January 12, 2026 • 35 mins
Tom talks with Adam Luckett, Mark Story, and more.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good day, everybody. Welcome into the Leech Report, presented by
Bobcat Enterprises for a Monday, big weekend of UK sports
news to talk about. Let me just right up front
tell you there are some technical difficulties at the home
base in Louisville, so Shannon's working on it, and we
(00:23):
are going to cross our fingers and get to our
first break a little quicker than usual here in a
minute and see if we're going to be able to
hear the guest or not. So we're all in this together.
Let me just quickly start out with a few headlines
and then we'll get through the deal today. Mark's story
(00:43):
from the Harold Leer set to join us in the
first part of the show. Adam Luckett from on three
Sports Cats are in the second half, so a lot
of basketball in the first half of the show, a
lot of football in the second half. Wildcat News of
the Day always presented by just Sepies of Lexington and
a huge win for the UK women yesterday sixty three
fifty seven over number five Oklahoma. I'm just going to
(01:06):
give you a few of the headlines here, are not
going to as much detail as usual, and then we
will do that as we work through the program. The
Kentucky men looked as good offensively relative to the level
of competition is maybe they have all season. They beat
Mississippi State ninety two to sixty eight, so hopefully they
(01:30):
build on that this week when they go on the
road for two games at LSU Wednesday and at Tennessee
on Saturday. And then football had an abundance of commitments
over the weekend, stretching back into to Friday, and at
one that took place at the basketball game on Saturday,
running back to offensive lineman, wide receiver, a QB kicker,
(01:55):
long snapper, two defensive backs, and a linebacker. I think
I hit them all. Darren Stry headed to the transfer
portal from the offensive line, however, and there are reports
that Justin Burke, who's long been mentioned as a candidate
to join will Stein's staff at Kentucky, is in fact
set to do that, as the tight ends coach links
(02:18):
to the The opening segment of Wildcat News Every Day
is presented by just Sepees of Lexington, and Giuseppes is
out on Nicholasville wrote, just past man of War Boulevard,
and you need to get to open table and get
something on the books for or around Valentine's Day. By
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(02:39):
but it's a great place to celebrate that occasion or
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Lexington dot com and open table to make your reservations.
(03:02):
Going to get to a break and across our fingers
and see how this works when we come right back,
little element of mystery to the Leech Report to start
the new week, represented each day by Bobcat Enterprises. It
is the Leech Report coming to you from the Clark's
Pumping Shop Studio. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's as
(03:23):
we attempt to welcome in Mark's story from the Lexington
Herald Leader at Kentucky Sports dot Com. Mark story, Are
you with us?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I am look at that?
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Oh this is this is like, uh, I don't know
what what's the what's the right word? To describe this.
It is a festivous miracle past the day. Because Shannon can't.
The producer is the middleman, just to give peak, give
listeners a little peak behind the curtain. The guy in between. Uh,
(03:57):
you're an acts conversation that Facilla takets. It can't hear
either one of us, but we can hear each other.
How that is happening? I have no idea, but it's
you don't know how good it is to hear your voice.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Well great, Well let's just jump right into this. Then
thank you for joining us, of course. And I saw
on your feet on X at Mark C's story yesterday
that you went to the UK women's basketball game, a
top six matchup there at historic Memorial Coliseum, which wouldn't
be a strange thing, strange thing for the columnist of
(04:34):
the local paper to do, except that you were there
as a fan not working, right.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah, I was using tickets and man, that thing was
a war. That was one of the most intense basketball
games I've ever been at, and it was really interesting.
Jordan Oby got in foul trouble for Kentucky, so she
was on the bench, but the game was so intense
by the middle of the fourth quarter, nobody on either
team could make a shot. I just think everybody was spent.
(05:01):
So the game's tied at fifty seven in the final minutes,
and Kenny Brooks puts Jordan Obie back in and then
runs plays for because she's fresher than everybody else on
the court, And then she scores the last two baskets
of the game, and.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Tony Morgan's trying to gut it out with what appeared
to be some kind of cramp, maybe in a calf muscle.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Right, Yeah, she was. I mean it was one of
the more gutty performances you'll ever see, because you know,
there were moments that she could barely walk, but she
wasn't coming out. I mean, it was clear she was
going to stay and finish is if it was even
remotely possible, and she did.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
I love how she controls the game with the you know,
in a similar but not identical way to Georgia Amore
last season.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, Tony's really good, and I knew she was good
coming out of the Portal. She probably was considered the
second best point guard in the Portal, behind Olivia Miles,
who left Notre Dame for tis you but she's but
you know, with high expectations, she's been better than I thought.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
She's she's really good and this team is is really good.
Now they went in and went at number five l
s U now beat number five Oklahoma at home. So
and you know, they obviously took one on the chin
Thursday night at Alabama. But this is this is the
way you want to bounce back, and Kenny Brooks has
himself a team that's going to be a contender for
(06:27):
a very high seat if things keep going this way.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, they're obviously without Tianni Key, Uh, they're they're not
quite what they are with her. Obviously, it'll be interesting
to see at what point they get her back and
if they can, you know, mitigate the loss of her
and and continue to have success in what is a
very top heavy and strong conference. I mean, the usual
(06:54):
suspects are still really good, and in terms of South
Carolina and l s U and Tech Texas, but you know,
Vanderbilt is undefeated. Tennessee started for and on the league.
You found out that Alabama at least at home is
going to be a really tough team. And then Kentucky's
really good. So this this is a really strong conference
at the top.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Occasionally you'll hear another coach. I think Kim Mulki maybe
said this about, you know, why don't they play the
games at the rap Arena for the women's team instead
of at the coliseum. But be it women's basketball, volleyball.
It seems to me, and unless the coaches have some
issue with it, that it's a really strong home court advantage.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, I don't think the university spent what was it
eighty two eighty four million dollars on to renovate the coliseum,
not to use it. Yeah, and you know, the way
this thing is going, I mean, Kenny Brooks is doing
a really good job and the way he's recruiting, I
think this thing's going to a really hot level and
that's going to become a really hot ticket and people
(07:57):
that haven't been to the coliseum since it's been redone.
It's really I mean, I don't I mean, this is
a shot, but it's nicer now than rapp Arena. So yeah,
that's gonna be a really good situation if the program
keeps trending as it is.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
I saw where the aforementioned LSU Tigers took down Texas
yesterday too.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, they you know, they got off to an zero
and two start in the league, and I'm sure their
practices were a lot of fun at that point, but
you know, they were in sort of a desperate situation
and played like a desperate team.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Maybe the race for the titles, you do you think
it's possible. It's a little more deeper than it typically is,
kind of stopping and starting with South Carolina some years.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Yeah, I do. I think the I think the like
I said, I think the top of the league is
there's more teams that are closer to the top. You know,
I think South Carolina deserves the presumption as the favorite
until somebody prews otherwise. But yeah, I think there are
five or six really high level teams at the top
of the SEC Woman's as well.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
The shift gears to the men. And I was talking
with a buddy yesterday about the win over Mississippi State,
and you know, it's I thought the best that they've
looked relative to competition. I mean, especially offensively. They've had
some games where they put a lot of points up
on the board, but it was not a high major opponent.
