Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This podcast of the Leech Report is presented by Boone's
Butcher Shop in Barnestown at one hundred Old Bloomfield Pike,
family owned and operated since nineteen forty six, with fresh
meat cut on site daily. Boons Butcher Shop. Good day, Everybody,
Welcome in do the Leech Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
(00:21):
And I'm coming to you today from Music City, Tennessee
and Kentucky's here in Nashville to play the against Zaga
Bulldogs tomorrow night or tonight excuse me at Bridgetoe Arena
home with the SEC Tournament. Game will tip at seven
Eastern Time. Zags are seven and one, and we'll talk
about that matchup today in college basketball just in general
(00:43):
with Mike Decursia the Sporting News. We will get a
scouting report on the Zags from their radio play by
playboye Tom Hudson, and then we'll check out with Dick
Gabriel for a recap of Kentucky's opening night win in
the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. That's the rundown for today. Wildcat
News of the Day presented by Giuseppes of Lexington and
(01:05):
Gabe will be talking about a three to zero sweep
of Wafford for the Kentucky Wildcats. We were at an
event here in Nashville last night, so I was trying
to check in on the TV in the sports bar
area and seeing that Kentucky was having a little bit
of a tussle early in the first couple of sets
(01:26):
with Wafford, but then they would burge and put them
away late and then ended up dominating victories in all
three sets. And they will now face Ucla tonight at
seven Eastern time over at Historic Memorial Codd'll see them.
Brooklyn Delay had fourteen kills to pace Kentucky's attack last night.
(01:46):
If you are going to the Batch, and hopefully you are.
If you're not down here in Nashville, then take your
radio along and you can listen in as you watch
Kentucky and UCLA and volleyball, and you can listen in
on Kentucky and Zaga and Gonzaga and men's basketball. If not,
we'll be doing updates regularly of the volleyball as you
(02:07):
listen to the basketball broadcast tonight here in Nashville. I'm
told it's going to be a sellout tonight, or it
was very close as of early this week, and that
it will be mostly Kentucky fans, so it'll seem like
even more of a home game than it does at
the SEC Tournament for Kentucky tonight, and Wildcats need a
(02:29):
win to get a marquee victory on their resume, and
Gonzaga is seven and one coming off a forty point
loss to Michigan in its most recent game. We'll talk
about that with Tom Hudson here in a bit, but
the Zags had looked very impressive before that, had a
nice win over Alabama. Jalen Lowe might see him tonight,
(02:50):
That's what Mark Pope told the media in a session
back in Lexington yesterday, said that they were going to
put Jalen in some contact work yesterday and might see
him in the game tonight. That would be a big lift.
Mo Diabat still out. Sounds like it might be a
little while because it is a high ankle sprain and
(03:11):
there are varying degrees of severity on those, and it
sounds like this one might be more on the worst
end of the scale for Mo, so he is dealing
with that now, which explains why it's taken so long
to come back from an ankle Sprain, and then Pope
also talked about Jade and Quaintance. There was a period
about a month ago when he said there was an
(03:32):
important strength test that was coming up for JQ it
would be in about three weeks when it has happened now,
and Pope was asked about it yesterday and said that
Quaintan's passed with flying colors. So he's continuing to ramp
up what he's doing in practices and doing some work
(03:52):
where he's doing some scrimmaging with managers. So it doesn't
sound like it's the next week or anything, but getting
closer for Jake, thank you, and well they could certainly
use them tonight against a Gonzaga team that is similar
to North Carolina, and they get a lot of their
offense through the four of the five man Graham e
k who has killed Kentucky in the last two years,
scoring twenty eight one year, twenty three to the next
(04:12):
and Braden Huff a couple of big guys, your big, thick,
strong players, so rebounding will be a key number again
tonight to pay attention to. And it looks like according
to reports, Joe Sloan, the former OC and quarterback coach
at LSU is going to be the new offensive coordinator
for will Stein and the Kentucky Wildcats. Thanks to the
stories that we talk about, you can find on the
(04:34):
Bud Light Leach Report page of Tom Leech k White
dot com. We'll come right back and get to our
interview with Tom Hudson talking about the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Opening
segment of Wildcat News presented by Juseppes of Lexington. If
you have someone on your list who's hard to buy for,
consider Giuseppes gift cards. Go to Giuseppes Lexington dot com.
You can get those or you can pick them up
when you're at the restaurant. They'll email them to you
(04:57):
as well. But if you would like, they can prepare
a really nice looking gift card a pretty envelope sent
it out to you so you'll have them to gift
to the people who are hard to buy for on
your list.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
It's the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises and coming
to you from Nashville today, Friday Game Day edition of
the Leach Report, and it is always presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
As we welcome in Tom Hudson. He is the radio
voice for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who are getting set to
take on Kentucky here in Nashville. Tom, let's first talk
(05:33):
about that last game for Gonzaga. We were chatting before
we started the interview that I saw the open the
ESPN app on the phone and saw that score the
next morning, and I thought I was looking at it wrong.
I had to wipe my eyes and thinks that surely
can't be one on one to sixty one. But that
was a surprising score, I'm sure for you as well,
(05:54):
right it was.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
You know, it's so funny, Tom, because you know, we were
talking and saying, hey, you know, we're as big and
strong as we've been on the perimeter as we ever
have been, and we have two you know, bigs that
that we all love, and it's like, yeah, well this
isn't gonna happen. And it happened, and it happened in
a hurry, and it was just remarkable to see Michigan
come out and you know, they knocked down some big shots.
You know, we had some miscues that you know, led
(06:17):
to stuff, and then you know, it hasn't happened very often.
I mean, we were just in talking and kind of laughing.
It's like, you know, a lot of people asking, is
that the biggest loss we've ever had. It's like, well,
nineteen forty five Montana got us by sixty nine points,
so so at least that's still intact. It wasn't the
worst lost ever, but but yeah, it was. It was
a tough one for sure, and the worst loss in
coach fughes era, and you know, we haven't had many
(06:39):
of those in his and it was kind of a
crazy thing. It got sideways on us. You know, we
gave up two offensive rebounds that led to threes off
of missed free throws, you know, and then in the
second half, you know, you felt like there was a
stretch right at the beginning, you know that maybe we
could have made a little bit of a dent, but
you know, they turned over a few times, missed some shots.
We did absolutely nothing with it, and then it went
from bad to worse, and and here we are trying
(07:00):
to flush that thing, getting ready to play Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
The Zags have some impressive wins, one over Alabama I think,
well I think ninety five eighty five, So obviously there
is a a really good version of the Bulldog. So
what does that look like?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Well, isn't that funny? Like it's it's incredible because the
first night of the tournament, we've beat you know, the
eighth ranketh team of the country, and we're flying high
and feeling good and we come back to beat Maryland
by fifty, you know, and you're like, Okay, well, hey,
we're we're in great shape. And then all of a
sudden's like, yeah, oh, like what's going on? But Tom,
that version of the Zags is rebounding it really well,
is shooting it pretty well. It's been one of our bugaboos.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
You know.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
We we brought in some guys that are really good
three point shooters, and you know, the game against Maryland
we made fourteen, but outside of that, we've struggled for
the most part shooting three. So, you know, when we're
playing well, it's been tough and e gay inside, primarily offensively.
You know, Tyan Grant Foster's provided us with some good stuff.
He's different type of player than what we've had in
the past, and so he's played well in our wins. So,
(08:00):
you know, I think when we've got our bigs going,
we're really good. When Tian's flying around were good. If
we knocked down shots like Witing against Maryland, I think
we're really tough out. But you know, none of those
things was happening against Michigan. It all kind of fell apart.
So they oh the team to beat Alabama. You know,
quick tempo, right, and obviously you would expect that against Alabama,
and we scored ninety five points. But we did a
(08:20):
great job taking care of the basketball. I think only
eleven turnovers when I forget what that was one hundred
and forty, one hundred and fifty possessions in that game.
You know, it was ridiculous. So that's the team that
I think we look at and say, hey, this has
an opportunity to make a run down the line in March.
It's compared to the game that we saw against Michigan.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Huff and e k are two guys that have been
a load for Kentucky now in the last two seasons
to handle, both in ropp Arena and last year out
in Seattle. What have the newcomers brought to the table
for the Zags.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Well, you know, it's interesting because, like I said, I
think a physical presence for the most part on the perimeter,
you know, I mean, I mean last year, you know,
with Ryan Nemhart at five ten, five eleven and Nolan
Hickman at six two ish, you know, starting on perimeter.
