WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:02.960 Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Dick Abriel with you 2 00:00:02.960 --> 00:00:06.440 on a Wednesday edition of our program. I have jury duty, 3 00:00:06.599 --> 00:00:09.759 so tonight it is the best of the Big Blue Insider. 4 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:12.720 We're going to talk about the return of the basketball 5 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:17.079 Tournament La Famiya, the team comprised primarily of Kentucky players 6 00:00:17.399 --> 00:00:20.760 playing for that million dollar prize. We'll also hear from 7 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:25.239 Mark Pope, and in our number one, we'll go back 8 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:27.359 to the night that I had a chance to chat 9 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:30.800 with one of, if not the newest Wildcat, Reese Potter, 10 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:34.759 the transfer from Miami of Ohio, Lexinglon Kid, who's coming 11 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:37.359 home to play for the Wildcats. This is the best 12 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:41.880 of the Big Blue Insider. There is no UK Baseball 13 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:46.039 on Tuesday, no midweek game. You'd think this team could 14 00:00:46.119 --> 00:00:48.759 use a midweek game to kind of lift its spirits 15 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:51.799 a little bit after dropping the entire series over the 16 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.600 weekend at Mississippi State. But the Wildcats nock and rest 17 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:59.600 and heal because there have been some injuries, significant injuries, 18 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:02.960 and get ready for this weekend series with Oklahoma, the 19 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:06.200 Sooners coming to town for the first time as members 20 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:08.879 of the Southeastern Conference. And we'll have it for you 21 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:11.599 right here on six thirty WLAP. It's a six thirty 22 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.560 start on Friday night. Darren's pregame comes up at six 23 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:17.879 point fifteen. We'll have them for you over on SEC 24 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:20.959 Plus as well. Doug Flinn and I we'll have the telecast. 25 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:24.400 But it's a huge weekend for the baseball Wildcats and 26 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:27.640 they have got the hang on to home Turf. Got 27 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:30.159 to win at least two man, if they can sweep, 28 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:33.680 that would like put last week firmly in the rearview mirror. 29 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:35.840 But Kentucky, I don't know if it's on the bubble 30 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:39.239 right now, but it's not going to host a regional 31 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:42.519 and being a two seed or maybe even a three 32 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:45.359 seed maybe out the window right now. So big weekend 33 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:47.879 to baseball coming up, but a lot to talk about 34 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:52.359 before that, including the remnants of the Kentucky Derby. We'll 35 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:54.680 talk with Kenny Rice to look ahead of the Preakness 36 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:58.439 that comes up in our number two, and Keith Farmer's 37 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:00.640 also going to join us. He covered the derby, and 38 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:05.079 we'll also talk basketball with Kman because we have a 39 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:08.919 new Kentucky Wildcat to talk about. He is Reese Potter, 40 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:13.039 and we thought that the roster news would end, at 41 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:16.280 least for the time being with a yellich the kid 42 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:20.080 from Croatia. But a day or two later comes word 43 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:24.439 that Potter is entertaining an offer to come through the 44 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:29.039 portal and transfer from Miami where he signed after playing 45 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:32.840 at Electiondon Catholic and become a Kentucky Wildcat. Sure enough, 46 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:36.319 the word leaked out on Sunday and it kind of 47 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:40.159 made the rounds on social media yesterday. So I had 48 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:42.840 a chance to touch base with Reese and he will 49 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:45.800 join us at the bottom of the hour. So coming 50 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:48.800 up at the bottom of the hour. Former Lexington Catholic Knight, 51 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:53.240 former Miami of Ohio Redhawk, and now a brand new 52 00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:57.400 Kentucky Wildcat, Reese Potter. He is listed at seven point 53 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:04.680 one two fifteen two fifteen. I mean that's slender, but 54 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:06.560 you know, if he plays as much out on the 55 00:03:06.599 --> 00:03:09.560 floor as he does under the bucket, he'll be okay. 56 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:13.199 And he played well at Miami of Ohio, played about 57 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:17.080 not eighteen twenty minutes a game, averaged six or seven points, 58 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:20.599 averaging nearly four rebounds a game in less than a 59 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:24.080 half of basketball. So he will help this Kentucky team 60 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:27.080 with depth and he will get better, of course playing 61 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:32.759 against the likes in practice of Yelich and Garrison and 62 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:37.520 Malaka Moreno and all these guys. But we'll meet Rhys Potter. 63 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:39.680 I've never interviewed the guy. We'll talk to him at 64 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:43.120 the bottom of the hour while we're on UK basketball. 65 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:45.479 If you followed, and many of you did, last year 66 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:51.039 the basketball tournament TBT La Familia, the Kentucky team is 67 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:55.719 pulling itself together again. And the word came out over 68 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:58.599 the last twenty four to forty eight hours that Andrew 69 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:03.879 and Aaron Harrison would be playing once again for La Familla. 