WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:02.240 Welcome to the Big blueing Sider. Dick Gabriel with you 2 00:00:02.279 --> 00:00:04.679 on a Memorial Day Monday. Hope you're having a great 3 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:07.480 weekend tonight it will be the best of the Big 4 00:00:07.559 --> 00:00:11.160 Blue Insider. But we're going to talk Kentucky baseball first 5 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:15.439 in this opening sequence because the Wildcats got in. If 6 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:17.600 you haven't heard yet, you probably have if you're a 7 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:23.039 Kentucky baseball fan. But Kentucky basically slips in to the 8 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:27.760 College Baseball Tournament. Although you might have thought the Wildcats 9 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.239 would have been one of the last four in, but 10 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:33.960 if you saw the selection show today, that's not the case. 11 00:00:34.439 --> 00:00:40.359 Strength of schedule and RPI came up big for the Wildcats. 12 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:44.560 They played a tough schedule and not that this mattered 13 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:47.840 to the committee. Maybe it did, but keep in mind 14 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:50.640 that the Kentucky team that got to the College World 15 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:56.399 Series last year, basically the entire starting elements moved on. 16 00:00:56.679 --> 00:01:01.399 Seven of the eight position regular position players moved on, 17 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:06.200 the entire weekend rotation, the top two relievers. Nick Benngeone 18 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:09.719 and his staff had to replace all of them. And 19 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:12.280 the Wildcats had their ups and downs this year. As 20 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:16.519 you know, they won twenty nine games. They led in 21 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:21.000 twenty eight of the thirty one SEC games they played, 22 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:25.439 including one SEC tournament game, and going into that last 23 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:29.239 weekend at Vanderbilt. This is what's fascinating about what happened 24 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:34.359 this year. That weekend turned college baseball, I won't say 25 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:38.400 upside down, but had a profound effect on what happened 26 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:43.159 with this tournament draw because Kentucky could have swept Wildcats 27 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:48.719 took leads into the last Vandy at bat Commodore's got 28 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.079 two walk off home runs in the first two games. 29 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:55.319 Wildcats led three to nothing in game three and blew 30 00:01:55.400 --> 00:01:59.480 that lead, couldn't hang on down in Nashville. So Vandy sweeps. 31 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:05.280 Vandy ends up the overall number one seed in this tournament. 32 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:09.280 So imagine if Kentucky had finished up two or three 33 00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:13.439 of those wins, it clearly I think would have kept 34 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:16.199 Vandy from being the overall number one seed. Think the 35 00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:19.439 doors would have gotten in. Of course, they've gone nineteen 36 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:23.000 straight years now, that's the longest current streak. They're forty 37 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:26.520 two and sixteen, and they are the overall number one seed. 38 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:31.280 They won the SEC tournament, gave up only three runs 39 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:35.879 in the entire tournament. Now think about that down and 40 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:39.800 Hoover in the SEC Tournament in the best league in America. 41 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:45.599 Vandy gave up a total of three runs, but in 42 00:02:45.639 --> 00:02:51.520 the weekend against Kentucky gave up nearly twenty runs and 43 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:55.280 the Wildcats just couldn't hold on. But that weekend we 44 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:59.560 thought might have cost Kentucky, might have kept the Wildcats 45 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:02.080 out of the two tournament. But as you know by now, 46 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:06.199 they're going to Clemson. Clemson is the host with forty 47 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:10.599 four wins. Wildcats will take on West Virginia, the Big 48 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:16.280 twelve regular season champ. West Virginia has played here in 49 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:20.479 lexingon in an nca regional. This is a fourth regional 50 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:24.639 appearance for the Wildcats under Nick Menje, one third in 51 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:28.560 a row for the Wildcats. First time in UK history, 52 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:33.560 the Wildcats have gone to three straight NCAA Baseball tournaments. 53 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:37.840 Ben Zione got him there in twenty seventeen, his first 54 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:41.879 year as the UK head coach, and then of course 55 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:45.400 he to the last three seasons. Now, so the Wildcats 56 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:51.080 will take on West Virginia and Clemson will play USC Upstate, 57 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:55.520 and then we'll see what happens after that, and if 58 00:03:55.560 --> 00:03:59.759 Kentucky plays the way it did against Oklahoma in sweeping ou. 59 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:04.319 If Kentucky plays the way it did against Tennessee in Knoxville, 60 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:08.560 taking two out of three from the volunteers, and the 61 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:12.240 Wildcats could move on. If they win, they likely would 62 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:15.560 have to go back to Baton Rouge. That's where they 63 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:19.040 played a couple of years ago against Paul Skeins and 64 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:23.560 Dylan Cruz against the eventual national champion. But hey, they'd 65 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:27.759 be okay with that, wouldn't they, Because they're in. And 66 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:30.920 as Sam Newton used to say, you can play your 67 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:33.360 way out of a bad seed. He was talking about 68 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:36.480 the basketball tournament, but it holds up here as well. 69 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:38.680 You can play your way out of a bad seed, 70 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:42.040 but you can't play your way into the tournament. And 71 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:45.279 the Wildcats are in, and we'll talk more about it 72 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:49.920 tomorrow night on the show and break down the tournament field. 