2025-10-07 BBI

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Dick Gabrielle with you
on a Tuesday edition of our program. It is a
bye week. We're going to talk a lot of basketball.
We'll talk some football as well, and I hate to
program against myself, but this is where we are as
we pre record this show, and I am currently along
with Jack Gibbons on SEC Plus right now, the streaming
channel because it is Pro Day over at Historic Memorial Coliseum.

(00:25):
So when you're listening to the radio, you can also
have your computer up and you can watch if you
aren't already, the Pro day activity over there, and we'll
be talking to a lot of the assistant coaches as
well as Mark Pope. Yesterday was media Day, so every
media person who was there and then some because it
was on the internet, we all have all kinds of

(00:45):
comments now, sound bites, interviews, quotes from virtually every player,
and I say virtually because we listened to Mark Pope,
you listened to Kenny Brooks, and then it was our
chance to talk to the men. We'll get a chance
to talk to the women's players at another time, but
they put all the guys out there and give us
opportunities to talk to them, but only for a certain

(01:06):
amount of times. So if you talk to anybody for
more than a couple of minutes, you're not going to
get to everybody. So we'll share as much as we
can today, and we'll share more, of course throughout the
days and weeks leading up to Kentucky's exhibition matches, exhibition
games with Purdue and with Georgetown. But of course, says,
you know, Mark Pope loves that stuff, and he is

(01:27):
a guy still stumping for more games. But other things
going on. The Chiefs losing last night ugh to Liam
Cohen's Jaguars, and I picked the Jags with Billy Rutledge
on our segments each week when we pick games. But
it's a long story, but I had to go with
the Chiefs for my fantasy league's survivor pool. You know,

(01:50):
you pick a winner, different team every week and if
they win, you stay alive. And a lot of you
were in these pools, and long story short, I had
to pick the Chiefs. I was kind of backed into
a corner and it looked great. It looked great until
Trevor Lawrence starts playing like Patrick Mahomes, and Mahomes moved
his team down the field quickly for a go ahead touchdown.

(02:12):
And then Lawrence did the same. And if you didn't
see it, you'll feel see it at some point because
Lawrence drops back. I don't know what he was going
to do, but he trips and falls. He fell down.
They were at the one yard line. I followed a
pass interference call in the end zone and tried to
get up and fell again. Two defensive linemen for the
Chiefs were closing in on him and they collided, which

(02:35):
gave him the opportunity to get up and dive into
the end zone and win the game. It was nuts.
So yeah, I'm out. I'm out of my survivor when
it looked like I was a genius even though the
Chiefs were actually favored in that game by three and
a half. But I picked him because picking the underdog
at home and on a Monday night has always been
a really good pick, and right now it looks like

(02:58):
it really was because the Jags came back and won.
They're four and one. How about that. Liam kohanoff to
a great start along with Josh heinz Allen. While we're
talking football, have you seen what's going on at North Carolina?
The atmosphere there has been described as toxic, both in

(03:19):
the locker room and among the coaches. They have lost
three straight games. Well, the three games they've lost have
just been disasters. And the last game they've played, Clemson
got hammered and there was virtually nobody there. You know,
the stadium that was jam packed for a nationally televised game,

(03:42):
his first game of the season. It was more than
half empty in that loss. So now you've got to
wonder where do they go from here? That's gonna be
really interesting. Yeah, what's gonna happen with Kentucky's gonna be
really interesting as well. We'll talk about that a little
bit later on. But no news to report. There's so

(04:03):
much stuff flying around out there. Everybody's got sources, everybody
has information, and none of it has played out thus far.
So we'll talk more about that coming up in a
few minutes. But as I said, Media Day, Mark Pope
and the players, we'll hear a lot from them tonight.
In fact, here's a sample Mark Pope was asked. I
think it was Darryl Bird. He always asked good questions

(04:25):
about analytics, and Pope really really likes him. But he's
not a slave to analytics. Analytics do not drive the bus.
You know, you got to wonder how often do you
look at analytics and say, this is what we need
to do, and how often do you say, yeah, that's
all well and good, but I don't think so. And
you have to wonder that about any coach or manager

(04:48):
who deals quite a bit with analytics. And sadly, some
baseball managers have no choice if it comes from the
front office. Analytics say play this guy or pitch that guy,
and they have to do it. Of course, Pope is
in charge of his own ship, and Darryl asked him,
are there times when you see what the numbers say?
But you decide to go in the other direction every day?

(05:11):
Every day?

Speaker 2 (05:11):
It's you know, I love the numbers because they can
be great teachers. But the numbers also you can you
can cook good books in a million different ways, and
so you know, you can actually manufacture the numbers to
say whatever you want them to say, and sometimes there's
a real use for that also. So it's just one
part of the stew It's something that we're always trying
to dig into because they can be a great teacher,

(05:35):
but they can also you know, our sample sizes never
get big enough to make it a sure thing or
completely reliable. Analytics are really there to make you ask
more questions. But it's not. It is not a rule book,
it's not a if. I think, if you use that way,
you're really short changing all the other aspects of the game.

Speaker 1 (05:57):
I kind of look at analytics the way a lot
of horse players look at the dosage index when it's
Kentucky Derby time. And what that is is basically a
formula that somebody developed many many years ago that takes
into account the bloodline, the breeding of horses, and essentially
what it did was indicated which horses had the best

(06:20):
chance and some say the only chance at winning the
Kentucky Derby, again based on lineage. And yet it was
a reflection of what had happened from past races, you know,
because all these different horses won these different races, and
all the bloodlines went this way and that way. It
meant that the likelihood of this or that horse in

(06:43):
the Kentucky Derby would win or would not win, And
people began to look at it as some sort of
a predictor looking into the future, when in fact, it
was looking at the past, and the horse that broke
the dosage jinks basically will strike the gold in nineteen
ninety one my all time favorite Derby winners. His father.

(07:03):
His sire was AlIdar, and AlIdar lost all three legs
of a triple crown to Affirmed in nineteen seventy eight.
AlIdar became it was a really good race horse and
became a great great sire, the sire of Champions. Affirm

(07:24):
did not and I'm not going Affirmed. It just didn't
work out that way. But AlIdar was a great, great sire,
and yet according to the dosage index, strike the Gold
wasn't going to win the Derby. Some thought because of
the way that formula worked out well, his father was
one of the greatest sires ever, which showed you that

(07:47):
you can punch a hole in it and strike the gold.
Did it And since then, other horses that were rated
in the dosage indexes not having a shot at the
Derby have won. And now there are a lot of
for that. I'm not going to get into you right now,
but to me, it reminds me. Analytics remind me of that,
and analytics show you what has happened in the past,

(08:10):
doesn't necessarily mean it's going to happen in the future.
It might tell you you've got a pretty good chance
if you do this, do that at a certain point
in a game. Why because this is the way a
certain player has reacted throughout his career. But it's not
a way to tell the future. And it's up to
smart guys like Mark Pope to figure that out, and

(08:31):
it sounds like he's got a pretty good handle on it.
Coming up a little bit later on, we're going to
talk to Cam Drummond of The Hero Leader. He covers
basketball recruiting among other things for the newspaper. And of
course Madness is coming up. You've got as well, the
BBN United fan Fest coming up on the same day
Madness comes up, on Saturday, October eleventh. The fan fest

(08:55):
is from noon to four thirty, just ahead of Madness,
so you can make a day of it. They got
the clear bag policy going on. Admission to this is free,
open to the public. Capacity is limited, and as I said,
there are safety regulations in place, including that clear bag policy.
You can start parking on High Street at ten am.

(09:17):
And Mark Pope talked about the National marrow donor program
that will be on site as well, so it's gonna
be fun. I think it's something new and people who
check in at the BBN United table can get priority
laying access for expedited experiences. But Mark Pope will be there.
He will appear on stage at twelve thirty, followed by

(09:41):
coach Kenny Brooks from the UK women's team. Then the
women's team will be introduced. They're gonna sign autographs. The
men's team will be introduced at two forty five. They
will sign autographs from three to four. So there's a
lot going on and you can get free stuff. I mean,
it's it should be interesting. I'm really curious to see

(10:01):
how this plays out, but this is something new. They're
offering FanFest presented by Kroger. That's at the Central Bank
Center coming up Saturday, the Day of Madness. All right,
we'll come back and hear more from Mark Pope a
little bit later on. As I said, Cam Drummond also
Kendrick Haskins from Wave TV in Louisville. He covered media

(10:23):
day as well, and we'll hear from the Cats. That's
all ahead on six thirty. WLAP Welcome Back to the
Big Boon Sider coming up a little bit later on
Kendrick Haskins, actually at the bottom of the hour. He
is a sports director at Wavie TV and Louisville, covers
the Wildcats as well as the Cardinals, and he was
there yesterday when the Wildcats spoke to the media on

(10:43):
media Day, and a little bit later on Cam Drummond
from The Herald Leader covers not just UK basketball but
UK basketball recruiting. So we'll get his thoughts on what
happened yesterday with Media Day and upcoming Big Blue Madness,
because it's generally a pivotal point in recruiting for some kids.
Not always used to be if you could get them

(11:04):
on campus for madness, you had him locked down. Not
so much the case anymore. But we'll talk to Cam
about that, and we will hear more from the players
themselves coming up in our number two, but more from
Mark Pope, now, who is He's a little bit like
Rick Patino, his coach here, in that after a news conference,

