2026-01-07- LEACH REPORT

Tom talks with Jay Bilas, Chris Fisher, and more.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This podcast of the Leach Report is presented by Boone's
Butcher Shop in Barnstown at one hundred Old Bloomfield Pike,
Family owned and operated since nineteen forty six, with fresh
meat cut on site daily. Boons Butcher Shop. Hello, everybody,
how you doing? Welcome in. It's the Wednesday edition of

(00:21):
the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises, and it's game
day for the Wildcats, trying to bounce back from that
disappointing day down in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. They will take
on Missouri tonight, first of two home games this week,
Mississippi State coming up on Saturday, and Kentucky and Missoo
tips at seven Eastern. ESPN two has the TV coverage.

(00:43):
UK radio network coverage tips off at five point thirty
with a pregame show, Don't forget. You can go to
UK Athletics dot com backslash sink and that'll show you
how to sync up the radio broadcast with the TV
coverage for each game. Missoo's eleven and three one to oh.
In the sec we will got a bit of a
scouting report on the Tigers from Mike Kelly, their radio

(01:04):
played by play Voice a little later on in the show,
Chris Fisher will join us from Cats Illustrated and Jay
Billis will lead us off. He worked the Kentucky game
last night or excuse me, last Saturday down at Alabama,
so we'll get Jay's take on the Cats. Wild Cat
News of the Day presented by jes Sepies of Lexington.

(01:25):
Missouri's finally getting healthier somewhat, stone appears. Two of their
key guys returned for the Florida game last week and
missoo won that one seventy six seventy four, and those
two guys had nineteen points to make eleven boards combined.
Jamon Porter, who has started some for Missouri, still out
on the availability report that came out last night. No

(01:46):
names on it for Kentucky again, so that is good.
Defense not been as good as last season for the Tigers.
They have been out rebounded by nine in the games
that they lost this season, but they shoot it really well.
Effective field goal percentage of fifty eight percent that's thirteenth
best in the SEC. They averaged about eight threes per game,

(02:09):
only team in the SEC with three returning starters coming
into this season. A couple of football notes and then
we'll get to our first break a little earlier than
usual to get rolling with Ja Billis. We taped this
yesterday before we had to work the Louisville Duke game
last night. Transfer portal news incoming transfers. Chabrion Harkness, big

(02:31):
d lineman from Purdue six three three fifteen, played at
Frederick Douglass High School here in Lexington. He's a Wildcat
defensive lineman. A couple of offensive linemen are in the fold.
Tennessee's Max Anderson interior offensive lineman that came down yesterday.
Think I'm neglected to mention Colton Price, the great center
that they got from Baylor to anchor the middle of
the offensive line for Kentucky. Aaron Gates, defensive back from Florida,

(02:55):
should be a candidate at safety. Javonte Barnes, a running
back from Oklahoma and also Kentucky flipped a recruit a
defensive back, Aaron Clark got released from his commitment or
from his letter at Michigan. He will be Wildcat, and
the Sir Addison reportedly is withdrawn from the transfer portal
to battle for playing time in the secondary for the Wildcats.

(03:16):
A couple of former Cats to Rod Smith Jacob Smith,
the brothers from Corbin High School. They are headed to
play at u of L. Opening segment always presented by
Giuseppes of Lexington. Valentine Day not that far away. Get
something on the books by going to open Table and
making a reservation at Giseppes. Whatever the special occasion is,
there is no better place to celebrate it than at Giseppes.

(03:38):
Go to Giuseppes Lexington dot com to game plan your
next order. When you're headed to Giuseppes, we'll head to
a break and come back and listen to. Jay billis
from ESPN on the Leech Report presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
Welcome back in to the Leech Report. It's presented by
Bobcat Enterprises and we welcome to the program. Jay billis

(03:59):
from esp He worked the Kentucky Alabama game on Saturday. So, Jay,
what was your take on what you saw unfold in Tuscaloosa.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
Well, first, Alabama, as you know, Tom is really good,
So you know you could sit in and say there's
there's no shame in losing to Alabama. At Alabama, it's
a tough first game and sec play, but you know,
I think it did expose some issues with Kentucky, and uh,
you know, I think the last time you and I
talked in this forum, I think I said, you know,

