WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:02.960 Welcome to the Big Bluin Sider. Dick Gabriel with you 2 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:05.759 on a Wednesday edition of our program. Much to discuss 3 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:09.679 tonight both basketball and football, a little baseball as well, 4 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:11.839 but coming up tonight at the bottom of the hour, 5 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:14.640 Chris Fisher of the Cat's Pause part of the two 6 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:18.920 four seven Network. We'll talk about UK schedule basketball that 7 00:00:19.079 --> 00:00:23.879 is basketball recruiting, and we'll talk some football recruiting with Chris. 8 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.280 And in our number two, Sean Woods, the unforgettable guard, 9 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:31.039 joined us every Wednesday, so naturally we'll talk basketball with Sean, 10 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:34.759 but we'll also talk football with the former UK point 11 00:00:34.759 --> 00:00:38.240 guard and Western Burea chief Gary Moore with us. So 12 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:41.719 we'll preview the college football and pro football season with 13 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:45.960 Gary coming up in our number two. Ten days until 14 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:51.039 Kentucky plays football against Southern Miss. Now there is college 15 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:54.840 football this week, some low profile games leading up to 16 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:59.119 Saturdays season opener. Officially seems like this is the one 17 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:05.120 everybody talks about, with Florida State playing in Dublin, Ireland 18 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:09.879 against Georgia Tech. Florida State expected to be a real contender, 19 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:13.719 Georgia Tech is not. I heard some talking heads going 20 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:15.439 over this game and one of them said, it's going 21 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:18.840 to be a great game. It probably won't, but it's 22 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:20.280 going to be great because it's going to be the 23 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:25.519 beginning of officially the college football season ten days away. 24 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:30.640 And on Corey Price's countdown on Twitter. Corey Course is 25 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:35.519 our statistician on the UK Sports Network for football. A 26 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:39.879 picture of Moe Williams number ten and he is playing 27 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:43.879 against South Carolina and it looks to be because it's 28 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:47.760 a road game, perhaps the game where he set the 29 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:52.159 single game record for rushing yards forty carries, two hundred 30 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:56.040 and ninety nine yards, four touchdowns, but it was a 31 00:01:56.079 --> 00:02:01.000 close game. Now Kentucky wonted thirty five to thirty. The picture, 32 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:04.280 it looks like is being played in decent weather. But 33 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:08.000 if it is the same game, the heavens opened I 34 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:10.840 think in the second quarter, if memory serves yeah. I 35 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:14.680 was there on the sideline and it absolutely poured down. 36 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:19.719 Rain manager or equipment manager, Tom Kalanowski came to my 37 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:24.159 rescue and handed me a rain suit, and later on 38 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:25.680 I went to give it back. He goes, keep it. 39 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.280 We're getting new ones next year, which they did. I 40 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:32.360 still got it, but he saved me. But because it 41 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:36.560 was an official UK rain suit. I was able to 42 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.879 stand at the fifty yard line among the coaches in 43 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:44.360 the coaches box, and nobody challenged me. Well, the security 44 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:47.800 guys had fled. They you know, they didn't care, and 45 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:51.120 nobody on the UK sideline had any interest because it 46 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:53.439 was raining so hard. But it was a big game, 47 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:58.280 which Kentucky, as I said, ended up winning thanks to Moe. 48 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:03.680 But four hundred and twenty nine all purpose yards two 49 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:06.840 hundred and ninety nine on the ground alone. It broke 50 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:09.919 her show records mark at the time of two hundred 51 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:14.479 and nineteen yards set in nineteen eighty two hundred nineteen 52 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:19.439 rushing yards. And the reason Moe's number was where it 53 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:23.120 was because one of his biggest plays was would look 54 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:26.400 like a swing pass, and I saw this when it happened. 55 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:29.759 He was behind the quarterback when he caught the ball, 56 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:33.039 which immediately makes it a run play. So they changed 57 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:36.080 it from a reception to a run play, and the 58 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:39.439 officials called it immediately. There's a signal they put up 59 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:43.520 that signifies it to run, notw of pass. So they 60 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:47.240 added that to Moe's rushing total and he had a 61 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:51.080 phenomenal game. Wildcats put up a total of four hundred 62 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:55.039 and forty seven yards that day. I'm not sure who 63 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:58.159 got him, but there were eleven other rushing yards and 64 00:03:58.439 --> 00:04:01.560 Mo had two hundred ninety nine of them. So that's 65 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:06.639 why I took special notice of Corey's photo that he 66 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:12.520 included today. Ten days away, Moe Williams number ten. Before 67 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:14.680 we get back to football, real quickly, just looking at 68 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:18.800 Kentucky's basketball schedule, you guys have been discussing it on 69 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:22.240 social media talking note. Not about the Duke game on 70 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:26.519 November twelfth, not about the Louisville game on December fourteenth, 71 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:32.759 no subject of discussion. February one, Arkansas comes to Rapperena. 