April 26, 2024 • 18 mins
Fresh off a regular-season and tournament title in the SEC, freshman Eli Stephenson stops in to discuss his 15-1 debut campaign and the team's success in 2024. We also get you ready with a quick look ahead to Baseball's weekend at South Carolina, and the final home weekend of the regular season for Softball.
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(00:15):
Happy Friday, Big Blue Nation,and welcome inside the latest edition of the
UK Sports Network Today Podcast, presentedby The Big Blue Brew. Fresh off
of their SEC regular season and tournamenttitle. Very pleased to have a guest
from UK men's tennis Eli Stevenson.An outstanding freshman campaign fifteen to one in
(00:36):
his singles matches this year as afreshman out of Louisville, which is simply
incredible at such a young stage ofhis career to have as big of an
impact as he did on a verygood season so far. That will continue
and we'll get into that and morewith him a little bit later on in
the show. We'll also take alook ahead at some big weekends for baseball
and softball. Baseball going to SouthCarolina softball well coming in the Gamecocks softball
(01:02):
program for Senior Weekend, highlighted bySenior Day on Saturday, a game in
which the UK Sports Network will havelive across the network. Very much looking
forward to that as always. TheUK Sports Network Today Podcast is presented by
the Big Blue Brew. It's theofficial newsletter of UK Athletics. You can
sign up today at UK Athletics dotcom slash Big Blue Brew. It's completely
(01:25):
free and it hits inboxes every weekdaymorning. Once again, that's UK Athletics
dot Com slash Big Blue Brew fifteento one in his freshman campaign, just
named to the All SEC Freshman Team, no surprise with a record like that.
He was also very good in doublesas well. It's Eli Stevenson and
(01:46):
he's our guest this week. FreshmanEli Stevenson kind of enough to stop by
the UK Sports Network Today podcast,fresh off of winning the SEC Tournament in
men's tennis. Eli, I gottafeel like the mood is pretty good around
the team right now, coming offnot just the regular season title, but
now the tournament title as well.Yeah, I mean everyone's super stoked about
(02:07):
to win. But our job's notfinished yet. We have NCAA is coming
up, so this lacks. Thisnext week or two is just going to
be about training for that. Youwere fifteen and one in your freakman season,
which is pretty incredible given the competitionthat you guys face. Did you
really feel like you were going tohave that big of an impact when you
got on campus at such an earlystage in your career, you know,
(02:30):
to say, like I expected togo fifteen and one to start the year,
I'd be lying, but I hada few really good a few months
leading up to college, and myfirst few months in college, I was
training really well. I was practicingreally well, So I always knew I
was going to make an impact.I just didn't know that the season was
(02:51):
going to start off so well forme. But I'm just grateful that I'm
back on the court playing. Youmentioned your role as well fifteen and one,
but you go up and down thisroster. There's so many talented players,
not just in singles, but doublesas well. How hard is it
to gel as a team Because I'veread so many things about how you guys
just genuinely care for each other.It's kind of an individual sport, So
(03:12):
how difficult is it to kind ofmaintain that team atmosphere. Yeah, I
think it's like you said, Imean, all our guys get along so
great, and I think we can't. We couldn't be more happy for the
person who's succeeding. I know personallyfor me, I was beyond happy for
Jack, who clinch the SEC regularseason for us. And I think the
people that aren't necessarily playing, Ithink they're doing a great job helping us
(03:38):
while we're playing, and I thinkoverall our teams just that it just is
a true testament to how close weare as a team. Obviously, the
goal going into the year, I'msure, was to win the SEC something
historically Kentucky hasn't had a lot ofsuccess in the on the men's tennis side.
Just the third championship. It's thesecond time though, you guys have
done the regular season and tournament titlefor since nineteen ninety two, So I
(04:01):
think it's safe to say you weren'tweren't even born yet the last time,
the last time that happened. Whenwas that goal talked about? Was that
something that came up early on?So I think from like the moment I
stepped on campus, I think thegoal was obviously to win as mini matches
as possible. But we had apretty under the radar team this year.
(04:23):
I feel like, I mean,we lost a few of our upper classmen.
