January 13, 2026 • 38 mins
Tom talks with Larry Vaught, Jack Givens, and more.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Good day, everybody, Welcome in Leach Report here for a
Tuesday presented by Bobcat Enterprises and coming up on the
show today, we will lead it off with a Goose.
Jack Gibbans going to move him up to Tuesday this
week because we'll be getting back late from Baton Rouge
tomorrow night, so instead of bringing Goose in on Thursday,
(00:24):
we'll get his insight pre LSU today, Larry Vatt per
usual on Tuesdays, and Jack Pacarel from the UK Football
broadcast crew and Channel thirty six WTVQ here in Lexington,
and lots to talk about on the football side with pick.
So let's jump into the Wildcat news of the day
and it is a service of Giuseppes of Lexington, and
(00:48):
news was made right out of the starting gate on
the Mark Pope radio show last night when I asked
Coach Pope about Jalen Lowe and his status moving forward.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, we just finished the long meeting with Jaalen Lowe,
a really emotional meeting and she with Jaalen low and
and our doctors and and UH our head trainer, and
and his mom is in town. His dad was on
the phone, and Jaylo was there and you know, we
we have pushed the envelope on him in every way
you think about since the Blue White Scream, and she's
(01:19):
dislocated his shoulders three times now. Every time it's uh,
it's it's been with less and less contact. He's tweaked
it in a game and tweaked it once in practice
to add on top of that, and and you know,
we searched, tried every possible reasonable scenario to have him
(01:39):
continue on, but UH, just made the wise and right
decisions today that he'll go have surgery. Uh, and so
he'll be out for the season.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So that was the announcement on Jaalen Low hate that
for him. U was impressed with just his his determination
to try and stay on the court, because these days,
we see guys that even at the pro level, that
will do the load management thing or take a day
(02:08):
off when drops below fifty degrees or whatever. And here's
a guy that was battling through what he was battling through.
I'm sure it hurt a lot. And certainly you saw
what he did in the Saint John's game when he
came back from having his shoulder reinjured early in that
game to lead him to an important victory. So wish
(02:29):
Jalen of them of the best coach. Pope said that
they once Jalen has his surgery, then they'll utilize him
to a greater role. Is sounded like almost like another
assistant coach in helping with the team, and he'll have
some responsibilities. And he was a guy that we'll talk
a little bit about this with Goose that exerted a
(02:49):
lot of leadership. He was one of the guys that
did it more verbally, so he could be helpful to them,
especially coaching up say Jasper Johnson. So we'll see how
that moves or how that looks moving forward. But which
Jaylen Loane nothing but the best. Pope said that now
obviously they have to move on without him. He said
(03:11):
in looking back at the tape of the Mississippi State win,
he liked Denzel Aberdeen's game even more than he did
in real time the things that he did. Denzel's not
a true point guard, but they're gonna have to He's
gonna have to find a way to get more and
more comfortable in that role. And I thought he took
some steps in that direction in the State game. The
other guy who could really help him is Jasper Johnson,
(03:34):
and there could be hopefully if Jasper can continue to grow,
there's a guy that could play, you know, a lot
of minutes at the point, and then Denzel could play
some point and then slide over and play some two.
And Pope said that Jasper's probably our most gifted passer
was his quote. Now, the thing is that hasn't correlated
(03:54):
to assists when they played the best competition, So that's
something that ought to be an easily attainable goal to
boost that total as he grows into playing some more
of a point guard role, and I would think that's
where his future in basketball is. Popes that he liked
the force with which Jasper played. You know, he's got
(04:17):
good size and length, so he ought to be able
to improve as a defender, which he needs to do.
Bottom line, for me, for Jasper, it's things and that's
thought this before even we knew for sure about Jalen situation.
That Jasper is a guy that could help them because
of the skills that he has and the things that
(04:38):
he needed to improve ought to be goals he could
hit that would be very attainable. Goals to get better defensively,
to be better at setting up his teammates, and he
gives them another good three point shooter when he's on
the floor, hit one that gave him their first lead
the other night, So I think Jasper could be a
(04:58):
real help for them. And then sounded like last night
probably moves Cam Williams into the starting lineup. Also, we
asked coach Pope about Jadan quaintance and he was encouraging
and what he said didn't make any commitments about you know,
minutes or returning to the court or anything. Tonight. Hopefully
(05:19):
he does or tomorrow night, I should say down at
LSU had a little swelling in the knees what they
said last weekend, So that's something that not surprising given
the injury from which he's returning. And also hopefully that's
something that he can get on the court as early
as Wednesday night. So we'll see big commitment for football.
Yesterday a top offensive lineman, a guard, tagras a bowler
(05:41):
from Ohio State that Kentucky tried to recruit out of
high school, A four star prospect who was a two
year starter for the Buckeyes out of Lakota West High
School in Cincinnati, which has sent a lot of players
to Kentucky, most recently Alex Safari, but do you think
back to John Connor and others. He's a cousin to
Georgia's Sapho Jay, So huge pick up for what looks
to be a very nicely rebuilt big blue wall. When
(06:06):
we come back, we will bring in the Goose and
we'll get his take on moving forward without Jalen Lowe
in this basketball season. Larry votche Picoro coming up a
little bit later. Opening segment presented by Giuseppes. They have
a barrel pick bourbon from Bullet that you can buy
and take home. They're working on a new Russell reserve
barrel pick. Check it all out at Giuseppes Lexington dot com.
(06:28):
Plan your next outing to Giuseppes and then get to
open table and make a reservation. Valentine's Day just around
the corner, you know, and the other big occasions as well,
I'm sure in your life, So celebrate at Giuseppes. We'll
be right back sixteen past the top of the hour.
It's the Leach Report coming to here from the Clark's
Pumping Shop studio. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's as
(06:50):
we welcome in the Goose Jack Givens, my UK Network
broadcast partner UK Legend on the court and Goose it
was that's the prizing. I don't think to hear the
news from Coach Pope about jay Lo Low, but still
you hate it for the young man.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Right, yeah, man, he worked so hard, Tom, And you know,
anytime you have a guy who sacrificed as he did,
because you and I've talked about it before, I had
the same injury that he had where that shoulder would
(07:26):
just a little bit of contact the wrong direction, that
shoulder would pop out, and the pain excruciating pain, especially
for that first thirty minutes or so that it happens,
and then you know it finally starts to feel better.
(07:48):
But you always plan cautiously, and when you have a
player who plays as recklessly and as hard as j
Lo did, there's always a chance. And I don't care
how many times you tell yourself mentally that you cannot
reach in to try to knock that ball away as
(08:09):
he did a couple of times we witnessed him an
experience where that pops out. I mean, you tell yourself,
don't reach in, but your natural basketball instinct just you
reach in and then after you do it, you say
to yourself, man, I should not have done that. But
it's too late obviously. But he's very competitive. He'll be missed,
(08:33):
there's no doubt about that.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Mark talked last night about how they could utilize Jalen
once he has his surgery here shortly, and he talked
about giving him a greater role. As I said in
the open, it almost like he could be a sort
of assistant coach. And I think back to Stevie Johnson,
who had a great year for the football team in
O seven. He'd come in as a junior college wide out,
(08:57):
didn't do a lot in his first year, and they
had the practices between the end of the season and
the bowl game. Keenan Burton was in his ear every
day in practice coaching him up because Keenan was just
being arrested. He was a starter, and they were practicing
him much ahead of the bowl game. So all of
a sudden, Stevie has a breakout performance in the bowl
game and has a tremendous year and has a long
(09:18):
career in the NFL. I could see Jala Lowe being
a big help to a guy like Jasper Johnson.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yeah, well, It hits even closer to home for me, Tom,
because again, this season parallels my season from you know,
my sophomore year. Rick Roby plays just twelve games that year, big, big,
big loss for us, especially in a season where we
struggled to win games early. And you know, for us,
(09:48):
we had Rick as another coach over there on the bench,
just like you're talking about where Rick, he was in
the ear Mike Phollops and you know, Bob Fowler was
on that tea, he was in his ear, he was
in James's ear, all the guys who played inside, and
of course he coached me as well because he sees
(10:09):
things from the bench that we don't necessarily see on
the floor. So that hits home very very close to
me because we had to go through it and we
had to figure it out, just as this team is
going to have to figure it out. I mean, and
(10:29):
you know, and in some ways, because you know, when
you have a player as good as Jay Low, everybody
just thinking, man, we'll be there when j Loo comes back.
