists of various people reporting on this, all under
the heading of you know, take it for what it's
worth at this point, but this seems like seems like
logical names. Will Stein, the offensive coordinator at Oregon who
has some connections to UK football. Brian Hartline, you o
(03:53):
ce at Ohio State whose brother Mike is on the
staff right now for Coach Stoops as a quality control coach,
I think, working mainly with quarterbacks, so has had a
great relationship with Cutter Bowley. Dan Mullen's name, the former
in Florida and Mississippi state coach, has come up, and
(04:14):
several others. Neil Brown's name was on a list. I
saw Neil former oc here under Mark Stoops and has
been at Texas for the last season after being relieved
of his duties at West Virginia. So we'll see how
this all plays out over the course probably of this
(04:34):
this week. I think it would move pretty quickly because
you have to start putting a roster together and staff
and retaining players. There's a lot of young talent on
this team that if they can retain, it could be
a strong foundation for the next coach transfer portal we'll
kick in in a batt a month. So with that's
(04:56):
the story, one of the stories that we'll all be
following over the course of these next few weeks, and
we'll get some more details as this day plays out.
The other big stories. Volleyball Kentucky is the number two
overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, number one seed in
the Lexington Regional, which will be played on Thursday and
Friday at Historic Memorial Coliseum, Kentucky will play Wafford and
if it advances, we'll then get UCLA or Georgia Tech.
(05:20):
Thanks to the stories that we talk about, and you
can find them on the bud Light Leach Report page
at Tom Leachky dot com, we're gonna head to a break,
come back and visit with Van Hiles. Opening segment of
the Leach Report, always presented by Giuseppes of Lexington and
for the folks on the holiday list, no better gift
than a special evening of excellent Italian cuisine and fine
wine and live jazz music at Giuseppes. So order Giuseppes
(05:41):
gift cards at Giuseppes Lexington dot com. They can even
email the gift card out to you if you need
it quickly, or they can send it along in an
elegant envelope. When it says Giuseppes, everybody knows it's an
outstanding dining experience. So we'll get to the first break,
come right back with Van Hiles quarter past the top
(06:02):
of the hour on this Monday edition of the Leach Report.
We're presented each day by Bobcat Enterprises with four locations
around Kentucky. They have what you need. If you need
heavy equipment for a job or know of someone who
does to buy it or even to rent it. Google
Bobcat Enterprises. You'll find the location that's closest to you
to find the excavators or the tractors, or the forklifts,
(06:25):
skid steerloaders, whatever it is you might need zero tone
moors for your home. Lann too from Bobcat Enterprises, joined
now by Van Hiles. He's with the Sun Monday's for
the Shuffle being coffee Monday Morning quarterback edition of the
Leach Report, and man, instead of breaking down a game,
there's a bigger story to talk about now. So after
(06:46):
thirteen seasons, Mark Stoops is out as the head football
coach at Kentucky. Had some very high highs in his
time here, but those last two weeks of lows where
I guess too much to withstand and then it was
going to be hard to generate much enthusiasm in the
next season. Off the way it finished right.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, that man, it's tough. When it happened last night,
it brought back emotions for me because I was a senior.
Not only a senior, I was a senior captain in
nineteen ninety six when we got our coach fired, and
it's it's something that I'm gonna say this, it's nothing.
(07:27):
It's something that these seniors for sure are never gonna
forget because this guy is the one that gave you
an opportunity to play on this level, on this platform,
in this conference and to not do enough to keep
him employed is going to hit you later on in life.
(07:48):
And it's I still think about that to this day
on losing Coach Curry and losing Coach Smith, one of
the best teachers of coordinators at that time in the country,
and have those guys have to uproot their families. Man,
it was tough, and it's going to be tough for
these kids for the next couple of months when they
(08:08):
start thinking about how everything transpired, and it's unfortunate. But
when you look back on things later in life, you're
going to understand how influential and how important this guy
was to this program.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
And there are a lot of others you mentioned within
this Coach Smith, there is DC at the time, Coach curryes,
there's all the people that are on the staff and
to support people and you know, after working with them
for thirteen seasons. A lot of people you get to know,
be friends with, and so you hate to see It's
(08:42):
part of the world of you know, big time athletics,
college and professional. But it's something that you can, you know,
acknowledge that you hate to see it happen. You wished
it turned out differently, so you can understand why it happened,
but it doesn't make it easier for any of them.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Yeah, and I know you didn't ask, but I'm gonna
give a shout out thank you for allow me to
talk like this. Is that Al and Sue Green where
they were the ahead of the trainers when I was
at Kentucky. I would say this, they saved my life.
And this is the reason why, because I had multiple
concussions while I was at Mexington. And this is before
(09:20):
all of the benchmarks and all this stuff that people
had to go concussion protocol and all this stuff. When
I had my last one, they said, Van, you're not
playing the last three games of your junior year and
we're sending you out all the spring football. That was
not something that was commonplace. And because of that, seriously
that I am able to sit here with a clean
(09:42):
thought process without any after effects of all the concussions
I've had in my life. And I owe it to
them because they could have easy to let me play
spreing football and who knows what could have happened, because
then I could be experienced CT and for those two
people who have lost their job because of I will
play on the football field. It's another thing I think
about a lot, because I really believe that they, truly say,
(10:06):
my life because of their actions would not allow me
to play my end of my junior year in that
spring football season.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Yeah, they were great folks. Have been a lot of
folks and those kinds of roles over the years, Jim
Mattelino and yeh guys and his team in most recent years.
And what was done to you know, save Josh Pascal's life?
Probably right, right, exactly, Yeah, No, it's it's very well said.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Van.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
We'll ask you this question that we'll get to a
break and continue the discussion. What I don't know if
you have any thoughts on any particular individual that you'd
like to see your alma mater go after. But in
lieu of that, what type of coach should they go after?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
And that was the key question. Man.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
I'm not one thing. Coaches search and candidates are not
in my wheelhouse. It's not my forte. But what I
would say is we have to find a guy that
understands the complexities of coaching and lessington and who wants
to be here. I don't think people remember the press
conference when coach Stups got here. He wasn't that highly
(11:14):
sought off the candidate, but in that press conference, as
a former player, I felt like he wanted to be here.
And that's the key part is getting a coach that
wants to be here. And if you get a guy
there who understands what he has going up against being
a coacher, I think he can be successful here. Now
I'm gonna say this, it doesn't get any easier, but
(11:36):
I think if a guy understands and it's willing to
develop a roster like coach Stup's had to do. Now,
you're development a rosters a little bit different than it
was in the early two thousands. It's different. You gotta
have money, but still a guy who can identify talent,
get them here, pay them enough money, I guess to
(11:58):
want them to stay here and developed that way, You've
got to have a guy who wants to be and
that's what I will want as a former player.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
You know, Mark Stoops did want the job and had
a detailed plan that nobody's ever seen it, but it's
been often discussed about Tim Couch and that was part
of the selection process, talked about it. A detailed plan
for what he you know, how he would approach the
job and how he would go about turning things around
(12:26):
and did a lot of that, A lot of that
brought it to fruition, and then the rules of the
game changed. That that's that's you know, he had had
a pretty good model going of recruiting, finding guys that
you could develop, you know, a Josh Allen being the
best example, but many others, and you could you know,
(12:49):
build an offensive line and you know, the defensive line
that could compete in the SEC, which a lot of
people didn't think Kentucky would ever be able to do.
