January 8, 2026 • 38 mins
Tom talks with Justin Rowland, Jack Givens, and Teonni Key.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This podcast of the Leach 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 into the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises. And
(00:23):
Oh brutal beat is the way is the phrase that
comes to mind for Kentucky last night, but that seems
inadequate after Kentucky gives up an eight point lead with
four and a half minutes to play and falls to
zero to two in league play for the first time
since two thousand and six with a seventy three sixty
eight loss to Missouri. We'll talk about that with a
(00:45):
goose Jack Gibbons. We'll also talk with Justin Rowland, talk
a little basketball and a good bit about what's happening
with football in the transfer portal as well as college
football playoff resumes tonight one game tonight and one game
tomorrow night. And then also we'll hear from Tony Morgan.
I went over to the Coddle sum caught up to
Tony before they headed out of town to Alabama. For
(01:07):
their game tonight, so we will hear from one of
the players in men's or women's basketball that is playing
as well as anybody in the country right now. So
that's the agenda for the day. Wildcat News of the
Day presented by Jusepies of Lexington. Crucial turnovers. Some missed
open shots for Kentucky and then didn't get the stops
(01:29):
down the stretch against missoo. You know, when the Missouri's
down eight with foreign change to play, they don't have
much margin for error on their possessions, so they were
able to execute, and then Kentucky helped them with turnovers
where you know, if you get the shot up, maybe
you get fouled, maybe you get an offensive rebound. Turnovers
(01:52):
just kill you in that situation. And live ball turnovers.
One of them was anyway, the other one went out
of bound, so that was the dead ball, but both
were the one I think it was Marino throwing the
way on a back door cut and then Garrison throw
into Cam Williams on a back door cut, and both
(02:12):
times they were plays that are classic parts of what
Kentucky runs offensively with the make the reed, get the
back door cut, and they failed to get it executed.
You know the last play where they were down three
with nine seconds to play. Obviously the opponent knows what
(02:32):
you're looking to do, so it's challenging there. But still
Kentucky ended up with a very poor shot there. The
play design. I saw somebody online saying, you know, how
can you unit have Cam Williams involved. Actually the play
was low was supposed to penetrate and then try to
kick to Cam on the wing, at him in one
corner and away in the other, and like happened so
(02:55):
many times, Kentucky failed to execute its plan. And then
after the game, the one phrase that Mark Pope focused
on the most was pace. And when he talks about that,
he's not just talking about up and down the floor
in a fast break. He's talking about pace in the
half court of He talked frequently about sprinting, to screens,
(03:19):
about moving the ball, passing, cutting, all of those things
that we saw so much of last season and not
enough of this season. This was Mark Pope.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I think I'm really stressed with our with our pace
and our movement. I'm just really frustrated. You know, we're
emphasizing every day about sprinting the screens, sprinting the screens,
sprinting screens, and it is it is like we're in
molasses out there and we're trying to simplify and done
things down, but man, we are just I'm disappointed with
the pace, and I'm disappointed with our willingness to get
(03:48):
to a second side. I've been disappointed with our physicality
ducking in and and you know when we do that,
when when, when we when we turn the corner on
some of those things will be good. But we're not
gonna be good until I'm offensive side, until we find
some pace that we're just not.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
He talked again about what they see happening in practice
with respect to pace and other things, and then it
doesn't get translated to the court in games, and that
is obviously a very great source of frustration for him
and his staff right now. He was also asked about
responding to this adversity Kentucky's deal with right now.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
And when you go through hard times, which everybody does,
the question is how much does it take to break you?
And I'm not about to break This group's not about
to brave. We're no place there and the only thing
you have, the only thing you can do is grieve
as quickly as possible and move on to the next
incredibly challenging games we have on Saturday, and with the
(04:46):
effort of trying to get better, and these guys will
and you know, BBN has the right to do and
say and act however they want. They're the greatest fans
in the world and they should be. I'm sure they're incredibly,
incredibly frustrated and upset.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
So that was Mark Pope after the game last night.
Next up in Mississippi State on Saturday night, and the
Bulldogs had a big home win over Oklahoma last night.
For Missouri that was its first ever win in Rupp Arena.
They were zero to nine coming into the game last night,
and now Missoo is twelve and three on the season
and off to its first two and oh start in
(05:24):
the SEC since joining the league. A couple of football
notes to Ryan Nichols, cornerback returning for another season, so
adds to the depth in the secondary there. For Kentucky
kicker Jacob Cowway, who had a solid first season, he
is returning as well. I say first season, first season
is a true starter. He had played just briefly the
(05:46):
year before, but it was enough to still qualify for
a Red Shirts, so he is, I guess three years remaining.
Cam Dooley headed to Florida. Former Kentucky Safety former Kentucky
de Line in Austin Ramsey, He's headed to Kansas State.
Coming up, we'll trat with the goose Jack Gibbons get
his take on what he saw last night and what
(06:08):
Kentucky can try to do moving forward. It is the
Leech Report and our opening segments presented by Giuseppes of Lexington.
Valentine's Day is of course just around the corner, so
hopefully you've already taken care of going to open table
and getting your reservation at Giuseppes. If not, see what
you can do. Try to get in and it is
a great place to celebrate a special occasion because the
(06:29):
food is fantastic. Sit in the lounge area which they
expanded a few years ago. Dave Hall's live jazz music
is just the perfect accompaniment to a fantastic Giuseppes meal.
Just off Nicholasville Road out past man O War Here
in Lexington. Will be right back on The Leach Report
Radio Network presented by Bobcat Enterprises. Sixteen past the Top
(06:50):
of the Hour on this Thursday edition of the Leach Report,
a couple more football notes, hardly Gilmore cam Miller, both
wide outs headed to the transfer portal, and Kentucky picked
up a me me yesterday from a veteran safety, Jordan
Castel at Florida. It's been a multi year starter for
the Gators and Kim I can't remember who it was
that posted this yesterday. They've been Cheff Drummond that Kentucky
(07:14):
is going to have the most experienced at the safety
spot of anybody in the country with Cassel and ty Bryant.
And then the Cats picked up a wide receiver commit
out of UAB Xavier Daisy six'. Three looks like a
player that hasn't put up big stats yet but certainly
brings good size to the football operation for The. Cats
(07:38):
as we welcome in The, Goose Jack, gibbons my broadcast
partner of THE Uk, network and fans take these losses, Hard,
goose BUT i don't imagine they take them any any
harder than you guys that gave all the, blood sweat
and tears for The blue And white as former. Players.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Right, Yeah i've been getting, Man i've been getting texts
hit up from players players haven't talked to in a long.
Time so, yeah, yeah a lot of.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Frustration you, know you guys and your we've talked a
little bit about this, before your second, team the seventy
six group that went on and won the N i
t and when that was still a much much bigger
deal it is now is a huge. Tournament, then and you,
GUYS i think started the season off slowly and then
(08:30):
started conference playoffs, slowly and then found a way to
get it together down the stretch and play your way
into a memorable. Season how a group of players and
coaches get out of what they're in right?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Now, Well, tom that's a great, question because, yeah we
went through. It and that's one reason WHY i still
believe and have hoped that in this team that they're
going to get, there BECAUSE i had to go through it.
MYSELF i know that it can. Happen but how do
(09:08):
you do? It you? FINALLY i, mean and we thought
it not, KNOWINGLY i, mean and not, intentionally but we
thought it as long as we could and what you
have to. Do AND i think our biggest improvement was
not necessarily, offensively but our biggest improvement came on the
defensive side of the of the. Floor we we just
(09:34):
made up our minds that we were going to have
to start doing what the coaches wanted us to do
and what they were telling us we were not. Doing
and What marc is talking about on our, fence where
yeah we're, going we're getting to the, spots but we're
not getting there aggressively and. Quickly, well we had to
do the same thing on. Defense we thought we were,
(09:56):
defending but the fact of the matter is we were
not really. Defending so we had to make the change
on that. End and once that, happened it was. Amazing
our offense got, better a flow got, better or transition
game got, better and that's what pretty much carried. Us
we became what and you know you're going to have
(10:19):
to break sometime because it's no fun losing, Here there's
no question about.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
It it's interesting you describe it that way BECAUSE i,
remember you, know watching that team just as a. Fan
but then twenty two years later the ninety eight group
was covering the, team not doing the games, yet but
covering the team Was tubby's first team won the title
And Cameron mills and all those, Guys cameron probably most
(10:46):
often talks about how with a new, coach they were
fighting What tubby was trying to.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Get them to.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Do and they Were they still had a nice, record
but they you, know when you watch to, play you
knew they weren't all they could. Be and they came
together as a group of players and, BASICALLY i think
said the same thing you were just talking. About i've
Heard cameron tell the story many times that you, know,
(11:14):
said they collectively, said, look we've got to quit fighting.