You know, now we're starting you know, six three at
the point, we're starting six three or six four at
the two. We're starting six seven on the wing, you know,
(09:12):
and then coming off the bench, it's two more guys,
three more guys that are in that six four to
six seven range. And so I think we've gotten a
lot bigger on the perimeter, which is which has been helpful.
You know, we're rebounded pretty good from our guard positions.
I think that maybe has been the biggest part of it.
Like I said, Tian Grant, Foster's is different type of
player than what we've had. He might take some shots
(09:32):
that maybe Coach Few doesn't like. You know, there may
be some decisions the coach Few kind of you know,
he seems shaking his head a little bit. But then
the X factor part of it, you know, flying in,
grabbing offensive rebounds, making a tough shot or making a
play when maybe you know the offense is broken down
and we need to get a bucket. He's he's been
really helpful in that, and so I think those perimeter
guys have done a nice job of acclimating and getting in.
(09:54):
And you know, Mario Saint Sapiri, our freshman point guard
out of Spain, has kind of stepped in and taken
over Braden's myth was, you know, our start at the
beginning of the year, transfer out of Colgate and he
red shirted last year, so you guys didn't see him.
But you know, Mario's a bigger kid, sixty three, two
hundred pounds, has a little bit of flash and a
little bit of flair that maybe coach Few doesn't always love,
but he loves his his spirit in the way that
he competes, and so he's He's been a really nice
(10:17):
addition for us out there as well.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Mark Pope obviously has a lot of connection to the
part of the world where Gonzaga comes from. So I'm
sure there's some fun rivalry for both of the coaches.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
It is. It's really great, and I think that there's
a mutual respect. You know, those those games that we
played against BYU when they were in our league were fantastic.
I mean, I think on the West Coast, probably the
two best atmospheres, you know, I mean b YU and
maybe even across the country, you know, I mean BYU
going there with nineteen thousand fans, and you know, it
was just, you know, raucous. It was like when we
(10:49):
were a Rough a couple of years ago, you know,
and obviously Rough has the history in those things, but
you would go in there. Every single time we were there.
It was loud and obnoxious, and our huddles were tough.
Nobody could hear, you know, and they would come into
Spokane and the same thing. I mean, I know we're
only six thousand, but you know, loud and obnoxious and
crazy and just you know, two really good programs in
great atmospheres and you know, some really competitive basketball games.
(11:12):
So yeah, there is some some rivalry there, and I
think great respects too. I think, you know, Coach Pope
knows how impressive it is what Mark has been able
to do over all these years. And I think, you know,
looking at Coach Pope going into b why you had
taken over and keeping that thing going, and then going
to Kentucky and having some success there, I think you're right,
it's it's fun. I think there's a lot of respect
and and I love. You know, we were just talking
(11:33):
about it on our Coaches show earlier this week. You
know that this series is still going and that they
decided to keep it together because two coaches, two great
programs that make it a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Obviously just a little bit closer for the Kentucky fans
to come to Nashville. So what kind of fan presence
might Gonzaga have at Bridge Stone Arena?
Speaker 2 (11:52):
You know, it sounds like it's gonna be decent, you know,
I mean, I think it's an interesting one, and I
don't know about for you guys, Tom, but you know,
we're this year, we had Las Vegas, We're going to
Seattle again. We're playing UCLA there, and then we're playing
Oregon in Portland. So we have some you know, regional
games that are pretty close. And so you don't know
if fans are going to travel to every single thing,
right and what that presence is. But I have heard
(12:12):
from quite a few fans that are that are playing
on going, and we do. It's been nice now over
these you know, twenty twenty five years now that we've
you know, had this this run and we've played so well,
you know, Gonzega fans that maybe in nineteen ninety five,
if we were playing in a tournament back there, would
have never gone, you know. But now I think there
are a lot of fans that see it's possible to
get there, and then we're playing, well, we're playing a
you know, a marque opponent in Kentucky and then they're
(12:33):
going to make the trip. So I think we'll have
a decent contingent from Spokane. But I also think, you know,
we'll draw quite a few fans from you know, kind
of the East coast and maybe the Midwest. We'll come
out and see it. So I've heard decent reports. But again,
you know, big arena, who knows what the you know,
what it's going to sound like and look like. But
I think we'll be okay.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Kentucky has made a change with its football coach and
that was after thirteen years, and made a change with
a basketball coach a couple of seasons ago that it
was about fifteen years. And both times you hear that discussion, well,
these you know, successful programs, maybe tens of you know,
kind of the good number for a coach to be
able to hang in there. Mark Hugh has been doing
(13:13):
this at a high level for a long long time.
What keeps him grounded and successful?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Well, you know what, I think he found a spot
that makes sense for him.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Tom.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
I think he enjoys this community greatly. I think for
his personality and who he is, like, you know, I
don't think he could do the Kentucky job because I
think that there's you know, so much and everybody is
so on top of it. And I think as he
built this program, you know, he's been able to have
some space. You know, people let him go. You know
that when we were ranked number one for the first
time it was what twenty twelve thirteen season, he was
(13:43):
out fishing when the poll was released, right, and everybody
wants to know, and you know, there was press conference
all this stuff. He's like, well, I have fish to catch,
you know. And so I think that that's the interesting
part is that he found a place where he's comfortable
and a place is comfortable with him. And then you know,
that doesn't take away from his competitiveness and it doesn't
take away from his you know, ability to coach basketball.
(14:05):
And I think that's one of those deals. He doesn't
feel like he needs to eat, breathe drink, sleep It
twenty four hours a day. As a matter of fact,
I think he feels like and I think he tries
to tell his assistance this, it's okay to step away
every once in a while. You know, it's okay to
recharge your batteries. But you know, knowing coach full well,
and you know, we'll be sitting in a scout and
you know, kind of watching our next opponent, and he
knows stuff about everybody on the roster up and down. Hey,
(14:27):
this guy's gonna do this guy's gonna do that. So
he's in. He pays attention, he's really dialed in. But
I think for him, it's intense bursts of it. You know,
I almost like, almost like Phil Mickelson, right, Phil Mixton,
if he asked him to practice twenty hours a day,
would go out of his mind. You know, Phil mickleson
practice for two hours a day and then he can
go out and be creative and do all this stuff.
Because I think that's how coach is. I think he
needs a little bit of his time away from the game,
(14:48):
and then he's been able to, you know, come back
and really focus and dial into what he wants to
do because he's the best without a doubt. I mean,
he's been so good at it for such a long
period of time. I think that you know, it's going
to be very rare. Like you said, I mean you
look at the changes that Kentucky's made, and you look
at the things that are going on around college sports
and how quickly people want to make changes. This is
(15:08):
pretty rare. I mean, he's been here since the late eighties,
you know, the head coach since the late nineties, but
he's been there for a long long time.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
That is Tom Hudson. He's the radio play by play
voice for Gonzaga basketball. And look forward to seeing you
at courtside.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
All right, Tom, look forward seeing you as well. It's
gonna be a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Knzaga radio play by play, Tom Hudson. We'll have more
on this matchup coming up tonight on my report on
UK Sports for l e X eighteen, The Leads Report
on LAX eighteen. There's round five poin fifty right after
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(16:29):
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down here in Nashville. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
Dick.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Gabriel joins us now. He was over at Historic Memorial
Coliseum last night as Kentucky advanced in the NCA Volleyball Tournament.
Gabe I was catching the match off and on from
here in Nashville last night. With the win over Wafford,
but looked like it was a pretty convincing victory for Kentucky, right, Yeah, they.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
Had to struggle a bit in the second set, and
we talked with Lizzie Carr afterwards and she said, they're good.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
They made it here, which is a great point.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
But she also pointed out that maybe, and I'm paraphrasing,
they kind of took their eye off the ball just
a little bit in the second set, but did what
they had to do and then turn around on the
third set and they were more toward their best and
they're gonna need that tonight time.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
UCLA is pretty good.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
You know, they're twelve and six in the league, but
they play now in the Big Ten, which is arguably
the best conference in America, and they've got some really,
really talented kids.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
You had to like a wildcat in a matchup with
a terrier, but Brewing as a bear.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
So this is tougher, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
But it's going to be really cool to see, you know,
Kentucky and UCLA in the same venue.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
I don't care what the sport, you know, those two
iconic brands. It's pretty interesting.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Yeah, I think On John Scott's site for UK basketball,
this has all the stats. I've looked this up before
we Kentucky and UCLA played. I think they first played
in like nineteen sixty one at the Coliseum. Eight Off
Rupp and John Wooden were on the opposite benches that night.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Yeah, that's very cool. And I'll tell you something else.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
One of the fans last night came out of the
stands before the match and said, do you know the
connection between Molly Tuzzo and Cliff Barker.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Gabe, hold that thought for just a second, because I
need to coming up with a heartbreak.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
We'll pick up on that story.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
We come right back on the Lead Report Radio now.