(11:25):
you've got all kinds of choices to make about what
comment to use, because it's always pretty interesting. Patino was
kind of a showman, as you know John Caliperi by comparison,
it was a good talker, but it was always what
he wanted to talk about. No matter what you asked him,
he was going to go off on his tangent. And

(11:46):
sometimes it was good. Sometimes you were like, mah, you know,
Pope is such a deep thinker, and I think he
kind of enjoys. Cali Perry did not clearly. I think
Pope enjoys chatting talking basketball with people when he has to.
He'd rather be on the court coaching. Everybody would, all
coaches would. But I do get a kick out of

(12:07):
some of the comments. And I learned a lot from
Mark Pope. And you heard his comment earlier about the
fact that he doesn't always go by what the analytics
tell him. But it was interesting because Darryl Bird did
ask that question, and remember that Mark's story asked a
question about analytics, and Pope said, you know what, did

(12:30):
you guys work this out? Because you know, to Darrell,
he said, now, analytics, not always, and then was Mark
his answer had to be about, yeah, we use analytics here.
One of the remarks he made was about Jalen Lowe,
the point guard, and I sat up straight when I
heard him talking about this, not that I don't always
stand up straight. Or set up straight. But talking to

(12:51):
Kentucky fans, hearing what they have to say, they're excited,
they're interested, they're curious about Jaalen Lowe, who was an
ex only the player at Pittsburgh last year, and really
he was all pitt had last year. If he wasn't
distributing the ball, he was scoring and vice versa. But
he didn't shoot it very well. And of course we

(13:13):
all got spoiled last year watching Kentucky shoot the basketball,
especially Kobe Bray. But a lot of guys could shoot
it well, and Pope wants everybody to be able to
shoot well, including a point guard. Now, pass first, shoot second, Yeah,
but he's got to be able to make shots either
from beyond the arc or on the run. And this

(13:35):
is where the analytics came into play, because he said
one thing they noticed, and I'm paraphrasing, is that one
of the reasons Jalen low didn't have a high shooting
percentage was that he took difficult shots from spots on
the floor that made things even more difficult. It wasn't

(13:57):
a mechanical thing. It was just a fact that sometimes
I've got to think he was forced to take shots
as the shot clock was winding down or whatever that
he had to take and it should not be the
case here at Kentucky. And that was something Pope made
it sound like he and his staff really wanted to
sink their teeth into.

Speaker 2 (14:17):
For whatever reason. Last year there was some he was
in the ninety fifth, ninety third percentile players in the
country taking shots in the bottom twenty percent of shot
quality numbers. And we love when we see things like
that because those are things that it doesn't depend on
increased skill, it doesn't depend on hours and hours in

(14:37):
the gym. It just it just relies on a new understanding,
a new style of play, maybe a new environment, new
a new way for j Loo to approach the game.
And we can see quick, huge, massive changes when you
when you see numbers like that. So that's one tiny
size of it. I like the way he owns your side.

(14:58):
I like the way he finishes out. I like him
fearless nature. All those things translate well to him being
a way more efficient player. I like the fact that
he can get wherever he wants whenever he wants off
the bounce. That translates him into having huge capacity to
be way more efficient. So we have big time expectations.
We got to see a very similar transition from Lamont Butler,

(15:19):
and if Low.

Speaker 1 (15:20):
Can be as effective or more so the Lamont Butler
offensively and defensively, probably not as good on defense, but
better on offense, potentially that's gonna be big. That's gonna
be huge, But we'll find out. They're working on that
right now, and it's all part of the big picture
for Mark Pope and his team. It's a different picture

(15:42):
than it was last year with the seven super Seniors
and the Kentucky fans so excited about Pope is here
and the guys they put together and they got out
of the gates really well, stumbled a little bit, finished strongly,
and now it's a different picture. Some players returning, a
lot of new fans. What Pope said, when it comes

(16:02):
to the pressure of putting together a quality product at
the University of Kentucky, no matter who's on the roster,
the pressure is going to be the same.

Speaker 2 (16:14):
You know, some people like say, you know, last year
a veteran team, so there's a lot of pressure to win.
This year, you know, you have a deep team, so
there's a lot of pressure to win. You know, next
year it will be something else, which you don't understand
if you're not here in Kentucky, is that this is
all the pressure always. You know, if we had three
players on this roster, the expectation would be we'd still

(16:35):
go win a national championship. That never changes here. It's
what sets one of the things that sets Kentucky apart
from everywhere else. So I don't know what the difference
is in the in the in the in the pressure,
the expectations. It's the same, and that's why this place
is so great.

Speaker 1 (16:50):
Right Naturally, everybody's wondering about the new guys, how they're
going to fit in, what can they do, how will
they help, But don't forget about the returning player they
should help enormously, including of course Brandon Garrison and Colin
Chandler and Trent Noah. And you hear Mark Polk talk
about these guys, they almost sound like different players after

(17:12):
they've come back from an off season of conditioning on
their own and working out, and they sound almost too
good to be true.

Speaker 2 (17:20):
So Trent Noah is a one point seven to six
points per possession in live play right now. I've never
seen that number ever in the history College basketball. I
mean it's only two weeks and this is the first
ay of week three. Trent has made a massive jump.
Colin Chandler is leading the team in them right now
in defensive impact Metric. Both those guys have made just

(17:43):
herculean massive jumps, and most impressive of all, Brandon Garrison.
Just write this down. Brandon Garrison is winning conditioning runs
at the end of practice. You want to talk about
like wanting to just like feel like I don't even
know what planet I'm living on right now. I'm so
proud of this kid, and so you know, watching those

(18:04):
guys grow and oteg of course has been dealing with
his toe, but the way he's going as a leader, By.

Speaker 1 (18:11):
The way, Trent and Noah not working out five on five,
He's doing drills and conditioning. When players are in a
drill running up and down the floor, he's on the
sideline running up and down the floor with them, just
trying to stay in shape. But it's gonna be a
little while before you can go five on five. But
there's plenty of time. I don't need to worry about that.

(18:32):
There's plenty of time for Jaden Quaintan's to get himself
not just back in shape, but get himself healthy. Finally,
one of the things Pope talked about was wanting to
see his players grow versus achieve things. It's got interesting
the way he lays it out.

Speaker 2 (18:49):
Sometimes we get confused in this game. I talk about
this all the time. Sometimes we get confused because we
get confused that we think that what we're really chasing
is achievement, and that is wrong. What we're chasing his
growth like it is not achievement. Achievement is like a
false fake. It tricks you. Its growth, and these returning

(19:12):
players are actually living that right now. Growth is what
brings joy and pride and belief, and it makes you
walk in the room different. Achievement is fine, but it's fickle, and.

Speaker 1 (19:26):
Of course if you grow properly, you will achieve. So again,
Mark Pope, deep thinker, We know this. Up next, Kendrick
Haskins from Wave TV and Louisville on six point thirty
WLAP Welcome back to the Big Bluinsider joining us now
in our celebrity hotline. Is a longtime friend and he's
been on the show a few times. But we haven't
talked to Kendrick Haskins for a while. He is a

(19:47):
sports director Wave over in Louisville. He was at UK
media Day yesterday.

Speaker 3 (19:52):
How are you, sir, I'm doing greatest, enjoying finally getting
some rain.

Speaker 1 (19:56):
Yeah, buddy, everybody needs it and if we need spring football.
But before we started in on this interview, you were
telling me that the XFL is not only a lie,
but coming to the state of Kentucky.

Speaker 3 (20:09):
It's coming to Louisville, right, Yeah, they're coming to louisll.
The team is called the Louisville Teams and they've already
released their logo and they've got bright green colors. I
don't know what the bright green has to do with
Little ar Kentucky, but it'll be.

Speaker 1 (20:27):
Fun, I know.

Speaker 3 (20:28):
I think the Rock is still involved with it. So yeah,
just one more thing to cover in the spring.

Speaker 1 (20:34):
Do you have any idea if they'll have the latitude
to go after local players to sell tickets? You know
what I'm saying.

Speaker 3 (20:42):
I would imagine they probably would, because you know, it's
a fledgling league. Because it's a lot of teams in
that league that are transferring to other cities and thinking,
and some of them are playoff teams and that's not
very stable if playoff teams can't make it in the
city that they're in. So I would imagine they're going
to go out a lot after a lot of local
flavor with drought fans out.

Speaker 1 (21:03):
Can I assume they'll play at U L's stadium.

Speaker 3 (21:07):
Actually, they are playing at the Soccer State I want
back to where cities playing. Yeah, so that whole thing
is justing too, because you know they're already scheduling around
Low City and racing Louisville, right, so now you have
a third team into that stadium. It's a great stadium.
I don't know if you've mentioned it's an awesome stadium. Yeah,
And it would be interesting to see how that works

(21:29):
out in the springt and.

Speaker 1 (21:30):
In terms of size, might be a better fit for
something like that.

Speaker 3 (21:34):
Oh yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 (21:35):
Oh, one more thing for Kendrick Haskins to cover. But
as we said, Kendrick was at media day yesterday, and
what did you take away from Mark Pope's comments, Because
it's not an entirely different team, but it seems like
it's a little bit of a, if not a different approach,
a modified approach to how he's coming up on this year.