This we've got to buy in and because it's not
working the way we're doing it, now and that is
clear to everybody that it's not working right. Now so
that's the point they've got to get to and we'll
see how rocky the journey is to get, there and
(11:34):
hopefully they do get. There. Right.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Yeah another interesting correlation between this team and our team
was that we didn't have anybody on that team on
that team who had carried the heavy. Load AND i
THINK i mentioned to you that might have been one
of the issues with this. Team we had written the
(11:57):
shirttails of all those. Seniors, man you, know we had
just sat back and coach y'all would, say Good, jack
get in the game and get. GRIEVING i would go
in and Get Kevin greevy. In everything would be, good
and we'd still be kicking people as were in and
and you, KNOW i, mean but then all those guys
and we weren't coming off the, Bench we weren't playing
(12:20):
as hard or as necessarily effectively as those starters. Were
we would just enjoying the benefit of having them. There,
well you, know once they, left we were still playing
at the pace as though we had all these leaders
that were depended on and counted on and who stepped
(12:42):
up and did all heavy lifting the year. Before this
team didn't have that guy, either except For Jalen. Lowe
they didn't have that guy who had carried the heavy.
Loan and now they're learning and they have to kind
of understand that, heah, MAN i just can't do it by. Myself,
(13:02):
MAN i NEED i need to depend and to look
for my teammates to. Help and we finally realized, that
and this team is gonna get. There you, Know jalen
low is a, great, great great. LEADER i, mean he
is one of the most more talented point guards in this.
League And I'm i'm gonna think about this last play last. Night,
(13:26):
Okay now they wanted to penetrate and get him in the.
Paint the defense had to converge and then get to
the three point. Line at least in, theory that's what. Happens,
WELL i saw J lo catch the ball and he
started looking In it looked like he was looking for a,
screen and that SCREEN i didn't see. It it wasn't,
(13:48):
effective it didn't. Come so, now as a point, guard
he's in a situation where he has to take a.
Shot he didn't want that shot because that's not what
they drew, up and a lot of times that point
guard gets held responsible for those kind of plays when
in reality someone else messed. Up J lo didn't mess.
(14:14):
Up he.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Was.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
WAITING i saw it in his. Eyes it looked like
he needed somebody to come and set the. Screen, now
whether or not that, HAPPENED i didn't see. It and
of course he didn't get, open so he had to
shoot a shot that he didn't want over A i don't,
know six eleven seven foot guy and then it all
(14:37):
falls on J. Low BUT i kind of hate that
for a point, guard but so often that's kind of what.
Happens somebody else messes. Up BUT i get you know
it's on me to have to bail you, out AND
i think that's kind of what happened on that last
play last.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Night talking with a Ghost Shag, givans we get to
a quick break and we'll come back and continue the.
Discussion it is The Leach report coming to you from
The Clark's Pumping shop. Studio, return refresh and refuel At,
Clark's wit says past the top of the, Hour chat
with The, Goose jack gibbings after The cats fall To
missouri last night seventy three to sixty. Eight and you,
(15:17):
know in terms of what you're talking about with players
and how you have to, collectively you, know come together
when you're in a situation like this and find a
way to make it. Better and it comes down to
things what you're just talking about a lot of it's
your self reflection where if somebody who didn't see the
(15:40):
game asked you how you. Did if the first thing
you said isn't that we, lost then you're on the right,
track or excuse, me you're on the wrong. Track you've
got to be able to the first thing you say
is we lost and here's, why and not anything that
you did, individually right, yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Yeah, yeah and and you'll and and you'll get. There
AND i know fans are, upset and in some ways
deservedly so even Even mark says, That but this unit
that started last, Night, okay, uh every team that we're,
planned just about every, team Because missouri has some injuries as.
(16:26):
Well but every team that we've, plan they've had their
starting lineup together for what twenty games, NOW i, MEAN
i don't know they've had them together for a very
extended period of. Time in the case With, alabama they
even had some players back from last, year so and
and they're playing. Well but we are just now starting
(16:50):
the unit that marks all starting from day. One so
with a little more TIME i don't want to even
say little more patients because it's tough for all of.
Us but with a little more, time this team is
gonna has the has the has the ability to be
(17:11):
really really good if when those five get some time.
TOGETHER i feel bad FOR jq because he wants to so,
Badly but when you've been off a, year your body
just can't do what you did when you went. Out
and that's unfortunate for him because he was doing a
(17:33):
lot of good. Stuff but you also know that with
a little more, time he's going to get back there
and really good and impressive things are gonna happen when that.
Does but we we we unfortunately we just have to
wait a little bit longer because we have no. Option The.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Goose Jack evans h we will be Back courtsided On
saturday night For kentucky And Missus Sippy state down At
rupp And. GOOSE i appreciate the time as, Always.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Thanks so, Much. Tom that is The Grease Jack.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Gibbons we had a fan stop by last. NIGHT i
asked it About jack's. Book they call Me. Goose it's
still available if you don't have one, yet or A
wildcat fan that has a birthday coming up would be
a great. Gift they call Me. Goose With Doug brunk And,
goosegivens we'll be right back on The Leach report second
half of Our thursday show presented By Bobcat enterprises with
four locations Around, Kentucky so Google Bobcat. Enterprises when you
(18:31):
need to buy or rent heavy, equipment they will have
what you need and give you a fantastic service after
the sale as. Well tonight the sixth Thranth Kentucky women's
basketball teams on the road to Face. Alabama it'll be
ON Sec Network plus for THE tv, COVERAGE uk radio
network coverage With Darren. Headrick we'll get going at six
(18:51):
forty Five eastern for seven. O'clock. Tip don't forget to
go TO Uka athletics dot com backslash sink and that'll
show you how to sync up the radio broadcast with
THE tv coverage As kentucky looks to keep its role
going and stay unbeaten in conference play ahead of a
showdown with number Five. Oklahoma here In lexington On sunday,
afternoon before the team left, TOWN i went over to
(19:13):
The Joe Craft. CENTER i had a chance to visit
with star point Guard Tony. Morgan she had the game
winner down AT lsu Last, thursday and Then sunday had
an eighteen point fourteen assists performance in a win Over.
Missouri Here's Tony. Morgan so you're in quite a role
right now between what happened down AT lsu and the
game you had On. Sunday do YOU i mean they
(19:33):
talk about being in the zone or on a heat
or whatever phrase somebody. Uses do you feel something right
now that's really clicking for?
Speaker 4 (19:40):
YOU i feel Like i'm starting to understand What i'm
supposed to do in the, system What Coast brooks wanted
me to, do AND i Think i'm starting to apply
it more.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Assistantly, now what does that?
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Entail just a good balance between facilitating and, scoring becoming
a better leader on and off the, courts it capturing
out world of being a point.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Guard somebody posted a OLD i saw. Recently it was from,
earlier maybe back In, october and they were talking, about
you Know Georgia amore you replacing her and how important
you know she was to last year's, team And kenny
said something to the effect, of we don't want her
to Fill georgia's.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Shoes we wanted to have her own.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Shoes how did he help you feel comfortable in following
somebody that was so?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
ACCLAIMED i mean ever SINCE i was in the, transport
he told me that he didn't want me to Be.
Georgia he wanted me to be twenty more than he
wanted me to come and be my own personal player
BECAUSE i, am and he's able to coach me no
matter what time PLAYER i. Am SO i trusted.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
That when you were lining up for that last played
in an. LSU i saw that post game where you
know you he said you asked, Him, yeah how long
you want us to go down? To and it was
like racing a rank to the. End so when you
were doing what you were, doing you were doing what
he told you to. Do but what were you feeling
in your? Head i'm, sorry how confident or whatever were you?