We're gonna be there when he comes out. He's the
point guard who we need. Well, we were saying the
same thing about Rick. You know, he's gonna come back
(10:49):
and man, we're gonna take off. Fact the matter is,
when he had to go in and have surgery, just
as jal Is, we decided, Man, Rick's not coming back,
j Lo's not coming back. So for a guy like
Denzel and Jasper, who's gonna have to fill those minutes?
(11:12):
Now you're not looking over your shoulder wondering when he's
coming back. Now you know it's on me. I have
to take a step, and you're right both of those guys.
Tom took really big steps in the game in the
last game out and against State, and it was it
was really good to see that ball moving for the
(11:35):
first time. Well, we'll go back to the Missouri game
because I thought Kentucky until the last four minutes ran
some great offense in that game. But they it was
good to see him run it without j Low on
the floor because it tells them they can do it.
So it's going to be interesting the rest of the way.
I looked for some guys to take some really big steps.
(11:57):
You took.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You talked about some of those things as far as
the offensive improvement and moving the ball better with Otaga
in the postgame interview there afterward on the UK Sports
Network and it was really some good stuff from from
Otaga there talking about what you were seeing. And then
(12:19):
also I think you asked him about just you know,
the role that he has to play, is needed to
play for this team.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Right Yeah, And and you know it's interesting again Tom
how you know a lot of times we as basketball
ball fans think of big steps and big roles. We'd
think about it on the only the offensive end of
the floor. But with Otega, he has made the biggest
(12:50):
step defensively, and it's been interesting to see when he
is I mean, he has what five stills in this
game the other night. That's that's almost unheard of. It
doesn't happen very often. For sure, he had five of them,
and it just elevated the team because Kentucky needs to
get some fast break opportunities. They need to get in
(13:13):
the open floor. And when your defense is as aggressive
as he is, it forces everybody else first and foremost
to play aggressive defense. But it certainly translates to the offense.
So sometimes those big steps and that leadership has to
be displayed on the defensive end of the floor. Otago
was great, by the way. He was great in that
(13:34):
interview after the game, man, And I've had so many
people come up and say, Man, I was so happy
to hear a lot of the stuff Otaga was saying.
And you know he is and that again is the
sign of a leader. He tells the truth. He also
told me earlier in the year when I interviewed him
(13:55):
how they must get better, and they have improved in
some areas. So I'm glad to see him where he
is right now.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Also, absolutely, it was really good stuff and folks can
find it if if you haven't joined UK Sports Network
All Access yet, you can. It's a good way to
see those interviews in their entirety. That way, there's clips
that go up at UK Sports Network on social media,
but you can join up and get access to to
(14:24):
all of that there because uh, you know Goosier their
day in and day out.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
I'll have it. I'll have it on my social media
as well, Tom, so you can find it there. Yeah,
and yeah, it's posted today.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
You guys, you see these guys day in and day
out pretty much at practice and you're not their coach.
You're in a different role and they know your history
and uh, you get to you develop a you know,
you guys have you know that have gone through some
of the same kinds of battles just a few years apart,
a couple of years apart, and h yeah, they trust
(15:01):
you and you get some good stuff.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Yeah, you know, I find out more about the guys
off the court and just hanging around, maybe at the
airport before we get on the plane to leave, around
the hotel. You know, I find out a lot about
these guys and I get to watch them around each
other a lot, which is which is really fun because
(15:26):
I've heard so so much just just garbage, if you will,
about how these guys, uh I don't like each other,
and how how they have this going on and that
going on off the court, and I see these guys interact, man,
And this is a team. And most teams are like
(15:50):
this because you go through wars together. But this is
a team that genuinely seems to like each other. I mean,
put all other stuff aside. You know, they get along
and they are just guys. I mean, it's just fun
to see how relationships grow, even over the course of
(16:12):
a season when you are blending guys, bringing guys in
from everywhere and putting them out there and say, guys,
we got to make a team out of this. And yeah,
and I talked to some of the guys. I mean,
I give them love and like a guy like Jasper.
Just yesterday in practice when I was in there, you know,
(16:33):
I he came up and gave me a big hug
and I said, listen, young man, you stay positive, your
minutes are coming. Don't listen to the garbage. You just
stay in there and keep working. And he looked me
straight in the eye the whole time we were talking.
(16:54):
And it's those kind of moments that are just fun
for me because, yeah, they never saw me play, they
hear stories and all that stuff. But the relationship I
get the forge with them off the floor. It's as
(17:16):
much fun as I get out of watching them excel
on the floor. So you're right, it is a special
opportunity that I have and I eat it up. Man.
I really enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Gast appreciate it. See you it a little while at
the airport. Thank you, Thanks Tom. Quick break, we'll be
right back. It's the Leach Report, presented by Bob Cat Enterprises.
It is the Leach Reports UK women check in at
number seven and the latest Associated Press College Basketball poll
since they lost to Alabama, I guess on Thursday night,
(17:47):
but they didn't come back and beat number five Oklahoma
on Sunday. Not sure how they ended up behind LSU
having won in Baton Ruge the week before. The Wildcats
back in action on Thursday night. Darren Hendrick will be
on the show ahead of that. I think they played
Florida on Thursday at the Coliseum, back with Larry Vaught
when we returned. Jeff Ofcoro also coming up. So the
(18:11):
late tripart from the Clark's Popping Shop studio Return, Refresh,
Refuel at Clarks. We welcome in Larry Vaught from your
sports edge dot com. You hear him on Sundays on
the Sunday Morning sports talk show here at Lexington with
Anthony White, Kilgrim, Bow Robinson and Larry. Was a tough
break for Jalen Lowe, although the news was certainly I
don't think surprising to anybody, right.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
No, I don't think it could have been, considering his
shoulder went out for the first time in June and
the game at the Blue Light Game, and I think
he's been playing through a lot more pain than most
of us probably can appreciate, and for it to happen again,
and now I think it's just time for him to
take care of himself, get that surgery, save a medical
(18:53):
red shirt year if he just as he wants two
more years of college, that would at least enable him
to do that. But who knows when he would have
been back. It looks like ed if he'd have been
back playing for Kentucky could have been played two minutes
and he's out again. So needed the surgery.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Obviously, and about a six month recovery period, Coach Pope said,
So that would you know, put him at a time
to be able to get back good to go for
the start of next season. It opens the door for
a guy that you have known for a little while
to get his shot. Jasper Johnson. Denzel Aberdeen has been
(19:32):
starting at the point other than the last couple of games,
and he goes back into that role as the starter
at the point for now. But Jasper's a guy who
certainly figures to get a lot of minutes there and
a chance to probably play through more mistakes than he
would have otherwise. And I see no reason why he
(19:53):
can't flourish in this role.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Well, you certainly know that I think he can flourish.
But again, canhaps kind of wait and see me Mark
could go back to the Aberdeen Chandler point guard rotation.
