WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:03.000 Oh, oh, guess what day it is. 2 00:00:03.560 --> 00:00:05.240 Guess what day it is? 3 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:14.919 Huh anybody, it's hump dya, Yes, it is hump Day. 4 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:17.039 Welcome to the Big Blue and sider Dick Gabriel with 5 00:00:17.079 --> 00:00:20.039 you on a Wednesday. It's a big week because we 6 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:24.000 have college basketball behind us, but the Masters ahead of us. 7 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:28.600 We also have football ahead of us. On Saturday, Kay, 8 00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:30.960 we'll fling open the gates and allow fans to come 9 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:33.240 in and take a good look at this year's Wildcat team. 10 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:35.439 Must say a good look. It's not a blue white game, 11 00:00:35.479 --> 00:00:38.159 but we'll talk about that more in our next segment. 12 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:40.719 We'll also hear from Mark Stroops and one of the Wildcats. 13 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.119 One more look at college basketball, and we'll keep you 14 00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:47.520 posted as best we can on the portal because again 15 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:50.159 we pre record, so things happen late in the afternoon 16 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:54.520 and we can't bring it to you in a timely manner, sadly, 17 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:58.000 but we'll keep an eye on what's going on with 18 00:00:58.119 --> 00:01:02.560 players coming and going. And ESPN has a mock draft 19 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:05.959 that includes Kobe Brea. He has worked his way into 20 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:09.959 the second round. They're predicting he'll be the fifty fourth 21 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:13.319 player taken by the Indiana Pacers. So if that's the case, 22 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:16.000 good for him. But he did that, of course with 23 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:19.079 his incredible shooting, but also his ability to guard. Now 24 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:22.120 he's shown people that he's a good enough athlete to 25 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:24.799 get out there and guard. Of course they're saying Cooper 26 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:29.120 Flagg goes number one. Interestingly, Rutgers, and we talked with 27 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:33.760 Aaron Gershan about this earlier in the season. Rutgers, it 28 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:38.359 says here will have players go second and third. Remember 29 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:41.799 when Kentucky had players go one and two back after 30 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:45.159 the twenty twelve national title team. Well, it says here, 31 00:01:45.239 --> 00:01:48.159 Rutgers will have players going one and two. But Rutger 32 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:52.599 has nothing after that. Rutgers finished fifteen and seventeen this 33 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:58.519 season with two lottery picks projected, lost three of its 34 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:02.840 last four in the Big Ten, now to Michigan, to Purdue, 35 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:07.640 beat Minnesota in overtime to close out the regular season, 36 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:11.479 and then lost to Southern cal in a great Big 37 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:15.759 Ten matchup in the tournament in the Big Ten Tournament 38 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:22.400 in two overtimes, and that ended the season for Rutgers. 39 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:25.280 In fact, Rutgers lost six of its last nine. And 40 00:02:25.319 --> 00:02:28.400 this is with these two kids who supposedly will go 41 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:32.520 second and third, but you know you got to have 42 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:36.520 people around him. Trey Johnson of Texas had a big 43 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:41.400 game against Kentucky. Projected to go fifth. Jeremiah Fears from Oklahoma, 44 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:46.520 another SEC player going sixth. We mentioned Cooper Flag Well, 45 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:50.879 two other dookies going it says here in the top ten, 46 00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:55.960 including Kanka Nipple. You've got Maloche at number seven, Canimple 47 00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:03.840 number eight, and another SEC going tenth, Colin Murray Boyles. 48 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:08.360 So a lot of familiar names in that top ten. 49 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:13.639 No Wildcats this year, Maybe next year we'll see. You 50 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:17.199 may know by now Kenny Brooks has a big time transfer. 51 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:20.879 It could be a big time transfer. Josie Gilvin six 52 00:03:20.919 --> 00:03:23.599 foot guard. That's big for a guard. Now, six foot 53 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:27.039 guard out of Sacred Heart over in Louisville, where they 54 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:30.479 know how to play, had a great year at Western Kentucky. 55 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:33.840 Thirteen points in game, six and a half rebounds, two 56 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:35.919 and a half assists, and two and a half steals 57 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:40.479 per game. One of the best defensive players in Conference USA, 58 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:43.840 helped Western Kentucky to a twenty three to nine record, 59 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:47.520 thirteen and five in the conference, got to the conference 60 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:51.919 tournament semifinals. She was All Conferenced Second Team and All 61 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:58.759 Defensive Team. So she gives Kenny Brooks some toughness on 62 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:02.759 the perimeter and that's going to be important obviously coming 63 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:06.240 up this season with Georgia Amore gone and they got 64 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:09.800 some holes to fill. Tough night for the baseball Wildcats. 