Speaker 4 (20:56):
DOING i was feel pretty confident because he trusted in
the fact that we can make a play and that
he didn't expect us to get the rebound because he
knew the shot was going, in so he didn't want
to give Less you any time to drop a play
and make any crazy shot at the. End so that
made us feel really good that he at dated us
to get it.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Done what's it like now knowing you're not gonna have
a player Like tiani for a little, while how do
you guys not let that shake your?
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Confidence, yeah, well we're gonna Misserve. Courus she's our, teammate our.
Sister we love, her BUT i mean we want to
go with the next. One that, mentality and we got
to keep it, rolling keep it pushing until she's able
to return to, us and we'll be back to full.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Spot so who needs to step it up ten more.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Percent, yeah it takes.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Everybody what does this team do really? Well that makes
it special to have been one, thing two things.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
WHATEVER i think so, far we've been pretty Good. DEFENSIVELY
i think we're one of the top defensive teams in THE.
Sec we're a long team on the shortest. One Like
i've been, saying AS i Think i'm a big. Guard
so just knowing that we got some shot blockers back,
there we got length on the, court we can get
it those gaps and just plays all.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Defense what's like in terms of playing defense when you
have shot walker's behind you like you, have do you
feel yourself kind of being more?
Speaker 4 (22:10):
Aggressive, YEAH i mean it's just a little more comfortable
to like get up in them because if we do
happen to get blown by every now and then we
know that we trust our for a court back there
bought the shot.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
When you were making a decision about where. Land what
was it About kentucky that sold?
Speaker 4 (22:24):
You Coach brooks, WHY i mean they like call it
point guard. WHISPERER i truly believe. THAT i mean he's
gotten due to, Me SO i think that he's done
a phenomenal job with all his past, players all his,
programs SO i trust it in.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
That so what goes in to somebody being a point guard?
Speaker 4 (22:38):
WHISPERER i mean you gotta ask Coach brooks find that
out well for?
Speaker 1 (22:43):
You why does it click so?
Speaker 4 (22:45):
WELL i mean he was point, guard he played point
guard in. College he's always coach point, guards so he
knows what it. Takes and he's gotten other women's basketball
players to that level THAT i want to get. To
so knowing that he's done it and knowing that he
can do that for me and stuff is something THAT i.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
CONSIDER i.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Believe, yeah you're.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Sitting at sixth in the, country big week coming up.
Here they're all big to this. League but can you
tell a noticeable difference at the confidence level from where
the season started or did you guys feel like this
was what was going to.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
Happen we've always been, confident but we've all always been.
Humble we've known the potential we've had from the, beginning
but we know that at any of even night that
if you don't show, ups you could you could could
be and we don't want, that especially because we have
a bigger targeting on our back. Now so we just
got to keep it rolling and stay confident and stay.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
True to ourselves your instincts as the POINT i mean
maybe it was eighteen points fourteen assists On, sundays so
you clearly can score, it but you know how to
set up your teammates and find them in the right,
spots which is the point guard's. Job so how did
you come.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
To master that?
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Skill? Was it's, Coaching so your family members.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Watched i'm Still i'm still learning and navigating this role of.
Balance me and. Coach we were talking about all the,
time balance between facilitating and. Scoring so it's still a,
constant constant thinking THAT i have to keep in mind
because you don't always have to, score you always have to.
Pass you just have to make.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Plays what do you think your best skills?
Speaker 4 (24:07):
Are so good question of the best, SKILLS i think
being a good team. Player that means being whatever the
team needs me to be in that.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Moment what do you like about this group of young
ladies that's chasing the skull and what's the connection that
makes it?
Speaker 4 (24:24):
Special they're great people on and off the. COURT i
love coming to practice showing up every day because they're
just fun to be around and they work. Hard we
come and we play hard every day AND i just
can't wait to see what the.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Team has the.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Story what Makes Kenny brooks special as, IT.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
I, mean he trusts, us he's, confident he's confident in,
us and he's an exciting person to play.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
For It's Tony, morgan The kentucky point. Guard impressive young
lady Is they head down To alabama tonight and the
big one On sunday against number Five. Oklahoma gotta get
to a break nineteen away from the top of the.
Hour here on The Late tripport for A thursday presented
By Bobcat, Enterprises Justin rowland joins the. Program when we
return from The Clark's Pumping shop, studio, return refresh and.
(25:08):
Refuel Justin rowland joins. Us you read them A Cats
illustrated Dot com and the rest of his, team and
it's on three sports and uh lot a football basis
to Touch. Justin but we'll start with a dismal night
at Ropp arena For kentucky men's basketball and his fans
and how do they JUST i, mean you AND i
(25:32):
didn't play it at that, level so we just observe
it as followers of the game and we've we've you,
know watched a lot over the. Years how does the
team find its way back onto the path that they
want to be.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
ON i don't know if he's gonna have to be
uh way at times with the, aggressiveness you saw him
trying to trying to will him to a good. Place
but it looked like when they Beat indiana And Saint
john's that they had kind of adoubted a bully ball
approach that was maybe going to work against some. Teams
(26:02):
maybe it was going to lower the overall ceiling for the.
Season but that was the best half. Forward but at
some point fifteen games into the, season the same things
keep happening and you keep beating your head against the.
Wall you just have to wonder if it's just a personnel.
Issue at this, point that's not a, solution but it
does seem like they are extremely limited in their adaptability
(26:24):
with how they play with this, team and the collapse
down the stretch in the second half made matters.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Worse and last night the starting lineup. Changed that's what
fans wanted to. See they still were slow out of the,
gate but rallied to be within one at halftime and
immediately sees control coming out of the locker room and
when you're, up you know, eight with four and a
half to, play those are the games obviously you have
to close. Out they had the same situation Against carolina
(26:51):
and it was that thing where they couldn't, score and
you can't close out games if you can't.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Score you got guys in roles that are different than
they're probably most. COMFORTABLE i, Mean Brandon garrison is Not Amari,
williams and so you know he's making the pass and
kind of spiked it at the feet of somebody with
what thirteen seconds, left and you, know that's a lot of.
Things that's who's making the, pass that's who's on the,
(27:17):
court that's is the. Offense even even looking good that,
night the issue last night was they had the, lead
and they had the, momentum and they had a chance
to close it, out and they just got lackadaisical with
a couple of. Possessions there were just a couple of
turnovers that were needless and. Careless maybe last year we
underestimated the impact of having like the most experienced veteran
(27:38):
team in the history Of kentucky, basketball and that covered
up some of these. Things BUT i think it's mostly
guys executing an offense that they're not as well suited
us to.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Run, YEAH i think the point about the experience is
certainly a valid. One you have to have that mindset
as collectively as a, team whoever's on the, floor that
you're gonna be ruthless in the execution at that point
in the. Game, right you're gonna get a. Shot you're.
Not one thing you're not gonna do is turn it
over three. Times you're gonna get a. Shot you might
(28:06):
get a foul out of, that you might get an offensive,
rebound but you're gonna get a shot up and then
it's gonna you're gonna make the other team struggle to
have to score their. End And, missouri you, know scored
too easily in in the late stretches When kentucky was
making its mistakes on the other.
Speaker 5 (28:22):
End, YEAH i, mean if you're making those mistakes down
the stretch and you don't have your substitution patterns fixed
and knowing, it you know in every situation what's gonna,
happen it's just too much, uncertainty it feels like to,
me it feels like it's kind of, leaderless rudderless guys
looking to each, other talking to each, other but nobody
(28:43):
taking command of the situation and, saying all, right this
is what's gonna. Happen AND i think you saw that's
how it played. Out it looked like guys were unsure
of themselves and nobody knew, who what or who the
next move was gonna.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Be AND i guess If Coach pope had a comment,
here let me find the getting our group to believe
in what we do and actually execute what we do
and then execute when the lights are on has been
incredibly challenging so. Far that kind of sums up the,
thing the whole, deal because you, know with a team
(29:15):
and with a group of players and, coaches they've got
to all be on the same. Page and as, players
the coach is going to be in. CHARGE i, MEAN
i know it's a different world we live, in but
even if you don't always agree with, things you've got
to execute what the plan. Is you, can you, know
make your case that you want to do something, different
whatever that might, be but once the plan is, set
(29:36):
then your job as players is to go out and execute.