73 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:53.439 But we're gonna take a break, and coming up next, 74 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:55.920 we hear from Mark Pope here on the Best of 75 00:04:55.959 --> 00:04:59.120 the Big Boo Insider, going back to the conversation he 76 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:02.000 had with John Rostein of CBS Sports. A little bit 77 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:06.519 later on Marion Haskins on the late and great Larry 78 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:10.199 Johnson player from Sean Woods, the unforgettable guard later in 79 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:13.639 the show and former football wildcaty Anthony White. That's all 80 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.040 I had on the Best of the Big Blue Insider 81 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:20.639 here on Memorial Day on six thirty WLAP. Welcome back 82 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:22.720 to the Best of the Big Blue Insider. Dick Gabriel 83 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:25.519 with you. Here's part of the show we did first 84 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:27.920 of the month, right after Mark Pope went on a 85 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:33.160 national podcast. We got to talk about Mark Pope and 86 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:39.040 John Rostein the podcast that Rostein produced and aired, and 87 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:41.560 it's on YouTube if you want to go back and 88 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:43.800 watch and listen to the whole thing if you haven't already. 89 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:50.879 The Internet has been swamped with comments and clips and 90 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:54.000 we're going to share some with you now. Rostein was 91 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:56.399 on with Tom Leachs this morning. Been trying to get 92 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:59.920 him on my show. He's been so busy that he's 93 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:02.519 not been able to accommodate me. He was able to 94 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:06.000 jump on, but Tom a little bit first thing this morning, 95 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:09.680 but he had a great interview I thought with Pope 96 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:15.240 and Mark of course as always so excited. And Rosstein 97 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:20.240 began his podcast by just basically doing a monologue for 98 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:23.439 about twenty minutes. But one of the things he touched 99 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:28.160 on was how, yes, the NIL and the portal have 100 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:31.920 kind of turned sports upside down, there's no question. But 101 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:35.759 he basically told the same line that most of us have. 102 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:38.800 I think you probably have too if you're a college 103 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:47.680 sports fan, in that NIL has really really jumbled college athletics. 104 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:51.079 But it's not necessarily a bad thing, because it's only 105 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:54.399 fair now that the players get to share and the riches, 106 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:57.199 and yes, some of these numbers are off the charts 107 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:01.360 and the way the pendulum swings, and it'll swing back 108 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:05.279 the other way. But what is really turn this thing 109 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:09.519 upside down and inside out is the portal. And I 110 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:13.160 do think everybody agrees, probably with the exception of a 111 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:16.319 handful of players, that you ought to be allowed to 112 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:19.680 transfer once, then after that you got to sit out 113 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:25.000 of here. The people who would disagree are perhaps coaches 114 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:28.720 who are welcoming a player they might need who's already 115 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:31.600 been at three schools, and the coach is willing to 116 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:34.560 overlook whatever problems the kid might have had, And of 117 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:37.439 course the players who are bouncing from school to school 118 00:07:37.720 --> 00:07:41.279 to school, sometimes taking money with them without even playing, 119 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:47.240 but oftentimes usually trying to find a spot where they'll 120 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:52.360 better fit in because they're not patient at all. So 121 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:55.720 that in mind. One of Rostein's first questions to Mark 122 00:07:55.759 --> 00:08:00.680 Pope was about being a head coach into today's climate. 123 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:05.399 In some ways, the path forward continues to get murkier 124 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.959 and murkier, And so I think where we are is 125 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:11.839 I think we're getting bolder and boulder as we push forward. 126 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:15.160 It's you see, you see all these changes. It's just 127 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:18.720 this field that's ripe full of opportunity and we're trying 128 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:20.199 to seize on it every single moment. 129 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:22.319 What is it like to be a head coach in 130 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:22.879 this climate? 131 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:24.639 It is there, it is. 132 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:29.839 I love it actually because it tests you in every way. 133 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:33.679 It challenges you every way. Uh you know, you're you're 134 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:37.720 taking in data and information at such an amazing clip, 135 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:41.480 and you have to model so many different possible scenarios. 