Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on Anthony
White along with Jack Pilgrim and Larry Vaup bo Robinson
coming to you from Clark's Main Street Market studios and
no longer snowing downtown Lex to Kentucky. Before we get
back to the phone lines, if you like to join
the show, you can eight five nine to eight zero
(00:28):
to tow eight seven. That's eight five nine, that's too
eight zero cats. Before we get back to the phone lines, bo,
I mean I Jack. They were asking who was the
last call that we had?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Was it Larry?
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Larry might have also asked, h and you kind of
got giddy and got loud and excited about the prospect
of Jasper being our store. What are we looking at
at the at the guard position? Because I think we've
pretty much all assumed that Jalen's not going to play
anymore this easy, or even if you he he does,
you have to be prepared for at any point that
(01:04):
that could go soft. But uh, what what are we
looking at at the point guard position? By committee? And
was it just me? Or is Colin Colin going the
wrong direction?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I think all of these things kind of overlap with
one another to get to our our our support of nephew.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, it was puts some put some respect on John
Short's name.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
He was the one that that that pointed out that
Jasper needed to be the guy.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Uh yeah, I think I think it's obvious. I think
my frustration with Jasper is they they invested quite.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
A bit in bringing him him in and keeping him
in Lexington and just the the payoff. Whether you like
him or don't, whether you're you know you he fits
your style of playing your system or not, it just
it's it doesn't feel like they have given him his
best shot to just see what he can do with
(02:05):
extended minutes and you know, extended an extended leash, especially
in terms of shot making and creating and facilitating and
all those things, to decide, well, can he be the
point guard? We we just haven't gotten to see outside
of Bellerman and some other smaller sample sized stuff against
weak competition. We just haven't gotten to see him against
real competition at this stage quite yet. And knowing the
(02:29):
fragility of Jalen's shoulder, whether he plays again or not,
whether he tries to do this weekend week off week on,
week wee week off like at minimum, you're going to
need somebody else to step.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Up at at that spot.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
In Malachi's grade as a point center and running the
half court. We we appreciate that, but you still need
somebody to push the tempo and do that. Denzel Aberdeen
is not a point guard.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
He's he is.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
He is an off ball shoot first, score first player
who is not going to to efficiently run an offense.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
And I think we've learned that.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
I don't think I like Colin Chandler, but as you said,
I think he's kind of going in the wrong direction.
He needs to be more limited to an off ball
shot maker and shot taker kind of guy, and I
think that leaves Jasper. Jasper shown enough promise. I think
he stepped up nicely in very very limited run last night.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
But I do think that if you, you know, if you're.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Trying to find places to pull from to get the
biggest bang for your buck and to find the greatest
value in potential production, I don't know how we haven't
dug deeper into the Jasper Johnson experiment up to this point,
and you know, like it or not, I think Pope's
hand maybe force moving forward and Jasper may end up
(03:44):
having to be the guy, and I think that's a
welcome thing for us here at Sunday Morning Sports Talk
is is lifelong Jasper supporters.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah, and I think, like, as you said, it's kind
of funny.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Man.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
That's why I'm still I'm still sticking with Jedi mind
trick Jack because thing is taking care of itself. Everything
you've been saying and questioning and why is this not happen?
Everything is taking care of itself. I mean, you know,
I've been I've been a big Colin Chandler fan since
he's been here. But yesterday early or mid or early
in the first half, when he it was a semi
(04:16):
if you want to call a semi can test a layup,
and he just blew it, driving from the left side
of the lane across the lane, and I was like, Eh,
this is University of Kentucky like this this ain't you know,
YMCA or something. But and then he missed some easier
shots later, like little small bunnies later, and I was
just kind of like, maybe the confidence is there, and
(04:38):
it seems like some players are unsure about their teammates
or their responsibility or role on the team. But if
if I mean like you said. The only other thing
about it is that I don't think Pope has given
some people opportunities, given other people extra opportunities, and just
moving people around. So I just think he knows too
(05:00):
much basketball for him just to be winging it and
flying by.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
The seat of his parents.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Jack But let's get to the phone lines and see
if somebody can help me. I'll say, if Alva can't
help out a little bit, Hey, Alvin, what do you
got for us?
Speaker 5 (05:12):
Good morning, Good morning guys.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
How you doing doing good?
Speaker 6 (05:17):
Well?
Speaker 5 (05:17):
You're talking about the point guard position, which is equivalent
to the quarterback position in collegiate football and on the
professional level, that the essentially the point guard is the
one that moves the team, that he's the facilitator of
(05:37):
getting guys open, being able to dribble, drive, being able
to find the gall of the lob coming off their edge.
And I think that you know, and jack maybe can
speak to this a little bit more. And I've heard
some of the other UK veterans on podcasts make the
point that Mark Pope didn't go out and get enough
point guards that he was suffered last year having the
(06:01):
butler to go down, and Jackson Robinson to go down
as well. And the other fella forget his name, uh
Cresa or whoever he was, I'll get his name. So
I guess the browser thought is did he have go
ahead and get enough point guards? Is Jasper Johnson had?
Does he have an sec body to be able to
(06:22):
take the pounding that he's going to receive as we
move forward into the schedule, you know? So that's that's
the question I want Jack to add to answer this.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
And take all that and a thing.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
I do have a football thought the.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
Game against Old Miss and Indiana, you know Old Miss
and uh Miami. Uh, that to me was the past
and appearance call in the end zone? Have referees got
in their mind through intimidation and seeing them going viral
and not making a call, And the thought of the
cliche is you can't make that call in this moment?
(06:59):
Uh has reference He just sort of being just put
in a position where they're gonna swallow then the whistle.
Same thing happened in basketball. The Notre Dame coach goes
crazy because refle makes a call it's a four point play. Uh,
Does referees have to make make the call irregardless of
(07:19):
the setting of the game and how critical the moment is,
don't but referee have to make that call.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I appreciate the call, Alvin. I've been saying for years,
and I do think it's unfair that refs don't have to.
I don't know what bit of professionalism there is to
it that rest don't have to ever own up to
a bad call and miss or just an explanation of
why they did or didn't make a call. And you
know it's been said for years on all levels that
refs in the in the late minutes of a game,
(07:48):
they'll they'll swallow the whistle because they don't want to
be uh part of the But then again, the other
team kind of feels like you need to call the
game from whistle to whistle, from the beginning to the end.
You need to call the game the same way. I
just really think to soothe a lot of people's feelings,
and you know, gambling is huge that I would love
(08:08):
to hear for a ref to say, you know, what
I missed that call, or you know I was thinking
of this, or what you didn't see was his jersey
being tugged, whatever the case may be. But I've been
like that for years that I think the referee should
be allowed to and I think it would. I think
it would help the integrity of the game. But people
kind of feel like, well, they don't they're I guess
maybe because they're officials. They shouldn't have to respond or
(08:30):
have to answer or be held to any accountability because
all they are doing is officiat in the game. The
game is not them theirselves. But these not the same people,
But there's the same concept when people are saying and
know they're not kids. We always call college players kids.
They're not kids, they're eighteen years old. But people always say, well,
now as they're making money, you can say and do
(08:50):
whatever you want to them.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
You shouldn't.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
You should not be able to say and do whatever
you want to a professional athlete, and you don shouldn't
say or do whatever you want to to an eighteen,
nineteen twenty year old because although they are adults, that
is steals one. I don't care how much money you make.
Just because you make a certain amount of money, you're
allowed to be scrutinized. So I think I feel the
same well about those two concepts, where people feel like,
whether the athletes are making so much money, now we
(09:13):
should be able to say whatever we want to say
to him. That is just a crazy thought on his face.