That and they've got to get. Better and what it
seems like it it may be happening is that they
don't buy in, collectively and so everybody's trying to do
something on their own and that rarely.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
Works now, right it's and they've shown that they can do.
It there are moments when they. Strain there's hurts when
you See Jalen lowe knife into the basket and throwing
the ball to the corners and they get some ball
rotation going and they kick it, around they get an open.
Look but at no point in that process is it
as crisp or as consistent as it was last. Season
(30:16):
the bald movement is not as, much the shooting is
not as much that the games, flow and guys confidently
knowing when to pick their spots and when to go
to the. Hoop that's not as. Good so every wrung
of that ladder decreased from last, year is worse than
it was last. Year and then on top of, it
there's frustrations and things happening fifteen games halfway into the
(30:39):
season that just shouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Happening at this, point sifkiars to, football and what do
you like about what's happening in the transfer portal For
kentucky right?
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Now, well They've they've certainly emphasized a few, positions the offensive,
line the defensive, line the. Secondary we knew that they
were going to need somebodies in those. Spots we saw
their death test the secondary this last year after not
really going to the portal. THERE i think they're going
to have a very strong safety duo With Jordan castell
(31:08):
And Ty. Bryant that's a ton of experience on the back,
end a couple of quarterbacks with quarterback eyes For Jay
bapon's first defense, there there's a lot of turnover on the.
TRENCHES i, Mean kentucky's gonna be a completely different football
team on the offensive and the defensive lines with few
exceptions and how those parts come. Together it looks like
(31:32):
they've got a big budget for the offensive. Line if
we Thought Evan whipperley was going to be the starter
and they go out and get one of the best
centers in the country In Colton price as an upgrade
over somebody the previous staff thought was going to be a,
starter then the budget is pretty big for the offensive line,
room and it seems like they're committed to building from
the inside.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
Out budget's an interesting topic because it's certainly the key
component these days in college sports is having enough of
the budget and then allocating it properly and to be.
Successful AND i saw a story, Yesterday this was In
(32:11):
Sports Business. Journal Ohio state And learfield are doing an
extension of their deal Similar it sounds similar to What kentucky,
did and a much longer term. Deal and it's a
sharing of the revenue between the media rights partner and
the school and they're working together and the media rights
(32:31):
partner is going to handle a lot of the nil
Stuff and so it sounds a lot like What kentucky
has done. Here it would seem That kentucky is with
what they're doing in, football has the resources that Will
stein needs to make this. Better is that how you see?
Speaker 5 (32:50):
IT i think that the resources seem to be. THERE
i think the money is there from WHAT i have, Heard,
yeah he wouldn't have taken the, job and least you
wouldn't have come on staff, early staff orin trust if
they didn't feel confidence in the. PLAN i will, SAY i,
Mean i've heard It's florida AND, lsu for, instance came
into this offseason cycle with thirty and thirty two million
(33:11):
dollars respectively to. Spend that's a lot of, money and
there's a lot of reasons for, that But i've heard.
It and here's the deal With. Kentucky they're bringing thirty
forty whatever it, is new players into the program for last,
year and we have about ten commitments so. Far it's
hard to tell in the big picture about money until
(33:31):
more of those spots are filled out because we are
still figuring out what roles each player is going to
fill coming into the, program if that makes. Sense BUT
i do think that the money is there just based
on beating in the conversation with some of the quarterbacks
and some of the high dollar players that we know
are in the port.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Room they have their, quarterback so some of the offensive
pieces are starting to fall in. Line they lost a
couple of receivers to the portal yesterday And gilmour and Cam.
Miller was there anything about the J? Miller we assuming he's.
Speaker 5 (34:01):
Back, Yeah, WELL i think somebody that they're gonna want to. Keep,
yeah you would hope they would hope that he would stick.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Around, yeah because the guy with size and the potential
that he. Flashed, now, uh what are the chances like
the kid From? Texas more is uh the game that's
been mentioned the. Most i'm sure there might be others
that we haven't even heard of. Yet are they gonna
land one of the big fish as a wide? Receiver?
Speaker 5 (34:24):
UH i think they're going to have. To minshi is
a is a good quarterback coming? In, uh he's gonna
need some. WEAPONS Dj miller is a, help but that
room has been. Ravaged and the guy they're bringing in
FROM UA B Xavier daisy is a big, play is
a big. Play i'm sorry he improved his catch rate
and didn't have any, drops but they're gonna need some
(34:46):
explosiveness coming. In i'm also interested in the second. QUARTERBACK i,
mean is it conceivable they could bring somebody in Who
it wouldn't be a wild possibility to think that over
the course of the season they could eventually even be the.
STARTER i think not Bring Sam lovett and somebody else
makes it more likely that that second quarterback is also
a more high dollar player and also maybe more of
(35:08):
a feasible competition.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
Guy it's interesting a skinner the tight end has it
shown up in the portal as far AS i know,
right he's still in the, Mix so, right somebody we
know What rodriguez has shown and Then boyer's solid but
tight ends a big part of Will stein's. Offense it
seems like a guy Like skinner might be a good
fit in that. Offense, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
That's you're gonna look at the practice tape and everything
internally on. That but my understanding was the last staff
thought that he was a promising player who would probably
look good in a Will stein. Offense so the tight,
ends he loves tight. Ends people have an image Of oregon,
football but if you Watch oregon, football it looks very.
Different so definitely a piece for.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Him Justin Rowland Katz illustrated Dot com on the on
Three Sports. Network thank, you, Justin thanks a, Lot Tom
Leads Report Radio network presented By Bob Kat, enterprises and
we'll be back with our final, segment just a moment
stand Wild cat. History in nineteen seventy, Three Joby hall
got his FIRST sec win as the new coach of The.
Cats it was In starkfille Over Mississippi state ninety to eighty.
(36:10):
One Ronnie Lyons Jim andrews each had twenty six And
jim added twenty one. Boards that's pretty good. Night twenty six,
points twenty one rebounds and A uk basketball. Agend Billy
Rady liquor To, believe played At lafayette right here At
lexington was born on this. Day Shufflebean coffee is a
longtime partner of The Leech report and it is a
(36:31):
group Of kentuckians that came together to form this company
with a commitment to being the. Best just a simple
goal that starts with the very best of coffee. Beans
they say they follow the process from seed to, cup
and you can read more about that at shufflebean Dot.
Us you get some of the product from that. Site
you can get it From. Amazon you can pick them
up At Central Kentucky Myers. Stores shuffleban's the official coffee
(36:54):
of Rupp. Arena put some hustle in your shuffle With Shufflebean.
Coffee last night in THE, Sec vandy kept it rolling
Beat alabama In nashville ninety six to. Ninety kentucky's next,
Opponent Mississippi state Clawbert oklahoma seventy two to fifty three In,
starkville And arkansas wins At, ole miss ninety four to eighty. Seven,
(37:19):
Baseball Tyler bell named third team Preseason All america By Perfect.
Game he had three eighteen AND sec play last year
and in the league games Led kentucky in, doubles home,
runs RBIs and slugging percentage and looks like a big
season ahead FOR uk. Baseball they'll be starting a little
over a month from, now and we'll start talking more
(37:41):
about that as it gets. Closer but they seemingly have
a lot of the pieces in place to maybe make
a run to get back To omaha for the second
time in three years for The College World series And,
belita congratulations to Shake Gilges alexander Named sportsperson of The
year By Sports. Illustrated that will do do it for
The Leach report presented by Bobcat enterprises and coming up,
(38:04):
Tomorrow Neil price everybody who's the voice Of Mississippi state
will join us in the first half of the, Show
mike De corsi in the second. Half see you. Tomorrow
have a good, day, everybody
This podcast of the Leach Report is presented by Boone's
Butcher Shop in Barnestown at one hundred Old Bloomfield Pike,
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meat cut on site daily. Boons Butcher Shop. Good day, Everybody,
Welcome into the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises. And
(00:23):
Oh brutal beat is the way is the phrase that
comes to mind for Kentucky last night, but that seems
inadequate after Kentucky gives up an eight point lead with
four and a half minutes to play and falls to
zero to two in league play for the first time
since two thousand and six with a seventy three sixty
eight loss to Missouri. We'll talk about that with a
(00:45):
goose Jack Gibbons. We'll also talk with Justin Rowland, talk
a little basketball and a good bit about what's happening
with football in the transfer portal as well as college
football playoff resumes tonight one game tonight and one game
tomorrow night. And then also we'll hear from Tony Morgan.