But then the rules of the game changed in terms
of l transfer portal and that the previous model didn't
work as well.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Right, I'm gonna say this. I'm gonna push back on
anyone not cuting as the least, but anyone that says
the transfer portal was an issue with coach stops, that's
not the issue. N IL became an issue, and it's
not a coach stops. Then the issue, it's a university
deal because if you remember the second twenty the second
season of ten wins were led by transfer portal guys
(13:27):
Ye Wonders and on that defense. So therefore it is
not the portal. It was the NIL when you when
you brought into the factor of money, that is what
changed the path of of this journey with this coach. Now,
I hope that we have learned from our own mistakes
as a collective pun intended of everyone, that we have
(13:53):
to do better on that end of the spectrum to
help the guy who fancy with the headsets on the
sideline on SATA, Tom of.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Van Hiles had v Styles seventeen on X and of
course on the Locker on Wednesday nights at nine Eastern
with Anthony White, another former Wildcat Star, and they chop
it up every week and you can find it on
YouTube and other podcast platforms. We'll be right back with
Van on the Leach Report Radio Network if past the
(14:21):
top of the hour, it's the Leach Report coming to
you from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio Return, Refresh and Refuel,
and Hiles with us as we talk Kentucky football, and
Kentucky has a promising young quarterback in Cutter. Bowlie had
a rough couple of Saturdays in the last two games
with all of the pressure he was seeing from opposing defenses.
(14:43):
But that's something that he can improve against. Think about
you know Andre Woodson some days like that in his
first year really as the starter in five and became
one of the best quarterbacks ever here in six seven,
and so Cutter has the potential to do that. Would
(15:03):
you like to see, uh a coaching decision made based
on trying to work with that young quarterback.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
I mean, I think that's what you start with. But
I'm gonna be honest with you. In today's world, you
never know, because I'm like coach Signetti. If his offense
is X, and the guy he's at an institution that
has a quarterback with two years remaining, he wants to
(15:34):
come along with you, you probably bring him along too.
So it's probably a battle at the quarterback position. So
I don't know. I will say this, I think Cutter
has a future here, but whomever is the next head coach,
you gotta have you gotta give him that leadway to
bring the players that he feel comfortable with. And that's
just the nature of business. But Cutter had definitely, definitely,
(15:57):
Cutter would have had a definitely chance to leave this
this unit next year with stoops at to him. But
we don't know. I have no idea who's the next
guy is. Maybe you might know, mister Leach. I know
you probably can't stay on her, but maybe you have
some insane information. I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
With some of the young players in the program that
have flashed the you know a CJ. Works, Steven Soles,
you know the DJ and Cam Miller and then Willie Rodriguez,
is there a uh is Whoever the next coach is
going to walk into a situation where he can have
(16:34):
early success. Assuming you can retain those.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Guys, he has a chance. Yes, that's and man, that's
the hard part about college football. Yes, if those guys
came to Kentucky for Kentucky, I would say this as
limited nods I have. I think will Rid and cut
a Bowlie has a better chance of staying at home
(16:57):
technically than the other guys. What if those are the
guys have a connection with the wide receiver coach, the
d D coach, the officer's line coach, and they want
to go where he is going because that's your relationship.
Because this thing is based on relationships, just like why
we did so well in the past before Nil with
guys as we build great relationships with players, that's all
(17:18):
we got one Del Robbins come back. Now. It's not
always about relationships, but for those players, they feel comfortable
with a guy whom they spend way more time than
anybody else with. That's your position, coach, and if your
position goes goes to a place that you feel like
is worthy of your services, you might follow him and
go to what that said institution. Hopefully we have a
(17:39):
coach that can influence these guys because, like you said,
the Miller the Maladay, not twins, the two Miller receivers.
When we'll ride, it'll be nice, Patterson. I mean, you
have the pieces on that offense, the shell of it
could be very good at the skills position next year.
Hopefully those guys really feel strongly about their connection with
(18:02):
Lexington and stays in Lexington.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Van appreciate it very much. Thank you as.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Always, Ah man, Yes, thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
We'll be talking once they get the new decision. That's
Van Heiles. We'll be right back. It's the Leech Report
presented by Bob kat Enterprises for this Monday as we
welcome in Brandon Ramsey, the former coach who does the
analysis of tapes is Van Hiles does it in football
and Brandon's the guy that you go to to get
(18:32):
the breakdown of the tape after a Kentucky game or
preview of the opponent coming up, which is why we
have him here to talk about the Kentucky North Carolina matchup.
You read him on three Sports at KSR. But Brandon,
you're also a longtime Kentucky fan, passionate Kentucky fan, and
so I know you have some thoughts on the football
news as well, and what's your take on how this
(18:54):
has played out?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Yeah, you know, I think it's unfortunate obviously that we've
you know, gotten to the point over the last couple
of years where I do think this was needed. But
I know, you know, for myself as a as a
Kentucky fan, as somebody who you know, really kind of
builds most of their fall around getting down from Indiana
to the Kentucky football games, even goes to a couple
(19:18):
of road games every year. You know, I appreciate everything
he did for the program and building it kind of
at a place I would have never really expected at
the time. I think he was the perfect hire. At
the time. He had a lot of success, and I think,
especially as time goes on, I'm going to remember the
you know, the the eight, nine, ten win seasons and
and all the success that he had. But I definitely
(19:39):
do think it was it was time for a change,
and I'm excited to see where the program goes next.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I will get some official word today of what has
been reported by a period of news sources since last
night as this started to come out, and with the
way it peers it's going to the partying is going
to happen. It's in a way that fans can then
(20:07):
can then think about the good times and right over time, Uh,
there will be a lot of you know, fun moments
when Mark Stoops is back at Kroger Field with a
Bowl winning team and getting cheered on reunions and those
kinds of things we've seen play out with the other coaches.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Absolutely, I think he certainly, you know, it seems like
it's it's it's on its way to amicable enough split
where he certainly he'll be remembered fondly and he'll have
his day to come back to Lexington and kind of
you know, be cheered and remember in the way that
at least I believe he deserves to be.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
He is a you know, fiery competitor and we've you
know seen that and the way he's approached the job,
and he's and and so it's hard I'm sure to
accept the way it when it gets to this point.
But he's also been a guy that seems to have
(21:09):
a feel for the fans. So I think he realizes
kind of you know, what the feeling is out there,
and that is something that he's treated. You know, uh,
fans meetia people I know, my world and people in
this world. You know, I know you don't cover him,
but I think that's been a very respectful relationship. So
I think, uh, nobody's uh, you know, everybody, I think
(21:34):
wishes that it had played out differently, but these things
usually don't. At some point, you know, nothing keeps going up,
and at some point, more often than not, it you know,
ends with you know, somebody leaving before they really want.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
To, right.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Yeah, I mean that that there's a there's a saying
and coaching a lot of times where you your theories
are a coach that has been fired or a coach
that hasn't been fired yet. Yeah, you know, I I think,
you know, it's just one of those things where when
you're when you're somewhere along enough and obviously you know,
sometimes have changed and with in I L and everything,
you know, it was a it was a different job
than what it was when he was having you know,
(22:08):
his most success, you know, and maybe some things you know,
kind of so apart as part of that. But but
but yeah, I think you know, ultimately, you know, he
deserves to be remembered in a pretty positive way, certainly
as we remove ourselves, you know, a year or two
from the ending.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
A lot of coaches have have talked about the kind
of the ten year window. I think Tubby was the
first one that he said, Tommy i Zo had told
him that where you know, after about ten years, Uh,
it's hard to keep it going as a guy who
has been a coach, Uh is that you know the
way it is these days that with all the money
that's involved, all the coverage that's involved at the highest
(22:48):
level is you know, ten or or shortly thereafter window
about the most you can hope for.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
I mean, it certainly seems that way. And I think
that you know the proof, you know, not only guys
at Kentucky with you know, when you look at John
Calipari's ten here, you know he was he was arguably
the best of the best for about ten years, and
then those last four or five weren't quite the same.