(09:21):
Now Mississippi State isn't as good as Gonzaga or Michigan State,
et cetera. But I saw where they ken Palm dot
Com they had they scored at one point three point
one point three four points per possession. So I went
back and looked that's I thought that had to be
the highest this year, and it is. It is, in fact,
the second highest of the Mark Pope era. The only
(09:42):
one better that I could find anyway, unless I miss something,
was the one O six one hundred Kentucky went over
Florida last year. So that gives you a little idea
of just how efficient the offense was. And it just
it it looked better whatever the numbers say. If you
watch the game, it looked like what it's Mark Pope's
(10:02):
offense is supposed to look like.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Right, Yeah, that's exactly what I thought. For the really
for the first time in this year against a high
level opponent, it looked like a Mark Pope team. It
looked like what do you expect to see from you know,
what Mark usually puts on the court. You know. I
thought there were signs of that in the Missouri game.
(10:26):
That's one thing that gives me a little bit of
optimism that they maybe you're figuring it out. I thought
there were some signs of the offense clicking at that level. Now,
obviously none of those came in the last four minutes,
but I thought there were some signs. You know, if
you go back to the possession where otega Oway hit
the three pointer from the corner against Missouri that put
(10:46):
on up eight, that was the best offensive possession of
the year. The ball movement was incredible, and again that
disappeared in the last four minutes. But I do did
think there were some signs in that game that they
were sort of figuring it out, and then after I
got behind eighteen to six, that sort of manifested itself
against Mississippi State. So I think I understand people are
(11:08):
skeptical of this team, and rightfully so, but I do
think last week there were I think there is a
glimmer of hope for this team.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Now.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
It's interesting to make that point because I heard one
of the postgame interviews with otega Oway I can't remember
if it was with Goose or with all the media,
that he said that as well, that he thought there
were signs in the Missouri game. Because I'm just looking
at the box here, they had sixteen assists, which was
I think the previous high against a high major opponent
for assists, and they shot a good percentage at the
(11:40):
three point line, which they'd never done against a good team.
So those are just a couple of from things from
a numbers perspective that were better. But that one possession
you referenced is the one that I thought, as well,
that's what it's supposed to look like, and if they
could could get to that with more regular clarity, they'd
(12:01):
be on the right track. We'll pick up on that
when we come right back. We're talking with Mark's story
from The Herald Leader Kentucky Sports dot Com here on
the Leads Report Radio Network presented by Bobcat Enterprises. So
that was take away after the game. We're talking with
Mark's story from Kentucky Sports dot Com and the Lexington
Herald Leader about how much better the offense looked for
(12:21):
a much longer stretches after they dug out of an
eighteen to six hole on Saturday. I don't know, Mark,
if it was as simple as players kind of having
some kind of epiphany. It's like, Okay, this just isn't
working this way. Let's try to incorporate more of what
the guy over there in the suit is saying. Goose
(12:43):
as all one as obviously each week we talked about
his seventy six team, which you'll probably remember, and they
were ten and ten on Valentine's Day, and he said
they kind of had a moment where the you know,
they had lost a lot of key guys for the
year before, and they kind of had as a collective
group coming together where they fully bought into what Joebe
was telling him. I've heard Cameron Mills, Jeff Shepherd talk
(13:04):
about it with the ninety eight team Alan Edwards about
how they were kind of fighting the new coach, Tubby
Smith and they really took off when they fully kind
of bought in. Maybe that's what's happening here. I don't know,
what do you think?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yeah, I actually wondered thought of thought about that as well.
I thought back to the two thousand and two, two
thousand and three team elev Smith really and remember they
had that game that they had not played well early
in the year and they went to Vanderbilt and had
kind of a lackluster first half and then came out
(13:40):
in the second half and it just looked like a
completely different team. And basically it sustained that the entire
rest of the season. You know, I'm not predicting a
twenty six game winning streak for the current Cats, but
I do think, as I said, I do think for
the really for the first time all season, I left
last week thinking they're a glimmer. This team maybe is
(14:01):
figuring it out a little bit.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, they This what we're talking about. Coincided with the
honoring of the sixtieth anniversary of the sixty six Reps
runts team, and they were known for how well they
shared the ball and what great passers they were. And
there was any named Larry Connley, who sadly couldn't attend
because of some health issues he's dealing with. But I've
(14:24):
always heard Larry was the guy who had to sacrifice
some scoring and he was an excellent passer, and he
was a guy that you know, accepted or bought into
what the plan was that caused him to lose some
opportunities to score, but it made the team better. So
Briley and Dampier could be the big scores, and you
know those guys. It was great to see those guys
(14:45):
and they seem to have a wonderful time together. And
you know, I don't know if the players know much
about all this story that we're talking about, but that's
kind of the theme anyway.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Yeah, and I think UK does a really good job
on those reunions. I really like when they introduced the
players and just introduce them with their jersey number, you know,
S six three forward from Schnek Didy New York. I
think that's cool.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
I agree, Uh see if you agree with this, there's
a couple of guys I thought, uh can be really
significant pieces for them moving forward. That finally gave a
little bit of a glimpse of what that could look
like in this game, especially now with Jalen Low hurt.
Don't know what his situation is Mark Pope's talking to
the media today, but Jasper Johnson offers some of the
(15:38):
skills that that Low has. And Jasper hit a big
three to gave and gave him the first lead and
had a nice drive and open court and he can
get places on the floor that others can't other than
Jalen Low. And then the other one is Yellovich because
I thought Diabat in those games against Alabama, Missouri struggled
against the size, so Yellowch is an example that or
(16:00):
is a option you can go to in a situation
like that that gives you a little more size and
a little different skill set.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Yeah, I agree. I actually wrote a column out of
the Bellerman game that I think Jasper Johnson might be
Kentucky's X factor, and that's because with Jalen Lowell without him,
I think Jasper in a lot of ways, is the
only other guy that can, you know, sort of break
down defenses and can can sort of get where he
needs to go. And I thought, I agree. I thought
(16:30):
against mis CVSA was probably the best he's played against
a again, a high level opponent. And then the thing
that interests me about the four position, I think they're
better off. And I've always been from his Alabama days,
I've always been an admirer of Modia Baja. I just
thought like how hard he played, and I thought he
does a lot of the little things that matter. But
I think Kentucky's better off with a shooter at the four.
(16:53):
So whether that's playing Cam Williams there or Yellowch, I
think they need they need a shooter in that spot
because it creates driving lanes and just the system is
sort of predicated on having shooting in that spot.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Yeah, but I do think there'll be There's also times
Indiana game being a perfect example that the three wasn't
as big of a deal in that game, and so
Diabate was a massive contributor to that win. So it
could be interesting to see these two games this week,
both on the road, if they can continue what we've
been talking about. Mark, thank you for the time.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Thanks Tom.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
That is Mark story Lexingdon Hairleader Kentucky Sports dot Com
at Mark C. Story on X. We'll be right back
with that. I'm looking report presented by Bobcat Enterprises. Each
day they have four locations to serve you around Kentucky,
So google Bobcat Enterprises when you need to buy or
rent a piece of heavy equipment for job tractors, excavators, forklifts,
(17:49):
et cetera. Bobcat Enterprises needs to be the go to guide.
We welcome in Adam Bluckett from on three Sports ASR
quite a busy man these days following the comings and
goings so the transfer portal. Are you busier in the
last couple of weeks than you are in the middle
of the season, Adam, You know.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
I was my mom actually called me to day and
she was like, she asked me to do something. My
dad was like, you can't have him do something right now.
