WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:00.520 Hello. 2 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:04.839 Running to the facilities of the iHeartMedia megaplexis is Dick Gabriel. 3 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:07.519 This is the statewide edition of the Big Blue and 4 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:10.439 sart he heard Mark st Mark Stoops, Mark Pope's We're 5 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:13.519 going to talk about Mark Stoops later, Mark Pope's comments 6 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:16.719 and Kenny Brooks as well. And now stay tuned for 7 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:20.399 Billy Rutledge Aaron Gershan hers truly on the state wide BBI. 8 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:20.920 Border to order. 9 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:23.559 It is the Big Blue Insider, Dick Gabriel, Billy Rutledge, 10 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:27.640 Aaron gershawan tomorrow night on these same station as Kentucky, 11 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:31.239 Texas A and M here in Lexion. Now, did you 12 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:33.320 make the trip to Starkville? I'm about to ask you. 13 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:36.240 I didn't think you were sure last week when I 14 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:40.079 talked to you and you said that probably because of 15 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:44.920 weather that would not be the trip. And uh, as 16 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:46.399 it turned out, I'm sure you would love to have 17 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:48.240 been there because it was a heck of a story 18 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:52.920 the way that game unfolded, especially let's start with Jackson Robinson. 19 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:56.920 Were you surprised by that? Were you just sitting on 20 00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:59.439 the edge of your seat waiting for that to happen? 21 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:00.520 How did you approach that. 22 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:02.679 A little bit of both. I think I've definitely been 23 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:05.120 waiting on it because that is the guy that was 24 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:08.599 advertised even better than advertised, but also wasn't holding my 25 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:11.120 breath given how bad it looked against Georgia. And it 26 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:14.040 wasn't just that he played poorly. His body language was 27 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:16.959 awful and I mentioned that last week, yes, and you know, 28 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:19.760 with the media seating at Georgia were pretty much right 29 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:22.599 underneath one of the baskets, and as soon as Jackson 30 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:25.519 missed his first shout of the day, the shoulders shrugged 31 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:28.480 and you could just see he wasn't feeling it. And 32 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.959 I think usually when coaches kind of go in the hole, oh, 33 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:35.200 they just decided like they're going to play free. I 34 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:36.879 kind of just scoff at it. But the way Mark 35 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:40.640 Pope described it, how he was worrying about his pro career, 36 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:43.040 which obviously he turned down, the chance to possibly be 37 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:46.799 a late pick to come to Kentucky, and just all 38 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:50.000 the pressure that he felt on him, and it clearly 39 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:51.920 looked like a guy who was playing loose and free, 40 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.000 and the body language was better. There was a smile 41 00:01:54.280 --> 00:01:57.040 on his face, he looked locked in, and he carried 42 00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:58.840 them to a win, Billy. 43 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:04.560 You are the the network manager producer here, paying more 44 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:06.959 attention to the radio broadcast, but you keep an eye 45 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:10.319 and on the big screen TV right over there. What 46 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:14.639 was really entertaining to me was the way the basketball 47 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:18.000 barely stopped in Robinson's hands on the way to the 48 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:20.439 You know, he would catch the pass. 49 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:23.159 But it's like he barely had it before it was 50 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:24.520 on the way with perfect form. 51 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:27.159 Mind you to the basket. Were you able to notice 52 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:27.639 much of that? 53 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:27.919 Sure? 54 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:30.840 I mean there was an eighteen footer late in the 55 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:34.000 game that was really clutched throwing Jackson Robinson. It felt 56 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:36.360 like he kind of stepped into his shots a little bit. 57 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:38.879 And you saw the guy play with a little joy, 58 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:41.280 and I think that may be the key with this team. 59 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:44.840 One of Mark's Pope's phrases tonight was be where your 60 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:49.000 feet are. Yeah, and that's being present and I'm sure 61 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:51.199 that's hard to do. I mean, think about these guys' 62 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:54.520 collegiate careers, a lot of them coming from other schools 63 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:57.360 to Kentucky. And Andrew Carsang the other night, you know, 64 00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:59.039 there's nothing like being Kentucky. 65 00:02:58.639 --> 00:02:59.159 On the road. 66 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:02.280 It's a it's maybe a different mindset you got to get. 67 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:02.960 Into a little bit, and. 68 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:06.840 Poor Andrew Carr in his bad back, he was he 69 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:11.360 was able to play well despite all those struggles, and 70 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:13.719 it all comes out a night where Kobe Brea goes 71 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:16.919 one to five from three. And we were so determined 72 00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:20.800 last Wednesday that Kobe had to shoot well for Kentucky 73 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:22.719 to win big games, and that just didn't happen. 