72 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:36.920 You know who they had coached now, and it reminds 73 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:39.240 me of when Patino came back. And much will be 74 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:43.240 written prior to this game about that game. And remember, 75 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:47.199 now Caliperry's not going to do this, but Patino crossed 76 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:51.600 up the Kentucky fans. They kept their eyes trained on 77 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:55.120 the little tunnel area where the opposing team was coming out, 78 00:04:55.319 --> 00:04:57.720 and all the players came out that way. They kept 79 00:04:57.720 --> 00:05:02.639 waiting for Patino so they can unleash their torrent of booze. 80 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:06.240 Betino came out at the other end. He came out 81 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:09.879 at the Kentucky end, and later on he tried to 82 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:12.720 cover it by saying, I got confused. I was just 83 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:16.240 so used to coming out that way. No, and he 84 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:17.959 kind of had a twinkle in his eye when he 85 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:22.920 said it. I gave him full credit for somewhat diffusing. 86 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:26.639 He still got booed, but not nearly as bad because 87 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:29.839 people didn't notice at first. Then it's all of a sudden, Oh, oh, 88 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:33.439 there he is, and so it wasn't that torrential downpour 89 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:36.879 of booze. I think we'll hear some of that when 90 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:39.639 Caliperi comes out. But I also think people will applaud 91 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:43.800 him because, look, he did great things here. It just 92 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:46.839 kind of fizzled out at the end. But when he 93 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:49.360 got here. Do you remember what it was like when 94 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:52.199 he got here and what he did right away? You 95 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:54.759 need to remember that. So I think that's the way 96 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.959 things will play out all right. Back to football, USA 97 00:05:58.040 --> 00:06:03.480 Today has ranked every team in D one football from 98 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:07.360 top two one thirty four. Kent State, by the way, 99 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:11.959 is rated at the very bottom. Talk about low expectations, 100 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:17.480 and naturally, Georgia ranked number one, just ahead of Ohio State, 101 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:21.279 Texas Oregon and Alabama. Look for the Wildcats. You will 102 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:25.240 find them at number thirty nine. I think Kentucky underappreciated 103 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:28.879 right now because of the mystery with a new starting 104 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:32.920 quarterback and a new offensive coordinator. So that's okay, play 105 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:35.040 with a chip on your shoulder, sneak up on people. 106 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:39.519 That's fine. But it's weird to see Kansas rated ahead 107 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:42.959 of Kentucky, and really oddly right now, Nebraska, which has 108 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:47.000 been really mediocre of late, ranked ahead of Kentucky. They're 109 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:52.639 twenty four to twenty five Kansas Nebraska. But Louisville getting 110 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:55.800 a lot of preseason love. Jeff Brom's team is ranked 111 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:58.639 number eighteen. They got a mystery quarterback, they got a 112 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:03.600 guy coming into his seventh year starting a quarterback. So 113 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:06.959 none of it means anything right now, but it'll fire 114 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:10.600 up the players. But you think about this. Georgia on 115 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:14.639 the UK schedule, Texas number three on the UK schedule, 116 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:19.519 ole Miss number ten on the Kentucky schedule, Tennessee fourteen, 117 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:25.000 Louisville eighteen. Man, it's tough, but welcome to the SEC. 118 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:31.800 Speaking of rankings, Tom Brady has ranked his top qbs 119 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:37.439 in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes naturally number one, multiple Super Bowls, 120 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:41.879 Josh Allen of the Bills, number two, Lamar Jackson number three, 121 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:47.680 Joe Burrow number four, and you know those fifth Aaron Rodgers, 122 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:51.759 which tells me two things. Number one, Brady's got respect 123 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:56.360 for Rogers and high expectations. But number two, other than 124 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:58.720 Aaron Rodgers, who do you rank there? There's a bit 125 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:01.199 of a drop off I think from those top five 126 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:05.160 QB spots to the rest of the NFL quarterbacks. Before 127 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:07.120 we hit the break, a little bit of baseball for you. 128 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:10.600 But this is kind of funny. This came from the 129 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:15.879 Giants broadcast last night of the San Francisco VERSUS Chicago 130 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:21.879 White Sox game, and the White Sox catcher Cory Lee 131 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.319 took a foul ball off a spot where you just 132 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:27.480 don't want to take a foul ball, even though he's 133 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:31.120 got protection there. Ouch, we're talking about a major league 134 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:38.080 fastball that's fouled off. And Kruco took exception as a 135 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:42.960 former catcher of some things that you hear from the 136 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:45.480 fans in a situation like. 137 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:52.799 This, Oh, Cory Lee, the catcher vidys of time. 138 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:58.639 You know one thing, I was a catcher. 