WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:02.520 Welcome to the Big Blue and sider Diay Gabriel with 2 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:05.200 you in a Wednesday edition of our program, the day 3 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:09.080 after Kentucky's Senior Day win over the LSU Tigers. Coming 4 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:10.960 up a little bit later on, we'll talk to Sean Woods, 5 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:14.519 the unforgettable guard, about not just last night's game, but 6 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.480 when he went through senior ceremonies as well. 7 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:18.359 Always special. 8 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:21.239 We're also going to hear from Darren Headrick as he 9 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:23.800 is heading for the SEC Women's Tournament. He also wore 10 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:25.760 Kentucky's baseball. 11 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:26.160 Win last night. 12 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:29.760 The Cats blew out Eastern Kentucky sixteen to nothing. A 13 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:33.240 year ago when Kentucky went to Richmond, the Wildcats had 14 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:35.039 to break up a no hitter late in the game 15 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:37.719 to come back and win. But it was all Wildcats 16 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:40.119 last night, and we hear more from Darren about that, 17 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:42.640 get his thoughts on this year's team, as he's been 18 00:00:42.679 --> 00:00:44.320 able to call some of the games so far. 19 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:45.320 As when his. 20 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:49.159 Schedule intersects with women's basketball, he sticks with basketball, but 21 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:51.479 he has seen the baseball Cats a few times, so 22 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:53.920 we'll talk about that as well. And our West End 23 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:57.240 BUA chief Gary Moore as always joining us on a Wednesday, 24 00:00:57.479 --> 00:00:59.759 and we'll talk, of course about the Wildcats, who got 25 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:05.359 their twentieth win last night and Senior Night for six people, Annsley, Almanor, 26 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:09.879 Kobe Breath, Lamont Butler, and Drew Carr, Jackson Robinson and 27 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:15.519 Amari Williams. Senior Night wins fifty three against just six losses. 28 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:19.280 And that thirty one point win last night largest for 29 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:24.879 UK on Senior Day since they beat Vanderbilt in twenty three. 30 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:28.400 Fifteen and three at home for the Cats, most victories 31 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:32.239 for Kentucky in the last three seasons didn't reflect very 32 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:35.840 well again on the John Caliperi last couple of years, 33 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:40.000 Wildcats hit only fifty point seven percent from the field. 34 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.239 They had that stretch there in the second half. They 35 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:46.519 went kind of cold, you know, but it was just 36 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.760 something to see, man, the way they kept throwing in shots. 37 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:53.120 And as you know, when the Wildcats hit fifty percent 38 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:55.359 or better, they are tough to beat. In fact, they 39 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:58.840 are thirteen and one and not just hit shots last night, 40 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:02.599 but hit three pointers twelve of them, and Kentucky eight 41 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:06.920 and oh this year when making at least twelve triples, 42 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:10.039 they got enough three pointers they try to get, you know, 43 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:12.639 thirty thirty five and they got. 44 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:13.560 What they wanted last night. 45 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:16.319 LSU. Look, let's face it, it's just not very good. 46 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:19.800 I don't know if the Tigers will become good in 47 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:23.319 the near future. They've got some talent, they've won some games, 48 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:27.039 but not very many, and they just aren't very good 49 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:30.199 this year. They have been the team Kentucky fans love 50 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:32.400 to hate every now and then, but they're only fourteen 51 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:38.400 and sixteen. So, by the way, the Wildcats seventeen times 52 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:42.240 this year have made at least ten three pointers. That's 53 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:46.800 the most in UK history. How about that? And the 54 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:49.120 Cats won the rebounding about of course they wanted against 55 00:02:49.159 --> 00:02:52.759 Auburn by a substantial margin, but Auburn didn't miss many shots. 56 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:56.919 So anyhow, they got to keep that up because they're 57 00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:00.439 thirteen and four this year when they out rebound the opponent. 58 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:04.680 So overall, a great night Otaga away. Let everybody with 59 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:08.000 twenty four had eight point or eight rebounds, three assists, 60 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:12.879 three steals. Tremendous game. Brandon Garrison had fifteen points, four 61 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:18.759 assists and three steals, man Almoner at fifteen points. Colin 62 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:22.879 Chandler hit three triples in a career high eleven. He's 63 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:26.479 getting good at just the right time. He also had 64 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:31.280 four assists on the night. So Travis Perry and Trentoah 65 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:34.159 aren't quite haven't been quite as effective as they've been 66 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:37.599 in the past. But that's okay. You know, they may 67 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:40.159 in the next game get right back to that. But 68 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:43.080 Chandler's picked up the slack, there's no question about that. 69 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:45.520 So we'll talk more with Sean about that coming up 70 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:48.840 in just a few minutes. Looking around in the league 71 00:03:48.919 --> 00:03:50.919 SEC tournament, as you know, is coming up, and how 72 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:55.159 about this. Dan Shulman and Jay Billis will call the tournament. 