74 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:25.520 I will take you guys back. I'm gonna go old 75 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:28.280 guy on you. I will take you back to nineteen 76 00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:34.199 seventy five. All right, that's the first time I ever 77 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:37.400 went on the road and watch Kentucky play. It was 78 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:40.680 at Alabama. I don't remember why I went, but that 79 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:42.159 was a team that ended up in the final for 80 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:45.360 Jimmie an Connor and Kevin Greevy and those guys, and 81 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:48.439 I remember, for whatever reason it stood at Alabama had 82 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:49.080 way they called. 83 00:03:48.919 --> 00:03:53.479 A tartan surface. Familiar with that. It's like a hard rubber. 84 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:56.919 And there were there were schools Florida had won, Tennessee 85 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:59.479 had when I think, and it was the kind of 86 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:01.919 thing where took less maintenance so you could share the 87 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:04.599 floor with you know, the women's team and volleyball and 88 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:07.639 this and that. But the one thing I remember the 89 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:11.400 most was was a packed house because Kentucky's in town 90 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:15.680 and here came the Wildcats. And I had covered nothing 91 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:18.879 but home games up until that point. And they're wearing blue, 92 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:22.079 and I'd seen them on TV wearing blue, but it's 93 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.720 not the same. And I remember when they first came out, 94 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:27.920 I'm like, WHOA, that's different. You know, they're in blue uniforms. 95 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:33.199 And the booze rained down like you wouldn't believe, and honestly, 96 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:36.720 I couldn't stop laughing. And I was standing next to him, 97 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:39.120 an NBA scout. He's looking at me. I said, I'm sorry, man, 98 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:42.759 I've just never heard this. I mean, they were just brutal, 99 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:45.160 you know boo and of course these guys are used 100 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:48.959 to it. But yeah, I love that comment from Car. 101 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:52.439 Nothing like being on the road when you're from Kentucky. 102 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:55.600 But to your point, Aaron about Robinson and what a 103 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:58.279 great sound by Mark Pope kind of remember you know 104 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:02.120 you were, I'm sure you saw this kind of hesitated 105 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:04.399 for a second, then he decided to share yep. 106 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:07.920 And I thought that was poignant. I thought that was. 107 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:10.800 Really an interesting and we were all ready to bury him, 108 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:14.680 right Jackson Robbinson. Where's the Jackson Robinson we'd all heard 109 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:16.040 about and here he is. 110 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:20.480 Yeah, absolutely, and now it'll be the next up is consistency, Like, 111 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:23.199 let's make sure it wasn't a flash in the pan. 112 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:25.959 But if he's truly unlocked like that, that's dangerous. Well, 113 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:29.480 you know, A and M is gonna lock down locked. 114 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:32.199 He was A and M the first year, so that 115 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:36.800 they know him as good as anyone, you know, Kobe 116 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:40.879 Bray maybe open. Yeah. That's been the great thing about 117 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:44.600 this team is in their big wins. I think almost 118 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:46.279 every single one of them, they've had a guy just 119 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:49.000 kind of not show up and someone else has picked 120 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:51.839 them up. Obviously, go back to the Duke game, Jackson 121 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:55.519 Robinson scored one point and you know Away and Cower 122 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:57.279 kind of carried them. But you know who quietly had 123 00:05:57.319 --> 00:05:59.800 six points in a big three late kerk Resa did 124 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:04.040 in this game, Ansley Almanor. Ansley Almanor, I was looking 125 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:07.360 at it today. In the last eight games before this 126 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:10.160 one on Saturday against State was five for twenty one 127 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.759 from the field and three for sixteen from three, so 128 00:06:12.839 --> 00:06:16.040 basically a non factor. He scores eleven points and they're 129 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:18.720 all I think at least nine of them were to 130 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:21.240 that eleven to two run that won the game. Like 131 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:24.199 if that's the beauty of this team, where yes, they 132 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:26.519 might lack that guy who's going to always be able 133 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:28.279 to get you a bucket, but they have different guys 134 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:29.399 who step up in the clutch. 135 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:32.160 Ansley was funny in that game. He was making faces. 