It is the Lead Triport presented by Bob Kat Enterprises,
and we are visiting with Dick Gabriel of our UK
Sports Network team, who was covering Kentucky volleyball and it's
opening wind in the NCAA tournament last night and tonight
Kentucky faces Ucla in the second round to advance to
(18:47):
the Sweet sixteen seven Eastern time over at Historic Memorial Coliseum.
And Gabe, you were telling a story relative to the
Kentucky Ucla matchup.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
One of the fans asked me if I knew the
connection between Molly Tuzzo and Cliff Barker, who, as you know,
was one of the Fabulous Five. And I said, I
had no idea. Molly's from the Woodlands, Texas. But apparently
her maternal grandfather, Mike. His brother was Cliff Barker.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Who.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Was a tremendous player, uh you know, two time NCA champion,
Olympic gold medalist, but also was a pow for sixteen months,
was shot down over Germany in World War Two. And
I had no idea that there was a connection. I've
not had a chance to talk to Molly about this.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
I'm looking forward to it, but just but just getting
back to the mess. She'll be a key to she
always is. MVP of the.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
SEC Tournament, tremendous defensive player, show up to be at
her best.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
They're going to have to be everybody at their best tonight. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
It is don't worthy what the to win that award
at the SEC Tournament because Kentucky has so much offensive
power with Eva Hudson in Brooklyn delay.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Yeah, and I was telling cam Seyesock on the air
last night that it would have been easy to pick
one of them, or really even Brooklyn and rough match
against Texas, but throughout the course of the tournament, Tuzzo
was consistently great. And it told me whoever voted on
that award was really paying attention because without her, they
(20:25):
don't win it.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
And that's the thing. By no means any kind of
a volleyball expert, You've covered a lot more of it
than I have. But this seems like Coach Skinner has
a team that it's a big plus in chasing a championship.
If you can win different ways, if you can be
really good offensively or really good defensively.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
You're absolutely right.
Speaker 5 (20:48):
And Skinner said just that going into this week's action,
because you know, towards the end against Texas, you saw Lizzie.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Car making plays.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
You saw Asian Thig, then Kennedy washed and had one
kill against Texas. Came at a crucial time. Jordan Daily
can come in and make plays. They make plays defensively,
Molly Bresuwitz, you know, playing serving and playing in the back,
playing defensively, you got to have a little bit of everything.
And that's how you could describe the twenty twenty NSA
(21:19):
Championship Kentucky team. And this team is beginning to resemble
that team more and more.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
I don't know if it's quite as talented, but it
has everything it needs to win it.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
What is the what are the concerns for coach Skinner
in this matchup tonight?
Speaker 5 (21:35):
I think you've got such great size on that UCLA
front line, certain rotations. When you've got the Marianna Stanley
and you've got our singletary rather you've got Sheardan Leverett,
You've got so much explosive talent. But they're they're big players,
are tall, they're long. You've got a great libro for UCLA.
(21:55):
So what I will you and I just talked about
with Kentucky. UCLA has it too, and they've been through
rough wars and they're playing their best. They came through
last weekend on the road, this crazy big ten you
know schedule now that UCLA plays. They were on the
road in the state of Michigan and they took sets
from both Michigan and Michigan State.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
They were both five setters.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
They've won four out of five and three of the
last three of those wins were five set wins. That
they're playing with confidence, they're playing their best, and you know,
I don't think they're going to be phased playing here
and election the Gabe.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
I appreciate the info and enjoy the action tonight over
at the Colisseum.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
All right, I had fun down there, thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
That is Dick Gabriel and he is working Kentucky volleyball
this weekend at Historic Memorial Coliseum and hopefully another big crowd,
loud crowd tonight for Kentucky because this will be it
sounds like a much tougher match than Kentucky faced last
night as the Wildcats look to advanced toward possible second
(23:01):
national championship for coach Skinner. Also today you have championships
being decided today and tomorrow over at Kroger Field for
Kentucky High school football. The lineup today starts with Raceland
and KCD Kentucky Country Day, then Owensboro Catholic against the
Lexington Christian Academy, and then Boyle County and Franklin County.
That's the lineup of three games today. There will be
(23:22):
three more tomorrow for the KHSAA State Football Finals. Joining
us now by de Course. He from Sportingnews dot Com
and he also does the work on the Big Ten
Network and does the brackets for the college basketball coverage
on Fox Sports, and you've done your first one, Mike
and head. Kentucky is an eight seed, which is understandable,
(23:45):
and it just starts to underscore the importance of a
game like this one tonight for Kentucky to finally put
a marquee win on the resume.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Oh, I think that there's no doubt that that would
be very helpful. They don't want to go all the
way through NONCE without registering a high quality Quad one
type win and then have to rely entirely on their
conference performance. It would be tremendous for the Wildcast to
get this. Gonzaga has been very good and they will
(24:14):
be a real challenge for Kentucky because of their front
court power. That's what separates Gonzaga from a lot of teams.
They have a veteran, experienced, a physical front court with
a significant degree of skill. Braydon Huff is just tremendous
around the goal of eight to ten feet, really hard
(24:36):
to stop it as a great floater game. And then
grahamy K is just one of those guys that knows
how to finish around the rim. He's a fine shot
blocker when he gets the opportunity, so they have to
be ready for those kind of players.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
They were a handful for Kentucky out in Seattle last
year until Kentucky switched to the one three to one
zone and really that really flowings the Zags, who I
think had a sixteen point halftime lead in that game.
And you know, this is the second straight game where
a lot of the scoring for the opponent comes from
the four to five different kind of you know, there's
(25:12):
there's not a Caleb Wilson type guy there in those
two positions for Gonzaga, but still it's the two biggest
guys on the floor for the Zags that are scoring
the bulk of their points.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Yeah, and so it makes it an interesting matchup for
Kentucky because Kentucky doesn't really play I mean, they did
go ultimately to using Yellovic. Is that how he says
his name? I got Yellowitch. They played the two He
and Malachi or He and Brandon a lot on in
(25:45):
the game against Carolina, and it did at the rim
create some enough traffic to make things challenging, but they
really struggled in that pick and roll coverage that they
had a terrible time with Vasar and and really had
a difficult time keeping it from getting downhill and keeping
whoever was the partner in the play, who was the
(26:06):
ball handling guard in the play, from getting downhill, and
it caused real problems. But they did do a pretty
decent job of protecting the lane in that game, and
Carol Annaly shot fifty excuse me, forty one percent in
that game, So it was it was a pretty good
effort in a lot of ways. But it's you know,
because it's Kentucky, it gets it gets lost of what
(26:31):
they did well. And uh, it's expected that they'll be
great and and if at full force, maybe they would
be or will be, but right now they're struggling to
adjust to their personal absences.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
They are, and I would think it's it's especially challenging.
You may they may get Jalen low back tonight, and
if so, we'll see how effective he can be and
for how long with the shoulder injury. What would think
coming off that it might take a little while to
ramp back up, but we'll see. However, you invest a
(27:08):
lot of time in preparing a way to play coming
into a season with a guy like Jalen who can
do a lot of really good things from the point
guard position and breaking down a defense. And I know
you were very high on what he might be able
to do here at Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
And then when you.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Don't have him but you think you might get him back,
well you don't completely go away from what you did,
but still what you were planning doesn't maybe fit as
well for the guys that you have without him.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
That's exactly right. It's a very very well put it
does cause you problems that you think of it. In football,
you have Lamar Jackson, say, who is so dynamic in
the run game, the greatest quarterback runner there's ever been,
And if he goes out, well, who are we now?