73 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:59.240 They've done the ACC four years. Dave O'Brien and Corey 74 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:03.680 Alexander called the a SEC tournament. But now Showman and Billis, 75 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:06.360 And I know some of you still don't like Billis. 76 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:09.080 Look Showman, in my opinion, and there are a lot 77 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:12.039 of great TV playbook play guys out there. I think 78 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.080 he's the best guy. He's my favorite. Let's put it 79 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:17.319 to you that way, because he does not tell you 80 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:21.560 everything the screen is showing you. You know, he dribbles left, 81 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:24.120 dribbles right, he shoots it, hits the rim, no good. 82 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:26.160 You know, TV guys don't need to do that, and 83 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:28.800 too many of them feel like if he feels like 84 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:31.560 they're getting paid by the word. Shulman does a great 85 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:34.759 job mixing the video and his descriptions, and I just 86 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:37.959 think Billis does a great job. And I wrote about 87 00:04:37.959 --> 00:04:40.439 this on the website. You know, why do so many 88 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:41.519 people dislike Jay? 89 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:42.000 Billis? 90 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:46.639 And he was talking to Tony Kornheiser on Corneizer's podcast 91 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:50.560 the other day about and Corneizer asked him, do people 92 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:53.319 think he's biased as he go overboard trying not to 93 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:56.879 be you know? And Billis said, look, you know, it's 94 00:04:56.920 --> 00:04:59.399 been forty years since I played there, so yeah, I 95 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:02.879 love the play, but yeah, he works hard. And some 96 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:05.680 Duke fans don't like Billis because they think he tries 97 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:09.399 too hard not to be biased toward Duke. So anyhow, 98 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:12.519 Showman and Billis, I like him, of course. I always 99 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:16.519 split time between Tom and Jack. And coming up in 100 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:19.079 our next segment, we're gonna hear some of Jack gibbons 101 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:24.040 conversation with the seniors. He interviewed all six seniors after 102 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:26.480 the game, three at a time, so we'll hear the 103 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:28.839 first half of that at the bottom of this hour. 104 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.120 Come up after the break and then an hour number two, 105 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:35.079 we'll hear the second three that he interviewed. But it 106 00:05:35.160 --> 00:05:38.160 was really a lot of fun to hear somebody making 107 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:42.360 headlines again, Rick Pattino. His team is winning, so he's 108 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:43.839 making headlines for that reason. 109 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:45.800 But I mean, he's a good story. 110 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:50.800 You know, he's back in college basketball in New York winning, 111 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:54.519 they win the Big East. But on a WFN show 112 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:57.600 yesterday I think it was or the day before, I 113 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:02.439 think it was yesterday, he was addressing rumors as usual 114 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:04.879 that he would leave for Indiana. Some people thought he 115 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:09.040 would leave Iona for Indiana, but he said, New York 116 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.759 is where I belong. He said, why would I leave 117 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:13.600 where I'm gonna go that I would want to leave. 118 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:16.519 He said, this is New York City, the greatest. 119 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:17.000 City in the world. 120 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:19.399 This is a program that is in the top ten. 121 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:23.160 And he said, I'm overpaid right now. They should take 122 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:27.480 some money away from me. I don't need anything. And 123 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:29.800 he said, my agent's going to kill me for saying that, 124 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:32.759 because he keeps saying you're not in the top five 125 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:36.879 of Biggie's coaches. He's gonna kill me now. But Tina 126 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:41.120 reportedly makes three point three million per year from Saint John's. 127 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:45.000 That doesn't include any endorsements he might get. And look, 128 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:49.319 whatever he might need, he'll get it from Mike Ropoli. 129 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:53.680 And you might recognize that name. Mike Ropoli is a 130 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:57.560 billionaire alum from Saint John's. He had two different sports 131 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:01.000 drinks or or waters or whatever that he sold for 132 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.439 an incredible amount of money. So now he does a 133 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:07.680 lot of other things, but he dabbles in horse racing, 134 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.920 and at some point he had he had the Derby 135 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:16.079 favorite in Derby one fifty fierceness and didn't win it. 136 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:16.800 I like the horse. 