139 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.039 And there are certain times you get hit and you 140 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.720 know somebody in the stands will yell out walk it off, 141 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:08.200 and you just want to go up there and bunch 142 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:11.200 it right in the forehead. Yeah, certain things you can't 143 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:17.159 walk off, and that was one of them. Mike Dolinsky's 144 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:19.320 not helping him out either by telling him they'll jump 145 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:19.840 up and down. 146 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:23.879 Yeah, well, I don't who came up with that. 147 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:24.720 That didn't work either. 148 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:29.759 So it's oh and two. 149 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:35.399 He is deed time talk about six days. Six days 150 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.639 is right. We'll talk more UK football next six thirty 151 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:42.759 wlap Welcome back to the Big Blue and Sider. Coming 152 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:45.080 up in a few minutes Chris Fisher of the Cat's 153 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:47.799 Pause part of the two four seven Network. He'll talk 154 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:51.759 Kentucky basketball recruiting, but we'll also talk football with Chris. 155 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:55.759 Same deal with Sean Woods, our unforgettable guard joins us 156 00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:58.399 every Wednesday. He'll be with us in hour number two. 157 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:01.600 He'll talk basketball and football. Haven't had a chance to 158 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:04.080 talk much football as Sean, but he was a three 159 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:06.000 sport guy in high school, so we will have a 160 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:08.279 chance to find out what he thinks. And of course 161 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:11.000 now we're number two as well. Our West end Bureau 162 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:15.200 chief Gary Moore, but Kentucky football the matter at hand 163 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:18.600 as they prepare to the Wildcats for their upcoming season 164 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:21.720 opener with a new offensive coordinator, Bush ham Dan, who 165 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:25.120 spoke with us recently and told the media about just 166 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:29.200 right about now is when the Wildcats are basically cleaning 167 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:32.320 up their act, taking care of details, getting ready for 168 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:36.879 situations in ball games, and cutting down on every mistake 169 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.759 they can head off. 170 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:40.879 It's never easy right to take the anxiety of week 171 00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:44.679 one when the situations actually occur. But for us, it 172 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:47.600 always is going to come down to two minute, end 173 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:51.360 of half, end of game, four minute scenarios, last plays. 174 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:55.240 You know, certain things with the clocks, so there's just 175 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:58.720 so many things. It's almost like a hidden hidden plays 176 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:01.720 that it's could come up at any point about fifteen 177 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.080 to twenty of them, and we got to do them 178 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:06.039 as much as possible so the guys can go execute them. 179 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.720 Now, you can't work on those things every day, but 180 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:11.200 you have to put in some work obviously and just 181 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:14.600 be ready, as he said, or whatever comes up in 182 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.919 whatever game you're playing, whether it's a conference game or 183 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:21.080 your non conference season opener, which is of course Sutthern 184 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:24.240 miss a good team. We asked him a little bit 185 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:27.519 about players who might be flying a little bit under 186 00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:32.399 the radar, and he went immediately to Fred Ferrier, a 187 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:38.120 wide receiver, and also Anthony Brown Stevens who went by 188 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:42.519 AB but now goes by ABS. But evidently those are 189 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:46.600 two guys, despite the fact that they're behind Barrion Brown 190 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:48.759 and Dante Key, those are guys we need to look for. 191 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:51.559 He said, Yeah, both those guys have done a tremendous job. 192 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:53.559 They really have. Fred's probably been one of our most 193 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:58.320 consistent wide receivers throughout camp. You know, runs precise routes, 194 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:00.679 makes plays on the ball. It's tough on the perimeter. 195 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:04.440 We're surely fortunate to have him. You know, Anthony Brown's 196 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:06.440 one of the best ball in hand guys we have. 197 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:10.399 I mean, he's got electricity on the outside carrying the football. 