I don't think he will, but you never know exactly
how things will work out. But I think Jasper would
be really excited about the chance to do this. He's
(20:16):
played pretty well the majority of times that he has played,
and again, yeah he's made some mistakes, but it's not
like anybody else on the team had made mistakes too,
So I'm anxious to see how he might be able
to do. No one's going to get some extended minutes.
I think for Gas like Cam Williams and Jaspers that
especially are terrific shooters, it's just hard to play two
(20:38):
or three minutes at a time and get some flow going.
And I think we're seeing that with Cam Williams right
now now that he's getting more extended playing time, what
it's doing for him, So hopefully the results will be
the same with Jasper.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
You know, there's that scene in the movie you remember
the Titans where the quarterback gets knocked out and the
Denzel Washington characters, coach Harvin Boone talks to the bass characters,
your team needs you go out there, command your troops.
That's kind of where Jasper is. Not that he's going
to be the starter, but he's gonna, i think, probably
play a good number of minutes or get the chance
(21:11):
to as a guy who will be in a position
to lead the team for stretches. And he comes from
a you know, a family of guys that played and coached.
His dad and his grandfather and uncles and cousins. I'm
sure so he he ought to be the type of
player that responds well to that.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
Yeah, I don't think the situation will overwhelming. That doesn't
mean he'll always play great, but I don't think it'll
be because he's overwhelmed or anything like that. And again,
he's had some good moments this year, and I think
he'll be this fine, capable shooter. He's a capable passer,
he understands the game. Will he get knocked around some physically, yeah, probably,
but he can also do some things to help off
(21:54):
set that. And Kentucky's in a situation now that they
need everybody to play well because they need to get
a win that they can hopefully Saturday Nights when kind
of started a new direction and a new way that
they're playing and we'll give them some confidence, but all
that could change if you don't play well Wednesday night
at the LSU.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Absolutely right, And they have two road games this week,
and Tennessee figures on paper to be even tougher on Saturday.
Aberdeen is not a guy who you look at and
watch his game and think he's a classic point guard.
He's been having to play that role because of the
injury to Low. That cold, you know, this process was
starting to unfold. It figured to be Jalen Low at
(22:35):
the point, backed up by Kayden Lewis, who would have
then slid into their role now had he not elected
to go somewhere else play it up in Villanova now.
So Aberdeen's kind of a makeshift point guard. But I
thought he looked the best that he's looked in a
game against quality competition, higher level competition the other night,
(22:56):
with the way he was able to maneuver around the
court and find teammates for up for open shots.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
Yeah, and then teammates made shots. That kind of helps
make you look when they do that. But yeah, and
I think the faster the pace can be probably the
better it'll it will suit in Zel And you got
to think maybe he is adjusting and learning a little
bit about what's going on there. But now he's got
to be that full time starter at that spot, and
(23:25):
he's just got to come through and deliver and maybe
change his mind set a little bit for how he
normally he is. But thinking about it, you still need
him to be a score at the same time, just
maybe it's a little bit more selective and how he
gets that offense going, and once he gets just started
that his roles should be the same if he's opened,
just make shots. But he did seem to kind of
(23:46):
settle down and understand what Mark wanted and what his
teammates seemed to be in a better flow. Just everything
suddenly looked better that last thirty minutes on Saturday night,
and hopefully it'll continue because they sure needed to.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
You you watch a lot of high school basketball, and
so curious to what you're seeing of Malachi Marino. Marino
and what you expected to see in his first year.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Well, I'm seeing a lot more than I would have expected.
I thought maybe the physicality of the game would bother
him a little bit because he never really had to
be that physical in high school, and if he did,
he probably got called for a foul because he was
so much bigger than everybody, and a lot of times
you told what he's really good, but a part of
this is so much bigger than people he's playing against.
But he's just had an understanding and a way to
(24:36):
get things done. I think is really has impressed me,
and I would say it surprised me a little bit.
I mean, he's always been a really good player, but
to step in and do the things the way that
he has has been impressive. And then the one thing
people kind of knocked him for his passing. I thought
in high school it was a really good passer and
that hadn't translated real well at Kentucky until just now.
(25:00):
I think he's a lot better passer than what he's
been given credit for. Is just maybe the way the
offense was didn't set up right for him or something.
I don't know, but he's been probably the biggest has
been the biggest surprise on the team, and they need
him to keep doing that going forward to because I
think the offense a lot of times just flows a
whole lot better when he's the guy that's in there.
(25:22):
And again, not knowing what acquaintance's future is going to
be or not be. A lot's going to be on
Malchai going forward to.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
You know, maybe the first pregame interview I did with
coach Pope this season, I asked him about Malachi and
that's the first thing he went to that attracted him
to recruit Malachi was the passing ability.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Yeah, that's something just always has been able to do
all through high school and has always been a very
willing passer too. It's never a guy that the ball
had to stop in his hands, even in high school.
So I think that's something that's in his game. And
I think it was just finding the right pace way
of Kentucky to kind of unlease that more. And it
seemed like at least Saturday, what they started to do
(26:05):
made Melacha eat a little bit more comfortable in that offence.
But no matter what, I mean, he's been going there
and getting on those boards and showing he can score
inside and I'll let them wait. I just wouldn't positive
he'd be able to do this quick in his college career.
I thought he'd eventually be able to do it, but
just maybe not quite a quick.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
You can read Larry Vat's work at your sports edge dot
com and hear him here on Tuesdays and on the
Sunday morning sports talk show each week. Thank you Larry,
all right, Tom quick Break. When we come back, Jeff
Bicoro joins the program. It's the Leech Report presented by
Bobcat Enterprises. When you need to buy or rent heavy
equipment talking about excavators or forkliffs, tractors, Bobcats. Get it
(26:45):
from Bobcat Enterprises. They'll give you a great deals and
in fantastic service after the deal is done. Zeeroturn Moores
for your home loan too at Bobcat Enterprises for locations
around Kentucky. It's the Leech Report, and we welcome in
Jeff Picaro from WTVQTV here in Lexing Find where he
is the sports director and you hear him on the
(27:06):
UK Radio Network with us on football broadcasts in the fall.
And former players like Pick are getting a little excited
with what will Stein is putting together with this transfer class,
particularly the O line. You called me yesterday when they
got the commitment from Shabola up at Ohio State and
your dad went to school there, so you guys follow
the Buckeyes as well as the Cats. So this is
(27:27):
one you know a lot.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
About Well, I tell you what that was. You say
that we're a little excited, is a little is shortening things?
I mean, this is I mean anybody that said Kentucky
didn't have the NIO money to go out and deal
with the big boys and schooling themselves, because what they've
done is just it's incredible, Tom, it really is. And
(27:50):
you know, I don't want to go as far as
saying Kentucky's done what Indiana's done in one season, you know,
completely flipping the roster, but you look at it and
the you said the shortcomings to this team, it looked
like was going to be in the offensive line. Well
that's not the case anymore. Is they picked up three
of the top five offensive linemen in the entire portal.
(28:10):
That's just amazing.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Yeah, they've got a center, guard, and tackle, so one
of the best at each position in the old line
is going to be part of the new big blue wall.
And then they'll be blocking for a quarterback who was
in the hunt to be the starting QB at Notre Dame.
What sure you've heard a little bit about minshe what's
(28:33):
the what have you heard about what his game could
look like? Here at Kentucky.
Speaker 5 (28:39):
Well, I think that you know, obviously he can spin
the football a little bit, but he gives him the
ability to get out of the pocket as well. I
think one of the things. And again this is just
my conjecture and kind of talking to some people, but
not really will yet. You know, I know a lot
of people are going, is he better than Cutter Bowling?