137 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:19.240 He also had the favorite to Night in twenty twenty 138 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:23.160 three forte but had to scratch. I also like that horse. 139 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.720 But look, he will be a factor because he can 140 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:29.639 buy good horses. So you'll hear his name around the 141 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:32.199 Kentucky Derby and the Oaks and all these big races 142 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:36.079 for years to come, I would think. But anyhow, look, 143 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:40.240 if Patino needs something, Mike Roppoli will get it for 144 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:44.199 him or give it to him, and right now together, 145 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.800 because Roppoli, of course is the nil guy for Saint John's. 146 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:51.600 They've got their best record since the eighty five eighty 147 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:54.879 six season. Their best team since eighty five when they 148 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:57.480 came to the Final four here in lexingon Well Luke 149 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:01.040 Carniseca and that Big East title they just won first 150 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:05.040 in forty years. They haven't won an NCAA tournament game 151 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:08.680 in twenty five years. And Sean and I will talk 152 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:11.079 about this again, and we talked about it last week. 153 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:13.759 That is a team that is going to be really 154 00:08:13.879 --> 00:08:18.160 dangerous in postseason. They don't score well, they don't shoot 155 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:22.759 well Saint John's, but they guard like crazy. And I 156 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:25.399 commend to you Redstorm Rising if you can find it 157 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:30.240 on WES the Vice channel. That's the documentary series. They're 158 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:35.799 also showing the series on Caliperi documentary series that might 159 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:37.399 have just been leading up to the UK game. I 160 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:40.759 haven't kept up with it, but I've been watching the 161 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:44.200 Saint john series and it's classic Patino. I mean, f 162 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:48.159 Bomb's left and right, and he's been pretty frank about 163 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:50.120 his team. He's run the camera crew out of his 164 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:53.320 locker room a couple times, and he doesn't let him 165 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:56.440 in at halftime. But he still wears the wireless mic 166 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:58.759 so you can pick up the audio. You can hear 167 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:00.679 what he's saying. You just don't have a camera there 168 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:04.480 in the locker room. So anyhow, it also reminded me 169 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:09.639 of when we did a special a documentary, if you would. 170 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:11.240 I was one of one of the ones I put 171 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:15.440 together with some help from KYT several years ago, many 172 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:18.320 years ago, called a day with Rick Patino, and he 173 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:21.120 agreed to let us follow them around. I set in 174 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:24.639 on a staff meeting. Fascinating, but he would not wear 175 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:27.840 a microphone during the game, and it's certainly it was 176 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:30.720 because of the profanity. He didn't want people to hear that. 177 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:32.799 But we had microphones near the bench. They picked it 178 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:35.440 up anyway, We bleeped it, you know. But he tried 179 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:36.799 to tell us he didn't want to wear a mic 180 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:39.159 because he thought the players would be self conscious. 181 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:39.799 Come on, man. 182 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:42.240 But it turned out to be a great show. It 183 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:46.759 was fun, and I borrowed an idea from the old 184 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:49.399 Candid Camera Show, which every once in a while would 185 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:52.799 show a piece that it did. It was a Pittsburgh 186 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:57.039 traffic cop who would dance in the intersection as he 187 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:00.480 directed traffic, and they put it to opera music. So 188 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:03.080 I had the idea, let's put a camera on Patino 189 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:07.600 for the entire game. We had one guy shooting, just 190 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:12.840 Patino and all his antics, and our production manager Tom Bickel, 191 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:17.240 sat in an edit bay for hours with tape after 192 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:21.399 tape after tape and had two different pieces of opera music, 193 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:24.840 one was Italian, one was German, and put it together. 194 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:26.399 It was brilliant. It won an Addie. 