And then you know, coach Soups was as good as
we could have imagined for about ten years, and then
(23:16):
these last three or four haven't been quite as good.
So you're know that there's certainly some proof in our
own backyard. But then when you look, you know, just nationally,
it's like, hey, I mean, you're talking about only the
very best coaches of all time. You know, your your
your tim is those your coach K's. You know, some
guys like that who have been at places for you know,
(23:37):
decades and decades at a time. And I think that's
probably even especially more true now in modern times with
an iel and it's how hard at all encompassing the
job is. I do think that there probably becomes even
a shorter lifespan for some of these coaches.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
We'll chat with Brandon Ramsey and we'll shift gears now
and get into the reason we have you on the
show regularly, which is to talk hoops. And Kentucky has
another game on a big stage tomorrow night. They came
up short against Louisville and Michigan State. They've handled their
business very impressively otherwise, So uh, that's These next few
(24:15):
weeks are are big for Kentucky, not only to just
be able to make a statement against top flight competition,
but you've got to start putting a few checks in
the wind box for your tournament resume before you get
into conference plays. So they have two this week, North
Carolina and Gonzaga. Next week you'll have Indiana. Week after
(24:37):
that you'll have Saint John's. So let's start with Carolina
tomorrow night. And what do you will you be looking
to see in this game after the two blowout wins
they've had since the Michigan State game.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
I think, I mean, first and foremost, you're you're hoping
that you see a Kentucky team that that comes maybe
maybe a little more ready to play, a little bit
more locked in a little more energetic across the board.
You know, the Louisville and Michigan State games, you felt
like you just kind of got punched in the mouth
pretty early on, and then you put yourself in a position.
Obviously against Louisville you almost made a full comeback, but
(25:16):
you just dug yourself such a hole. It was you
know it was going to be pretty unlikely, and there
was a little bit of life at different times late
against Michigan State too, But you just can't dig yourself
such a hole against these really, really good teams in
North Carolina. Maybe maybe isn't quite on the level of
Louisville and Michigan State, but they're certainly a top twenty,
top twenty five team in the country with some real
star power in Kayleb Williams or Klen Wilson. Excuse me,
(25:38):
so I think, yeah, you want to see this a
more competitive kind of locked in, engaged group. But man,
I think more than anything, you just want to see
a win because you know, this week I think could
really turn the season around in a positive way. But man,
if there's one or certainly two losses this week, I
think things will you know, right wrong or otherwise get
(26:00):
a little dark around Kentucky basketball going forward, just you know,
probably it's not necessarily fair to basketball with the way
the football and should. I think Pig Blue Nation just
needs something to feel good about right now. And obviously
when you're playing North Carolina and Gonzaga, that can be
harder to come by. But I do think this is
a really really important game on Tuesday, and certainly a
(26:21):
really really important week, not just for Kentucky basketball, but
honestly for the fan base in general.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Kind of going forward, we'll pick up on that when
we return with Grandy Ramsey and is the Lead's Report
presented by Bobcat Enterprises. We'll be right back quarter for
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Good Life. Were chatting with Brandon Ramsey from on three
Sports KSR at b Ramsey KSR on X for his
analysis of Kentucky basketball as the Cats get set to
take on North Carolina, which is six and one coming
(27:33):
into the acc SEC Challenge game tomorrow night. Their most
recent game was a loss to Michigan State decisively seventy
four to fifty eight. It's a Carolina team that is
led by a freshman NBA lottery pick in Caleb Wilson
that came down to Kentucky and Carolina for Wilson on
(27:54):
his college choice. And he's been as good as advertised, right,
averaging a double double.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Yeah, he's been outstanding. He's he's so athletic, he moves
around so well for being a six', ten two hundred
and twenty pound. Forward he's skilled around the. Basket he's you,
know he he's not Quite Cameron, boozer but he's really darn.
Close like they have some similarities to their game in
terms of how they can play inside and out a little.
(28:20):
Bit they're skilled with the ball in their, hands they
play so, hard they're, physical they're fluid while being so.
Big he's an excellent defender as, well and he's part
of a really really Good North carolina front. Court so
K kentucky's certainly going to have their hands full as
a team trying to contain not Just Kale, wilson but
but the rest Of North carolina's big then Al.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Woods would do you Think kentucky goes about Defending, Wilson,
because first of, all we don't know If diabate will
be available yet with a little more passage of, time
assuming he, is he's still giving up some.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Height, yeah it'll be. INTERESTING i think, that you, know,
PERSONALLY i think that If diabate can go THAT i
think his his physicality will, certainly you, know be something
That kentucky looks to to use On Killer. Wilson maybe
you can even kind of get up underneath him a
little bit and kind of bother the ball and make
(29:13):
him a little uncomfortable with a guy Like, Diabate but
THEN i honestly THINK i really like the idea of
Putting Andrea yellovich on him for some for some significant.
Minutes yellovic moves very well in his own. Right he's
shown the footwork to stay in front of some guards
this season when he switched on to. PEOPLE i think
that he's probably a pretty underrated defender For kentucky at
(29:34):
this point in the. Year, obviously he has the length
and the size to Bother wilson as, Well SO i
think this kind of in terms of a one on one,
MATCHUP i think Having yellovich On wilson for as many
minutes as possible it isn't a Bad it isn't a
bad matchup At, also that'd be something to look. FOR
i think tomorrow, night you look at.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
A team Like Michigan, state which his decisive wins over
both The cats and the Tar, heels and that's a
team that at a a lot of guys, back that
has a clear idea of its. Identity pieces fit together,
well if you want to put it that. Way Whereas
Mark pope has a collection of guys still relying heavily
(30:15):
on the transfer portal in his second, year and so
you're trying to see how best to fit the pieces,
together and doing so in an environment where you've been
dealt setbacks with injuries because and you can speak to,
this you're coming into a season thinking you're going to
play one way With Jalen. Lowe now you don't have.
Him if you knew you weren't going to have him
(30:35):
the rest of the, way you might play, DIFFERENTLY i, assume.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Right, YEAH i think right. Yeah it does make it,
hard especially when you sort of have an unknown of
like is he going to come? Back is he going
to be? Done because you're, RIGHT i think That kentucky
spent in the off season planning on having one of
the more, dynamic playmaking point, guards certainly in THE sec
(30:58):
and to a larger extent only in the, country because
that that's the type of Playmaker Jalen lowe, is and
then all of a sudden when that's taken away from,
you it it kind of undoes a lot of the
work that you did over the course of the off.
Season AND i think that you saw that at. Times you,
KNOW spa especially shows up obviously in The Louisville Michigan
state games where Maybe kentucky looks a little bit more disjointed,
(31:20):
offensively certainly than what we were used to seeing last.
Year AND i think it's, because quite, frankly not That
Coach pope went away from some of the zoom action
stuff and all that the pacing and spacing that we
saw last. Year but we were gonna set more ball,
screens we were going to do a little bit more
kind of put the ball jail In lowe's hands and
let him. Playmake and now all of a, sudden when
That's Denzel, aberdeen when That's Casper, johnson when That's Colin,
(31:42):
chandler it doesn't quite look the same or work as.