(04:30):
I'm still encouraged about Kentucky's future. I'm not discouraged about it,
but I don't feel as encouraged as I did back
then after the Louisville game. Kentucky's not the passing team
that that they should be. And I think it took
me a while to wrap my head around the idea
of of just how good Amari Williams was for Mark

(04:53):
Pope's offense. And uh, there's I think Kentucky is still searching.
They're searching for combinations, and I do think things flow
much better with Jalen Lowe running the point. Uh, and
if he can remain healthy, he's a difference maker for
the Wildcats. But you know, as you know, Tom, like
the game's connected. Everything in the game is connected. So

(05:17):
if you know your your your offense has to help
your defense and vice versa. Uh, and transition can flow
from defense. All these different things they're all connected. So
it's not just one issue that Kentucky's facing. But you know,
I think the vibe right now is one from Afar anyway,
I'm not in their locker room, but the vibe is

(05:38):
one of searching, and at this point in the year,
that's really really difficult. And I'm not great with analogies,
but you know, oftentimes you'll see a team that may
struggle in a year, and then the same team comes
back and after a summer off they come back and man,
they're they're they play like gangbusters, and you try to

(06:00):
explaining to people. It's kind of like trying to change
change things in the middle of a prize fight. You know,
you get you get a minute between rounds to go
sit down with your with your trainer and staff and
all that, but the rest of it you're trying to
you're trying to figure out why you're taking punches. And
that's what Kentucky's in the middle of right now. And
that's a difficult, uh sort of toughness and mental challenge

(06:23):
for a team, and it's it can be difficult. You know,
like guys are trying to do the right thing, but sometimes,
you know, doing the right thing doesn't always mean trying
to put the cape on and be Superman in a play.

Speaker 1 (06:34):
It's got to be a collective thing having not played
at the highest level or coached at at I just
from an observer standpoint, look at it and think a
team in that situation has to find something to.

Speaker 3 (06:45):
Get good at.

Speaker 1 (06:46):
Is that a good way to start the process.

Speaker 2 (06:50):
Yeah, And I think sometimes you know, uh in Kentucky's
in a somewhat of a unique position, kind of like
Alabama football. Not to go on a tangent here, but
I mean just drive into the game and listening to
talk radio, which was probably a mistake on my part,
listened to talk radio a viscerate the football program. I
mean I feared for their safety when I was listening
to that. But because there's so much conversation about it,

(07:14):
and some of the conversation has centered around what can
be sometimes a fasctyle interpretation, and that is Kentucky doesn't
have an identity, like what do they hang their hat on?
And last year, I think Kentucky was a beautiful offensive team,
and the criticism that you could say, okay, well, this
is the one thing that could hold them back from

(07:35):
being championship level. I mean, they were a sweet sixteen
tea team last year and healthy. I think could have
been better if Lamont Butler been healthy, they were better
than that, but they weren't a gritty, great defensive team.
They weren't bad defensively, but they weren't championship level defensively.
And I think the pendulum swung a little bit toward
got to get better defensively, and now the offense is

(07:58):
not as flowing. And when you when he it is
difficult to pitch shut out after shutout when you're not
putting points on the board, and uh that that's hard
to do, and so uh and that's the kind of
thing with combinations. You put a great defender in that
may not be a great offensive player that that affects things.

(08:19):
But but getting back to an earlier point, I I believe,
and and I don't know that I'm right, but I
believe that Jalen Lowe is the kind of the key
to everything that when he's in the game, it gives
you a point guard that is in complete control of
of point guard duties and nobody has to worry about

(08:39):
the ball, so they everybody else can do what they're
good at and are freed up to do what they're
good at, and then low can score as well, so
he's not just a setup guy he can score. Uh
So I think with him in there with with a
little bit of time for them to figure it out,
with him running the show and playing more minutes, I
think that's really to.

Speaker 1 (09:00):
Help to put the best defensive group out there has
issues offensively. The best offensive group has issues defensively, So
at least with a guy like Low, if you can
have a point guard who gives you a chance to
be as good as the other point guard he's facing
that you can give. It gives you something to maybe
build off of to get as much better defensively with

(09:21):
whatever group that is or in the game around him
at any time.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
Right, I think that's right, Tom, Yeah, I think that's right.
And look, he's a great passer, but he can be
out there running the show. And that was my earlier point,
maybe not artfully stated about Amari Williams. Like last year,
they could run a lot of offense through the post
and get it into Mary Williams, whether he's in the