This is his busiest time. But yes, this is like
and she's like, is this more busy than the season,
And I'm like, yeah, Mom, it doesn't make much sense,
but yeah, we are more. This is my busiest time
of the year right now. It's probably covering the portal
these two three weeks where it's just NonStop, you know,
(18:31):
on top of the you know, we got to do
the carousel this year with Kentucky changing with will Stein
and everything comes with that, all the new coaches. So yeah,
it's been a crazy I would say six or so
weeks on my inteme.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Now that coach Dina is here full time with Oregon
getting knocked out of the playoffs last week, he can
fully have both feet here in Lexington, and he and
his staff have been quite busy. How close are they
to checking all the boxes?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Yeah, I think the wave we saw really Saturday and
Sunday got them pretty close. I think there are some
positions they still want to address, notably receiver, but other
than that, I think they've checked pretty I would say
eighty to ninety percent of their boxes. There's some things
they'll don't want to go back and fine tune. I
think those there are positions they may want to go
(19:25):
back and double dip at. And they still have room
to add a decent chunk of players here moving forward.
But overall, I think they've checked, you know, a lot
of their their needs.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
They got, you.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Know, a big left tackle, Lance Hurd, who was one
of the best players available that they wanted, got one
of the best players available at center. Defensively, they went
and got two kind of young linebackers in the SEC
that I think we'll be able to play for them
right away. They got a starting SEC safety in Jordan Castell,
and then Aaron Gates, who also started for Florida's probably
gonna come in and bolster that safety room. So they've
(19:58):
gotten starters across board. They've dressed nose tackle, I think
with j Marion Harkless, the Frederick Douglas product who started
his career at Purdue, So they've widened it or Cassida
widenet here. And they've checked a lot of boxes, and
I think there's a couple more they still need to check,
but most of the Hay is in the barn.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
To this point for fans, what is the timeline, because
I think there's a dead period that's either coming up
or they're in now, and then the portal closes before long.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Yeah, the dead period started today Monday the twelfth, runs
to Wednesday the fourteenth. That happens at the same time
as the AFCA Coaches Convention, which is a big convention
where all the coaches go to. And it was at
this that convention last year tom where they submitted the
requests where they wanted the portal moved into one window
like we've seen this year. So the wheels got spinning
(20:49):
on that rule change at that convention last year. It
happens every year in January used to be lined up
with the National Championship Game, but now the calendar is
a little different, so it's not that anymore. So we
have a dead period for three days and then port
and then visits can happen again starting on Thursday the fifteenth.
The portal closes on Friday the sixteenth. Now, just because
it closes does not mean, you know, adding players is
(21:12):
done with. Every year, when the portal closes, it's usually
a day or two. I believe the schools have forty
eight hours to fully submit the paperwork, so they'll be players.
You'll see, you'll news won't happen until maybe Sunday that
they're entering the portal, even though it's two days last after,
but there is some time there to still add players.
The tricky part with all of this is getting them
into school. I believe Kentucky's ad drop date is somewhere
(21:36):
in the January twenties, so that's they're up against it
being Rold Simon Kenton product there. He's now in year
three in Max Anderson, a Tennessee transfers in year three
hasn't really played yet. So I think you're gonna see
some open competition at a couple of these spots, which
is what Stein kind of talked about in the intro
press conference about wanting to create just kind of a
(21:59):
program or a culture where the competition is going to
be a thing, like you're gonna have to compete for
your spots. I think they brought two guys that are
no doubt starters, but I think these other three spots,
they've got a lot of options that they're gonna let
guys compete.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
I remember my old buddy Jeff Fanoe, who was my
broadcast partner for the first three or four years note
played eighteen years, I think with the Falcons as a
center and his line was always in that league, you
have to win your job every day, and this has
pretty quickly shifted to a model that feels a lot
(22:34):
like professional sports in terms of player acquisition and movement
and everything else.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Right right, Yeah, we don't have figures just at hand,
but it feels like where they spit the money is
kind of where you see these NFL teams shift the
percentage of the cap. Okay, we need to spend a
big percentage at left tackle, so they go And it
wasn't just the Lance heard commitment. It was the guys
they were in on we're top of the market kind
(23:01):
of left tackles. They were going after the big fish there,
so they paid that position. I think quarterback, you saw
them take a big swing there, try to get sample
of it, quickly, pivot and steal Kenny Minche away from Nebraska.
I think at tailback you've seen them not necessarily going
after top guys. I think there's a reason for that,
where they're trying to maybe take advantage of the depth
(23:22):
of the position and not spend a ton of money.
I think a receiver, you're there after DeAndre Moore the
Texas transfer, He's one of the best receivers available. So
I think they're picking and choosing. There's spots here. But
it does very much to me kind of modeled kind
of the NFL kind of structure of how they just
systemically or how you know, broad broadly, how they like,
(23:45):
how teams like to spend their money and divide their resources.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
I am not as daily immersed in this as as
you are, as at your beat, so if but I
guess my question was, could he has Levitt Bland anywhere
yet or did I miss it?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
If he did, he has not. He's taken a visit
to Miami at some point this week, is the current understanding.
LSU has turned around and made a big push for him.
Lane Kiffin actually flew to Knoxville. While he was in Knoxville,
I think he just finished his Tennessee visit. I think
(24:21):
he was there for an extra day or something before
he was going to leave to go wherever they're going
to go. So it sounded like it's going to come
down to Miami. LSU Tennessee and he will pick one
of those. But he's going to visit Miami at some
point and then we think the decision is going to come.
We don't know. There could be another visit in there.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Somewhere because Kiff it was also recording this guy from
Washington who had signed a deal already with Washington, and
that became a big thing.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Yeah, he had signed the rev share contract with Washington.
That was Locke sealdm delivered and this was disagreement. Tom
was won the Big Ten and the Big Ten lawyers
drafted so players couldn't get out of these things potentially.
So he did that and then it could have gone
to court and they I think he circled back to
(25:07):
Washington and didn't want to mess with it. So that
was a wild twenty four or thirty six hours, forty
eight hours, however long it was. And that all broke
when Levitt was at LSU, and so I'm sure he
got you know, got one into that or whatever, and
that probably made them visit a little weird. So now
LSU is back in on him, and it's a big
target for Kiffin because it's if they miss on him,
(25:29):
it's not they're not too sure where he would go
at quarterback because a lot of options are off the
board at this point.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
I continue to say this is some version of very
high stakes prom dating.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
In some ways, it's high stake something I don't know
what what to compet to, but uh, it feels like
you're playing poker or chicken a lot of times, and
it's just, uh, it's just wild and you never know
what what the next hour is going to bring. So
you never know, like, wait, when can I step away
to eat a sandwich for lunch?
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Because something might right here six stea away from the
top of the hour. We're talking with Adam Lugoett from
on three Sports ks ARE. We will continue doing that
when we come right back here on the Leech Report
from the Clark's Pumping Shop Studio, Return, refresh and reviewl
at Clark's It's the Leach Apartment, sent of by Bobcat Enterprises.
As we visit with Adam Luckett from on three Sports KSR,
(26:19):
where he covers the Kentucky football program most heavily, among
a few other tasks, Let's talk a little bit about
the QB now that minshe is in the fold from
Notre Dame. What kind of intel have you able to
gather about what his game looks like.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Yeah. Kenny Minschee, former four star recruit from Greater Nashville,
was committed to pit Flip then Order Dame late in
his kind of recruiting process, was at Order Dame, was
back up for a couple of years, and then this
past year Riley Leonard leaves after they go to the
National Championship and they kind of have a wide open battle.
