WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:02.960 Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Dick Gabriel with you 2 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:05.400 on a Tuesday edition of our show. It's going to 3 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:09.160 be abbreviated for UK Baseball. Kentucky back to playing on 4 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:12.199 Tuesday night. Although it's not a six to thirty start 5 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:15.199 at Kentucky Proud Park. It's going to be on the 6 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:19.399 SEC network, so it starts at seven o'clock, not the 7 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:21.839 usual six thirty. You'll hear it right here on six 8 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:25.920 thirty WLAP with Darren Hedricks pregame at six forty five. 9 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:29.440 The Wildcats playing Miami of Ohio, trying to kind of 10 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:33.520 pick themselves back up after a tough weekend. Three really 11 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:37.359 really good competitive games with the Texas Longhorns, but at 12 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:40.000 the end of the weekend the Wildcats has lost two 13 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:42.520 out of three and they've really got to start turning 14 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:47.359 things around now because in tournament time is not too 15 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:51.119 far away and you cannot leave things in the hands 16 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:54.200 of the selections committee. We have learned that through the years. 17 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:57.280 Fortunately for the Wildcats, they have not had to deal 18 00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:01.320 with that kind of, I don't know, miss that kind 19 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:05.879 of uncertainty going into the last couple of weekends because 20 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:09.560 they've done so well. You know, they've hosted regional tournaments 21 00:01:09.719 --> 00:01:12.680 and won them and won a Super last year went 22 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:15.239 to Omahall. It's going to be tough to match that 23 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:18.480 this season, but they can still get into the postseason. 24 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:21.560 Got to get into the SEC tournament and then get 25 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:24.200 to the NCAA. So you got to start protecting the 26 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:27.239 home turf by winning series at home, by winning midweek 27 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.079 games at home. And they've lost what their last three, 28 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:33.799 They've lost to Louisville, to Xavier and the Murray State. 29 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:37.040 So it's a good one tonight and Kentucky needs to 30 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:39.879 bounce back. We'll have it for you right here. Talk 31 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:43.359 of the town right now is personnel. Obviously, we'll talk 32 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:45.319 about Georgia Aymoor in just a minute. She had a 33 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:48.599 great night last night, went higher than most people thought 34 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:51.879 she would go. The predictions were she would go ninth 35 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:55.200 or tenth, and she ended up going sixth to the 36 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:59.079 Washington Mystics, who actually had three draft picks in the 37 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:03.439 first ten. So she is going to play in Washington, 38 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:06.400 not and I think one of the mock drafts, the 39 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:10.000 most popular, had her in either La or Sacramento. So 40 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:13.280 Georgia aymore playing on the East coast and a lot 41 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:15.680 of Kentucky fans will have it a little bit easier 42 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:19.919 to follow her career page. Bucker's naturally going number one 43 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:25.599 to the Dallas Gems, but Kentucky fans now will also 44 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:28.560 be rooting for the Washington Mystics, So we'll come back 45 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:31.840 to that in just a moment. However, you've got to 46 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:34.680 take a look at what Mark Pope did and his 47 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:41.960 staff amazingly landing another big all the while Brandon Garrison 48 00:02:42.039 --> 00:02:47.439 is saying he's coming back. But the lenn Andrea Jeleovich, 49 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:54.000 a Croatian who of course brings that European style to 50 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:58.159 Kentucky basketball. And when you think about the way the 51 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:04.319 Wildcats play with the offense that Mark Pope runs, it's 52 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:08.599 going to be really fascinating to see how things play 53 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:12.120 out with the depth they have built on that staff 54 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:16.719 and the new faces, not rebuilding the roster. They got 55 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:19.960 five coming back. But that is really the talk right 56 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.000 now as to who's coming back and who's leaving. And 57 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:27.560 there's about a week there's one week from today is 58 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:32.560 the portal deadline, and so far all but kerk Kriesa 59 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:36.000 are coming back. And as I said, you knew about 60 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:41.560 Yellovich before today, but Brandon Garrison saying he's coming back 61 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:46.479 is big and then no point intended. They're all bigs. 62 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:52.360 But Pope rebuilding a roster that a year ago yesterday 63 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:57.599 was a mystery. A year ago yesterday was today Pope 64 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:01.360 was introduced. Well know what happened on that day as 65 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:05.319 the Big Blue Nation filled rupp Arena to welcome Mark Pope. 66 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:09.840 And you know that day has just taken on a 67 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:13.520 personality and a reputation of its own, which is good. 68 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:18.199 It's important because you know, Kentucky fans like to look 69 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:22.120 at the way the BBN back to its basketball program. 