(09:45):
low block or just off the block on the left side,
or something that runs splits off him and cuts, he
can find people. So you know, I think you hear
in basketball a lot about well he's so and so
as a willing passer. Well, that's great. It's nice that
that guys aren't selfish, they're willing passers. But you have
to be good passers too, and and like a good

(10:06):
passer is better than a willing passer, especially a good
willing passer. But uh, I think right now that there
aren't as many good passers on the on the team
that they had last year. And so when you when
you make those sacrifices, like you know, you don't want
to put an all you know, defensive unit out there,

(10:28):
and then you can't you can't score. And similarly, you
don't want to have you know, all scorers and guys
that aren't great defenders because you're going to be given
up a lot. Now, if I had to choose, I'd
rather have all scorers out there. But but you don't
have to choose, like you can have four and one
uh and and operate really effectively. But you know, I

(10:50):
think I think even nat Oates said it in his
postgame press conference, it was pretty pretty clear that they
were just going to converge on every driver and uh
and because they're drive, you know, he felt like Kentucky
was going to drive to score. And when you do
look at the analytics of it and break down, like
we had some breakdowns going into the game of Kentucky's

(11:10):
numbers in their games against ranked teams. I think there
were one in four going into that game one and
four against ranked teams, and shooting percentages were below forty
percent three point percentages. I don't remember the exact numbers,
but it was like twenty five percent something like that.
You know, those aren't quality numbers, and that that can

(11:31):
indicate and you can go back and look at it
indicate shot quality things like that, and you know, Kentucky
I think is a really still a really dangerous transition team.
Like and that's one of the things. When things aren't
going well, it seems like they're not going to go
well forever. And when when things are going well, it
seems like it's going to go well forever. That's not

(11:52):
the way this stuff works. These things can turn quickly
because all the work is being done. Most of the
work we see the performances, the rehearsals are done without
us seeing it, and they're they're in rehearsal every day.
And I don't know when teams figure things out, you know,
when do slump start when do they end? You know,

(12:14):
I don't in baseball, I don't know how that stuff works.
Nobody really knows. But they're still putting the work in
and as long as their attitudes remain positive in each other,
in what they're doing, I still think there's a very
good chance that they're they're going to be there toward
the middle of conference seas and toward the end. And

(12:36):
the good news for Kentucky and for every team in
the Southeastern Conference is this isn't last year. Like the
SEC is one of the best conferences. I don't think
it's the best. Last year it was not close. I
mean it was the best conference. Is the best conference
I had ever seen. I would not want to be
going through this in last year's conference. This can be
figured out and Kentucky can play on a much higher plane,

(12:58):
and I expect I do expect that to happen because
there are all the guys in the program are good guys.
You know, they all want to win. They all want
to do it the right way. Everybody's saying the right thing.
But it's always difficult after a loss. You know, when
you see coaches and players after a win going to
a press conference and then you see him after a

(13:20):
loss and the difference in their demeanor is so stark.
It always you always get a vibe from that. And
right now, the vibe that Kentucky has after a four
game win streaking one loss wasn't wasn't good.

Speaker 1 (13:35):
If you have you can have a bad shooting team.
And if you look at the numbers against the ranked
opponents you were talking about, Kentucky is a bad shooting
team in those games. But you can have a bad
shooting team because you have bad shooters, and you can
have a bad shooting team for other reasons. And Cam
Williams shot forty on threes at Tulane. Colin Chandler, yeah, Trent,

(13:55):
no other guys on this team Aberdeen. You know, solid
numbers at Florida. So if guys who have shot it
better in the past aren't shooting it better now, that
would seem to be that that comes back to what
you started with, which is passing and something they talk
about a lot making plays for teammates.

Speaker 2 (14:14):
Yes, and that's exactly right, Like usually the quality of
shot is determined by the quality of the past. And
you know, Kentucky in the game against Alabama and in
some of their bigger games. They're not getting a lot
of ball reversals, a lot of movement, and they're not
putting the defense in enough positions where they're in rotation

(14:36):
and having to make decisions and things like that. So
it was to the earlier point about when there's a
when there's a drive, a penetrating move, it doesn't matter
by whom, whether it's you know, Otega Away, name a guy.
Those drives are being made to score and instead of
drawing multiple defenders and then play out of it and

(14:59):
put a defense in rotation where they've got to close out,
you get shot, fake and drive, then do it again,
things like that. So you're not seeing a lot of that.
And even in high low situations like it was really difficult.
Kentucky had a size advantage, especially when Aiden Cherrell went
out of the game and uh, and they weren't able
to get the ball inside and exploit their size advantage.