Steve Angeli, who actually started games for them, actually left
(27:05):
in the spring because he kind of got with that
the job wasn't gonna be down to him, it was
gonna be down to c J.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Carr.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
Minshe So Angeli actually went to Syracuse and started this
year and had a good season before getting injured. So
Minchee went wire to wire and CJ. Carr ended up
winning the job. Carr had a really good season, but
everyone that was close to that said, you know, that
came down to the absolute razor's edge, and they ended
up giving it to car. So Minschi entered the portal
(27:32):
after the season. He hasn't played really much other than
kind of backup duty, but when he's been in he
has looked the part I think it's kind of similar
to the thought process of when Kentucky added Will Levis
and Brock vandergriff. It's okay, this is a high quality backup.
He just hasn't got a chance to play yet. He's
got some tools, he's got a legitimate skill set, so
(27:55):
let's take a chance. And then for Minschi, I we'll
just say pocket passer, but a pretty like a good
positional athletes, got some wiggle where it can move around
in the pocket. Not necessarily a burner, but if it's
thirty nine, he can scramble and pick up ten yards.
Really good accuracy and just kind of feel for the game.
(28:16):
And I think as a processor he's got, you know,
a lot of the rap on him. He's got some
high potential there. The big thing with him, he just
hasn't played a lot of snaps. Obviously at Notre Dame
and then his senior year of high school, Tommy, he
only played in four games there was an injury. So
for him it's just about going to be about gaining
the experience. I think all the tools and in tangibles
(28:36):
are there, but he needs to play football and just
gain experience that way.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Once in a while, when there's a quarterback battle, you'll
hear a fan say, well, they you know, play two
guys at every other position, wise, quarterback have to be
any any different. Well, I think the people that have
been in the game, have worked in the game a
long time make that pretty clear when it comes to
what they pay at what they're paying these guys that
(29:02):
are going to be their quarterbacks. And it's why, you know,
Will Levis can be an outstanding quarterback and not get
to play very much, or Joe Burrow can be an
outstanding quarterback and I get to play very much. When
you lose out the battle, the one guy's going to
get the bulk of the reps.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Right. Absolutely, It's the most unique position maybe in all
of sports, just because of what is on your plate,
what you have to do, and how you kind of
have to lead, but you have to show toughness, but
you also have to you know, you know, from an
intellect point of view, there's a lot you have to do.
But then also there's a natural reaction to play in
(29:40):
the position, So there's a lot that goes into that
and to me, more than anything else, and I think
offensive line is a little like this too. You just
got to get reps. You really just have to get reps.
The more reps you get, the better. Even I know
there's been a lot to talk about. You know, we
rotate the offensive line, but you know, starting off in line,
(30:01):
they need reps together, especially if they haven't played with
each other before. And so for Minsche, I think it's
going to be big for just get him in here,
get him in for the spring, get as many reps
as he can get with the offense, and it's going
to be a thing where I think Kentucky's you know,
pretty much all in on him. They're going to bring
in some transfers. I actually think Matt Ponatowski, if he
(30:21):
shows up, he's got a chance to be Kentucky's backup
quarterback this next season. The true freshman, the guy that
just signed from Cincinnati, Mueller. But they're all in on
Minsche and his potential. Now, they just got to develop
that potential.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
What about we talked about the people that will be
in front of him, what about the running backs, receivers
that he'll be handing to or throwing to. What they've
picked up CJ. Backter from Texas over the weekend of
Kayden Ferguson a wide receiver from Arkansas, Baxter a running back.
Quick summary on those two guys, and then what you
(30:56):
mentioned the wide receiver more from Texas. Is it one
more receiver and one more running back that they're trying
to get.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Yeah, I think first of all, with Baxter, five star recruit,
I believe in the class of twenty three, I think
he may have been the best running or number one
or number two running back in that class. From Orlando,
goes to Texas, has a really good year on the
Texas playoff team that lost to Washington the year that
Michigan won the national title. Two hundred and thirty pounds,
(31:26):
but has some breakaway speed and also it was a
factor in the passing game. Can can catch the ball,
can run routes, can do some things in the passing game.
So kind of a total package player there. He's looking
like a guy that's ascending, is gonna be maybe the
next like star tailback at Texas. He tears multiple knee
ligaments fall camp his sophomore year, sits out twenty twenty four,
(31:47):
comes back in twenty twenty five, but deals with you know,
still recovering for that knee injury. And then has you know,
a bad hamstring injury that kind of lingers does not
really have a good year, so he enters the portal,
he'll be a red shirt junior. For him, it's all
about healthy. If he is one hundred percent healthy, Kentucky's
potentially got an NFL back with him with a very
high ceiling so to me. But if he's not healthy,
(32:10):
then it could be kind of you know, you could
get what you got last year from Baxter when he
was at Texas when he kind of struggled. So it's
a big swing there for for CJ. Baxter, and then
at receiver, they're really kind of they're still in the market.
I think for the starters. What they have right now
with Xavier Daisy and Jucatin ferguson Or, I think are
(32:31):
guys that'll be rotation receivers for them. Both of them
had multiple years of eligibility remaining. But I think they're
still in the market Tom for two more receivers, and
they're gonna want these. Get those two probably be at
least one to be a legitimate starter. Maybe you go
to guy in the second one to be kind of
your wide receiver two, wide receiver three, and then like
(32:51):
DJ Miller will be in the mix there because it
it's looking like he's returning at this point. So that's
where they are at receiver, and I think even at
running back, I think you could see them take maybe
one more player.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Adam, thank you much, good luck with it.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Thank Tom.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Adam Luckett on three sportscass kss are at Adam Luckett
Kassar on X. We'll take a break, come back with
our final segment of the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
Shuffleban Coffee is a longtime partner of the Leach Reports.
A group of Kentuckians that formed this company more than
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(33:26):
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You can get some of the product while you're there.
You can order it through Amazon. You can get it
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your shuffle with Kentucky based shuffle Bean Coffee. Nineteen seventy six.
On this day, Kentucky beat Georgia ninety two to seventy
six to get its first SEC win after an zero
(33:49):
to three start, the goose Jack Evans twenty six and
eleven boards, James Lee ten points, twelve boards, double doubles
or both of the Lexington High School basketball products. And
then Kentucky won three in a row, then lost for
the next six, and then won ten in a row
to finish the season and win the NIT Championship back
(34:12):
when that meant a whole lot more than it does now.
Wildcat History Notes presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports Cards and Memorabilia.
They're on Romney Road in Lexington and at roadshowcards dot com.
Don't forget to catch the Leech Rip part on LAX
eighteen each night around five fifty, right after Bill Meck's
weather forecast. We'll be talking a little bit today about
some of the things we were discussing with Mark Story
(34:35):
relative to Kentucky men's basketball and what was perhaps a
turnaround performance on Saturday. We'll see if they can back
it up this coming week. And if your business is
looking to reach the BBN here in twenty twenty six,
we'd love to help you do that. You can send
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and we'll hook you up with the people that can
(34:55):
let you know all about that. It is the end
of our show for this Monday, presented by Bob kat Enterprises.
Back here tomorrow and then we'll come to you from
Baton Rouge on Wednesday. Have a great rest of your day.