70 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:27.319 It is in many cases unparalleled in terms of college basketball. 71 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:30.720 There are a lot of football programs that can rival 72 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:34.360 UK basketball when it comes to fans support different animals. 73 00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:39.519 I realize that stadiums are bigger. Fan bases become more 74 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:42.720 passionate about football because there's only one game a week 75 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:48.120 for what twelve weeks plus postseason, so the passion builds 76 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:52.680 over time. Well, Kentucky fans, they build that passion in 77 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:56.399 basketball and sustain it from day to day, week to week, 78 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:02.240 season to season. And that day, the Kentucky fans showed 79 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:06.160 up and showed out for Mark Pope takes its place 80 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:11.079 right up there with NCAA tournaments with final fours. The 81 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:15.000 way Kentucky fans showed up and got in, Blue gets 82 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:18.959 in and that day wasn't obviously as challenging when it 83 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:22.560 comes to getting in at first, because the doors were 84 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:26.519 open and it was free. But as the building filled quickly, 85 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:32.920 it became an insurmountable challenge for literally thousands of people 86 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:36.600 who couldn't get in to Rapperena. They had to close 87 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:40.040 the gates. They had to close the doors just so 88 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:43.199 people could come in and say hello to Mark Pope, 89 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:47.800 the new head coach. And nobody saw that coming, just 90 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:52.240 as I don't think anybody saw this season coming completely. 91 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:56.759 I think people thought there would be success, but I 92 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:02.040 didn't see anybody predict the number of quad one wins 93 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:06.240 and the way this team played and captured the imagination 94 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:10.399 of the fan base. Nobody predicted that they hope for it, 95 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:12.920 but nobody stood in and said, let me tell you 96 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:17.120 what's going to happen. But now now that's the floor, 97 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:20.319 isn't it. What Pope and his staff and his players 98 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:24.480 accomplished this year is what's going to be expected at 99 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:28.079 least from here on. And you know he's good with that. 100 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:31.680 That's what he wanted to do. That's Kentucky basketball, high 101 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:37.199 expectations and delivering at a high level. As he said, 102 00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:42.240 we understand the assignment. So the best news right now 103 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:46.480 is the players they brought in and the players they've retained. 104 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:49.439 And I know a lot of people are concerned on 105 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:54.879 the one hand about the local guys, Travis, Perry, Trent Noah, 106 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:59.120 but they're sticking around. Will they play They'll probably play 107 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:03.120 a little bit more. Depends on injuries, depends on situations, 108 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:06.079 and depends on how much more they improve their game. 109 00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:09.600 Perry's got to learn to guard well, that they all do. 110 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:14.000 Noah guarded a little bit better, but he's a little stronger, 111 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:16.519 has a little more size. They just need to elevate 112 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:20.480 their respective games, and I believe they will. Speaking of 113 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:28.000 elevating your game, Georgia Amore elevated the Kentucky program under 114 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:35.079 Kenny Brooks, and she is the first UK player ever 115 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:38.199 to come in for women's basketball and do the one 116 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:41.199 and done thing to the level that she did it, 117 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:44.920 and she will not be forgotten. I mean, she had 118 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:48.360 a phenomenal season. I know it ended in disappointment, but 119 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:52.839 overall incredible and was taken last night, not just in 120 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.600 the first round, but way up there. In the first 121 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:59.480 round we pick number six by the Washington Mystics, and 122 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:03.600 right after she was drafted, she talked to ESPN's Holly 123 00:08:03.720 --> 00:08:07.600 row about the fact that she's not the biggest player 124 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:09.480 out there. It certainly plays big. 125 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:11.639 You are an athlete. I think people get caught up 126 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:15.519 in size instead of your skill. You played cricket, netball, taekwondo, 127 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:19.360 Australian rules football. You are a competitor at the highest level. 128 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:21.079 How can you bring that to the league. 