I went over to the Coddle sum caught up to
Tony before they headed out of town to Alabama. For
(01:07):
their game tonight, so we will hear from one of
the players in men's or women's basketball that is playing
as well as anybody in the country right now. So
that's the agenda for the day. Wildcat News of the
Day presented by Jusepies of Lexington. Crucial turnovers. Some missed
open shots for Kentucky and then didn't get the stops
(01:29):
down the stretch against missoo. You know, when the Missouri's
down eight with foreign change to play, they don't have
much margin for error on their possessions, so they were
able to execute, and then Kentucky helped them with turnovers
where you know, if you get the shot up, maybe
you get fouled, maybe you get an offensive rebound. Turnovers
(01:52):
just kill you in that situation. And live ball turnovers.
One of them was anyway, the other one went out
of bound, so that was the dead ball, but both
were the one I think it was Marino throwing the
way on a back door cut and then Garrison throw
into Cam Williams on a back door cut, and both
(02:12):
times they were plays that are classic parts of what
Kentucky runs offensively with the make the reed, get the
back door cut, and they failed to get it executed.
You know the last play where they were down three
with nine seconds to play. Obviously the opponent knows what
(02:32):
you're looking to do, so it's challenging there. But still
Kentucky ended up with a very poor shot there. The
play design. I saw somebody online saying, you know, how
can you unit have Cam Williams involved. Actually the play
was low was supposed to penetrate and then try to
kick to Cam on the wing, at him in one
corner and away in the other, and like happened so
(02:55):
many times, Kentucky failed to execute its plan. And then
after the game, the one phrase that Mark Pope focused
on the most was pace. And when he talks about that,
he's not just talking about up and down the floor
in a fast break. He's talking about pace in the
half court of He talked frequently about sprinting, to screens,
(03:19):
about moving the ball, passing, cutting, all of those things
that we saw so much of last season and not
enough of this season. This was Mark Pope.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I think I'm really stressed with our with our pace
and our movement. I'm just really frustrated. You know, we're
emphasizing every day about sprinting the screens, sprinting the screens,
sprinting screens, and it is it is like we're in
molasses out there and we're trying to simplify and done
things down, but man, we are just I'm disappointed with
the pace, and I'm disappointed with our willingness to get
(03:48):
to a second side. I've been disappointed with our physicality
ducking in and and you know when we do that,
when when, when we when we turn the corner on
some of those things will be good. But we're not
gonna be good until I'm offensive side, until we find
some pace that we're just not.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
He talked again about what they see happening in practice
with respect to pace and other things, and then it
doesn't get translated to the court in games, and that
is obviously a very great source of frustration for him
and his staff right now. He was also asked about
responding to this adversity Kentucky's deal with right now.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
And when you go through hard times, which everybody does,
the question is how much does it take to break you?
And I'm not about to break This group's not about
to brave. We're no place there and the only thing
you have, the only thing you can do is grieve
as quickly as possible and move on to the next
incredibly challenging games we have on Saturday, and with the
(04:46):
effort of trying to get better, and these guys will
and you know, BBN has the right to do and
say and act however they want. They're the greatest fans
in the world and they should be. I'm sure they're incredibly,
incredibly frustrated and upset.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
So that was Mark Pope after the game last night.
Next up in Mississippi State on Saturday night, and the
Bulldogs had a big home win over Oklahoma last night.
For Missouri that was its first ever win in Rupp Arena.
They were zero to nine coming into the game last night,
and now Missoo is twelve and three on the season
and off to its first two and oh start in
(05:24):
the SEC since joining the league. A couple of football
notes to Ryan Nichols, cornerback returning for another season, so
adds to the depth in the secondary there. For Kentucky
kicker Jacob Cowway, who had a solid first season, he
is returning as well. I say first season, first season
is a true starter. He had played just briefly the
(05:46):
year before, but it was enough to still qualify for
a Red Shirts, so he is, I guess three years remaining.
Cam Dooley headed to Florida. Former Kentucky Safety former Kentucky
de Line in Austin Ramsey, He's headed to Kansas State.
Coming up, we'll trat with the goose Jack Gibbons get
his take on what he saw last night and what
(06:08):
Kentucky can try to do moving forward. It is the
Leech Report and our opening segments presented by Giuseppes of Lexington.
Valentine's Day is of course just around the corner, so
hopefully you've already taken care of going to open table
and getting your reservation at Giuseppes. If not, see what
you can do. Try to get in and it is
a great place to celebrate a special occasion because the
(06:29):
food is fantastic. Sit in the lounge area which they
expanded a few years ago. Dave Hall's live jazz music
is just the perfect accompaniment to a fantastic Giuseppes meal.
Just off Nicholasville Road out past man O War Here
in Lexington. Will be right back on The Leach Report
Radio Network presented by Bobcat Enterprises. Sixteen past the Top
(06:50):
of the Hour on this Thursday edition of the Leach Report,
a couple more football notes, hardly Gilmore cam Miller, both
wide outs headed to the transfer portal, and Kentucky picked
up a me me yesterday from a veteran safety, Jordan
Castel at Florida. It's been a multi year starter for
the Gators and Kim I can't remember who it was
that posted this yesterday. They've been Cheff Drummond that Kentucky
(07:14):
is going to have the most experienced at the safety
spot of anybody in the country with Cassel and ty Bryant.
And then the Cats picked up a wide receiver commit
out of UAB Xavier Daisy six'. Three looks like a
player that hasn't put up big stats yet but certainly
brings good size to the football operation for The. Cats
(07:38):
as we welcome in The, Goose Jack, gibbons my broadcast
partner of THE Uk, network and fans take these losses, Hard,
goose BUT i don't imagine they take them any any
harder than you guys that gave all the, blood sweat
and tears for The blue And white as former. Players.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Right, Yeah i've been getting, Man i've been getting texts
hit up from players players haven't talked to in a long.
Time so, yeah, yeah a lot of.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Frustration you, know you guys and your we've talked a
little bit about this, before your second, team the seventy
six group that went on and won the N i
t and when that was still a much much bigger
deal it is now is a huge. Tournament, then and you,
GUYS i think started the season off slowly and then
(08:30):
started conference playoffs, slowly and then found a way to
get it together down the stretch and play your way
into a memorable. Season how a group of players and
coaches get out of what they're in right?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Now, Well, tom that's a great, question because, yeah we
went through. It and that's one reason WHY i still
believe and have hoped that in this team that they're
going to get, there BECAUSE i had to go through it.
MYSELF i know that it can. Happen but how do
(09:08):
you do? It you? FINALLY i, mean and we thought
it not, KNOWINGLY i, mean and not, intentionally but we
thought it as long as we could and what you
have to. Do AND i think our biggest improvement was
not necessarily, offensively but our biggest improvement came on the
defensive side of the of the. Floor we we just
(09:34):
made up our minds that we were going to have
to start doing what the coaches wanted us to do
and what they were telling us we were not. Doing
and What marc is talking about on our, fence where
yeah we're, going we're getting to the, spots but we're
not getting there aggressively and. Quickly, well we had to
do the same thing on. Defense we thought we were,
(09:56):
defending but the fact of the matter is we were
not really. Defending so we had to make the change
on that. End and once that, happened it was. Amazing
our offense got, better a flow got, better or transition
game got, better and that's what pretty much carried. Us
we became what and you know you're going to have
(10:19):
to break sometime because it's no fun losing, Here there's
no question about.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
It it's interesting you describe it that way BECAUSE i,
remember you, know watching that team just as a. Fan
but then twenty two years later the ninety eight group
was covering the, team not doing the games, yet but
covering the team Was tubby's first team won the title
And Cameron mills and all those, Guys cameron probably most
(10:46):
often talks about how with a new, coach they were
fighting What tubby was trying to.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Get them to.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Do and they Were they still had a nice, record
but they you, know when you watch to, play you
knew they weren't all they could. Be and they came
together as a group of players and, BASICALLY i think
said the same thing you were just talking. About i've
Heard cameron tell the story many times that you, know,
(11:14):
said they collectively, said, look we've got to quit fighting.