65 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:12.439 If you heard Darren Hendrick Hall, you might have seen 66 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:15.919 it on the ACC Network. But for the second straight 67 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:20.600 outing and third time in their last four games, Kentucky 68 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:26.360 played overtime but lost it when it had it. Kentucky 69 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:30.519 took the lead in the tenth inning, but then Louisville 70 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:33.519 comes back and scores two runs in the bottom of 71 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:37.720 the tenth and beats Kentucky four to three at Jim 72 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:41.040 Patterson Stadium. The Cats now eighteen and twelve on the year, 73 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.000 and who's coming to town this weekend only the second 74 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:49.160 rank Texas Longhorns. For the longest time, last night it 75 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:51.319 looked like what it had. In fact, it did what 76 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:55.120 had happened over the weekend with ole miss carried over 77 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:59.959 for the Baseball Wildcats. Pitching in defense, they made big play, 78 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:03.399 they made big pitches. They were down two to one, 79 00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:08.759 got a timely hit to tie things up, but Unlike 80 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:13.759 last year when the two teams scored thirty runs, this 81 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:17.639 one was two to two through nine and in the 82 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:21.639 bottom of the ninth. I was amazed that this happened, 83 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.879 not that he made the play. Rafael Peltier started the game. 84 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:27.720 He has been the backup to Devin Burks. They were 85 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:31.199 sharing the position until Peltier began to struggle a bit 86 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:33.279 at the plate. But he got to start last night 87 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:38.199 and had paid off for Nick Minjion. Louisville had the 88 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:40.720 winning run in the ninth inning on second base. A 89 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:45.920 kid doubled to open up the inning and he picked 90 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:48.199 him off. Peltier picked him off. I think there was 91 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:51.079 a misbunt and the kid wandered off the bag and 92 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:54.199 Peltier picking Tyler Bell, made a great scoop of the 93 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:57.720 throw and tagged the kid out. Now, ultimately there was 94 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:01.600 another kid who doubled with two outs and he tried 95 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:06.600 to steal third, going against baseball convention. You had two 96 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:08.720 things working against you there. Number one, you don't want 97 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.480 to be the last out of the inning at third base. 98 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:15.519 That's not a cliche, that's just smart baseball. But this 99 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:19.800 kid was a great base dealer, and Peltier threw him out. 100 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:23.319 But here's the thing. He had just watched Peltier pick 101 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.920 his teammate off second base, and there a base HiT's 102 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:29.800 going to score him with a winning run. But for 103 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:33.319 some reason he tried to steal third and they gunned 104 00:06:33.399 --> 00:06:36.480 him down. So in the tenth Inny Griffin Cameron with 105 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:39.240 a great bunt and Louisville threw it away, so he 106 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:43.560 winds up on second. A bunt later, cole Hage on 107 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:47.600 a two strike pitch dumps went over the third basement's 108 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.319 head in the left and the Wildcats take a three 109 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:54.360 to two lead, but the bullpen just couldn't hold it. 110 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:58.839 That's been a problem this year. So now you got 111 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:04.000 Texas coming in. You've already lost two home series in 112 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:06.959 the SEC. You got to get this one. You got 113 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:09.600 to win two out of three. But it's a really 114 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:13.160 good ball club coming in. We'll have it for You're 115 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:15.759 right here on six thirty WLAP and Aaron Hedrick's got 116 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:19.720 the call. SEC Networks got the first two games SEC plus, 117 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:23.319 but Doug Flynn and yours truly as the third game. 118 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:26.680 I found this online. You might have seen this. This 119 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:29.720 is really fascinating. If you win the Masters, what do 120 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:32.879 you get. Well, you get a green jacket, which is 121 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:36.680 a tradition that started in nineteen forty nine, and there's 122 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:41.199 an engraved gold nameplate inside. You can take that nameplate home, 123 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:45.279 but the jacket stays at Augusta. You get your name 124 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:51.759 on the Master's Trophy, but that stays at Augusta, and 125 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:56.600 you get a smaller version forty percent the original size 126 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:59.920 of the original. You also get a Master's Gold medal 127 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:04.079 that dates back to nineteen thirty four. You get an 128 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:07.600 engraved gold locket, which I guess goes see to your 129 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:10.920 wife or your girlfriend or your mom whatever. Invitation to 130 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:14.279 the Champion's Dinner, which started in nineteen fifty two after 131 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:19.439 Ben Hogan's first Master's victory, that's on Tuesday. Honorary membership 132 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:23.199 to Augusta National. You can't beat that. You get a 133 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:27.360 locker in the Champion's locker room. You get access to 134 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:34.240 the Champion's only range, lifetime invitation to the Masters three 135 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:38.320 and a half million dollars that'll work, and a five 136 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:44.960 year major exemption that's huge, a five year PGA Tour exemption. 