But I don't know if you guys agree that. I
do believe just generally after a game, referee should just
be able to give a little a brief conference. If
everything wasn't good, it's a great game, thanks leave, or
if there's controversy, Yeah, the one call. I think a
(09:34):
lot of people will feel a whole lot better if
they just came and owned up to it or explain
there why they made the call. And I think people
will feel a whole lot better. Jack, you can answer
that in also he asked you about whatever since John
Wall and Aeric Bleds one and two came here, we've
had a hard time. Well we've had one point guard,
but we ain't had a And I don't know if
(09:56):
any point guards want to come and sit back that
Bleds so and Wall things was just ah, But I
don't know if anybody wants to come and sit when
he's saying we're not we have tough time stacking up
or getting back up point guards. Is there such thing
as a backup point guard wanted to come to Kentucky
or someone who thinks they can play at the school.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Well, that's exactly what he did with kerk Kretzer last year.
He was brought in to be the backup point guard,
and he was a starting caliber backup. I mean, he
had a ton of ton of starts under his belt
for you know, during his time at Arizona and West
Virginia and across the board. So that was the plan.
(10:34):
But you know, sometimes the just things don't work out.
He goes down with a season ending foot injury and
then we kind of go into the mass chaos that
was the rest of the rest of the season with
lamont In and out.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
So I do think that the point guard position this
year probably wasn't handled as well.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
I think they signed Denzel Aberdeen thinking he could wear
too many hats. I think, you know, they pursued Lamar Wilkers,
and they pursued some more on ball you know, pure
point guards, and they kind of said, well, shoot, we
can you know, we can get a guy that can
shoot and facilitate and be you know, a backup point
(11:13):
guard option and a guy who can come in and
be an off ball shooter. Thinking that, I think Denzel
was going to be ready to take the jump to
superstardom that maybe his his role suggested as the six.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Man of a national championship team. I think I think
that may have been. And I like him.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
He produced last night and played played really well, but
I do think that that was probably one of the
bigger evaluation misses for Mark Pope, and just in terms
of fit, I do think that that spot should have
either been a pure backup point guard that is that
that you know can can run the show and run
this offense, or a knockdown shooter that you trust to
(11:54):
be a Kobe Bray or something like that.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
And I think I think they missed the mark on
that one.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Green Let's get back to the phone lines to see
what Bill has to say. Good morning, Bill, What do
you got for us?
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Bill? Are you there?
Speaker 6 (12:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Yeah, what do you got for Well?
Speaker 7 (12:14):
Earlier when you all were discussing the the trying to
make the decision for a red shirt medical yeah with
j Lo, I guess yeah. And I'm trying to wrap
my thoughts around why is that even a discussion when
(12:36):
you know a player of that caliber is not going
to need it to be here four years.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
So you're saying, so your question is that he should
just tough through it here for four years. Are you
saying not let him get better and possibly come back
next year and do what he's supposed to.
Speaker 7 (12:59):
Oh, I'm saying, then let him play and see if
he can play through it. And if he can't, then
then you do the surgery and get ready for next year.
But you know, I mean players have played through injuries before.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Hey, Bill, have you have you ketch up? Have you
kept up with the games and the conversation?
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
That the problem is at this point is popping out
too frequently. And the more it pops out is gonna
do it easier. It's gonna become more susceptible to popping out.
Just like yesterday when he when it popped out, he
just left the court like there was no trying to
fix it.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
It was. It was a bad deal.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
So I think, so what everybody's concerned about is gonna
get worse and worse. It's not gonna get better. So,
I mean, you can tough it out, but just going
for a rebound, just trying to steal the ball, it's
gonna pop out once you put your arm away from
your body.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
That's everybody's concern.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
Bill, Well, I understand what you're saying, but then then
why not just let him sit and just play and
and and I don't know, I guess play less. But
maybe uh, when we really need him bad that you
(14:13):
just use him for that for those minutes.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
So you don't want them to burn a year and uh,
you don't want them to burn a year, and you
don't want them to have surgeries. What you're saying you
want them available.
Speaker 7 (14:21):
Well, I know my thought is I'm not worried about
him burning a year because he's not going to be
here for four years regards. But but maybe that one
that one game he makes the difference in where what
we do.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Well, we'll appreciate the car bill. I'll love we got
to take a break. I'll love let the guys discuss that.
Maybe they agree with you somewhat. I think I'm kind
of onto what you're saying. I don't think that's good
for anybody. I don't think that's good for the team,
nor j Lowe himself. But we'll discuss when we come back.
You're listening to Stockyards Banks and they when the sports
Talking News Radio thirty WLAP.
Speaker 8 (15:02):
This is the home of the Wildcats, six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on Anthony
White along with Larry Vapp, Jack Pilgrim, Bo Robinson Stockyards
Bank has been your trust departy for a very very
long time since nineteen oh four, Jack Pilgrim, Before we
let you go, I did want to give you an
(15:27):
opportunity to respond to Bill's call. But here's two Here's
the other thing. I also wanted to ask you, And
I know you know we love Jashper here and I'm
friends with some of his family members on social media.
They ain't all that happy with UK, but you did.
You've been very honest and fair and your your evaluation
(15:51):
or whatever is so one answer his question? Do you
understand what Bill's saying about Jacklin not wasting a year
like I don't know who wins if you do that?
But do you think the the Jasper's an ability to
stay on the court is due to a style of
play which he seems to do his best on ISO.
(16:13):
But it's funny because it sounded like Jalen Lowe was
not happy with being a guy that needs to get
to the bucket and get points. He wanted to be
a distributor. But you also have Jasper who likes ISO
and may not be as good of a distributor as Jalen.
So you asked one guy to do the thing he
doesn't do best, and you're gonna ask the other one.
(16:34):
Is that Do you think that's part of the issue again,
Jasper more minutes of his style of play.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Yeah, it's tricky.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
And for the caller about j Lo's redshirt thing and
how you navigate that.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I don't think this is what they're doing. You know,
he's saying you, well.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Why don't why doesn't he try to play through it?
And you know, see if you can tell like that's
what we've been doing. That's been the whole charade over
the last several weeks slash months. So yeah, he's trying.
He tried his best and tried to fight through it.
And I mean it was a three strikes in your
out policy, not a one strike in your out policy
for him. So yeah, I think they did everything that
(17:15):
they could to preserve this and salvage a bad injury situation.
Like nobody signed up for this, nobody wanted wanted this
to be the case. But it's the new reality and
you kind of just have to have to face it. Unfortunately,
so you know, nothing Kentucky did wrong and nothing Jalen
did wrong on handling a tricky injury situation. But for Jasper, uh,
(17:36):
I I am. I'm having a hard time just understanding
if it is, oh, well he's io heavy, Well it's
this or that was, well, you signed him, You paid
the money to bring him in and keep him home
when he could have gone to UNC, he could have
gone to Alabama, he could have you know, had other
other schools wanted him desperately, and you fought hard to
(17:58):
keep him home and paid, you know, a premium.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
To do that.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
So why are we like he's Jasper hasn't changed as
a basketball player in the months he's been on campus.
He's still the same guy that you know made him
a five star. It's just so if it is he,
if he's not a style fit for you, then why
did you sign him? So I just I wholeheartedly disagree
with with that approach on on Kentucky's side and in
(18:23):
handling that one. But I do think it's a window,
it's an opportunity if Jalen is out for the season.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I do think that he The.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Difference in Jalen and Jasper is Jasper is definitely more
shot you know, creation, and you know, in terms of
efficiency in creation, he's better where Jalen is better as
a you know, kind of pace guy and paint touch
getter and things like that. But there are there are
are comparisons there.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
That you know, especially into the defensive limitations.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
If you're gonna blame you know, say Jasper's bad defensively, well,
Jalen is horrific defensive. So I don't want to hear
that argument either. And they still invested quite a bit
and let Jalen be a kind of thirty plus minute
per game guy when healthy. So yeah, I do think
there's a window there, and I hope that even though
it didn't unfold the way it probably should have, I'm
(19:15):
glad that Jasper.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Is very likely getting his opportunity.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Larry Vaught, do you see a silver lining? I know
his dad and those uncles are like nephews to you,
but do you have any insight as to how the
Johnson household is holding up? You see any light at
the end of the tunnel for Jasper getting some loaded
minutes maybe twenty plus.