(15:21):
They weren't able to because of where when shots were
coming and they were mostly contested shots that were being taken,
there weren't as many offensive rebound opportunities, and you know,
guys got to know when the rebounders have to know
where the shots are coming from in order to rebound
them effectively. And rebounding isn't all effort. You know, people

(15:41):
say they they love to say that it's all effort.
It's not all effort. There's more that goes into it.
And so and that's my point about this being all connected.
So that's a really good point. I mean, there they
are shot qualities determined by their passing and movement and
all these different things. And look, Kentucky runs great schemes.
I mean, Mark Pope and his staff do a great job.

(16:02):
It's just going to be a factor. You know, They're
going to have to figure out the right combinations. And
again go back to Jalen Lowe. With him healthy, that's
going to give them, i think, a better opportunity to
play at a higher level. And having everybody healthy is
going to be really important.

Speaker 1 (16:19):
Jay, thank you so much.

Speaker 2 (16:20):
Always a pleasure, Tom, thank you.

Speaker 1 (16:22):
That is ESPN's Jay Millis joining us here on the
Leads Report presented by Bob Kat Enterprises. We'll be right
back at treport coming to here from the Clark's Pumping
Shop studio, Return Refresh, Refuel at Clark's and Chris Fisher
joins the program now from Katz Illustrated at Chris Fisher
ky on X So interesting comments there from Jay billis

(16:43):
don't know if you heard those, Chris, but I thought
it was some really good analysis about the passing for Kentucky.
I just ran the numbers while he was talking, because
the taped that yesterday. In the five losses, Kentucky has
fifty two assists and fifty five turnovers, so that kind
of speaks to what he was saying.

Speaker 4 (17:01):
Yeah, I think you know, that's kind of what NATO's
was pointing to over the weekend as well. Their assists
numbers against the power teams aren't nearly what they need
to be, and even just the eyeball test, you know,
forget the numbers. When you watch Kentucky play, the ball
just doesn't move very much and it just kind of

(17:23):
sticks to everything it touches. And when you're not moving
bodies and you're not moving players, all of a sudden
you become very very easy to defend in the half court.
And I think that's kind of what we're seeing with
this Kentucky.

Speaker 1 (17:34):
Oftens exactly right. Yeah, ball stoppers is a phrase. It's
been used, and one of the points Bill is Spade
and I think this makes a lot of sense. Is
you know, the the quality of the shot comes from
the quality of the pass, and you know you get
and and Low's the best at that, and they certainly
need to they can get him on the floor for

(17:54):
longer stretches and no fans want him there from the start.
That get some better sh shots with better passing should
be a higher for saying yeah.

Speaker 4 (18:04):
And it also seems like the transition game for Kentucky
has been absent as well. It seems like, uh, the
only time they can really get out and run is
when Jalen Lowe is in the game. I definitely think
he gives this team and this offense a different gear.
But you know, so many of Kentucky's three pointers they
set the single season.

Speaker 1 (18:24):
Hey, Chris, hang up for just a second of coming
up on a hard break. We'll pick up on that.
We come right back. Butch apart presented by Bobcat Enterprises
for locations around the state. That's who you call when
you need to buy or rent some heavy equipment excavators, loaders, forklifts,
et cetera. Bobcat Enterprises Chris Fisher's with us from Cats
Illustrated at Chris Fisher ky on X and you were

(18:45):
talking about Kentucky in transition and wanted to make a
point there.

Speaker 4 (18:49):
Yeah, last season, you know, they set the single season
school record for made threes, and so many of those
came in transition. And this this team just doesn't seem
like they're able to get out and run, especially when
Jalen Lowe isn't in the game. But you know, if
you're having problems in the half court and you know,
not passing the ball like you should and executing there,

(19:12):
you know, anytime you can get out and run, you
can you can steal some easy points and transition.

Speaker 1 (19:18):
It would be a great benefit. And I think this
will happen. You just don't know on what timeline. If
if Jasper could develop into a solid backup, because he
gives them some of those same things that low does
that nobody else does. And Jasper struggled against the best competition.
Happened against Saturday, But I think he's got he has

(19:40):
the game, and it's being asked to do some things
he hadn't been asked to do before. So it'll click
for him, I think, But you just don't know when.
But it would be a big help yeah, and I think.

