January 14, 2026 • 36 mins
Tom talks with Jeff Drummond, Kendrick Haskins, 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. Coming to you from Batol Rouge, Louisiana,
where the Wildcats play tonight in the SEC at thete
Berevitch Assembly Center. Our show's presented by Bobcat Enterprises as always,
and coming up today, we're gonna talk to Mark Wise
from the SEC Network and ESPN, longtime analyst before working
(00:23):
for ESPN, was with the University of Florida Radio Network
for many years. But a native Kentucky and so we'll
get Mark's take on college basketball and the Cats. Jeff
Drummond from Cats Illustrated and Kender Kaskins from Way three
in Louisville. That is the lineup Wildcat News of the Day,
(00:45):
as the service of Juseppes of Lexington. Seven o'clock tip
tonight here in Baton Rouge for Kentucky and LSU. LSU
started off twelve and one. Lost to Texas Tech was
their one loss. They didn't have any he particularly noteworthy wins,
but we're playing well obviously, and then did On Thomas
(01:06):
transfer from UNLV at the point that Kentucky was pursuing
for a time. He's their best player. He went out
with a lower leg injury and they are zero to
three in the SEC, the only team in the league
that hasn't won a game yet. Thomas listed as doubtful
for the game tonight. Jaden Quainton's listed out obviously along
with Jalen Lowe on the Kentucky Availability Report. Our coverage
(01:30):
on the UK Radio network will get rolling at five
thirty Eastern time today for Kentucky and LSU. LSU's team
that struggling a score right now. Without Thomas, they have
gotten to the free throw line a lot, although not
as much an SEC play for Kentucky, the scoring component's
(01:52):
gonna be an interesting game because Otea always developing into
a guy you can pretty much pencil in for twenty
right now. But Jayalen Lowe had averaged sixteen a game
against Indiana, Saint John's, Alabama and somebody else I'm missing,
But they had four games out of the last five
(02:12):
that he played, I think, where he averaged sixteen a game.
They've got to replace those points for low and he's
the guy that you know coming into the season. They
built their plan on offense. They recruited players to get
better defensively, be better rebounding team. Offensively, They're gonna play
differently with low leading the way a lot of ball screens,
(02:36):
getting him to penetrate and kick it out. And now
he's gone, So we'll see how Kentucky moves forward. At
least now they know that they have to come up
with a plan that will not include Jalen Lowe because
there's no chance now he's coming back. Kentucky will no
doubt start Denzel Aberdeen at the point, but I would
(02:59):
think means it'll mean a lot more opportunities for Jasper Johnson,
the freshman from Woodford County football. DeAndre Moore, the Texas
wide out, is transferring. He picked Colorado yesterday. Kentucky was
one of the finalists there. Tadian Gadson, defensive lineman, announced
he's returning to Kentucky. So that is good news for
(03:19):
the Wildcats. We're going to get to our first break
and when we come back, we'll hear from Mark Wise.
Our opening segments presented by just Sepes of Lexington. They
are located out on Nicholasville Road, just past man O
War Boulevard. Go to open table, get something on the
books for Giuseppes. Valentine's Day if you can still make
that happen, or somewhere close to it any special occasion though,
(03:41):
Giuseppes needs to be a go to spot for you.
The food is fantastic, the ambiance is off the charts
with the live jazz music when you sit in the
lounge area makes it really extra special at Giuseppes. We'll
be right back here on the Leech Report Radio Network.
It is the Leech Report. We're presented by Bobcat Enterprises,
and we welcome Mark Eyes to the program, longtime analyst
(04:03):
on ESPN and the SEC Network before that. For a
good time was with every Buddy mc cubert done the
Florida Gator Network and a native Scott County in right.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Absolutely well. I was born at Central Baptist, but I
was raised in Georgetown.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yeah, well, good, good for you. I was. I was.
I was born in Paris Hospital, but my kids were
born in Central Baptists, so good folks there. And my
brother played at Georgetown High School in Georgetown College, so
good folks there too. So you you already know this,
but you come from good stock.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
So I appreciate that. My brother, my sisters still live
in Georgetown. So I got to Georgetown this summer, and
you know, whenever I get a Kentucky game. I always
get a chance to see them, so it makes it
nice for me as well.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Well. I appreciate you jumping on with us because I
was watching a little bit of LSU Vandy on Saturday
since the Wildcats have LSU this week, and heard you
doing the game, so that we'll call it bark and
get a little scouting report on LSU. So let's just
start there. They're struggling a bit, but they also don't
have their best player at.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
The moment, right, Yeah, that's correct. DJ Thomas got hurt
right before in practice, right before the opener against an M.
I had that game as well, and he's a difference maker.
I mean everything that they did up to that point,
and they were rolling pretty well. Not only was LSU
(05:32):
playing well, but Thomas was playing exceptionally well. He's their
leading score over sixteen per and his assist the turnover
ratio ninety two to twenty three, leading the SEC and
assists per game. So everything they did up to that
point was going through him. And even he was on
a heater because in his previous two games he averaged
(05:55):
over twenty and a half. So it's not like in
talking to Matt McMahon. It's not like they had weeks
to prepare after he got hurt. They had one day
to get ready for A and M, and so they
just really haven't had any meaningful practice time without him.
Now they hope to have him back soon. I don't
know what soon means, but it means Jalen Reese, the
(06:17):
freshman has played a lot of minutes in his absence,
and as you can imagine, it's been a very uneven
LSU production on the offensive side, especially they really have
trouble scoring at times without.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Thomas McKinnon scored it well Saturday ed.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Yes, he is their best three point threat, one of
the leading three point shooters in the league forty four
percent on the year, he's made three or more I
don't know, eight or nine times this year. He did
show me a little bit more versatility against Vanderbilt on
Saturday because he scored twos as well as he as
(06:59):
he has from beyond the arc. So he helped picked
up the slot. But they need in Woko, you know,
he needs to go for twelve and twelve every night.
Markel Sutton has not shot the ball particularly well. They've
got a grad student, Pablo Tamba They've got some size
and some physicality to them. But Tom, you know, I'm
(07:20):
an offensive guy, and if you can't score, especially at
the arc, you have a hard time winning night in
night out.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
What do they do that on their best night could
cause problems.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
For Kentucky well, physicality down low. I don't know what
acquaintances status might be for the game or I've been
really impressed with Marino anyway for UK, But if they
are allowed to win all things at the block down
in that high rent district, points, in the paying second
chance points, getting to the free throw line. They had
(07:56):
been going to the free throw line a lot. They
did not the other day in the Vanderbilt game, especially
in the first half. But if they're allowed to do
those things and kind of hang around and they don't
have a shot at the end.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
If you follow folks on Twitter, Mark is a great
follow at MW hoops, you get a lot of things
that you're talking about in interviews like this, as far
as inclination toward the offensive end of the court. I mean,
just looking at one of your recent posts and this
is interesting and some of the stats are still skewed
because they're more dominated by the non conference and against
(08:31):
weekly foes. But Mark Pope has always said they want
to shoot at least thirty threes a game, maybe even
thirty five. Now that's changed with this team as it
has gotten into the season, but nevertheless, that is kind
of who he is at his core. You said in
a recent post, there were five teams that finished last
season with thirty or more threes a game. Right now
(08:52):
there's eighty four.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yes, yes, that's a couple of weeks old. But I'll
illustrate it this way. Georgia. I had Georgia and Cincinnati
in a game earlier this year, and those two teams
played each other four years ago, and in the game
four years ago, they combined combined to shoot thirty two
threes in the game. That's four years ago. Now, both
(09:18):
of those teams averaged sixty two three attempts a game.