Speaker 3 (21:54):
Yeah, it's it's feel like and it's not a knock on.
I feel like you's still kind of trying to gather things,
get things underneath them because of the changing, changing landscape
and college basketball and I L and everything, and so
it still feels like he's just trying to figure out
exactly where he wants to go with the team. But
I think he's a symbol of a really good, really

(22:16):
good team and a really good group of guys. They
were all fun to talk to yesterday. Yeah, I mean,
I don't think it's just him. I think it's really everybody.
It's kind of figure out this landscape because it's ever
changing day to day.

Speaker 1 (22:30):
You know, you make a great point about that because
last year when Pope got here, I got the impression
from media, from fans whatever that maybe subconsciously they were
looking at him like a newbie, like a first year coach.
You know, here's a guy, a former UK player. Now
he's the head coach. Well, you had eight years as
a head coach, not just a coach, but a head
coach behind it, and a good one, You're right, very successful.

(22:54):
Plus all the time he spent as an assistant, you know,
learning and honing his skills. But as he gets to Kentucky,
you know already he's dealing, like, as you said, with
this changing landscape with the portal within il and it
was fortunate for him and for Pat Kelsey over in
Louisville that they came in to terrible situations with empty

(23:17):
rosters essentially, and they were able to fill them up
right away. So that's that's one thing everybody had to
deal with.

Speaker 3 (23:23):
Yeah, and even like teams established teams like Kansas and Carolina,
they're all dealing with the same things. It was like
the plane if the playing field, especially for two coaches
that came in in the situations they did last year,
it feels like it's almost a lot more level than
it has been because of the transfer portal at well

(23:44):
all drives us crazy, but I mean, if it wasn't
for that transfer portal, no telling where these two programs
would have been last season.

Speaker 1 (23:52):
He made a nice point, and a lot of people
talk about this, and a grant I do too that
it's best. I know UK fans hated when U of
L succeeds, but it's best I think for college basketball.
When Louisville in the end of the Blue Bluff, North
Carolina Kansas are good. I'm not saying that, you know,
nobody else should be. But Pope talked about that, and
I think it was in response to a question about

(24:14):
whatever he got into with Pat Kelsey over a recruit
this summer. He said it really wasn't anything, but he'd
loved to have fun with it. But I just thought
it was, you know, But that just shows you how
much of a traditionalist Mark Pope is when he wants
Louisville to be successful and that, of course it makes
for a better uk U of l rivalry.

Speaker 3 (24:33):
Doesn't it. It does, I mean, because really truly wins
the last time they've both been good at the same
time a while. And so I mean the fans should
embrace it, because at the end of the day, after
they play each other, they every win the other would
gets helps the other one a point.

Speaker 1 (24:52):
That's a great part of That's exactly.

Speaker 3 (24:54):
Right that it's hard to do. But if you're a
faid and it's easy to say when you're in the
middle of it, we are, we're you know, we're covering everything.
But like when you're a fan, it is hard to
be like, Okay, I need we really need Louisville to
beat Duke today. That's right, the reality we live.

Speaker 1 (25:13):
Yeah, yeah, and uh, we always end up looking at
it that way late in the year, like in March,
because people start counting up RPI opportunities. You know, you're
not playing very many good teams from here on, so
you need the teams on your schedule to be successful.
So but that, like you said, it's a changing landscape.
We're talking to Kendrick Haskins, w a VE sports director.

(25:35):
He's covered sports in the state of Kentucky.

Speaker 3 (25:37):
You're a native of Kentucky, you though, right, Oh, yeah,
I'm from Louisville.

Speaker 1 (25:40):
Yeah, yeah, so none of this is new to you. Well,
everything's new because it's always changing. But yeah, the traditions
and all that, and learning the new faces at Kentucky.
I think intenda. I got to go to practice yesterday
because as we speak, I'm I'm at Pro Day but watching.
You know, he wasn't kidding around when he talked about

(26:01):
the competitiveness of these guys. And I got to go
to practice last year a little bit, and yeah, they
worked hard, but it's I don't know why it's different,
but and the guys are a little bit younger, not
nearly as much experience. Maybe the guys last year were
pacing themselves, you know, the seven Super Seniors.

Speaker 3 (26:20):
But yeah, I got it.

Speaker 1 (26:22):
I really like what I've seen in this Kentucky team
so far, you know.

Speaker 3 (26:26):
Yeah, the the video that they set out, you know,
they you could tell that they're they're going at it.
They're going at each other. Yeah, And you like because
you want that competition to be whenever they step on
the floor, they're looking to dominate. And that's what you
want to see, even if it's practice or or a game.
You want to see them that have that same mentality

(26:48):
no matter what.

Speaker 1 (26:49):
Yeah, And he's going defense first and then offense, whereas
last year was a flip flop and Kentucky came on
strongly last year defensively after that wipeout at Old Miss.
So I'm really curious to see how they start the season.
You know, will they be a little ragged on offense
at the expense or good on defense at the expensive offense.

(27:10):
But I think if it works, I think Pope has
learned a valuable lesson, you know.

Speaker 3 (27:16):
And you know, I was surprised by the link of
some of these guys like Braidon Hawthorne. I was surprised.
That's how long he is, you know, so they have
When you have length like that, you have options what
you want to do on defense. If you want to
a zone, you can put a put braiden up there
at the top of the zone. He's numb, persent all
kind of problems to a point guard, especially the smaller

(27:38):
point guard. So they got options of what they want
to do on defense as well.

Speaker 1 (27:42):
Yeah. Absolutely. And in talking to the players, did anyone
interest you more than another?

Speaker 3 (27:50):
I'm always interested. When I talked to Colin Chambler, he's
an older, older guy. He's just a sophomore, but he's
what twenty two twenty three year old, and he's just
always very introspective. He's thoughtful when he gives his answers.
Even last year when he was struggling a bit at
the beginning, he was always very thoughtful. It's always feels

(28:13):
like it's a deeper conversation when you're talking to him
than he when you're talking to most college players. And
then I always love a talking o takea all the
way because he's just just genuine just what comes to
mind is what comes out. So he's always very fun
to talk.

Speaker 1 (28:28):
It's gonna be interesting watching him because, as you recall,
last year, he was kind of pressed into service, into
the role of being the man, you know, when Jackson
Robinson went down, when Lamon Butler was hobbled and they
had to rely more and more on old Way And
what did he come through on more than one occasion,
especially against Oklahoma when he scored the last eighteen in
that one game, hit the game winner. But now that

(28:51):
he's got that target, I'm really curious, you know what
I mean about how he carries that.

Speaker 3 (28:56):
Yeah, because it's a thing, because well, I'm most honest
comments I ever heard from a player before. It was
a few years ago. Louisville had Jordan war you remember him,
and that his last year he was the best year
on the best player on the team, kind of forced
in the same uh situation as Otega's in, and he

(29:17):
struggled with it and he admitted and he's like, I've
never been the best player on my team. And he
admitted that he struggled with that. And that's a very
honest answer. And Vicky, you know that most people won't
even give you, but he did. But that's kind of
the kid, kind of the kid that Jordan was, and
so it is a big responsibility, especially when you're a

(29:39):
senior like that coming off the seat the season that
Otega had, that is an adjustment that you know, we
worth keeping an eye on a kid from Louisville.

Speaker 1 (29:48):
Kind of reminds me of the comment Archie Manning made
before the season began when he was being named this
and that and anointed, and he said, you know, I
haven't really done anything yet. Guess what he so? Kendrick
Haskins of wav E TV and Louisville is my guess.
We'll talk more with Kendrick on the other side of
the break here on six thirty WLAP Welcome back. We're

(30:10):
chatting with Kendrick Haskins. He is a longtime sports reporter,
a veteran over in Louisville, now the sports director wave
E TV, the NBC affiliate. He was at UK basketball
media day yesterday and he is back and forth up
and down the interstate covering both UK and U of L.
Not a fun season to be covering Kentucky football. Louisville

(30:31):
doing a little bit better. What do we see in
the future for Jeff Brom's team.

Speaker 3 (30:36):
They put themselves behind the eight ball this past Saturday.
That was a game they just gave away to Virginia. Hey,
you give up two touchdowns on offense on a fumble
and he's going for it on fourth down and the
ball just found off the receiver the running back hands
and it's a scoopa score for Virginia. And then that
horrible decision that Miller Boss made to end up being

(30:57):
a pick stick at the end of that game, and
so they kind of put themselves behind the eight ball.
The good thing for them is they still have opportunities
in front of them until they'll have a bye week
this week. The next week they're at Miami, a weird
Friday night game, and then they played Clemson down the road,
which is another Friday night game, which is very odd.

(31:17):
The ACC is doing this Friday night thing this year,
which is fine and dandy, until you know, if Will
hadn't have lost that Virginia game, THEAM and Miami coming
to the game undefeated with the possibility of having an
ESPN game day if it's a Saturday game, but nope,
it's Friday. So yeah, I don't get that part.

Speaker 1 (31:39):
Well, you do get a big audience. You know, you're
not competing with a lot of other college you know,
and then you had that what was it, the Florida
State Virginia game. Virginia yes, wild and had a huge audience. So,
you know, I kind of get it, but I'm like you,
it's a plus. You know, they have ignored the high
schools for song used to be Friday night with Saclos Tank.
You know, you leave them alone for the hot and

(32:00):
not anymore, like we're gonna take what we can get.