I know we had a lot ofpeople downing us this year, and
honestly that just made us one towork even harder and it made us one
to achieve these goals that no onethought was possible. But I know in
our locker room. Are both ourcoaches and staff and especially our players knew
from day one that we could accomplishwhatever we wanted to. It seems like
(04:46):
that focus was just internal, notreally looking outside of the locker room.
So I think I know the nextquestion the answer to the next question.
But you guys steadily climbed in thepolls all year. You ended the regular
season number four, which i've givesyou a really good chance at hosting.
We'll get into that a little bitlater, but is that something you pay
any attention to at all? Thoseoutside rankings? So I mean a little
(05:09):
bit we I mean our coaches paymore attention to it than the players to
Our coaches have basically been telling us, and we've been doing such a great
job of just taking it one matchat a time. We're not really focused
on like the seedings. Obviously beingseated high and being able to host as
great, but we're just focused onone match at the time, and whoever
(05:29):
we play, our goal is tojust get through that match and then look
forward to the next week. Isaw the celebration there in Baton Rouge.
It seems like you guys had apretty good time at least in the immediate
aftermath of clinching that title. Talkus through what was that like celebrating that
that final end goal with your teammates. Yeah, it's special. I mean,
it's something I'll remember for the restof my life. The racket throw
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might have been a little unnecessary,but I was so excited and I was
just so happy to be able toshare that moment with my team. It's
because we've worked so hard to getto this moment and to be where we're
at. Did you hear a lotabout the racket throw or was was that
something that I mean, I got, I got a little craft for it,
But no, it was just anin the moment type of thing,
(06:18):
and I mean it is what itis at the end of the day.
No, I loved the emotion itwas. It was pretty cool to see
you have a little bit of It'sweird because you guys have had such a
busy schedule all season long, butnow you have a little bit of a
layoff the selection Sunday or selection Monday. Excuse me, next week? What's
(06:39):
the in between period? Like,while you guys are kind of in limbo
of who you play and you havea pretty good idea you're gonna host.
But what's going on right now withthe team? Right now, I mean
with the team, it's just backto work. I mean we've been straight
back to practice, back to playingsets, back to getting physical on the
core, back to the weight room, back to working with for our trainers,
(07:00):
making sure we're one hundred percent healthy. So nothing's changed. I mean,
if anything, we're working even harderright now to prepare for the end
of the season. You're freshmen.We talked about the impact that you had.
Was there anybody that kind of tookyou under their wings, so to
speak, to kind of acclimate youin the SEC Tennis is one of those
things though, where you were playinghigh level matches already, so it was
(07:20):
really nothing new to you. Ithink you got to look at all our
captains and up your classmen here.I think you give a big shout out
to tit san Man, JJ Mercer, Talha Body, Josh Labadat. Those
four seniors had been huge for notonly me, but I know the other
two freshmen. They've kind of takenus under their wing, told us to
(07:43):
what to expect in matches and especiallyaway matches when we might not be in
the best circumstances, but they've beena huge impact for everyone on the team.
I saw your ranked in the TennisFederation, which I think is pretty
cool. Is that something that thatyou expected at such a such a young
(08:03):
age. No, I mean,I mean I think it's it's been a
goal. I think it's been agoal and I'm happy to achieve that.
But it's not something unnecessarily expected,but it's something that I'm grateful for and
something I've definitely worked for. Anyplans for for the selection on Monday,
(08:24):
and I know again you guys prettymuch it's not it's really just the who
right. You're pretty much guaranteed tohost the first and second round, so
it's more about just watching for thatopponent. So, I mean, I
think we're gonna I'm not one hundredpercent sure, but I think we're all
gonna get together like we always do, get some cater some food, just
hang out, play a few games, and then watch the selection show and
(08:46):
see what happens from there. You'rea Louisville guy, and I did read
somewhere that you know, going throughyour recruitment, you had certainly a lot
of options on on where to playyour collegiate tennis. You were pretty set
on going away and kind of gettingthat away from home experience. I know
it's about sixty five miles or sofrom Louisville, But what made you stay
(09:07):
in state? I think initially Iwanted to get away, get away,
but I think as the process tocommit to a college got further, I
realized it didn't really matter. Irealized that actually, Kentucky's my home.