Speaker 4 (19:50):
Cam Williams is probably in that same boat. I'd like
to see both of those guys kind of get some
extended run, see what you know they can do with
those minutes, See what they can do with those opportunities.
And I also think those guys are, especially what we've
seen from Cam Williams lately, they can help space the
floor for you and I think Kentucky's in dire need

(20:12):
of that right now.

Speaker 1 (20:13):
Yeah, they that would be a big plus. And I
thought they were, you know, headed in that way with
Cam coming out of December, so hopefully he can get
back on track in the game to night against Missouri.
It is a point that Bill has Spade two in
that interview that with the way the SEC is this season,

(20:34):
it's not as loaded as last year, so there is
still some time to figure this out. I know this
is important week with having two home games. I think
four of their next six maybe are at home, so
it's a time when you would like to, you know,
make Hay in that situation. It would be a big plus.
It's not like it's the end of the world if
it doesn't happen, you know, in every one of those games.

(20:56):
But you know, they're at a spot where you're getting
close to the line you don't want to be on
the other side of.

Speaker 4 (21:06):
Yeah, they're they're getting close to the kind of crossing
the rubicon. I think this is a really important week
for Kentucky. Have two home games against Missouri and Mississippi State.
By SEC standards, I think that's a very forgivable stretch
and I think it's really really important for this Kentucky
team not only to hold serve at home, but kind

(21:26):
of start, you know, putting the train, you know, on
the tracks and moving in the direction that they need
to move into. But that being said, it's not going
to be easy. Missouri is a dangerous team. They have
five guys that average double figures, led by Mark Mitchell.
They're extremely balanced. They shoot thirty six and a half
percent from three. So Kentucky's gonna have to come out

(21:47):
and be ready to play.

Speaker 3 (21:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (21:48):
In terms of looking at the league, I think it's
a situation where maybe at the top or the depth
of quality is what it was last season, but there's
also nothing you can take for granted.

Speaker 4 (22:04):
Yeah, it seems like they're like, you know, I think
last year you had kind of the top four or
five that kind of separated themselves from the pack, and
it may not be the case this season. It may
be where you know, you kind of have you know,
eight or ten teams kind of in the muck right there.
And so even if it's not as strong as it
was at the top or top to bottom, you know,

(22:26):
I think it's still going to be very, very competitive,
especially in that middle grouping teams.

Speaker 1 (22:31):
We're talking with Chris Fisher from Cats Illustrated. This is
a game tonight against a Missouri team that has had
injury issues. They're starting to get their guys back. Still
porters out, but they had a couple of their key
guys back and they both played well and they beat Florida.
And then Florida came back and beat Georgia last night.
So that was a good win for Missouri.

Speaker 4 (22:52):
Yeah, and you know, Florida is a is a you know,
they remind me a lot of Kentucky. I think, if
you know, things could have broken, you know, a couple
of different ways for them. I think they're the entire
complexion of their season is different. Could have easily beaten
Duke at Duke, you know, and they're they're nine and
five and kind of in the same boat that that
Kentucky's in, but definitely I think an impressive win for

(23:14):
for Missouri at home in their league opener.

Speaker 1 (23:17):
Let's shift gears and talk a little football as the
transfer portal is going hot and heavy, with now more
and more guys coming in for Kentucky, most of them
have been on the defensive side, but I think now
that they have their quarterback, the offensive train starts rolling
into town.

Speaker 3 (23:36):
Right.

Speaker 4 (23:37):
Yeah, it's it seems like will Stein has a couple
of studs to feed so far.

Speaker 3 (23:43):
I really.

Speaker 4 (23:45):
Enjoyed how quickly and decisively he kind of pivoted away
from Sam Levitt, and that appears to have been the
correct choice. It looks like even after the LSU visit,
he's gonna take a trip to Tennessee, and I'm just
not sure Kentucky could afford to wait long, especially on
such an important piece for will Stein's offense. And so
you get the quarterback in place, Javontae Barnes, the running

(24:07):
back from Oklahoma. Is a good start there for a
running back room that's going to need some help, and
sounds like they have some other skill guys kind of
on the hook as well. And we'll see how that
plays out here over the next couple of days.