That's how in such a short period of time, the
NBA trickled down analytics from the three point line. That's
how that has impacted our game. And now I'm really
surprised if I don't write down a team that shoots
(09:39):
less than twenty eight twenty nine threes. LSU happens to
be one of those They're not a great three point
shooting team. They don't shoot a lot. They only shoot
about twenty one a game, and they only make seven
a game. So again, come, I'm a big believer in
three point differential. I'm also a big believer that more
(10:00):
big games are lost because you couldn't score versus you
couldn't defend.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Well, you say three point differential two. Just to be clear,
you're meeting three point field goals and not three point percentage.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Right, No, I mean that's correct. I mean the difference
in the scoring in the game from the three point line.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Yeah, in Alabama was like fifteen to.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Four, correct, correct? Now, you can't win, you can't. And
Kentucky's had some issues losing the three point battle. And
I'm not talking about it the differentials five or six points,
but when once you get into double figures, for instance,
I'll give it to you this way. Until the game
on Saturday, Vanderbilt on average, and I get it. As
(10:40):
you mentioned, some of the non conference numbers can be skewed.
Vanderbilt was plus twelve average winning the three point differential
battle on average, so they hadn't lost a three point
battle all year until the Alabama game. What was the result.
They still scored ninety six points and still won. So again,
(11:01):
I just think it's such an important part of our
game right now.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Tell and Mark wise at MW hoops on X with
Kentucky with having so many guys in and out low
in particular, but a quaintance just came back with the
Saint John's game and missed the last one. How if
they can get some kind of regular pattern of minutes.
(11:26):
How is that as significant a difference as it sounds.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
It may be the most important thing going on for
Kentucky in my view right now. Continuity minutes of played,
minutes of continuity is much more important on the offensive
end than it is the defensive end. Why do I
say that, Because the defensive end is kind of like
(11:51):
it's basis is effort. Now you have to have team speed,
team length, I get all that, but it starts with effort.
Offense is more art. Can you keep correct spacing? Can
you be in the right place at the right time,
at the right moment? Where am I supposed to go
on this set? Can I set screens? Am I willing
(12:12):
to move without the ball?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
So?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I think when you don't have a regular rotation it
really messes up your offense much more than your defense.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Let's talk before I let you go about Vandy, which
Kentucky will have week after next and they've been one
of the surprise stories of this college basketball season. Clearly
they look legit. What impresses you most about Vandy relative
to expectations?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Well, I've kind of kidded Tom because in November and
December on broadcast I was going to go, who is
going to be this year's Vandy? A team that is
picked on the right hand side of the preseason poll,
which is teams nine through sixteen that can go over
on the left and get an NCAA tournament bit And yeah,
(13:01):
it's easy to say Georgia might fall into that role
this year. Texas A and M right now, Bucky Paul.
But the best version of Bandy last year is Bandy
this year, I think, And we did this on the broadcast.
I created a Bandy formula. Tell me if this sounds familiar.
Bandy's formula starts with elite guard play, whether you're talking
(13:23):
about Tanner or Duke Miles or Tyler Nickel knocking down threes.
Right now, Frankie Collins is hurt, but he's kind of
their defensive fourth guard. They'll get him back, hopefully in
another week or so. You've got to win the three
point battle. We've already talked about that. And then lastly,
you have to have a defensive identity. And Vanderbilt was
(13:44):
going into the game the other day number one in
the league and steals guarding the arc, number two in
field go percentage. Seems to me like those are the
same ingredients that are required to win games in March.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yes, it's not the seventies and Patrick Ewing and Ralph
Samson anymore, is it.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
No? No, it says now you're dating both of them.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
That's right. Yeah. I remember Rick Patino when he was
here at Kentucky. He used to talk about in the
early days of the three point line, the big differ,
the big difference he wanted to see was ten on
the percentage. You know, the words shoot thirty three, hold
him to twenty three. But it seems like now I
think the bore of the focus is what the number
(14:29):
that differential in in three point field goals? What's the
minimum you need to be great? Three or four?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I think as long as you're you can't lose that battle.
You don't have to win it every game. But if
you're minus let's just call it six because that means
it's more than two per game. If you're minus six
or greater in three point differential, you're asking for trouble
unless you have got a team that can get to
(14:58):
the free throw line a whole lot.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
And that's where Kentucky has improved a bit in the
last month, versus not making as many threes as they
want to make. So it can be interesting to see
how as they start to find their identity offensively, how
good can they get at the three point line? Because
I think they thought they'd be better than they are.
So maybe if they get the minutes, you know, on
(15:24):
a consistent basis, maybe they will get to where they
at least close to where they thought they were.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
I think Tom in order for Kentucky, and I'll say
this about any team, uh, in order for Kentucky to
be the best version of themselves, the first thing that
has to happen is the minutes have to get kind
of calmed.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Down, so you know kind of what you can count
on from game together.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
You know who, yes, you know who's gonna be and
more importantly, the.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Players know Mark, Thank you bunch. Hopefully we'll see on
a Kentucky game the rest of the way and if not,
see down in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
All right, thanks Tom, I'll talk of.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Basketball with Mark. Always would connect with him when the
Cats played the Gators, and don't see him as much
now because he didn't get as many Kentucky games, but
hopefully he will soon. It's again at MW hoops. Great
follow if you love basketball, just deep dive analysis. It
is the Leech Report coming to here from the Clarks
(16:19):
Pumping Shop studio. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's. We'll
be right back. It's the Late Report, presented by Bob
Kat enterprises Jeff Drummond joints us from On three Sports
and Cats Illustrated dot Com. Jeff, you have a story
up at the site about the decision to shut it
(16:41):
down for Jalen Low for shoulder surgery. So where did
the Cats turn next? Denzel Aberdeen, one would think, moves
back into the starting lineup. But what else do they
do to make up for missing Jalen Low?
Speaker 3 (16:56):
You know, Tom, it may have to be a little
bit of a committee situation the way it sounds, but
the most intriguing part of that whole situation for me
is kind of the emergence of Jasper Johnson, or re
emergence perhaps after not getting a lot of playing time
in some recent games, especially against the high major teams.