I didn't really want to get away. I love setting that two great coaches,
(09:28):
and honestly, just being surrounded bythe team on weekends, watching them
play. The atmosphere was something thatI just couldn't get away from. What's
it like to that, you know, your parents are so close, your
family, your friends from high school. It's got to be pretty neat to
be able to play in front ofthem, maybe a bit more regularly than
you would have if you would havewent maybe stay out West or something like
that. Yeah, it's special forsure, getting to see my parents most
(09:52):
weekends, geting to see a fewof my friends. Like you said,
it's a special moment and I've beengrateful that they've been in there to see
the team succeed. More than anythinginto overall, just seeing how much we've
grown and how much I've grown personallyover just the year that I've been gone
so far. I know, asa team, you guys play obviously in
(10:13):
the spring, but you're it's notlike you put down the racket and you
don't do anything for eight months.So what's what's the schedule like for you
in the off season? Quote unquote, Yeah, in the off season or
the summertime. I know we mostof our guys, if not all our
guys, would be playing pro tournaments, including myself. I mean, I'm
looking at tournaments right now to play, but there's definitely not really an off
(10:37):
season for us. I know thatmost of the guys are going to go
back home training and then it's straightto tournaments and just straight back to the
grind for all of us. Imentioned to somebody that that that we were
going to highlight tennis on our nextepisode, and the somebody asked me in
it's an answer or a question thatI didn't know how to answer. But
your double's partner, how does howdo how do those get paired within the
(10:58):
team is something that happens really earlyon and what's the process behind that?
So I think for doubles payings,I think it's mostly connection. I think
it's mostly how you get along withthe person, and it's mostly how you
how you guys chemistry is together.I think when you look at our doubles
teams, you're looking at the numberfour doubles team in the country with Josh
(11:18):
and JJ. They're best friends oftenon the court. So I mean it's
great testament to the success they've hadthis season. Taha and Jack. I
mean, they get along great,they're having such great success and they're just
loving every moment on the court together. And I think when you look at
me and Jayden, it's the sameway we connected from day one. It's
(11:41):
like a brother to me, andwe're best friends on and off the court.
So is that something you cheer alittle extra for? I know you
said everybody's friends and everybody's cheering forindividual success. When you watch him play,
place play singles, as are yougiving each other kind of pointers and
especially since you're so familiar with eachother's games through double Yeah, you know,
I mean, I think, ofcourse I'm happy to see him succeed.
(12:05):
I couldn't be happy. I'm I'mas big as fan, but I
mean it goes for everyone. Likewhoever wins on the court, I couldn't
be happy for them even if theylose. I'm the first person, or
everybody on our team is the firstperson to go over there, pick their
head up and just tell them they'llget it next time. Last question for
you, Elia that you know,the tournament really lining up nicely for you.
(12:26):
Guys at least would get a coupleof matches at home in the first
and second round, one would think, and a really good chance to advance.
So what's your mindset going into theultimate postseason goal. I think our
mindset is just to be grateful forthe experience and just to enjoy it more
than anything. Our captains, likewe were talking about earlier, Josh and
(12:48):
them, Taha and Tatum be andjust telling us to enjoy the experience more
than anything, especially for the SECSand NCAA, is you never know when
it's going to be your last,and for them it is their last.
So we're just enjoying the experience everypractice, every training session, every lift,
and we're just going to carry inall that hard work over into the
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NCAAs. Like we said, notofficial, but one would think still some
opportunities for Big Blue Nation to comeout and support men's tennis. That'll be
the weekend of May third and Mayfourth. We'll know for sure exactly the
who and the when on Monday,So Eli, thank you so much for
your time. We look forward tochecking back in with you guys throughout your
postseason experience and hopefully it's a longone awesome. Thank you so much for
(13:31):
having me. Big congrats as wellthe UK men's tennis coach Cedric Kaufman.
He was named the SEC Coach ofthe Year, first time that he has
won that accolade, and a numberof tennis players are featured in that postseason
squad as well. No surprise,of course, twenty four and two.
Kaufman and the Cats were this yeartwelve and zero in SEC play and winners
(13:54):
of the SEC Tournament. As wementioned in the interview with ELI, very
very likely that they will host thefirst and second round in the NCAA tournament.