Speaker 1 (24:18):
And yeah, I know there was some level of disappointment
among fans that it didn't work out with Cutter Bowley.
But I think when a new coach comes in and
he's a guy that has a very strong reputation for
developing quarterbacks, So if he wants to go in a
different direction or didn't want to commit as firmly to

(24:40):
Cutter as Cutter needed to hear, whatever that dynamic was,
I think you should give the benefit of the doubt
to the guy who's coming into a new program that
you know, his job's on the line. It's his chance
to prove himself. And for Cutter, if he didn't hear
what he needed to hear, I can understand why he
made the decision that he did. So, uh, I think

(25:02):
that's one where you can understand what happened from both sides.

Speaker 4 (25:05):
Maybe, Yeah, I'm not sure you can blame either party.
I think, you know, with will Stein coming in, I
think he wants to be able.

Speaker 3 (25:14):
To pick his guy.

Speaker 4 (25:15):
I think he liked Cutter Bowley, but not to the
point where he just was going to coordinate him as
his starting quarterback without bringing in another potential starter or
someone that could compete with him in the spring. And
so you know, I think Cutter Bull had got an
offer that he liked, and like you said, you can't

(25:37):
really blame him for moving on.

Speaker 1 (25:41):
We appreciate the time as always, Chris. They can find
you at Chris Fisher ky on X and at Katz Illustrated.
Thank you much.

Speaker 3 (25:50):
All right, thank you.

Speaker 1 (25:51):
That is Chris Fisher joining us here on the Leech Report,
and we are coming to you from the Clark's Pumping
Shop studio Return Refresh reviewal at Clark. It's about eighteen
away from the top of the hour. Mike Kelly, the
radio voice of the Missouri Tigers, joining us when we
come right back. It's the Lead's Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
As we welcome Mike Kelly to the program, a longtime

(26:13):
radio voice of the Missouri Tigers and in town for
Kentucky and missoo tonight. Mike, appreciate you jumping on. And
the Tigers have had some issues like the Wildcats in
terms of getting all their players on the court.

Speaker 5 (26:26):
Right, Yeah, no doubt. Great to hear your voice. Looking
forward to seeing you later. Tonight, mister Leech.

Speaker 3 (26:34):
Yeah, you know, Missouri's.

Speaker 5 (26:37):
Trent Paris missed the first fourteen games of the season,
came back, actually thirteen games of the season. Came back
and played about sixteen minutes the other night against Florida
in the FIR.

Speaker 3 (26:47):
Came back.

Speaker 5 (26:48):
James Stone played the first six games, then missed the
next seven. He returned against Florida. But now Missouri's without
Javon Porter, who had started the first ten games the season.
He's out with the lake injuries. So it's been it's
been kind of a roller coaster ride and turned some injuries.

Speaker 1 (27:06):
Nice win though over Florida last week at Miszoo's home,
and Pierce and Stone seemed to give them a big
lift in their return.

Speaker 3 (27:16):
Yeah, they did.

Speaker 5 (27:17):
You know, Stone's an energy guys, a transfer from West
Virginia who ironically did not play at all last season
because of injury. Came to Missouri through the portal and
through the first six games that average double figures. Came
out in his first start in.

Speaker 3 (27:32):
A Missouri uniform and scoredon's.

Speaker 5 (27:33):
His first eight points against Florida. And Pierce came off
the bench, and you know, he's an experienced guy that
started nineteen games a year ago, knocked down a couple
of threes, and so you know that veteran presence certainly
helped Missouri and Stone, you know, as a guy that
can can knock down an open jumper if you leave
him open at the three point line.

Speaker 1 (27:52):
I thought it was an interesting statu. I saw the
notes that the only SEC team with three returning starters
from last seas in his Missouri. The returning starter stat
is one that doesn't get sighted much these days.

Speaker 3 (28:06):
Yeah, no it doesn't.

Speaker 5 (28:07):
It's it's usually how many guys did you pick up
through the portal and how many different schools have they
been to? And so yeah, that's an interesting note from
Jason Banefski. The other note that I think lean upon
looking at tonight is you know Missouri is oh and
nine in Lexington all time, oh and seven at Rock Arena,

(28:30):
and so you know, the Cats have had their way
with Missoo historically, including last year with the win at
Missoo Arena.

Speaker 1 (28:39):
Robinson is playing really well right now. Anthony Robinson just
looking at the and doing some prep sixteen a game
over the last four and that comes off a stretch
where he had I don't know it was the four
or five games of single digits. So was it just
a shooting slump.