(17:18):
It looks like Mark Bolt may be starting to turn
a little more towards Jasper and kind of turning loose
some of that raw tablet.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Yeah, one would think Jasper probably gets a little more
leeway to play through mistakes.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Yes, definitely, that's something to keep an eye on, because
you know, when you had Low out there or some
other guys, it seemed like the leash was a little
bit shorter for Jasper when you would have some of
those common mistakes for a freshman. But interesting to see
now that you know he's going to get a little
(17:56):
bit more extended playtime.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
More with Jeff Drubbin will be come right back. It's
the Lead Triport. It is the Lead Triport coming to
you from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return, Refresh and
refuel at Clark's. We're in Baton Rouge where the Cats
take on LSU to Dight. First game moving forward in
which they know they did not have Jalen Lowe. We're
talking about that more with Jeff dropping from on three
(18:19):
Sports and Cats Illustrated and as you were saying, it
would seem a great opportunity for Jasper Johnson here, Jeff,
what's he needed to do to improve on to take
advantage of this opportunity.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
I think the biggest thing with Jasper right now engaging
this from Mark Pope's comments, is to be a little
bit more decisive and not to be thinking as much,
but just to get the ball and go downhill when
he has that opportunity.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
I think he wants him playing faster.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
Jasper has that tendency, like a lot of young players
do coming out of the the AAU ranks, to kind
of play with the ball a little bit too much,
you know, a little bit of that shaking bait when
he has the ball in his hands, and he would
like to see him I believe in attack mode and
getting that first decisive step on opponents, which is something
(19:17):
that Jalen Lowe was so good at getting downhill and
being able to get to the rim or kick it
out for teammates.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Remember one conversation Pope d with the media last year
and talked about I think he used the Spurs as
the example at the NBA level about having, you know,
just making a decision and basically a second and a
half when the ball's moving. The ball, to use the
phrase coaches like to use a lot was sticking until
(19:47):
the last game. That was what was noticeably different. It
was a little better in Missouri. There was one possession
in the Missouri game where they got the ball to
the corner off a low drive and whipped it around
a way for an open three in the corner. What
he made. But there was a lot more of that
in the Mississippi State game. What did you see from
your vantage point high above the action there at Roparita.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Well that I think that was really encouraging to see
in the Mississippi State game, and not just with a
guy like Jasper who looked more comfortable, but benzdel Aberdeen,
who was brought in here, you know, to be that
second point guard and has kind of struggled at times
fitting into that role. He's more of a combo type
(20:32):
guy who his role was a little bit different with Florida,
But I think we started seeing some signs of him
being more decisive too and getting the ball to teammates
quicker for open looks and been in a half court
set or in transition. So that was a big positive.
And you saw Malacott moreno, you know, the passing potential
(20:56):
that he has has stood out in some of these games.
Think you're starting to see some of the things that
Amari Williams did show up with Marino, although coming from
a little bit of a different spot on the floor
than we saw with Williams out at the top of
the key abot with Aberdeen.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
He certainly is not a typical or classic point guard.
But I like you, I thought he looked much more
comfortable in the Mississippi State game than he had been before.
It seemed like a lot of times before he was
always coming off handoff or getting into the lane and
(21:39):
looking first and foremost to score. And I thought the
other night he maneuvered around the defense and would get
into the lane and play to both feet instead of
going off one foot and making an attempt to shoot it,
and he was looking to either get a shot if
(22:01):
it's open, or kick it out if it if he
didn't have the best opportunity to score. Consequently, he scored better,
and he also had four assists.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
It's funny how that works, and mar Pope had a
quote to that extent. I think when you're playing that way,
things just tend to happen good for you. And in
a similar fashion with Otega, oh way, we're starting to
see a string of twenty plus point performances when his
(22:31):
focus has been on the defensive end before, and that
turns into you know, two or three runouts a game
all of a sudden, you know, a guy that was
averaging fourteen or fifteen is up there above twenty.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Otega's starting to remind me a little bit of PJ.
Washington's final season at UK in that he got off
to a slow start. I can't remember if he had
any injury issues or not like Otega did coming into
the season, but he had a bit of a slow
start when big things were expected. He got crushed early
in that game in the Champions Classic by Duke, and
(23:04):
yet by the end of the year you could make
a case that the PJ was the player of the
year in college basketball. Unfortunately, had to deal with some
injury issues at that point. But that looks kind of
like the path Otega is on his five games with
twenty or more out of the last seven.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Yes, you're starting to see signs of that preseason SEC
player of the Year projection that he had, And you've
got to wonder a little bit if that didn't weigh
on him a little bit early on the expectations. He
was kind of a guy that could fit in last
season with a lot of other talented guys around him,
(23:42):
and his natural ability kind of led to him being
the main scoring weapon. But now when that was expected
of him coming into the season, it seemed like it
came a little bit harder. But now it seems like
he's getting more comfortable. I said, defensively, that's where he
really has a chance to change games on that end
(24:03):
of the flour. And I believe he's got something like
sixteen steel in his last five games, and he's had
five and four in the last two. So if he
keeps doing that, it's really going to change Kentucky's trajectory.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
You know, your point about getting comfortable in that different
role is noteworthy too, and also maybe not even just
getting comfortable in the role, but just you know, you're
getting closer to you went through the NBA process. Now
you're back, but you want to be back in the
NBA next year, you want to improve your draft stock,
all those things that players are probably thinking about or
(24:42):
the people around them are thinking about, and he ken,
I'm sure way on a player. And I think we
saw some of that with Jackson Robinson maybe last season
and he was slow out of the gate, and then
it was actually around this time of year he went
down to Mississippi State and had his breakout game and
then I think was playing at a level where he
(25:03):
could have been all SEC until he got hurt. And
it was interesting. I talked about that with Coach Pope
in our pregame right at the end of it last Saturday,
and if I have time, I'll play some of his answer,
but it was really good just talking about how Jackson
just and and I think there were quotes at the
time from Jackson you may remember him where he talked about,
(25:24):
you know, he was thinking about the future and you know,
shot stats, whatever, and he just decided to play in
the moment and just play basketball. And it was really
cool to watch. So maybe we're seeing that with Otega.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Yeah, And you can see it with those guys sometimes
where it looks like there's that literal weight on their
shoulders instead of the figures that we used to talk about,
and it slows down their natural instincts and athleticism. Maybe
when they're thinking about that and pressing, maybe Otega can
just go out and play now and do his natural thing.
(26:00):
And the Cats need it now more than any time,
because I think I was looking at the Kim Palm
rankings here recently and he has them projected to be
I think in a one possession game eight times in
the league games remaining, including this one against LSU. So
(26:23):
if Otaga is going to be at his best, Kentucky
has a lot better shot, you know, to flip some
of those Coast games in their direction.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
That's Jeff Drubbon on three Sportscats Illustrated dot Com. That's
where you can read them. Thank you, Jeff, all right,
Thanks tom oh Jeff, what quick question? Yay or day
on the Mike Tomlin decision. You're a Steelers fan, I was.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
I was sad to hear about it. I'm a mic
oh my guy, but I think it was probably time
for both him.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
And the organization. That's Jeff Drubbon. And this is the
Leads Report presented by Bob Kat Enterprises. Lakes Report presented
by Bobcat Enterprises. They have four locations in Kentucky. Google
Bobcat when you need to buy or rent heavy equipment
or you need to do zero turn more for your
home blow and they will have it at Bobcat Enterprises.
As we welcome Kendrick Cascuts get into the program from
(27:17):
Wait three Sports. This was otega Oway last Saturday night.
Kendery talking about Malachi Marino right after the Kentucky win
over Mississippi State.
Speaker 5 (27:26):
Yeah, he not a typical freshman. I feel like he's
super mature, but mentally in his game, he doesn't get
too high, he doesn't get low. He's gonna bring the
same energy every single time, no matter for up twelve
or down twelve. And when he's like when the freshman
does that when you're an older guy, just makes you
want to continue to follow that and you probably even
up that tempo on that intensity. So Malcock is super good.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Great fresh So after he led Great Crossing to the
state championship, Kendrick, did you think Malachi Marino had this
kind of game in him as a first year player.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
I didn't a knock on him because you just don't know,
because when when they're that big in high school, and
you know they're not playing against composition that's there same size,
so you just can't tell. And so I didn't expect
him to be as good as he is, but I'm
pleasantly surprised to see how well he's playing since he
(28:19):
since he got to the UK, because he's played really well.