137 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:50.960 Those exemptions are just gold on the golf tours. You 138 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:54.759 get a special tea time each year, every past Master's 139 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:57.039 champ is allowed to bring a guest to play on 140 00:08:57.080 --> 00:09:02.039 a Sunday before the Masters. The Scheffler brought his mom. 141 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:05.159 So my advice to you is take up golf and 142 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:07.519 go out and win the Masters. Get a lot of 143 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:10.919 cool stuff. Coming up at the bottom of the hour, 144 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:14.240 David Sisk will join us from Cats Illustrated. We'll talk 145 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:17.600 college basketball naturally. We'll talk about the final four of 146 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:21.159 the championship game and just how Florida was able to 147 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:24.200 come back and pull it off against Houston. A little 148 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:28.200 bit later on Sean Woods, the Unforgettable Guard and Gary Moore, 149 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:31.559 West n Bureau Chief. Up next, Mark Stoops talks about 150 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:34.240 tight ends. We'll also hear from one of his best 151 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:37.960 tight ends, and that's heart hitting Willie Rodriguez. That's coming 152 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:39.759 up next on a Big Blue and Sider here on 153 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:44.679 six thirty WLAP. Welcome back to the Big bluon Sider. 154 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.559 Coming up in just a few minutes to David Sisk 155 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:49.320 of Cats Illustrated, part of the Rivals Network. A little 156 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:52.559 bit later on our number two, Sean Woods, the Unforgettable Guard. 157 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:54.960 We talk with him each and every week, as well 158 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.159 as our West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore, who is 159 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:01.639 back from MCALI, so we will resume our chats with him. 160 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:04.159 If you're a Kentucky football fan, you've already got your 161 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:09.240 calendar marked for this Saturday, ten am Kroger Field. It's 162 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:15.679 the spring they're calling it the Football Spring Showcase, practice segments, 163 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:19.440 interactive features for fans. You're not going to see a 164 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:22.720 lot of full gameplay, but you will get a better 165 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:26.279 look at what you've what you've got coming up for 166 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:30.759 the coming football season. You can learn about the Wildcats. 167 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:35.600 So yeah, ten am at Kroger Field this Saturday. Not 168 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:38.840 a blue white game. And you know what, You're not 169 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:41.399 going to see many blue white games anymore, I'm guessing 170 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:46.240 because coaches are going to want to protect their rosters. 171 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:49.600 If you put a blue white game out there, it'll 172 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:54.559 be on TV somewhere, there will be video everywhere. And kid, 173 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:57.639 you know, kids that you're trying to kind of hide 174 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:01.159 on your depth chart, they may get coach, they may 175 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:03.559 end up leaving, just like Kentucky had a d back 176 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:06.840 last year, but a great spring game and next thing 177 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:11.080 you know, he's on another team. So anyhow, check it 178 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:14.039 out this Saturday. One of the things I'm going to 179 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:15.919 look for and we always look for it, don't we. 180 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:20.120 Every year is tight end. Look, Kentucky said, so many 181 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:23.480 talented tight ends come through and just not catch as 182 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:26.320 many balls of late that we thought they would. I 183 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:28.840 guess you got to go back to CJ. Conrad. So 184 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:30.799 the last tight end, it was really a weapon, and 185 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:32.639 he didn't catch as many as we thought he might. 186 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:36.759 But really, to me, the biggest is not the only reason, 187 00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:40.120 but the biggest reason is because the old line has 188 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:43.919 struggled for the past three years, and that means you've 189 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:47.200 got to keep a tight end in to block and 190 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:51.080 they're not going out on design routes. Maybe they released 191 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:54.879 after they've chipped or even taken somebody on straight up. 192 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:59.200 But you've got the new offense with Bush Hampden. You've 193 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:03.120 got some talent in the room once again. And we 194 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:08.279 talked to Mark Stoops about is the last time after 195 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:11.720 the practice when he allowed the media to watch. And 196 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:15.559 if you look at the Kentucky depth chart, you'll see 197 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:20.279 probably eight new names in what would be the starting lineup, 198 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:26.080 most of them on the old line. Jimory Macklin is there, 199 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:31.559 Jalen Farmer they think might start at left guard. You 200 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:34.600 know they work Jagger Burton at center, but he's been 201 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:38.440 working primarily at right guard, where he's listed behind Joshua 202 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:43.720 Broun new QB new starting running back very likely, although 203 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.480 you may see Jamaran Willcox move into the starting lineup 204 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:51.000 before the season opener. But one of the starters they've 205 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:54.080 got coming back you've got to be certain is Josh 206 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:56.759 Katis at tight end. He's a senior. I can't but 207 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:59.840 it seems like he just got here. But he's a senior. 