(27:55):
And in Denzel Aberdeen, I think I think he is
either the best third guard and that was what he
was a year ago, or a very fine option to
play off the ball. But he has to learn the
point guard position in Jalen's absence, and he has moments
where it works and moments where it doesn't, and sometimes
(28:17):
the moments where it doesn't are at crucial times. And
so the overall not just his but overall the team
shot selection. It's hard to grade that, right, It's like
grading an English paper but if you charted, do we
want that shot or do we not want that shot?
There were too many we do not in Kentucky's performance
(28:39):
against Carolina.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Absolutely right, Well, we'll talk a little bit more about that.
We come right back with Mike de Corsi. It's at
TSN Mike on X for fantastic coverage of college hoops,
and we'll be right back on the lead report presented
by Bob Kat enterprises thirteen away from the top of
the hours we visited with Mike Decursi from Sportingnews dot
Com talking Kentucky basketball at the moment, little college hoops,
(29:03):
bigger picture. Maybe here before we have to say good
about to Mike, Let's get back to the point guards
for Kentucky, Mike and what they need to be doing.
I think back to last year when Kentucky was down
sixteen to Gonzaga out in Seattle. They went into that
game with at Lamont Butler kerk Krisa gets injured during
that game. He was the best, you know, backup point
and a true true point guard, and so then they
(29:26):
had to put the ball in the hands of Jackson.
Robinson and Mark Pope told the story about how Jackson
hated playing the point. But that night he didn't try
to bring the team back by himself as a top
level scorer. He ran the team and they were able
to stimy Gonzaga on the offensive end with the zone,
and then when Kentucky had the ball, they got good
(29:47):
shots and made their comeback. And that seems to me
what Aberdeen and Jasper Johnson when they're in there, not
either one true point guards at this point in their careers,
but they need to do a better job than they
did the other night and that stretch where Kentucky was
not making shots of making sure they get a good
(30:08):
shot to stop drought.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
Yeah, that's the biggest issue. And what is a good shot.
It's certainly one that would be after a little bit
of movement in the offense. That often the analysts you watch,
guys like Frankfurscilla will talk about second side or Jay
Billis talks about that. A lot you don't want to
(30:32):
take unless you're getting a wide open layup or dunk.
You don't really want to go off the first pass
or no passes. You want to get the defense shifting
and moving for a couple of reasons. One it usually
means you're going to get more open and two, it
usually means that they're a little bit out of position,
may be available to be boxed out for any offensive
(30:52):
rebounds that are available, and that's why you want to
do that. And so that's part of what is lack.
And then it's also about the target of the of
the approach. On that particular play, I mean, Malchi Marino
scored eight points in that game, played thirty one minutes.
He got two shots. I mean, now some of them,
some of them he was fouled on and went to
(31:12):
the line, et cetera. But he got two shot attempts
in that game. That's I mean, he's a skilled enough
player that he could have gotten more. He could have
gotten more opportunities, but it didn't happen. And then of
course Brandon Garrison only played nine minutes and he got
three shots. So you're two bigs. Your two centers went
four for five from the field, but only got five
(31:35):
shots on a night when the rest were not necessarily
being super efficient. I thought Otega Ohway played more like
we wanted to see from him in that game, But
when there were opportunities late, I don't think he was
given the chance to get one on one against opponents
(31:56):
to get downhill a little bit. I thought that he was.
He looked more like the Malik excuse me, more like
the Otaga that we need to see Kentucky have if
it wants to reach its potential. But again, not enough
activity in his direction. And then even the last real shot,
the Colin Chandler shot, I thought was a fine you know,
(32:19):
in a circumstance where you're in the course of a
game and you're playing effectively and you're trying to, you know,
either build the lead or protect the lead, that was
a fine shot. But in that circumstance I didn't think
it was the best Kentucky could have done.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Yeah, my broadcast partner, Gruce Gibbs would be saying amen,
especially to the way point, because he was talking about
during that stretch Kentucky's needs to get Otega a touch,
needs to get Otega a touch. And I went back
and looked, and during that stretch of for thirteen, I
think he touched it a couple of times on a possession.
There were several possessions where it was a shot after
(32:59):
zero one or or a couple of times two passes.
And then once Carolina went ahead, Otaga got it on
three straight possessions and they scored five points.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
Right.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
I mean, that's exactly what I'm talking about. And I
liked that that he needs to be that alpha the
first option, uh, for Kentucky to work, it has to
happen and he and it's and and that was the
first sign that I've seen, Not that he had the
talent to do it. We've seen that. That's why so
many has had him All American SEC Player the Year
(33:31):
and all that, but that he had the comfort with that,
with that responsibility. It's not an easy transition to go
from really talented player to you're the guy we're building
this around. And and not every team has that, but
a lot of teams, but most team, most successful teams
have it, uh, and almost all of them need it.
(33:53):
It's the Florida O seven thing. I mean, that just
doesn't happen in real life. And there's there's a reason
why I have to go all the way back to
seven to find a team that looks like that. You
got to have somebody that you can you can say
you're the guy and everything plays off you. And I
think that the best part to come out of that
game on Tuesday. I think it was the best part
(34:16):
to come out of it was that he had he
carried that responsibility when it was presented to him.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
No, I think that is one hundred percent true. He
had twenty two shots, I think in the last two
games only three of them were threes, and he got
to the line nine times, and he averaged sixteen points,
scored sixteen at each one of those games. That's who
otega Oway is right, and that will.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Help everything else work because once teams worry about him
getting deep, then the shots that Colin takes will be
more open. The opportunities for Denzel that Denzel needs to
be taking shots, don't get me wrong, but they need
to be. Okay, we've cycled through the offense once and
the defense is all okey tied somewhere else down the corner,
(35:01):
dealing with him, dealing with dealing with the post, and
now here's Denzel wide open on the right wing by
himself because everybody's down there trying to help something else
that happen. And then the ball cycles back to him
and he's open take it every time, but not as many. Okay,
let's just go ahead and make something happen. Kind of shots.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Yeah, and it comes under the heading of I guess
the team that you have guys that are having to
do things that they're not really comfortable yet maybe doing
and trying to learn learn that and that you know,
they're trying to do something to help their team win,
but they're not trusting in the whole concept exactly.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Yeah. I don't look at Denzel as a player who
doesn't understand how to win. I mean, he was a
significant part of a championship team. He understands that. I
think he just doesn't understand doesn't yet have a feel
for Okay, I came in here expecting to do that,
and now now I have to do this all the time,
(36:01):
and how exactly do I do this. That's the part
of college sports that sometimes is misunderstood. This Kentucky team,
people want to talk about the money spent on it,
this and that, like the money the money was spent,
but not all the money's on the floor, guys. I mean,
let's give them, just give them a chance to figure
it out. I know that it's much more you know,
(36:24):
you get a lot more clicks and a lot more
interest when you start taking on the one of the
biggest brands in the sport. But the reality is that
this team is very much in a developmental process and
has been compromised by the absence of some of its
most important pieces.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Well said Mike, appreciate the time as always. Enjoy a
great Saturday and starting Friday night and then into Saturday
of college hoops, so many good games.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Thanks, thank you, enjoy it as well as.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
Mike of Coursi. He joins us on Fridays here on
the Leads Report presented by Bob Kat Enterprises. We'll come
up right back with our final segment. It's the Lead
Report coming to you from the Clarks Pumping Shop Studio. Return,
Refresh and refuel at Clark's Stay. A Wildcat History is
the service of Kentucky road Show Sports Cards and Memorabilia.
They're on Romney Road in Lexington and you can look
(37:15):
them up at roadshowcards dot com. This day was the
day that Cliffhagen scored fifty one points in a route
of Temple at Memorial Conliseum, first Kentucky player to score
fifty or more. Danilsl would do it twice. Jody Meeks,
of course, wants to hold the all time single game
record and in two thousand and nine on the State
(37:35):
Kentucky beat North Carolina sixty eight sixty six before a
UPP Arena record crowd of twenty four thousand and four
to sixty eight. They had a twenty eight to two
run in that game and that John Wall had that
runout dunk that just about blew the roof off of
Rupp Arena. And one birthday today, Art still a UK
(37:56):
football legend celebrating a birthday today, one of the all
time great. It's in a UK Athletics Hall of Famer
LANDA Watson. He's entering the transfer portal for Kentucky football.
That will do it for us. It's the lead report
presented by Bobcat Enterprises from here in Nashville for Kentucky
Gonzaga tonight. If you're going to volleyball, tune us in.