I think the one thing that you just can't have
(29:01):
it an offense. As the interceptions and fifteen touchdowns was okay,
but twelve interceptions is really bad. You've got to cut
that in two. You know, you'd like maybe four or
five six tops. You just can't turn the ball over,
especially in the SEC. And I think Minschi can really
throw the football. He's got some wheels, he could run.
You know. Again, they offered the opportunity for Cutter to
(29:25):
stick around and compete, and he decided to go elsewhere.
And I wish him all the best. He's getting a
lot of money to go to Arizona State. But I
you know, it's to be seen. I guess you could
say with Minschi, I've never seen him play again. I'm
just listening to what the coaches have said that I've
heard from Notre Dame and around here and they liked.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
The you know he was there.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
He was basically the second choice behind Levitt.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
And who's blocking for you and who you're throwing two
can also be quite helpful. The throwing two part kind
of Adam lucket On from on three yesterday he was
sitting thinks they're still looking and I think others have
said this too for a at least one more big
(30:10):
time receiver. I saw where the two guys from Auburn
have have committed to Texas and Texas Tech respectively, So
those are two guys off the board. But and then
they did get the freshman from ls from Louisiana Darby
that people thought was targeted to LSU. So you don't
know what he could do as a freshman. I think
DJ Miller's a guy that could get a lot better.
(30:31):
But you're looking for that go to guy, the one guy, right, Yeah, And.
Speaker 5 (30:38):
I don't know if you saw this. I don't know
if you saw this this morning, Tom. But brock Kaufman,
who was a big standout for Sarah and again competition
at says nothing like it is at Trinity. But who
went to Louisville is coming to Kentucky. He's decided to
leave Louisville and come to UK. So that's another guy
that you throw in there, that's got a decent sized
body and you know, did everything in high school. You know.
(31:00):
I think it might be a case of they're gonna
have a deep receiver room, but not a standout unless
they can get you know, the one or two guys
that are left out there that are you know, still
considered to be those five star type players. But like
you said, it all start.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Yes, the guy that could be the one guy we're
talking about, but again, probably him, and I don't know
if there's even one like him beyond him that would
be available, but if you could get him, that would
be a big addition obviously.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (31:32):
But to me, I think it starts up front. Though.
You know, if you can block, then a kid can
get open and they're gonna be able to block. It
looks like it all starts up front, and they've done
a really good job really on both sides.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Of the ball.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
On the lines.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Yeah, the young man from Douglas, the Winter Purdue seems
to give him a guy that you plug in there
for AUGUSTA who was really good last season. And then
there are several guys they lost Gerrod Smith, but you know,
Humphrey race Is, uh Is Back, Gadson, others. I'm drawing
(32:06):
a blank on at the moment. But they've got guys
that played in the rotation for for anwar Stewart and
the D line that they've got the you know, they've
got the bodies there, and they've built well behind them
with the linebackers and the secondary guys that they picked up.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
No, yeah, I agree one hundred percent. And and I
really think that, you know, one of the things that
is keeping your guys too. You know, there was there
was talk about even even a guy like Avicelm who's
on the offensive line, there were teams in the SEC
that wanted him to come there, and they you know,
(32:44):
and they retained him. I think that's huge. Getting guys
like this, you know, uh Olas Olin and from Alabama.
Alabama and Max Anderson's big bodies. You know, you have
to have those guys. And you've got to remember Mant
GUIs back too. They can go on both sides of
the you know, left or right side, so that depth
(33:06):
is essential. And keeping Grant Godfrey yesterday said he's gonna
come back. That's a big help over there on that
defense at linebacker and getting the other kid out of
Texas Barnes that linebacker. He was the top off linebacker
coming out of high school two years ago. So they're
not just filling holes with people, they're filling it with
quality people. In the words of Signetti, guys who have
(33:32):
performed at this level is what they're going after and getting,
and that's that's how you build a roster.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Yeah, that's a good point because with a lot of
people are looking at what coach Signetti did up in
Indiana and it's not like he went out and found
a bunch of five star guys that were at other
places to come in. There's I'm sure you know some
good players you get from other places, but he also
got some players who were good football players just at
(33:58):
a smaller or a lower level. James Madison for example,
that came win and sure that can clearly can play.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Yeah, you know another one that I don't hear a
lot of people talking about. But here's the guy that's
going to give you depth at a position that's really
in need. Jikai Long from Marshall the quarterback. He's another tall,
rangy guy. He's built a lot like Mitchie. The two
of them could almost be twins, you know, six two
sixty three, two hundred and ten pounds that can run
(34:27):
and throw. So you're seeing the type of player that
will want on the team. And really, if you looked
at that Oregon team, I think that's what he's he's
kind of using the framework of trying to build this
Kentucky team. You know, it's real interesting. Tom and I
know we don't have a lot of time, but look
at how they're building teams. Look at the last four
(34:48):
or five coaches that have been at Kentucky where they're
pulling their players from. You know, Brooks was a big
Georgia guy going down there, and then it's kind of
you know, then up to Ohio with with with Tomorrow
and Stoops and now you look at this and it's
kind of everywhere. This is more of we're not gonna
single one place. We got to get players from all
(35:09):
over the country. It's just it's really cool to see
the way each of these coaches have progressed Kentucky to
now be right up there with the leaders in all
of college football.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
Jeff Pacaoro. He is the sports directord WTVQ here in
Lexington and you can hear him, of course on the
in the fall with us on the UK football broadcasts
and h Pick it's at Jeff Pilicoro on X right.
Pretty simple, yes, sir, there you go, easy to find,
Thank you, sir. But you can hear the excitement in
(35:39):
his voice when you know working with guys who are
former players Goose like Pratt before him in basketball, Pick
and Jeff fan Note before him, and not just former
players obviously, but former players here. And you can hear
the excitement in Pick's voice about the players that they're
(36:00):
getting and how much fun it can hopefully be as
soon as this fall for Kentucky football. We'll get to
a break and we'll come out. We'll come back with
our final segment. Just a moment. It's the lead to
report from the Clarks Pump and Shop Studio. Did you
catch Jody Meeks on The Mark Pope Show last night?
He reminisced about what is an anniversary today the night
(36:22):
he scored fifty four at Tennessee, told a couple of
great stories that you could go back and listen to.
Jody came on about almost two thirds of the way
through the show for about six or seven minutes, and
he was really good, had some great stories. So it
was this day in two thousand and nine that he
had that night to remember setting the single game scoring
(36:43):
record for the University of Kentucky and men's basketball down
at Tennessee. Happy birthday Aaron Boone, great pass catcher for
the Wildcats in the early two thousands, and a UK
basketball legend Vernon Hatton was born on this day. The
great player had thirty in the National Chamtampionship game win
over Baylor in nineteen fifty eight down at Freedom Hall.
(37:05):
And those notes presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports Cards in memorabilia.
They are on Romney Road in Lexington and at Roadshowcards
dot com. Shufflebean Coffee is a longtime partner of the
Leech Report. You can make them the official coffee of
your home, just like they're the official coffee of rupp Arena.
Go to Shufflebeing dot us you can find out about
the company that was started by a group of Kentuckians.
(37:27):
You could order some of the product while you're there.
You can get Shufflebing Coffee through Amazon, or you can
pick it up at Central Kentucky buyer stores. Do that today,
put some hustle in your shuffle, with shufflebeing coffee. Pick
mentioned that Grant Godfrey, Aboselm have committed to return to Kentucky.
You can edd Jason Patterson running back to that list.
In Murray State, punter Tom O'Hara has committed to the Wildcats.
(37:49):
Averaged forty three point eight per punt last season, forty
four to nine in twenty twenty four, and the Cats
have added a little more depth at quarterback. Carson Kruger
from Florida Atlantic. It's coming to play four Wilstein at
Kentucky in the quarterback room. Talk to you for Matin
Rouge tomorrow on the Leach Report.