This we've got to buy in and because it's not
working the way we're doing it, now and that is
clear to everybody that it's not working right. Now so
that's the point they've got to get to and we'll
see how rocky the journey is to get, there and
(11:34):
hopefully they do get. There. Right.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Yeah another interesting correlation between this team and our team
was that we didn't have anybody on that team on
that team who had carried the heavy. Load AND i
THINK i mentioned to you that might have been one
of the issues with this. Team we had written the
(11:57):
shirttails of all those. Seniors, man you, know we had
just sat back and coach y'all would, say Good, jack
get in the game and get. GRIEVING i would go
in and Get Kevin greevy. In everything would be, good
and we'd still be kicking people as were in and
and you, KNOW i, mean but then all those guys
and we weren't coming off the, Bench we weren't playing
(12:20):
as hard or as necessarily effectively as those starters. Were
we would just enjoying the benefit of having them. There,
well you, know once they, left we were still playing
at the pace as though we had all these leaders
that were depended on and counted on and who stepped
(12:42):
up and did all heavy lifting the year. Before this
team didn't have that guy, either except For Jalen. Lowe
they didn't have that guy who had carried the heavy.
Loan and now they're learning and they have to kind
of understand that, heah, MAN i just can't do it by. Myself,
(13:02):
MAN i NEED i need to depend and to look
for my teammates to. Help and we finally realized, that
and this team is gonna get. There you, Know jalen
low is a, great, great great. LEADER i, mean he
is one of the most more talented point guards in this.
League And I'm i'm gonna think about this last play last. Night,
(13:26):
Okay now they wanted to penetrate and get him in the.
Paint the defense had to converge and then get to
the three point. Line at least in, theory that's what. Happens,
WELL i saw J lo catch the ball and he
started looking In it looked like he was looking for a,
screen and that SCREEN i didn't see. It it wasn't,
(13:48):
effective it didn't. Come so, now as a point, guard
he's in a situation where he has to take a.
Shot he didn't want that shot because that's not what
they drew, up and a lot of times that point
guard gets held responsible for those kind of plays when
in reality someone else messed. Up J lo didn't mess.
(14:14):
Up he.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Was.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
WAITING i saw it in his. Eyes it looked like
he needed somebody to come and set the. Screen, now
whether or not that, HAPPENED i didn't see. It and
of course he didn't get, open so he had to
shoot a shot that he didn't want over A i don't,
know six eleven seven foot guy and then it all
(14:37):
falls on J. Low BUT i kind of hate that
for a point, guard but so often that's kind of what.
Happens somebody else messes. Up BUT i get you know
it's on me to have to bail you, out AND
i think that's kind of what happened on that last
play last.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Night talking with a Ghost Shag, givans we get to
a quick break and we'll come back and continue the.
Discussion it is The Leach report coming to you from
The Clark's Pumping shop. Studio, return refresh and refuel At,
Clark's wit says past the top of the, Hour chat
with The, Goose jack gibbings after The cats fall To
missouri last night seventy three to sixty. Eight and you,
(15:17):
know in terms of what you're talking about with players
and how you have to, collectively you, know come together
when you're in a situation like this and find a
way to make it. Better and it comes down to
things what you're just talking about a lot of it's
your self reflection where if somebody who didn't see the
(15:40):
game asked you how you. Did if the first thing
you said isn't that we, lost then you're on the right,
track or excuse, me you're on the wrong. Track you've
got to be able to the first thing you say
is we lost and here's, why and not anything that
you did, individually right, yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Yeah, yeah and and you'll and and you'll get. There
AND i know fans are, upset and in some ways
deservedly so even Even mark says, That but this unit
that started last, Night, okay, uh every team that we're,
planned just about every, team Because missouri has some injuries as.
(16:26):
Well but every team that we've, plan they've had their
starting lineup together for what twenty games, NOW i, MEAN
i don't know they've had them together for a very
extended period of. Time in the case With, alabama they
even had some players back from last, year so and
and they're playing. Well but we are just now starting
(16:50):
the unit that marks all starting from day. One so
with a little more TIME i don't want to even
say little more patients because it's tough for all of.
Us but with a little more, time this team is
gonna has the has the has the ability to be
(17:11):
really really good if when those five get some time.
TOGETHER i feel bad FOR jq because he wants to so,
Badly but when you've been off a, year your body
just can't do what you did when you went. Out
and that's unfortunate for him because he was doing a
(17:33):
lot of good. Stuff but you also know that with
a little more, time he's going to get back there
and really good and impressive things are gonna happen when that.
Does but we we we unfortunately we just have to
wait a little bit longer because we have no. Option The.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Goose Jack evans h we will be Back courtsided On
saturday night For kentucky And Missus Sippy state down At
rupp And. GOOSE i appreciate the time as, Always.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Thanks so, Much. Tom that is The Grease Jack.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Gibbons we had a fan stop by last. NIGHT i
asked it About jack's. Book they call Me. Goose it's
still available if you don't have one, yet or A
wildcat fan that has a birthday coming up would be
a great. Gift they call Me. Goose With Doug brunk And,
goosegivens we'll be right back on The Leach report second
half of Our thursday show presented By Bobcat enterprises with
four locations Around, Kentucky so Google Bobcat. Enterprises when you
(18:31):
need to buy or rent heavy, equipment they will have
what you need and give you a fantastic service after
the sale as. Well tonight the sixth Thranth Kentucky women's
basketball teams on the road to Face. Alabama it'll be
ON Sec Network plus for THE tv, COVERAGE uk radio
network coverage With Darren. Headrick we'll get going at six
(18:51):
forty Five eastern for seven. O'clock. Tip don't forget to
go TO Uka athletics dot com backslash sink and that'll
show you how to sync up the radio broadcast with
THE tv coverage As kentucky looks to keep its role
going and stay unbeaten in conference play ahead of a
showdown with number Five. Oklahoma here In lexington On sunday,
afternoon before the team left, TOWN i went over to
(19:13):
The Joe Craft. CENTER i had a chance to visit
with star point Guard Tony. Morgan she had the game
winner down AT lsu Last, thursday and Then sunday had
an eighteen point fourteen assists performance in a win Over.
Missouri Here's Tony. Morgan so you're in quite a role
right now between what happened down AT lsu and the
game you had On. Sunday do YOU i mean they
(19:33):
talk about being in the zone or on a heat
or whatever phrase somebody. Uses do you feel something right
now that's really clicking for?
Speaker 4 (19:40):
YOU i feel Like i'm starting to understand What i'm
supposed to do in the, system What Coast brooks wanted
me to, do AND i Think i'm starting to apply
it more.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Assistantly, now what does that?
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Entail just a good balance between facilitating and, scoring becoming
a better leader on and off the, courts it capturing
out world of being a point.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Guard somebody posted a OLD i saw. Recently it was from,
earlier maybe back In, october and they were talking, about
you Know Georgia amore you replacing her and how important
you know she was to last year's, team And kenny
said something to the effect, of we don't want her
to Fill georgia's.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Shoes we wanted to have her own.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Shoes how did he help you feel comfortable in following
somebody that was so?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
ACCLAIMED i mean ever SINCE i was in the, transport
he told me that he didn't want me to Be.
Georgia he wanted me to be twenty more than he
wanted me to come and be my own personal player
BECAUSE i, am and he's able to coach me no
matter what time PLAYER i. Am SO i trusted.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
That when you were lining up for that last played
in an. LSU i saw that post game where you
know you he said you asked, Him, yeah how long
you want us to go down? To and it was
like racing a rank to the. End so when you
were doing what you were, doing you were doing what
he told you to. Do but what were you feeling
in your? Head i'm, sorry how confident or whatever were you?