We will know for sure on Monday, and when we do, we
will pass that information along to you. Kentucky baseball checking in at number four
in the poll after an exciting serieswith Tennessee last weekend, and which record
(14:16):
crowd of over twenty one thousand camethrough the gates of Kentucky Proud Park against
our rival Tennessee and a fellow topfive team three tight games. Tennessee was
able to take two out of three, but could have easily been the other
way around for the Cats and theywill be looking for more quality wins this
weekend, heading to Columbia to takeon a very good South Carolina Gamecock team,
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and they check in at number nineteenin the poll this week. It'll
all get started later on tonight thisFriday at seven o'clock. Pregame coverage with
my man Darren Hedrick will be atsix forty five, and then night Baseball
on Saturday six o'clock Eastern Time starts. That's a five to forty five pregame
across the UK Sports Network. Bea little nice double header for you on
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Saturday because we will have softball againstSouth Carolina from John Crop Stadium for Senior
Day beginning at two o'clock. Butmore on that in a moment. That
game on Saturday, by the way, for baseball, six o'clock start an
SEC Network game, as is thefinale on Sunday that on SEC Network,
although it is afternoon baseball three o'clockstart time, so two forty five pm
(15:22):
airtime across the UK Sports Network withDarren. So feel free to a mute
that television feed on Saturday and Sundayand listen along to a UK feel with
the voice of the Batcats, DarrenHedrick. And so this road trip for
Kentucky and then it's back home foranother huge mega series a team that very
well could be number one in thecountry when they come to town next weekend,
(15:43):
and that is the Arkansas Razorbacks.But we will worry about that next
week. Right now, the highlightis South Carolina for both baseball and softball,
who also opens up a three gameseries on Friday. Hard to believe,
but it is the penultimate series forsoftball at least in the regular season.
And again it all starts on thisFriday, six thirty start from John
(16:06):
Crops Stadium. Make sure you getyour tickets and hope to see you out
there for a fun three game setSenior Weekend and the only game under the
lights is tonight at six thirty andthen on Saturday, Senior Day festivities will
be celebrated at last check of theforecast. Full disclosure. I am not
a meteorologist, but the last timeI looked, it was supposed to be
in the mid eighties and sunny onSaturday. So really good weekend, good
(16:30):
weather all weekend, but especially Saturdayand Sunday, so I hope to see
you out for Senior Day. That'llbe a two o'clock first pitch on Saturday.
We'll have airtime coverage right around thereacross the UK Sports Network. If
you can't make it out or ifyou'd just like to tune in while you're
in the ballpark, we'd certainly loveto have you. And then the series
finale and the home finale at leastin the regular season at John Crops Stadium
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is on Sunday. It'll be aone o'clock start. The UK Softball Camp
reunion as well, so a reallyfun weekend. You got the Jury z
shirt giveaway by the way, onSaturday during Senior Day as well, So
lots of stuff going on at JohnCrop Stadium, Star times of six point
thirty on Friday, two o'clock onSaturday with UK Sports Network coverage and then
on Sunday as well at one o'clockand then that final series of the regular
(17:17):
season for the Cats will be Thursdaythrough Saturday of next week in Knoxville,
so a quick road trip for theCats and an easy one to make if
you're feeling daring. There next weekendat Tennessee and that's off to the SEC
Softball Tournament in Auburn, Alabama,beginning on Tuesday, May the seventh.
Hard to believe we're already talking aboutpostseason play for softball. Very soon we'll
(17:38):
be talking about postseason play for baseballas well. These seasons go by fast,
and as the calendar getting ready toflip to the month of May,
boy it's no surprise, but nonethelessstill a bit of a shock on the
sticker when you see it. Bigthanks to Greg Welsh, the outstanding communications
contact for men's Tennis, for helpingus coordinate the interview, and of course
a huge thanks to Eli Stevenson fora taking time out of his busy schedule.
(18:03):
Remember selection show on Monday for theCats to see who they will be
playing in the first round of theNCAA tournament. More than likely those matches
will be taking place in Lexington aswell, and as always, a big
thanks to Curtis and Michelle at theUK Sports Network for helping make this show
possible and a big thanks to youfor tuning in. So until the next
edition of the UK Sports Network Todaypodcast, I'm andre Cappus saying thanks for listening.