136 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:43.440 You know, as we as we kind of see you're 137 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:46.399 waiting on this settlement to kind of get some verdict 138 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:50.039 on the settlement, you could see the trajectory of college 139 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:53.679 athletics and college basketball going in a dozen different directions. 140 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:56.200 You kind of got to model out all of those 141 00:08:56.960 --> 00:09:00.480 in scenarios that fit your program in your universe. And 142 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:04.440 so the challenge involved in that is is never ending, 143 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:08.600 and it's like I said, it's full of opportunity now. 144 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:11.279 As head coaches go. Mark Pope is on the younger side, 145 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:14.360 of course, the same profession that has seen guys like 146 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:18.759 Jay Wright and Nick Saban, guys who have won their championships, 147 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:22.879 done their work. They've stepped away Roy Williams, who again 148 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:24.919 had had a great career and a little bit older 149 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:30.399 than Mark Pope. But Mark excited about the opportunities first 150 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:34.120 of all to be a Kentucky. Secondly to take advantage 151 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:38.360 of information, the data he likes, and build a team. 152 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.240 He's got a good recruiting class coming in, he's got 153 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:44.120 a good portal group coming in, and he's got talented 154 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:47.080 second year guys. You should listen to the podcast to 155 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:51.480 get the full rundown on what he has to say 156 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:55.080 about the guys coming back, Brandon Garrison and take O Way, 157 00:09:56.360 --> 00:10:00.480 Trent Noah. But he is excited, and it's to me 158 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:03.679 it's an interesting reason he's so excited about his second 159 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:04.279 year guys. 160 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:06.960 Well, like you said, I think it's a key at 161 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:10.320 being success and there's nothing like getting older with your 162 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:14.960 own guys, right. And the second thing is my guys traditionally, 163 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:20.759 my guy's second year take a massive leap because you know, 164 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:25.639 we're such a rebased offense and in parts defense, where 165 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:28.120 our guys are the deciders on the floor, they're not 166 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:31.080 looking over at me. We coach them to be capable 167 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:34.519 of making decisions on the court, so they spend very 168 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:38.039 little time looking over me. We coach them to coach 169 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:41.480 each other and communicate with each other. And so with 170 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:43.840 a year under your belt, now now you're coming in 171 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:45.879 not to learn the game or do the game, but 172 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:49.080 you come in actually starting to play the game and 173 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:53.360 trick up the game and like use all these actions 174 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:57.720 to manipulate them in creative ways, and that's where the 175 00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:00.960 game gets incredibly fun. So he set the year guys 176 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:01.960 going to be really key for. 177 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:06.440 Us, especially if he gets oh way back. I suspect 178 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:10.879 he will, and as Mark said otega Oway, there's a 179 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:14.320 pretty good chance he'll be the preseason SEC Player of 180 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:17.600 the Year coming back. But he's going to find out 181 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:19.480 from the league at the very least what he needs 182 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:22.399 to do to improve his game, get himself ready for 183 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:26.320 the draft. And again, look at Antonio Reeves, look what 184 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:30.200 it did for him. He came back almost like a 185 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:33.240 different player, building on what he could do well and 186 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:37.200 then getting better. Improved his handle, improved his defense, improved 187 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:40.600 his ability to drive and score instead of just standing 188 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:44.039 out there shooting three pointers away could do the same thing. 189 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:49.039 Ross team basically had Mark go down the entire roster, 190 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:55.399 and Pope was not shy about saying that, yeah, this 191 00:11:55.480 --> 00:12:00.720 Kentucky team will be capable if things break right of 192 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:02.279 winning a national championship. 193 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:03.519 We can get it done. 194 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:05.320 Now, there's a lot of teams that can get it done. 195 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:07.960 But if we do this right with the right guys, 196 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:10.679 you know, we can get this done. And that's our job. 197 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:12.919 That's what we're supposed to do. That's the standard here 198 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.519 and nothing less as acceptable. 