Good day, everybody, Welcome in Leach Report here for a
Tuesday presented by Bobcat Enterprises and coming up on the
show today, we will lead it off with a Goose.
Jack Gibbans going to move him up to Tuesday this
week because we'll be getting back late from Baton Rouge
tomorrow night, so instead of bringing Goose in on Thursday,
(00:24):
we'll get his insight pre LSU today, Larry Vatt per
usual on Tuesdays, and Jack Pacarel from the UK Football
broadcast crew and Channel thirty six WTVQ here in Lexington,
and lots to talk about on the football side with pick.
So let's jump into the Wildcat news of the day
and it is a service of Giuseppes of Lexington, and
(00:48):
news was made right out of the starting gate on
the Mark Pope radio show last night when I asked
Coach Pope about Jalen Lowe and his status moving forward.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, we just finished the long meeting with Jaalen Lowe,
a really emotional meeting and she with Jaalen low and
and our doctors and and UH our head trainer, and
and his mom is in town. His dad was on
the phone, and Jaylo was there and you know, we
we have pushed the envelope on him in every way
you think about since the Blue White Scream, and she's
(01:19):
dislocated his shoulders three times now. Every time it's uh,
it's it's been with less and less contact. He's tweaked
it in a game and tweaked it once in practice
to add on top of that, and and you know,
we searched, tried every possible reasonable scenario to have him
(01:39):
continue on, but UH, just made the wise and right
decisions today that he'll go have surgery. Uh, and so
he'll be out for the season.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So that was the announcement on Jaalen Low hate that
for him. U was impressed with just his his determination
to try and stay on the court, because these days,
we see guys that even at the pro level, that
will do the load management thing or take a day
(02:08):
off when drops below fifty degrees or whatever. And here's
a guy that was battling through what he was battling through.
I'm sure it hurt a lot. And certainly you saw
what he did in the Saint John's game when he
came back from having his shoulder reinjured early in that
game to lead him to an important victory. So wish
(02:29):
Jalen of them of the best coach. Pope said that
they once Jalen has his surgery, then they'll utilize him
to a greater role. Is sounded like almost like another
assistant coach in helping with the team, and he'll have
some responsibilities. And he was a guy that we'll talk
a little bit about this with Goose that exerted a
(02:49):
lot of leadership. He was one of the guys that
did it more verbally, so he could be helpful to them,
especially coaching up say Jasper Johnson. So we'll see how
that moves or how that looks moving forward. But which
Jaylen Loane nothing but the best. Pope said that now
obviously they have to move on without him. He said
(03:11):
in looking back at the tape of the Mississippi State win,
he liked Denzel Aberdeen's game even more than he did
in real time the things that he did. Denzel's not
a true point guard, but they're gonna have to He's
gonna have to find a way to get more and
more comfortable in that role. And I thought he took
some steps in that direction in the State game. The
other guy who could really help him is Jasper Johnson,
(03:34):
and there could be hopefully if Jasper can continue to grow,
there's a guy that could play, you know, a lot
of minutes at the point, and then Denzel could play
some point and then slide over and play some two.
And Pope said that Jasper's probably our most gifted passer
was his quote. Now, the thing is that hasn't correlated
(03:54):
to assists when they played the best competition, So that's
something that ought to be an easily attainable goal to
boost that total as he grows into playing some more
of a point guard role, and I would think that's
where his future in basketball is. Popes that he liked
the force with which Jasper played. You know, he's got
(04:17):
good size and length, so he ought to be able
to improve as a defender, which he needs to do.
Bottom line, for me, for Jasper, it's things and that's
thought this before even we knew for sure about Jalen situation.
That Jasper is a guy that could help them because
of the skills that he has and the things that
(04:38):
he needed to improve ought to be goals he could
hit that would be very attainable. Goals to get better defensively,
to be better at setting up his teammates, and he
gives them another good three point shooter when he's on
the floor, hit one that gave him their first lead
the other night, So I think Jasper could be a
(04:58):
real help for them. And then sounded like last night
probably moves Cam Williams into the starting lineup. Also, we
asked coach Pope about Jadan quaintance and he was encouraging
and what he said didn't make any commitments about you know,
minutes or returning to the court or anything. Tonight. Hopefully
(05:19):
he does or tomorrow night, I should say down at
LSU had a little swelling in the knees what they
said last weekend, So that's something that not surprising given
the injury from which he's returning. And also hopefully that's
something that he can get on the court as early
as Wednesday night. So we'll see big commitment for football.
Yesterday a top offensive lineman, a guard, tagras a bowler
(05:41):
from Ohio State that Kentucky tried to recruit out of
high school, A four star prospect who was a two
year starter for the Buckeyes out of Lakota West High
School in Cincinnati, which has sent a lot of players
to Kentucky, most recently Alex Safari, but do you think
back to John Connor and others. He's a cousin to
Georgia's Sapho Jay, So huge pick up for what looks
to be a very nicely rebuilt big blue wall. When
(06:06):
we come back, we will bring in the Goose and
we'll get his take on moving forward without Jalen Lowe
in this basketball season. Larry votche Picoro coming up a
little bit later. Opening segment presented by Giuseppes. They have
a barrel pick bourbon from Bullet that you can buy
and take home. They're working on a new Russell reserve
barrel pick. Check it all out at Giuseppes Lexington dot com.
(06:28):
Plan your next outing to Giuseppes and then get to
open table and make a reservation. Valentine's Day just around
the corner, you know, and the other big occasions as well,
I'm sure in your life, So celebrate at Giuseppes. We'll
be right back sixteen past the top of the hour.
It's the Leach Report coming to here from the Clark's
Pumping Shop studio. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's as
(06:50):
we welcome in the Goose Jack Givens, my UK Network
broadcast partner UK Legend on the court and Goose it
was that's the prizing. I don't think to hear the
news from Coach Pope about jay Lo Low, but still
you hate it for the young man.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Right, yeah, man, he worked so hard, Tom, And you know,
anytime you have a guy who sacrificed as he did,
because you and I've talked about it before, I had
the same injury that he had where that shoulder would
(07:26):
just a little bit of contact the wrong direction, that
shoulder would pop out, and the pain excruciating pain, especially
for that first thirty minutes or so that it happens,
and then you know it finally starts to feel better.
(07:48):
But you always plan cautiously, and when you have a
player who plays as recklessly and as hard as j
Lo did, there's always a chance. And I don't care
how many times you tell yourself mentally that you cannot
reach in to try to knock that ball away as
(08:09):
he did a couple of times we witnessed him an
experience where that pops out. I mean, you tell yourself,
don't reach in, but your natural basketball instinct just you
reach in and then after you do it, you say
to yourself, man, I should not have done that. But
it's too late obviously. But he's very competitive. He'll be missed,
(08:33):
there's no doubt about that.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Mark talked last night about how they could utilize Jalen
once he has his surgery here shortly, and he talked
about giving him a greater role. As I said in
the open, it almost like he could be a sort
of assistant coach. And I think back to Stevie Johnson,
who had a great year for the football team in
O seven. He'd come in as a junior college wide out,
(08:57):
didn't do a lot in his first year, and they
had the practices between the end of the season and
the bowl game. Keenan Burton was in his ear every
day in practice coaching him up because Keenan was just
being arrested. He was a starter, and they were practicing
him much ahead of the bowl game. So all of
a sudden, Stevie has a breakout performance in the bowl
game and has a tremendous year and has a long
(09:18):
career in the NFL. I could see Jala Lowe being
a big help to a guy like Jasper Johnson.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yeah, well, It hits even closer to home for me, Tom,
because again, this season parallels my season from you know,
my sophomore year. Rick Roby plays just twelve games that year, big, big,
big loss for us, especially in a season where we
struggled to win games early. And you know, for us,
(09:48):
we had Rick as another coach over there on the bench,
just like you're talking about where Rick, he was in
the ear Mike Phollops and you know, Bob Fowler was
on that tea, he was in his ear, he was
in James's ear, all the guys who played inside, and
of course he coached me as well because he sees
(10:09):
things from the bench that we don't necessarily see on
the floor. So that hits home very very close to
me because we had to go through it and we
had to figure it out, just as this team is
going to have to figure it out. I mean, and
(10:29):
you know, and in some ways, because you know, when
you have a player as good as Jay Low, everybody
just thinking, man, we'll be there when j Loo comes back.