Happy Friday, Big Blue Nation,and welcome inside the latest edition of the
UK Sports Network Today Podcast, presentedby The Big Blue Brew. Fresh off
of their SEC regular season and tournamenttitle. Very pleased to have a guest
from UK men's tennis Eli Stevenson.An outstanding freshman campaign fifteen to one in
(00:36):
his singles matches this year as afreshman out of Louisville, which is simply
incredible at such a young stage ofhis career to have as big of an
impact as he did on a verygood season so far. That will continue
and we'll get into that and morewith him a little bit later on in
the show. We'll also take alook ahead at some big weekends for baseball
and softball. Baseball going to SouthCarolina softball well coming in the Gamecocks softball
(01:02):
program for Senior Weekend, highlighted bySenior Day on Saturday, a game in
which the UK Sports Network will havelive across the network. Very much looking
forward to that as always. TheUK Sports Network Today Podcast is presented by
the Big Blue Brew. It's theofficial newsletter of UK Athletics. You can
sign up today at UK Athletics dotcom slash Big Blue Brew. It's completely
(01:25):
free and it hits inboxes every weekdaymorning. Once again, that's UK Athletics
dot Com slash Big Blue Brew fifteento one in his freshman campaign, just
named to the All SEC Freshman Team, no surprise with a record like that.
He was also very good in doublesas well. It's Eli Stevenson and
(01:46):
he's our guest this week. FreshmanEli Stevenson kind of enough to stop by
the UK Sports Network Today podcast,fresh off of winning the SEC Tournament in
men's tennis. Eli, I gottafeel like the mood is pretty good around
the team right now, coming offnot just the regular season title, but
now the tournament title as well.Yeah, I mean everyone's super stoked about
(02:07):
to win. But our job's notfinished yet. We have NCAA is coming
up, so this lacks. Thisnext week or two is just going to
be about training for that. Youwere fifteen and one in your freakman season,
which is pretty incredible given the competitionthat you guys face. Did you
really feel like you were going tohave that big of an impact when you
got on campus at such an earlystage in your career, you know,
(02:30):
to say, like I expected togo fifteen and one to start the year,
I'd be lying, but I hada few really good a few months
leading up to college, and myfirst few months in college, I was
training really well. I was practicingreally well, So I always knew I
was going to make an impact.I just didn't know that the season was
(02:51):
going to start off so well forme. But I'm just grateful that I'm
back on the court playing. Youmentioned your role as well fifteen and one,
but you go up and down thisroster. There's so many talented players,
not just in singles, but doublesas well. How hard is it
to gel as a team Because I'veread so many things about how you guys
just genuinely care for each other.It's kind of an individual sport, So
(03:12):
how difficult is it to kind ofmaintain that team atmosphere. Yeah, I
think it's like you said, Imean, all our guys get along so
great, and I think we can't. We couldn't be more happy for the
person who's succeeding. I know personallyfor me, I was beyond happy for
Jack, who clinch the SEC regularseason for us. And I think the
people that aren't necessarily playing, Ithink they're doing a great job helping us
(03:38):
while we're playing, and I thinkoverall our teams just that it just is
a true testament to how close weare as a team. Obviously, the
goal going into the year, I'msure, was to win the SEC something
historically Kentucky hasn't had a lot ofsuccess in the on the men's tennis side.
Just the third championship. It's thesecond time though, you guys have
done the regular season and tournament titlefor since nineteen ninety two, So I
(04:01):
think it's safe to say you weren'tweren't even born yet the last time,
the last time that happened. Whenwas that goal talked about? Was that
something that came up early on?So I think from like the moment I
stepped on campus, I think thegoal was obviously to win as mini matches
as possible. But we had apretty under the radar team this year.
(04:23):
I feel like, I mean,we lost a few of our upper classmen.
I know we had a lot ofpeople downing us this year, and
honestly that just made us one towork even harder and it made us one
to achieve these goals that no onethought was possible. But I know in
our locker room. Are both ourcoaches and staff and especially our players knew
from day one that we could accomplishwhatever we wanted to. It seems like
(04:46):
that focus was just internal, notreally looking outside of the locker room.