129 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:23.480 Yeah, I think just for as long as people have 130 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:25.560 called me too short, I've been working on how to 131 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:26.680 conteract that. 132 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:27.160 You know. 133 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:29.160 It's not a shock to me. I know that I 134 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:31.519 have to work in different ways, use my brain a 135 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:34.240 little bit more. But with my competitive background, I think 136 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:37.000 I have a little bit of dog in me that's 137 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:38.480 going to keep me fighting. 138 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:41.120 Best step back, ever, how did you develop that move? 139 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:42.480 Like literally you gain space? 140 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:42.840 Yeah? 141 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.720 These quads and Coach Brooks. 142 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:46.919 All right, thanks for showing them off, Russell westbook, good 143 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:47.960 job showing off the quad. 144 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:53.240 Thank you, Holly, And of course the Russell Westbrook. Reference 145 00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:58.519 was the fact that the NBA player outfitted would they say, 146 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:03.960 styled Georgia Aymore. He created he designed her outfit last night, 147 00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:06.000 and there's all kinds of coverage of that. In fact, 148 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:10.120 there's a big article its own line. Vogue magazine covered 149 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:13.840 the process from start to finish. So good on Russell 150 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:18.000 Westbrook for branching out. You know, he's wanted to be 151 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.320 a clothing designer. And Georgia Amore they got together, they 152 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:25.080 talked about it via zoom, and Amore was, she said, 153 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:28.200 delighted with what he came up with. When it comes 154 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:31.919 to the actual game, Washington got someone who could be 155 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:37.120 a real difference maker on day one, and Amoor after 156 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:41.440 the draft, talking to the media, described how she believes 157 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.559 she'll be able to improve her game at the next level. 158 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:45.799 Yeah, I mean iron shopping's iron right. When you get 159 00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:49.240 thrown into a situation like that, you eat the Adapto drown, right, 160 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:52.519 Zumo drown. So I'm excited to go and be challenged 161 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:55.320 and mentally grow my game, Like I know I have 162 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:57.600 the capabilities, I know I have the confidence to do so, 163 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:00.399 and so I'm so excited to do that in a 164 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:03.519 game A part about me that my surprise people, I 165 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:05.879 haven't feel like I've shown the ability to be that 166 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:09.360 PESTI knowing defendo, I think, you know, just being a 167 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.120 little bit conservative, knowing I had to be on the 168 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:14.679 court during my time at Kentucky and Virginia Tech. I'm 169 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:17.480 excited to kind of be able to go ahead and do. 170 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:21.519 That before we hit the brake as we record. Nothing 171 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:26.159 new on Nico. I am Alieva. There is a parody 172 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:29.480 account on Twitter, and whoever built it did a really 173 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:34.600 nice job. It looks just like an on three post, 174 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:39.360 but it says No. Three and it had Nico going 175 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:43.000 to North Carolina and Bill Belichick. North Carolina has basically 176 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:45.519 said we're out where. We're not going to be in 177 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:49.080 a Nico business. So it's gonna be really really interesting 178 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:52.960 to see if the kid does land at UCLA, what 179 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.000 the money's going to look like. Supposedly, from all the 180 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:59.960 experts I've listened to, he won't get what he will 181 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:04.279 trying to get at Tennessee. In terms of the money. 182 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:08.960 He might get what he was making at Tennessee. What 183 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:12.960 he very likely will not get either is the opportunity 184 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:18.919 to lead a powerful team potentially in a powerful conference 185 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:22.080 or five, depending how you look at it, through the playoffs, 186 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:27.240 and then a great slot, the best slide he could 187 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:29.519 get in the NFL draft. I don't know if this's 188 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:33.000 going to hurt him. It ain't gonna help him. So 189 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:35.879 this could all backfire on he blow up in his face. 190 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:40.120 And again a lot of athletes, pro and otherwise have 191 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:43.519 come to his defense trying to justify what he did. 192 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:47.879 But what he did was try to hold his program, 193 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:52.320 his coaches, and his teammates hostage. He was not negotiating 194 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:55.480 for a new contract the way coaches do. People want 195 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:58.960 to liken it to coaches leaving going to better deal. 196 00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:03.399 Surely do, but not like this, not trying to play 197 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:06.799 the timing angle they do to a certain degree. Of course, 198 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:10.799 you got to strike while the iron's hot. But show 199 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:12.759 me a coach you said, all right, we got a 200 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:14.960 big tournament coming up. We've got a big game coming up. 201 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:18.080 I'm not going to work for this team unless you 202 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:22.399 cut me a new deal right now. That doesn't happen. So, 203 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:24.159 like I said, this could blow up in his face. 204 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:26.679 I'm not rooting for him or against him. I'm rooting 205 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.039 for college athletics in general. Up next, we're gonna talk 206 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:33.519 to UK volleyball coach Keith Up next, we're gonna talk 207 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:37.120 to UK volleyball coach Craig Skinner. His team already hard 208 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:40.519 at work, they've had scrimmages, they've had public workouts and 209 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:43.840 from some accounts, this could be one of his best teams. 