70 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:09.840 And if you recall that Kentucky team last year did 71 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:14.199 really well, did not win it lost to the team 72 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:18.439 that eventually won it called Carmen's Crew. This was the 73 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:24.759 team that was the team primarily made up of Ohio 74 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:29.000 State players former Ohio State players, and in fact, the 75 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:33.879 MVP for the tournament, the basketball tournament for the second 76 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:39.000 time this past year, was Jared Sullinger. And he might 77 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:43.160 recall he's the guy who bumped into Josh Harrelson a 78 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:48.160 few times in a NCA tournament game against the Wildcats, 79 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:53.399 and Harrelson hurled the ball at him and it was 80 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:57.040 part of a Kentucky upset that included a huge three 81 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:04.160 pointer by DeAndre Leak who will play for TBT or 82 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:09.000 in TBT for the Wildcats. But the biggest news game 83 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:12.319 with the Harrison's coming back. And remember now this is 84 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:16.439 a tournament where the games can be decided at a 85 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:19.120 certain point. They might not go to the conclusion if 86 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:22.120 it reaches a certain points spread at a certain time. 87 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:27.959 Game over and against Louisville the Ville last year in 88 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:32.040 the quarterfinals, it was Aaron Harrison who hit a huge 89 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:34.920 shot that ended the game. And then you might recall 90 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:40.000 it was almost predictable. It was so chippy that there 91 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:42.560 was I don't know what you want to call it, 92 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:46.000 pushing and shoving, you know, all that kind of silliness 93 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:49.879 that can go on. And it indeed happened last year 94 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:55.480 between Laville and La Familla, but that was in the 95 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:59.319 quarters and up in Philly, I believe it was. And 96 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:02.879 then the wild Cats, primarily the La Famia team lost 97 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:06.639 in the next round of Carmen's Crew, which after that 98 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:10.800 beat a team made up primarily of players from Houston 99 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:21.240 Forever Koogs. So the Harrison brothers are back. And if 100 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:24.560 you go to YouTube, you can watch a couple of 101 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:30.000 montages of the huge NC Tournament games won by huge 102 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:33.360 shots from Aaron Harrison. Here's a little bit of the audio. 103 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:41.079 Harris Autel Ram Priminal Blacks feeds the corn Harris. 104 00:06:55.800 --> 00:07:05.639 Light the space Saturday after Harrison underna bounced to the 105 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:07.439 Carmy shots back outside. 106 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:23.639 This is the point where he always upset. A kind 107 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:25.639 of fun to relive those I had forgotten that on 108 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:29.519 the Wisconsin shot, his brother fed him the ball and 109 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:32.839 Andrew got the assists. If you know you follow such things. 110 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:36.839 On that shot, and then against Michigan, you might recall this. 111 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:40.480 It was a step back. It was a little jab step. 112 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:42.040 I don't know if he was planning on trying to 113 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:45.759 drive or just setting up his defender, but he used 114 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:49.040 a jab step and then stepped back and drained it. 115 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:54.240 And those moments were just phenomenal. And you got to 116 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:58.160 remember those plays when you think back to how frustrated 117 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:02.879 you were, and everybody will. And the loss to Wisconsin 118 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:06.120 in twenty fifteen, and I know that there was some 119 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:10.720 sentiment leading into that game that cali Peri wasn't subbing enough, 120 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:14.480 because in the middle of a news conference at one 121 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:18.759 point Calipari was talking about the Harrisons and he stopped 122 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:20.680 himself and he looked up and he said, you know 123 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:23.800 they're carrying us right now, don't you, to the media. 124 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:27.279 And in fact, to a degree, they were. But I'll 125 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:30.959 never forget neither were you that lost to Wisconsin in 126 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:34.240 twenty fifteen and they could not even with the Harrisons 127 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:38.480 in the game, couldn't get off a shot for three 128 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:41.840 straight possessions. And over on the bench, say hello to 129 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:44.480 Devin Booker. I know, not the same Devin Booker he 130 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.879 is now, but back then he could get off a shot. 131 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:48.639 And you know who might have been better at doing that, 132 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:52.279 Tyler Eulis, who could have left somebody in the dust 133 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:53.960 and gotten the ball up in the rim at least. 