So I think I know the nextquestion the answer to the next question.
But you guys steadily climbed in thepolls all year. You ended the regular
season number four, which i've givesyou a really good chance at hosting.
We'll get into that a little bitlater, but is that something you pay
any attention to at all? Thoseoutside rankings? So I mean a little
(05:09):
bit we I mean our coaches paymore attention to it than the players to
Our coaches have basically been telling us, and we've been doing such a great
job of just taking it one matchat a time. We're not really focused
on like the seedings. Obviously beingseated high and being able to host as
great, but we're just focused onone match at the time, and whoever
(05:29):
we play, our goal is tojust get through that match and then look
forward to the next week. Isaw the celebration there in Baton Rouge.
It seems like you guys had apretty good time at least in the immediate
aftermath of clinching that title. Talkus through what was that like celebrating that
that final end goal with your teammates. Yeah, it's special. I mean,
it's something I'll remember for the restof my life. The racket throw
(05:55):
might have been a little unnecessary,but I was so excited and I was
just so happy to be able toshare that moment with my team. It's
because we've worked so hard to getto this moment and to be where we're
at. Did you hear a lotabout the racket throw or was was that
something that I mean, I got, I got a little craft for it,
But no, it was just anin the moment type of thing,
(06:18):
and I mean it is what itis at the end of the day.
No, I loved the emotion itwas. It was pretty cool to see
you have a little bit of It'sweird because you guys have had such a
busy schedule all season long, butnow you have a little bit of a
layoff the selection Sunday or selection Monday. Excuse me, next week? What's
(06:39):
the in between period? Like,while you guys are kind of in limbo
of who you play and you havea pretty good idea you're gonna host.
But what's going on right now withthe team? Right now, I mean
with the team, it's just backto work. I mean we've been straight
back to practice, back to playingsets, back to getting physical on the
core, back to the weight room, back to working with for our trainers,
(07:00):
making sure we're one hundred percent healthy. So nothing's changed. I mean,
if anything, we're working even harderright now to prepare for the end
of the season. You're freshmen.We talked about the impact that you had.
Was there anybody that kind of tookyou under their wings, so to
speak, to kind of acclimate youin the SEC Tennis is one of those
things though, where you were playinghigh level matches already, so it was
(07:20):
really nothing new to you. Ithink you got to look at all our
captains and up your classmen here.I think you give a big shout out
to tit san Man, JJ Mercer, Talha Body, Josh Labadat. Those
four seniors had been huge for notonly me, but I know the other
two freshmen. They've kind of takenus under their wing, told us to
(07:43):
what to expect in matches and especiallyaway matches when we might not be in
the best circumstances, but they've beena huge impact for everyone on the team.
I saw your ranked in the TennisFederation, which I think is pretty
cool. Is that something that thatyou expected at such a such a young
(08:03):
age. No, I mean,I mean I think it's it's been a
goal. I think it's been agoal and I'm happy to achieve that.
But it's not something unnecessarily expected,but it's something that I'm grateful for and
something I've definitely worked for. Anyplans for for the selection on Monday,
(08:24):
and I know again you guys prettymuch it's not it's really just the who
right. You're pretty much guaranteed tohost the first and second round, so
it's more about just watching for thatopponent. So, I mean, I
think we're gonna I'm not one hundredpercent sure, but I think we're all
gonna get together like we always do, get some cater some food, just
hang out, play a few games, and then watch the selection show and
(08:46):
see what happens from there. You'rea Louisville guy, and I did read
somewhere that you know, going throughyour recruitment, you had certainly a lot
of options on on where to playyour collegiate tennis. You were pretty set
on going away and kind of gettingthat away from home experience. I know
it's about sixty five miles or sofrom Louisville, But what made you stay
(09:07):
in state? I think initially Iwanted to get away, get away,
but I think as the process tocommit to a college got further, I
realized it didn't really matter. Irealized that actually, Kentucky's my home.