Well AND i think that you're you're you're gonna happen
to to improvise on the fly when all of a,
sudden you were primary, playmaker one of your best players
is is ripped away from. You AND i think, that you,
Know kentucky's continuing now to kind of refine or reshape
the offensive identity while also considering the fact that the
(32:03):
low might still come back at some. Point it's a
tough spot to, be no.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Doubt we're talking With Brandon ramsey from on Three SPORTS.
Ksr what Can kentucky? Do do you think we've talked
about how They kentucky has to defend a guy Like Caleb.
Wilson what are the things That kentucky can do that
could cause problems for The Tar.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
HEELS i think spreading them out and having a game
where you do get back to some of that you,
know half court zoom, action really getting into your offensive actions,
quickly playing with, pace changing sides of the floor and
then getting a cutters to the basket and then b
(32:42):
sm open shots from from the. Perimeter The North carolina
is the biggest team in college basketball in terms of average.
Height they're going to, start you, know six' six six,
nine six ten seven. Feet everybody they bring off the
bench is six five. Plus that this is a big.
Team so like you, know pounding the ball in side
out that that's necessarily What kentucky does. Anyway but you,
(33:02):
know finishing around the rim is going to be tough
if you don't have space in there to do. It
AND i think that you. Can you can move this
team around enough and use your, athleticism use your quickness
to your, advantage maybe you, know hopefully beating them on
the perimeter more, so BECAUSE i think winning the game
on the, interior winning the game and the paint is
going to be very difficult For kentucky right now Against North.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
Carolina, YEAH i was just looking at Ken pum teams
are shooting thirty eight and a half percent on two
point shots against the Tar, heels and that is the
number two defensive stat in that category in the. Country
they're thirty three overall in defensive. Efficiency.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Yeah, yeah they're a good defensive, team but especially inside.
IT i think the other side of that Is North
carolina is not the greatest shooting, team and a lot
of times the three point line can be a can
be a great. Equalizer SO i think this is gonna
be a game where you can really wash these those
three point shots and That kentucky can can win the
(34:04):
battle of the threes by you, know, two, three four threes. Total,
well you know that that becomes, six, nine twelve, points
and that can be a really big difference in this.
Game it'suck you can out Shoot North carolina from, three
especially In. RAPPERENA i think that'll be a pretty big
tell for what the scoreboard looks like at the.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
Game with that in. Mind it was good then to
See Trent noah get his stroke back in the game
last week Against Tennessee. Tech Cam, williams you have to
figure is going to break up with his shooting touch
at some point soon because he's doing a lot of
other things, good doing a lot of other things well for.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Them, Absolutely, YEAH i Think Cam williams continues to bring
some other things to the table and his time is
coming in terms of breaking out shooting the. Ball, yeah
it's great to See trent no because that's what we're
going to have to have some of. That you, know
The kentucky maybe doesn't have the elite shooters The Colin
chandler's kind of looking like it to this. Point maybe
(35:02):
you don't have the elite shooters that you've had With Antonio,
Reeves Kobe, Brea Killing, grady guys like. That but if
you can do it at bit more by committee and
certainly having a guy like Trenton noah's step, up you
know you're gonna need that in a lot of. Games
and as we're saying, THAT i could be very important
Against North carolina if a guy like that can come
in and hit a.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Couple Brandon, ramsey you can read of it on Three
SPORTS ksr and get the breakdown of the matchup with
the Tar heels and then the analysis of the tape
once it Is overwhere else can they find your? Work?
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Brandon, yeah you.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Can subscribe on YouTube to The Brandon Ramsey College Basketball.
SHOW i have a video coming out this morning On
Colin chandler AND i think Some kentucky fans will, like
so go subscribe there The Brandon Ramsey College Basketball. Show
all the written Work Tekey Sports radio dot com and
On twitter at B RAMSEY.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Ksr, Yeah collin's played about as well as anybody on
the team right, now ain't he he.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Is he's at an, outstanding outstanding start of the. Season
he's been really fun to.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
Watch so we'll look for. That thank, You, brandon, yep.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Anytime thank.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
You it is The.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Leech Report Radio. Network we are presented By Bobcat enterprises
and we'll be right Back. Stan Wildcat history is presented
By kentucky Road, Show Sports cards And. Memorabilia they are
On Romney road In lexington and At roadshowcards Dot. Com
stand twenty, Thirteen willie Colly stein blocked nine shots in
A kentucky win Against providence In brooklyn proudly shot just
(36:23):
thirty one percent for the. Game at the, time that
tied the school record for block shots With sambuie And Andre.
Ridick it would later be broken By Nerlin's noel with
twelve and also Later Agana onenzo had ten in a.
Game so they're first and, second And willie Kelly stein
tied for third all, time but on this day of twenty,
(36:45):
thirteen he was tied for number one in that stat
and of course the next season would be named The
National Defensive player of The. Year there is info up
at ukathletics dot com about how to get tickets for
the volleyball matches that will play out week At Historic
Memorial colisseum As kentucky hosts The Lexington regional is the
number one seed and we'll Play wafford On thursday at
(37:07):
Seven eastern, time and then we'll play if it advances
to the second round On friday at seven eastern against
the winner OF ucla And Georgia. Tech and if things go,
well The kentucky would host the following week as. Well
and this is a team and staff coaching staff that
(37:29):
deserves tremendous support for the season that they've. Had so
get out to the coliseum and support The kentucky volleyball
team as they begin THEIR ncaa tournament run this. Week
don't Forget Leach report on l E x eighteen each
night around five to Fifty eastern, time right After Bill meck's.
Forecast we'll be, Talking i'm sure today about The Mark stoops.
(37:50):
Story but that's each day five to Fifty eastern time
on L ex eighteen here in The lexington, market and
you can find it online and watch that way if
you don't have access to the signal where you live
here In. Kentucky that's gonna do it for. Us we
will see you tomorrow on The Leach report presented By Bobcat.
Enterprises we'll get deeper into This Kentucky carolina matchup tomorrow as.
Well see you, then
Good day, everybody. Welcome into another week of shows here
on the Leech Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises, and lots
to talk about. Today, we're gonna chat with Van Hiles
for our final shuffle being coffee Monday morning quarterback edition
of the show, and until yesterday probably we're gonna talk
(00:21):
to Van about a little bit on the Louisville game,
and then a little bit on looking forward for the
next season. And now there's a different topic to discuss
for Kentucky football. And then Brandon Ramsay will join us
second half of the show ahead of Kentucky basketball's big
game against North Carolina tomorrow night, so we'll chat with
(00:45):
Brandon about what that matchup can look like. So let's
get into the Wildcat news of the day. It is
a service of just Sepies of Lexington, And of course,
the big news broke yesterday with the news that Mark
Stoops is being relieved of his duties as the head
coach at Kentucky after thirteen seasons on the job. The
(01:09):
two kind of feels like the two lopsided losses to
end the season to Vanderbilt and Louisville, or the final
two deciding statistics or events that happened that brought the
decision to where it came. Yesterday, there are various reports,
(01:31):
I think Chris Lowe maybe from ESPN at the first
one saying that Mark Stoops has agreed to allow the
thirty eight million dollar or nearly thirty eight million dollar buyout.
His contract says he has to be paid in sixty
days to be spread over a longer period of time.