210 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:46.120 The bottom of the hour, we'll hear from Nick Minji 211 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:48.440 own just out of UK Baseball here on six thirty 212 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.799 WLAP Welcome back to the Big Blue and Sider coming 213 00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:53.840 on Friday night. It's the Cats and the Cards in 214 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:58.080 volleyball exhibition game and Craig Skinner, the UK coach who 215 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:02.879 has led this team to umpty SEC championships, going to 216 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:05.159 take aim in another one this year. But coach, thanks 217 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.039 for joining us and tell me a little bit about 218 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:11.039 these exhibitions and what you have gotten out of the 219 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.519 ones you've already played, what you're hoping to get out 220 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:14.320 of this one Friday. 221 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.320 That's I mean, it's a really cool chance to just 222 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:21.159 kind of gauge where you are currently. And you know, 223 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:23.399 since we do have all of our incoming freshmen came 224 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:26.799 in January or three transfers that came in in January also, 225 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:29.519 so we have basically our whole team for the fall. 226 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:32.600 I don't I don't anticipate, you know, any changes in 227 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:36.279 the May transfer portal window. But we get to see everybody, 228 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.159 We get to train together, we get to compete, we 229 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:41.320 get to try different lineups, different systems, and you know, 230 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:43.799 obviously you're competing to win each and every point. But 231 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:47.960 you know, victory isn't necessarily the goal in the spring. 232 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:50.240 It's really to get better and then figure out, you know, 233 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:51.440 how you're going to play in the fall. 234 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:55.399 That is kind of new to the too valuable, isn't 235 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:57.759 it a d one volleyball? Y'all haven't done this for 236 00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.960 you know, all the time you've been at uk. 237 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:04.399 Uh we we have, we haven't. They haven't been as 238 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:06.879 big a deal. I mean, the you know, because the 239 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:09.879 sport is you know, growing and busting at the seams. 240 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:13.039 I mean, there's so much demand for viewers and people 241 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:15.440 and tickets and and you know, we just did an 242 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:18.519 exhibition at a club facility in Indianapolis and there was 243 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:21.000 so many people there on the sideline watching. It was crazy, 244 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:24.399 you know, And so you know, it's it's a chance 245 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:26.799 to continue to market our game and and get people 246 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:30.080 connected to the sport and you know, it's it's just 247 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:33.200 a fascinating time. And we have an incredibly exciting team 248 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:36.919 to watch, yeah, this year, And and I certainly encourage 249 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:38.519 our fans to get their tickets because they're going to 250 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:39.480 want to see this group play. 251 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.480 I was going to say that there was a kind 252 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:45.480 of a surprisingly great crowd up in Indy, wasn't there. 253 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:48.240 Yeah? Yeah, No, it was great and and uh you 254 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:50.200 know there there wasn't a seat to be found, And 255 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:53.480 you know it's again, I think this team has the 256 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:55.480 ability to make plays. It gets people to jump out 257 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:58.840 of their seats, and the athleticism and the competitive juice 258 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:02.240 that this team has think is going to be exciting 259 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:05.559 brands that people are going to want to witness. 260 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:08.360 Well, I'm going to ask you about the new kids 261 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:11.399 when we talk first about who you've got coming back, 262 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:14.840 starting with Brooklyn Delay, the best player in the conference 263 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:17.240 and one of the best in the country, of course. 264 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:20.600 And when you can build around somebody like that, you 265 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:24.399 know you're you're way ahead of the game, aren't you. Yeah. 266 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:26.039 I mean she had the ability to carry a lot 267 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:28.600 of weight on our shoulders last year and helped lead 268 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:32.480 us through tough situations. You know, one of four finalists 269 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:34.919 for National Player of the Year last year as a sophomore. 