We're gonna be there when he comes out. He's the
point guard who we need. Well, we were saying the
same thing about Rick. You know, he's gonna come back
(10:49):
and man, we're gonna take off. Fact the matter is,
when he had to go in and have surgery, just
as jal Is, we decided, Man, Rick's not coming back,
j Lo's not coming back. So for a guy like
Denzel and Jasper, who's gonna have to fill those minutes?
(11:12):
Now you're not looking over your shoulder wondering when he's
coming back. Now you know it's on me. I have
to take a step, and you're right both of those guys.
Tom took really big steps in the game in the
last game out and against State, and it was it
was really good to see that ball moving for the
(11:35):
first time. Well, we'll go back to the Missouri game
because I thought Kentucky until the last four minutes ran
some great offense in that game. But they it was
good to see him run it without j Low on
the floor because it tells them they can do it.
So it's going to be interesting the rest of the way.
I looked for some guys to take some really big steps.
(11:57):
You took.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You talked about some of those things as far as
the offensive improvement and moving the ball better with Otaga
in the postgame interview there afterward on the UK Sports
Network and it was really some good stuff from from
Otaga there talking about what you were seeing. And then
(12:19):
also I think you asked him about just you know,
the role that he has to play, is needed to
play for this team.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Right Yeah, And and you know it's interesting again Tom
how you know a lot of times we as basketball
ball fans think of big steps and big roles. We'd
think about it on the only the offensive end of
the floor. But with Otega, he has made the biggest
(12:50):
step defensively, and it's been interesting to see when he
is I mean, he has what five stills in this
game the other night. That's that's almost unheard of. It
doesn't happen very often. For sure, he had five of them,
and it just elevated the team because Kentucky needs to
get some fast break opportunities. They need to get in
(13:13):
the open floor. And when your defense is as aggressive
as he is, it forces everybody else first and foremost
to play aggressive defense. But it certainly translates to the offense.
So sometimes those big steps and that leadership has to
be displayed on the defensive end of the floor. Otago
was great, by the way. He was great in that
(13:34):
interview after the game, man, And I've had so many
people come up and say, Man, I was so happy
to hear a lot of the stuff Otaga was saying.
And you know he is and that again is the
sign of a leader. He tells the truth. He also
told me earlier in the year when I interviewed him
(13:55):
how they must get better, and they have improved in
some areas. So I'm glad to see him where he
is right now.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Also, absolutely, it was really good stuff and folks can
find it if if you haven't joined UK Sports Network
All Access yet, you can. It's a good way to
see those interviews in their entirety. That way, there's clips
that go up at UK Sports Network on social media,
but you can join up and get access to to
(14:24):
all of that there because uh, you know Goosier their
day in and day out.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
I'll have it. I'll have it on my social media
as well, Tom, so you can find it there. Yeah,
and yeah, it's posted today.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
You guys, you see these guys day in and day
out pretty much at practice and you're not their coach.
You're in a different role and they know your history
and uh, you get to you develop a you know,
you guys have you know that have gone through some
of the same kinds of battles just a few years apart,
a couple of years apart, and h yeah, they trust
(15:01):
you and you get some good stuff.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Yeah, you know, I find out more about the guys
off the court and just hanging around, maybe at the
airport before we get on the plane to leave, around
the hotel. You know, I find out a lot about
these guys and I get to watch them around each
other a lot, which is which is really fun because
(15:26):
I've heard so so much just just garbage, if you will,
about how these guys, uh I don't like each other,
and how how they have this going on and that
going on off the court, and I see these guys interact, man,
And this is a team. And most teams are like
(15:50):
this because you go through wars together. But this is
a team that genuinely seems to like each other. I mean,
put all other stuff aside. You know, they get along
and they are just guys. I mean, it's just fun
to see how relationships grow, even over the course of
(16:12):
a season when you are blending guys, bringing guys in
from everywhere and putting them out there and say, guys,
we got to make a team out of this. And yeah,
and I talked to some of the guys. I mean,
I give them love and like a guy like Jasper.
Just yesterday in practice when I was in there, you know,
(16:33):
I he came up and gave me a big hug
and I said, listen, young man, you stay positive, your
minutes are coming. Don't listen to the garbage. You just
stay in there and keep working. And he looked me
straight in the eye the whole time we were talking.
(16:54):
And it's those kind of moments that are just fun
for me because, yeah, they never saw me play, they
hear stories and all that stuff. But the relationship I
get the forge with them off the floor. It's as
(17:16):
much fun as I get out of watching them excel
on the floor. So you're right, it is a special
opportunity that I have and I eat it up. Man.
I really enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Gast appreciate it. See you it a little while at
the airport. Thank you, Thanks Tom. Quick break, we'll be
right back. It's the Leach Report, presented by Bob Cat Enterprises.
It is the Leach Reports UK women check in at
number seven and the latest Associated Press College Basketball poll
since they lost to Alabama, I guess on Thursday night,
(17:47):
but they didn't come back and beat number five Oklahoma
on Sunday. Not sure how they ended up behind LSU
having won in Baton Ruge the week before. The Wildcats
back in action on Thursday night. Darren Hendrick will be
on the show ahead of that. I think they played
Florida on Thursday at the Coliseum, back with Larry Vaught
when we returned. Jeff Ofcoro also coming up. So the
(18:11):
late tripart from the Clark's Popping Shop studio Return, Refresh,
Refuel at Clarks. We welcome in Larry Vaught from your
sports edge dot com. You hear him on Sundays on
the Sunday Morning sports talk show here at Lexington with
Anthony White, Kilgrim, Bow Robinson and Larry. Was a tough
break for Jalen Lowe, although the news was certainly I
don't think surprising to anybody, right.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
No, I don't think it could have been, considering his
shoulder went out for the first time in June and
the game at the Blue Light Game, and I think
he's been playing through a lot more pain than most
of us probably can appreciate, and for it to happen again,
and now I think it's just time for him to
take care of himself, get that surgery, save a medical
(18:53):
red shirt year if he just as he wants two
more years of college, that would at least enable him
to do that. But who knows when he would have
been back. It looks like ed if he'd have been
back playing for Kentucky could have been played two minutes
and he's out again. So needed the surgery.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Obviously, and about a six month recovery period, Coach Pope said,
So that would you know, put him at a time
to be able to get back good to go for
the start of next season. It opens the door for
a guy that you have known for a little while
to get his shot. Jasper Johnson. Denzel Aberdeen has been
(19:32):
starting at the point other than the last couple of games,
and he goes back into that role as the starter
at the point for now. But Jasper's a guy who
certainly figures to get a lot of minutes there and
a chance to probably play through more mistakes than he
would have otherwise. And I see no reason why he
(19:53):
can't flourish in this role.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Well, you certainly know that I think he can flourish.
But again, canhaps kind of wait and see me Mark
could go back to the Aberdeen Chandler point guard rotation.