So that would be a very positive development for Kentucky
(01:53):
from the standpoint of managing the finances and being able
to still have the money to get the next coach
and to get the foster built and all of those
things that go into it. So something that Stoops by
contract wouldn't have to do, certainly, but it's a big
plus for a place that he certainly has a tremendous
(02:16):
affection for and had an outstanding run building the program
from a very low point when he arrived in twenty
thirteen to the point where Kentucky had two Citrus Bowl
wins to ten win seasons, first win since nineteen seventy
seven and end of the streak with Florida, got the
(02:40):
first win at Tennessee since eighty four, and a lot
of other noteworthy achievements. I don't have the stats in
front of me, but some outstanding stats in terms of
number of wins over ranked teams. But the last couple
of seasons, not being able to get back to postseason
play and keep that streak going became too much to continue,
(03:04):
and so Mark Stoops, the Mark Stoops here comes to
an end at the University of Kentucky. We'll get I'm
sure a lot of the details today. There is the
final edition of the Coaches Show tonight, so I'm not
sure exactly how that will work. We'll find out as
the day goes on, and then the Coach pok Show
will follow at seven. This speculation now begins on the successor,
(03:28):
and a lot of names thrown out, the ones that
seem to show up the most on lists or highest
on lists of various people reporting on this, all under
the heading of you know, take it for what it's
worth at this point, but this seems like seems like
logical names. Will Stein, the offensive coordinator at Oregon who
has some connections to UK football. Brian Hartline, you o
(03:53):
ce at Ohio State whose brother Mike is on the
staff right now for Coach Stoops as a quality control coach,
I think, working mainly with quarterbacks, so has had a
great relationship with Cutter Bowley. Dan Mullen's name, the former
in Florida and Mississippi state coach, has come up, and
(04:14):
several others. Neil Brown's name was on a list. I
saw Neil former oc here under Mark Stoops and has
been at Texas for the last season after being relieved
of his duties at West Virginia. So we'll see how
this all plays out over the course probably of this
(04:34):
this week. I think it would move pretty quickly because
you have to start putting a roster together and staff
and retaining players. There's a lot of young talent on
this team that if they can retain, it could be
a strong foundation for the next coach transfer portal we'll
kick in in a batt a month. So with that's
(04:56):
the story, one of the stories that we'll all be
following over the course of these next few weeks, and
we'll get some more details as this day plays out.
The other big stories. Volleyball Kentucky is the number two
overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, number one seed in
the Lexington Regional, which will be played on Thursday and
Friday at Historic Memorial Coliseum, Kentucky will play Wafford and
if it advances, we'll then get UCLA or Georgia Tech.
(05:20):
Thanks to the stories that we talk about, and you
can find them on the bud Light Leach Report page
at Tom Leachky dot com, we're gonna head to a break,
come back and visit with Van Hiles. Opening segment of
the Leach Report, always presented by Giuseppes of Lexington and
for the folks on the holiday list, no better gift
than a special evening of excellent Italian cuisine and fine
wine and live jazz music at Giuseppes. So order Giuseppes
(05:41):
gift cards at Giuseppes Lexington dot com. They can even
email the gift card out to you if you need
it quickly, or they can send it along in an
elegant envelope. When it says Giuseppes, everybody knows it's an
outstanding dining experience. So we'll get to the first break,
come right back with Van Hiles quarter past the top
(06:02):
of the hour on this Monday edition of the Leach Report.
We're presented each day by Bobcat Enterprises with four locations
around Kentucky. They have what you need. If you need
heavy equipment for a job or know of someone who
does to buy it or even to rent it. Google
Bobcat Enterprises. You'll find the location that's closest to you
to find the excavators or the tractors, or the forklifts,
(06:25):
skid steerloaders, whatever it is you might need zero tone
moors for your home. Lann too from Bobcat Enterprises, joined
now by Van Hiles. He's with the Sun Monday's for
the Shuffle being coffee Monday Morning quarterback edition of the
Leach Report, and man, instead of breaking down a game,
there's a bigger story to talk about now. So after
(06:46):
thirteen seasons, Mark Stoops is out as the head football
coach at Kentucky. Had some very high highs in his
time here, but those last two weeks of lows where
I guess too much to withstand and then it was
going to be hard to generate much enthusiasm in the
next season. Off the way it finished right.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, that man, it's tough. When it happened last night,
it brought back emotions for me because I was a senior.
Not only a senior, I was a senior captain in
nineteen ninety six when we got our coach fired, and
it's it's something that I'm gonna say this, it's nothing.
(07:27):
It's something that these seniors for sure are never gonna
forget because this guy is the one that gave you
an opportunity to play on this level, on this platform,
in this conference and to not do enough to keep
him employed is going to hit you later on in life.
(07:48):
And it's I still think about that to this day
on losing Coach Curry and losing Coach Smith, one of
the best teachers of coordinators at that time in the country,
and have those guys have to uproot their families. Man,
it was tough, and it's going to be tough for
these kids for the next couple of months when they
(08:08):
start thinking about how everything transpired, and it's unfortunate. But
when you look back on things later in life, you're
going to understand how influential and how important this guy
was to this program.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
And there are a lot of others you mentioned within
this Coach Smith, there is DC at the time, Coach curryes,
there's all the people that are on the staff and
to support people and you know, after working with them
for thirteen seasons. A lot of people you get to know,
be friends with, and so you hate to see It's
(08:42):
part of the world of you know, big time athletics,
college and professional. But it's something that you can, you know,
acknowledge that you hate to see it happen. You wished
it turned out differently, so you can understand why it happened,
but it doesn't make it easier for any of them.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Yeah, and I know you didn't ask, but I'm gonna
give a shout out thank you for allow me to
talk like this. Is that Al and Sue Green where
they were the ahead of the trainers when I was
at Kentucky. I would say this, they saved my life.
And this is the reason why, because I had multiple
concussions while I was at Mexington. And this is before
(09:20):
all of the benchmarks and all this stuff that people
had to go concussion protocol and all this stuff. When
I had my last one, they said, Van, you're not
playing the last three games of your junior year and
we're sending you out all the spring football. That was
not something that was commonplace. And because of that, seriously
that I am able to sit here with a clean
(09:42):
thought process without any after effects of all the concussions
I've had in my life. And I owe it to
them because they could have easy to let me play
spreing football and who knows what could have happened, because
then I could be experienced CT and for those two
people who have lost their job because of I will
play on the football field. It's another thing I think
about a lot, because I really believe that they, truly say,
(10:06):
my life because of their actions would not allow me
to play my end of my junior year in that
spring football season.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Yeah, they were great folks. Have been a lot of
folks and those kinds of roles over the years, Jim
Mattelino and yeh guys and his team in most recent years.
And what was done to you know, save Josh Pascal's life?
Probably right, right, exactly, Yeah, No, it's it's very well said.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Van.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
We'll ask you this question that we'll get to a
break and continue the discussion. What I don't know if
you have any thoughts on any particular individual that you'd
like to see your alma mater go after. But in
lieu of that, what type of coach should they go after?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
And that was the key question. Man.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
I'm not one thing. Coaches search and candidates are not
in my wheelhouse. It's not my forte. But what I
would say is we have to find a guy that
understands the complexities of coaching and lessington and who wants
to be here. I don't think people remember the press
conference when coach Stups got here. He wasn't that highly
(11:14):
sought off the candidate, but in that press conference, as
a former player, I felt like he wanted to be here.