270 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.559 You know, and and you know, but now you know, 271 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:41.240 I think we you know, the younger players have gotten better. 272 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:44.840 Are are transfers and incomers can help alleviate, you know, 273 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:46.600 some of the load that she has to take. And 274 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:50.039 if you want to compete, you know, for a national championship, 275 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:52.080 you can't be one dimensional or two dimensional. You have 276 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:55.440 to have multi facet offense going at teams. And you know, 277 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:57.480 I think we're going to be better at that this year. 278 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.039 We've got to get the freshman season and new players, 279 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:03.200 you know, ingrained in our system, but we have a 280 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.840 chance to do some things differently at a higher level. 281 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:10.919 Your national title team was able to attack opponents from 282 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:14.200 more than one or two spots on that front line 283 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:17.960 and the back row as well. How optimistic are you 284 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:21.039 about getting an attack put in place this season just 285 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:23.639 like maybe not just like that, but similar. 286 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:26.759 Yeah. I mean it's I think we have the chance. 287 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:28.480 I mean, it's going to take some time, you know, 288 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:31.200 to evolve and get the efficiency where it needs to be. 289 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:35.000 I think defensively, this team has a chance to be special, 290 00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:37.200 just because the physicality we have at the net and 291 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:39.320 the size that we have at the net. You know, 292 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:41.879 so if we don't quite reach that efficiency that we 293 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:45.440 had in two thousand, we can make up for potentially defensively, 294 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:48.639 but we'll have the weapons to attack from the front row, 295 00:16:48.679 --> 00:16:51.200 back row, left side of that middle portion and the 296 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:53.919 right side. And you know, that's the important piece in 297 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:56.200 our sport. You have to occupy all the zones along 298 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.879 the net against the best team, right or they're just 299 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:02.120 going to shut you down. And so I think that's 300 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:04.440 something that this team has a chance to do, and 301 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.359 we're certainly trying to iron that out right now this 302 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:10.519 spring and hopefully get closer to this weekend. But you know, 303 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:12.440 we got a few months to get that sorted out 304 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:15.319 and get them together in the summer and train together 305 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:16.920 to work on some of those pieces. 306 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:19.519 You also have Molly Tusso coming back, and she took 307 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:23.119 a major step forward last year as Libra won the 308 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:26.880 starting job early in the season, which surprised some of us, 309 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:30.799 but not the way she played. How great a plus. 310 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:35.599 Getting her back, Well, she's she's just an elite special 311 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:37.599 athlete in the libero position. I mean, when you have 312 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:41.640 your libero that can she jump touches nine to eleven, 313 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:44.119 which is basically just below the rim. I mean it's crazy. 314 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:48.240 And so that type of range and that position gets 315 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:51.799 people's attention. And you know, she had a phenomenal year. 316 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:55.319 You know, her and Eleanor e Bevan and the backcourt together, 317 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:59.359 we're one of our biggest strengths. And USA Volleyballs taken oaths. 318 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:02.200 They invited her to go train with the U twenty 319 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:04.759 one team this summer, you know, so she'll get a 320 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:07.400 chance to compete with them and show what she's capable of. 321 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:09.799 But you know, special talent for sure, and someone that 322 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:12.759 has this an incredible enthusiasm for the game more would UK. 323 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:14.960 Volleyball coach Craig Skinner on the other side of the 324 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:17.920 break here on six thirty WLAP Welcome back to the 325 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:21.119 Big Blueing Sider. We're talking with UK Volleyball coach Craig 326 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:24.200 Skinner and we were talking in the first segment about 327 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:27.599 the established players who are coming back, but you got 328 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:28.839 new faces coming in. 329 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:30.920 As you said, I mean the two ones that jump 330 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:34.799 out are the transfer from Purdue. You know, you know, 331 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:37.759 Eva Hudson led the big Tenant Kills last year. She's 332 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:41.119 she's the stud. And Lizzie Carr, Andrew Carr's sister is 333 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.640 six seven, and I think we're going to reap the 334 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:47.000 benefits for just really coming into her abilities. I mean, 335 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:50.240 she you know, it's a huge presence of the net, 336 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:53.000 can attack in a lot of different places, and that 337 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:54.960 a height above the net that most people need a 338 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:59.680 ladder to get to know. So two special players and 339 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:03.640 great people too that really kind of bought into Kentucky volleyball. 