Speaker 9 (19:38):
Well, again, very bassed here or so quick to admit that,
but I think when you get to this point of
the season, sometimes things kind of are what they are.
You only got ten minutes last night, I'll play was
playing pretty well in the second half, hit a shot
and the team was up big, and he came right
back out of the game. So I don't I wouldn't
(20:01):
anticipate things changing greatly when you're this far into the season,
even though it's Jack pointed out. I mean, Jasper was
brought here for a reason, and the reason he's brought
here it's not what is developed and nothing that he
can really do right now but sit there and wait
and hope. Because like second, I thought when he came
in last night, he played pretty well, and I think
(20:23):
there's not this Kentucky some Kentucky fans. I think a
lot of coaches and other basketball personnel nationally are kind
of puzzled about what's going on with Jasper too.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Was not puzzled to me anymore. Is the progress we're
making on offensive line? When we come back, we'll have
all this Allen nine six seven tackle transfer from Alabama
to the Cats. We'll talk to him when we come back.
You're listen in Stockyards Banks only when it's poor. Stop
on news radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
This is the home of the Wildcats, six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Welcome back, Stockyards Bank, Sunday Morning Sports Talk on Anthony
White along with Larry Vaught and Bo Robinson. We're now
proud to be joined by six seven tackle Alabama transfer
now part of Big Blue Nation. Oh I, Celena, good morning.
Oh I saw I was a good.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Good are you?
Speaker 1 (21:24):
We're doing pretty good? Uh? Uh, everything's coming together. Now
give us a second and tell us about the trip
or the voyage to become part of Big Blue Nation
from your perspective, Yeah, No, I.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Think it was a really great experience overall. I'm already
here in lection things, you know, settling in, excited to
be here. See some snow from the window, which is cool.
Makes me feel a little bit more like home.
Speaker 7 (21:58):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
It's just a big us. It's something.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
And then uh, yeah it was. Uh. I was able
to build a really good relationship with the whole coaching
staff in a very short time. You know, they have
a really good vision for the program and and I
was excited to be able to be a part of
it with them.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Is this something?
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (22:17):
With Kentucky got on the map because one of particular
coaches or was it Will himself? Uh, because when he
came down to you, when you did go to Alabama,
came down to Georgia, Ohio State Alabama some of those
guys or was Kentucky always in the play.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Well into portal? I think it was more looking for
the right fit and the right opportunity for me.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
And I think coach Cotter he's an awesome coach.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
He does a great job at developing players and packing
their weaknesses and whatever they need to get better at.
And and he really he really seems like a domin
to eard guy who able to enjoy playing for And
I think the whole offensive system really suits me well.
What coach Steyne and coach Lowan are going to put
(23:07):
together for the offense, I think I think I'm the
type of player that's can strive in the system like that.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
And I know back in the back in your high
school years, especially more so now with social media, the
high school guys used to get together try to recruit
each other to come to school. The portals a little different.
You guys have all been in destination, had an opportunity
to be out of the college. What is are you
guys building bonds before you come here, or is this
something that's down the road, or have you guys been
(23:36):
recruiting each other and talking to each other about coming
to Kentucky together.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah, I mean I was in the same visit that
Max Anderson and got to build a relationship with him
a little bit while we were here. Obviously, like on
once you know that they're going to come to program,
and like I knew I'm going to come to Kentucky,
I was definitely definitely reaching out to some guys, excited
to meet meet all the guys and build relationships with them,
(24:02):
and then just talking Coach Catter and see who else
do you want to bring in the line, And if
there's anything I can do to help with that, I'd
be happy to.
Speaker 9 (24:14):
Olss. It's been kind of a neat journey. I was
fortunateough to have a chance to talk to you. I
guess it's five years ago now when you had just
left Finland to come to Connecticut to go to prep
school and we're just starting to be recruited, and you
kind of talked about how it was a little bit
overwhelming the attention you were getting. It all. Now you've
been in the stage. You played prep school in Connecticut,
(24:35):
You've been three years at Alabama, now you're staying in
the sec How it's just his whole journey been for
you And has it been even wilder than what you
had ever thought it could ever be?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Ye?
Speaker 4 (24:49):
I think for the first thing I'd say, I think
it has been able to mold me the kind of
guy I am today. I think it's helped me mature
a lot. I had to handle all the things on
my own that you need to do when you come
to that country, you know, moving from different place, different
place to a new spot. You're kind of doing it
(25:12):
on your own. You know, you got to get a
visa US, you got to figure out your living situation
and stuff like that. And I think it has definitely
helped me mature a lot for my age. But it's
definitely been definitely being a great experience so far. It's
being more than I col to ask for when it
comes to the opportunities I've had to see places and
(25:34):
where I played, and those experiences I'll have for the
rest of my life. And now I have opportunity to
be here in Kentucky and make the most out of
it and build something special here, which I'm really excited about.
Speaker 9 (25:49):
And I don't I've had several people asked me, Hey,
how does a guy in Finland play football? So I
started trying to explain. I thought, no, I'm just going
to let you explain it a little bit about your
day out, how he helped guide you to this point
that you are now.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Yeah, So football kind of running runs in our family.
My uh, my dad's my dad's uncle. He also played
and that's where my dad dad picked it up. And
there's there's football in Finland, but it's really small. It's
really small uh sport and not very high level, but
it's played exactly the same way then here, just just
(26:26):
not a lot of players. And from my dad. He
started playing football when he was pretty old. But he
got the opportunity to play in NFL Europe for Brilliant
Thunder for three years and then he was with the
Falcons a little bit and their practice squad. Uh. So
there's that there's that journey from seeing him being able
(26:47):
to do it, do it at the highest level and
and make it there and like and he's been a
huge inspiration for me, uh and a mentor and in
every possible way, just to how to be how to
be a man, and so I think I think that's
kind of like the key points from that O.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I got a quick question.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I wanted a championship in Berlin in two thousand and two.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
What year was your dad there?
Speaker 4 (27:14):
I think he was there just right after you. I
think like two thousand and three to two thousand and five.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Okay, the name didn't sound familiar, but we did win
the World Bowl. So I was wondering that. But I
wanted to ask you. I was watching film. You said
in football is not big there? What do you get
with olus? What is I'm watching film? When you stay busy?
I love the fact you stay busy and at your
position you don't get a lot of them. There's not
(27:41):
a lot of glory or shine sent towards the tackle
unless you miss a block. But so what are we
getting with oles as a as a tackle? I did
watch film when you self, how aggressive you are? You
stay active? I've seen your pancake two people and one,
two different guys in one play. But what are we getting?
What are we getting with olus?
Speaker 6 (28:02):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (28:03):
Actually, I think I'll really be focusing on guard here
for the most part too. That's what I Uh, that's
what I really played the most at Alabama. I played
some tackle there, uh with other people being injured and
stuff like that. But but I think for the past
few years, I really like developed to be a guard
in the SEC and just like with my body type
(28:24):
and like my strengths kind of suit me better at guard.
And that's kind of what we talked about with catch Cutter.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
But uh, I do I do try to provide myself
and someone who knows the offense completely. I want to
know what everybody around me is doing and and be
able to understand understand defense and schematically what we're trying
to achieve. I think that makes my job easier and
you know, I'll do whatever it takes to get the
job done, whatever's the objective objective of the play. But
(28:55):
after that it just comes down to being nasty, being
out alignment. You know, one of the Innish people wanted
to move people around and just be fluid in pass protection.
And when you use the right techniques and and you
know you know what to expect most of the time,
you'll you'll be very successful.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
And I do know back a couple of years back
when we had the Big Blue Wall when it was
pretty famous with a former offense lineman that was a
coach here for quite a while, they taught players different positions,
guard and tackled. You did a little bit of both
just in case it was needed. Is that something that
the new coaches staff Cutter and those guys are going
to do or is that just or you specific everybody's
(29:35):
coming in specifically specializing in tackler guard.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
Well, yeah, I don't. I don't think it's like specializing,
and I think I'll definitely cross train develop multiple of positions,
you know, just in case. I think I think guard
will be my primary position. But just having the versatility
and ability to check out if needed and have some
experience that tackles well, UH is valuable for any team
(30:03):
to have guys who can play multiple spots, and I
think I think that's great.