199 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.440 But in terms of the rotation, how many guys do 200 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:17.799 you think you're gonna be able to play this? I'd 201 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:18.600 like to play them all. 202 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:21.519 So I have twelve guys right now, So I have 203 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:23.639 twelve guys that come help us. We're actually gonna try 204 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:28.600 and round out this roster. I'm actually scouring the planet 205 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:31.960 right now for guys that would fit in as maybe 206 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:34.519 a red shirt guy that would kill it in practice, 207 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:37.039 or maybe a last year of your career guy that 208 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:40.120 wants to come here and put on this one of 209 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:42.399 one jersey and be a part of this. So we 210 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:44.480 need to add a couple more pieces. But right now 211 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:48.720 we have our roster that's gonna own the minace on 212 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.200 this floor, and we have all the pieces. 213 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:54.559 I hope people set up and took notice when he 214 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:57.240 said I'd like to play them all and you know 215 00:12:57.279 --> 00:13:00.759 you can't do that, but you can to a degree. 216 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:04.919 But it was interesting to me how people got really 217 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:10.840 I don't know, antsy about the way Pope subbed. And 218 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:13.600 there were times when he made mistakes and admitted to it, 219 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:16.720 but for the most part we've talked about it here 220 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:22.039 on the show. He will not sub the way a 221 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:24.200 a lot of people expected him to and b the 222 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:28.039 way a lot of other coaches do, because as he 223 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:31.919 pointed out, and he got really specific, because more people 224 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:39.039 were actually calling and gently criticizing on his show the 225 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:44.120 way he subbed. But as he pointed out, we try 226 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:48.279 to keep people fresh. I'm paraphrasing, but he said, we 227 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:53.200 worked so hard offensively, not just on defense, but offensively. 228 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:59.360 We don't want people tiring and breaking down at the 229 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:02.399 worst times. So they might say, you know what, this 230 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:06.240 is my comment. They might sub a little earlier than 231 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:09.120 they might want. Pope might not they Pope does it 232 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:16.200 and risk, you know, missing a minute or two of productivity. 233 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:18.879 So you've got people later in the game and he's 234 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:22.519 going to keep doing that. So I don't you will 235 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:25.519 not see him do what Caliperi and a lot of 236 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:29.159 other coaches do, and that's whittle it down to eight. 237 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:33.759 And again, cali Peri did that because John wooden't suggested it. 238 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:39.840 But Mark Pope coaches a different style than wouldn't and 239 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:45.120 Caliperi than a lot of guys. So don't expect to 240 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:51.519 see a quote unquote substitution pattern beyond the very basics 241 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:56.919 for Mark Pope. People need to lose that terminology substitution pattern. 242 00:14:57.720 --> 00:15:00.200 Why do you want that? Because if you if you 243 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:04.720 can recognize the pattern, so can the other guys. I say, 244 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:09.480 you sub the way the game demands, the way opposing 245 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:13.559 personnel demands. That's how you want to guy a sub. 246 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:16.879 And if you can't figure it out, that's because you 247 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:20.559 haven't been at practice, you haven't taken apart the game plan, 248 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:24.559 you haven't done the scout. We can all sit back 249 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:27.519 and see how it works. But if you're trying to 250 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:30.399 coach along and say thereself, Man, I put this guy 251 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.919 in right now. Remember, Mark Pope is all about data. 252 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:38.120 I don't have it, You don't have it, and he's 253 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:42.360 collecting data while the game's going on. So just be 254 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:44.879 patient and if it doesn't work well, ask him about 255 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:48.519 it after the game and he'll describe why. Oh and 256 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:51.840 by the way, Rosstein asked Pope about the schedule, and 257 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:55.679 Pope said their son. He basically said, there's something going on, 258 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:59.360 but he couldn't talk about it. What it probably was 259 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:03.720 was the fact that Kentucky will place Saint John's in 260 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:08.279 the CBS Sports Classic. The Red Storm will replace UCLA 261 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:13.080 in the annual event. So Mark Pope versus Rick Bettino 262 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:17.000 in the CBS Sports Classic. That's according to the Saint 263 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:22.799 John's podcaster David Delroy. Red Storm taking over for UCLA. 264 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:27.759 On the other side, North Carolina and Ohio State. On 265 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:29.960 this Memorial Day, you're listening to the best of the 266 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.200 Big Blue Insider. Welcome back to the best of the 267 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:36.200 Big Blue Insider on this Memorial Day. Here's part of 268 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:39.240 a show we taped on the Monday after the Kentucky derby. 