Everybody be talking to Coach Pope and the UK Sports
Network coming up at six tonight. He talks to the
local media around noon today
Good day, everybody. Welcome into the Leech Report, presented by
Bobcat Enterprises for a Monday, big weekend of UK sports
news to talk about. Let me just right up front
tell you there are some technical difficulties at the home
base in Louisville, so Shannon's working on it, and we
(00:23):
are going to cross our fingers and get to our
first break a little quicker than usual here in a
minute and see if we're going to be able to
hear the guest or not. So we're all in this together.
Let me just quickly start out with a few headlines
and then we'll get through the deal today. Mark's story
(00:43):
from the Harold Leer set to join us in the
first part of the show. Adam Luckett from on three
Sports Cats are in the second half, so a lot
of basketball in the first half of the show, a
lot of football in the second half. Wildcat News of
the Day always presented by just Sepies of Lexington and
a huge win for the UK women yesterday sixty three
fifty seven over number five Oklahoma. I'm just going to
(01:06):
give you a few of the headlines here, are not
going to as much detail as usual, and then we
will do that as we work through the program. The
Kentucky men looked as good offensively relative to the level
of competition is maybe they have all season. They beat
Mississippi State ninety two to sixty eight, so hopefully they
(01:30):
build on that this week when they go on the
road for two games at LSU Wednesday and at Tennessee
on Saturday. And then football had an abundance of commitments
over the weekend, stretching back into to Friday, and at
one that took place at the basketball game on Saturday,
running back to offensive lineman, wide receiver, a QB kicker,
(01:55):
long snapper, two defensive backs, and a linebacker. I think
I hit them all. Darren Stry headed to the transfer
portal from the offensive line, however, and there are reports
that Justin Burke, who's long been mentioned as a candidate
to join will Stein's staff at Kentucky, is in fact
set to do that, as the tight ends coach links
(02:18):
to the The opening segment of Wildcat News Every Day
is presented by just Sepees of Lexington, and Giuseppes is
out on Nicholasville wrote, just past man of War Boulevard,
and you need to get to open table and get
something on the books for or around Valentine's Day. By
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but it's a great place to celebrate that occasion or
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(03:02):
Going to get to a break and across our fingers
and see how this works when we come right back,
little element of mystery to the Leech Report to start
the new week, represented each day by Bobcat Enterprises. It
is the Leech Report coming to you from the Clark's
Pumping Shop Studio. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's as
(03:23):
we attempt to welcome in Mark's story from the Lexington
Herald Leader at Kentucky Sports dot Com. Mark story, Are
you with us?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I am look at that?
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Oh this is this is like, uh, I don't know
what what's the what's the right word? To describe this.
It is a festivous miracle past the day. Because Shannon can't.
The producer is the middleman, just to give peak, give
listeners a little peak behind the curtain. The guy in between. Uh,
(03:57):
you're an acts conversation that Facilla takets. It can't hear
either one of us, but we can hear each other.
How that is happening? I have no idea, but it's
you don't know how good it is to hear your voice.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, I'm here.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Well great, Well let's just jump right into this. Then
thank you for joining us, of course. And I saw
on your feet on X at Mark C's story yesterday
that you went to the UK women's basketball game, a
top six matchup there at historic Memorial Coliseum, which wouldn't
be a strange thing, strange thing for the columnist of
(04:34):
the local paper to do, except that you were there
as a fan not working, right.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah, I was using tickets and man, that thing was
a war. That was one of the most intense basketball
games I've ever been at, and it was really interesting.
Jordan Oby got in foul trouble for Kentucky, so she
was on the bench, but the game was so intense
by the middle of the fourth quarter, nobody on either
team could make a shot. I just think everybody was spent.
(05:01):
So the game's tied at fifty seven in the final minutes,
and Kenny Brooks puts Jordan Obie back in and then
runs plays for because she's fresher than everybody else on
the court, And then she scores the last two baskets
of the game, and.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Tony Morgan's trying to gut it out with what appeared
to be some kind of cramp, maybe in a calf muscle.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Right, Yeah, she was. I mean it was one of
the more gutty performances you'll ever see, because you know,
there were moments that she could barely walk, but she
wasn't coming out. I mean, it was clear she was
going to stay and finish is if it was even
remotely possible, and she did.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
I love how she controls the game with the you know,
in a similar but not identical way to Georgia Amore
last season.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah, Tony's really good, and I knew she was good
coming out of the Portal. She probably was considered the
second best point guard in the Portal, behind Olivia Miles,
who left Notre Dame for tis you but she's but
you know, with high expectations, she's been better than I thought.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
She's she's really good and this team is is really good.
Now they went in and went at number five l
s U now beat number five Oklahoma at home. So
and you know, they obviously took one on the chin
Thursday night at Alabama. But this is this is the
way you want to bounce back, and Kenny Brooks has
himself a team that's going to be a contender for
(06:27):
a very high seat if things keep going this way.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, they're obviously without Tianni Key, Uh, they're they're not
quite what they are with her. Obviously, it'll be interesting
to see at what point they get her back and
if they can, you know, mitigate the loss of her
and and continue to have success in what is a
very top heavy and strong conference. I mean, the usual
(06:54):
suspects are still really good, and in terms of South
Carolina and l s U and Tech Texas, but you know,
Vanderbilt is undefeated. Tennessee started for and on the league.
You found out that Alabama at least at home is
going to be a really tough team. And then Kentucky's
really good. So this this is a really strong conference
at the top.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Occasionally you'll hear another coach. I think Kim Mulki maybe
said this about, you know, why don't they play the
games at the rap Arena for the women's team instead
of at the coliseum. But be it women's basketball, volleyball.
It seems to me, and unless the coaches have some
issue with it, that it's a really strong home court advantage.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, I don't think the university spent what was it
eighty two eighty four million dollars on to renovate the coliseum,
not to use it. Yeah, and you know, the way
this thing is going, I mean, Kenny Brooks is doing
a really good job and the way he's recruiting, I
think this thing's going to a really hot level and
that's going to become a really hot ticket and people
(07:57):
that haven't been to the coliseum since it's been redone.
It's really I mean, I don't I mean, this is
a shot, but it's nicer now than rapp Arena. So yeah,
that's gonna be a really good situation if the program
keeps trending as it is.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
I saw where the aforementioned LSU Tigers took down Texas
yesterday too.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, they you know, they got off to an zero
and two start in the league, and I'm sure their
practices were a lot of fun at that point, but
you know, they were in sort of a desperate situation
and played like a desperate team.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Maybe the race for the titles, you do you think
it's possible. It's a little more deeper than it typically is,
kind of stopping and starting with South Carolina some years.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Yeah, I do. I think the I think the like
I said, I think the top of the league is
there's more teams that are closer to the top. You know,
I think South Carolina deserves the presumption as the favorite
until somebody prews otherwise. But yeah, I think there are
five or six really high level teams at the top
of the SEC Woman's as well.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
The shift gears to the men. And I was talking
with a buddy yesterday about the win over Mississippi State,
and you know, it's I thought the best that they've
looked relative to competition. I mean, especially offensively. They've had
some games where they put a lot of points up
on the board, but it was not a high major opponent.