Speaker 9 (30:09):
As just out of curiosity, have you had a chance
to meet your what we think will be your new
quarterback getting and Kenny Minchie if you had a chance
to talk with him.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
A h sir. I met him very briefly, so on
my last day of my visit. I think he just
came in for his visit UH, and I met him
at a little bit of Sylvie and had a chance
to talk with him a little bit, just get to
know him. But it was very brief. It's very brief.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Were you during the playoffs were you chairing for Oregon
for your coach to get a champ national championship or
were you like, hey, we need to get get in
the office, let's get to work, or are you just
just enjoying the game in general?
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Yeah, I mean I was. I was enjoying the game,
but of course, like I hope those guys get all
this success that they can possibly have. You know, they
work their sales off all years to get to that point,
and it's i know, like from losing the round before that,
it's frustrating and and you never want to see your
(31:15):
season then the loss in that way, And so definitely
was sharing for them and hope that they can have
like all the possible success that they can get this year.
Speaker 9 (31:27):
All I was tell me a little bit about for
so many years people always talked about you needed your
offensive line to play together for a while and get
some continuity and kind of know each other and the
transfer portal days. Now that's kind of gone and Kentucky
may well start five new offensive linemen this year, four
guys that you've never played with you could be in
(31:48):
there playing How hard is it for offensive linemen to
come in join program and still develop some consistency and
camaraderie that quick that could make you effective when the
season starts.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
I really think that it's it's cool that we're all
coming here as new guys and coming in and coming
into this thing together and uh, we we don't know
a lot of people in Lexington in general, so we
can lean on each other and and uh, just do
things together throughout the off season, develop those bonds and
(32:21):
and become the most technique group on the team that's outline.
And I think I think it's a great opportunity for
us to get to know know each other here and
and and adjust a new place to get better. And
I think that can eventually make us even even stronger
with our bonds.
Speaker 9 (32:39):
And just wondering, what did your parents think when you
told them you were transferring to Kentucky. Have they in
their in their visits over here, have they even been
to Kentucky or anything?
Speaker 4 (32:50):
They've never been to Kentucky before, but they're really looking
forward to Uh. I think they're really uh trust the
coaching stuff like I do, and and they think it
was a good fit fit for me. And they're just
really excited to get to come here and get to
come to some games this fall and and just see
any place all this.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
How long have you been here and what kind of
things have you experienced here? And like how first, how
long have you been here? What different or what is exciting?
What's something you don't like about the city.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
Well, I just got here last night. Oh kind of visits.
I just throw here and I'm still in a hotel
as well, so not quite as familiar, quite familiar yet,
but I did and enjoined my business here a lot. Uh.
I think it's a it's a nice, nice city. It
seems like there's a get amount of opportunities to do
(33:45):
do different things off the field. I uh, I think
that I've never been here during that time of the year,
but I cool imagine that this place looks pretty awesome
during the spring and in the summer when when everything
gets green again. And I'm really excited to be here
and get to know the city a little bit more,
kind of see what it has to offer and and
(34:07):
how it's going to be different from other places I've
been at.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
My last question is are you a horse guy? You
know we're big on horses here.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
I know.
Speaker 4 (34:17):
I mean I haven't really had anything to do with
horses that are in my life, but I'd definitely like
to catch a horse race or or something during the spring.
I heard it's a pretty cool experience. You don't have to.
Speaker 9 (34:33):
I really hope we can get o Loss maybe in
studio with us this summer or something when he's not
quite as busy, because the first time I interviewed Olos
was I think almost six years ago, and we did
a FaceTime and he was kind of to do it
from Finland all the while, and he had to kind
of walk the old guy through. I wasn't real good.
(34:54):
I know that surprises you, Anthony. I would have trouble
doing something and he had to kind of walk me
through to get connected and talk to me. And it
was really great and I was really hoping he was
going to come here. Then it didn't quite work out
that way, but when I saw he's being recruited and
retry back out to him and he responded very very quickly.
So I'm going to already tell you right now my
favorite offensive lineman for next year, who will do no
(35:15):
wrong for me. So don't even be think Imus is
old us. He's my guy, has been for a while.
I really appreciate you taking time to be with us
again this morning and looking forward to getting the chance
to meet you in person finally, and I also see
you play in person.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
Yes, sir, thank you so much. I'm really excited to
be here, and I really appreciate you guys for welcoming
me in.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
All right, he man, thank you, and welcome to big
New Nation. We appreciate you for joining us this morning.
We will be back after this. You are listening to
Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on news radio six
thirty WLP.
Speaker 8 (35:52):
This is the home of the Wildcats, six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Welcome back Stockyard's Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
White along with Larry Vaught and Bou Robinson. This hour
of Sunday Morning Sports Talk is brought to you by
a country boy brewing. Thanks to Oles Alenin for joining
us this morning. He sounds fun.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
I like him.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
He sounds grown.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Was what he sounds like? Does I mean he's a thought?
Speaker 1 (36:19):
It was his daddy on the phone and he's got
some great looking hair. He does. He does have some hair.
I am when he first when he first had his
coming on and when he first had him coming on,
and I'm looking at Larry's social media and all see
is the I love the hoodie he had on the UK,
the white UK hoodie. But my first thought was is
that his mom or is because his hair was so long,
(36:43):
not saying because you can't tell how tall they are
from the picture. But he does have a great, great
looking hair.
Speaker 9 (36:52):
It's an amazing head of hair and all like that.
I mean all of us would love to have a
head of hair like that, so it is amazing. But
he's a really good guy, Like I say, I've had
a chance to talk to him several times, including my
first interview when he was in Finland and all, which
was really interesting to do it. At that time, he
was really anxious about even coming to the United States,
(37:12):
just wasn't sure he was going to be good enough.
And within old probably five months of being here and
playing at the school in Connecticut where the spit twins
out of Corbett both plagued. That year, he had I
think probably almost twenty high level Division one offers after
being over here within six months, and he considered Kentucky
(37:34):
pretty strongly, but before he decided to go to Alabama,
which was a hard defaulting for that. But I think
when he went into the transfer portal, Kentucky was one
of the schools he decided he wanted to look at,
and he connected really quick with the new offensive line coach,
and it worked out really well to make a quick
decision and to get him here and really looking forward
to having a chance to get to know him a
(37:54):
little bit better and.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Watching you can make this make sense to me, Larry,
what you said this dude, he was six six back
in the high school time, he was six six, about
three twenty five. I think he's got it grown another
inch and brought another twenty pounds, so he's probably about
three fifty six seven three fifty And he hated worried
about coming here where he's gonna be any good? Ain't
They're just not regular people just walking around just size
(38:17):
So just all side alone, you've got some sort of advantage.
Speaker 9 (38:21):
Yeah, I guess, like I say this, didn't know enough
about it right about it to be sure. Couless, he
said that he's played when he was in Finland. He
played like on their I remember he played like on
their under nineteen team when he was fourteen, which kind
of gives you the idea of this kind of competition
over there. And to give him being a big guy,
I'm sure that helped move him on up. But he
(38:42):
just knew that Finland football whole. It was the same
rules and all, just wasn't like American football. But he
certainly has blossomed into a terrific player. I think Kentucky
is really going to be glad to have him. So
I'm really looking forward to watching him play. Almost myself
looking forward to hear Bow finally play hanky panky there.
(39:03):
Now totally feel like I'm back in high school.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
When we come back, we'll have Coach Skinner, UK's volleyball coach.