I've been impressed with him all season long.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
And you know, for a big guy, a lot of
times you look at a stat box. One of the
things I'll look at and preparing for a game is
what's the assistant turnovers? Anybody really good with their ratio
or And usually and a lot of times it's the
big guys. You'll find one or two guys that are,
you know, in a really negative position from the start.
This year he has had significantly more assists than turnovers.
(28:50):
Pope said when he first recruited him, it was the
passing ability that caught his eye. He seems to be
a really intense competitor. And you wonder how much consistent
scoring they can count on him from because they've got
to find that now without.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
Low Right, and you almost wonder if you can run
the offense through him at this point because coming in
like you didn't expect to be at this point with
him regardless of what happened, because, like I said, we
didn't we didn't know how good he was because it's
rare that you see a seven footer in high school,
so you don't know how good they are because most
(29:26):
kids they're playing against the tallest kid maybe six five.
But he's playing really well and you can run. He's
super smart. He has a basketball IQ it's far far
higher than be getting for most kids at his size
and his age, and so yeah, you may want to
explore maybe running the offense through him a little bit
(29:48):
because he has he has a good eye for who's
open and running the offense, So it may be a
good idea. Not maybe not every possession, but to come
down and maybe run the offense through him may not
be a bad idea.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Can tack. You had four players in double figures in
the Mississippi State game. I think it's just the third
time that had happened this season, certainly against the best
quality of competition, and without Low that's some significant number
of number of baskets they have to find a way
to replace. Do you think how do you think they
(30:23):
go about doing that?
Speaker 4 (30:26):
I think everybody has to have a past first mentality
except for maybe Oh Way, because the Old Way can
get to the rim. But the rest of them, I
think they they need to develop somebody who can have
a drive and kick personality, who when they get to
the rim, they can look at look around and maybe
see the floor a little bit better. Because Jalen Lowe
(30:49):
is really good at that, and so now without him,
someone has to take up that mantle, who can get
to the lane and find the open player. And I'm
finally Old Way going to always to rim and scoring,
but maybe not. Everyone else needs to have a score
first mentality, And so who's gonna have that mentality if
(31:12):
I'm gonna get to the lane and kick and find
the open guy because Jalen Lowe was really good at that,
and no one else has really shown that they can
really do that.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Jasper Johnson, to me, is a guy that could give
you some of that he Pope said. The scoring ability
was the first thing that caught his eye with with Jasper.
He's a good three point shooter, Pope said the other night.
He's their most gifted passer, but he didn't have a
whole lot of assists in the best games the best
competition that they faced. So if he could get better
(31:42):
at making plays for his teammates while also scoring, become
a little better defender. And you know, if you're a
fantasy said, well, why wasn't he already playing and why
are you you know, waiting to now to push this? Well,
you had it and Jayalen Lowe, so you didn't have
to to hope you could get it from the freshman.
You already had it in Jalen, so you'd ride that
horse for a while. But now you don't have that.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Yeah, and I think the Africans maybe step into that
role maybe a little bit. I don't think he's quite
the ball handler that Jalen was, but I do think
he can be a playmaker. Maybe not as good of
an assist guy, but I think he could go in
there and he can make things happen, getting to the rim,
making it the defense collapse, and he may end up
(32:26):
being that we just haven't seen it yet. I think,
what more playing time and seeing what he can do,
I think Jasher may be able to step into that role.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Low was so good with the ball in his hands,
just changing speeds and directions and yeah, you're not going
to replace that. I did think Aberdeen played better as
a point guard rather than just a guard in the
game last Saturday. What about what do you see for
him moving forward?
Speaker 4 (32:53):
If we could get him to not think shoot every time,
if sometimes he shoots and it's like, okay, that SHOT's
not open, I think he needs to realize what's a
good shot and what's not a good shot, because sometimes
he just takes shots and I'm like, what did you
see there? So if we can get him out of
a shoot perst mentality and maybe maybe we can have
(33:17):
something there. But I think if Jasper can step into
that role and maybe take that take that aspect out
of Aberdeen, where Aberdeen is more of a two guard
more than a point guard and a playmaker, maybe we'll
have something there. But yeah, sometimes Aberdeen he gets the
ball and it's like Okay, I'm gonna shoot, and then
like it throws off the rest of the offense.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Well, that that's to me what I think you're you're
right about that. It's what I liked about what I
saw the Mississippi State game is that he played with
the coaches say off two feet a lot more often.
If you're doing that, if you get into the lane
and come to that jump stop, then that tells me
you're making a decision at that point. If you're going
in off one foot, you've already made the decision. Right.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
Yeah, he's made or even got the ball. So maybe
maybe we can have him of a mentality where we're
gonna be a playmaker rather than a scorer, especially his
size because at his side it's hard to be a
scorer all the time because at his side the defense
is going to collapse and he can't necessarily see everything.
(34:17):
So if he can get that out of his mind
where I'm going to score every time and maybe not
shooting an airball everything, then when we get realized.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Something there that's a step of the right direction. Give
me what will Stein is doing with the transfer portal in.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Football, it's fun. It's it's fun to see this time
of year because hope springs are turn on, especially before
the season starts. And so he's out there and he's
killing it. I knew he would because he's one of
those guys that he makes you laugh and he talks
to him and so he's he's gonna relate to the
because he's to the younger player because he's not. He's
(34:57):
not that far removed from the game himself, and so
I think he's killing it. He's going to do a
great job, and I think he's going to be a
good hire at Kentucky. And I can see why guys
want to play for him because he has a personality
that's super engaging, and so guys are gonna well played
with me, and guys are going to be able to
relate to him.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
That is Kender Kaskins. Thank you, sir, Nic.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
Touch to you soon.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Kener Kaskas joining us here on the Leach Report from
Way three Sports. It is five away from the top
of the hour. Lead's report coming to you from the
Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return, Refresh, Refuel, We'll be right back.
Stay in wild Cat History. Two thousand and three Kentucky
wins at Vandy seventy four fifty two. It was a
(35:42):
bit of a strange game. Kentucky struggled in the first half,
had been struggling for a few weeks, came out in
the second half, looked like a completely different team. Defensively
suffocated Vanderbilt and would win twenty five more in a
row before falling in the Elite eighth of the NCAA
Tournament after Keith Ogan's got injured. So I was SATA
(36:03):
fans sometimes when they get frustrated their teams, it can
be late, but it can be a long way from
too late. That was a season that turned on the
fourteenth of January, and it's happened even later than that
for Kentucky teams. Happy birthdays to Terry Wilson, quarterback that
led the Cats to a ten win season, Mike Scott, Chagari,
Lean Bost celebrating birthdays, and yesterday was assistant coach Mark
(36:25):
Fox's birthday, so a belated happy birthday to him. Tubby
Smith daved the twenty sixth Natesmith Outstanding Contributor to Men's
Basketball Award winner. He will be honored at the Final four.
You'd be hard pressed to find anybody more deserving than
Tubby Smith. In fact that I don't think there's anybody,
So congrats to Tubby UK Baseball number eighteen in the
preseason D one Baseball Poll. We'll see it tomorrow on
(36:48):
the League Report.