208 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:03.159 You've also got a new face in a tight end, 209 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:07.799 or more than one. But the biggest target is Henry Boyer, 210 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:12.600 who's a transfer six foot seven. You'll see him out there, 211 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:17.559 easy to spot. Transferred in from Illinois. He's listed right 212 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.759 now ahead of Willi Rodriguez, but I wouldn't be surprised 213 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:22.799 if you saw a lot of Willi Rodriguez. You're going 214 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:26.399 to see him all over the field, special teams, offense. 215 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:30.840 Mark Stoops really likes him primarily because of his toughness. 216 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.200 Will's just tough, you know, just a tough guy. 217 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:35.399 You know good? 218 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:39.000 You know again, I love everything about Willie, you know, 219 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:41.320 he just it's one of those guys you want on 220 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:44.759 your team. You know, plays hard, tough guy, you know, 221 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:47.279 has some really good ability. So yes, we'd like to 222 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:49.519 get him the ball. And I know everybody would like 223 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:53.720 to see him get the ball. My mother, God rest 224 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:57.080 her soul, Silvi. We you know, you know that, you 225 00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:59.039 know the joke you guys that cover me all the time, 226 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:03.039 my mom used to get. 227 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:06.600 That's a comment that referred to a question that Stoops 228 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:09.759 answered a year or two ago about using the tight 229 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.440 ends more. And Mark pointed out, and he's right, everybody 230 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:15.639 wants to see the tight ends use more as receivers. 231 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:19.120 And my theory on this is, and I've asked coaches 232 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:23.039 about it, they'm kind of shrugging, like maybe it seems 233 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:26.960 like whenever tight ends catch the ball, it's because they 234 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:30.279 might not ordinarily be the number one target, so it 235 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:33.159 takes a little longer for the play to set up. 236 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:35.440 Or you've got to give them a chance to beat 237 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:39.279 their defender, which is generally a linebacker who's not as 238 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:42.720 fast as they are. So when they do catch a ball, 239 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.440 everybody's on edge, get rid of the ball, get rid 240 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.799 of And then they do and there's a tight end. 241 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:48.919 Everybody's like, oh my gosh, they got it off to 242 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:51.639 the tight end and he might already have a step 243 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:55.159 on a defender. So now it's exciting. Think think back 244 00:14:55.200 --> 00:15:00.480 to Jacob Tammy catching football after football when when Rich 245 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:03.399 Brooks was here. So yeah, everybody loves to see the 246 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:06.919 tight end catch the ball, including Mark Stoop's late mama 247 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:09.440 used to ask her son, why do you got to 248 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:11.639 throw the ball on the tight end more Well, he 249 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:14.600 really likes Willie Rodriguez, as you just heard, so we 250 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:19.960 asked Rodriguez a few minutes later to comment on Stoops's 251 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.519 remark about wanting a guy like Willy on his team. 252 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:24.519 Yeah, so that's awesome here. I mean, that's that's what 253 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:26.080 I want people to say about. I mean that's what 254 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:27.600 I you know, I want to be known as a 255 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:29.279 team player. And this guy that's here from the team, 256 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:33.279 and what's somebody that you want on your team? It 257 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:35.519 makes I think it's everything. I think it's got to 258 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:37.000 be on and off the field for someone you want 259 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:38.919 your team. I think it's in the locker room, trying 260 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:41.399 to be a leader everywhere everywhere you go in the community, 261 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:42.919 and also when you get out on the field, being 262 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:46.039 the leader and being the league the whole team that, yes, sir, yeah, yeah, 263 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:47.720 obviously being physical and you know when you put the 264 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:49.639 helmet off, it's obviously an old different person than off 265 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:51.840 the field, but I think that should be known. But 266 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:53.879 I think, you know, you put the helmet on, you 267 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:55.720 I complete a different person on the field. 