Speaker 4 (20:56):
DOING i was feel pretty confident because he trusted in
the fact that we can make a play and that
he didn't expect us to get the rebound because he
knew the shot was going, in so he didn't want
to give Less you any time to drop a play
and make any crazy shot at the. End so that
made us feel really good that he at dated us
to get it.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Done what's it like now knowing you're not gonna have
a player Like tiani for a little, while how do
you guys not let that shake your?
Speaker 4 (21:19):
Confidence, yeah, well we're gonna Misserve. Courus she's our, teammate our.
Sister we love, her BUT i mean we want to
go with the next. One that, mentality and we got
to keep it, rolling keep it pushing until she's able
to return to, us and we'll be back to full.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Spot so who needs to step it up ten more.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Percent, yeah it takes.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Everybody what does this team do really? Well that makes
it special to have been one, thing two things.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
WHATEVER i think so, far we've been pretty Good. DEFENSIVELY
i think we're one of the top defensive teams in THE.
Sec we're a long team on the shortest. One Like
i've been, saying AS i Think i'm a big. Guard
so just knowing that we got some shot blockers back,
there we got length on the, court we can get
it those gaps and just plays all.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Defense what's like in terms of playing defense when you
have shot walker's behind you like you, have do you
feel yourself kind of being more?
Speaker 4 (22:10):
Aggressive, YEAH i mean it's just a little more comfortable
to like get up in them because if we do
happen to get blown by every now and then we
know that we trust our for a court back there
bought the shot.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
When you were making a decision about where. Land what
was it About kentucky that sold?
Speaker 4 (22:24):
You Coach brooks, WHY i mean they like call it
point guard. WHISPERER i truly believe. THAT i mean he's
gotten due to, Me SO i think that he's done
a phenomenal job with all his past, players all his,
programs SO i trust it in.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
That so what goes in to somebody being a point guard?
Speaker 4 (22:38):
WHISPERER i mean you gotta ask Coach brooks find that
out well for?
Speaker 1 (22:43):
You why does it click so?
Speaker 4 (22:45):
WELL i mean he was point, guard he played point
guard in. College he's always coach point, guards so he
knows what it. Takes and he's gotten other women's basketball
players to that level THAT i want to get. To
so knowing that he's done it and knowing that he
can do that for me and stuff is something THAT i.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
CONSIDER i.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Believe, yeah you're.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Sitting at sixth in the, country big week coming up.
Here they're all big to this. League but can you
tell a noticeable difference at the confidence level from where
the season started or did you guys feel like this
was what was going to.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
Happen we've always been, confident but we've all always been.
Humble we've known the potential we've had from the, beginning
but we know that at any of even night that
if you don't show, ups you could you could could
be and we don't want, that especially because we have
a bigger targeting on our back. Now so we just
got to keep it rolling and stay confident and stay.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
True to ourselves your instincts as the POINT i mean
maybe it was eighteen points fourteen assists On, sundays so
you clearly can score, it but you know how to
set up your teammates and find them in the right,
spots which is the point guard's. Job so how did
you come.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
To master that?
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Skill? Was it's, Coaching so your family members.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Watched i'm Still i'm still learning and navigating this role of.
Balance me and. Coach we were talking about all the,
time balance between facilitating and. Scoring so it's still a,
constant constant thinking THAT i have to keep in mind
because you don't always have to, score you always have to.
Pass you just have to make.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Plays what do you think your best skills?
Speaker 4 (24:07):
Are so good question of the best, SKILLS i think
being a good team. Player that means being whatever the
team needs me to be in that.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Moment what do you like about this group of young
ladies that's chasing the skull and what's the connection that
makes it?
Speaker 4 (24:24):
Special they're great people on and off the. COURT i
love coming to practice showing up every day because they're
just fun to be around and they work. Hard we
come and we play hard every day AND i just
can't wait to see what the.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Team has the.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Story what Makes Kenny brooks special as, IT.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
I, mean he trusts, us he's, confident he's confident in,
us and he's an exciting person to play.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
For It's Tony, morgan The kentucky point. Guard impressive young
lady Is they head down To alabama tonight and the
big one On sunday against number Five. Oklahoma gotta get
to a break nineteen away from the top of the.
Hour here on The Late tripport for A thursday presented
By Bobcat, Enterprises Justin rowland joins the. Program when we
return from The Clark's Pumping shop, studio, return refresh and.
(25:08):
Refuel Justin rowland joins. Us you read them A Cats
illustrated Dot com and the rest of his, team and
it's on three sports and uh lot a football basis
to Touch. Justin but we'll start with a dismal night
at Ropp arena For kentucky men's basketball and his fans
and how do they JUST i, mean you AND i
(25:32):
didn't play it at that, level so we just observe
it as followers of the game and we've we've you,
know watched a lot over the. Years how does the
team find its way back onto the path that they
want to be.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
ON i don't know if he's gonna have to be
uh way at times with the, aggressiveness you saw him
trying to trying to will him to a good. Place
but it looked like when they Beat indiana And Saint
john's that they had kind of adoubted a bully ball
approach that was maybe going to work against some. Teams
(26:02):
maybe it was going to lower the overall ceiling for the.
Season but that was the best half. Forward but at
some point fifteen games into the, season the same things
keep happening and you keep beating your head against the.
Wall you just have to wonder if it's just a personnel.
Issue at this, point that's not a, solution but it
does seem like they are extremely limited in their adaptability
(26:24):
with how they play with this, team and the collapse
down the stretch in the second half made matters.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Worse and last night the starting lineup. Changed that's what
fans wanted to. See they still were slow out of the,
gate but rallied to be within one at halftime and
immediately sees control coming out of the locker room and
when you're, up you know, eight with four and a
half to, play those are the games obviously you have
to close. Out they had the same situation Against carolina
(26:51):
and it was that thing where they couldn't, score and
you can't close out games if you can't.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Score you got guys in roles that are different than
they're probably most. COMFORTABLE i, Mean Brandon garrison is Not Amari,
williams and so you know he's making the pass and
kind of spiked it at the feet of somebody with
what thirteen seconds, left and you, know that's a lot of.
Things that's who's making the, pass that's who's on the,
(27:17):
court that's is the. Offense even even looking good that,
night the issue last night was they had the, lead
and they had the, momentum and they had a chance
to close it, out and they just got lackadaisical with
a couple of. Possessions there were just a couple of
turnovers that were needless and. Careless maybe last year we
underestimated the impact of having like the most experienced veteran
(27:38):
team in the history Of kentucky, basketball and that covered
up some of these. Things BUT i think it's mostly
guys executing an offense that they're not as well suited
us to.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Run, YEAH i think the point about the experience is
certainly a valid. One you have to have that mindset
as collectively as a, team whoever's on the, floor that
you're gonna be ruthless in the execution at that point
in the. Game, right you're gonna get a. Shot you're.
Not one thing you're not gonna do is turn it
over three. Times you're gonna get a. Shot you might
(28:06):
get a foul out of, that you might get an offensive,
rebound but you're gonna get a shot up and then
it's gonna you're gonna make the other team struggle to
have to score their. End And, missouri you, know scored
too easily in in the late stretches When kentucky was
making its mistakes on the other.
Speaker 5 (28:22):
End, YEAH i, mean if you're making those mistakes down
the stretch and you don't have your substitution patterns fixed
and knowing, it you know in every situation what's gonna,
happen it's just too much, uncertainty it feels like to,
me it feels like it's kind of, leaderless rudderless guys
looking to each, other talking to each, other but nobody
(28:43):
taking command of the situation and, saying all, right this
is what's gonna. Happen AND i think you saw that's
how it played. Out it looked like guys were unsure
of themselves and nobody knew, who what or who the
next move was gonna.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Be AND i guess If Coach pope had a comment,
here let me find the getting our group to believe
in what we do and actually execute what we do
and then execute when the lights are on has been
incredibly challenging so. Far that kind of sums up the,
thing the whole, deal because you, know with a team
(29:15):
and with a group of players and, coaches they've got
to all be on the same. Page and as, players
the coach is going to be in. CHARGE i, MEAN
i know it's a different world we live, in but
even if you don't always agree with, things you've got
to execute what the plan. Is you, can you, know
make your case that you want to do something, different
whatever that might, be but once the plan is, set
(29:36):
then your job as players is to go out and execute.