198 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:13.759 So again, we just we're gonna use a lot of 199 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.480 those guys in and out, and we're excited to use 200 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:16.799 them all. 201 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.600 Barrian Brown made it a point when he was talking 202 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:23.279 about Fred Ferrier, and Abs said the same thing. He's 203 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:27.600 a very quiet guy, doesn't brag much, doesn't talk much, 204 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:30.840 but lets his action speak, and yet he is talented 205 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:35.120 enough to do that on a consistent basis. So watch 206 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:38.759 for Ferrier, watch for Abs making plays this year from 207 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:41.600 the wide receiver room. We all know that Chip Train 208 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:43.679 hims out with a broken hand. He won't play in 209 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:46.799 at least the first couple of games. Hampden talked about 210 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:50.399 the fact that's sure when there's an injury like that 211 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:53.679 to a guy who figured to be a key performer, 212 00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:57.399 your power running back going into the season, and that's 213 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:59.480 going to change the way you call plays as an 214 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:00.600 offensive coordinator. 215 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:03.600 If it was possible to be the video game and 216 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:05.840 everybody take off injuries, that would be awesome. 217 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:07.559 But that's not our world. 218 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:12.320 So there's contingency plans. Obviously, when guys go down. It's 219 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:16.600 the next man up philosophy with every team and who 220 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:18.360 we need to get those next guys up ready to 221 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:20.759 go because we got a serious schedule ahead of us. 222 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:23.759 So you I talked about this a little bit yesterday 223 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:27.240 about the young guys who are behind Demi, Seymour, Karnbay, 224 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:32.840 and they're talented, obviously, unproven, untested, but there's nobody else 225 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:36.679 on the roster who will remind you, at least not 226 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:41.360 right now of Chris Rodriguez or Benny Snell or Ray Davis. 227 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:45.159 But all that does is make you appreciate even more 228 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:50.879 how good those guys were, how effective they were to 229 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:53.840 step into the sec as all three of them did 230 00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:58.879 and produce immediately. I mean, Benny didn't start every game 231 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:02.240 right away, It's part of a rotation, but you could 232 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:05.000 see it in him, and he was the power guy 233 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:07.720 as a freshman. You know, they had Jojo, they had 234 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:11.360 Boom Boom Williams, but Benny was a power guy from 235 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:14.519 the day he got here and got even better. And 236 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:17.759 Rodriguez played behind Benny and then took step right in, 237 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:21.440 took over for him. We weren't sure about Ray Davis, 238 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:25.720 but for all of his versatility, he got power yards 239 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:28.720 when they needed him. So the question is, without train them, 240 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:33.000 can Kentucky get the first down when it's a tough 241 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:36.240 third and one, third and two, or in the red 242 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:39.039 zone get into the end zone. So that's going to 243 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:41.799 be a big question right now. One of the bigger 244 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:46.039 questions right now for Kentucky is can you play clean? 245 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:49.320 Every coach wants that. Mark Souops was talking about that 246 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:53.320 after the scrimmage on Saturday and that's why he scrimmaged 247 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:58.519 to clean up any possibility of a pre snap penalty 248 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:01.960 and hamed and talked about how vital it is to 249 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:04.960 take that step as they close down camp. 250 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:07.240 Yeah, I think it's a great question. I think the 251 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:09.799 operational part is the number one thing. You know, we 252 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.919 always tell our guys all the time. Before you can, 253 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:14.320 you know, go win games, you got to figure out 254 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:16.279 how not to lose them. And I think in those 255 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:21.279 Week one opportunities again with the anxiety up, they haven't 256 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:23.759 been in front of you know, seventy thousand people. It's 257 00:15:23.799 --> 00:15:28.159 the operational stuff. Making sure the signals from the snap 258 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:31.080 count to the communication is the most critical thing. 259 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:32.399 And and that's it. 260 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:35.159 It's it's the uh, you know, win the pre snap 261 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:36.960 for us. Everything we're trying to get done in the 262 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.960 pre snap to get a line, we like to do 263 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:41.440 a lot of different things. And then certainly making the 264 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.919 routine plays routine. 