I don't think he will, but you never know exactly
how things will work out. But I think Jasper would
be really excited about the chance to do this. He's
(20:16):
played pretty well the majority of times that he has played,
and again, yeah he's made some mistakes, but it's not
like anybody else on the team had made mistakes too,
So I'm anxious to see how he might be able
to do. No one's going to get some extended minutes.
I think for Gas like Cam Williams and Jaspers that
especially are terrific shooters, it's just hard to play two
(20:38):
or three minutes at a time and get some flow going.
And I think we're seeing that with Cam Williams right
now now that he's getting more extended playing time, what
it's doing for him, So hopefully the results will be
the same with Jasper.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
You know, there's that scene in the movie you remember
the Titans where the quarterback gets knocked out and the
Denzel Washington characters, coach Harvin Boone talks to the bass characters,
your team needs you go out there, command your troops.
That's kind of where Jasper is. Not that he's going
to be the starter, but he's gonna, i think, probably
play a good number of minutes or get the chance
(21:11):
to as a guy who will be in a position
to lead the team for stretches. And he comes from
a you know, a family of guys that played and coached.
His dad and his grandfather and uncles and cousins. I'm
sure so he he ought to be the type of
player that responds well to that.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
Yeah, I don't think the situation will overwhelming. That doesn't
mean he'll always play great, but I don't think it'll
be because he's overwhelmed or anything like that. And again,
he's had some good moments this year, and I think
he'll be this fine, capable shooter. He's a capable passer,
he understands the game. Will he get knocked around some physically, yeah, probably,
but he can also do some things to help off
(21:54):
set that. And Kentucky's in a situation now that they
need everybody to play well because they need to get
a win that they can hopefully Saturday Nights when kind
of started a new direction and a new way that
they're playing and we'll give them some confidence, but all
that could change if you don't play well Wednesday night
at the LSU.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Absolutely right, And they have two road games this week,
and Tennessee figures on paper to be even tougher on Saturday.
Aberdeen is not a guy who you look at and
watch his game and think he's a classic point guard.
He's been having to play that role because of the
injury to Low. That cold, you know, this process was
starting to unfold. It figured to be Jalen Low at
(22:35):
the point, backed up by Kayden Lewis, who would have
then slid into their role now had he not elected
to go somewhere else play it up in Villanova now.
So Aberdeen's kind of a makeshift point guard. But I
thought he looked the best that he's looked in a
game against quality competition, higher level competition the other night,
(22:56):
with the way he was able to maneuver around the
court and find teammates for up for open shots.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
Yeah, and then teammates made shots. That kind of helps
make you look when they do that. But yeah, and
I think the faster the pace can be probably the
better it'll it will suit in Zel And you got
to think maybe he is adjusting and learning a little
bit about what's going on there. But now he's got
to be that full time starter at that spot, and
(23:25):
he's just got to come through and deliver and maybe
change his mind set a little bit for how he
normally he is. But thinking about it, you still need
him to be a score at the same time, just
maybe it's a little bit more selective and how he
gets that offense going, and once he gets just started
that his roles should be the same if he's opened,
just make shots. But he did seem to kind of
(23:46):
settle down and understand what Mark wanted and what his
teammates seemed to be in a better flow. Just everything
suddenly looked better that last thirty minutes on Saturday night,
and hopefully it'll continue because they sure needed to.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
You you watch a lot of high school basketball, and
so curious to what you're seeing of Malachi Marino. Marino
and what you expected to see in his first year.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Well, I'm seeing a lot more than I would have expected.
I thought maybe the physicality of the game would bother
him a little bit because he never really had to
be that physical in high school, and if he did,
he probably got called for a foul because he was
so much bigger than everybody, and a lot of times
you told what he's really good, but a part of
this is so much bigger than people he's playing against.
But he's just had an understanding and a way to
(24:36):
get things done. I think is really has impressed me,
and I would say it surprised me a little bit.
I mean, he's always been a really good player, but
to step in and do the things the way that
he has has been impressive. And then the one thing
people kind of knocked him for his passing. I thought
in high school it was a really good passer and
that hadn't translated real well at Kentucky until just now.
(25:00):
I think he's a lot better passer than what he's
been given credit for. Is just maybe the way the
offense was didn't set up right for him or something.
I don't know, but he's been probably the biggest has
been the biggest surprise on the team, and they need
him to keep doing that going forward to because I
think the offense a lot of times just flows a
whole lot better when he's the guy that's in there.
(25:22):
And again, not knowing what acquaintance's future is going to
be or not be. A lot's going to be on
Malchai going forward to.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
You know, maybe the first pregame interview I did with
coach Pope this season, I asked him about Malachi and
that's the first thing he went to that attracted him
to recruit Malachi was the passing ability.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Yeah, that's something just always has been able to do
all through high school and has always been a very
willing passer too. It's never a guy that the ball
had to stop in his hands, even in high school.
So I think that's something that's in his game. And
I think it was just finding the right pace way
of Kentucky to kind of unlease that more. And it
seemed like at least Saturday, what they started to do
(26:05):
made Melacha eat a little bit more comfortable in that offence.
But no matter what, I mean, he's been going there
and getting on those boards and showing he can score
inside and I'll let them wait. I just wouldn't positive
he'd be able to do this quick in his college career.
I thought he'd eventually be able to do it, but
just maybe not quite a quick.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
You can read Larry Vat's work at your sports edge dot
com and hear him here on Tuesdays and on the
Sunday morning sports talk show each week. Thank you Larry,
all right, Tom quick Break. When we come back, Jeff
Bicoro joins the program. It's the Leech Report presented by
Bobcat Enterprises. When you need to buy or rent heavy
equipment talking about excavators or forkliffs, tractors, Bobcats. Get it
(26:45):
from Bobcat Enterprises. They'll give you a great deals and
in fantastic service after the deal is done. Zeeroturn Moores
for your home loan too at Bobcat Enterprises for locations
around Kentucky. It's the Leech Report, and we welcome in
Jeff Picaro from WTVQTV here in Lexing Find where he
is the sports director and you hear him on the
(27:06):
UK Radio Network with us on football broadcasts in the fall.
And former players like Pick are getting a little excited
with what will Stein is putting together with this transfer class,
particularly the O line. You called me yesterday when they
got the commitment from Shabola up at Ohio State and
your dad went to school there, so you guys follow
the Buckeyes as well as the Cats. So this is
(27:27):
one you know a lot.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
About Well, I tell you what that was. You say
that we're a little excited, is a little is shortening things?
I mean, this is I mean anybody that said Kentucky
didn't have the NIO money to go out and deal
with the big boys and schooling themselves, because what they've
done is just it's incredible, Tom, it really is. And
(27:50):
you know, I don't want to go as far as
saying Kentucky's done what Indiana's done in one season, you know,
completely flipping the roster, but you look at it and
the you said the shortcomings to this team, it looked
like was going to be in the offensive line. Well
that's not the case anymore. Is they picked up three
of the top five offensive linemen in the entire portal.
(28:10):
That's just amazing.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Yeah, they've got a center, guard, and tackle, so one
of the best at each position in the old line
is going to be part of the new big blue wall.
And then they'll be blocking for a quarterback who was
in the hunt to be the starting QB at Notre Dame.
What sure you've heard a little bit about minshe what's
(28:33):
the what have you heard about what his game could
look like? Here at Kentucky.
Speaker 5 (28:39):
Well, I think that you know, obviously he can spin
the football a little bit, but he gives him the
ability to get out of the pocket as well. I
think one of the things. And again this is just
my conjecture and kind of talking to some people, but
not really will yet. You know, I know a lot
of people are going, is he better than Cutter Bowling?
I think the one thing that you just can't have
(29:01):
it an offense. As the interceptions and fifteen touchdowns was okay,
but twelve interceptions is really bad. You've got to cut
that in two. You know, you'd like maybe four or
five six tops. You just can't turn the ball over,
especially in the SEC. And I think Minschi can really
throw the football. He's got some wheels, he could run.