(38:17):
If you're coming to the game, then we'll keep you
updated on the volleyball. It is the lead trip
This podcast of the Leech Report is presented by Boone's
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Welcome in do the Leech Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
(00:21):
And I'm coming to you today from Music City, Tennessee
and Kentucky's here in Nashville to play the against Zaga
Bulldogs tomorrow night or tonight excuse me at Bridgetoe Arena
home with the SEC Tournament. Game will tip at seven
Eastern Time. Zags are seven and one, and we'll talk
about that matchup today in college basketball just in general
(00:43):
with Mike Decursia the Sporting News. We will get a
scouting report on the Zags from their radio play by
playboye Tom Hudson, and then we'll check out with Dick
Gabriel for a recap of Kentucky's opening night win in
the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. That's the rundown for today. Wildcat
News of the Day presented by Giuseppes of Lexington and
(01:05):
Gabe will be talking about a three to zero sweep
of Wafford for the Kentucky Wildcats. We were at an
event here in Nashville last night, so I was trying
to check in on the TV in the sports bar
area and seeing that Kentucky was having a little bit
of a tussle early in the first couple of sets
(01:26):
with Wafford, but then they would burge and put them
away late and then ended up dominating victories in all
three sets. And they will now face Ucla tonight at
seven Eastern time over at Historic Memorial Codd'll see them.
Brooklyn Delay had fourteen kills to pace Kentucky's attack last night.
(01:46):
If you are going to the Batch, and hopefully you are.
If you're not down here in Nashville, then take your
radio along and you can listen in as you watch
Kentucky and UCLA and volleyball, and you can listen in
on Kentucky and Zaga and Gonzaga and men's basketball. If not,
we'll be doing updates regularly of the volleyball as you
(02:07):
listen to the basketball broadcast tonight here in Nashville. I'm
told it's going to be a sellout tonight, or it
was very close as of early this week, and that
it will be mostly Kentucky fans, so it'll seem like
even more of a home game than it does at
the SEC Tournament for Kentucky tonight, and Wildcats need a
(02:29):
win to get a marquee victory on their resume, and
Gonzaga is seven and one coming off a forty point
loss to Michigan in its most recent game. We'll talk
about that with Tom Hudson here in a bit, but
the Zags had looked very impressive before that, had a
nice win over Alabama. Jalen Lowe might see him tonight,
(02:50):
That's what Mark Pope told the media in a session
back in Lexington yesterday, said that they were going to
put Jalen in some contact work yesterday and might see
him in the game tonight. That would be a big lift.
Mo Diabat still out. Sounds like it might be a
little while because it is a high ankle sprain and
(03:11):
there are varying degrees of severity on those, and it
sounds like this one might be more on the worst
end of the scale for Mo, so he is dealing
with that now, which explains why it's taken so long
to come back from an ankle Sprain, and then Pope
also talked about Jade and Quaintance. There was a period
about a month ago when he said there was an
(03:32):
important strength test that was coming up for JQ it
would be in about three weeks when it has happened now,
and Pope was asked about it yesterday and said that
Quaintan's passed with flying colors. So he's continuing to ramp
up what he's doing in practices and doing some work
(03:52):
where he's doing some scrimmaging with managers. So it doesn't
sound like it's the next week or anything, but getting
closer for Jake, thank you, and well they could certainly
use them tonight against a Gonzaga team that is similar
to North Carolina, and they get a lot of their
offense through the four of the five man Graham e
k who has killed Kentucky in the last two years,
scoring twenty eight one year, twenty three to the next
(04:12):
and Braden Huff a couple of big guys, your big, thick,
strong players, so rebounding will be a key number again
tonight to pay attention to. And it looks like according
to reports, Joe Sloan, the former OC and quarterback coach
at LSU is going to be the new offensive coordinator
for will Stein and the Kentucky Wildcats. Thanks to the
stories that we talk about, you can find on the
(04:34):
Bud Light Leach Report page of Tom Leech k White
dot com. We'll come right back and get to our
interview with Tom Hudson talking about the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Opening
segment of Wildcat News presented by Juseppes of Lexington. If
you have someone on your list who's hard to buy for,
consider Giuseppes gift cards. Go to Giuseppes Lexington dot com.
You can get those or you can pick them up
when you're at the restaurant. They'll email them to you
(04:57):
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it out to you so you'll have them to gift
to the people who are hard to buy for on
your list.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
We'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
It's the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises and coming
to you from Nashville today, Friday Game Day edition of
the Leach Report, and it is always presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
As we welcome in Tom Hudson. He is the radio
voice for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who are getting set to
take on Kentucky here in Nashville. Tom, let's first talk
(05:33):
about that last game for Gonzaga. We were chatting before
we started the interview that I saw the open the
ESPN app on the phone and saw that score the
next morning, and I thought I was looking at it wrong.
I had to wipe my eyes and thinks that surely
can't be one on one to sixty one. But that
was a surprising score, I'm sure for you as well,
(05:54):
right it was.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
You know, it's so funny, Tom, because you know, we were
talking and saying, hey, you know, we're as big and
strong as we've been on the perimeter as we ever
have been, and we have two you know, bigs that
that we all love, and it's like, yeah, well this
isn't gonna happen. And it happened, and it happened in
a hurry, and it was just remarkable to see Michigan
come out and you know, they knocked down some big shots.
You know, we had some miscues that you know, led
(06:17):
to stuff, and then you know, it hasn't happened very often.
I mean, we were just in talking and kind of laughing.
It's like, you know, a lot of people asking, is
that the biggest loss we've ever had. It's like, well,
nineteen forty five Montana got us by sixty nine points,
so so at least that's still intact. It wasn't the
worst lost ever, but but yeah, it was. It was
a tough one for sure, and the worst loss in
coach fughes era, and you know, we haven't had many
(06:39):
of those in his and it was kind of a
crazy thing. It got sideways on us. You know, we
gave up two offensive rebounds that led to threes off
of missed free throws, you know, and then in the
second half, you know, you felt like there was a
stretch right at the beginning, you know that maybe we
could have made a little bit of a dent, but
you know, they turned over a few times, missed some shots.
We did absolutely nothing with it, and then it went
from bad to worse, and and here we are trying
(07:00):
to flush that thing, getting ready to play Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
The Zags have some impressive wins, one over Alabama I think,
well I think ninety five eighty five, So obviously there
is a a really good version of the Bulldog. So
what does that look like?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Well, isn't that funny? Like it's it's incredible because the
first night of the tournament, we've beat you know, the
eighth ranketh team of the country, and we're flying high
and feeling good and we come back to beat Maryland
by fifty, you know, and you're like, Okay, well, hey,
we're we're in great shape. And then all of a
sudden's like, yeah, oh, like what's going on? But Tom,
that version of the Zags is rebounding it really well,
is shooting it pretty well. It's been one of our bugaboos.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
You know.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
We we brought in some guys that are really good
three point shooters, and you know, the game against Maryland
we made fourteen, but outside of that, we've struggled for
the most part shooting three. So, you know, when we're
playing well, it's been tough and e gay inside, primarily offensively.
You know, Tyan Grant Foster's provided us with some good stuff.
He's different type of player than what we've had in
the past, and so he's played well in our wins. So,
(08:00):
you know, I think when we've got our bigs going,
we're really good. When Tian's flying around were good. If
we knocked down shots like Witing against Maryland, I think
we're really tough out. But you know, none of those
things was happening against Michigan. It all kind of fell apart.
So they oh the team to beat Alabama. You know,
quick tempo, right, and obviously you would expect that against Alabama,
and we scored ninety five points. But we did a
(08:20):
great job taking care of the basketball. I think only
eleven turnovers when I forget what that was one hundred
and forty, one hundred and fifty possessions in that game.
You know, it was ridiculous. So that's the team that
I think we look at and say, hey, this has
an opportunity to make a run down the line in March.
It's compared to the game that we saw against Michigan.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Huff and e k are two guys that have been
a load for Kentucky now in the last two seasons
to handle, both in ropp Arena and last year out
in Seattle. What have the newcomers brought to the table
for the Zags.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Well, you know, it's interesting because, like I said, I
think a physical presence for the most part on the perimeter,
you know, I mean, I mean last year, you know,
with Ryan Nemhart at five ten, five eleven and Nolan
Hickman at six two ish, you know, starting on perimeter.