I didn't really want to get away. I love setting that two great coaches,
(09:28):
and honestly, just being surrounded bythe team on weekends, watching them
play. The atmosphere was something thatI just couldn't get away from. What's
it like to that, you know, your parents are so close, your
family, your friends from high school. It's got to be pretty neat to
be able to play in front ofthem, maybe a bit more regularly than
you would have if you would havewent maybe stay out West or something like
that. Yeah, it's special forsure, getting to see my parents most
(09:52):
weekends, geting to see a fewof my friends. Like you said,
it's a special moment and I've beengrateful that they've been in there to see
the team succeed. More than anythinginto overall, just seeing how much we've
grown and how much I've grown personallyover just the year that I've been gone
so far. I know, asa team, you guys play obviously in
(10:13):
the spring, but you're it's notlike you put down the racket and you
don't do anything for eight months.So what's what's the schedule like for you
in the off season? Quote unquote, Yeah, in the off season or
the summertime. I know we mostof our guys, if not all our
guys, would be playing pro tournaments, including myself. I mean, I'm
looking at tournaments right now to play, but there's definitely not really an off
(10:37):
season for us. I know thatmost of the guys are going to go
back home training and then it's straightto tournaments and just straight back to the
grind for all of us. Imentioned to somebody that that that we were
going to highlight tennis on our nextepisode, and the somebody asked me in
it's an answer or a question thatI didn't know how to answer. But
your double's partner, how does howdo how do those get paired within the
(10:58):
team is something that happens really earlyon and what's the process behind that?
So I think for doubles payings,I think it's mostly connection. I think
it's mostly how you get along withthe person, and it's mostly how you
how you guys chemistry is together.I think when you look at our doubles
teams, you're looking at the numberfour doubles team in the country with Josh
(11:18):
and JJ. They're best friends oftenon the court. So I mean it's
great testament to the success they've hadthis season. Taha and Jack. I
mean, they get along great,they're having such great success and they're just
loving every moment on the court together. And I think when you look at
me and Jayden, it's the sameway we connected from day one. It's
(11:41):
like a brother to me, andwe're best friends on and off the court.
So is that something you cheer alittle extra for? I know you
said everybody's friends and everybody's cheering forindividual success. When you watch him play,
place play singles, as are yougiving each other kind of pointers and
especially since you're so familiar with eachother's games through double Yeah, you know,
I mean, I think, ofcourse I'm happy to see him succeed.
(12:05):
I couldn't be happy. I'm I'mas big as fan, but I
mean it goes for everyone. Likewhoever wins on the court, I couldn't
be happy for them even if theylose. I'm the first person, or
everybody on our team is the firstperson to go over there, pick their
head up and just tell them they'llget it next time. Last question for
you, Elia that you know,the tournament really lining up nicely for you.
(12:26):
Guys at least would get a coupleof matches at home in the first
and second round, one would think, and a really good chance to advance.
So what's your mindset going into theultimate postseason goal. I think our
mindset is just to be grateful forthe experience and just to enjoy it more
than anything. Our captains, likewe were talking about earlier, Josh and
(12:48):
them, Taha and Tatum be andjust telling us to enjoy the experience more
than anything, especially for the SECSand NCAA, is you never know when
it's going to be your last,and for them it is their last.
So we're just enjoying the experience everypractice, every training session, every lift,
and we're just going to carry inall that hard work over into the
(13:09):
NCAAs. Like we said, notofficial, but one would think still some
opportunities for Big Blue Nation to comeout and support men's tennis. That'll be
the weekend of May third and Mayfourth. We'll know for sure exactly the
who and the when on Monday,So Eli, thank you so much for
your time. We look forward tochecking back in with you guys throughout your
postseason experience and hopefully it's a longone awesome. Thank you so much for
(13:31):
having me. Big congrats as wellthe UK men's tennis coach Cedric Kaufman.
He was named the SEC Coach ofthe Year, first time that he has
won that accolade, and a numberof tennis players are featured in that postseason
squad as well. No surprise,of course, twenty four and two.
Kaufman and the Cats were this yeartwelve and zero in SEC play and winners
(13:54):
of the SEC Tournament. As wementioned in the interview with ELI, very
very likely that they will host thefirst and second round in the NCAA tournament.