134 00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:58.399 And yes, I know there would have been challenges defensively. 135 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.519 I'm not saying put them both in. You put one 136 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:05.759 or the other end. Wisconsin with bigger guards, what had 137 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:08.039 a field day at the other end, although Uless was 138 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:10.720 a hell of a defensive player. But you know what 139 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:14.279 you sub them. I mean, I still, oh man, I'm 140 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:17.279 sure it bothers you as well. But any other Harrisons 141 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:20.799 are back and the TVT was a lot of fun 142 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:25.519 last year in Kentucky's kids played hard, they played well, 143 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:29.279 they took it seriously, they practiced well, and it's a 144 00:09:29.320 --> 00:09:34.399 great event. Makes some money. Speaking of money, ESPN is 145 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:39.559 reporting a big dollars thanks to college sports ad revenue. 146 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:43.759 It's not actually technically ESPN reporting it. It's Sports Business Journal. 147 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:48.480 There's a story out right now that says the network 148 00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:52.960 has increased its AD revenue generated from college sports by 149 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:58.080 are you ready forty two percent year over year. Now, 150 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:01.759 this coincides with the expansion of the college football Playoff, 151 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:06.480 with those eight additional huge games for ESPN to sell 152 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:08.960 to advertisers. And by the way, two of those games 153 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:13.039 are on TNT. ESPN kept the ad money. There you go. 154 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:19.000 But it's not just football. Add inventory on college sports 155 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:25.240 such as basketball, baseball, softball, those sports the non revenue 156 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:28.559 quote unquote sports have combined for an eleven percent year 157 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:31.159 over year increase in AD revenue. You know what else, 158 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:37.840 volleyball is making money now for ESPN. And yeah, disclosure, 159 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:41.759 I work for SEC plus, owned by ESPN. I don't 160 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:44.080 know what kind of money they make. I know they 161 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:49.159 don't spend a lot on SEC plus because for one thing, 162 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:54.039 a lot of those broadcasts are primarily manned by students. 163 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:57.759 Doug Flynn and I we are not. We were students 164 00:10:57.799 --> 00:11:01.720 of life, students of the game. But what I'm telling 165 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:05.279 you is they are modestly crewed. We have a great crew, 166 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:11.080 we really do, and modestly but properly equipped on the 167 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:15.360 SEC level. So I'd love to know how much money 168 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:20.120 comes from SEC plus. Probably not a whole lot since 169 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:23.000 it's streaming, but it's all part of one big package. 170 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.440 And thank you College sports, And if you're ESPN, you're 171 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:30.120 saying thank you to the Southeastern Conference. Yeah, the Big 172 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:33.759 Ten Network makes a lot of money. ESPN does not 173 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:37.960 own the Big Ten Network. It owns the SEC Network 174 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:41.399 and the ACC Network, among others, and those are the 175 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:45.399 big money makers. So anytime you hear about a decision 176 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:49.000 being made that will favor not just college football but 177 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:53.200 SEC football, if ESPN is anywhere lurking, you got to 178 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:55.879 think they're involved, or at least they're trying to influence 179 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:59.720 the situation because that's what's paying their bills right now, 180 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:04.039 and it shouldn't be a surprise. Coming up to the 181 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:07.279 bottom of the hour. Reheese Potter, the newest Wildcat, you're 182 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:09.759 listening to the Best of the Big Blue Insider. You're 183 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:14.519 on six thirty WLAP. Welcome back to the Big Blue Insider. 184 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:17.240 Dick Abriel with you, and again this is the Best 185 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:20.519 of the Big Blue Insider. Because I do have jury duty, 186 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:23.600 I should be back tomorrow. We don't start reporting until 187 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:26.559 next Monday. If indeed we are selected, if you've been 188 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:29.840 through the process, you know what I'm talking about. But 189 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:32.120 we will keep you up to date on that. And 190 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:35.000 if indeed I'm chosen, well we'll just have to pull 191 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:38.799 out some more classic Big Blue Insiders for you. A reminder, 192 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:42.240 coming up on Friday at noon, it's UK Baseball as 193 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:45.919 the Wildcats take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in the 194 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.200 opening round of the NCAA Tournament. We hear more from 195 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:52.519 the baseball Wildcats, Nick Benjeon and as players coming up 196 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:55.679 tomorrow night. Right now, we're going to take you back 197 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.399 to today that we had a chance to share with 