Coach Skinner, head coach of Skinner's winners. When we come back,
you listen to Stockyards Bank Sunny One in sports talkco
on news radio six thirty WLAP
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on Anthony
White along with Jack Pilgrim and Larry Vaup bo Robinson
coming to you from Clark's Main Street Market studios and
no longer snowing downtown Lex to Kentucky. Before we get
back to the phone lines, if you like to join
the show, you can eight five nine to eight zero
(00:28):
to tow eight seven. That's eight five nine, that's too
eight zero cats. Before we get back to the phone lines, bo,
I mean I Jack. They were asking who was the
last call that we had?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Was it Larry?
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Larry might have also asked, h and you kind of
got giddy and got loud and excited about the prospect
of Jasper being our store. What are we looking at
at the at the guard position? Because I think we've
pretty much all assumed that Jalen's not going to play
anymore this easy, or even if you he he does,
you have to be prepared for at any point that
(01:04):
that could go soft. But uh, what what are we
looking at at the point guard position? By committee? And
was it just me? Or is Colin Colin going the
wrong direction?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I think all of these things kind of overlap with
one another to get to our our our support of nephew.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, it was puts some put some respect on John
Short's name.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
He was the one that that that pointed out that
Jasper needed to be the guy.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Uh yeah, I think I think it's obvious. I think
my frustration with Jasper is they they invested quite.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
A bit in bringing him him in and keeping him
in Lexington and just the the payoff. Whether you like
him or don't, whether you're you know you he fits
your style of playing your system or not, it just
it's it doesn't feel like they have given him his
best shot to just see what he can do with
(02:05):
extended minutes and you know, extended an extended leash, especially
in terms of shot making and creating and facilitating and
all those things, to decide, well, can he be the
point guard? We we just haven't gotten to see outside
of Bellerman and some other smaller sample sized stuff against
weak competition. We just haven't gotten to see him against
real competition at this stage quite yet. And knowing the
(02:29):
fragility of Jalen's shoulder, whether he plays again or not,
whether he tries to do this weekend week off week on,
week wee week off like at minimum, you're going to
need somebody else to step.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Up at at that spot.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
In Malachi's grade as a point center and running the
half court. We we appreciate that, but you still need
somebody to push the tempo and do that. Denzel Aberdeen
is not a point guard.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
He's he is.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
He is an off ball shoot first, score first player
who is not going to to efficiently run an offense.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
And I think we've learned that.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
I don't think I like Colin Chandler, but as you said,
I think he's kind of going in the wrong direction.
He needs to be more limited to an off ball
shot maker and shot taker kind of guy, and I
think that leaves Jasper. Jasper shown enough promise. I think
he stepped up nicely in very very limited run last night.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
But I do think that if you, you know, if you're.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Trying to find places to pull from to get the
biggest bang for your buck and to find the greatest
value in potential production, I don't know how we haven't
dug deeper into the Jasper Johnson experiment up to this point,
and you know, like it or not, I think Pope's
hand maybe force moving forward and Jasper may end up
(03:44):
having to be the guy, and I think that's a
welcome thing for us here at Sunday Morning Sports Talk
is is lifelong Jasper supporters.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah, and I think, like, as you said, it's kind
of funny.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Man.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
That's why I'm still I'm still sticking with Jedi mind
trick Jack because thing is taking care of itself. Everything
you've been saying and questioning and why is this not happen?
Everything is taking care of itself. I mean, you know,
I've been I've been a big Colin Chandler fan since
he's been here. But yesterday early or mid or early
in the first half, when he it was a semi
(04:16):
if you want to call a semi can test a layup,
and he just blew it, driving from the left side
of the lane across the lane, and I was like, Eh,
this is University of Kentucky like this this ain't you know,
YMCA or something. But and then he missed some easier
shots later, like little small bunnies later, and I was
just kind of like, maybe the confidence is there, and
(04:38):
it seems like some players are unsure about their teammates
or their responsibility or role on the team. But if
if I mean like you said. The only other thing
about it is that I don't think Pope has given
some people opportunities, given other people extra opportunities, and just
moving people around. So I just think he knows too
(05:00):
much basketball for him just to be winging it and
flying by.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
The seat of his parents.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Jack But let's get to the phone lines and see
if somebody can help me. I'll say, if Alva can't
help out a little bit, Hey, Alvin, what do you
got for us?
Speaker 5 (05:12):
Good morning, Good morning guys.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
How you doing doing good?
Speaker 6 (05:17):
Well?
Speaker 5 (05:17):
You're talking about the point guard position, which is equivalent
to the quarterback position in collegiate football and on the
professional level, that the essentially the point guard is the
one that moves the team, that he's the facilitator of
(05:37):
getting guys open, being able to dribble, drive, being able
to find the gall of the lob coming off their edge.
And I think that you know, and jack maybe can
speak to this a little bit more. And I've heard
some of the other UK veterans on podcasts make the
point that Mark Pope didn't go out and get enough
point guards that he was suffered last year having the
(06:01):
butler to go down, and Jackson Robinson to go down
as well. And the other fella forget his name, uh
Cresa or whoever he was, I'll get his name. So
I guess the browser thought is did he have go
ahead and get enough point guards? Is Jasper Johnson had?
Does he have an sec body to be able to
(06:22):
take the pounding that he's going to receive as we
move forward into the schedule, you know? So that's that's
the question I want Jack to add to answer this.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
And take all that and a thing.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
I do have a football thought the.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
Game against Old Miss and Indiana, you know Old Miss
and uh Miami. Uh, that to me was the past
and appearance call in the end zone? Have referees got
in their mind through intimidation and seeing them going viral
and not making a call, And the thought of the
cliche is you can't make that call in this moment?
(06:59):
Uh has reference He just sort of being just put
in a position where they're gonna swallow then the whistle.
Same thing happened in basketball. The Notre Dame coach goes
crazy because refle makes a call it's a four point play. Uh,
Does referees have to make make the call irregardless of
(07:19):
the setting of the game and how critical the moment is,
don't but referee have to make that call.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
I appreciate the call, Alvin. I've been saying for years,
and I do think it's unfair that refs don't have to.
I don't know what bit of professionalism there is to
it that rest don't have to ever own up to
a bad call and miss or just an explanation of
why they did or didn't make a call. And you
know it's been said for years on all levels that
refs in the in the late minutes of a game,
(07:48):
they'll they'll swallow the whistle because they don't want to
be uh part of the But then again, the other
team kind of feels like you need to call the
game from whistle to whistle, from the beginning to the end.
You need to call the game the same way. I
just really think to soothe a lot of people's feelings,
and you know, gambling is huge that I would love
(08:08):
to hear for a ref to say, you know, what
I missed that call, or you know I was thinking
of this, or what you didn't see was his jersey
being tugged, whatever the case may be. But I've been
like that for years that I think the referee should
be allowed to and I think it would. I think
it would help the integrity of the game. But people
kind of feel like, well, they don't they're I guess
maybe because they're officials. They shouldn't have to respond or
(08:30):
have to answer or be held to any accountability because
all they are doing is officiat in the game. The
game is not them theirselves. But these not the same people,
But there's the same concept when people are saying and
know they're not kids. We always call college players kids.
They're not kids, they're eighteen years old. But people always say, well,
now as they're making money, you can say and do
(08:50):
whatever you want to them.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
You shouldn't.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
You should not be able to say and do whatever
you want to a professional athlete, and you don shouldn't
say or do whatever you want to to an eighteen,
nineteen twenty year old because although they are adults, that
is steals one. I don't care how much money you make.
Just because you make a certain amount of money, you're
allowed to be scrutinized. So I think I feel the
same well about those two concepts, where people feel like,
whether the athletes are making so much money, now we
(09:13):
should be able to say whatever we want to say
to him. That is just a crazy thought on his face.