Speaker 3 (32:03):
And I don't understand how that works recruiting wise, because
you can't bring any recruits to the game. Unlet's throw
a bye. I'm sacrificed.

Speaker 1 (32:12):
I guess you sacrifice said one night, you know. But
it's gonna be interesting, you know, whenever Kentucky and Louisville
meet up. But what you just described, the way they
gave away that game, that's exactly what happened with Kentucky
and South Carolina. Gave up a touchdown on a fumble
and a pick six, and you cannot give up touchdowns
like that obviously. So let me shift you back to basketball,

(32:34):
and of course, talking about media day, Mark Pope and
the players talking to the press yesterday afternoon and Kenny
Brooks did as well. But uh I thought it was
interesting too watching practice Kendrick that the Kentucky team that
last year had Amari Williams and Brandon Garrison, and Amari

(32:55):
kind of had to pick things up a little bit defensively,
which he did down the stretch, but he was like
a point forward at times. Brandon Garrison, you know, played
meaningful minutes, but I think he'll play a lot more
this year. But now with Jaden Quainton's whenever he's sealthy
Malachai Moreno, they've got so much size. The kid who
came in from Croatia is a legit six' ten with broad.

(33:17):
Shoulders this is going to be one of the bigger
teams in the. COUNTRY i think it's going to be
interesting to see how this plays, out you, know.

Speaker 3 (33:24):
Right and it's not saying they've got. Options they can
they can go, man they can go. Zone AND i
think they've got the Abilities With Jalen. Lowe you saw
him a couple of times last year kids Against, louisville
and he can he presents all kind of trumps because
Again i'm talking about the. Length he has great length
too at at the top of that. Zone if they
wanted to play zone and They've they've got so many

(33:46):
options on what they can do, defensively and it's that's.
WHY i think that's why he is. Concentrating he's how
they flip flop him last year if they are concentrating
more on defense at the beginning of. Fragment AND i
think that's, why because they can do so, much and
so you want to you want to get everything on
the table and then into their heads so they know
you know where to go and what they're doing at all.
Times BUT i think they can be a very very

(34:07):
strong defensive.

Speaker 1 (34:08):
Sea glad you brought Up Jalen law, because as you,
said he was in the acc last. Year you got
to see him a couple of. Times what can you
tell us about him other than the fact that he
had to basically carry the load for The.

Speaker 3 (34:18):
Panthers, yeah he. Did he had to Do he had
to do a lot of the. WORK i think he's
gonna find. It it's weird to say he's gonna find
things a little bit easier At konsecus because he's not
going to have to show us so much of the.
Load he'll be able to pass it off BECAUSE i
think he can pass the. Ball he just who is

(34:39):
going to pass it. To last year with PED i,
mean they had a couple of bad those big guys
in the, middle but it wasn't as strong of a
pit team as they have had to. Pass and he
can get to the, basket he can, shoot and he's
got that length to give you trouble on. DEFENSE i
think that's a really really good pickup for Concu, yeah
AND i.

Speaker 1 (34:56):
Thought it was a fascinating. Answer once. AGAIN i talked
earlier on the show about, analytics And pope, said sometimes
he looks at, it sometimes he turns away from. It
but one of the things that really interested him About
Jalen lowe is the fact, that, yeah he wasn't the greatest,
shooter but it was because And i'm, paraphrasing he wasn't
taking great shots at the right. Time and that's something

(35:18):
they can quote unquote. FIX i thought that was really, FASCINATING.

Speaker 3 (35:23):
I, think AND i think that comes back to saying
earlier is like he had to do so much and
that he had in his. Mind he in his, mind he's,
thinking me taking the contested, shot it's probably a better
option than this guy taking an open. Shot, yeah and
SO i don't think he'll have that as much anymore
as he'll have shooting around him now better shooters around him. Too,

(35:44):
WELL i don't think he'll feel like he got the
force as.

Speaker 1 (35:46):
Much, YEAH i agree with. That tell us ABOUT u OF.
L what can we expect When kentucky AND uh And
louisville go at.

Speaker 3 (35:54):
It it's still it's still crazy to me that the
game is before the football. Game the case In november,
eleventh what was Mich Cal brown has looked like everything
you expected and, more especially in the. Fever be interesting
to see him And dass the jobs and going at
it a little. Bit you, know they were teammates on

(36:14):
THE fifa nineteen. Teams he has been he Has he
has been a great kid on and off the. Court
he's done a lot within the community since he's already been,
there them bringing getting their big guy BACK uh WITH
uh cope at D. Yu his name is slipped slipping

(36:36):
my mind right now Because kelsey they said he might
be the best passing big man in the. Country now
we have we haven't seen any of. That but because
we haven't really haven't seen much of him at all
because he was hurt the whole, time but then Getting
Javon hadley back and then also Getting case And pryor

(36:58):
back is huge For louisville Because Javon hadley was a
guy that came in more of a, slasher and last,
year because of, injuries he developed a post game that
made him, very very tough to guard down on the
low block of. Guards and so him coming back And
Kason pryor meant so much of that team before he got,
injured and that's going to be. Huge and Then i'm

(37:19):
also looking at the jump That Canai roof. Makes you,
know most players make their biggest jump from the freshman
the sophomore. Year he'll be a. Sophomore he, has he
has some flashes last. Season he's got great, side he can,
shoot he's got a. Motor so it'll be interesting to
see how he developed from his freshman and sophomore.

Speaker 1 (37:36):
Year i've Seen poles preseason polls and not too are
the way too. Soon surveys that Have louisville top ten
Have louisville well ahead Of. Kentucky does that surprise?

Speaker 3 (37:47):
YOU i, see SO i am surprised by. THAT i
see some of though has to Get louisville six And kentucky.

Speaker 1 (37:53):
Seven, YEAH.

Speaker 3 (37:57):
I Think i'm just to see that they're going to
play each other if both of them has a number
next to their. Names, yeah it's been a.

Speaker 1 (38:05):
While, yeah because back when you AND i and The
earth were. Younger, uh there were years when they were
both top ten, teams some of them top five. Teams and,
uh then the next thing you, know you, know you
can't find them on the on the big time schedule
because they've. Founded but that's just the way things. Work,
anyhow he.

Speaker 3 (38:24):
Is about the schedule for both of, them both of
them playing for big time. Teams to, see it's gonna
be exciting for both both fan bases this.

Speaker 1 (38:32):
Season he Is Kendrick haskins tell everybody how to follow
you ON ax For, Twitter, yeah just Just Kendrick askins
and At Kendrick casen's On twitter and Just Kendrick askings
On facebook And. Instagram sounds good to, me, Brother thank
you so. Much good seeing. You good to see you
coming up and nour number two more of the basketball,

(38:52):
cats and we're here From Cam drummond Of The Herold.
Leader we'll talk To tucky, hoops including. Recruiting that's ALL
i had here on six thirty w alop.

Speaker 4 (39:00):
In tete tact Tact canning THEN.

Speaker 1 (39:55):
Sa welcome back to joining us down on a celebrity

(40:51):
hotline from the Herold leader Is Cameron. Drummond always say
he's a bit of a renaissance. Man he covers horse, racing, basketball,
football does whatever is needed at the Hero leaders such
as the case these. Days THOUGH i know in, Newspapers,
cam you got to be a man for all, seasons don't.

Speaker 5 (41:06):
You? Certainly, Yeah and obviously things have been a bit.
Slower you. Know he was able to take some time
off and do a couple of road trips and stuff
in the summer and early. Fall but With Media day
just taking place THAT i get the. Filling it's going
to be a really locked in couple months for all
of us through following the Basketball Wildcat, well.

Speaker 1 (41:24):
First of, all where'd you go? Anywhere?

Speaker 5 (41:25):
FUN a couple different destinations hit. Up one of my
friends who lives In, phoenix did a couple camping trips
out in Western North, carolina visited some friends up In
michigan as. Well so really got a decent tour of
The United states during some of my slower Months.

Speaker 1 (41:42):
East west And. North that's great good for. You but
now back hard at work and one of your stories
is about the, fact and we'll get to. Media dana,
Moment bud and you. TALKED i think you Asked Mark
pope about. Recruiting you've got the early signing period coming
up six weeks. AWAY uk does not have a commitment.
Yet But Mark pope isn't worried as you. Right why is?

Speaker 5 (42:03):
That for a lot of. REASONS i think first and
foremost and what's most relevant To kentucky fans is the
simple fact THAT uk looks like the leader right now
For Tyrone, stokes the top recruit in the twenty twenty sixth.
Class he's officially down the five, schools With kentucky being
perceived as the. Leader he's a kid who just signed
an endorsement deal With. Nike kentucky obviously being A nike,

(42:26):
school just been a lot of smoke to the rumors
Of stokes potentially going To, kentucky especially in recent. Days
and when you think about the kid who's the consensus
top player in the high school senior, class a six
foot seven playmaker from the forward spot who can play
all around the, court shoot the three, ball grave, rebounds
push the. Floor you, know just a lot of good

(42:47):
things with him as a, prospect and the fact That
kentucky has legitimate juice as the leader in his. Recruitment
it's certainly a reason why you, Know Mark pope probably
has some intel on the inside on. This obviously that
is not too concerned learned WITH uk not having any
twenty six recruits or, COMMITMENTS i should say right, now
and kind of going along with that is just the
fact That kentucky has still a lot of irons in

(43:09):
the fire when it comes to high school. Seniors you,
know you've got a point guard To Rod Rippy. Jr
who's on a visit To kentucky to begin this. Week
you've got at least three talented five star guys coming
in For Big Blue madness over on the. Weekend they've
had an early fall in late summer filled with visitors
both from the high school senior ranks and even some international.