136 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:35.600 He was reading that newspaper afterwards that was saying, you know, 137 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:40.040 Kentucky's dead or whatever it was. It was Kentucky, Kentucky. Yeah, 138 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:42.680 and Mark Pope, you know, kind of alluding to that 139 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:46.319 tonight talking about, you know, when Ansley's an accountant or 140 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.480 when he's in a different career many years from now, 141 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:51.240 he'll still think of a night like that night where 142 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:54.000 he hit three threes and was, you know, instrumental in 143 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:56.639 a Kentucky being a good team on the road, an 144 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:00.319 emphasis on good, especially defensively. Mississippi State, it's going to 145 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:01.800 be one of those teams. I think that that could 146 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:05.279 make some noise in the NCAA tournament. Josh Hubbard was 147 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:09.600 somebody that Lamont Butler really had down in clamps. I mean, 148 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.680 Josh Hubbard scored thirty four last year against Kentucky and 149 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:15.279 Butler just kind of put a different type of defense 150 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:19.639 on him. So encouraging, really encouraging, because I think you 151 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:21.199 looked at the last week and you said, let's go 152 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:24.199 one in one, right, and maybe it was flip flop 153 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:25.680 the games that you expected to. 154 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:30.000 Win, and they did it. They've done that twice this year, 155 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.240 and that's a good sign that they're bouncing back. Remember 156 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:34.720 they they had the Clemson Gonzaga week. Everyone's like, all right, 157 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:38.439 go beat Clemson and then Gonzaga. Then you saw the 158 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:40.160 mont Butler's gonna be out and you're like, oh boy, 159 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:42.839 but they somehow won that game too. They've been resilient. 160 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:45.720 They have not had back to back losses yet this year. 161 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:49.600 No. Yeah, it's interesting and there's so many layers to 162 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:54.199 this team, you know, and they were hot. But to me, 163 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:58.920 what was really entertaining as well was the postgame kind 164 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:02.360 of I told you so SoundBite from Pope about Almanor, 165 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:05.959 and I got to admit. He said it on media day. 166 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:08.720 He said it when he signed the kid. He said, 167 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:11.639 this guy is going to help us win games, mark 168 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:14.839 my words, even when he was struggling. But he also 169 00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:17.560 said Brandon Garrison's gonna hit freeze, which he has but 170 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:20.680 to a greater extent though. This is why he brought 171 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:26.279 Almanor to Kentucky, and Almanor knew he would sit behind 172 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:31.279 Andrew Carr. So imagine going in knowing that while Carr 173 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:35.600 gives you defense and scores in the low post and passes, 174 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.639 well all that stuff, you're there to do one job 175 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:42.759 if you're anti Almanor, and that's beat the defense from 176 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:43.519 the outside. 177 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.559 Yeah, it's that's just what makes this era of Kentucky 178 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:50.960 basketball different. Basically, every guy Canuck and this is not 179 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:53.120 a shot at all, It's just how it was. But 180 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:55.960 whenever Cal signed a player was like, Okay, where's this 181 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:58.279 guy going to go in the draft? It was always 182 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.919 a guy that had draft potential this team. Let's face it, 183 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:04.399 there may be a guy who gets drafted or get 184 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:06.639 signs the ud f A. There might not be an 185 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:08.879 NBA player on this team. I think there's I think 186 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:11.799 it could happen, but there's there's a chance none of 187 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:14.679 these guys get drafted. There's a lot fiftier seniors. The 188 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:18.159 NBA doesn't love that. It just might not happen. But 189 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:20.559 that doesn't mean they can't win a bunch and maybe 190 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:23.120 win the whole thing at the end. It's just, uh, 191 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:24.799 they have a lot of different role players. And to 192 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:28.159 Billy's point, like that's why a game like Ansley had, 193 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:30.759 he might he's probably never gonna play in the NBA, 194 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:33.720 but he's gonna go back and when he's in his future, 195 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:38.200 yeah maybe, and he'll go brag about that. So it's 196 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:40.320 really it's it's a kind of refreshing to see these 197 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:44.960 guys where they are busting their tails. They know, maybe 198 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:46.919 the NBA is in my future, maybe it's not. So 199 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:49.000 I'm gonna go laid on the line in college ball. 200 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:53.679 Not just it's not just a pit stop exactly, and 201 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:56.279 that it's refreshing. It works here for a while and 202 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:57.039 then it got still. 203 00:09:57.480 --> 00:09:59.799 Yeah, And here's the thing that I try to remind 204 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:03.159 people as well. There are guys who treated this as 205 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:06.679 a pit stop. But that didn't always mean that they're 206 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:08.399 one foot out the door. And I'm bringing up I 207 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:11.679 always bring up and I'm sure you guys have seen it, 208 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:14.879 the video of Aaron Fox and bam Adebayo. 