265 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:45.639 You know, when we talk about baseball, it seems like 266 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:50.240 we always talk about dominating the routine play. You know, 267 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:52.960 the basic ground ball it's hit to the middle indfielder 268 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:56.480 or you know, just the routine throw across the diamond, 269 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:00.679 things like that. But Honestly, you could make that case 270 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:05.919 in any sport. Now with football, there are few, if 271 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:10.960 any routine plays, But there is a routine, as Hamden 272 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:14.200 was just saying, and that's what you have to nail down. 273 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:20.600 The way plays are brought in, formations, snap count, everything 274 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:24.480 up to the moment that the ball is snapped is 275 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:29.639 a routine. So you could call it routine with the 276 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:32.720 way you have to get things done. And there are 277 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:36.480 reps for that reason over and over, and we've talked 278 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:38.559 here during camp and you've heard about it and read 279 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:42.440 about it. The helmet coms, you know, the radio and 280 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:47.399 the helmet for the quarterback, for the lead player on defense. 281 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:50.519 You got to get that down now. Stoops said they 282 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:54.519 went over to the stadium the other night simulated a 283 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:59.039 real game just with how they sent plays in, how 284 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:03.519 they sent substitutes in, getting special teams on and off 285 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:07.079 the field. I will never forget when Rich Brooks was here, 286 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:11.759 Kentucky actually came down that they lost a game because 287 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:16.759 of a penalty on a special teams play because alignment 288 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:21.319 went in for the first team or the guy got hurt. 289 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:24.200 The first team guy got hurt, second team guy goes 290 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:29.799 in and then the next thing, you know, in fact, 291 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:34.440 this guy was on defense. So there they held Kentucky 292 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:37.359 held the other team. The other team lines up to 293 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.599 kick a field goal and Kentucky gets caught for too 294 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:42.599 many men on the field because the guy who had 295 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:46.559 subbed in on second or third down. He knew that 296 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:51.839 the guy he replaced was also on the special team, 297 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:55.400 but he was not. He had never played a down 298 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:58.480 of special teams in his life, so he decided, well, 299 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:01.480 I just need to be out here, and Kentucky get 300 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:04.359 called for twelve minute on the field. The opposing team, 301 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:06.920 instead of a field goal, took it in for a 302 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:10.920 touchdown and cast Kentucky the game. That's the kind of 303 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:14.680 mistake that causes coaches to pull their hair out. And 304 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.839 I remember Brooks saying that this kid had never played 305 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:21.680 a down of special teams in his life, but thought 306 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:24.680 he was obviously doing the right thing by staying out 307 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:29.720 on the field. That's why you go through pre snap routine, 308 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:33.000 all right. When we come back, Chris Fisher the Catspaws 309 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:36.119 joined us here on the Big Moon Sider six thirty wlap. 310 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:40.000 Welcome back. We're chatting with Chris Fisher of the Cat's Pause. 311 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:44.359 He is a veteran to covering UK sports and sports 312 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:49.559 in general two for seven Sports, but basketball recruiting is 313 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.720 one of his specialties. Chris, how are you. 314 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.480 Well? 315 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:53.759 Thanks? 316 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.200 Hey, I got to ask you. First off, Kentucky lands 317 00:18:57.240 --> 00:19:01.640 Malachi Moreno, and I I know what, it's an important signing. 318 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:06.279 He's local, he's a big but given the fact that 319 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:09.759 you know, Mark Pope just landed his first UK recruit, 320 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:12.079 and I think, Chris, this was a had to have 321 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:14.359 him kind of signing, wasn't it. 322 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:18.680 Yeah, I think so. I think it was a big 323 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:25.839 first addition. It was a natural addition, you know, adding 324 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:28.640 an in state guy as the first commitment for twenty 325 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:32.680 twenty five, and with you know, things not looking too 326 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:35.720 bright for Jasper Johnson, I think all of that kind 327 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:39.240 of adds up to a must have for Mark Pope. 328 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:42.319 I mean, he's a you know, a six foot eleven center, 329 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:47.319 really really talented, high upside that's from the state of Kentucky, 330 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:50.519 that plays the position that Mark Pope played, and so 331 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:58.359 I think there's kind of a natural synergy there. And 332 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:02.200 Mark Pope has made no about the importance of keeping 333 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:07.279 Kentucky guys at home. You know, obviously, Travis Perry signed 334 