(09:21):
Now Mississippi State isn't as good as Gonzaga or Michigan State,
et cetera. But I saw where they ken Palm dot
Com they had they scored at one point three point
one point three four points per possession. So I went
back and looked that's I thought that had to be
the highest this year, and it is. It is, in fact,
the second highest of the Mark Pope era. The only
(09:42):
one better that I could find anyway, unless I miss something,
was the one O six one hundred Kentucky went over
Florida last year. So that gives you a little idea
of just how efficient the offense was. And it just
it it looked better whatever the numbers say. If you
watch the game, it looked like what it's Mark Pope's
(10:02):
offense is supposed to look like.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Right, Yeah, that's exactly what I thought. For the really
for the first time in this year against a high
level opponent, it looked like a Mark Pope team. It
looked like what do you expect to see from you know,
what Mark usually puts on the court. You know. I
thought there were signs of that in the Missouri game.
(10:26):
That's one thing that gives me a little bit of
optimism that they maybe you're figuring it out. I thought
there were some signs of the offense clicking at that level. Now,
obviously none of those came in the last four minutes,
but I thought there were some signs. You know, if
you go back to the possession where otega Oway hit
the three pointer from the corner against Missouri that put
(10:46):
on up eight, that was the best offensive possession of
the year. The ball movement was incredible, and again that
disappeared in the last four minutes. But I do did
think there were some signs in that game that they
were sort of figuring it out, and then after I
got behind eighteen to six, that sort of manifested itself
against Mississippi State. So I think I understand people are
(11:08):
skeptical of this team, and rightfully so, but I do
think last week there were I think there is a
glimmer of hope for this team.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Now.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
It's interesting to make that point because I heard one
of the postgame interviews with otega Oway I can't remember
if it was with Goose or with all the media,
that he said that as well, that he thought there
were signs in the Missouri game. Because I'm just looking
at the box here, they had sixteen assists, which was
I think the previous high against a high major opponent
for assists, and they shot a good percentage at the
(11:40):
three point line, which they'd never done against a good team.
So those are just a couple of from things from
a numbers perspective that were better. But that one possession
you referenced is the one that I thought, as well,
that's what it's supposed to look like, and if they
could could get to that with more regular clarity, they'd
(12:01):
be on the right track. We'll pick up on that
when we come right back. We're talking with Mark's story
from The Herald Leader Kentucky Sports dot Com here on
the Leads Report Radio Network presented by Bobcat Enterprises. So
that was take away after the game. We're talking with
Mark's story from Kentucky Sports dot Com and the Lexington
Herald Leader about how much better the offense looked for
(12:21):
a much longer stretches after they dug out of an
eighteen to six hole on Saturday. I don't know, Mark,
if it was as simple as players kind of having
some kind of epiphany. It's like, Okay, this just isn't
working this way. Let's try to incorporate more of what
the guy over there in the suit is saying. Goose
(12:43):
as all one as obviously each week we talked about
his seventy six team, which you'll probably remember, and they
were ten and ten on Valentine's Day, and he said
they kind of had a moment where the you know,
they had lost a lot of key guys for the
year before, and they kind of had as a collective
group coming together where they fully bought into what Joebe
was telling him. I've heard Cameron Mills, Jeff Shepherd talk
(13:04):
about it with the ninety eight team Alan Edwards about
how they were kind of fighting the new coach, Tubby
Smith and they really took off when they fully kind
of bought in. Maybe that's what's happening here. I don't know,
what do you think?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yeah, I actually wondered thought of thought about that as well.
I thought back to the two thousand and two, two
thousand and three team elev Smith really and remember they
had that game that they had not played well early
in the year and they went to Vanderbilt and had
kind of a lackluster first half and then came out
(13:40):
in the second half and it just looked like a
completely different team. And basically it sustained that the entire
rest of the season. You know, I'm not predicting a
twenty six game winning streak for the current Cats, but
I do think, as I said, I do think for
the really for the first time all season, I left
last week thinking they're a glimmer. This team maybe is
(14:01):
figuring it out a little bit.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, they This what we're talking about. Coincided with the
honoring of the sixtieth anniversary of the sixty six Reps
runts team, and they were known for how well they
shared the ball and what great passers they were. And
there was any named Larry Connley, who sadly couldn't attend
because of some health issues he's dealing with. But I've
(14:24):
always heard Larry was the guy who had to sacrifice
some scoring and he was an excellent passer, and he
was a guy that you know, accepted or bought into
what the plan was that caused him to lose some
opportunities to score, but it made the team better. So
Briley and Dampier could be the big scores, and you
know those guys. It was great to see those guys
(14:45):
and they seem to have a wonderful time together. And
you know, I don't know if the players know much
about all this story that we're talking about, but that's
kind of the theme anyway.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Yeah, and I think UK does a really good job
on those reunions. I really like when they introduced the
players and just introduce them with their jersey number, you know,
S six three forward from Schnek Didy New York. I
think that's cool.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
I agree, Uh see if you agree with this, there's
a couple of guys I thought, uh can be really
significant pieces for them moving forward. That finally gave a
little bit of a glimpse of what that could look
like in this game, especially now with Jalen Low hurt.
Don't know what his situation is Mark Pope's talking to
the media today, but Jasper Johnson offers some of the
(15:38):
skills that that Low has. And Jasper hit a big
three to gave and gave him the first lead and
had a nice drive and open court and he can
get places on the floor that others can't other than
Jalen Low. And then the other one is Yellovich because
I thought Diabat in those games against Alabama, Missouri struggled
against the size, so Yellowch is an example that or
(16:00):
is a option you can go to in a situation
like that that gives you a little more size and
a little different skill set.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Yeah, I agree. I actually wrote a column out of
the Bellerman game that I think Jasper Johnson might be
Kentucky's X factor, and that's because with Jalen Lowell without him,
I think Jasper in a lot of ways, is the
only other guy that can, you know, sort of break
down defenses and can can sort of get where he
needs to go. And I thought, I agree. I thought
(16:30):
against mis CVSA was probably the best he's played against
a again, a high level opponent. And then the thing
that interests me about the four position, I think they're
better off. And I've always been from his Alabama days,
I've always been an admirer of Modia Baja. I just
thought like how hard he played, and I thought he
does a lot of the little things that matter. But
I think Kentucky's better off with a shooter at the four.
(16:53):
So whether that's playing Cam Williams there or Yellowch, I
think they need they need a shooter in that spot
because it creates driving lanes and just the system is
sort of predicated on having shooting in that spot.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Yeah, but I do think there'll be There's also times
Indiana game being a perfect example that the three wasn't
as big of a deal in that game, and so
Diabate was a massive contributor to that win. So it
could be interesting to see these two games this week,
both on the road, if they can continue what we've
been talking about. Mark, thank you for the time.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Thanks Tom.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
That is Mark story Lexingdon Hairleader Kentucky Sports dot Com
at Mark C. Story on X. We'll be right back
with that. I'm looking report presented by Bobcat Enterprises. Each
day they have four locations to serve you around Kentucky,
So google Bobcat Enterprises when you need to buy or
rent a piece of heavy equipment for job tractors, excavators, forklifts,
(17:49):
et cetera. Bobcat Enterprises needs to be the go to guide.
We welcome in Adam Bluckett from on three Sports ASR
quite a busy man these days following the comings and
goings so the transfer portal. Are you busier in the
last couple of weeks than you are in the middle
of the season, Adam, You know.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
I was my mom actually called me to day and
she was like, she asked me to do something. My
dad was like, you can't have him do something right now.