268 00:15:56.080 --> 00:16:00.399 Which he is. Hey, remember Rodriguez delivered the hit that 269 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:02.840 forced to fumble on the first play of the game 270 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:06.039 on the kickoff down there at Old Miss this past 271 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:09.440 year now in review, it was reversed in a ball 272 00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:11.720 went back to Old Miss, but it kind of set 273 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:15.600 a tone and it was Willie Rodriguez who made it happen. 274 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:18.399 And he's made a lot of things happen on special teams. 275 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:21.159 So maybe we'll see him more on offense. And he 276 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:24.360 believes that because they're in the second year with ham Dan, 277 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:27.679 things will go could see will be a lot better. 278 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:30.200 I think it's having year two in the offense. This 279 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.879 big thing, you know. I was talking to Josh Gattis, 280 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.879 He's obviously had three different offensive coordinators. He said, coming 281 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.600 back year two on this offense is very big, and 282 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.080 especially for me just come back. I feel really comfortable. 283 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.639 I feel like I know the concepts a lot, and 284 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.759 I feel like, yeah, coming back in your two offense 285 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.559 is big for sure. 286 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:47.360 So keep an eye on Willie Rodriguez when you're at 287 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:51.080 the football open practice on Saturday starts at ten am, 288 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.559 and then you can move on over to Kentucky Baseball, 289 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:57.440 the Wildcats taking on the Texas Lawnhorns. As I mentioned earlier, 290 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:00.519 I do want to throw in a couple of person notes. 291 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.519 First of all, a big thank you to anybody who 292 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.240 reached out. It's a very nice ceremony last night in 293 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:09.640 reception for the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, I was 294 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:14.039 so fortunate enough to be included in this year's class, 295 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:17.720 so grateful, so humbled and surprised, and as I mentioned 296 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:22.839 in my speech, thanks to UK Assistant ad Tony Neely, 297 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:26.319 who oversaw football sports information for so long. Now in 298 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.920 the capable hands of Susan Lax. But Tony's been promoted. 299 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:32.880 But Tony was the one who first approached me about 300 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:36.920 nominating me, which again was a surprise, but very grateful. 301 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:39.759 But to anybody and everybody who's reached out, I say 302 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:42.759 thank you very very much, and it's a huge thrill 303 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:46.039 and a great honor. Number two, just on a personal note. 304 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:49.799 I had a little skin cancer taken off today and 305 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:53.480 I've just you know, a public service announcement, and I 306 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:56.200 get checked every year. It runs in a family. My 307 00:17:56.319 --> 00:18:00.640 mother had issues with skin cancer, and it just seems 308 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:03.400 like it's harder and harder these days to protect yourself 309 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:05.279 out in the sun. It was on the side of 310 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:08.599 my face, on my temple, and I use sunblock, but 311 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:11.279 I guess I must have missed it made too many 312 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:14.480 times on that part of my face. I won't any more. 313 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:19.680 But please get yourself checked because, as you may well know, 314 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:24.079 skin cancer that might just be. This thing was tiny. 315 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:27.759 I couldn't see it. The doctor saw it, the dermatologists 316 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:30.279 saw it. You know, I never saw in the mirror. 317 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:33.400 I still didn't, never saw it until they really pointed 318 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:36.960 it circled and pointed it out. But as you know, 319 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:41.200 and the form I had, basil cell, was the least 320 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:46.839 serious of the skin cancers, but any form can go 321 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:51.279 bad on you. So please get yourself checked out. Thank 322 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:54.160 you so much, we need you out there. Up next, 323 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:56.680 David sisk if Cats Illustrated six. Welcome back to the 324 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:58.599 Big Blue and Cider. Joining us now as a guy 325 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:03.640 we love talking basketball David Sisk of Cats Illustrated, part 326 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:06.880 of the Rivals Network, And before we talk about Monday 327 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:12.559 night's game, let's talk about Jaden Quainton's who committed yesterday. 328 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:16.039 A top five pick, originally signed in twenty twenty three, 329 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:20.720 but spent twenty this past season at Arizona State. What 330 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.799 do you know about him? Coach? 