269 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:43.000 We talked horses and more from head coach Mark Pope. 270 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:46.960 I will tell you I came out ahead slightly on 271 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:49.799 the weekend. I did not hit any of the big 272 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:53.759 tickets I had bet on the Derby because I took 273 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:57.919 journalism and Baeza they ran two three. I had sovereignty 274 00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:00.639 on my ticket, just not in the right place and 275 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.320 kicking myself, of course, as I do every year that 276 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:06.400 I don't win when I feel like maybe I missed something, 277 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:10.960 and in this situation it was this sovereignty had run 278 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:14.799 on the Derby track, on Churchill Down's track, and ordinarily 279 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:18.119 that's one of my favorite handicapping tools, but I was 280 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.400 scared away by the fact that it was a sloppy track. 281 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:25.079 And right now we don't know yet as we speak, 282 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:28.400 as we record, is Bill Mott and are the handlers, 283 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:32.160 the connections going to run the horse into Preakness? And 284 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.799 they always say the same thing, We'll see how they 285 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:37.279 come back, We'll see what the horse tells us, blah 286 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:40.759 blah blah, which is smart because I got to be healthy. 287 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:48.160 But Mott made the reference to the business side of things, 288 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:51.039 and it's all the business. I get that. But here's 289 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.519 the guy who's been in the game forever and is 290 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:58.599 based here Lexington, Louisville, and he is looking down the 291 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:02.799 road at races down the road, at breeding things like that. 292 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:07.000 So there are too many horses that rush their way 293 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.880 through the Triple Crown races and it affects them for 294 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:13.039 the rest of their career, which means it affects their 295 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:18.359 breeding value. So I'm not going to be stunned if 296 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.720 Bill Mott doesn't run the horse and the Preakness, and 297 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:25.119 the owners don't run the horse and the Preakness, but 298 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:29.319 it's gonna be unfortunate if they don't, because look, I'm 299 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:32.759 a racing fan. We need interest, we need fans, we 300 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:37.000 need eyeballs. It helps you got a young influencer perhaps 301 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:43.160 bringing people to the sport. But there's nothing better than 302 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:45.880 a cold going for the Triple Crown. Go back and 303 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:50.359 look at the attendance figures at the Belmont. When you've 304 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:54.400 got a horse going for the third leg compared to 305 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.039 one of the year that you don't, they'll get a 306 00:18:56.039 --> 00:19:01.240 decent crowd. You got a Triple Crown potential. It's awesome. 307 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:04.720 So we'll keep track on that for you. And if 308 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:08.359 you're a racing fan, you will too. And one of 309 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:11.039 the people working the Derby. I didn't get a chance 310 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:15.359 to had a slight injury that prevented me from being there. 311 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:19.000 But a guy who've played a role that I have 312 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:23.160 played several times through the years for radio coverage is 313 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:26.359 our man Billy Rutledge. And if you follow Billy, you 314 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:31.960 saw he posted an interview. He called it my interview 315 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:37.400 with Derby winning jockey Junior Alvarado. Well, in full disclosure, 316 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:41.079 this happened during the day prior to the race, But 317 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:44.440 that's part of the job as the paddock reporter for 318 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:48.640 radio coverage keyed by WHAS and carried on WLAP, And 319 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:52.400 again I've done it several times. Your job is to 320 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:57.759 go interview the writers right after a race that perhaps 321 00:19:57.799 --> 00:20:01.640 they won or in which they participated, but if they 322 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:04.680 didn't win in their Derby Derby jock, you get a 323 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:06.920 chance to talk to him a little bit about strategy. 324 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:10.559 And Billy had a chance early in the day to 325 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:13.839 catch up with Junior Ralvarado and ask him a little 326 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:16.759 bit about what he expected from Derby one fifty one. 327 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:19.440 You know, I'm very confident with him. You know, I 328 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:22.960 think we're expecting a very good race out of him. 329 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:25.319 You know, he's been training very well here. I think, 330 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:28.000 you know, we never had to do too much with 331 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:30.400 him before, so I think coming into the derby, that 332 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:32.240 was our goal, you know, kind of like make sure 333 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:35.000 we have enough course going into the derby. And I think, 334 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.720 you know, we just did that and hopefully, you know, 335 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:40.160 