You know, now we're starting you know, six three at
the point, we're starting six three or six four at
the two. We're starting six seven on the wing, you know,
(09:12):
and then coming off the bench, it's two more guys,
three more guys that are in that six four to
six seven range. And so I think we've gotten a
lot bigger on the perimeter, which is which has been helpful.
You know, we're rebounded pretty good from our guard positions.
I think that maybe has been the biggest part of it.
Like I said, Tian Grant, Foster's is different type of
player than what we've had. He might take some shots
(09:32):
that maybe Coach Few doesn't like. You know, there may
be some decisions the coach Few kind of you know,
he seems shaking his head a little bit. But then
the X factor part of it, you know, flying in,
grabbing offensive rebounds, making a tough shot or making a
play when maybe you know the offense is broken down
and we need to get a bucket. He's he's been
really helpful in that, and so I think those perimeter
guys have done a nice job of acclimating and getting in.
(09:54):
And you know, Mario Saint Sapiri, our freshman point guard
out of Spain, has kind of stepped in and taken
over Braden's myth was, you know, our start at the
beginning of the year, transfer out of Colgate and he
red shirted last year, so you guys didn't see him.
But you know, Mario's a bigger kid, sixty three, two
hundred pounds, has a little bit of flash and a
little bit of flair that maybe coach Few doesn't always love,
but he loves his his spirit in the way that
he competes, and so he's He's been a really nice
(10:17):
addition for us out there as well.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Mark Pope obviously has a lot of connection to the
part of the world where Gonzaga comes from. So I'm
sure there's some fun rivalry for both of the coaches.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
It is. It's really great, and I think that there's
a mutual respect. You know, those those games that we
played against BYU when they were in our league were fantastic.
I mean, I think on the West Coast, probably the
two best atmospheres, you know, I mean b YU and
maybe even across the country, you know, I mean BYU
going there with nineteen thousand fans, and you know, it
was just, you know, raucous. It was like when we
(10:49):
were a Rough a couple of years ago, you know,
and obviously Rough has the history in those things, but
you would go in there. Every single time we were there.
It was loud and obnoxious, and our huddles were tough.
Nobody could hear, you know, and they would come into
Spokane and the same thing. I mean, I know we're
only six thousand, but you know, loud and obnoxious and
crazy and just you know, two really good programs in
great atmospheres and you know, some really competitive basketball games.
(11:12):
So yeah, there is some some rivalry there, and I
think great respects too. I think, you know, Coach Pope
knows how impressive it is what Mark has been able
to do over all these years. And I think, you know,
looking at Coach Pope going into b why you had
taken over and keeping that thing going, and then going
to Kentucky and having some success there, I think you're right,
it's it's fun. I think there's a lot of respect
and and I love. You know, we were just talking
(11:33):
about it on our Coaches show earlier this week. You
know that this series is still going and that they
decided to keep it together because two coaches, two great
programs that make it a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Obviously just a little bit closer for the Kentucky fans
to come to Nashville. So what kind of fan presence
might Gonzaga have at Bridge Stone Arena?
Speaker 2 (11:52):
You know, it sounds like it's gonna be decent, you know,
I mean, I think it's an interesting one, and I
don't know about for you guys, Tom, but you know,
we're this year, we had Las Vegas, We're going to
Seattle again. We're playing UCLA there, and then we're playing
Oregon in Portland. So we have some you know, regional
games that are pretty close. And so you don't know
if fans are going to travel to every single thing,
right and what that presence is. But I have heard
(12:12):
from quite a few fans that are that are playing
on going, and we do. It's been nice now over
these you know, twenty twenty five years now that we've
you know, had this this run and we've played so well,
you know, Gonzega fans that maybe in nineteen ninety five,
if we were playing in a tournament back there, would
have never gone, you know. But now I think there
are a lot of fans that see it's possible to
get there, and then we're playing, well, we're playing a
you know, a marque opponent in Kentucky and then they're
(12:33):
going to make the trip. So I think we'll have
a decent contingent from Spokane. But I also think, you know,
we'll draw quite a few fans from you know, kind
of the East coast and maybe the Midwest. We'll come
out and see it. So I've heard decent reports. But again,
you know, big arena, who knows what the you know,
what it's going to sound like and look like. But
I think we'll be okay.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Kentucky has made a change with its football coach and
that was after thirteen years, and made a change with
a basketball coach a couple of seasons ago that it
was about fifteen years. And both times you hear that discussion, well,
these you know, successful programs, maybe tens of you know,
kind of the good number for a coach to be
able to hang in there. Mark Hugh has been doing
(13:13):
this at a high level for a long long time.
What keeps him grounded and successful?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Well, you know what, I think he found a spot
that makes sense for him.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Tom.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
I think he enjoys this community greatly. I think for
his personality and who he is, like, you know, I
don't think he could do the Kentucky job because I
think that there's you know, so much and everybody is
so on top of it. And I think as he
built this program, you know, he's been able to have
some space. You know, people let him go. You know
that when we were ranked number one for the first
time it was what twenty twelve thirteen season, he was
(13:43):
out fishing when the poll was released, right, and everybody
wants to know, and you know, there was press conference
all this stuff. He's like, well, I have fish to catch,
you know. And so I think that that's the interesting
part is that he found a place where he's comfortable
and a place is comfortable with him. And then you know,
that doesn't take away from his competitiveness and it doesn't
take away from his you know, ability to coach basketball.
(14:05):
And I think that's one of those deals. He doesn't
feel like he needs to eat, breathe drink, sleep It
twenty four hours a day. As a matter of fact,
I think he feels like and I think he tries
to tell his assistance this, it's okay to step away
every once in a while. You know, it's okay to
recharge your batteries. But you know, knowing coach full well,
and you know, we'll be sitting in a scout and
you know, kind of watching our next opponent, and he
knows stuff about everybody on the roster up and down. Hey,
(14:27):
this guy's gonna do this guy's gonna do that. So
he's in. He pays attention, he's really dialed in. But
I think for him, it's intense bursts of it. You know,
I almost like, almost like Phil Mickelson, right, Phil Mixton,
if he asked him to practice twenty hours a day,
would go out of his mind. You know, Phil mickleson
practice for two hours a day and then he can
go out and be creative and do all this stuff.
Because I think that's how coach is. I think he
needs a little bit of his time away from the game,
(14:48):
and then he's been able to, you know, come back
and really focus and dial into what he wants to
do because he's the best without a doubt. I mean,
he's been so good at it for such a long
period of time. I think that you know, it's going
to be very rare. Like you said, I mean you
look at the changes that Kentucky's made, and you look
at the things that are going on around college sports
and how quickly people want to make changes. This is
(15:08):
pretty rare. I mean, he's been here since the late eighties,
you know, the head coach since the late nineties, but
he's been there for a long long time.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
That is Tom Hudson. He's the radio play by play
voice for Gonzaga basketball. And look forward to seeing you
at courtside.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
All right, Tom, look forward seeing you as well. It's
gonna be a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Knzaga radio play by play, Tom Hudson. We'll have more
on this matchup coming up tonight on my report on
UK Sports for l e X eighteen, The Leads Report
on LAX eighteen. There's round five poin fifty right after
Bill Mix weather forecasts each Monday through Friday, take a
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down here in Nashville. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
Dick.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Gabriel joins us now. He was over at Historic Memorial
Coliseum last night as Kentucky advanced in the NCA Volleyball Tournament.
Gabe I was catching the match off and on from
here in Nashville last night. With the win over Wafford,
but looked like it was a pretty convincing victory for Kentucky, right, Yeah, they.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
Had to struggle a bit in the second set, and
we talked with Lizzie Carr afterwards and she said, they're good.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
They made it here, which is a great point.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
But she also pointed out that maybe, and I'm paraphrasing,
they kind of took their eye off the ball just
a little bit in the second set, but did what
they had to do and then turn around on the
third set and they were more toward their best and
they're gonna need that tonight time.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
UCLA is pretty good.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
You know, they're twelve and six in the league, but
they play now in the Big Ten, which is arguably
the best conference in America, and they've got some really,
really talented kids.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
You had to like a wildcat in a matchup with
a terrier, but Brewing as a bear.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
So this is tougher, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
But it's going to be really cool to see, you know,
Kentucky and UCLA in the same venue.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
I don't care what the sport, you know, those two
iconic brands. It's pretty interesting.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Yeah, I think On John Scott's site for UK basketball,
this has all the stats. I've looked this up before
we Kentucky and UCLA played. I think they first played
in like nineteen sixty one at the Coliseum. Eight Off
Rupp and John Wooden were on the opposite benches that night.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Yeah, that's very cool. And I'll tell you something else.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
One of the fans last night came out of the
stands before the match and said, do you know the
connection between Molly Tuzzo and Cliff Barker.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Gabe, hold that thought for just a second, because I
need to coming up with a heartbreak.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
We'll pick up on that story.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
We come right back on the Lead Report Radio now.