And that's the key part is getting a coach that
wants to be here. And if you get a guy
there who understands what he has going up against being
a coacher, I think he can be successful here. Now
I'm gonna say this, it doesn't get any easier, but
(11:36):
I think if a guy understands and it's willing to
develop a roster like coach Stup's had to do. Now,
you're development a rosters a little bit different than it
was in the early two thousands. It's different. You gotta
have money, but still a guy who can identify talent,
get them here, pay them enough money, I guess to
(11:58):
want them to stay here and developed that way, You've
got to have a guy who wants to be and
that's what I will want as a former player.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
You know, Mark Stoops did want the job and had
a detailed plan that nobody's ever seen it, but it's
been often discussed about Tim Couch and that was part
of the selection process, talked about it. A detailed plan
for what he you know, how he would approach the
job and how he would go about turning things around
(12:26):
and did a lot of that, A lot of that
brought it to fruition, and then the rules of the
game changed. That that's that's you know, he had had
a pretty good model going of recruiting, finding guys that
you could develop, you know, a Josh Allen being the
best example, but many others, and you could you know,
(12:49):
build an offensive line and you know, the defensive line
that could compete in the SEC, which a lot of
people didn't think Kentucky would ever be able to do.
But then the rules of the game changed in terms
of l transfer portal and that the previous model didn't
work as well.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Right, I'm gonna say this. I'm gonna push back on
anyone not cuting as the least, but anyone that says
the transfer portal was an issue with coach stops, that's
not the issue. N IL became an issue, and it's
not a coach stops. Then the issue, it's a university
deal because if you remember the second twenty the second
season of ten wins were led by transfer portal guys
(13:27):
Ye Wonders and on that defense. So therefore it is
not the portal. It was the NIL when you when
you brought into the factor of money, that is what
changed the path of of this journey with this coach. Now,
I hope that we have learned from our own mistakes
as a collective pun intended of everyone, that we have
(13:53):
to do better on that end of the spectrum to
help the guy who fancy with the headsets on the
sideline on SATA, Tom of.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Van Hiles had v Styles seventeen on X and of
course on the Locker on Wednesday nights at nine Eastern
with Anthony White, another former Wildcat Star, and they chop
it up every week and you can find it on
YouTube and other podcast platforms. We'll be right back with
Van on the Leach Report Radio Network if past the
(14:21):
top of the hour, it's the Leach Report coming to
you from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio Return, Refresh and Refuel,
and Hiles with us as we talk Kentucky football, and
Kentucky has a promising young quarterback in Cutter. Bowlie had
a rough couple of Saturdays in the last two games
with all of the pressure he was seeing from opposing defenses.
(14:43):
But that's something that he can improve against. Think about
you know Andre Woodson some days like that in his
first year really as the starter in five and became
one of the best quarterbacks ever here in six seven,
and so Cutter has the potential to do that. Would
(15:03):
you like to see, uh a coaching decision made based
on trying to work with that young quarterback.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
I mean, I think that's what you start with. But
I'm gonna be honest with you. In today's world, you
never know, because I'm like coach Signetti. If his offense
is X, and the guy he's at an institution that
has a quarterback with two years remaining, he wants to
(15:34):
come along with you, you probably bring him along too.
So it's probably a battle at the quarterback position. So
I don't know. I will say this, I think Cutter
has a future here, but whomever is the next head coach,
you gotta have you gotta give him that leadway to
bring the players that he feel comfortable with. And that's
just the nature of business. But Cutter had definitely, definitely,
(15:57):
Cutter would have had a definitely chance to leave this
this unit next year with stoops at to him. But
we don't know. I have no idea who's the next
guy is. Maybe you might know, mister Leach. I know
you probably can't stay on her, but maybe you have
some insane information. I have no idea.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
With some of the young players in the program that
have flashed the you know a CJ. Works, Steven Soles,
you know the DJ and Cam Miller and then Willie Rodriguez,
is there a uh is Whoever the next coach is
going to walk into a situation where he can have
(16:34):
early success. Assuming you can retain those.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Guys, he has a chance. Yes, that's and man, that's
the hard part about college football. Yes, if those guys
came to Kentucky for Kentucky, I would say this as
limited nods I have. I think will Rid and cut
a Bowlie has a better chance of staying at home
(16:57):
technically than the other guys. What if those are the
guys have a connection with the wide receiver coach, the
d D coach, the officer's line coach, and they want
to go where he is going because that's your relationship.
Because this thing is based on relationships, just like why
we did so well in the past before Nil with
guys as we build great relationships with players, that's all
(17:18):
we got one Del Robbins come back. Now. It's not
always about relationships, but for those players, they feel comfortable
with a guy whom they spend way more time than
anybody else with. That's your position, coach, and if your
position goes goes to a place that you feel like
is worthy of your services, you might follow him and
go to what that said institution. Hopefully we have a
(17:39):
coach that can influence these guys because, like you said,
the Miller the Maladay, not twins, the two Miller receivers.
When we'll ride, it'll be nice, Patterson. I mean, you
have the pieces on that offense, the shell of it
could be very good at the skills position next year.
Hopefully those guys really feel strongly about their connection with
(18:02):
Lexington and stays in Lexington.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Van appreciate it very much. Thank you as.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Always, Ah man, Yes, thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
We'll be talking once they get the new decision. That's
Van Heiles. We'll be right back. It's the Leech Report
presented by Bob kat Enterprises for this Monday as we
welcome in Brandon Ramsey, the former coach who does the
analysis of tapes is Van Hiles does it in football
and Brandon's the guy that you go to to get
(18:32):
the breakdown of the tape after a Kentucky game or
preview of the opponent coming up, which is why we
have him here to talk about the Kentucky North Carolina matchup.
You read him on three Sports at KSR. But Brandon,
you're also a longtime Kentucky fan, passionate Kentucky fan, and
so I know you have some thoughts on the football
news as well, and what's your take on how this
(18:54):
has played out?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Yeah, you know, I think it's unfortunate obviously that we've
you know, gotten to the point over the last couple
of years where I do think this was needed. But
I know, you know, for myself as a as a
Kentucky fan, as somebody who you know, really kind of
builds most of their fall around getting down from Indiana
to the Kentucky football games, even goes to a couple
(19:18):
of road games every year. You know, I appreciate everything
he did for the program and building it kind of
at a place I would have never really expected at
the time. I think he was the perfect hire. At
the time. He had a lot of success, and I think,
especially as time goes on, I'm going to remember the
you know, the the eight, nine, ten win seasons and
and all the success that he had. But I definitely
(19:39):
do think it was it was time for a change,
and I'm excited to see where the program goes next.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I will get some official word today of what has
been reported by a period of news sources since last
night as this started to come out, and with the
way it peers it's going to the partying is going
to happen. It's in a way that fans can then
(20:07):
can then think about the good times and right over time, Uh,
there will be a lot of you know, fun moments
when Mark Stoops is back at Kroger Field with a
Bowl winning team and getting cheered on reunions and those
kinds of things we've seen play out with the other coaches.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Absolutely, I think he certainly, you know, it seems like
it's it's it's on its way to amicable enough split
where he certainly he'll be remembered fondly and he'll have
his day to come back to Lexington and kind of
you know, be cheered and remember in the way that
at least I believe he deserves to be.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
He is a you know, fiery competitor and we've you
know seen that and the way he's approached the job,
and he's and and so it's hard I'm sure to
accept the way it when it gets to this point.