Good day everybody. Coming to you from Batol Rouge, Louisiana,
where the Wildcats play tonight in the SEC at thete
Berevitch Assembly Center. Our show's presented by Bobcat Enterprises as always,
and coming up today, we're gonna talk to Mark Wise
from the SEC Network and ESPN, longtime analyst before working
(00:23):
for ESPN, was with the University of Florida Radio Network
for many years. But a native Kentucky and so we'll
get Mark's take on college basketball and the Cats. Jeff
Drummond from Cats Illustrated and Kender Kaskins from Way three
in Louisville. That is the lineup Wildcat News of the Day,
(00:45):
as the service of Juseppes of Lexington. Seven o'clock tip
tonight here in Baton Rouge for Kentucky and LSU. LSU
started off twelve and one. Lost to Texas Tech was
their one loss. They didn't have any he particularly noteworthy wins,
but we're playing well obviously, and then did On Thomas
(01:06):
transfer from UNLV at the point that Kentucky was pursuing
for a time. He's their best player. He went out
with a lower leg injury and they are zero to
three in the SEC, the only team in the league
that hasn't won a game yet. Thomas listed as doubtful
for the game tonight. Jaden Quainton's listed out obviously along
with Jalen Lowe on the Kentucky Availability Report. Our coverage
(01:30):
on the UK Radio network will get rolling at five
thirty Eastern time today for Kentucky and LSU. LSU's team
that struggling a score right now. Without Thomas, they have
gotten to the free throw line a lot, although not
as much an SEC play for Kentucky, the scoring component's
(01:52):
gonna be an interesting game because Otea always developing into
a guy you can pretty much pencil in for twenty
right now. But Jayalen Lowe had averaged sixteen a game
against Indiana, Saint John's, Alabama and somebody else I'm missing,
But they had four games out of the last five
(02:12):
that he played, I think, where he averaged sixteen a game.
They've got to replace those points for low and he's
the guy that you know coming into the season. They
built their plan on offense. They recruited players to get
better defensively, be better rebounding team. Offensively, They're gonna play
differently with low leading the way a lot of ball screens,
(02:36):
getting him to penetrate and kick it out. And now
he's gone, So we'll see how Kentucky moves forward. At
least now they know that they have to come up
with a plan that will not include Jalen Lowe because
there's no chance now he's coming back. Kentucky will no
doubt start Denzel Aberdeen at the point, but I would
(02:59):
think means it'll mean a lot more opportunities for Jasper Johnson,
the freshman from Woodford County football. DeAndre Moore, the Texas
wide out, is transferring. He picked Colorado yesterday. Kentucky was
one of the finalists there. Tadian Gadson, defensive lineman, announced
he's returning to Kentucky. So that is good news for
(03:19):
the Wildcats. We're going to get to our first break
and when we come back, we'll hear from Mark Wise.
Our opening segments presented by just Sepes of Lexington. They
are located out on Nicholasville Road, just past man O
War Boulevard. Go to open table, get something on the
books for Giuseppes. Valentine's Day if you can still make
that happen, or somewhere close to it any special occasion though,
(03:41):
Giuseppes needs to be a go to spot for you.
The food is fantastic, the ambiance is off the charts
with the live jazz music when you sit in the
lounge area makes it really extra special at Giuseppes. We'll
be right back here on the Leech Report Radio Network.
It is the Leech Report. We're presented by Bobcat Enterprises,
and we welcome Mark Eyes to the program, longtime analyst
(04:03):
on ESPN and the SEC Network before that. For a
good time was with every Buddy mc cubert done the
Florida Gator Network and a native Scott County in right.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Absolutely well. I was born at Central Baptist, but I
was raised in Georgetown.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yeah, well, good, good for you. I was. I was.
I was born in Paris Hospital, but my kids were
born in Central Baptists, so good folks there. And my
brother played at Georgetown High School in Georgetown College, so
good folks there too. So you you already know this,
but you come from good stock.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
So I appreciate that. My brother, my sisters still live
in Georgetown. So I got to Georgetown this summer, and
you know, whenever I get a Kentucky game. I always
get a chance to see them, so it makes it
nice for me as well.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Well. I appreciate you jumping on with us because I
was watching a little bit of LSU Vandy on Saturday
since the Wildcats have LSU this week, and heard you
doing the game, so that we'll call it bark and
get a little scouting report on LSU. So let's just
start there. They're struggling a bit, but they also don't
have their best player at.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
The moment, right, Yeah, that's correct. DJ Thomas got hurt
right before in practice, right before the opener against an M.
I had that game as well, and he's a difference maker.
I mean everything that they did up to that point,
and they were rolling pretty well. Not only was LSU
(05:32):
playing well, but Thomas was playing exceptionally well. He's their
leading score over sixteen per and his assist the turnover
ratio ninety two to twenty three, leading the SEC and
assists per game. So everything they did up to that
point was going through him. And even he was on
a heater because in his previous two games he averaged
(05:55):
over twenty and a half. So it's not like in
talking to Matt McMahon. It's not like they had weeks
to prepare after he got hurt. They had one day
to get ready for A and M, and so they
just really haven't had any meaningful practice time without him.
Now they hope to have him back soon. I don't
know what soon means, but it means Jalen Reese, the
(06:17):
freshman has played a lot of minutes in his absence,
and as you can imagine, it's been a very uneven
LSU production on the offensive side, especially they really have
trouble scoring at times without.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Thomas McKinnon scored it well Saturday ed.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Yes, he is their best three point threat, one of
the leading three point shooters in the league forty four
percent on the year, he's made three or more I
don't know, eight or nine times this year. He did
show me a little bit more versatility against Vanderbilt on
Saturday because he scored twos as well as he as
(06:59):
he has from beyond the arc. So he helped picked
up the slot. But they need in Woko, you know,
he needs to go for twelve and twelve every night.
Markel Sutton has not shot the ball particularly well. They've
got a grad student, Pablo Tamba They've got some size
and some physicality to them. But Tom, you know, I'm
(07:20):
an offensive guy, and if you can't score, especially at
the arc, you have a hard time winning night in
night out.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
What do they do that on their best night could
cause problems.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
For Kentucky well, physicality down low. I don't know what
acquaintances status might be for the game or I've been
really impressed with Marino anyway for UK, But if they
are allowed to win all things at the block down
in that high rent district, points, in the paying second
chance points, getting to the free throw line. They had
(07:56):
been going to the free throw line a lot. They
did not the other day in the Vanderbilt game, especially
in the first half. But if they're allowed to do
those things and kind of hang around and they don't
have a shot at the end.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
If you follow folks on Twitter, Mark is a great
follow at MW hoops, you get a lot of things
that you're talking about in interviews like this, as far
as inclination toward the offensive end of the court. I mean,
just looking at one of your recent posts and this
is interesting and some of the stats are still skewed
because they're more dominated by the non conference and against
(08:31):
weekly foes. But Mark Pope has always said they want
to shoot at least thirty threes a game, maybe even
thirty five. Now that's changed with this team as it
has gotten into the season, but nevertheless, that is kind
of who he is at his core. You said in
a recent post, there were five teams that finished last
season with thirty or more threes a game. Right now
(08:52):
there's eighty four.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yes, yes, that's a couple of weeks old. But I'll
illustrate it this way. Georgia. I had Georgia and Cincinnati
in a game earlier this year, and those two teams
played each other four years ago, and in the game
four years ago, they combined combined to shoot thirty two
threes in the game. That's four years ago. Now, both
(09:18):
of those teams averaged sixty two three attempts a game.