340 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:07.519 And Molly Breswitz, who was starting Leberro at Marquette which 341 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.559 is a sweet sixteen team last year, and great defender 342 00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:14.279 and great you know volleyball family, and and you know 343 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:16.519 we had our older sister, Mattie was a player on 344 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:19.200 her team, and so it's you know, it's a it's 345 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:21.079 a hell of a group. And then three freshmen that 346 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:25.119 elite athletes and Cassie O'Brien et cetera, and Georgia Watson 347 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:27.559 as a right tide player in the Trinity ward of 348 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:30.079 Leberro from Kiva, you know club program that's you know, 349 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:32.480 have a long history and tradition of putting out great 350 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:35.400 players in that position. So a lot of competition for 351 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:38.880 spots a lot of great kids. And you know, it's again, 352 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:42.079 I cannot encourage our fans and quickly enough to get 353 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:43.599 their tickets because they're going to want to see this 354 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.079 team play. 355 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:47.119 What about they want to see the team play Friday 356 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.240 over in Louisville. 357 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:54.000 Yeah, exhibition against the Birds on at six o'clock on 358 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:56.839 Friday night and the Allen n Center on campus. I 359 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:59.440 do think there's a major track meet going on there 360 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.519 as well. There's going to be a lot of chaos 361 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:05.000 with people roaming around the buildings. So if you're going 362 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:07.440 to go, get there early, find a parking spot maybe 363 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:09.880 at the football stadium, and get a shuttle over. But 364 00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:12.079 I have no doubt that place will be packed. 365 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:14.640 I's going to say traffic in that area can be 366 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:17.519 kind of nuts. We haven't talked about Asia thing Penn either. 367 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:20.079 She's back, right, she is. 368 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:24.480 She's back and you know, blazing guns and blazing as 369 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:28.319 usual with Asia and certainly brings the heat and the 370 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:30.960 fire to our group. And you know she's having a 371 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:33.759 great spring as well. It's it's you know, it's just 372 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:36.079 such a fun team to coach and work with, and 373 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:39.119 our staff is really looking forward each and every day 374 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:41.839 and sometimes this time of year, it's the dog days 375 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:44.039 of spring and get attire looking forward to the spring 376 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.960 and finals and getting home for you know, the summer 377 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:48.960 for or at least the May term, you know, with 378 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:51.200 our kids. But this group is really, even in our 379 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.359 last week, you know, playing with a lot of enthusiasms. 380 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.160 So it's it's fun. 381 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:59.880 Kind of of an obvious question, but when you're grinding 382 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:03.039 through these tough days, how great is it to have 383 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:06.400 these exhibitions that you can build up to it not 384 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:08.920 just another day in the gym. But it's hey, even 385 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.359 if you have to get on the bus and go, 386 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:13.400 it's it's different, and it's it's a different jersey you're 387 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:14.640 staring at across the net. 388 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:18.119 Yeah, it'shoe. It's huge. I mean, you know, if we 389 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:20.000 didn't have this mass to look forward to this week, 390 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:22.000 that the feel and vibe and practice might be a 391 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:25.519 little bit different. So, you know, having having a match 392 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:28.119 against the arrival and a great team obviously with the 393 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:31.680 history of their successes, you know, easy for our players 394 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:34.920 to get jacked up and motivate to play, and you know, 395 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:37.240 I think they'll be pumped to kind of you know, 396 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:39.720 see what they're capable of. This week before they shut 397 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:41.839 it down for a few weeks, you know, the finals 398 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:44.440 in the May and and uh you know, so you know, 399 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.839 for those who get a chance to watch and play, 400 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.920 I can't wait to hear what you think. 401 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:49.759