195 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:26.879 Award that year. 196 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:30.879 So Patinos wore mikes before, but he always wants to 197 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:33.639 be in control. But before the break, could I please 198 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:36.679 just take a moment, if you'll indulge me. I have 199 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:40.639 said many many times that I will not mix I 200 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:43.559 will not talk politics on this show unless for some 201 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:47.679 reason it mixes with sports. All right, there are plenty 202 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.039 of shows out there and podcasts, and you know, plenty 203 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:55.600 of media out there on politics, but social media is 204 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:58.960 a different animal. I will tweet and retweet about it, 205 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.240 even under the name Big Blue Insider on my Twitter 206 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:04.519 account and of course on my own personal Facebook account, 207 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:08.159 and I've gotten that strict of sports stuff. No, not 208 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:11.360 gonna do it. I'm an American citizen, I'm entitled to 209 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:14.840 my opinion. I promised you I won't mix it in. 210 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:17.840 I won't bring it up on this show unless it 211 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:20.960 has to do with sports. Like Congress getting involved with something, 212 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:26.000 but on my social media account, no, I'm not going 213 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:28.399 to adhere to shut up and dribble kind of thinking. 214 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:31.919 So just wanted to throw that in. If you don't 215 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:34.840 like it, that's fine. I respect you don't follow me, 216 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:38.080 that's cool. I won't think any less of you. Well 217 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:41.159 maybe a little, but h No, I'm gonna keep speaking 218 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:41.600 my mind. 219 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:43.039 All right, let's step out. 220 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:44.879 When we come back, we'll hear from the UK seniors 221 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:48.159 one six point thirty wlap Welcome back to the Big 222 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:50.559 Blue Insider coming up in just a few minutes, unforgettable 223 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:53.440 guard Sean Woods. A little bit later on Darren Hedrick, 224 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:57.039 just ahead of the UK women's basketball team's trip to 225 00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:01.879 the SEC Tournament yep, March Madness postseason. It's already on 226 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:04.200 top of us. And later on our West End Bureau 227 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:07.399 chief Gary Moore has promised, I wanted to share with you. 228 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:11.799 I'm gonna do this in segments, the conversation Jack Gibbons 229 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:15.440 had with the seniors, and he did this last year 230 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:18.519 and I remember, you know, there were so many question 231 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.159 marks or was it a couple of years ago what 232 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:24.960 he had all the seniors on and he said, I 233 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:28.559 don't want a decision now, but there could be a 234 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:30.639 chance and some of you are coming back and all that, 235 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:33.360 and people clapped and they all kin. You know, nobody 236 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:36.879 came back. But Jack talked to the six seniors three 237 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:40.279 at a time after the blowout win last night over 238 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:44.000 LSU on the UK Sports Network. So here's the first batch. 239 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:47.440 I'm gonna play the second part because he didn't talk 240 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:49.600 to him all at once. He've only got so many microphones. 241 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:52.159 I'll play that in the second hour. But this is 242 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:57.600 Lamont Butler, Mariy Williams, and Kobe Braya talking to Jack Gibbons, 243 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:01.879 and Butler speaks first just about his experience here at Kentucky. 244 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:03.879 Yeah, man, I think it was easy though. 245 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:07.279 I mean, just having the great people around me, the 246 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:10.120 guys to push me every day to go out there 247 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:12.240 and you know, be my best and you know, just 248 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:14.200 allow me to be a leader as well. You know, 249 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:17.159 coming from a different school with also everybody else coming 250 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:18.759 from a different school, it was kind of new. And 251 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:21.720 you know, from day one I saw everybody's working. I 252 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.919 think everybody's passion and h you know, we grew together, 253 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.600 you know, really quick, and you know, it's been beautiful 254 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:29.399 what we were able to do, and now we want 255 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:31.519 to continue to do more and make it special again. 256 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:35.480 One thing that said early on was you guys kind 257 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:38.039 of play with a little bit of a chip on 258 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:42.240 your shoulder because I think, to a man, you guys 259 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:45.399 wanted to prove that you deserve to be here and 260 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:47.600 should have been here from day one when you came 261 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:50.120 out of high school. Amari, did that figure in with 262 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:52.200 you at all when you had to make the decision 263 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:53.120 to come here. 264 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:55.679 In terms of, like you said, trying to prove yourself. 