(43:29):
Prospects so all that to say is That kentucky basketball
is really swinging for the fences with this twenty six recruiting.
Class it seems an almost certainty that they'll get a
couple of real high end five star recruits in this
cycle And Mark, pope as he spoke During Media day,
yesterday kind of detailed his specific recruiting process and how
it's not always just about the talent of a certain.

(43:51):
Prospect it has to do with their, characters their demeanor
on and off the, court and how he fits into
the overall scheme and style of play That pope instituted
here In.

Speaker 1 (44:00):
Kentucky but as you pointed out in your, piece they
did miss on a couple of high profile guards in
the class at twenty twenty. Six are those kids they
really really?

Speaker 5 (44:11):
Wanted, yeah it's, interesting especially from the guard, perspective BECAUSE
i mentioned in the piece that there's two point guard
Recruits Jason Crow junior who's going to go To Missouri Taylor,
kenney The Northern kentucky native who's going to be going To.
Kansas that really kind of Squeezes kentucky's options in terms
of true point guard or shooting guard prospects that they're.

(44:31):
Pursuing from the high school. Class you're basically down to
two players in this. Regard one of them Is Deron
reppy junior out Of New York city who's on HIS
uk visit right, now and the other Is Jordan smith
who's considered the best defensive player in the twenty and
twin six, class and he's one of the prospects who
will be Visiting kentucky For Big Blue madness over the.
Weekend so you're getting both those guys on campus in short.

(44:53):
Order but also just the way That kentucky's roster lines,
up there's a potential for some long term, continuity typically
at the guard, spot depending on what the likes Of Jalen,
Lowe Jasper, Johnson Colin, chandler what those guys do during
their upcoming seasons At. Kentucky so if there's any position
That kentucky can afford to be squeezed in a little
bit in terms of not having a ton of recruiting

(45:15):
options for next year's, CLASS i think guard's the way to,
go simply because there's so many horses still in the
stable in that.

Speaker 1 (45:21):
Regard that's, true that's a good, point AND i Thought
Mark pope's comment was interesting when he said the process
is even more fun than it's ever. Been you, know
coaches who throw themselves into recruiting like, That obviously they're
the guys who get it, done but it's so relentless
and can be so. Heartbreaking, WELL i guess you can't
let it be heartbreaking if you're a, Coach BUT i

(45:44):
just think it's. Fascinating and he's not the only Coach
i've heard talk about how much he enjoys the recruiting.
PROCESS i guess you run into that a, lot don't.

Speaker 6 (45:51):
You on the?

Speaker 5 (45:52):
Beat, well it's interesting, too because you, know you talked
about how Much Mark pops talk about how he loves the.
Process and an interesting point THAT i think not a
whole lot of people think about a ton in recruiting is, just,
yes there's the relationships when it comes to the individual.
Recruitment you're trying to get this specific player to commit to,
you to begin his college career with. You but so many,

(46:12):
times even when a kid goes to a different school
or has a different, journey that doesn't mean you're not
going to cross paths with. THEM i Think Mark pope
said one hundred different times because of how tight knit
to college basketball world. IS i, mean we saw it
With Jayden quaint's justice off. Season obviously a different coaching,
staff but here's a kid who was recruited By John,
caliperry committed To, kentucky backed, away from that pledge when

(46:34):
the coaching change, happened went off To Arizona state first freshman,
year and, yeah obviously some circumstances, changed, obviously there's all four,
factors nil and whatnot that proved a big role in
getting him To kentucky for this. Year but his familiarity
with the city of the, facilities you, know some of
the infrastructure things in the program that stayed the same

(46:54):
between The caliperry and To pope. Transition that's something that
that wasn't nothing When kentucky was re Recruiting Jade quainton's
out of the. Portal so you never, know even if
you missed on a guy first time around out of high,
school when you, know fortune may come knocking and you
may get the chance to re recruit him out of
the portal as. Well and SO i Think Mark pope's
approached to both high school, recruiting transfer portal, recruiting and

(47:16):
just overall embracing the process and doing a really thorough
job of understanding, kids their, families their communities and backgrounds
is really something that has paid dividends For kentucky further
down the. Road just in his short two year span.

Speaker 1 (47:29):
Here so. Far, Yeah and speaking Of quainton's when we
first got a chance to talk to, him it was
interesting hearing him say it's great to be, back and
for a second of that way what and THEN i, realized, oh,
yeah that's. Right you were, here you were coming, here
you were you were a wildcat for a. While but,
yeah now he's nursing that knee. Injury but it's going
to be really interesting to see when he's. Ready And pope,

(47:50):
said you, know they're trying not to push him too,
hard but you, know and he's got other options AT.
Bigs we'll come back to that that we're talking about
recruiting With Cameron drummond And pope talked about as well
in that long. Answer He gabe the fact that he
really likes to get into, it either in person or
on zoom or whatever with recruits and have honest. Conversations

(48:13):
AND i wonder what that's like for the recruit who
may not have had that experience with other. Recruiters you,
know that was kind of running through my, mind LIKE i,
go wonder how many recruits are sitting in there on
the other, end on the other, end thinking, man what
is this guy all? About you, know WHAT i.

Speaker 5 (48:27):
Mean you, know it's so, interesting especially WHEN i go
to these different showcase, events you, KNOW Usa basketball training,
camps And i'm out there speaking to not only recruits
and prospects That kentucky is, pursuing but just other, kids you,
know high four, star five star players who either Had
kentucky on their list previously or you, know maybe have
only heard About kentucky and passing and aren't you, know

(48:49):
seriously being recruiting by The. Wildcats but it's Interesting mark
post cans have a reputation among all of these, kids
not even only the prospects that he's honed in, on
of just being this high, energy kind of crazy. Guy
it seems, like you, know just both in his enthusiasm
for The kentucky program and the way that he breaks
down film or you, know initiates discussions with, players it

(49:10):
seems that all these kids agree That Mark pope is
a big face time. Guy you, know he'll do a
little bit of the texting and, calling but he really
likes to have that face to face. COMMUNICATION i, MEAN
i can't recall how many times the prospects told me
How Mark pope has face timed him out of the.
Blue you, know just for one of those check in
conversations to see how basketball school life is. Going so,

(49:31):
again kind of a little interesting quirk That pope has
on the recruiting, trail just seems to be really a
genuine face to face, communicator more so than some of
the other coaches out.

Speaker 1 (49:40):
There and that kind of fits into my next. Question
and you've been Covering kentucky for a, While you've been
with The Harrow leader for a little. While i've been here.
FOREVER i was here for the first Big Blue, madness
believe it or, not when it actually came to the
last stroke of. Midnight but back in the, day which
is a catch off raise as we know, How but
back in the, day if a kid came To, madness

(50:03):
Because kentucky was not unique but one of the few,
schools it really did it up. Big if they could
get a kid To, madness that was almost a sense
that he would. Sign little by, little that kind of went.
Away But i'm, wondering do you get any feel for
how important madness plays today in the recruitment, process either

(50:24):
At kentucky or anywhere.

Speaker 5 (50:25):
Else, well let's start by counting our blessings that it
still doesn't actually start at midnight, anymore just for the
simple fact of you, know we got so many tip
offs that are already nine thirty ten pm. Starts you,
Know i'm going to take my wins WHERE i can
get it when it comes into not being in rep
arena at three. Am but in terms of the importance of,

(50:45):
it look every school and especially the name brand programs
Your Carolina's dukes Count, down The craziness Events kansas Does
midnight and Fog. Allen so there are some specific programs
WHERE i think your Like, showcase preseason kickoff event and
bringing certain recruits to it is a strong indicator of
your mutual. Interest you, KNOW i don't THINK i think

(51:07):
there's a reason, why for, Example Jordan smith will be
one Of Big Blue madness visitors For. Kentucky, obviously some
of that comes down to scheduling and the other, visits
but ALSO i Think kentucky does try and put its
best foot forward in terms of bringing. Prospects it is
really really interested Into. Madness, now, OBVIOUSLY i think the
actual presence At madness and in terms of that correlation

(51:28):
to a potential commitment down the, road certainly isn't as
strong as it was previously and even in recent. Years
towards the end Of John Caller perry's tenure In, lexington
he was Using madness less so as an event for
that year's upcoming recruiting, class but there was more of
a long term thing bringing in kids who are high
school sophomores or high school, juniors even if it happened

(51:49):
to be on an unofficial, visit almost as like an
introductory event of sorts To kentucky basketball and the craziness
that surrounds the. Program SO i would say there's obviously
still some connection in between a recruit and really being
prized By kentucky and their attendance At, madness but it
certainly probably isn't the direct through line that it, was you,
know back in the day once the event was just getting.

(52:10):
Started he Is Cam.