This is his busiest time. But yes, this is like
and she's like, is this more busy than the season,
And I'm like, yeah, Mom, it doesn't make much sense,
but yeah, we are more. This is my busiest time
of the year right now. It's probably covering the portal
these two three weeks where it's just NonStop, you know,
(18:31):
on top of the you know, we got to do
the carousel this year with Kentucky changing with will Stein
and everything comes with that, all the new coaches. So yeah,
it's been a crazy I would say six or so
weeks on my inteme.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Now that coach Dina is here full time with Oregon
getting knocked out of the playoffs last week, he can
fully have both feet here in Lexington, and he and
his staff have been quite busy. How close are they
to checking all the boxes?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Yeah, I think the wave we saw really Saturday and
Sunday got them pretty close. I think there are some
positions they still want to address, notably receiver, but other
than that, I think they've checked pretty I would say
eighty to ninety percent of their boxes. There's some things
they'll don't want to go back and fine tune. I
think those there are positions they may want to go
(19:25):
back and double dip at. And they still have room
to add a decent chunk of players here moving forward.
But overall, I think they've checked, you know, a lot
of their their needs.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
They got, you.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Know, a big left tackle, Lance Hurd, who was one
of the best players available that they wanted, got one
of the best players available at center. Defensively, they went
and got two kind of young linebackers in the SEC
that I think we'll be able to play for them
right away. They got a starting SEC safety in Jordan Castell,
and then Aaron Gates, who also started for Florida's probably
gonna come in and bolster that safety room. So they've
(19:58):
gotten starters across board. They've dressed nose tackle, I think
with j Marion Harkless, the Frederick Douglas product who started
his career at Purdue, So they've widened it or Cassida
widenet here. And they've checked a lot of boxes, and
I think there's a couple more they still need to check,
but most of the Hay is in the barn.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
To this point for fans, what is the timeline, because
I think there's a dead period that's either coming up
or they're in now, and then the portal closes before long.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Yeah, the dead period started today Monday the twelfth, runs
to Wednesday the fourteenth. That happens at the same time
as the AFCA Coaches Convention, which is a big convention
where all the coaches go to. And it was at
this that convention last year tom where they submitted the
requests where they wanted the portal moved into one window
like we've seen this year. So the wheels got spinning
(20:49):
on that rule change at that convention last year. It
happens every year in January used to be lined up
with the National Championship Game, but now the calendar is
a little different, so it's not that anymore. So we
have a dead period for three days and then port
and then visits can happen again starting on Thursday the fifteenth.
The portal closes on Friday the sixteenth. Now, just because
it closes does not mean, you know, adding players is
(21:12):
done with. Every year, when the portal closes, it's usually
a day or two. I believe the schools have forty
eight hours to fully submit the paperwork, so they'll be players.
You'll see, you'll news won't happen until maybe Sunday that
they're entering the portal, even though it's two days last after,
but there is some time there to still add players.
The tricky part with all of this is getting them
into school. I believe Kentucky's ad drop date is somewhere
(21:36):
in the January twenties, so that's they're up against it
being Rold Simon Kenton product there. He's now in year
three in Max Anderson, a Tennessee transfers in year three
hasn't really played yet. So I think you're gonna see
some open competition at a couple of these spots, which
is what Stein kind of talked about in the intro
press conference about wanting to create just kind of a
(21:59):
program or a culture where the competition is going to
be a thing, like you're gonna have to compete for
your spots. I think they brought two guys that are
no doubt starters, but I think these other three spots,
they've got a lot of options that they're gonna let
guys compete.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
I remember my old buddy Jeff Fanoe, who was my
broadcast partner for the first three or four years note
played eighteen years, I think with the Falcons as a
center and his line was always in that league, you
have to win your job every day, and this has
pretty quickly shifted to a model that feels a lot
(22:34):
like professional sports in terms of player acquisition and movement
and everything else.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Right right, Yeah, we don't have figures just at hand,
but it feels like where they spit the money is
kind of where you see these NFL teams shift the
percentage of the cap. Okay, we need to spend a
big percentage at left tackle, so they go And it
wasn't just the Lance heard commitment. It was the guys
they were in on we're top of the market kind
(23:01):
of left tackles. They were going after the big fish there,
so they paid that position. I think quarterback, you saw
them take a big swing there, try to get sample
of it, quickly, pivot and steal Kenny Minche away from Nebraska.
I think at tailback you've seen them not necessarily going
after top guys. I think there's a reason for that,
where they're trying to maybe take advantage of the depth
(23:22):
of the position and not spend a ton of money.
I think a receiver, you're there after DeAndre Moore the
Texas transfer, He's one of the best receivers available. So
I think they're picking and choosing. There's spots here. But
it does very much to me kind of modeled kind
of the NFL kind of structure of how they just
systemically or how you know, broad broadly, how they like,
(23:45):
how teams like to spend their money and divide their resources.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
I am not as daily immersed in this as as
you are, as at your beat, so if but I
guess my question was, could he has Levitt Bland anywhere
yet or did I miss it?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
If he did, he has not. He's taken a visit
to Miami at some point this week, is the current understanding.
LSU has turned around and made a big push for him.
Lane Kiffin actually flew to Knoxville. While he was in Knoxville,
I think he just finished his Tennessee visit. I think
(24:21):
he was there for an extra day or something before
he was going to leave to go wherever they're going
to go. So it sounded like it's going to come
down to Miami. LSU Tennessee and he will pick one
of those. But he's going to visit Miami at some
point and then we think the decision is going to come.
We don't know. There could be another visit in there.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Somewhere because Kiff it was also recording this guy from
Washington who had signed a deal already with Washington, and
that became a big thing.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Yeah, he had signed the rev share contract with Washington.
That was Locke sealdm delivered and this was disagreement. Tom
was won the Big Ten and the Big Ten lawyers
drafted so players couldn't get out of these things potentially.
So he did that and then it could have gone
to court and they I think he circled back to
(25:07):
Washington and didn't want to mess with it. So that
was a wild twenty four or thirty six hours, forty
eight hours, however long it was. And that all broke
when Levitt was at LSU, and so I'm sure he
got you know, got one into that or whatever, and
that probably made them visit a little weird. So now
LSU is back in on him, and it's a big
target for Kiffin because it's if they miss on him,
(25:29):
it's not they're not too sure where he would go
at quarterback because a lot of options are off the
board at this point.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
I continue to say this is some version of very
high stakes prom dating.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
In some ways, it's high stake something I don't know
what what to compet to, but uh, it feels like
you're playing poker or chicken a lot of times, and
it's just, uh, it's just wild and you never know
what what the next hour is going to bring. So
you never know, like, wait, when can I step away
to eat a sandwich for lunch?
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Because something might right here six stea away from the
top of the hour. We're talking with Adam Lugoett from
on three Sports ks ARE. We will continue doing that
when we come right back here on the Leech Report
from the Clark's Pumping Shop Studio, Return, refresh and reviewl
at Clark's It's the Leach Apartment, sent of by Bobcat Enterprises.
As we visit with Adam Luckett from on three Sports KSR,
(26:19):
where he covers the Kentucky football program most heavily, among
a few other tasks, Let's talk a little bit about
the QB now that minshe is in the fold from
Notre Dame. What kind of intel have you able to
gather about what his game looks like.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Yeah. Kenny Minschee, former four star recruit from Greater Nashville,
was committed to pit Flip then Order Dame late in
his kind of recruiting process, was at Order Dame, was
back up for a couple of years, and then this
past year Riley Leonard leaves after they go to the
National Championship and they kind of have a wide open battle.