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:10.319 with Kentucky before Mark Pope came on. But Mark Pope 335 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:14.200 played a big part in, you know, keeping his commitment 336 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:17.559 and keeping him on board. And then he adds Trent 337 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:23.039 Noah in the spring as well, and so it was 338 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:26.319 a big commitment I think for to get Kentucky on 339 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:28.640 the board for twenty twenty five. It's still early. It's 340 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:31.839 only August. The early signing period is still months away. 341 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.279 But to get that first one out of the way 342 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:36.480 and to have it be a Kentucky guy, to have 343 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:41.079 it be a top twenty five prospect nationally, I think 344 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:43.359 it's a big deal for Mark Pope in Kentucky. 345 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:46.759 Yeah, I'm glad you brought up Trentoah because Travis was 346 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:50.480 going to come here, you know, with Calip Perry here, 347 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:52.839 I think whoever they had hired, Travis would have still come. 348 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:57.680 But Trentollah flipped on his commitment to South Carolina, which 349 00:20:57.759 --> 00:21:00.160 is nothing to be scoffed at. But I also I 350 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.680 think christ and we'll get back to Malick in a minute, 351 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:06.319 I really believe Trendonoah maybe as much as Travis Perry 352 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:09.319 is going to play a vital role in Kentucky basketball, 353 00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:11.680 maybe not this coming season. But I don't know how 354 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:14.240 much of a chance you got to see either in person, 355 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:18.079 are on video trendoah play in the Sweet sixteen. But 356 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:20.640 this kid can play. And I think he's going to 357 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.599 be important, don't you. 358 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:28.640 Yeah? I think again, as fans and as media, we 359 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:34.079 need to rewire our brains when it comes to recruiting 360 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:38.400 and what success on the recruiting trail means at Kentucky. 361 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:42.599 The days of having four and five five star guys 362 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:46.920 and a single recruiting class are over. That's not going 363 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:49.359 to happen here. And that's not how Mark Pope wants 364 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:51.759 it to happen. He wants the third of his guys 365 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:54.720 coming from the high school ranks. He wants the third 366 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:58.000 returning players. He wants a third coming from the portal. 367 00:21:58.319 --> 00:22:01.079 That's going to give Kentucky balance that it hasn't had 368 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:05.839 in fifteen years. And so you know, when you look 369 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:08.440 at these guys, you can no longer look at them 370 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:11.160 in terms of what they can offer you strictly as 371 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:13.440 a freshman, right, You have to look at them in 372 00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:16.279 terms of what they're going to be able to contribute 373 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:19.319 over the course of three or four years. And I 374 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:22.400 think when you look at guys like Trent Noah, Travis Perry, 375 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:25.000 and even Malachai Morano, because we all know that big 376 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:28.880 guys develop a little bit more slowly than the smaller guys. 377 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.000 Do. 378 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:31.799 You have to look at them what in terms of 379 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.440 what they're going to bring to the table in three 380 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:35.680 or four years, and I think all three of those 381 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:39.680 guys are going to be very, very good college basketball 382 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:43.279 players before their careers at Kentucky are over and there 383 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:47.359 for so long I was I was jealous of schools 384 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:51.440 like North Carolina, Villanova, Kansas that you know, they may get, 385 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:56.000 you know, a top fifteen, top twenty guy sprinkled in 386 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:58.640 here and there, but for the most part, their recruiting 387 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:02.119 classes were made up of top thirty five to top 388 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:05.640 seventy five guys that probably weren't going to leave for 389 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:07.920 the NBA after one year, and they were going to 390 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:11.000 stick around for two and three years. And then by 391 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:15.000 the time they're done, you have a very nice, little 392 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:18.960 composite mixture of talent and experience, and those are the 393 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:22.880 guys that go on to be really, really good college players. 394 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:25.240 I mean, you think you know Hunter Dickinson, RJ. Davis, 395 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:28.519 Armando Baycott, all the guys that Villanova had on and 396 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:31.400 on and on, and you look at the teams that 397 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:34.279 you look at the success that those teams have had 398 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:38.000 in recent years, and they were always it felt like 399 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:40.519 contending for a national championship. 400 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.160 Talking to Chris Fisher the Catch Bass two four to 401 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:46.960