Speaker 1 (52:12):
Drummond he COVERS uk, basketball among other, things horse racing
and whatever else needs covering For The Haro. Leader we'll
come back and talk more With cam on the other
side of the break here on six THIRTY Wlap welcome.
Back we're talking With Cameron drummond Of The Hero. Leader
Covers kentucky, basketball horse, racing, football whatever needs, covering he'll do,
it but he specializes in. Recruiting we've been talking about

(52:33):
comments That Mark pope made at Media, day and he
talked about so Much cam the fit for his. Team
everybody needs a good, fit. OBVIOUSLY i wonder if that's
a little bit MAYBE i don't want to say, overplayed
but emphasized At, kentucky given everything that a kid deals

(52:54):
with when he signs With, Kentucky you're not just another
athlete on campus when you're A kentucky basketball, player.

Speaker 5 (52:59):
Right, certainly AND i think even you, know to go
to another kind of interesting segment of that same response
From pope when he talked about his locker, room right
and how there probably will be times this season where
the locker room feels really complicated or someone speaks. Up you,
know a lot of mouths to feed a ton of,
talents of guys on one, ball only five guys on

(53:20):
the quart at a, time that sort of. Thing but
you do want to take as many steps as possible
to ensure that your locker, room especially out of place Like,
kentucky with the kind of, money frankly that's being spent
on assembling a, roster that it is as harmonious as,
possible especially in these key moments of the, season the early,
season the fall, practice you, know when you're establishing your

(53:42):
foundations and your principles going forward for the. Year and
so that obviously factors INTO i think especially transfer portal,
recruiting because, again you, know you're valuing experience so much
in college basketball. Nowadays it's very interesting to see the
kind of players that have been coming To kentucky in recent.
Years last year you had a ton of guys from
honestly maybe less heralded programs who are leveling up from

(54:06):
a low high major or mid major level and taking
that leap At kentucky. Altogether and this year you're getting
some absolute certified, ballplayers you, know guys who had standout
careers in THE sec in other major, conferences along with
two five star guys In Jasper Johnson Malatai. Moreno so
that's a lot of people to keep happy and a

(54:26):
lot of people to try and, keep you, know on
the same. Page and so the fact that you know
you're looking for that off court, demeanor that locker room,
presence just the right mentality to not only handle the
pressure that comes with playing At, kentucky but the pressure
that comes was playing with a ton of talented guys
with POTENTIAL nba draft, stock you, know first round draft,

(54:47):
pick lottery pick. Status that's not for, everyone and so
that's obviously something Out, Again Mark pope talked about parsing
through during the recruiting, process AND i thought it was
interesting as well when you mentioned, that you, know you'd
be surprised how many times during the recruiting process there's
kind of a mutual walking away between Both kentucky and
the player simply because they don't or they determine that

(55:09):
it's not you, know an exact. Fit and that doesn't,
necessarily you, know speak ill of either party. Involved it's just, simply,
hey we don't think this will be a. Match we
think you can be better. Elsewhere and that's to keep
part of the recruiting process as. Well you, know as
much as you want recruits and you want high talented
transfer portal, guys you need to make sure you're getting
the right ones to fit your system in culture that's,

(55:30):
right and then.

Speaker 1 (55:31):
To be, fair and you've covered recruiting here for a,
while as we, said But calipari had a similar, message you,
know when he would tell recruits this isn't for. Everybody you,
know that wasn't just bluster and this will be the
hardest thing you ever. DO i remember when The Harrison
twins committed and when people, said what was it About
Cali perry's? Pitch and that's what they brought, up that it, was,

(55:53):
really at least with, them a no bs. Approach AND
i know that That calipari And pope couldn't be two different,
people more more different. People but the approach is the,
same isn't. It And Cali perry lived it forever many,
years And Mark pope certainly lived, it and they know
what it's like to sign on. Here it isn't for,
everybody is.

Speaker 5 (56:11):
It, yeah it's really Just pope kind of delivering that
same message with different. Words and Obviously pope can speak
a lot, too being here as a, player being here
as a national championship winning, players the impact That kentucky
had on the rest of his life in terms of,
basketball and also just an outlook on. Things you, know
he's spoken a ton about what the, community what the

(56:32):
state means to. Him but, again you're, right it's that
very idea of, Hey kentucky's not for. Everyone you, know
you see. THAT i think sometimes even in the off
season with some of the outgoing transfers and the transfers
that are coming in as. WELL i, Mean Mark pope
spoke at nauseum every time he you, know brought Up
Modia bote yesterday about how, special, faithful loyal he is

(56:53):
as a. Player those are obviously some qualities THAT i
think we can tell very clearly matter To Mark pope
when he's recruiting, players both at the high school level
and from the transfer. Portal so, again just getting that
right blend of, guys because obviously you want to have
others basketball. Qualities you want to be, longer more, athletic more,
physical a lot of those traits THAT i think a
lot of people believe the twenty five to twenty Six

(57:15):
wildcats will be improved in compared to last. Year but
none of that really matters if you don't have the
right collection of individuals from a character, Perspective guys who
are willing to sacrifice offensive, rebound set, screens you, know
do a lot of the dirty works for the enhancement
of the, team sometimes more so than their own individual.

Speaker 1 (57:33):
Statistics, hey BEFORE i let you, go you also cover horse.
Racing as we, said An Thorpedo anna beaten over the
weekend At keenland and The Judmont spinster, sakes that's A
grade One jingin an eighteen to one shot came in
and one in a photo And anna was up the.
Track that could be the end of her, career AM i?

Speaker 5 (57:55):
Right there's a lot to dive into. There there's a
jockey chain for the first time in her. Career With
Brian hernandez suffering some serious injuries At Churchill downs during
that Track september, meet So flavi And pratt had the
mount On Thorpedo anna for the first time in his.
Career in her racing career as, well just the first
Time hernandez wasn't a. Board but you're, CORRECT i, mean

(58:16):
fourth out of five. Runners just really not a great
effort from her tremendous finish With jingjin tracking down nitrogen
right at the. Wire but, yeah reading into some of
the comments That kenny, McPeek her, trainer made post, race
seems like they're going to take a real hard look
at kind of what's the next step in her. Career
seems like a Potential Breeders cup. Run she was going
to be going for back to back wins in the

(58:37):
distaff that might be off, now but, still this is
a horse that had won Multiple grade one races this
year ahead of her return To keeenland where she broke her.
Maiden so, obviously you, know not the RACE i think
a lot of her connections were. Expecting but, STILL i
guess time will tell if we see Thorpedo anna continue
or if it's times made her shift into the retirement

(58:57):
phase of her.

Speaker 1 (58:58):
Career, yeah but it's been so much fun watching, her hasn't.
IT I, mean when you see any, athlete if it's
a boxer or you, know any athlete that dominates like
that individually, singularly it's, incredible isn't.

Speaker 7 (59:11):
It?

Speaker 5 (59:13):
Certainly, yeah AND i think she'll always be again tied
to that magical twenty twenty Four Derby oaks double for The,
hernandez and obviously doing it on the one hundred and
fiftieth anniversary of both The derby and The oaks as,
well will always kind of give her that special place
in horse racing. History but, yeah you, MENTIONED i, mean
this is a horse THAT i, think still even with
that fourth place effort On sunday evening At, keeenland has

(59:36):
only finished out of the money, twice AND i think
sixteen careers, starts you, know twelve, wins a ton of
grade ones doing, it you, know across a litany of
years as, well like a multiple year run of. Excellence,
yeah you can't ask for anything more than than what
she's given us on the tractor in her.

Speaker 1 (59:52):
Career and we root For kenny being a local guy
and the fact that he picked her out of the
sale and did not spend a ton of money on.
It but his acumen got her all the way to
the top when it comes to horse, racing especially when
it comes To. Phillies Cam drummond covers horse, Racing kentucky,
basketball whatever needs covering for the hero, leader and we

(01:00:12):
appreciate the insight following him See drummond ninety. Seven why
ninety seven you've told, me BUT i don't remember this.

Speaker 5 (01:00:19):
YEAR i was, born SO i hast to date myself
too much on public access radio, there but that is
the year of.

Speaker 1 (01:00:26):
Birth sounds good to. Me thank, you. Brother we'll see
it down the.

Speaker 5 (01:00:28):
Road appreciate. IT i was very talking to you day
and we'll hear.

Speaker 1 (01:00:32):
More from The wildcats on the other side of the
break here on six THIRTY Wlap welcome back to The
Big Blue. Insider coming, up we'll hear from more of
The basketball, wildcasts BUT i wanted to touch on a
couple of things From. Saturday, obviously The kentucky game did
not go the WAY uk fans wanted it to, go of,
course but it was kind of, predictable the piling on

(01:00:54):
afterwards on social, media which is becoming more and more
predictable every, week especially when you're covering a team that's in,
trouble like the Football wildcats, are Like Mark stoops. Is
but this was A georgia team that was favored to
win by three, touchdowns and that's exactly what it. Did
how it did, it why it happened the way it.

(01:01:16):
Did you can debate that all, day every. Day Did
kentucky play? Well not particularly at times it. DID i
thought That Cutter bowley had his best game as A Kentucky,
wildcat AND i tip my cap To bush Ham dan
And Mark stoops because and first of, All stoops doesn't
call the. Place people are convinced that he's on heads calling.