But I don't know if you guys agree that. I
do believe just generally after a game, referee should just
be able to give a little a brief conference. If
everything wasn't good, it's a great game, thanks leave, or
if there's controversy, Yeah, the one call. I think a
(09:34):
lot of people will feel a whole lot better if
they just came and owned up to it or explain
there why they made the call. And I think people
will feel a whole lot better. Jack, you can answer
that in also he asked you about whatever since John
Wall and Aeric Bleds one and two came here, we've
had a hard time. Well we've had one point guard,
but we ain't had a And I don't know if
(09:56):
any point guards want to come and sit back that
Bleds so and Wall things was just ah, But I
don't know if anybody wants to come and sit when
he's saying we're not we have tough time stacking up
or getting back up point guards. Is there such thing
as a backup point guard wanted to come to Kentucky
or someone who thinks they can play at the school.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Well, that's exactly what he did with kerk Kretzer last year.
He was brought in to be the backup point guard,
and he was a starting caliber backup. I mean, he
had a ton of ton of starts under his belt
for you know, during his time at Arizona and West
Virginia and across the board. So that was the plan.
(10:34):
But you know, sometimes the just things don't work out.
He goes down with a season ending foot injury and
then we kind of go into the mass chaos that
was the rest of the rest of the season with
lamont In and out.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
So I do think that the point guard position this
year probably wasn't handled as well.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
I think they signed Denzel Aberdeen thinking he could wear
too many hats. I think, you know, they pursued Lamar Wilkers,
and they pursued some more on ball you know, pure
point guards, and they kind of said, well, shoot, we
can you know, we can get a guy that can
shoot and facilitate and be you know, a backup point
(11:13):
guard option and a guy who can come in and
be an off ball shooter. Thinking that, I think Denzel
was going to be ready to take the jump to
superstardom that maybe his his role suggested as the six.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Man of a national championship team. I think I think
that may have been. And I like him.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
He produced last night and played played really well, but
I do think that that was probably one of the
bigger evaluation misses for Mark Pope, and just in terms
of fit, I do think that that spot should have
either been a pure backup point guard that is that
that you know can can run the show and run
this offense, or a knockdown shooter that you trust to
(11:54):
be a Kobe Bray or something like that.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
And I think I think they missed the mark on
that one.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Green Let's get back to the phone lines to see
what Bill has to say. Good morning, Bill, What do
you got for us?
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Bill? Are you there?
Speaker 6 (12:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Yeah, what do you got for Well?
Speaker 7 (12:14):
Earlier when you all were discussing the the trying to
make the decision for a red shirt medical yeah with
j Lo, I guess yeah. And I'm trying to wrap
my thoughts around why is that even a discussion when
(12:36):
you know a player of that caliber is not going
to need it to be here four years.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
So you're saying, so your question is that he should
just tough through it here for four years. Are you
saying not let him get better and possibly come back
next year and do what he's supposed to.
Speaker 7 (12:59):
Oh, I'm saying, then let him play and see if
he can play through it. And if he can't, then
then you do the surgery and get ready for next year.
But you know, I mean players have played through injuries before.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Hey, Bill, have you have you ketch up? Have you
kept up with the games and the conversation?
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
That the problem is at this point is popping out
too frequently. And the more it pops out is gonna
do it easier. It's gonna become more susceptible to popping out.
Just like yesterday when he when it popped out, he
just left the court like there was no trying to
fix it.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
It was. It was a bad deal.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
So I think, so what everybody's concerned about is gonna
get worse and worse. It's not gonna get better. So,
I mean, you can tough it out, but just going
for a rebound, just trying to steal the ball, it's
gonna pop out once you put your arm away from
your body.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
That's everybody's concern.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
Bill, Well, I understand what you're saying, but then then
why not just let him sit and just play and
and and I don't know, I guess play less. But
maybe uh, when we really need him bad that you
(14:13):
just use him for that for those minutes.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
So you don't want them to burn a year and uh,
you don't want them to burn a year, and you
don't want them to have surgeries. What you're saying you
want them available.
Speaker 7 (14:21):
Well, I know my thought is I'm not worried about
him burning a year because he's not going to be
here for four years regards. But but maybe that one
that one game he makes the difference in where what
we do.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Well, we'll appreciate the car bill. I'll love we got
to take a break. I'll love let the guys discuss that.
Maybe they agree with you somewhat. I think I'm kind
of onto what you're saying. I don't think that's good
for anybody. I don't think that's good for the team,
nor j Lowe himself. But we'll discuss when we come back.
You're listening to Stockyards Banks and they when the sports
Talking News Radio thirty WLAP.
Speaker 8 (15:02):
This is the home of the Wildcats, six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Welcome back Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on Anthony
White along with Larry Vapp, Jack Pilgrim, Bo Robinson Stockyards
Bank has been your trust departy for a very very
long time since nineteen oh four, Jack Pilgrim, Before we
let you go, I did want to give you an
(15:27):
opportunity to respond to Bill's call. But here's two Here's
the other thing. I also wanted to ask you, And
I know you know we love Jashper here and I'm
friends with some of his family members on social media.
They ain't all that happy with UK, but you did.
You've been very honest and fair and your your evaluation
(15:51):
or whatever is so one answer his question? Do you
understand what Bill's saying about Jacklin not wasting a year
like I don't know who wins if you do that?
But do you think the the Jasper's an ability to
stay on the court is due to a style of
play which he seems to do his best on ISO.
(16:13):
But it's funny because it sounded like Jalen Lowe was
not happy with being a guy that needs to get
to the bucket and get points. He wanted to be
a distributor. But you also have Jasper who likes ISO
and may not be as good of a distributor as Jalen.
So you asked one guy to do the thing he
doesn't do best, and you're gonna ask the other one.
(16:34):
Is that Do you think that's part of the issue again,
Jasper more minutes of his style of play.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Yeah, it's tricky.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
And for the caller about j Lo's redshirt thing and
how you navigate that.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I don't think this is what they're doing. You know,
he's saying you, well.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Why don't why doesn't he try to play through it?
And you know, see if you can tell like that's
what we've been doing. That's been the whole charade over
the last several weeks slash months. So yeah, he's trying.
He tried his best and tried to fight through it.
And I mean it was a three strikes in your
out policy, not a one strike in your out policy
for him. So yeah, I think they did everything that
(17:15):
they could to preserve this and salvage a bad injury situation.
Like nobody signed up for this, nobody wanted wanted this
to be the case. But it's the new reality and
you kind of just have to have to face it. Unfortunately,
so you know, nothing Kentucky did wrong and nothing Jalen
did wrong on handling a tricky injury situation. But for Jasper, uh,
(17:36):
I I am. I'm having a hard time just understanding
if it is, oh, well he's io heavy, Well it's
this or that was, well, you signed him, You paid
the money to bring him in and keep him home
when he could have gone to UNC, he could have
gone to Alabama, he could have you know, had other
other schools wanted him desperately, and you fought hard to
(17:58):
keep him home and paid, you know, a premium.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
To do that.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
So why are we like he's Jasper hasn't changed as
a basketball player in the months he's been on campus.
He's still the same guy that you know made him
a five star. It's just so if it is he,
if he's not a style fit for you, then why
did you sign him? So I just I wholeheartedly disagree
with with that approach on on Kentucky's side and in
(18:23):
handling that one. But I do think it's a window,
it's an opportunity if Jalen is out for the season.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
I do think that he The.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Difference in Jalen and Jasper is Jasper is definitely more
shot you know, creation, and you know, in terms of
efficiency in creation, he's better where Jalen is better as
a you know, kind of pace guy and paint touch
getter and things like that. But there are there are
are comparisons there.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
That you know, especially into the defensive limitations.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
If you're gonna blame you know, say Jasper's bad defensively, well,
Jalen is horrific defensive. So I don't want to hear
that argument either. And they still invested quite a bit
and let Jalen be a kind of thirty plus minute
per game guy when healthy. So yeah, I do think
there's a window there, and I hope that even though
it didn't unfold the way it probably should have, I'm
(19:15):
glad that Jasper.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Is very likely getting his opportunity.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Larry Vaught, do you see a silver lining? I know
his dad and those uncles are like nephews to you,
but do you have any insight as to how the
Johnson household is holding up? You see any light at
the end of the tunnel for Jasper getting some loaded
minutes maybe twenty plus.