That's how in such a short period of time, the
NBA trickled down analytics from the three point line. That's
how that has impacted our game. And now I'm really
surprised if I don't write down a team that shoots
(09:39):
less than twenty eight twenty nine threes. LSU happens to
be one of those They're not a great three point
shooting team. They don't shoot a lot. They only shoot
about twenty one a game, and they only make seven
a game. So again, come, I'm a big believer in
three point differential. I'm also a big believer that more
(10:00):
big games are lost because you couldn't score versus you
couldn't defend.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Well, you say three point differential two. Just to be clear,
you're meeting three point field goals and not three point percentage.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Right, No, I mean that's correct. I mean the difference
in the scoring in the game from the three point line.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Yeah, in Alabama was like fifteen to.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Four, correct, correct? Now, you can't win, you can't. And
Kentucky's had some issues losing the three point battle. And
I'm not talking about it the differentials five or six points,
but when once you get into double figures, for instance,
I'll give it to you this way. Until the game
on Saturday, Vanderbilt on average, and I get it. As
(10:40):
you mentioned, some of the non conference numbers can be skewed.
Vanderbilt was plus twelve average winning the three point differential
battle on average, so they hadn't lost a three point
battle all year until the Alabama game. What was the result.
They still scored ninety six points and still won. So again,
(11:01):
I just think it's such an important part of our
game right now.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Tell and Mark wise at MW hoops on X with
Kentucky with having so many guys in and out low
in particular, but a quaintance just came back with the
Saint John's game and missed the last one. How if
they can get some kind of regular pattern of minutes.
(11:26):
How is that as significant a difference as it sounds.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
It may be the most important thing going on for
Kentucky in my view right now. Continuity minutes of played,
minutes of continuity is much more important on the offensive
end than it is the defensive end. Why do I
say that, Because the defensive end is kind of like
(11:51):
it's basis is effort. Now you have to have team speed,
team length, I get all that, but it starts with effort.
Offense is more art. Can you keep correct spacing? Can
you be in the right place at the right time,
at the right moment? Where am I supposed to go
on this set? Can I set screens? Am I willing
(12:12):
to move without the ball?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
So?
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I think when you don't have a regular rotation it
really messes up your offense much more than your defense.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Let's talk before I let you go about Vandy, which
Kentucky will have week after next and they've been one
of the surprise stories of this college basketball season. Clearly
they look legit. What impresses you most about Vandy relative
to expectations?
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Well, I've kind of kidded Tom because in November and
December on broadcast I was going to go, who is
going to be this year's Vandy? A team that is
picked on the right hand side of the preseason poll,
which is teams nine through sixteen that can go over
on the left and get an NCAA tournament bit And yeah,
(13:01):
it's easy to say Georgia might fall into that role
this year. Texas A and M right now, Bucky Paul.
But the best version of Bandy last year is Bandy
this year, I think, And we did this on the broadcast.
I created a Bandy formula. Tell me if this sounds familiar.
Bandy's formula starts with elite guard play, whether you're talking
(13:23):
about Tanner or Duke Miles or Tyler Nickel knocking down threes.
Right now, Frankie Collins is hurt, but he's kind of
their defensive fourth guard. They'll get him back, hopefully in
another week or so. You've got to win the three
point battle. We've already talked about that. And then lastly,
you have to have a defensive identity. And Vanderbilt was
(13:44):
going into the game the other day number one in
the league and steals guarding the arc, number two in
field go percentage. Seems to me like those are the
same ingredients that are required to win games in March.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yes, it's not the seventies and Patrick Ewing and Ralph
Samson anymore, is it.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
No? No, it says now you're dating both of them.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
That's right. Yeah. I remember Rick Patino when he was
here at Kentucky. He used to talk about in the
early days of the three point line, the big differ,
the big difference he wanted to see was ten on
the percentage. You know, the words shoot thirty three, hold
him to twenty three. But it seems like now I
think the bore of the focus is what the number
(14:29):
that differential in in three point field goals? What's the
minimum you need to be great? Three or four?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I think as long as you're you can't lose that battle.
You don't have to win it every game. But if
you're minus let's just call it six because that means
it's more than two per game. If you're minus six
or greater in three point differential, you're asking for trouble
unless you have got a team that can get to
(14:58):
the free throw line a whole lot.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
And that's where Kentucky has improved a bit in the
last month, versus not making as many threes as they
want to make. So it can be interesting to see
how as they start to find their identity offensively, how
good can they get at the three point line? Because
I think they thought they'd be better than they are.
So maybe if they get the minutes, you know, on
(15:24):
a consistent basis, maybe they will get to where they
at least close to where they thought they were.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
I think Tom in order for Kentucky, and I'll say
this about any team, uh, in order for Kentucky to
be the best version of themselves, the first thing that
has to happen is the minutes have to get kind
of calmed.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Down, so you know kind of what you can count
on from game together.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
You know who, yes, you know who's gonna be and
more importantly, the.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Players know Mark, Thank you bunch. Hopefully we'll see on
a Kentucky game the rest of the way and if not,
see down in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
All right, thanks Tom, I'll talk of.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Basketball with Mark. Always would connect with him when the
Cats played the Gators, and don't see him as much
now because he didn't get as many Kentucky games, but
hopefully he will soon. It's again at MW hoops. Great
follow if you love basketball, just deep dive analysis. It
is the Leech Report coming to here from the Clarks
(16:19):
Pumping Shop studio. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's. We'll
be right back. It's the Late Report, presented by Bob
Kat enterprises Jeff Drummond joints us from On three Sports
and Cats Illustrated dot Com. Jeff, you have a story
up at the site about the decision to shut it
(16:41):
down for Jalen Low for shoulder surgery. So where did
the Cats turn next? Denzel Aberdeen, one would think, moves
back into the starting lineup. But what else do they
do to make up for missing Jalen Low?
Speaker 3 (16:56):
You know, Tom, it may have to be a little
bit of a committee situation the way it sounds, but
the most intriguing part of that whole situation for me
is kind of the emergence of Jasper Johnson, or re
emergence perhaps after not getting a lot of playing time
in some recent games, especially against the high major teams.