(01:01:37):
Place he's. NOT i watch, him he's. Not but it doesn't.
Matter people are always gonna believe that and AS i
mentioned a while, back it's not A Mark stoops. Offense
people keep talking On twitter and you, know various brands
of social media The Mark stoops. Offense, WELL i went
through this the other day here on the show all

(01:01:59):
the different offense of Coordinator stoops has. Had probably one
of his bigger problems has been obviously the. Inconsistency but
he hasn't really settled on one particular offense other than
the fact that he wants to be able to run the.
FOOTBALL i don't mean it the exclusion of the passing,
game but he wants to run the ball so he

(01:02:21):
can pass and not vice. Versa that's what the air raid.
Was the air raid would throw the ball so you can,
run and essentially the runs where the flip, passes the extended.
Handoffs but it seems Like. STOOPS i won't say he's
run a little bit of, everything but he's run different.
Things and he decided at some point because he had

(01:02:41):
and he's still he Had Boom, williams he Had Jojo,
camp he Had Chris, rodriguez let's run the, ball and
he had the offensive line to make it. Work, well
he doesn't have that right. Now he's got A o.
Line it's better than last, year but not nearly good
enough to contend in THE. Sec and that's on. Him
i'm not saying it's not his. Fault he oversees. Everything

(01:03:03):
but if you want to rag on the, offense take
a look at what happened down At. Georgia, Yeah georgia's
got a GOOD d, line really, good and So kentucky
couldn't run the ball as well as it. Has But
kentucky changed the offense to where they went As stoops
said they would with a quicker drop cutter bully able

(01:03:23):
to get rid of the. Ball they moved the. Pocket
bully didn't stand there and wait as long as he.
HAS i can't comment on how well the offensive or
the wide receivers did BECAUSE i don't see that from
WHERE i stand on the. FIELD i talked With jefficorol
about it last night and he's kind of had a mixed.

(01:03:45):
Reaction sometimes they do a good, job sometimes there's not
enough time for them to get. Open BUT i thought
the quicker passing game was vital in that game Of.
Georgia it's just that the fine Line kentucky walks when
it comes to margin of error is it's so slim
now because they're. Personnel the talent level is not what it's.

(01:04:08):
Been when they were winning eight to ten, games the
margin for error was a little bit broader because they
can make up for their mistakes by sacking the quarterback
thanks To Josh, allen or making a big play down
the field or breaking off a big touchdown. Run but
when you can't count on that nearly as much, now

(01:04:29):
your margin of error is really. Slim and when you're
on the road at a place Like georgia Or South,
carolina it's almost. Invisible, well now you've Got texas coming.
Up now you've Got tennessee coming. Up texas is a
bit of a, mess but they've got talent. Now If
kentucky does have the bye, week as we all, know
marks troops record coming out of buys not. Great BUT

(01:04:53):
i touched on this last week as. Well look at the.
Schedule as often as, Not kentucky out of a bye
week has Played. Tennessee and we know the problems The
wildcats have had with the volunteers who have had good
teams through the, years sometimes not so good when The
wildcats should have, won but usually pretty. Good and as you,
Know kentucky said. Trouble there was one Year kentucky came

(01:05:15):
out of a bye and played At Mississippi. State kentucky
wasn't very. Good state was, okay but that night Destroyed.
Kentucky so coming out of this, bye it's gonna be
another really tall. Task you don't See, kentucky with all due,
respect playing In Eastern michigan out of a bye very.
Often it has, happened but it's always really TOUGH sec.

(01:05:36):
Games so, yeah the schedule is going to be, difficult
and coming out of a bye week it's gonna make
it a lot. Tougher so what about the future Of Mark.
Stoops everybody's got, sources everybody knows what's going.

Speaker 5 (01:05:49):
ON i.

Speaker 1 (01:05:49):
DON'T i couldn't tell. YOU i, Know i've talked to
people and they believe that all this chatter on social
media About stoops walked in and you, know offered to
negotiate an. Out not. True bush Ham den is going
to be fired today or tomorrow. Whatever not. True stoops

(01:06:12):
and his agent meeting On monday With Mitch barnhart working
out an agreement to where he. Leave not. True not
saying it won't happen in the. Future but there's a
lot of loose talk out, there or a lot of
info out there that's not necessarily. GOOD i don't know
where it's coming, from but it's just a matter of

(01:06:33):
watching to see what. Happens people get impatient and. Mits
barnhart's m has always been essentially wait till the end
of the. Year now he Notified Joker phillips that he
would not be back before the season, ended so anything's.
Possible but right, now AS i, said there's a lot

(01:06:56):
of loose talk out. THERE i can't add or subtract from.
It i'm just telling you What i've been. Told and
it's a tough spot right now for a coach who
is the winningest coach In kentucky, history but raised the
floor as well as the, ceiling as we've always, said
so he's become a victim of his own. Success and
the talent level right now is not what it has.

(01:07:17):
Been you can talk about the scheme all you, want
but it's all about as you, know what is the
Cliche jimmies And joe's versus exes And, o's but the
head coach is responsible for all of. It and What
i'm saying IS i think people are pointing at the wrong.
Problem it's not play, calling it's not the schemes Because

(01:07:39):
Brad white's defense has not been. Great and we Know
Brad white has been as solid as de coordinator and
THE sec in the country as there's been for the
last however many years he's Been kentucky's de. Coordinator but
they're not executing right. Now they're not playing very. Well so,
again more About jimmies And joe's Than exes And. O's

(01:07:59):
but mark'st hoops is ultimately responsible for the jumis And
joe's on that. Roster and as a lot of us said,
preseason could be a better, team but the schedule does
not allow the ball club to reflect. That AND i
think that's what we're seeing right. Now missed opportunities With
Ole miss And South. Carolina those are two games where

(01:08:22):
you had a better shot at winning that. One then
he Did georgia or Probably. Texas one other note is
we were on the way, back we drove To, georgia
so coming, back you, know we're listening to the, Radio
we're looking At twitter and all. That This Mark sanchez
story is. Bizarre he's now looking at a felony battery
charge for that fight on over the weekend ON i

(01:08:46):
guess it Was, friday over a parking, dispute and a
police officer told us that he was surprised to hear
there was an arrest because it was just misdemeanor charge as.
Well clearly they were getting ready to charge in with
the fell and they did a new charge of. Battery,
essentially he got into a, fight Did Mark, sanchez but

(01:09:06):
a guy over a parking. Space sanchez allegedly hit the
guy and caused a facial injury that required hospitalization of
the other. Guy the other guy pulls out a knife
and stabs. Him so more to come on that, story
and more to come here in The Big Blue insider
with The Basketball cats speaking to us on Media. Day

(01:09:27):
that's next here on six THIRTY. Wlap welcome back to
The Big Blue, insider final segment of our, show and
we have saved some of the best for last BECAUSE
i had a chance to talk with a lot of
The Basketball cats yesterday at Media. Day and, again you
only have a set amount of. Time you want to
try to spend more than a minute and a half

(01:09:48):
or two minutes with each, guy so we couldn't get to,
Everybody but we just had to pick and choose and
see maybe where there was a better opportunity to talk
to somebody if the crowd wasn't too big around, them
stuff like. That BUT i did want to talk to
either a returning player or one of the, newbies one
of the, freshmen SO i talked to Both Jasper johnson

(01:10:10):
And Malachi, moreno as well As Brandon garrison and. Others
but those are the Guys i'm going to present to
you here, today as well as some comments From Kenny,
brooks who also spoke to the media. Yesterday not the
players for the women's. Team we're going to talk to
them on another, day BUT i thought i'd start With Brandon.
Garrison and you Heard Mark pope earlier talk about the

(01:10:31):
fact That garrison is a guy that is incredible in
incredible condition right. Now And, garrison of course supplied a
lot of good minutes last year in relief Of Amari,
williams and he's looking to do more this. Season coach
said that you've upped your. Game how do you feel about?
It and how have you upped your?

Speaker 8 (01:10:52):
Game, yeah OBVIOUSLY i feel great about. It you, Know
I'VE i got after this. Summer you, know after the,
offseason main thing was getting in. Shape so that was my,
focus you, know, right like a couple of weeks after the.
SEASON i got after, that AND i feel Like i'm
the best Shape i've been in since been in. College
SO i pat myself on the back with. That my overall,

(01:11:12):
GAME i feel like it's just, grown you, know scoring the, ball, more,
defending talking, more you, know just trying to lead the
squad out.

Speaker 1 (01:11:19):
There so, yeah is that a big step for you
compared to last. Year last, YEAR i think you were
just trying to find your, way, Right is that really
different for?

Speaker 2 (01:11:27):
You?

Speaker 1 (01:11:28):
Oh, yeah for.

Speaker 8 (01:11:28):
Sure you know last YEAR i just felt, like you,
KNOW i was, there you, KNOW i still helped the team,
out and but this YEAR i just felt like my game,
grew you, KNOW i, know Close pope offense now obviously been.
Here so, yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:11:43):
Your team is going to, head especially When jayden comes.
Back it's. Good there's gonna be a lot of. SIZE i,
mean how does that help you grow as a. Player
just banging in practice.

Speaker 8 (01:11:52):
Now for, sure shout out Recent. Malaca you know we
banging down. There you, know they're both, foots so they
helped me get. Better you, know defending. Them you, know
they're two talented bigs AND i feel, like you, know
we got the best biggs in the. Country so, yeah as.