That and they've got to get. Better and what it
seems like it it may be happening is that they
don't buy in, collectively and so everybody's trying to do
something on their own and that rarely.
Speaker 5 (29:53):
Works now, right it's and they've shown that they can do.
It there are moments when they. Strain there's hurts when
you See Jalen lowe knife into the basket and throwing
the ball to the corners and they get some ball
rotation going and they kick it, around they get an open.
Look but at no point in that process is it
as crisp or as consistent as it was last. Season
(30:16):
the bald movement is not as, much the shooting is
not as much that the games, flow and guys confidently
knowing when to pick their spots and when to go
to the. Hoop that's not as. Good so every wrung
of that ladder decreased from last, year is worse than
it was last. Year and then on top of, it
there's frustrations and things happening fifteen games halfway into the
(30:39):
season that just shouldn't be.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Happening at this, point sifkiars to, football and what do
you like about what's happening in the transfer portal For
kentucky right?
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Now, well They've they've certainly emphasized a few, positions the offensive,
line the defensive, line the. Secondary we knew that they
were going to need somebodies in those. Spots we saw
their death test the secondary this last year after not
really going to the portal. THERE i think they're going
to have a very strong safety duo With Jordan castell
(31:08):
And Ty. Bryant that's a ton of experience on the back,
end a couple of quarterbacks with quarterback eyes For Jay
bapon's first defense, there there's a lot of turnover on the.
TRENCHES i, Mean kentucky's gonna be a completely different football
team on the offensive and the defensive lines with few
exceptions and how those parts come. Together it looks like
(31:32):
they've got a big budget for the offensive. Line if
we Thought Evan whipperley was going to be the starter
and they go out and get one of the best
centers in the country In Colton price as an upgrade
over somebody the previous staff thought was going to be a,
starter then the budget is pretty big for the offensive line,
room and it seems like they're committed to building from
the inside.
Speaker 1 (31:51):
Out budget's an interesting topic because it's certainly the key
component these days in college sports is having enough of
the budget and then allocating it properly and to be.
Successful AND i saw a story, Yesterday this was In
(32:11):
Sports Business. Journal Ohio state And learfield are doing an
extension of their deal Similar it sounds similar to What kentucky,
did and a much longer term. Deal and it's a
sharing of the revenue between the media rights partner and
the school and they're working together and the media rights
(32:31):
partner is going to handle a lot of the nil
Stuff and so it sounds a lot like What kentucky
has done. Here it would seem That kentucky is with
what they're doing in, football has the resources that Will
stein needs to make this. Better is that how you see?
Speaker 5 (32:50):
IT i think that the resources seem to be. THERE
i think the money is there from WHAT i have, Heard,
yeah he wouldn't have taken the, job and least you
wouldn't have come on staff, early staff orin trust if
they didn't feel confidence in the. PLAN i will, SAY i,
Mean i've heard It's florida AND, lsu for, instance came
into this offseason cycle with thirty and thirty two million
(33:11):
dollars respectively to. Spend that's a lot of, money and
there's a lot of reasons for, that But i've heard.
It and here's the deal With. Kentucky they're bringing thirty
forty whatever it, is new players into the program for last,
year and we have about ten commitments so. Far it's
hard to tell in the big picture about money until
(33:31):
more of those spots are filled out because we are
still figuring out what roles each player is going to
fill coming into the, program if that makes. Sense BUT
i do think that the money is there just based
on beating in the conversation with some of the quarterbacks
and some of the high dollar players that we know
are in the port.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Room they have their, quarterback so some of the offensive
pieces are starting to fall in. Line they lost a
couple of receivers to the portal yesterday And gilmour and Cam.
Miller was there anything about the J? Miller we assuming he's.
Speaker 5 (34:01):
Back, Yeah, WELL i think somebody that they're gonna want to. Keep,
yeah you would hope they would hope that he would stick.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Around, yeah because the guy with size and the potential
that he. Flashed, now, uh what are the chances like
the kid From? Texas more is uh the game that's
been mentioned the. Most i'm sure there might be others
that we haven't even heard of. Yet are they gonna
land one of the big fish as a wide? Receiver?
Speaker 5 (34:24):
UH i think they're going to have. To minshi is
a is a good quarterback coming? In, uh he's gonna
need some. WEAPONS Dj miller is a, help but that
room has been. Ravaged and the guy they're bringing in
FROM UA B Xavier daisy is a big, play is
a big. Play i'm sorry he improved his catch rate
and didn't have any, drops but they're gonna need some
(34:46):
explosiveness coming. In i'm also interested in the second. QUARTERBACK i,
mean is it conceivable they could bring somebody in Who
it wouldn't be a wild possibility to think that over
the course of the season they could eventually even be the.
STARTER i think not Bring Sam lovett and somebody else
makes it more likely that that second quarterback is also
a more high dollar player and also maybe more of
(35:08):
a feasible competition.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
Guy it's interesting a skinner the tight end has it
shown up in the portal as far AS i know,
right he's still in the, Mix so, right somebody we
know What rodriguez has shown and Then boyer's solid but
tight ends a big part of Will stein's. Offense it
seems like a guy Like skinner might be a good
fit in that. Offense, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
That's you're gonna look at the practice tape and everything
internally on. That but my understanding was the last staff
thought that he was a promising player who would probably
look good in a Will stein. Offense so the tight,
ends he loves tight. Ends people have an image Of oregon,
football but if you Watch oregon, football it looks very.
Different so definitely a piece for.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Him Justin Rowland Katz illustrated Dot com on the on
Three Sports. Network thank, you, Justin thanks a, Lot Tom
Leads Report Radio network presented By Bob Kat, enterprises and
we'll be back with our final, segment just a moment
stand Wild cat. History in nineteen seventy, Three Joby hall
got his FIRST sec win as the new coach of The.
Cats it was In starkfille Over Mississippi state ninety to eighty.
(36:10):
One Ronnie Lyons Jim andrews each had twenty six And
jim added twenty one. Boards that's pretty good. Night twenty six,
points twenty one rebounds and A uk basketball. Agend Billy
Rady liquor To, believe played At lafayette right here At
lexington was born on this. Day Shufflebean coffee is a
longtime partner of The Leech report and it is a
(36:31):
group Of kentuckians that came together to form this company
with a commitment to being the. Best just a simple
goal that starts with the very best of coffee. Beans
they say they follow the process from seed to, cup
and you can read more about that at shufflebean Dot.
Us you get some of the product from that. Site
you can get it From. Amazon you can pick them
up At Central Kentucky Myers. Stores shuffleban's the official coffee
(36:54):
of Rupp. Arena put some hustle in your shuffle With Shufflebean.
Coffee last night in THE, Sec vandy kept it rolling
Beat alabama In nashville ninety six to. Ninety kentucky's next,
Opponent Mississippi state Clawbert oklahoma seventy two to fifty three In,
starkville And arkansas wins At, ole miss ninety four to eighty. Seven,
(37:19):
Baseball Tyler bell named third team Preseason All america By Perfect.
Game he had three eighteen AND sec play last year
and in the league games Led kentucky in, doubles home,
runs RBIs and slugging percentage and looks like a big
season ahead FOR uk. Baseball they'll be starting a little
over a month from, now and we'll start talking more
(37:41):
about that as it gets. Closer but they seemingly have
a lot of the pieces in place to maybe make
a run to get back To omaha for the second
time in three years for The College World series And,
belita congratulations to Shake Gilges alexander Named sportsperson of The
year By Sports. Illustrated that will do do it for
The Leach report presented by Bobcat enterprises and coming up,
(38:04):
Tomorrow Neil price everybody who's the voice Of Mississippi state
will join us in the first half of the, Show
mike De corsi in the second. Half see you. Tomorrow
have a good, day, everybody
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