(17:18):
It looks like Mark Bolt may be starting to turn
a little more towards Jasper and kind of turning loose
some of that raw tablet.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Yeah, one would think Jasper probably gets a little more
leeway to play through mistakes.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Yes, definitely, that's something to keep an eye on, because
you know, when you had Low out there or some
other guys, it seemed like the leash was a little
bit shorter for Jasper when you would have some of
those common mistakes for a freshman. But interesting to see
now that you know he's going to get a little
(17:56):
bit more extended playtime.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
More with Jeff Drubbin will be come right back. It's
the Lead Triport. It is the Lead Triport coming to
you from the Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return, Refresh and
refuel at Clark's. We're in Baton Rouge where the Cats
take on LSU to Dight. First game moving forward in
which they know they did not have Jalen Lowe. We're
talking about that more with Jeff dropping from on three
(18:19):
Sports and Cats Illustrated and as you were saying, it
would seem a great opportunity for Jasper Johnson here, Jeff,
what's he needed to do to improve on to take
advantage of this opportunity.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
I think the biggest thing with Jasper right now engaging
this from Mark Pope's comments, is to be a little
bit more decisive and not to be thinking as much,
but just to get the ball and go downhill when
he has that opportunity.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
I think he wants him playing faster.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
Jasper has that tendency, like a lot of young players
do coming out of the the AAU ranks, to kind
of play with the ball a little bit too much,
you know, a little bit of that shaking bait when
he has the ball in his hands, and he would
like to see him I believe in attack mode and
getting that first decisive step on opponents, which is something
(19:17):
that Jalen Lowe was so good at getting downhill and
being able to get to the rim or kick it
out for teammates.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Remember one conversation Pope d with the media last year
and talked about I think he used the Spurs as
the example at the NBA level about having, you know,
just making a decision and basically a second and a
half when the ball's moving. The ball, to use the
phrase coaches like to use a lot was sticking until
(19:47):
the last game. That was what was noticeably different. It
was a little better in Missouri. There was one possession
in the Missouri game where they got the ball to
the corner off a low drive and whipped it around
a way for an open three in the corner. What
he made. But there was a lot more of that
in the Mississippi State game. What did you see from
your vantage point high above the action there at Roparita.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Well that I think that was really encouraging to see
in the Mississippi State game, and not just with a
guy like Jasper who looked more comfortable, but benzdel Aberdeen,
who was brought in here, you know, to be that
second point guard and has kind of struggled at times
fitting into that role. He's more of a combo type
(20:32):
guy who his role was a little bit different with Florida,
But I think we started seeing some signs of him
being more decisive too and getting the ball to teammates
quicker for open looks and been in a half court
set or in transition. So that was a big positive.
And you saw Malacott moreno, you know, the passing potential
(20:56):
that he has has stood out in some of these games.
Think you're starting to see some of the things that
Amari Williams did show up with Marino, although coming from
a little bit of a different spot on the floor
than we saw with Williams out at the top of
the key abot with Aberdeen.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
He certainly is not a typical or classic point guard.
But I like you, I thought he looked much more
comfortable in the Mississippi State game than he had been before.
It seemed like a lot of times before he was
always coming off handoff or getting into the lane and
(21:39):
looking first and foremost to score. And I thought the
other night he maneuvered around the defense and would get
into the lane and play to both feet instead of
going off one foot and making an attempt to shoot it,
and he was looking to either get a shot if
(22:01):
it's open, or kick it out if it if he
didn't have the best opportunity to score. Consequently, he scored better,
and he also had four assists.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
It's funny how that works, and mar Pope had a
quote to that extent. I think when you're playing that way,
things just tend to happen good for you. And in
a similar fashion with Otega, oh way, we're starting to
see a string of twenty plus point performances when his
(22:31):
focus has been on the defensive end before, and that
turns into you know, two or three runouts a game
all of a sudden, you know, a guy that was
averaging fourteen or fifteen is up there above twenty.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Otega's starting to remind me a little bit of PJ.
Washington's final season at UK in that he got off
to a slow start. I can't remember if he had
any injury issues or not like Otega did coming into
the season, but he had a bit of a slow
start when big things were expected. He got crushed early
in that game in the Champions Classic by Duke, and
(23:04):
yet by the end of the year you could make
a case that the PJ was the player of the
year in college basketball. Unfortunately, had to deal with some
injury issues at that point. But that looks kind of
like the path Otega is on his five games with
twenty or more out of the last seven.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
Yes, you're starting to see signs of that preseason SEC
player of the Year projection that he had, And you've
got to wonder a little bit if that didn't weigh
on him a little bit early on the expectations. He
was kind of a guy that could fit in last
season with a lot of other talented guys around him,
(23:42):
and his natural ability kind of led to him being
the main scoring weapon. But now when that was expected
of him coming into the season, it seemed like it
came a little bit harder. But now it seems like
he's getting more comfortable. I said, defensively, that's where he
really has a chance to change games on that end
(24:03):
of the flour. And I believe he's got something like
sixteen steel in his last five games, and he's had
five and four in the last two. So if he
keeps doing that, it's really going to change Kentucky's trajectory.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
You know, your point about getting comfortable in that different
role is noteworthy too, and also maybe not even just
getting comfortable in the role, but just you know, you're
getting closer to you went through the NBA process. Now
you're back, but you want to be back in the
NBA next year, you want to improve your draft stock,
all those things that players are probably thinking about or
(24:42):
the people around them are thinking about, and he ken,
I'm sure way on a player. And I think we
saw some of that with Jackson Robinson maybe last season
and he was slow out of the gate, and then
it was actually around this time of year he went
down to Mississippi State and had his breakout game and
then I think was playing at a level where he
(25:03):
could have been all SEC until he got hurt. And
it was interesting. I talked about that with Coach Pope
in our pregame right at the end of it last Saturday,
and if I have time, I'll play some of his answer,
but it was really good just talking about how Jackson
just and and I think there were quotes at the
time from Jackson you may remember him where he talked about,
(25:24):
you know, he was thinking about the future and you know,
shot stats, whatever, and he just decided to play in
the moment and just play basketball. And it was really
cool to watch. So maybe we're seeing that with Otega.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Yeah, And you can see it with those guys sometimes
where it looks like there's that literal weight on their
shoulders instead of the figures that we used to talk about,
and it slows down their natural instincts and athleticism. Maybe
when they're thinking about that and pressing, maybe Otega can
just go out and play now and do his natural thing.
(26:00):
And the Cats need it now more than any time,
because I think I was looking at the Kim Palm
rankings here recently and he has them projected to be
I think in a one possession game eight times in
the league games remaining, including this one against LSU. So
(26:23):
if Otaga is going to be at his best, Kentucky
has a lot better shot, you know, to flip some
of those Coast games in their direction.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
That's Jeff Drubbon on three Sportscats Illustrated dot Com. That's
where you can read them. Thank you, Jeff, all right,
Thanks tom oh Jeff, what quick question? Yay or day
on the Mike Tomlin decision. You're a Steelers fan, I was.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
I was sad to hear about it. I'm a mic
oh my guy, but I think it was probably time
for both him.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
And the organization. That's Jeff Drubbon. And this is the
Leads Report presented by Bob Kat Enterprises. Lakes Report presented
by Bobcat Enterprises. They have four locations in Kentucky. Google
Bobcat when you need to buy or rent heavy equipment
or you need to do zero turn more for your
home blow and they will have it at Bobcat Enterprises.
As we welcome Kendrick Cascuts get into the program from
(27:17):
Wait three Sports. This was otega Oway last Saturday night.
Kendery talking about Malachi Marino right after the Kentucky win
over Mississippi State.
Speaker 5 (27:26):
Yeah, he not a typical freshman. I feel like he's
super mature, but mentally in his game, he doesn't get
too high, he doesn't get low. He's gonna bring the
same energy every single time, no matter for up twelve
or down twelve. And when he's like when the freshman
does that when you're an older guy, just makes you
want to continue to follow that and you probably even
up that tempo on that intensity. So Malcock is super good.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Great fresh So after he led Great Crossing to the
state championship, Kendrick, did you think Malachi Marino had this
kind of game in him as a first year player.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
I didn't a knock on him because you just don't know,
because when when they're that big in high school, and
you know they're not playing against composition that's there same size,
so you just can't tell. And so I didn't expect
him to be as good as he is, but I'm
pleasantly surprised to see how well he's playing since he
(28:19):
since he got to the UK, because he's played really well.