Speaker 5 (28:55):
Yeah, I think it was a shooting slump. I think
it was part of the maturity of of Anthony Robinson
trying to understand that now instead of like number five
or six on his Scounty report, he's one or two,
probably two behind Mark Mitchell. On a consistent basis. He's
been in double figures in nine into fourteen games. Had
nineteen points against Florida, also led Missouri and rebounding with eight.

(29:21):
He's the guy that as he goes, I think Missouri
tends to.

Speaker 1 (29:23):
Go what is the best? Tell me I guess about
his game for fans that maybe haven't seen him in
long stretches other than just a highlight clip or something.

Speaker 5 (29:33):
Yeah, you know, he's a He's a guy that can
can get his own shot off the dribble, knockdown, a
knockdown a three, you know, through ball.

Speaker 3 (29:43):
Movement on the offensive.

Speaker 5 (29:44):
Then he leads Missouri and assists, also leads Missouri and steels.
He was a part of the All SEC defensive team
a year ago. So he's a guy that just slowly
but surely has kind of evolved into a into a
good player in this league over the course of the
last three years.

Speaker 1 (30:02):
When they're at their best, What does Missouri do.

Speaker 5 (30:05):
Best attacking from the inside out. Missouri's transitioned. If you'll
remember a year ago with guys like Jamar Bates who's
now with the Denver Nuggets and Caleb Grill who's now
with the Bulls organization, Missouri was a perimeter oriented team.
Now Missouri is a much taller team. Mark Mitchell, you know,
plays the three most Knights. Mark Mitchell's you know, six'.

(30:28):
Nine Sean phillips is seven Feet he's a transfer From Arizona.
State there are times Where missouri could have seven feet
six eleven and six' ten on the court at the,
same time And so missouri wants to attack from the.
Inside out, you know one of the kids that's been
impressive in terms of changing his game over the course
of the last year Is Is. Jacob cruz, you know

(30:50):
a shooter who Transferred to missouri prior to the. Last season,
you know was just a guy that would settle for
threes and you know he got to the free throw
line five times the other night by posting up smaller
Players from florida and taking advantage of the size at
six' eight. Playing, THE guard.

Speaker 1 (31:09):
Yeah i was looking at The Numbers. At ken palm
their effective, field goal percentage which measures in the value,
of the three is fourteenth. In the country so they
and they've shot fifty percent. OR better OVERALL i think
i saw nine times in. The, fourteen games.

Speaker 3 (31:25):
Yeah nine times in.

Speaker 5 (31:27):
The fourteen games, And you know i've had six, games
this season you know where they've had six guys.

Speaker 3 (31:32):
In, Double, Figures missouri though you've got to keep. This.

Speaker 5 (31:35):
In mind time they opened The, season at howard a
true road game and. Won that game but since that
point in time when they've played outside of outside. Of
their building They Lost at notre dame in a close
game earlier this Season, in early december but their last
two games outside, of the building they were beaten By
Twenty in KANSAS city by ku and Then just before

(31:57):
christmas in the Twenty second Of December in Saint louis
against Lelois And the, bragging.

Speaker 3 (32:02):
Rights game they lost.

Speaker 5 (32:02):
By, forty three now they lost by Forty three on
december of the twenty second and didn't Play until facing
florida open Conference, play on saturday and then came.

Speaker 3 (32:12):
Back and won that, game seventy. Six seventy four, so, You.

Speaker 5 (32:15):
Know honestly i'm anxious To see how missouri handles the
environment tonight on the road and obviously a place that's
that's been difficult for them.

Speaker 3 (32:26):
To, PLAY historically.

Speaker 1 (32:27):
Yeah i mean the mental part of it. IN all,
sports i mean, like you Know, you're playing golthics things
can get in your head and you know it's. Something
like that it could be in, a you know a
player where they most of the times they, won't acknowledge
it but it can be in your, head until, you
you know you show you. Can do it so this is. Their, chance,
Tonight YEAH right.

Speaker 5 (32:47):
And i think sometimes too it's it's it's the one
too that kind of can sometimes get you way you want,
it too bad instead OF allowing like i felt last
year in.

Speaker 3 (32:55):
The GAME that at, Missoui raid on missouri is trying
to go.