Steve Angeli, who actually started games for them, actually left
(27:05):
in the spring because he kind of got with that
the job wasn't gonna be down to him, it was
gonna be down to c J.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Carr.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
Minshe So Angeli actually went to Syracuse and started this
year and had a good season before getting injured. So
Minchee went wire to wire and CJ. Carr ended up
winning the job. Carr had a really good season, but
everyone that was close to that said, you know, that
came down to the absolute razor's edge, and they ended
up giving it to car. So Minschi entered the portal
(27:32):
after the season. He hasn't played really much other than
kind of backup duty, but when he's been in he
has looked the part I think it's kind of similar
to the thought process of when Kentucky added Will Levis
and Brock vandergriff. It's okay, this is a high quality backup.
He just hasn't got a chance to play yet. He's
got some tools, he's got a legitimate skill set, so
(27:55):
let's take a chance. And then for Minschi, I we'll
just say pocket passer, but a pretty like a good
positional athletes, got some wiggle where it can move around
in the pocket. Not necessarily a burner, but if it's
thirty nine, he can scramble and pick up ten yards.
Really good accuracy and just kind of feel for the game.
(28:16):
And I think as a processor he's got, you know,
a lot of the rap on him. He's got some
high potential there. The big thing with him, he just
hasn't played a lot of snaps. Obviously at Notre Dame
and then his senior year of high school, Tommy, he
only played in four games there was an injury. So
for him it's just about going to be about gaining
the experience. I think all the tools and in tangibles
(28:36):
are there, but he needs to play football and just
gain experience that way.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Once in a while, when there's a quarterback battle, you'll
hear a fan say, well, they you know, play two
guys at every other position, wise, quarterback have to be
any any different. Well, I think the people that have
been in the game, have worked in the game a
long time make that pretty clear when it comes to
what they pay at what they're paying these guys that
(29:02):
are going to be their quarterbacks. And it's why, you know,
Will Levis can be an outstanding quarterback and not get
to play very much, or Joe Burrow can be an
outstanding quarterback and I get to play very much. When
you lose out the battle, the one guy's going to
get the bulk of the reps.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Right. Absolutely, It's the most unique position maybe in all
of sports, just because of what is on your plate,
what you have to do, and how you kind of
have to lead, but you have to show toughness, but
you also have to you know, you know, from an
intellect point of view, there's a lot you have to do.
But then also there's a natural reaction to play in
(29:40):
the position, So there's a lot that goes into that
and to me, more than anything else, and I think
offensive line is a little like this too. You just
got to get reps. You really just have to get reps.
The more reps you get, the better. Even I know
there's been a lot to talk about. You know, we
rotate the offensive line, but you know, starting off in line,
(30:01):
they need reps together, especially if they haven't played with
each other before. And so for Minsche, I think it's
going to be big for just get him in here,
get him in for the spring, get as many reps
as he can get with the offense, and it's going
to be a thing where I think Kentucky's you know,
pretty much all in on him. They're going to bring
in some transfers. I actually think Matt Ponatowski, if he
(30:21):
shows up, he's got a chance to be Kentucky's backup
quarterback this next season. The true freshman, the guy that
just signed from Cincinnati, Mueller. But they're all in on
Minsche and his potential. Now, they just got to develop
that potential.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
What about we talked about the people that will be
in front of him, what about the running backs, receivers
that he'll be handing to or throwing to. What they've
picked up CJ. Backter from Texas over the weekend of
Kayden Ferguson a wide receiver from Arkansas, Baxter a running back.
Quick summary on those two guys, and then what you
(30:56):
mentioned the wide receiver more from Texas. Is it one
more receiver and one more running back that they're trying
to get.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Yeah, I think first of all, with Baxter, five star recruit,
I believe in the class of twenty three, I think
he may have been the best running or number one
or number two running back in that class. From Orlando,
goes to Texas, has a really good year on the
Texas playoff team that lost to Washington the year that
Michigan won the national title. Two hundred and thirty pounds,
(31:26):
but has some breakaway speed and also it was a
factor in the passing game. Can can catch the ball,
can run routes, can do some things in the passing game.
So kind of a total package player there. He's looking
like a guy that's ascending, is gonna be maybe the
next like star tailback at Texas. He tears multiple knee
ligaments fall camp his sophomore year, sits out twenty twenty four,
(31:47):
comes back in twenty twenty five, but deals with you know,
still recovering for that knee injury. And then has you know,
a bad hamstring injury that kind of lingers does not
really have a good year, so he enters the portal,
he'll be a red shirt junior. For him, it's all
about healthy. If he is one hundred percent healthy, Kentucky's
potentially got an NFL back with him with a very
high ceiling so to me. But if he's not healthy,
(32:10):
then it could be kind of you know, you could
get what you got last year from Baxter when he
was at Texas when he kind of struggled. So it's
a big swing there for for CJ. Baxter, and then
at receiver, they're really kind of they're still in the market.
I think for the starters. What they have right now
with Xavier Daisy and Jucatin ferguson Or, I think are
(32:31):
guys that'll be rotation receivers for them. Both of them
had multiple years of eligibility remaining. But I think they're
still in the market Tom for two more receivers, and
they're gonna want these. Get those two probably be at
least one to be a legitimate starter. Maybe you go
to guy in the second one to be kind of
your wide receiver two, wide receiver three, and then like
(32:51):
DJ Miller will be in the mix there because it
it's looking like he's returning at this point. So that's
where they are at receiver, and I think even at
running back, I think you could see them take maybe
one more player.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Adam, thank you much, good luck with it.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Thank Tom.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Adam Luckett on three sportscass kss are at Adam Luckett
Kassar on X. We'll take a break, come back with
our final segment of the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises.
Shuffleban Coffee is a longtime partner of the Leach Reports.
A group of Kentuckians that formed this company more than
a decade ago with a commitment to excellence. Starts with
the best of coffee beans, and you can read about
(33:26):
the process and their commitment to quality at Shufflebean dot Us.
You can get some of the product while you're there.
You can order it through Amazon. You can get it
at Central Kentucky Myers stores too. Put some hustle in
your shuffle with Kentucky based shuffle Bean Coffee. Nineteen seventy six.
On this day, Kentucky beat Georgia ninety two to seventy
six to get its first SEC win after an zero
(33:49):
to three start, the goose Jack Evans twenty six and
eleven boards, James Lee ten points, twelve boards, double doubles
or both of the Lexington High School basketball products. And
then Kentucky won three in a row, then lost for
the next six, and then won ten in a row
to finish the season and win the NIT Championship back
(34:12):
when that meant a whole lot more than it does now.
Wildcat History Notes presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports Cards and Memorabilia.
They're on Romney Road in Lexington and at roadshowcards dot com.
Don't forget to catch the Leech Rip part on LAX
eighteen each night around five fifty, right after Bill Meck's
weather forecast. We'll be talking a little bit today about
some of the things we were discussing with Mark Story
(34:35):
relative to Kentucky men's basketball and what was perhaps a
turnaround performance on Saturday. We'll see if they can back
it up this coming week. And if your business is
looking to reach the BBN here in twenty twenty six,
we'd love to help you do that. You can send
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and we'll hook you up with the people that can
(34:55):
let you know all about that. It is the end
of our show for this Monday, presented by Bob kat Enterprises.
Back here tomorrow and then we'll come to you from
Baton Rouge on Wednesday. Have a great rest of your day.
Everybody be talking to Coach Pope and the UK Sports
Network coming up at six tonight. He talks to the
local media around noon today
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