265 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:57.480 I was thinking that just you know, coming from a 266 00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:59.600 mid major, and I can say the same about I say, 267 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:02.639 like a like Ansley Kobe too, just you know, just 268 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.480 proven out you you can play on this level and 269 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:06.159 can go into the challenge. 270 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.000 Wry I to say that for sure. 271 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:10.720 Yeah, And Kobe, you know when you came in with 272 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:16.440 a big reputation, you've lipped that out. It's just fun 273 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:21.559 to see how you guys have come together. And that's 274 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:24.480 hard to do with the backgrounds coming from all over 275 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:27.000 the place. But talk to me a little bit about 276 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:32.120 how that process has developed over the course of this season. 277 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:34.080 That has flown right on behind. 278 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:37.679 Is honestly It's honestly crazy how fast time has flew 279 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:41.720 by this season. And I think when you think about that, 280 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:43.440 you kind of go back to the summer and everything 281 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:45.080 that we went through during the summer, whether it was 282 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:47.639 all the Bluss Winds series that were putting together in 283 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:49.679 the gym, or just all the fun that we had 284 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:51.559 together off the court. You know, I think that stuff 285 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:54.039 that kind of made our bond a lot stronger. And 286 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:55.600 I think that when we step on the floor and 287 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:57.080 we play, you can kind of see how much we 288 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:57.720 love each other. 289 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:00.000 And that's been a big part of our success. Yeah, 290 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:00.679 that's for sure. 291 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:04.039 I want to go back you're talking about over the summer. 292 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:06.919 I want to go back because you guys, all three 293 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.720 of you, actually all six of you, could have gone 294 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:13.639 to any number of schools around the country. I mean, 295 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:17.480 you were getting recruited. You were it's like coming out 296 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:22.679 of high school. What had you heard about Kentucky that 297 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:25.120 made you want to make the decision to play here? 298 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:28.240 Oh? 299 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:30.639 Well, I mean I heard that it was just different here, 300 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:34.480 just you know, the fan base was just a different level. 301 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:37.159 Also just playing you knowing the sec. 302 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:39.919 You know, I knew that I was going to be 303 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:43.159 a bigger challenge for myself, and you know, I just 304 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:45.000 was ready to take that challenge head off. 305 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.399 Yeah. 306 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:49.519 We don't see many seven foot point guards, man, I 307 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:53.159 mean we just don't. I mean, that's a part of 308 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:57.600 the game, folks that get because because of our injuries, 309 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:02.440 especially that this one runs and the normal point guard. 310 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:05.399 I don't know that we're nearly as good as we 311 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:08.799 are with the improvements you've made in your game. Talk 312 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:11.120 to me about that. Think in a seven footer running 313 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.120 the point guard spot. 314 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:14.840 Yeah, I mean it came about in the Tennessee game. 315 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:17.159 Before the game, I really didn't know that that was 316 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.720 going to happen, and you know, I took the ball 317 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:21.360 of the court a few times and we figured out 318 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.639 it was. And you know, ever since then, my teammates 319 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:25.720 coaches have the confidence of me to just bring the 320 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:27.840 boat up every time, and it's held me in many 321 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:30.080 other areas too, And I feel like this is the 322 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.600 reason why my game grew on so much. 323 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:35.799 Comes As a guy who is going to be taking 324 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:37.120 the next step. 325 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:42.480 You always wanted to think what's up next? 326 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:47.039 How important is it for you though, to close out 327 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:52.159 the rest of this season understanding that the next step 328 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:54.519 is going to be there a lot of decisions still 329 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:57.360 to be made. Talk to me about the importance of 330 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:59.919 the rest of this season. Yeah, I mean, I think. 331 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:02.039 For ourselfs and just for the rest of the team, 332 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.200 where we're all trying to just stay present in the moment. 