It is the Lead Triport presented by Bob Kat Enterprises,
and we are visiting with Dick Gabriel of our UK
Sports Network team, who was covering Kentucky volleyball and it's
opening wind in the NCAA tournament last night and tonight
Kentucky faces Ucla in the second round to advance to
(18:47):
the Sweet sixteen seven Eastern time over at Historic Memorial Coliseum.
And Gabe, you were telling a story relative to the
Kentucky Ucla matchup.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
One of the fans asked me if I knew the
connection between Molly Tuzzo and Cliff Barker, who, as you know,
was one of the Fabulous Five. And I said, I
had no idea. Molly's from the Woodlands, Texas. But apparently
her maternal grandfather, Mike. His brother was Cliff Barker.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Who.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Was a tremendous player, uh you know, two time NCA champion,
Olympic gold medalist, but also was a pow for sixteen months,
was shot down over Germany in World War Two. And
I had no idea that there was a connection. I've
not had a chance to talk to Molly about this.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
I'm looking forward to it, but just but just getting
back to the mess. She'll be a key to she
always is. MVP of the.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
SEC Tournament, tremendous defensive player, show up to be at
her best.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
They're going to have to be everybody at their best tonight. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
It is don't worthy what the to win that award
at the SEC Tournament because Kentucky has so much offensive
power with Eva Hudson in Brooklyn delay.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Yeah, and I was telling cam Seyesock on the air
last night that it would have been easy to pick
one of them, or really even Brooklyn and rough match
against Texas, but throughout the course of the tournament, Tuzzo
was consistently great. And it told me whoever voted on
that award was really paying attention because without her, they
(20:25):
don't win it.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
And that's the thing. By no means any kind of
a volleyball expert, You've covered a lot more of it
than I have. But this seems like Coach Skinner has
a team that it's a big plus in chasing a championship.
If you can win different ways, if you can be
really good offensively or really good defensively.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
You're absolutely right.
Speaker 5 (20:48):
And Skinner said just that going into this week's action,
because you know, towards the end against Texas, you saw Lizzie.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Car making plays.
Speaker 5 (20:57):
You saw Asian Thig, then Kennedy washed and had one
kill against Texas. Came at a crucial time. Jordan Daily
can come in and make plays. They make plays defensively,
Molly Bresuwitz, you know, playing serving and playing in the back,
playing defensively, you got to have a little bit of everything.
And that's how you could describe the twenty twenty NSA
(21:19):
Championship Kentucky team. And this team is beginning to resemble
that team more and more.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
I don't know if it's quite as talented, but it
has everything it needs to win it.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
What is the what are the concerns for coach Skinner
in this matchup tonight?
Speaker 5 (21:35):
I think you've got such great size on that UCLA
front line, certain rotations. When you've got the Marianna Stanley
and you've got our singletary rather you've got Sheardan Leverett,
You've got so much explosive talent. But they're they're big players,
are tall, they're long. You've got a great libro for UCLA.
(21:55):
So what I will you and I just talked about
with Kentucky. UCLA has it too, and they've been through
rough wars and they're playing their best. They came through
last weekend on the road, this crazy big ten you
know schedule now that UCLA plays. They were on the
road in the state of Michigan and they took sets
from both Michigan and Michigan State.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
They were both five setters.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
They've won four out of five and three of the
last three of those wins were five set wins. That
they're playing with confidence, they're playing their best, and you know,
I don't think they're going to be phased playing here
and election the Gabe.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
I appreciate the info and enjoy the action tonight over
at the Colisseum.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
All right, I had fun down there, thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
That is Dick Gabriel and he is working Kentucky volleyball
this weekend at Historic Memorial Coliseum and hopefully another big crowd,
loud crowd tonight for Kentucky because this will be it
sounds like a much tougher match than Kentucky faced last
night as the Wildcats look to advanced toward possible second
(23:01):
national championship for coach Skinner. Also today you have championships
being decided today and tomorrow over at Kroger Field for
Kentucky High school football. The lineup today starts with Raceland
and KCD Kentucky Country Day, then Owensboro Catholic against the
Lexington Christian Academy, and then Boyle County and Franklin County.
That's the lineup of three games today. There will be
(23:22):
three more tomorrow for the KHSAA State Football Finals. Joining
us now by de Course. He from Sportingnews dot Com
and he also does the work on the Big Ten
Network and does the brackets for the college basketball coverage
on Fox Sports, and you've done your first one, Mike
and head. Kentucky is an eight seed, which is understandable,
(23:45):
and it just starts to underscore the importance of a
game like this one tonight for Kentucky to finally put
a marquee win on the resume.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
Oh, I think that there's no doubt that that would
be very helpful. They don't want to go all the
way through NONCE without registering a high quality Quad one
type win and then have to rely entirely on their
conference performance. It would be tremendous for the Wildcast to
get this. Gonzaga has been very good and they will
(24:14):
be a real challenge for Kentucky because of their front
court power. That's what separates Gonzaga from a lot of teams.
They have a veteran, experienced, a physical front court with
a significant degree of skill. Braydon Huff is just tremendous
around the goal of eight to ten feet, really hard
(24:36):
to stop it as a great floater game. And then
grahamy K is just one of those guys that knows
how to finish around the rim. He's a fine shot
blocker when he gets the opportunity, so they have to
be ready for those kind of players.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
They were a handful for Kentucky out in Seattle last
year until Kentucky switched to the one three to one
zone and really that really flowings the Zags, who I
think had a sixteen point halftime lead in that game.
And you know, this is the second straight game where
a lot of the scoring for the opponent comes from
the four to five different kind of you know, there's
(25:12):
there's not a Caleb Wilson type guy there in those
two positions for Gonzaga, but still it's the two biggest
guys on the floor for the Zags that are scoring
the bulk of their points.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Yeah, and so it makes it an interesting matchup for
Kentucky because Kentucky doesn't really play I mean, they did
go ultimately to using Yellovic. Is that how he says
his name? I got Yellowitch. They played the two He
and Malachi or He and Brandon a lot on in
(25:45):
the game against Carolina, and it did at the rim
create some enough traffic to make things challenging, but they
really struggled in that pick and roll coverage that they
had a terrible time with Vasar and and really had
a difficult time keeping it from getting downhill and keeping
whoever was the partner in the play, who was the
(26:06):
ball handling guard in the play, from getting downhill, and
it caused real problems. But they did do a pretty
decent job of protecting the lane in that game, and
Carol Annaly shot fifty excuse me, forty one percent in
that game, So it was it was a pretty good
effort in a lot of ways. But it's you know,
because it's Kentucky, it gets it gets lost of what
(26:31):
they did well. And uh, it's expected that they'll be
great and and if at full force, maybe they would
be or will be, but right now they're struggling to
adjust to their personal absences.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
They are, and I would think it's it's especially challenging.
You may they may get Jalen low back tonight, and
if so, we'll see how effective he can be and
for how long with the shoulder injury. What would think
coming off that it might take a little while to
ramp back up, but we'll see. However, you invest a
(27:08):
lot of time in preparing a way to play coming
into a season with a guy like Jalen who can
do a lot of really good things from the point
guard position and breaking down a defense. And I know
you were very high on what he might be able
to do here at Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
And then when you.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Don't have him but you think you might get him back,
well you don't completely go away from what you did,
but still what you were planning doesn't maybe fit as
well for the guys that you have without him.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
That's exactly right. It's a very very well put it
does cause you problems that you think of it. In football,
you have Lamar Jackson, say, who is so dynamic in
the run game, the greatest quarterback runner there's ever been,
And if he goes out, well, who are we now?
(27:55):
And in Denzel Aberdeen, I think I think he is
either the best third guard and that was what he
was a year ago, or a very fine option to
play off the ball. But he has to learn the
point guard position in Jalen's absence, and he has moments
where it works and moments where it doesn't, and sometimes
(28:17):
the moments where it doesn't are at crucial times. And
so the overall not just his but overall the team
shot selection. It's hard to grade that, right, It's like
grading an English paper but if you charted, do we
want that shot or do we not want that shot?