331 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:26.440 Well, he's a man child. And you know, after watching 332 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.920 you know, some of these teams in the final four, 333 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:33.799 all four of them really, and seeing just the physicality 334 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:37.000 and what they had inside, I mean, you've got to 335 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:41.319 have guys like this, and I think, interestingly enough of 336 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:46.599 Arizona State, he's only the philth freshman in history to 337 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:49.680 make the All Freshmen team and All Defensive team in 338 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:55.519 the Big twelve and the other four our NBA draft 339 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:59.079 picks in the first round, you know, who have already 340 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:04.039 gone out, and he's definitely got that pedigree. He didn't 341 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.799 play a ton of minutes, and I mean, you know, 342 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.920 he played I don't know, I think eighteen to twenty 343 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:12.160 minutes something like that. So when you look at his stats, 344 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:15.279 they're not going to be gaudy, but you know, the 345 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:18.880 things that he bring. Number one, he's just he's one 346 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:23.240 of those. It's just a beast, you know. He has 347 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:31.079 that look, just just explosive, strong, and you look at 348 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:32.880 him and you said, there's no way he's a nineteen 349 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.960 year old kid. He looks like he's up there like 350 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:38.559 twenty nine one of those. But if you look at 351 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:42.240 his analytics, if you look at his and I'm big 352 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:46.920 going into percentiles, the things that post player needs to have, 353 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:49.240 So I'm not gonna look and say, Okay, so this 354 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:54.960 guy's sixth grade slow or this guy's three point shooting 355 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:58.160 percentage whatever, and he did I think, step out make simon, 356 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:00.079 and I think he shot up in high thirties. He 357 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:03.359 didn't you in percent he didn't shoot a ton of them. 358 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:08.759 But if you look at the defensive impact, rebounds, block shots, 359 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:12.440 I mean he's up like ninety fifth ninety six percent 360 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:15.000 tile on up although up to ninety nine percent TILE. 361 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:18.640 So he may I'm tell you what, he checks a 362 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:22.240 lot of boxes, you know. And I was thinking, you know, 363 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:27.599 as Tuesday morning when he committed, you know, and then 364 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:31.480 you think about Malachi Marino. They've really gotten in the 365 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:36.000 last two classes. One took a little bit longer. He 366 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:38.839 had to go through Arizona State and come back. But 367 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:43.039 they've gotten really two of the top centers in each 368 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:46.680 or the top center in each class. Almost Malachi Marino 369 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:52.680 is is I think just barely behind. In most rankings, 370 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:56.680 He's the second high ranked center and close to being first. 371 00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:58.559 And I would have to go back and look to 372 00:21:58.599 --> 00:22:01.319 see who was ahead of Clayton's plaints was in everybody's 373 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:04.400 top ten. I think Rivals had him eight. So you're 374 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:08.279 talking about two of the top you know, centers and 375 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:10.640 back to back classes in the country that are going 376 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.920 to be wearing Kentucky BLUENX. 377 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:15.079 Well. To your point, yeah, he only averaged about nine 378 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:18.279 points a game, but it rebounds, two and a half blocks, 379 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:21.240 all defensive team in the Big twelve, and of course 380 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:25.279 an all freshman player and bringing in these bigs David. 381 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:28.799 It kind of reminds you of old school basketball. But 382 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:31.960 Pope's offense is anything but. Right. 383 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:38.000 Well, that's true, but I think people kind of get 384 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:41.160 lost in the shuffle of how much he's playing two bigs. 385 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:44.440 It's not like he's playing five out small ball lineup. 386 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:47.720 But you think about how much they went to high 387 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:49.720 Low last year in between car and. 388 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:51.519 True. 389 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:56.599 Yeah, and it seemed like every game in the second half, 390 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:59.400 his adjustment would be get the Boss into the post. 391 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:01.799 I mean, you know, they would play for kind of 392 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:04.000 free flow in the first and they started posting feeding 393 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:06.519 all of locker room. It seems like they did it 394 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.920 a lot. You know, when I was a year ago, 395 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.519 when I was watching this stuff from BYU, I thought 396 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:14.839 it was going to really be a just like I say, 397 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:19.720 Small Boss Spread, Golden State Warrior, Boston selling at forty 398 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:22.480 three is a game. I was amazed how many high 399 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:27.759 low to post action that they ran. So I think, 400 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:32.640 you know, and then you throw in ham a debaute, 401 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:35.000