You know. Again, they offered the opportunity for Cutter to
(29:25):
stick around and compete, and he decided to go elsewhere.
And I wish him all the best. He's getting a
lot of money to go to Arizona State. But I
you know, it's to be seen. I guess you could
say with Minschi, I've never seen him play again. I'm
just listening to what the coaches have said that I've
heard from Notre Dame and around here and they liked.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
The you know he was there.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
He was basically the second choice behind Levitt.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
And who's blocking for you and who you're throwing two
can also be quite helpful. The throwing two part kind
of Adam lucket On from on three yesterday he was
sitting thinks they're still looking and I think others have
said this too for a at least one more big
(30:10):
time receiver. I saw where the two guys from Auburn
have have committed to Texas and Texas Tech respectively, So
those are two guys off the board. But and then
they did get the freshman from ls from Louisiana Darby
that people thought was targeted to LSU. So you don't
know what he could do as a freshman. I think
DJ Miller's a guy that could get a lot better.
(30:31):
But you're looking for that go to guy, the one guy, right, Yeah, And.
Speaker 5 (30:38):
I don't know if you saw this. I don't know
if you saw this this morning, Tom. But brock Kaufman,
who was a big standout for Sarah and again competition
at says nothing like it is at Trinity. But who
went to Louisville is coming to Kentucky. He's decided to
leave Louisville and come to UK. So that's another guy
that you throw in there, that's got a decent sized
body and you know, did everything in high school. You know.
(31:00):
I think it might be a case of they're gonna
have a deep receiver room, but not a standout unless
they can get you know, the one or two guys
that are left out there that are you know, still
considered to be those five star type players. But like
you said, it all start.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Yes, the guy that could be the one guy we're
talking about, but again, probably him, and I don't know
if there's even one like him beyond him that would
be available, but if you could get him, that would
be a big addition obviously.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (31:32):
But to me, I think it starts up front. Though.
You know, if you can block, then a kid can
get open and they're gonna be able to block. It
looks like it all starts up front, and they've done
a really good job really on both sides.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Of the ball.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
On the lines.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Yeah, the young man from Douglas, the Winter Purdue seems
to give him a guy that you plug in there
for AUGUSTA who was really good last season. And then
there are several guys they lost Gerrod Smith, but you know,
Humphrey race Is, uh Is Back, Gadson, others. I'm drawing
(32:06):
a blank on at the moment. But they've got guys
that played in the rotation for for anwar Stewart and
the D line that they've got the you know, they've
got the bodies there, and they've built well behind them
with the linebackers and the secondary guys that they picked up.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
No, yeah, I agree one hundred percent. And and I
really think that, you know, one of the things that
is keeping your guys too. You know, there was there
was talk about even even a guy like Avicelm who's
on the offensive line, there were teams in the SEC
that wanted him to come there, and they you know,
(32:44):
and they retained him. I think that's huge. Getting guys
like this, you know, uh Olas Olin and from Alabama.
Alabama and Max Anderson's big bodies. You know, you have
to have those guys. And you've got to remember Mant
GUIs back too. They can go on both sides of
the you know, left or right side, so that depth
(33:06):
is essential. And keeping Grant Godfrey yesterday said he's gonna
come back. That's a big help over there on that
defense at linebacker and getting the other kid out of
Texas Barnes that linebacker. He was the top off linebacker
coming out of high school two years ago. So they're
not just filling holes with people, they're filling it with
quality people. In the words of Signetti, guys who have
(33:32):
performed at this level is what they're going after and getting,
and that's that's how you build a roster.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Yeah, that's a good point because with a lot of
people are looking at what coach Signetti did up in
Indiana and it's not like he went out and found
a bunch of five star guys that were at other
places to come in. There's I'm sure you know some
good players you get from other places, but he also
got some players who were good football players just at
(33:58):
a smaller or a lower level. James Madison for example,
that came win and sure that can clearly can play.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
Yeah, you know another one that I don't hear a
lot of people talking about. But here's the guy that's
going to give you depth at a position that's really
in need. Jikai Long from Marshall the quarterback. He's another tall,
rangy guy. He's built a lot like Mitchie. The two
of them could almost be twins, you know, six two
sixty three, two hundred and ten pounds that can run
(34:27):
and throw. So you're seeing the type of player that
will want on the team. And really, if you looked
at that Oregon team, I think that's what he's he's
kind of using the framework of trying to build this
Kentucky team. You know, it's real interesting. Tom and I
know we don't have a lot of time, but look
at how they're building teams. Look at the last four
(34:48):
or five coaches that have been at Kentucky where they're
pulling their players from. You know, Brooks was a big
Georgia guy going down there, and then it's kind of
you know, then up to Ohio with with with Tomorrow
and Stoops and now you look at this and it's
kind of everywhere. This is more of we're not gonna
single one place. We got to get players from all
(35:09):
over the country. It's just it's really cool to see
the way each of these coaches have progressed Kentucky to
now be right up there with the leaders in all
of college football.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
Jeff Pacaoro. He is the sports directord WTVQ here in
Lexington and you can hear him, of course on the
in the fall with us on the UK football broadcasts
and h Pick it's at Jeff Pilicoro on X right.
Pretty simple, yes, sir, there you go, easy to find,
Thank you, sir. But you can hear the excitement in
(35:39):
his voice when you know working with guys who are
former players Goose like Pratt before him in basketball, Pick
and Jeff fan Note before him, and not just former
players obviously, but former players here. And you can hear
the excitement in Pick's voice about the players that they're
(36:00):
getting and how much fun it can hopefully be as
soon as this fall for Kentucky football. We'll get to
a break and we'll come out. We'll come back with
our final segment. Just a moment. It's the lead to
report from the Clarks Pump and Shop Studio. Did you
catch Jody Meeks on The Mark Pope Show last night?
He reminisced about what is an anniversary today the night
(36:22):
he scored fifty four at Tennessee, told a couple of
great stories that you could go back and listen to.
Jody came on about almost two thirds of the way
through the show for about six or seven minutes, and
he was really good, had some great stories. So it
was this day in two thousand and nine that he
had that night to remember setting the single game scoring
(36:43):
record for the University of Kentucky and men's basketball down
at Tennessee. Happy birthday Aaron Boone, great pass catcher for
the Wildcats in the early two thousands, and a UK
basketball legend Vernon Hatton was born on this day. The
great player had thirty in the National Chamtampionship game win
over Baylor in nineteen fifty eight down at Freedom Hall.
(37:05):
And those notes presented by Kentucky Roadshow Sports Cards in memorabilia.
They are on Romney Road in Lexington and at Roadshowcards
dot com. Shufflebean Coffee is a longtime partner of the
Leech Report. You can make them the official coffee of
your home, just like they're the official coffee of rupp Arena.
Go to Shufflebeing dot us you can find out about
the company that was started by a group of Kentuckians.
(37:27):
You could order some of the product while you're there.
You can get Shufflebing Coffee through Amazon, or you can
pick it up at Central Kentucky buyer stores. Do that today,
put some hustle in your shuffle, with shufflebeing coffee. Pick
mentioned that Grant Godfrey, Aboselm have committed to return to Kentucky.
You can edd Jason Patterson running back to that list.
In Murray State, punter Tom O'Hara has committed to the Wildcats.
(37:49):
Averaged forty three point eight per punt last season, forty
four to nine in twenty twenty four, and the Cats
have added a little more depth at quarterback. Carson Kruger
from Florida Atlantic. It's coming to play four Wilstein at
Kentucky in the quarterback room. Talk to you for Matin
Rouge tomorrow on the Leach Report.
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