209 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:19.919 After that North Carolina lost sobbing like little children, I mean, 210 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:22.600 balling their eyes out. No, you get that, you know 211 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:25.840 you've got the Archie good ones who told somebody in August, 212 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:27.559 I just want to pay and get kayd and get 213 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:29.320 out of here. I can tell you for a fact 214 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:31.559 there was not Reed Shepherd, but there was a certain 215 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:33.720 guy on last year's team in that locker room after 216 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:36.399 Oakland who you could tell he was like, well off 217 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:38.840 to the league. Yeah, there was no worry in the world. 218 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:39.759 Yeah, exactly. 219 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:41.480 Well, Shade and sharp situation too. 220 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:45.600 Yeah, it's not one shot that Cal. Look Cal's team 221 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.240 right now, they're owing three in the league. They probably 222 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:49.360 have three draft picks in this next YEARND. It just 223 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:51.559 it doesn't result in winning necessarily anymore. 224 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:55.000 And Kentucky fans are having a great time, you know, 225 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:59.720 sort of commiserating with Arkansas fans. Who I mean, it's 226 00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:02.960 not all of them who have already turned on them. 227 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:06.480 Although one of the one of the national heads, uh 228 00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:09.759 no Bleacher Report I had had a story out there 229 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:10.399 saying he's. 230 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:11.480 The biggest fraud. 231 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:16.480 In college basketball, Marstool, and then the Alabama or Alabama 232 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:20.279 Arkansas fans lined up to defend him, and they weren't wrong. 233 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:21.879 Hey, we've lost four. 234 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:25.039 Games to nationally ranked teams and the guy had to 235 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:27.600 rebuild from the ground up. And now I know he 236 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:32.159 didn't need me to carry his water, but you know, 237 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:35.399 you could you could argue that he had more talent 238 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.559 than Mark Pope, but more talent, but well, but he's 239 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:42.039 got raw talent what Mark But exactly what Mark Pope 240 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:45.840 has is guys who were much like not the same 241 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:49.519 skill sets, but like Rick Pattino inherited when he got here, 242 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.559 the unforgettables, the guys who were in those rafters. Only 243 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:55.679 Sean Woods was a highly talented player. Sean Woods was 244 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:58.320 four or five star point guard, could have gone anywhere. 245 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.200 Pelfrey felt out. They were recruited. 246 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:05.080 They turned down Vandy, Richie, turned down Louisville and LSU, 247 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:08.159 but they weren't people weren't lining up at their door. 248 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.000 But what he had were guys who knew how to 249 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:13.559 play basketball. That's what's going on now. 250 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:16.799 Exactly whereas Arkansas's guys, And again a lot of it's 251 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:20.320 Caliperry's offense of you know, get to the rim and 252 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:23.759 if you miss our guys, we'll get the rebuid. You know, uh, 253 00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:29.279 maybe maybe maybe not, but it's still raw talent and 254 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:32.000 he is what did he say it'd always take the 255 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:34.000 talent over experience. 256 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:36.759 The thing that makes a little different though this year 257 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:39.039 at Arkansas is they signed two of the top ten 258 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.080 players in the portal who are both fit their seniors, 259 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:44.759 Janel Davis from FAU Jonahs Adu from Tennessee, right, and 260 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:46.960 they both I mean, Adu has had a good game 261 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.360 against Florida, so got him credit there, but he's having 262 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:52.000 one of the worst years of his career. Janelle Davis, 263 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:55.559 who was he led FAU to the final four two 264 00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:57.840 years ago and last year was shooting forty one percent 265 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:01.919 from three, is having his worst season by a mile. Yeah, 266 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.480 he's that's the guy. If you go on Arkansas Twitter, 267 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:06.120 they're not even met at CaAl. They're met at him 268 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.879 because they were booing him when he was going to 269 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:11.399 check in because he's getting paid at time. Wow, and 270 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.399 he's not performing. So that's the one thing that's a 271 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.639 little odd. Oh why are guys going to play for 272 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:19.679 cal like and obviously he's had some great transfer Antonio 273 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:23.360 Reeves got way better here. Oh yeah, but why are 274 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:26.039 these guys who were stars at their last stop, including 275 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:28.519 one who played for his buddy Rick Barnes, going in 276 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:29.720 regressive you know else? 277 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.960 He has, and I wish it'd stayed here, But I 278 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:34.799 can understand because he doesn't seem like the kind of 279 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:37.879 there that do Thierra. 280 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:41.799 Oh dude, yeah, I think there's a time he looks incredible. Yes, 281 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:44.559 he that's a guy. I think that'll be interesting if 282 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:45.279 he were to Portal. 283 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:47.879 Well, it was weird because he left before Cal left, 284 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:50.360 so I don't know if that was the intention at first. 