But he's also been a guy that seems to have
(21:09):
a feel for the fans. So I think he realizes
kind of you know, what the feeling is out there,
and that is something that he's treated. You know, uh,
fans meetia people I know, my world and people in
this world. You know, I know you don't cover him,
but I think that's been a very respectful relationship. So
I think, uh, nobody's uh, you know, everybody, I think
(21:34):
wishes that it had played out differently, but these things
usually don't. At some point, you know, nothing keeps going up,
and at some point, more often than not, it you know,
ends with you know, somebody leaving before they really want.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
To, right.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Yeah, I mean that that there's a there's a saying
and coaching a lot of times where you your theories
are a coach that has been fired or a coach
that hasn't been fired yet. Yeah, you know, I I think,
you know, it's just one of those things where when
you're when you're somewhere along enough and obviously you know,
sometimes have changed and with in I L and everything,
you know, it was a it was a different job
than what it was when he was having you know,
(22:08):
his most success, you know, and maybe some things you know,
kind of so apart as part of that. But but
but yeah, I think you know, ultimately, you know, he
deserves to be remembered in a pretty positive way, certainly
as we remove ourselves, you know, a year or two
from the ending.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
A lot of coaches have have talked about the kind
of the ten year window. I think Tubby was the
first one that he said, Tommy i Zo had told
him that where you know, after about ten years, Uh,
it's hard to keep it going as a guy who
has been a coach, Uh is that you know the
way it is these days that with all the money
that's involved, all the coverage that's involved at the highest
(22:48):
level is you know, ten or or shortly thereafter window
about the most you can hope for.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
I mean, it certainly seems that way. And I think
that you know the proof, you know, not only guys
at Kentucky with you know, when you look at John
Calipari's ten here, you know he was he was arguably
the best of the best for about ten years, and
then those last four or five weren't quite the same.
And then you know, coach Soups was as good as
we could have imagined for about ten years, and then
(23:16):
these last three or four haven't been quite as good.
So you're know that there's certainly some proof in our
own backyard. But then when you look, you know, just nationally,
it's like, hey, I mean, you're talking about only the
very best coaches of all time. You know, your your
your tim is those your coach K's. You know, some
guys like that who have been at places for you know,
(23:37):
decades and decades at a time. And I think that's
probably even especially more true now in modern times with
an iel and it's how hard at all encompassing the
job is. I do think that there probably becomes even
a shorter lifespan for some of these coaches.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
We'll chat with Brandon Ramsey and we'll shift gears now
and get into the reason we have you on the
show regularly, which is to talk hoops. And Kentucky has
another game on a big stage tomorrow night. They came
up short against Louisville and Michigan State. They've handled their
business very impressively otherwise, So uh, that's These next few
(24:15):
weeks are are big for Kentucky, not only to just
be able to make a statement against top flight competition,
but you've got to start putting a few checks in
the wind box for your tournament resume before you get
into conference plays. So they have two this week, North
Carolina and Gonzaga. Next week you'll have Indiana. Week after
(24:37):
that you'll have Saint John's. So let's start with Carolina
tomorrow night. And what do you will you be looking
to see in this game after the two blowout wins
they've had since the Michigan State game.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
I think, I mean, first and foremost, you're you're hoping
that you see a Kentucky team that that comes maybe
maybe a little more ready to play, a little bit
more locked in a little more energetic across the board.
You know, the Louisville and Michigan State games, you felt
like you just kind of got punched in the mouth
pretty early on, and then you put yourself in a position.
Obviously against Louisville you almost made a full comeback, but
(25:16):
you just dug yourself such a hole. It was you
know it was going to be pretty unlikely, and there
was a little bit of life at different times late
against Michigan State too, But you just can't dig yourself
such a hole against these really, really good teams in
North Carolina. Maybe maybe isn't quite on the level of
Louisville and Michigan State, but they're certainly a top twenty,
top twenty five team in the country with some real
star power in Kayleb Williams or Klen Wilson. Excuse me,
(25:38):
so I think, yeah, you want to see this a
more competitive kind of locked in, engaged group. But man,
I think more than anything, you just want to see
a win because you know, this week I think could
really turn the season around in a positive way. But man,
if there's one or certainly two losses this week, I
think things will you know, right wrong or otherwise get
(26:00):
a little dark around Kentucky basketball going forward, just you know,
probably it's not necessarily fair to basketball with the way
the football and should. I think Pig Blue Nation just
needs something to feel good about right now. And obviously
when you're playing North Carolina and Gonzaga, that can be
harder to come by. But I do think this is
a really really important game on Tuesday, and certainly a
(26:21):
really really important week, not just for Kentucky basketball, but
honestly for the fan base in general.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Kind of going forward, we'll pick up on that when
we return with Grandy Ramsey and is the Lead's Report
presented by Bobcat Enterprises. We'll be right back quarter for
the top of the hour. If you missed Black Friday,
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cheer h e e R corn Bradhamp. This is the
Good Life. Were chatting with Brandon Ramsey from on three
Sports KSR at b Ramsey KSR on X for his
analysis of Kentucky basketball as the Cats get set to
take on North Carolina, which is six and one coming
(27:33):
into the acc SEC Challenge game tomorrow night. Their most
recent game was a loss to Michigan State decisively seventy
four to fifty eight. It's a Carolina team that is
led by a freshman NBA lottery pick in Caleb Wilson
that came down to Kentucky and Carolina for Wilson on
(27:54):
his college choice. And he's been as good as advertised, right,
averaging a double double.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Yeah, he's been outstanding. He's he's so athletic, he moves
around so well for being a six', ten two hundred
and twenty pound. Forward he's skilled around the. Basket he's you,
know he he's not Quite Cameron, boozer but he's really darn.
Close like they have some similarities to their game in
terms of how they can play inside and out a little.
(28:20):
Bit they're skilled with the ball in their, hands they
play so, hard they're, physical they're fluid while being so.
Big he's an excellent defender as, well and he's part
of a really really Good North carolina front. Court so
K kentucky's certainly going to have their hands full as
a team trying to contain not Just Kale, wilson but
but the rest Of North carolina's big then Al.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Woods would do you Think kentucky goes about Defending, Wilson,
because first of, all we don't know If diabate will
be available yet with a little more passage of, time
assuming he, is he's still giving up some.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Height, yeah it'll be. INTERESTING i think, that you, know,
PERSONALLY i think that If diabate can go THAT i
think his his physicality will, certainly you, know be something
That kentucky looks to to use On Killer. Wilson maybe
you can even kind of get up underneath him a
little bit and kind of bother the ball and make
(29:13):
him a little uncomfortable with a guy Like, Diabate but
THEN i honestly THINK i really like the idea of
Putting Andrea yellovich on him for some for some significant.
Minutes yellovic moves very well in his own. Right he's
shown the footwork to stay in front of some guards
this season when he switched on to. PEOPLE i think
that he's probably a pretty underrated defender For kentucky at
(29:34):
this point in the. Year, obviously he has the length
and the size to Bother wilson as, Well SO i
think this kind of in terms of a one on one,
MATCHUP i think Having yellovich On wilson for as many
minutes as possible it isn't a Bad it isn't a
bad matchup At, also that'd be something to look. FOR
i think tomorrow, night you look at.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
A team Like Michigan, state which his decisive wins over
both The cats and the Tar, heels and that's a
team that at a a lot of guys, back that
has a clear idea of its. Identity pieces fit together,
well if you want to put it that. Way Whereas
Mark pope has a collection of guys still relying heavily
(30:15):
on the transfer portal in his second, year and so
you're trying to see how best to fit the pieces,
together and doing so in an environment where you've been
dealt setbacks with injuries because and you can speak to,
this you're coming into a season thinking you're going to
play one way With Jalen. Lowe now you don't have.