There were too many we do not in Kentucky's performance
(28:39):
against Carolina.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Absolutely right, Well, we'll talk a little bit more about that.
We come right back with Mike de Corsi. It's at
TSN Mike on X for fantastic coverage of college hoops,
and we'll be right back on the lead report presented
by Bob Kat enterprises thirteen away from the top of
the hours we visited with Mike Decursi from Sportingnews dot
Com talking Kentucky basketball at the moment, little college hoops,
(29:03):
bigger picture. Maybe here before we have to say good
about to Mike, Let's get back to the point guards
for Kentucky, Mike and what they need to be doing.
I think back to last year when Kentucky was down
sixteen to Gonzaga out in Seattle. They went into that
game with at Lamont Butler kerk Krisa gets injured during
that game. He was the best, you know, backup point
and a true true point guard, and so then they
(29:26):
had to put the ball in the hands of Jackson.
Robinson and Mark Pope told the story about how Jackson
hated playing the point. But that night he didn't try
to bring the team back by himself as a top
level scorer. He ran the team and they were able
to stimy Gonzaga on the offensive end with the zone,
and then when Kentucky had the ball, they got good
(29:47):
shots and made their comeback. And that seems to me
what Aberdeen and Jasper Johnson when they're in there, not
either one true point guards at this point in their careers,
but they need to do a better job than they
did the other night and that stretch where Kentucky was
not making shots of making sure they get a good
(30:08):
shot to stop drought.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
Yeah, that's the biggest issue. And what is a good shot.
It's certainly one that would be after a little bit
of movement in the offense. That often the analysts you watch,
guys like Frankfurscilla will talk about second side or Jay
Billis talks about that. A lot you don't want to
(30:32):
take unless you're getting a wide open layup or dunk.
You don't really want to go off the first pass
or no passes. You want to get the defense shifting
and moving for a couple of reasons. One it usually
means you're going to get more open and two, it
usually means that they're a little bit out of position,
may be available to be boxed out for any offensive
(30:52):
rebounds that are available, and that's why you want to
do that. And so that's part of what is lack.
And then it's also about the target of the of
the approach. On that particular play, I mean, Malchi Marino
scored eight points in that game, played thirty one minutes.
He got two shots. I mean, now some of them,
some of them he was fouled on and went to
(31:12):
the line, et cetera. But he got two shot attempts
in that game. That's I mean, he's a skilled enough
player that he could have gotten more. He could have
gotten more opportunities, but it didn't happen. And then of
course Brandon Garrison only played nine minutes and he got
three shots. So you're two bigs. Your two centers went
four for five from the field, but only got five
(31:35):
shots on a night when the rest were not necessarily
being super efficient. I thought Otega Ohway played more like
we wanted to see from him in that game, But
when there were opportunities late, I don't think he was
given the chance to get one on one against opponents
(31:56):
to get downhill a little bit. I thought that he was.
He looked more like the Malik excuse me, more like
the Otaga that we need to see Kentucky have if
it wants to reach its potential. But again, not enough
activity in his direction. And then even the last real shot,
the Colin Chandler shot, I thought was a fine you know,
(32:19):
in a circumstance where you're in the course of a
game and you're playing effectively and you're trying to, you know,
either build the lead or protect the lead, that was
a fine shot. But in that circumstance I didn't think
it was the best Kentucky could have done.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Yeah, my broadcast partner, Gruce Gibbs would be saying amen,
especially to the way point, because he was talking about
during that stretch Kentucky's needs to get Otega a touch,
needs to get Otega a touch. And I went back
and looked, and during that stretch of for thirteen, I
think he touched it a couple of times on a possession.
There were several possessions where it was a shot after
(32:59):
zero one or or a couple of times two passes.
And then once Carolina went ahead, Otaga got it on
three straight possessions and they scored five points.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
Right.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
I mean, that's exactly what I'm talking about. And I
liked that that he needs to be that alpha the
first option, uh, for Kentucky to work, it has to
happen and he and it's and and that was the
first sign that I've seen, Not that he had the
talent to do it. We've seen that. That's why so
many has had him All American SEC Player the Year
(33:31):
and all that, but that he had the comfort with that,
with that responsibility. It's not an easy transition to go
from really talented player to you're the guy we're building
this around. And and not every team has that, but
a lot of teams, but most team, most successful teams
have it, uh, and almost all of them need it.
(33:53):
It's the Florida O seven thing. I mean, that just
doesn't happen in real life. And there's there's a reason
why I have to go all the way back to
seven to find a team that looks like that. You
got to have somebody that you can you can say
you're the guy and everything plays off you. And I
think that the best part to come out of that
game on Tuesday. I think it was the best part
(34:16):
to come out of it was that he had he
carried that responsibility when it was presented to him.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
No, I think that is one hundred percent true. He
had twenty two shots, I think in the last two
games only three of them were threes, and he got
to the line nine times, and he averaged sixteen points,
scored sixteen at each one of those games. That's who
otega Oway is right, and that will.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Help everything else work because once teams worry about him
getting deep, then the shots that Colin takes will be
more open. The opportunities for Denzel that Denzel needs to
be taking shots, don't get me wrong, but they need
to be. Okay, we've cycled through the offense once and
the defense is all okey tied somewhere else down the corner,
(35:01):
dealing with him, dealing with dealing with the post, and
now here's Denzel wide open on the right wing by
himself because everybody's down there trying to help something else
that happen. And then the ball cycles back to him
and he's open take it every time, but not as many. Okay,
let's just go ahead and make something happen. Kind of shots.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Yeah, and it comes under the heading of I guess
the team that you have guys that are having to
do things that they're not really comfortable yet maybe doing
and trying to learn learn that and that you know,
they're trying to do something to help their team win,
but they're not trusting in the whole concept exactly.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Yeah. I don't look at Denzel as a player who
doesn't understand how to win. I mean, he was a
significant part of a championship team. He understands that. I
think he just doesn't understand doesn't yet have a feel
for Okay, I came in here expecting to do that,
and now now I have to do this all the time,
(36:01):
and how exactly do I do this. That's the part
of college sports that sometimes is misunderstood. This Kentucky team,
people want to talk about the money spent on it,
this and that, like the money the money was spent,
but not all the money's on the floor, guys. I mean,
let's give them, just give them a chance to figure
it out. I know that it's much more you know,
(36:24):
you get a lot more clicks and a lot more
interest when you start taking on the one of the
biggest brands in the sport. But the reality is that
this team is very much in a developmental process and
has been compromised by the absence of some of its
most important pieces.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Well said Mike, appreciate the time as always. Enjoy a
great Saturday and starting Friday night and then into Saturday
of college hoops, so many good games.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Thanks, thank you, enjoy it as well as.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
Mike of Coursi. He joins us on Fridays here on
the Leads Report presented by Bob Kat Enterprises. We'll come
up right back with our final segment. It's the Lead
Report coming to you from the Clarks Pumping Shop Studio. Return,
Refresh and refuel at Clark's Stay. A Wildcat History is
the service of Kentucky road Show Sports Cards and Memorabilia.
They're on Romney Road in Lexington and you can look
(37:15):
them up at roadshowcards dot com. This day was the
day that Cliffhagen scored fifty one points in a route
of Temple at Memorial Conliseum, first Kentucky player to score
fifty or more. Danilsl would do it twice. Jody Meeks,
of course, wants to hold the all time single game
record and in two thousand and nine on the State
(37:35):
Kentucky beat North Carolina sixty eight sixty six before a
UPP Arena record crowd of twenty four thousand and four
to sixty eight. They had a twenty eight to two
run in that game and that John Wall had that
runout dunk that just about blew the roof off of
Rupp Arena. And one birthday today, Art still a UK
(37:56):
football legend celebrating a birthday today, one of the all
time great. It's in a UK Athletics Hall of Famer
LANDA Watson. He's entering the transfer portal for Kentucky football.
That will do it for us. It's the lead report
presented by Bobcat Enterprises from here in Nashville for Kentucky
Gonzaga tonight. If you're going to volleyball, tune us in.
(38:17):
If you're coming to the game, then we'll keep you
updated on the volleyball. It is the lead trip
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The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.