Speaker 9 (19:38):
Well, again, very bassed here or so quick to admit that,
but I think when you get to this point of
the season, sometimes things kind of are what they are.
You only got ten minutes last night, I'll play was
playing pretty well in the second half, hit a shot
and the team was up big, and he came right
back out of the game. So I don't I wouldn't
(20:01):
anticipate things changing greatly when you're this far into the season,
even though it's Jack pointed out. I mean, Jasper was
brought here for a reason, and the reason he's brought
here it's not what is developed and nothing that he
can really do right now but sit there and wait
and hope. Because like second, I thought when he came
in last night, he played pretty well, and I think
(20:23):
there's not this Kentucky some Kentucky fans. I think a
lot of coaches and other basketball personnel nationally are kind
of puzzled about what's going on with Jasper too.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Was not puzzled to me anymore. Is the progress we're
making on offensive line? When we come back, we'll have
all this Allen nine six seven tackle transfer from Alabama
to the Cats. We'll talk to him when we come back.
You're listen in Stockyards Banks only when it's poor. Stop
on news radio six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
This is the home of the Wildcats, six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Welcome back, Stockyards Bank, Sunday Morning Sports Talk on Anthony
White along with Larry Vaught and Bo Robinson. We're now
proud to be joined by six seven tackle Alabama transfer
now part of Big Blue Nation. Oh I, Celena, good morning.
Oh I saw I was a good.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Good are you?
Speaker 1 (21:24):
We're doing pretty good? Uh? Uh, everything's coming together. Now
give us a second and tell us about the trip
or the voyage to become part of Big Blue Nation
from your perspective, Yeah, No, I.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Think it was a really great experience overall. I'm already
here in lection things, you know, settling in, excited to
be here. See some snow from the window, which is cool.
Makes me feel a little bit more like home.
Speaker 7 (21:58):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
It's just a big us. It's something.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
And then uh, yeah it was. Uh. I was able
to build a really good relationship with the whole coaching
staff in a very short time. You know, they have
a really good vision for the program and and I
was excited to be able to be a part of
it with them.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Is this something?
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (22:17):
With Kentucky got on the map because one of particular
coaches or was it Will himself? Uh, because when he
came down to you, when you did go to Alabama,
came down to Georgia, Ohio State Alabama some of those
guys or was Kentucky always in the play.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Well into portal? I think it was more looking for
the right fit and the right opportunity for me.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
And I think coach Cotter he's an awesome coach.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
He does a great job at developing players and packing
their weaknesses and whatever they need to get better at.
And and he really he really seems like a domin
to eard guy who able to enjoy playing for And
I think the whole offensive system really suits me well.
What coach Steyne and coach Lowan are going to put
(23:07):
together for the offense, I think I think I'm the
type of player that's can strive in the system like that.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
And I know back in the back in your high
school years, especially more so now with social media, the
high school guys used to get together try to recruit
each other to come to school. The portals a little different.
You guys have all been in destination, had an opportunity
to be out of the college. What is are you
guys building bonds before you come here, or is this
something that's down the road, or have you guys been
(23:36):
recruiting each other and talking to each other about coming
to Kentucky together.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah, I mean I was in the same visit that
Max Anderson and got to build a relationship with him
a little bit while we were here. Obviously, like on
once you know that they're going to come to program,
and like I knew I'm going to come to Kentucky,
I was definitely definitely reaching out to some guys, excited
to meet meet all the guys and build relationships with them,
(24:02):
and then just talking Coach Catter and see who else
do you want to bring in the line, And if
there's anything I can do to help with that, I'd
be happy to.
Speaker 9 (24:14):
Olss. It's been kind of a neat journey. I was
fortunateough to have a chance to talk to you. I
guess it's five years ago now when you had just
left Finland to come to Connecticut to go to prep
school and we're just starting to be recruited, and you
kind of talked about how it was a little bit
overwhelming the attention you were getting. It all. Now you've
been in the stage. You played prep school in Connecticut,
(24:35):
You've been three years at Alabama, now you're staying in
the sec How it's just his whole journey been for
you And has it been even wilder than what you
had ever thought it could ever be?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Ye?
Speaker 4 (24:49):
I think for the first thing I'd say, I think
it has been able to mold me the kind of
guy I am today. I think it's helped me mature
a lot. I had to handle all the things on
my own that you need to do when you come
to that country, you know, moving from different place, different
place to a new spot. You're kind of doing it
(25:12):
on your own. You know, you got to get a
visa US, you got to figure out your living situation
and stuff like that. And I think it has definitely
helped me mature a lot for my age. But it's
definitely been definitely being a great experience so far. It's
being more than I col to ask for when it
comes to the opportunities I've had to see places and
(25:34):
where I played, and those experiences I'll have for the
rest of my life. And now I have opportunity to
be here in Kentucky and make the most out of
it and build something special here, which I'm really excited about.
Speaker 9 (25:49):
And I don't I've had several people asked me, Hey,
how does a guy in Finland play football? So I
started trying to explain. I thought, no, I'm just going
to let you explain it a little bit about your
day out, how he helped guide you to this point
that you are now.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
Yeah, So football kind of running runs in our family.
My uh, my dad's my dad's uncle. He also played
and that's where my dad dad picked it up. And
there's there's football in Finland, but it's really small. It's
really small uh sport and not very high level, but
it's played exactly the same way then here, just just
(26:26):
not a lot of players. And from my dad. He
started playing football when he was pretty old. But he
got the opportunity to play in NFL Europe for Brilliant
Thunder for three years and then he was with the
Falcons a little bit and their practice squad. Uh. So
there's that there's that journey from seeing him being able
(26:47):
to do it, do it at the highest level and
and make it there and like and he's been a
huge inspiration for me, uh and a mentor and in
every possible way, just to how to be how to
be a man, and so I think I think that's
kind of like the key points from that O.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I got a quick question.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
I wanted a championship in Berlin in two thousand and two.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
What year was your dad there?
Speaker 4 (27:14):
I think he was there just right after you. I
think like two thousand and three to two thousand and five.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Okay, the name didn't sound familiar, but we did win
the World Bowl. So I was wondering that. But I
wanted to ask you. I was watching film. You said
in football is not big there? What do you get
with olus? What is I'm watching film? When you stay busy?
I love the fact you stay busy and at your
position you don't get a lot of them. There's not
(27:41):
a lot of glory or shine sent towards the tackle
unless you miss a block. But so what are we
getting with oles as a as a tackle? I did
watch film when you self, how aggressive you are? You
stay active? I've seen your pancake two people and one,
two different guys in one play. But what are we getting?
What are we getting with olus?
Speaker 6 (28:02):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (28:03):
Actually, I think I'll really be focusing on guard here
for the most part too. That's what I Uh, that's
what I really played the most at Alabama. I played
some tackle there, uh with other people being injured and
stuff like that. But but I think for the past
few years, I really like developed to be a guard
in the SEC and just like with my body type
(28:24):
and like my strengths kind of suit me better at guard.
And that's kind of what we talked about with catch Cutter.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
But uh, I do I do try to provide myself
and someone who knows the offense completely. I want to
know what everybody around me is doing and and be
able to understand understand defense and schematically what we're trying
to achieve. I think that makes my job easier and
you know, I'll do whatever it takes to get the
job done, whatever's the objective objective of the play. But
(28:55):
after that it just comes down to being nasty, being
out alignment. You know, one of the Innish people wanted
to move people around and just be fluid in pass protection.
And when you use the right techniques and and you
know you know what to expect most of the time,
you'll you'll be very successful.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
And I do know back a couple of years back
when we had the Big Blue Wall when it was
pretty famous with a former offense lineman that was a
coach here for quite a while, they taught players different positions,
guard and tackled. You did a little bit of both
just in case it was needed. Is that something that
the new coaches staff Cutter and those guys are going
to do or is that just or you specific everybody's
(29:35):
coming in specifically specializing in tackler guard.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
Well, yeah, I don't. I don't think it's like specializing,
and I think I'll definitely cross train develop multiple of positions,
you know, just in case. I think I think guard
will be my primary position. But just having the versatility
and ability to check out if needed and have some
experience that tackles well, UH is valuable for any team
(30:03):
to have guys who can play multiple spots, and I
think I think that's great.