I've been impressed with him all season long.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
And you know, for a big guy, a lot of
times you look at a stat box. One of the
things I'll look at and preparing for a game is
what's the assistant turnovers? Anybody really good with their ratio
or And usually and a lot of times it's the
big guys. You'll find one or two guys that are,
you know, in a really negative position from the start.
This year he has had significantly more assists than turnovers.
(28:50):
Pope said when he first recruited him, it was the
passing ability that caught his eye. He seems to be
a really intense competitor. And you wonder how much consistent
scoring they can count on him from because they've got
to find that now without.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
Low Right, and you almost wonder if you can run
the offense through him at this point because coming in
like you didn't expect to be at this point with
him regardless of what happened, because, like I said, we
didn't we didn't know how good he was because it's
rare that you see a seven footer in high school,
so you don't know how good they are because most
(29:26):
kids they're playing against the tallest kid maybe six five.
But he's playing really well and you can run. He's
super smart. He has a basketball IQ it's far far
higher than be getting for most kids at his size
and his age, and so yeah, you may want to
explore maybe running the offense through him a little bit
(29:48):
because he has he has a good eye for who's
open and running the offense, So it may be a
good idea. Not maybe not every possession, but to come
down and maybe run the offense through him may not
be a bad idea.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Can tack. You had four players in double figures in
the Mississippi State game. I think it's just the third
time that had happened this season, certainly against the best
quality of competition, and without Low that's some significant number
of number of baskets they have to find a way
to replace. Do you think how do you think they
(30:23):
go about doing that?
Speaker 4 (30:26):
I think everybody has to have a past first mentality
except for maybe Oh Way, because the Old Way can
get to the rim. But the rest of them, I
think they they need to develop somebody who can have
a drive and kick personality, who when they get to
the rim, they can look at look around and maybe
see the floor a little bit better. Because Jalen Lowe
(30:49):
is really good at that, and so now without him,
someone has to take up that mantle, who can get
to the lane and find the open player. And I'm
finally Old Way going to always to rim and scoring,
but maybe not. Everyone else needs to have a score
first mentality, And so who's gonna have that mentality if
(31:12):
I'm gonna get to the lane and kick and find
the open guy because Jalen Lowe was really good at that,
and no one else has really shown that they can
really do that.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Jasper Johnson, to me, is a guy that could give
you some of that he Pope said. The scoring ability
was the first thing that caught his eye with with Jasper.
He's a good three point shooter, Pope said the other night.
He's their most gifted passer, but he didn't have a
whole lot of assists in the best games the best
competition that they faced. So if he could get better
(31:42):
at making plays for his teammates while also scoring, become
a little better defender. And you know, if you're a
fantasy said, well, why wasn't he already playing and why
are you you know, waiting to now to push this? Well,
you had it and Jayalen Lowe, so you didn't have
to to hope you could get it from the freshman.
You already had it in Jalen, so you'd ride that
horse for a while. But now you don't have that.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Yeah, and I think the Africans maybe step into that
role maybe a little bit. I don't think he's quite
the ball handler that Jalen was, but I do think
he can be a playmaker. Maybe not as good of
an assist guy, but I think he could go in
there and he can make things happen, getting to the rim,
making it the defense collapse, and he may end up
(32:26):
being that we just haven't seen it yet. I think,
what more playing time and seeing what he can do,
I think Jasher may be able to step into that role.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Low was so good with the ball in his hands,
just changing speeds and directions and yeah, you're not going
to replace that. I did think Aberdeen played better as
a point guard rather than just a guard in the
game last Saturday. What about what do you see for
him moving forward?
Speaker 4 (32:53):
If we could get him to not think shoot every time,
if sometimes he shoots and it's like, okay, that SHOT's
not open, I think he needs to realize what's a
good shot and what's not a good shot, because sometimes
he just takes shots and I'm like, what did you
see there? So if we can get him out of
a shoot perst mentality and maybe maybe we can have
(33:17):
something there. But I think if Jasper can step into
that role and maybe take that take that aspect out
of Aberdeen, where Aberdeen is more of a two guard
more than a point guard and a playmaker, maybe we'll
have something there. But yeah, sometimes Aberdeen he gets the
ball and it's like Okay, I'm gonna shoot, and then
like it throws off the rest of the offense.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Well, that that's to me what I think you're you're
right about that. It's what I liked about what I
saw the Mississippi State game is that he played with
the coaches say off two feet a lot more often.
If you're doing that, if you get into the lane
and come to that jump stop, then that tells me
you're making a decision at that point. If you're going
in off one foot, you've already made the decision. Right.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
Yeah, he's made or even got the ball. So maybe
maybe we can have him of a mentality where we're
gonna be a playmaker rather than a scorer, especially his
size because at his side it's hard to be a
scorer all the time because at his side the defense
is going to collapse and he can't necessarily see everything.
(34:17):
So if he can get that out of his mind
where I'm going to score every time and maybe not
shooting an airball everything, then when we get realized.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Something there that's a step of the right direction. Give
me what will Stein is doing with the transfer portal in.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Football, it's fun. It's it's fun to see this time
of year because hope springs are turn on, especially before
the season starts. And so he's out there and he's
killing it. I knew he would because he's one of
those guys that he makes you laugh and he talks
to him and so he's he's gonna relate to the
because he's to the younger player because he's not. He's
(34:57):
not that far removed from the game himself, and so
I think he's killing it. He's going to do a
great job, and I think he's going to be a
good hire at Kentucky. And I can see why guys
want to play for him because he has a personality
that's super engaging, and so guys are gonna well played
with me, and guys are going to be able to
relate to him.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
That is Kender Kaskins. Thank you, sir, Nic.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
Touch to you soon.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Kener Kaskas joining us here on the Leach Report from
Way three Sports. It is five away from the top
of the hour. Lead's report coming to you from the
Clark's Pumping Shop studio. Return, Refresh, Refuel, We'll be right back.
Stay in wild Cat History. Two thousand and three Kentucky
wins at Vandy seventy four fifty two. It was a
(35:42):
bit of a strange game. Kentucky struggled in the first half,
had been struggling for a few weeks, came out in
the second half, looked like a completely different team. Defensively
suffocated Vanderbilt and would win twenty five more in a
row before falling in the Elite eighth of the NCAA
Tournament after Keith Ogan's got injured. So I was SATA
(36:03):
fans sometimes when they get frustrated their teams, it can
be late, but it can be a long way from
too late. That was a season that turned on the
fourteenth of January, and it's happened even later than that
for Kentucky teams. Happy birthdays to Terry Wilson, quarterback that
led the Cats to a ten win season, Mike Scott, Chagari,
Lean Bost celebrating birthdays, and yesterday was assistant coach Mark
(36:25):
Fox's birthday, so a belated happy birthday to him. Tubby
Smith daved the twenty sixth Natesmith Outstanding Contributor to Men's
Basketball Award winner. He will be honored at the Final four.
You'd be hard pressed to find anybody more deserving than
Tubby Smith. In fact that I don't think there's anybody,
So congrats to Tubby UK Baseball number eighteen in the
preseason D one Baseball Poll. We'll see it tomorrow on
(36:48):
the League Report.
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