We will know for sure on Monday, and when we do, we
will pass that information along to you. Kentucky baseball checking in at number four
in the poll after an exciting serieswith Tennessee last weekend, and which record
(14:16):
crowd of over twenty one thousand camethrough the gates of Kentucky Proud Park against
our rival Tennessee and a fellow topfive team three tight games. Tennessee was
able to take two out of three, but could have easily been the other
way around for the Cats and theywill be looking for more quality wins this
weekend, heading to Columbia to takeon a very good South Carolina Gamecock team,
(14:39):
and they check in at number nineteenin the poll this week. It'll
all get started later on tonight thisFriday at seven o'clock. Pregame coverage with
my man Darren Hedrick will be atsix forty five, and then night Baseball
on Saturday six o'clock Eastern Time starts. That's a five to forty five pregame
across the UK Sports Network. Bea little nice double header for you on
(15:01):
Saturday because we will have softball againstSouth Carolina from John Crop Stadium for Senior
Day beginning at two o'clock. Butmore on that in a moment. That
game on Saturday, by the way, for baseball, six o'clock start an
SEC Network game, as is thefinale on Sunday that on SEC Network,
although it is afternoon baseball three o'clockstart time, so two forty five pm
(15:22):
airtime across the UK Sports Network withDarren. So feel free to a mute
that television feed on Saturday and Sundayand listen along to a UK feel with
the voice of the Batcats, DarrenHedrick. And so this road trip for
Kentucky and then it's back home foranother huge mega series a team that very
well could be number one in thecountry when they come to town next weekend,
(15:43):
and that is the Arkansas Razorbacks.But we will worry about that next
week. Right now, the highlightis South Carolina for both baseball and softball,
who also opens up a three gameseries on Friday. Hard to believe,
but it is the penultimate series forsoftball at least in the regular season.
And again it all starts on thisFriday, six thirty start from John
(16:06):
Crops Stadium. Make sure you getyour tickets and hope to see you out
there for a fun three game setSenior Weekend and the only game under the
lights is tonight at six thirty andthen on Saturday, Senior Day festivities will
be celebrated at last check of theforecast. Full disclosure. I am not
a meteorologist, but the last timeI looked, it was supposed to be
in the mid eighties and sunny onSaturday. So really good weekend, good
(16:30):
weather all weekend, but especially Saturdayand Sunday, so I hope to see
you out for Senior Day. That'llbe a two o'clock first pitch on Saturday.
We'll have airtime coverage right around thereacross the UK Sports Network. If
you can't make it out or ifyou'd just like to tune in while you're
in the ballpark, we'd certainly loveto have you. And then the series
finale and the home finale at leastin the regular season at John Crops Stadium
(16:52):
is on Sunday. It'll be aone o'clock start. The UK Softball Camp
reunion as well, so a reallyfun weekend. You got the Jury z
shirt giveaway by the way, onSaturday during Senior Day as well, So
lots of stuff going on at JohnCrop Stadium, Star times of six point
thirty on Friday, two o'clock onSaturday with UK Sports Network coverage and then
on Sunday as well at one o'clockand then that final series of the regular
(17:17):
season for the Cats will be Thursdaythrough Saturday of next week in Knoxville,
so a quick road trip for theCats and an easy one to make if
you're feeling daring. There next weekendat Tennessee and that's off to the SEC
Softball Tournament in Auburn, Alabama,beginning on Tuesday, May the seventh.
Hard to believe we're already talking aboutpostseason play for softball. Very soon we'll
(17:38):
be talking about postseason play for baseballas well. These seasons go by fast,
and as the calendar getting ready toflip to the month of May,
boy it's no surprise, but nonethelessstill a bit of a shock on the
sticker when you see it. Bigthanks to Greg Welsh, the outstanding communications
contact for men's Tennis, for helpingus coordinate the interview, and of course
a huge thanks to Eli Stevenson fora taking time out of his busy schedule.
(18:03):
Remember selection show on Monday for theCats to see who they will be
playing in the first round of theNCAA tournament. More than likely those matches
will be taking place in Lexington aswell, and as always, a big
thanks to Curtis and Michelle at theUK Sports Network for helping make this show
possible and a big thanks to youfor tuning in. So until the next
edition of the UK Sports Network Todaypodcast, I'm andre Cappus saying thanks for listening.
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