Him if you knew you weren't going to have him
(30:35):
the rest of the, way you might play, DIFFERENTLY i, assume.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Right, YEAH i think right. Yeah it does make it,
hard especially when you sort of have an unknown of
like is he going to come? Back is he going
to be? Done because you're, RIGHT i think That kentucky
spent in the off season planning on having one of
the more, dynamic playmaking point, guards certainly in THE sec
(30:58):
and to a larger extent only in the, country because
that that's the type of Playmaker Jalen lowe, is and
then all of a sudden when that's taken away from,
you it it kind of undoes a lot of the
work that you did over the course of the off.
Season AND i think that you saw that at. Times you,
KNOW spa especially shows up obviously in The Louisville Michigan
state games where Maybe kentucky looks a little bit more disjointed,
(31:20):
offensively certainly than what we were used to seeing last.
Year AND i think it's, because quite, frankly not That
Coach pope went away from some of the zoom action
stuff and all that the pacing and spacing that we
saw last. Year but we were gonna set more ball,
screens we were going to do a little bit more
kind of put the ball jail In lowe's hands and
let him. Playmake and now all of a, sudden when
That's Denzel, aberdeen when That's Casper, johnson when That's Colin,
(31:42):
chandler it doesn't quite look the same or work as.
Well AND i think that you're you're you're gonna happen
to to improvise on the fly when all of a,
sudden you were primary, playmaker one of your best players
is is ripped away from. You AND i think, that you,
Know kentucky's continuing now to kind of refine or reshape
the offensive identity while also considering the fact that the
(32:03):
low might still come back at some. Point it's a
tough spot to, be no.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Doubt we're talking With Brandon ramsey from on Three SPORTS.
Ksr what Can kentucky? Do do you think we've talked
about how They kentucky has to defend a guy Like Caleb.
Wilson what are the things That kentucky can do that
could cause problems for The Tar.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
HEELS i think spreading them out and having a game
where you do get back to some of that you,
know half court zoom, action really getting into your offensive actions,
quickly playing with, pace changing sides of the floor and
then getting a cutters to the basket and then b
(32:42):
sm open shots from from the. Perimeter The North carolina
is the biggest team in college basketball in terms of average.
Height they're going to, start you, know six' six six,
nine six ten seven. Feet everybody they bring off the
bench is six five. Plus that this is a big.
Team so like you, know pounding the ball in side
out that that's necessarily What kentucky does. Anyway but you,
(33:02):
know finishing around the rim is going to be tough
if you don't have space in there to do. It
AND i think that you. Can you can move this
team around enough and use your, athleticism use your quickness
to your, advantage maybe you, know hopefully beating them on
the perimeter more, so BECAUSE i think winning the game
on the, interior winning the game and the paint is
going to be very difficult For kentucky right now Against North.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
Carolina, YEAH i was just looking at Ken pum teams
are shooting thirty eight and a half percent on two
point shots against the Tar, heels and that is the
number two defensive stat in that category in the. Country
they're thirty three overall in defensive. Efficiency.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Yeah, yeah they're a good defensive, team but especially inside.
IT i think the other side of that Is North
carolina is not the greatest shooting, team and a lot
of times the three point line can be a can
be a great. Equalizer SO i think this is gonna
be a game where you can really wash these those
three point shots and That kentucky can can win the
(34:04):
battle of the threes by you, know, two, three four threes. Total,
well you know that that becomes, six, nine twelve, points
and that can be a really big difference in this.
Game it'suck you can out Shoot North carolina from, three
especially In. RAPPERENA i think that'll be a pretty big
tell for what the scoreboard looks like at the.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
Game with that in. Mind it was good then to
See Trent noah get his stroke back in the game
last week Against Tennessee. Tech Cam, williams you have to
figure is going to break up with his shooting touch
at some point soon because he's doing a lot of
other things, good doing a lot of other things well for.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Them, Absolutely, YEAH i Think Cam williams continues to bring
some other things to the table and his time is
coming in terms of breaking out shooting the. Ball, yeah
it's great to See trent no because that's what we're
going to have to have some of. That you, know
The kentucky maybe doesn't have the elite shooters The Colin
chandler's kind of looking like it to this. Point maybe
(35:02):
you don't have the elite shooters that you've had With Antonio,
Reeves Kobe, Brea Killing, grady guys like. That but if
you can do it at bit more by committee and
certainly having a guy like Trenton noah's step, up you
know you're gonna need that in a lot of. Games
and as we're saying, THAT i could be very important
Against North carolina if a guy like that can come
in and hit a.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Couple Brandon, ramsey you can read of it on Three
SPORTS ksr and get the breakdown of the matchup with
the Tar heels and then the analysis of the tape
once it Is overwhere else can they find your? Work?
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Brandon, yeah you.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Can subscribe on YouTube to The Brandon Ramsey College Basketball.
SHOW i have a video coming out this morning On
Colin chandler AND i think Some kentucky fans will, like
so go subscribe there The Brandon Ramsey College Basketball. Show
all the written Work Tekey Sports radio dot com and
On twitter at B RAMSEY.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Ksr, Yeah collin's played about as well as anybody on
the team right, now ain't he he.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
Is he's at an, outstanding outstanding start of the. Season
he's been really fun to.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
Watch so we'll look for. That thank, You, brandon, yep.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Anytime thank.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
You it is The.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Leech Report Radio. Network we are presented By Bobcat enterprises
and we'll be right Back. Stan Wildcat history is presented
By kentucky Road, Show Sports cards And. Memorabilia they are
On Romney road In lexington and At roadshowcards Dot. Com
stand twenty, Thirteen willie Colly stein blocked nine shots in
A kentucky win Against providence In brooklyn proudly shot just
(36:23):
thirty one percent for the. Game at the, time that
tied the school record for block shots With sambuie And Andre.
Ridick it would later be broken By Nerlin's noel with
twelve and also Later Agana onenzo had ten in a.
Game so they're first and, second And willie Kelly stein
tied for third all, time but on this day of twenty,
(36:45):
thirteen he was tied for number one in that stat
and of course the next season would be named The
National Defensive player of The. Year there is info up
at ukathletics dot com about how to get tickets for
the volleyball matches that will play out week At Historic
Memorial colisseum As kentucky hosts The Lexington regional is the
number one seed and we'll Play wafford On thursday at
(37:07):
Seven eastern, time and then we'll play if it advances
to the second round On friday at seven eastern against
the winner OF ucla And Georgia. Tech and if things go,
well The kentucky would host the following week as. Well
and this is a team and staff coaching staff that
(37:29):
deserves tremendous support for the season that they've. Had so
get out to the coliseum and support The kentucky volleyball
team as they begin THEIR ncaa tournament run this. Week
don't Forget Leach report on l E x eighteen each
night around five to Fifty eastern, time right After Bill meck's.
Forecast we'll be, Talking i'm sure today about The Mark stoops.
(37:50):
Story but that's each day five to Fifty eastern time
on L ex eighteen here in The lexington, market and
you can find it online and watch that way if
you don't have access to the signal where you live
here In. Kentucky that's gonna do it for. Us we
will see you tomorrow on The Leach report presented By Bobcat.
Enterprises we'll get deeper into This Kentucky carolina matchup tomorrow as.
Well see you, then
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