he shows me he is capable of. I think he's 336 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.319 going to be very tough to get bit. 337 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:45.160 And he was right Junior Alvarado talking to Billy Rutledge 338 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:49.000 a couple of the and he was right, Junior Ralvarado 339 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:51.359 talking to Billy Rutlands two or three hours prior to 340 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:54.920 the Kentucky Derby that Alvarado won with a great ride 341 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:58.559 on sovereignty. So that was the biggest news over the 342 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:02.599 weekend if you're racing fan, casual or otherwise, if you're 343 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:06.240 simply not interested, and that's all well and good. There 344 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:10.079 is news about Mark Pope's roster. Rhys Potter, seven to 345 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:12.200 one center, who spent the last couple of years at 346 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:16.240 Miami of Ohio, has decided to come through the portal 347 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:20.079 and join the Wildcats. Played in fifty six games over 348 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:23.000 the last couple of seasons for the RedHawks, came off 349 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.680 the bench six and a half points, three and a 350 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:27.279 half rebounds. Pope kind of talked about this when he 351 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:31.319 talked to John Rostein. Plus, it's official now about the 352 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:34.440 big man coming in from Croatia. We've known about it 353 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:37.720 for a little while, but UK couldn't say anything about 354 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:42.160 it until he signed. And now. Andrea Yeleovich, one of 355 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:46.519 the top prospects coming out of Europe, is a Kentucky Wildcat. 356 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:50.240 He signed earlier today, or at least they got his paperwork. 357 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:54.480 Six' eleven eleven points a, game seven and a half 358 00:21:54.559 --> 00:22:01.839 rebounds in The Adriatic league For mega Super, bet and 359 00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:03.519 they also list him as one and a half a 360 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:06.480 sis per. Game he's gonna have to go something to 361 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:09.599 be a passer as effective as A Mari, williams, who 362 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:12.200 by the, way was invited to THE G league. Camp 363 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:15.799 So mari's got a chance to play for pay in this. 364 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:20.440 Country he could play overseas right, now but he's better 365 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:23.319 off getting a shot at THE G, league maybe working 366 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:28.240 a two way with AN nba team Like sheboe. Has 367 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:32.480 Although i'm still amazed posting the, numbers he has posted 368 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:35.559 That Oscar sibe has not yet locked down a full 369 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:38.839 time job in The. League maybe he, will but, Anyhow 370 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:45.359 yellovich will be a key From. Zagreb croatia has spent 371 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:50.960 the last two years in The Adriatic, league And hope 372 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:54.680 obviously high on. Him but as he Told John rosstein last, 373 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:57.920 week he's hired a lot of. Guys and the comment 374 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:02.960 that intrigued me the most was When rostein Asked pope 375 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:06.480 About Denzel. Aberdeen and this is one of the transfers 376 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:11.279 that piqued my, interest maybe more than Any here's a 377 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:15.640 guy who was playing good minutes At florida ever nearly 378 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:19.200 eight points a, game and you'd think was going to 379 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:22.960 play more this coming, year and they just won a national. 380 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:29.839 Title yet he's transferred To. Kentucky And rostein Asked pope 381 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:36.440 about studying and evaluating video prior to their zoom conversation. 382 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.279 That there was no. 383 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:41.640 Evaluation so my evaluation came in the two weeks that 384 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:44.160 we were trying to do like background prepping that prep 385 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:46.440 for our game Against, florida which was it was the 386 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:50.039 first game of THE sec, season and SO i had 387 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:52.440 some familiar with their. Team but AS i dug more 388 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:54.440 and more to the, Film i'm, like this cat coming 389 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:59.319 off the bench is terrifying to, me and he certainly 390 00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:01.519 proved it throughout the course of the. Season he is, just, 391 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:04.839 uh you, know the fun part of the research for 392 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:10.319 us was actually getting to know him as a. Person he's, special, special, Special. 393 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:13.480 Uh you, know he's got a great joy about. Him 394 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:18.880 he's got a passion and. Commitment he is, determined uh 395 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:23.400 to continue his journey towards becoming a great basketball. Player 396 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:27.359 he's proven with what he did in this four guard 397 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:30.759 rotation At florida that he is a team first guy 398 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:33.920 and he's gonna have a you, know it's hard to 399 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:36.519 have a breakout season after you just won a national. 400 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.720 Championship but he's gonna have a big time breakout. 401 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:41.839