Speaker 9 (30:09):
As just out of curiosity, have you had a chance
to meet your what we think will be your new
quarterback getting and Kenny Minchie if you had a chance
to talk with him.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
A h sir. I met him very briefly, so on
my last day of my visit. I think he just
came in for his visit UH, and I met him
at a little bit of Sylvie and had a chance
to talk with him a little bit, just get to
know him. But it was very brief. It's very brief.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Were you during the playoffs were you chairing for Oregon
for your coach to get a champ national championship or
were you like, hey, we need to get get in
the office, let's get to work, or are you just
just enjoying the game in general?
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Yeah, I mean I was. I was enjoying the game,
but of course, like I hope those guys get all
this success that they can possibly have. You know, they
work their sales off all years to get to that point,
and it's i know, like from losing the round before that,
it's frustrating and and you never want to see your
(31:15):
season then the loss in that way, And so definitely
was sharing for them and hope that they can have
like all the possible success that they can get this year.
Speaker 9 (31:27):
All I was tell me a little bit about for
so many years people always talked about you needed your
offensive line to play together for a while and get
some continuity and kind of know each other and the
transfer portal days. Now that's kind of gone and Kentucky
may well start five new offensive linemen this year, four
guys that you've never played with you could be in
(31:48):
there playing How hard is it for offensive linemen to
come in join program and still develop some consistency and
camaraderie that quick that could make you effective when the
season starts.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
I really think that it's it's cool that we're all
coming here as new guys and coming in and coming
into this thing together and uh, we we don't know
a lot of people in Lexington in general, so we
can lean on each other and and uh, just do
things together throughout the off season, develop those bonds and
(32:21):
and become the most technique group on the team that's outline.
And I think I think it's a great opportunity for
us to get to know know each other here and
and and adjust a new place to get better. And
I think that can eventually make us even even stronger
with our bonds.
Speaker 9 (32:39):
And just wondering, what did your parents think when you
told them you were transferring to Kentucky. Have they in
their in their visits over here, have they even been
to Kentucky or anything?
Speaker 4 (32:50):
They've never been to Kentucky before, but they're really looking
forward to Uh. I think they're really uh trust the
coaching stuff like I do, and and they think it
was a good fit fit for me. And they're just
really excited to get to come here and get to
come to some games this fall and and just see
any place all this.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
How long have you been here and what kind of
things have you experienced here? And like how first, how
long have you been here? What different or what is exciting?
What's something you don't like about the city.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
Well, I just got here last night. Oh kind of visits.
I just throw here and I'm still in a hotel
as well, so not quite as familiar, quite familiar yet,
but I did and enjoined my business here a lot. Uh.
I think it's a it's a nice, nice city. It
seems like there's a get amount of opportunities to do
(33:45):
do different things off the field. I uh, I think
that I've never been here during that time of the year,
but I cool imagine that this place looks pretty awesome
during the spring and in the summer when when everything
gets green again. And I'm really excited to be here
and get to know the city a little bit more,
kind of see what it has to offer and and
(34:07):
how it's going to be different from other places I've
been at.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
My last question is are you a horse guy? You
know we're big on horses here.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
I know.
Speaker 4 (34:17):
I mean I haven't really had anything to do with
horses that are in my life, but I'd definitely like
to catch a horse race or or something during the spring.
I heard it's a pretty cool experience. You don't have to.
Speaker 9 (34:33):
I really hope we can get o Loss maybe in
studio with us this summer or something when he's not
quite as busy, because the first time I interviewed Olos
was I think almost six years ago, and we did
a FaceTime and he was kind of to do it
from Finland all the while, and he had to kind
of walk the old guy through. I wasn't real good.
(34:54):
I know that surprises you, Anthony. I would have trouble
doing something and he had to kind of walk me
through to get connected and talk to me. And it
was really great and I was really hoping he was
going to come here. Then it didn't quite work out
that way, but when I saw he's being recruited and
retry back out to him and he responded very very quickly.
So I'm going to already tell you right now my
favorite offensive lineman for next year, who will do no
(35:15):
wrong for me. So don't even be think Imus is
old us. He's my guy, has been for a while.
I really appreciate you taking time to be with us
again this morning and looking forward to getting the chance
to meet you in person finally, and I also see
you play in person.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
Yes, sir, thank you so much. I'm really excited to
be here, and I really appreciate you guys for welcoming
me in.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
All right, he man, thank you, and welcome to big
New Nation. We appreciate you for joining us this morning.
We will be back after this. You are listening to
Stockyards Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk on news radio six
thirty WLP.
Speaker 8 (35:52):
This is the home of the Wildcats, six thirty WLAP.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
Welcome back Stockyard's Bank Sunday Morning Sports Talk. I'm Anthony
White along with Larry Vaught and Bou Robinson. This hour
of Sunday Morning Sports Talk is brought to you by
a country boy brewing. Thanks to Oles Alenin for joining
us this morning. He sounds fun.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
I like him.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
He sounds grown.
Speaker 2 (36:17):
Was what he sounds like? Does I mean he's a thought?
Speaker 1 (36:19):
It was his daddy on the phone and he's got
some great looking hair. He does. He does have some hair.
I am when he first when he first had his
coming on and when he first had him coming on,
and I'm looking at Larry's social media and all see
is the I love the hoodie he had on the UK,
the white UK hoodie. But my first thought was is
that his mom or is because his hair was so long,
(36:43):
not saying because you can't tell how tall they are
from the picture. But he does have a great, great
looking hair.
Speaker 9 (36:52):
It's an amazing head of hair and all like that.
I mean all of us would love to have a
head of hair like that, so it is amazing. But
he's a really good guy, Like I say, I've had
a chance to talk to him several times, including my
first interview when he was in Finland and all, which
was really interesting to do it. At that time, he
was really anxious about even coming to the United States,
(37:12):
just wasn't sure he was going to be good enough.
And within old probably five months of being here and
playing at the school in Connecticut where the spit twins
out of Corbett both plagued. That year, he had I
think probably almost twenty high level Division one offers after
being over here within six months, and he considered Kentucky
(37:34):
pretty strongly, but before he decided to go to Alabama,
which was a hard defaulting for that. But I think
when he went into the transfer portal, Kentucky was one
of the schools he decided he wanted to look at,
and he connected really quick with the new offensive line coach,
and it worked out really well to make a quick
decision and to get him here and really looking forward
to having a chance to get to know him a
(37:54):
little bit better and.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Watching you can make this make sense to me, Larry,
what you said this dude, he was six six back
in the high school time, he was six six, about
three twenty five. I think he's got it grown another
inch and brought another twenty pounds, so he's probably about
three fifty six seven three fifty And he hated worried
about coming here where he's gonna be any good? Ain't
They're just not regular people just walking around just size
(38:17):
So just all side alone, you've got some sort of advantage.
Speaker 9 (38:21):
Yeah, I guess, like I say this, didn't know enough
about it right about it to be sure. Couless, he
said that he's played when he was in Finland. He
played like on their I remember he played like on
their under nineteen team when he was fourteen, which kind
of gives you the idea of this kind of competition
over there. And to give him being a big guy,
I'm sure that helped move him on up. But he
(38:42):
just knew that Finland football whole. It was the same
rules and all, just wasn't like American football. But he
certainly has blossomed into a terrific player. I think Kentucky
is really going to be glad to have him. So
I'm really looking forward to watching him play. Almost myself
looking forward to hear Bow finally play hanky panky there.
(39:03):
Now totally feel like I'm back in high school.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
When we come back, we'll have Coach Skinner, UK's volleyball coach.
Coach Skinner, head coach of Skinner's winners. When we come back,
you listen to Stockyards Bank Sunny One in sports talkco
on news radio six thirty WLAP
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