333 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:07.319 You know, we know that we have big plans, big 334 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:11.519 goals that we're trying to achieve the next step. Honestly, 335 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.720 that's the furthest thing from right now. I think we're 336 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:16.240 all focused on number nine and that's been the main 337 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:18.079 focus since we got here. We're not going to start 338 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:19.720 to you know, we put in all the way that 339 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.240 we can't to be able to get to this at all. 340 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:25.279 I like that answer the last question, and either one 341 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:27.200 of you or whole of you can deal with us. 342 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:31.680 Senior night is always special. I mean it's always special. 343 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:35.160 Some of you might have experienced that in other places, 344 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:38.960 but you know the emotion that goes with that, having 345 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:44.039 your families here to enjoy this night with you, I know, 346 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:48.279 it's very special. Talk to me just a little about 347 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:50.160 that senior night experience. 348 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:52.400 Were you a little bit tight early in this game? 349 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.880 I was ready to go. 350 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:57.599 Yeah, after the senior and night thing, but you know 351 00:17:57.640 --> 00:18:00.640 it definitely was a special moment for me and my 352 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:03.359 family to be here, know in front of you all 353 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:06.640 fans and you guys. You know, just like like someone 354 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:08.759 said earlier that you guys just just took his hands 355 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:10.759 so quick, and know, you guys just showed us a 356 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.720 lot of love, and you know we played with that 357 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:14.960 same love on the court, you know, for each other 358 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:17.519 and for you guys. So definitely want to thank everybody 359 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:20.039 for coming out and supporting us, and you know this 360 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.559 has been a great year for us. 361 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:25.440 And that's Curtis City UK Sports Network of course, and 362 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.200 our number two. We're here the other three seniors talking 363 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:33.240 about their experiences here at Kentucky Senior Night. 364 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:35.440 Always special as you know, it. 365 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:39.400 Includes the traditional playing of My Old Kentucky Home. It's 366 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:43.000 always a treat. And you know what's been circulating on 367 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:47.559 social media was a clip from this day, March the fifth, 368 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:52.559 nineteen eighty eight, when the Wildcats said goodbye, and that 369 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:56.119 was one talented Kentucky team that was Rex Chapman's second year, 370 00:18:56.599 --> 00:19:01.359 Cedric Jenkins, Winston Bennett, Robert Locke. It was also the 371 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:05.240 last time Happy Chandler would sing My Old Kentucky Home 372 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:08.559 at Rupp Aerina. I'm gonna play the entire thing for 373 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:11.039 you at the end of the show. Here's a little 374 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:15.119 snippet of it from Chandler. And by the way, for 375 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:19.519 those of you who are still maybe uncomfortable or resentful 376 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:25.400 of mild Kentucky Home, because the initial song itself included 377 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:28.799 a word that is now offensive to attribute everybody but 378 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:32.400 to African Americans. And of course that was a song 379 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:35.000 was a product of its time. But because of that, 380 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:39.279 it's become known as a racist song. And you can 381 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:42.319 wonder about that, and I think it's fair. But I 382 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:45.640 actually did a little research on this and I was 383 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:49.599 amazed to learn. And we should know this as Kentuckians, 384 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:52.079 because if you know the song, appreciated it, like it. 385 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.039 Love it. 386 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:55.960 It was written by Stephen Foster. You know Stephen Foster 387 00:19:56.039 --> 00:20:00.920 story over in Bartstown. Stephen Foster was an abolitionist. Stephen 388 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:08.119 Foster was an outright opponent of slavery and activist and 389 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:12.559 an activist when it came to slavery. So why did 390 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:15.559 he write the song? Well, the song was written in 391 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:19.839 his mind through the eyes of a slave, a man 392 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:24.039 who had been working a farm in Kentucky and had 393 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:28.319 been sold taken away from his family and sent to 394 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:33.160 another farm out of state, and he was just thinking 395 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:37.359 about the day he could return to his family in 396 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:41.799 Kentucky and how much he loved being in Kentucky. Now, 397 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:45.039 I didn't love being a slave, obviously, but I just 398 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:48.359 thought that was a fascinating piece of history. So I 399 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:50.640 had to do a little about face or big about 400 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:54.039 face on my old Kentucky home. And there's a little 401 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:58.119