198 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.519 Mark Pope about his brand new roster. We met with 199 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.480 him a couple of weeks ago. Here is the UK 200 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:07.200 basketball coach on Tonight's edition of the Best of the 201 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:12.480 Big Blue Insider. Today it was about basketball. Earlier today 202 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:16.240 because Mark Pope spoke to the media for the first 203 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:19.000 time in a long time. Some people have gotten piecemeal interviews, 204 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:21.720 and we've gotten comments and quotes and things like that 205 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:25.759 throughout the off season, but this was the first chance 206 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:29.120 we all had as the crew that covers the beat 207 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:32.440 to sit down and talk to Mark Pope, and we 208 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:35.440 got to talk to him for gosh, almost forty minutes. 209 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:39.480 What this means is, if you're a Kentucky basketball fan, 210 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:44.000 you've got all kinds of material out there, all kinds 211 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:48.159 of outlets that will use everything he said, every comment 212 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:52.200 he made, every quote, every SoundBite. You're going to hear 213 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:55.799 them or read them, or some combination of all. If 214 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:58.840 you haven't seen them all today and tomorrow, you will 215 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:02.159 over the next probably so especially on the TV stations 216 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:05.039 that have, you know, a very limited amount of airtime 217 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:08.320 sadly on their newscast. Don't get me started on that, 218 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:12.720 but they'll squeeze every drop out of that news conference 219 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.679 that they can, and you know what, so will I. 220 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:18.759 Now I've only got a few minutes right now to 221 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:21.600 share with you. I'll have much more tomorrow on Pope 222 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:25.519 and throughout the week. But some of the things he 223 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:28.559 said that have jumped out. You've probably already seen his 224 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:31.879 comment about Travis Perry leaving. He said I thought Travis 225 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:34.320 Perry would be a legend, and he went on at 226 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:37.200 length about Travis. I'm gonna play that for you tomorrow, 227 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:40.519 but what I wanted to play for you today are 228 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:44.960 a couple of comments. The first one just basically talking 229 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:48.720 about his group now his team, the guys in his roster, 230 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:52.120 and how much he likes this collection he's put together. 231 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:55.360 I think the guys that have chosen to be here 232 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:59.840 are guys that are just starving to come test themselves 233 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:03.559 every single day in practice to come get better. I 234 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:10.919 got hungry, hungry, hungry guys. I got guys that have 235 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:16.440 really unique, distinguishable skill sets that fit us really well. 236 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.440 And so so I'm man, I'm excited about this crew. 237 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.960 This is going to be a really special crew. 238 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:26.720 Pope alluded to guys who want to be here and 239 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.320 play at Kentucky, and I asked him a specific question 240 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:34.919 about that, about when you're looking at guys either recruits 241 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:39.200 or more specifically guys coming through the portal, the fact 242 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:42.240 that they want to be a part of UK basketball 243 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:45.960 for everything that means. I asked him I said, is 244 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:48.200 that the top of your list or is it the 245 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:51.240 icing on the big blue cake at at the very 246 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.600 end of the process. 247 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.480 I think it's both. 248 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:57.000 Actually, I think it's the beginning and the end because 249 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:03.159 it matters. This is there's nowhere like this. And if 250 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:06.559 you come in here not understanding or appreciating that, I 251 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:09.480 actually think your chances of success are. 252 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:12.639 Not very high to some level. 253 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:15.840 I mean, nobody can really understand this until you live it, right, 254 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:19.120 But the guys that are really successful here come in 255 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:23.559 with a healthy respect for what this is. And because 256 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:30.039 it requires more, actually it requires more ability to be 257 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:36.120 you know, non distracted. It requires more of a giving heart. 258 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:40.080 It requires more of an idea that there's something bigger 259 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:44.080 than yourself. It requires more of an ability to sacrifice 260 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:48.120 a little bit and understand that by sacrificing a little 261 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:50.039 bit of yourself it actually elevates you. 262 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.399 Right. 