Speaker 5 (32:57):
Unbeaten at home for the season and just they were
too anxious and too hyped up to play the game
as opposed to just allowing things to.

Speaker 3 (33:06):
Take, place organically yeah that's.

Speaker 1 (33:08):
A great. Point i saw i've had this. Quote saved
somewhere i've found. It years ago was actually watching A
replay of ncaa tournament Coverage Shortly after john, wooden had
retired and it was how long ago it's been Is
eighty because louisville was playing in the finals with One of,
Coach Wooden's, assistants nanny crumb going for, his first title,

(33:29):
which He, got and wooden in The Pregame with BRIAN
gumble on nbc was talking about, that very aspect you
can want something so much that it, affects, your.

Speaker 3 (33:39):
Play, right exactly YEAH you and i. Are too Oldest
We're quoting john wooden.

Speaker 1 (33:46):
OR nineteen, Eighty, nbc. Coverage yeah exactly this a while
anybody We talked About, robinson and mitchell anybody kind of
under The radar that kentucky fans should be Watching four
or kentucky players would be, watching for.

Speaker 3 (34:03):
Uh, YOU know Again.

Speaker 5 (34:04):
I mentioned Cruz he's had he's had twenty or more
points in five. Games, this season again he's just changed
the way that he's that he that he's. Approached a
game he would COME in and i think part of
it is he Was influenced By. Bates and grill those
two guys would would begin a game and hit a,
couple of threes and he'd come Off.

Speaker 3 (34:21):
The bench no one as A Shooter.

Speaker 5 (34:23):
At tennessee martin he'd come off the, bench and said
he's got to knock down a.

Speaker 3 (34:26):
Couple of threes and so he's been his shot selection.

Speaker 5 (34:29):
Has been, better in fact he's third in the country
right now in three, point field goals making just over
fifty percent. Of his attempts and so he's the GUY
that that.

Speaker 3 (34:39):
I think has.

Speaker 5 (34:39):
Changed his, GAME and again i Really Like what jayden
stone brings to this basketball team just in, terms of.
Energy his grittiness on, the defensive end he'll rebound the
basketball and if you leave him alone on the perimeter,
through ball movement he can rise up and knock down an.

Speaker 3 (34:57):
OPEN three point i.

Speaker 1 (34:59):
Appreciate the time we'll. See, you tonight hey it's.

Speaker 3 (35:02):
Always a pleasure i'll look down and. Wave. To.

Speaker 1 (35:05):
You yes yeah the visiting radio crews up the top
OF the the i guess the bottom of the upper
arena and basically Right behind WHERE goose. And i are
so you could throw a paper airplane and get it.

Speaker 3 (35:21):
Down, to us oh. The challenge accepted. There you go
go for the.

Speaker 5 (35:26):
Under sixteen mark in. The first half.

Speaker 1 (35:27):
There you go we'll be watching put.

Speaker 3 (35:29):
The rearview, mirror. Thank you buddy.

Speaker 1 (35:32):
We're half time we're coming up to. The final break.
We'll take that come back and wrap up this Edition Of.
The leach, Report Stay Well ken History present About kentucky
road show sports cards and Memorabilia There on Romney rode
in lexington and At. Roadshowcards dot com, Nineteen sixty three,
on this, Day number six Kentucky went to Nashville and
beat vanderbilt one six To eighty two cotton nash, twenty seven.
Points Eleven boards future Lexington Mayor And congressman scottie bassler

(35:57):
who had twenty two he was sixteen of seventeen at,
the free throne and the game tipped At nine. O'clock
lexington times even nine o'clock games back back then had
nothing TO. Do with tv they could had to do
with The fact that vandy wanted to start its game
at eight o'clock and that's when They started. It central
time that ended up Nine. O'clock in lexington Happy Birthday
to bobby Perry As, well cornbread hemp longtime partner of

(36:21):
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(36:44):
The good, Life last night florida, Beat number eighteen georgia
ninety two. To seventy Seven tennessee over texas eighty. Five
seventy one those. Were HOME wins TEXAS a and M
went into auburn and one ninety. To Eighty eight south
CAROLINA wins At lsu where kentucky will, be next week
seventy eight. To sixty eight top. Twenty five Matchups duke
at louisville wins eighty four. To seventy Three Houston handles

(37:05):
texas tech sixty. Nine sixty five see you tomorrow On
the lead Triport Presented By bob kat enterprises