Speaker 1 (01:12:08):
One of the returning, veterans you got a pretty good
idea of this team versus last year's. Team not that
one's better than the, other but how different will this
team be if at?

Speaker 8 (01:12:18):
All, yeah, obviously you, know we're much younger than last year's,
team BUT i feel like we this year's team taking
pride on. Defense you, KNOW i feel like we're getting
in after it on. Defense you, know we're making the
offense have trouble, scoring you.

Speaker 1 (01:12:34):
Know but, yeah coach said that he's kind of flip
flopped what he did last year started with the offensive
Install now it's more defense to the. Offense what's that been, Like.

Speaker 8 (01:12:45):
Oh, yeah it's been, different you, know Because i'm used to,
him you, know offense first, usually but this year he's
been taking pride in. Defense you, know last year he
felt like we was good on, defense but we could be.
Better SO i feel like that's why he's taking more
steps from the defense.

Speaker 1 (01:12:59):
End That's Brandon garrison transferred in last year From Oklahoma
state and again provided valuable minutes in the, middle and
he's a guy who now knows what's expected of him
here in The Mark pope, System so watch for more from. Him,
now let's hear from a couple of the true, freshmen

(01:13:19):
starting With Malachi, moreno another, big Great crossing, product led
his team to a state, championship and according To, pope
he is a real. Presence and he talked to us
about the fact that he got to meet and spend
time With Karl Anthony. Towns that was a great, experience you.

Speaker 6 (01:13:36):
Know you, Know kat was one of the GUYS i
tried to model my game after growing. Up and what's
funny is his jersey was actually the first JERSEY i ever,
Owned so it was kind of a full circle moment
and just being able to kind of pick his brain,
about you, know how he was able to, handle you,
know coming Into kentucky being number one, pig being a

(01:13:56):
highly tied, recruit how he was just able to handle the.
Pressure and he gave me some real good advice and
just to just to enjoy where we're at and enjoy the.

Speaker 1 (01:14:04):
Moment what are you seeing his game that you'd like to,
Amula i'm sure all of, it but as a.

Speaker 6 (01:14:08):
PLAYER i think the ability he has to stretch the.
FLOOR i think just that he is able to you,
know shoot the, three but to also play bullyball. SOMETIMES
i think that's a really, cool really cool aspect of
his game THAT i really try to model, after just
being you, know that stretch five who can space out
offenses and just make just make my team so much.

Speaker 1 (01:14:28):
Better we talked to you last year about the fact
that you could shoot the, three but they didn't need
you over At Great crossing to do. That what about
now in The Mark pope.

Speaker 6 (01:14:36):
Offense you, know we shoot a lot of threes in the,
Offense SO i think there's times that we can shoot.
Threes but IF i can get my teammate a better,
SHOT i MEAN i will always take that. Opportunity you,
know all hands on. DECK i, Mean i'm here to
make my teammates, better And i'm here to win a.

Speaker 7 (01:14:54):
Championship you, know by the coy and the team's so,
deep how do, you you, know play good team, ball winning,
ball but also try to stand out so you could
get some more clock in the season, starts you know.

Speaker 6 (01:15:07):
Right, Now i'm Just i'm just trying to be as
competitive AS i. Can you, Know i'm not really worried about.
Clock it's all part Of god's. Plan If i'm If
i'm here to play this, year That i'm here to.
Play but you, know IF i have to wait my,
TURN i have to wait my. Turn and that's just
that's just the reality of. It and right, Now i'm
just trying to be competitive every single day and make
everybody else around me.

Speaker 1 (01:15:27):
Better you've always been about your. TEAMMATES i, mean you
talked about them a lot of great. Crossing what about
the time, though that you need to take over on
a possession or two like that you get any more
comfortable with?

Speaker 6 (01:15:39):
That you, KNOW i can be comfortable at, times you,
know if say we need a big bucket or a big,
REBOUND i feel LIKE i. CAN i can kind of take,
that take pride in. That but at the end of the,
Day i'm all about letting my teammates go to work
because you, know if if they're, Eating i'm eating so
and as long as we have a, win that's ALL
i care.

Speaker 1 (01:15:56):
About keep hearing too about your, defense, though and that's
that's one on one. Stuff how do you feel that's come.

Speaker 6 (01:16:01):
ALONG i feel like it's gotten a lot. BETTER i
feel Like i'm able to adapt to physicality a lot.
Better AND i take a lot of pride in. Defense you,
know in high, SCHOOL i always consider myself the defensive
anchor of our, team just to you, know kind of
be like a last minute bailout. Almost but you, know,
everybody everybody here is a lot better In they're here
for a. Reason SO i think taking pride in, defense

(01:16:21):
knowing That i'm competing against the best player was sixteen
guys on our, team the best sixteen guys in college,
BASKETBALL i THINK i take a lot of pride in my.

Speaker 1 (01:16:29):
Defense you probably never had the knacks with bigs like your. Teammates,
now how much obviously has that improved? You and you
ain't even had to go Against jayden, Yet it's been
a lot of.

Speaker 6 (01:16:39):
Fun we make each other better every single, day AND i,
think you, know kind of just having guys around like,
that it makes the game so much easier because if they,
can like when you're with your, teammates they kind of
know what you're gonna, do so it forces you to
become more. Creative so then you can only imagine what
it's like when you playing somebody else and you know
they don't know what you're about to. Do SO i

(01:17:00):
think it kind of just, makes you, know our transition
so much. Easier it makes our game so much.

Speaker 1 (01:17:03):
Easier, malachamarino who does not sound like a true, freshman
does he? Needed Is Jasper johnson for. Sales kentucky product
went To Overtime elite after playing At Woodford. County his
dad played football here as we all, know and he
grew up WATCHING uk. Basketball but it's a little different
now that he's a part of.

Speaker 9 (01:17:22):
It you, know watching it ON, tv you, know watching college,
basketball it looks like, it's you, know a fast paced
and physical. Game it may not look like it's that,
hard but now come in. Here my first couple of,
weeks it's definitely been. Hard you, know guys are much
older than, me much stronger than, Me so trying to
learn that physical side of the game on both sides

(01:17:43):
of the ball has really been a big factor of.

Speaker 3 (01:17:46):
Mine maybe that's.

Speaker 10 (01:17:47):
Me speaking of, Practice i've been talking to the other
guys and one thing that constantly bring up is the
ones y'all run after practice and how competitive has that
been and how have you been fairing in those?

Speaker 9 (01:17:58):
Ones, yeah they've been really, competitive you, know whenever we
had the you, know our restriction of one practice or
one hour. Practices you, know guys would say after practice
and play ones for hours and until we got. Tired
but now they're definitely very, competitive you, know, Me Braiden Jaalen,
lowe A gazelle, otega you, know all getting out there

(01:18:19):
competing at a high, level but having fun with it as,
Well AND i feel like that builds chemistry for us for.

Speaker 1 (01:18:25):
Sure is that for being one of the? Locals obviously
you know what fans expected, you but you've got, relatives
you've got, neighbors you've got your people at your.

Speaker 3 (01:18:34):
Church and all that.

Speaker 1 (01:18:35):
Stuff you're, male, MAN i, mean what is that like
dealing with? That it's.

Speaker 9 (01:18:39):
CRAZY i mean the season hasn't even started, yet and you,
KNOW i have people coming up to me asking for
pictures and even asking me for, tickets like for, games
And i'm, LIKE i don't even know much about that,
yet but now it's. Crazy you, know being from, HERE
a lot of people have high expectations of me for this,
season but HOPEFULLY.

Speaker 1 (01:18:56):
I can come out there and make them as as.
Possible so is that part of the. Fun it? Is
it's definitely a part of the fun having high.

Speaker 9 (01:19:03):
Expectations you, know to whom much is, given much is.
Required so it's going to be a fun season this
year And i'm really excited for.

Speaker 1 (01:19:09):
It Kenny brooks is excited as. Well THE uk women's.
Coaching we hear a lot more from him and his,
players but he spoke at media day yesterday about the
fact that he can't wait to get started full board
with a full compliment of, players.

Speaker 11 (01:19:22):
And i'm very excited about this, group a lot of,
unknowns just like most coaches around the country at this
point of the, year you're just trying to build chemistry
and we're trying to do that AND i think we.
Do we're on our, way being banged up a little,
bit but looking forward to having a good week this
week with a full compliment of players where they can

(01:19:43):
go out and just start to build that chemistry with
the talent that we. Have so very excited and looking
forward to everything that we can accomplish this.

Speaker 1 (01:19:49):
Year and Now i'll do it for now thanks to
my guest Kim Rick haskins and To Cam. Drummond that's
a good night from the garage And. Lexington then don't.

Speaker 4 (01:20:04):
Anything any such such tact that tapping can.

Speaker 2 (01:20:55):
Do.

Speaker 4 (01:20:56):
Anything THEN sat change.

Speaker 1 (01:21:15):
Tact AND i think.

Speaker 3 (01:21:22):
The back.

Speaker 4 (01:21:32):
Taunt then don't do

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On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Stuff You Should Know

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}2025-10-07 BBI

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

All Episodes

2025-10-07 BBI

On Purpose with Jay Shetty