263 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:54.440 That's what's great about this beautiful team sport of basketball 264 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.840 that we have when you learn that concept of like, 265 00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:00.759 if I give a little bit, you know, if I 266 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:04.000 just give a little bit of myself, it actually elevates myself. 267 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:04.519 Right. 268 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:07.640 There is much more, But he really went in depth there. 269 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:09.960 I'll share some more of that with you later in 270 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:14.960 the week. At the end, they were basically ready to 271 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:18.720 dismiss us, and Pope said, I can't believe nobody asked 272 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:23.079 about the Saint John's game. Oddly, nobody did about the 273 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:26.400 fact that Saint John's has stepped in for UCLA in 274 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:30.119 the CBS Sports Classic coming up down into Atlanta, and 275 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.880 so somebody kind of I think it was Lee K. 276 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:36.759 Howard from WKYT, said hey, what about going against coach Patino. 277 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:38.200 That's awesome. 278 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.160 I'm so hyped. 279 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:42.799 I'll be honest with you, just if I'm putting this 280 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:45.440 out there so Coach p can hear it. I am 281 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:50.000 bringing the suit game. I already started planning, and coach 282 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:55.359 just be ready, Okay, bring it, and the game's gonna 283 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:55.720 be elite. 284 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:58.960 I'm not going white. I can't listen. 285 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:01.440 I'm not I'm not trying to be the dawn like 286 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:03.319 that's how that position I have been taking. But I'm 287 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:06.160 bringing the thunder. So I don't know what coach has prepared, 288 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:09.279 but he better get with his tailor because it's on 289 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.000 right now. 290 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:13.359 That's gonna be fun. That's gonna be funny. And I 291 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:16.359 can't wait. And I was a little surprised. I thought 292 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:19.880 somebody else would ask, otherwise I would have. But yeah, 293 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:21.920 that's gonna be a lot of fun. The time leading 294 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:26.200 up to that game is gonna be really entertaining. Otaga 295 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:30.559 always name naturally came up early and he talked about 296 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:32.480 the fact that you know, Otaga's got a lot of 297 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:36.359 skills on offense and defense. Didn't make any predictions about 298 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:38.920 what would happen with the NBA. But of course, the 299 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:42.240 big story today in the NBA is about what happened 300 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:46.440 last night, and that's the Dallas Mavericks winning the lottery. 301 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:51.799 With a chance of one point eight percent. The Mavericks 302 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:55.599 win the overall number one pick and likely will take 303 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:59.160 Cooper Flag And this, of course is the franchise that 304 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:04.480 one guy traded away Luka Donsich. Maybe Cooper Flagg saves 305 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:08.680 his butt when it comes to the fans, but of course, 306 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:14.240 the Mavericks winning that pick when they desperately needed it 307 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:19.440 gives rise to the notion if you like conspiracies, which 308 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:24.279 I do, that the lottery at times has been fixed 309 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:29.839 throughout the years. I love a good conspiracy. I kind 310 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:32.880 of like this one. And I'm going to tell you 311 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:36.839 more about that coming up tomorrow night, because there just 312 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:40.599 seems to be too many coincidences where teams, especially one 313 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:45.640 year in particular, where teams needed a specific player, not 314 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:49.279 just a type of player, but a specific player and 315 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:53.119 they got him. Up next, my conversation from earlier this 316 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:56.599 month with Rhys Potter the transfer from Miami of Ohio. 317 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:59.599 You're listening to the best of the Big Blue Insider. 318 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:02.799 Welcome back. You're listening to the best of the Big 319 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:06.079 Blue Insider joining us now from right now is his 320 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:09.880 dorm room at the Miami Ohio is Rhyes Potter of 321 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:14.480 the newest Wildcat. Congratulations and I appreciate you. 322 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:17.359 It's been a lifelong dream of mind. So this is 323 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.039 so real for me. 324 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:20.039 I had a feeling you're going to say that. So 325 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:23.079 let's let's start with when you were growing up always 326 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:25.519 a Wildcat fan. What are your earliest memories. 327 00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:28.559 You know, growing up as a Wildcats fan and liked it. 328 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:30.079 I mean I was always the thing. You're either a 329 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:32.400 Kentucky fan or a Lobal fan, so I think elected it. 330 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:34.599 I was definitely a Kentucky fan, so I grew to 331 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:36.400 love the program, and you know, it was kind of 332 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:39.119 all everybody knows is to be a Kentucky fan. Everybody 333 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:41.480 knows that when a Kentucky basketball game is, when a 334 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.599 Kentucky football game is. 335 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:44.160 So it's the big deal around here. 336 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:47.680 And I guess was Tubby coaching when you were growing up? 337 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:49.599 Yeah? 338 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:52.720 With him and mostly cal Yeah, mostly the years I 339 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.759 remember of the cal Era. 340 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:57.720 Yeah, what do you remember any specific players that really 341 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.279 excited you. 342 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.880 I would probably say John Wall. I mean that was 343 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:04.240 always a big thing. John Wall dance when I was younger, 344 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:06.559 So you know, that was always the player everybody was 345 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:09.000 most excited about. Every every little kid used to do 346 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:11.519 his little dance. So you know, I was probably, you know, 347 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.920 the best and earliest memory. 348 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:14.839 I had, Although your game is a little bit different 349 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.119 from his. 350 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.279 Right, Yeah, I mean I wish I could say I 351 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:20.680 was astass as him and you know, as good as him, 352 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:22.920 But yeah, it's a little it's a little different. 353 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:27.519 You're you're a pretty tall guy. Were you tall growing up? 354 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:29.200 I mean, was it always basketball for you? 355 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:32.119 It wasn't always basketball for me. 356 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:34.480 I was always kind of I was always taller, but 357 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:37.000 I was never really you know, not much taller than everybody. 358 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:39.920 But I just kept steadily growing and so everybody kind 359 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:42.160 of peaked, and I just I just kept steadily growing, 360 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.319 you know, a couple of inches every year. 361 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:47.480 So I kind of kind of what happened to me well, and. 362 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:50.319 That happens to most kids that way as well. And 363 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:52.759 then when you got a chance to play college ball, 364 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:56.559 what I mean again, Miami is a great school, the 365 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.559 best option for you at the time, though, right. 366 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:00.720 It was. 367 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:03.279 I mean it was probably not the most highly rated 368 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:05.559 school for sure, but you know, I believe in Coach Steel, 369 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.319 I believe in the staff. So that's kind of the 370 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.880 place that I knew kind of was going to. 371 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:09.599 Be home originally. 372 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:12.079 And you guys are coming off a great year. You 373 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:15.599 drop a heartbreaker in the MAC title game, but next 374 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:17.240 thing you know, you're in the portal. What led to 375 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:19.720 your decision to see you at? What else is out there? 376 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:23.960 Just kind of just combined of a couple of things. 377 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.119 You know. 378 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:26.079 I love my time at Miami. I had no complaints. 379 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:28.440 You know, Coach Steel, Coach Smith, and you know, Coach 380 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:30.319 Home and Coach Risburg and were great for me. You know, 381 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:32.400 they they kind of helped me get where it's where 382 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:34.720 I am today, and I have nothing but the thanks 383 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:37.279 and gratitudes towards them, So you know, I kind of 384 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:39.599 wanted to, you know, move on to a little little, 385 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.160 bigger things. 386 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:42.160 You know, I wanted to compete for national championships. 387 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:44.359 You know, that's kind of the thing I've always you know, 388 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.799 growing up in high school and stuff. You know, the 389 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:49.400 big deal wasn't you weren't gonna win your You weren't 390 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:51.359 supposed to win your city or your region. The goal 391 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:52.960 with the win the state title. So that've kind of 392 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:55.400 kind of always been in my mindset. You got to 393 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:57.319 win the big thing. So that's kind of the big 394 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:59.799 difference between Miami and here. You know, Miami, you always 395 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.680 kind of like the underdog and you're always trying to 396 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:04.920 compete for mac championships. But you know, Kentucky, you're competing 397 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:07.599 for banners, you're competing for you know, national championships. So 398 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.920 that's kind of something I'm looking forward to. 399 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:11.920 When you entered the portal, did you know Mark Pope 400 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:13.480 was looking for one more person? 401 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:16.920