285 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:53.279 You know, here's here's the thing with Arkansas. They didn't 286 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:56.320 have the John Wall DeMarcus Cousins years, or a national 287 00:13:56.399 --> 00:14:00.200 title or twenty fifteen to buffer to put up with 288 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:02.960 the I don't even know who we're playing next exact, 289 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.399 or the all the guys just didn't show up for 290 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.639 the shoot around, so we didn't have one like we 291 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:11.480 were used to the hits. But it came after the success. 292 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:15.120 Arkansas is getting it and he's hasn't done anything, and 293 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:17.720 three in conference and he's like, deal with it, we're 294 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:20.519 all going through it. You know, we're built from Mark, 295 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:22.080 We'll see you later, and he ends. 296 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:24.200 The problem is that the season end today, they wouldn't 297 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:24.559 even be. 298 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:28.600 In March, and he's not accountable in that oftentimes, and 299 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.120 that he doesn't show up again. 300 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:32.240 He hasn't done pregame all year exactly. 301 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:34.440 So all right, we'll take a break, come back and 302 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:36.799 talk more Kentucky basketball. A little bit later on, we'll 303 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:39.080 switch you over to football as well, talk a little 304 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:41.399 bit more about some of the new faces who have 305 00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:46.960 joined Mark Stoop's team, and we will touch base as well. 306 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:49.200 Now we are all officially done in terms of our 307 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:52.720 rooting interest with the NFL. But games are the games 308 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.440 go on without us. Back in a minute on a 309 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.759 state wide BBI from. 310 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.679 Pikeville to Paduca. 311 00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:59.960 It is a statewide edition of the Big Blue Cider. 312 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:05.200 Dick Gabriel, Billy Rutledge, Aaron Gershan Wildcats in action tomorrow. 313 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:07.840 And you know, looking. 314 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:10.200 Back, we're talking about that win obviously Misissippi date one 315 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:13.879 of you alluded to the Georgia loss. Georgia followed that 316 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:17.759 up with another good win ranked now, yeah, and you know, 317 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:20.480 obviously they were one of the SEC teams we all 318 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:23.320 talked about. Well, we all knew that once conference play 319 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:26.679 began things would level out. But two or three teams 320 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:29.840 are winless now in the league, including Arkansas. 321 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:33.360 I think LSU's winning USU Oklahoma in South Carolina. 322 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:37.120 Yeah, but maybe we shouldn't be surprised by that, but 323 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:41.000 the bottom line is it's a shame that it will 324 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:45.240 hurt some of these teams when it comes to their ratings, 325 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:48.279 their rankings or opportunities. Now, you know, there could be nine, 326 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:52.440 ten to eleven teams in the NCA Tournament, well if 327 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:55.720 the committee members pay attention all year. But if some 328 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:59.159 of these teams are sub five hundred in the SEC, 329 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:02.440 which is entirely possible, you know, maybe they don't get 330 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:06.600 did the NCA Tournament when they should when they deserve it, right. 331 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:11.600 But other than I don't know, maybe Auburn or I 332 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:14.080 don't know who else could have like a top heavy record. 333 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.919 Yeah, I was just trying to put in perspective this 334 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:19.559 SEC and the even mentioned opportunities. I was trying to 335 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:22.440 find it. But I'm pretty sure Kentucky only has like 336 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:25.200 three quad two games left in a quad three and 337 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:28.120 that's everything else is squad one, Like I know for now, 338 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:30.960 South Carolina is a quad three, Arkansas is a Quad two, 339 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:33.799 and Vandy at home is a Quad two. I'm pretty 340 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:37.120 sure every single other game on their schedule is quad one. 341 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.080 And this week alone, you play the number eleven ranked 342 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.840 team in the country. We're about to get an injury 343 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:44.720 report here. By the way, Wade Taylor, the tremendous guards 344 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:46.279 who's been at A and M forever, has been out 345 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:48.200 the last two games. So that is something to watch. 346 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:51.519 I'll pull it up in a second. And then like 347 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:54.000 one of those football players is in his eighth year. Yeah, 348 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:57.240 it feels like it. And then Alabama, number four in 349 00:16:57.279 --> 00:17:00.480 the country, rolling in. It's just this league is crazy 350 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.360 and a lot. 351 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:04.279 Of some of those quad wills won't remain no quad ones. 352 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:06.240 But still all on the road. They've sure, Mike, because 353 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:07.599 I don't think a lot of those teams are dropping 354 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.880 blow seventy five, that's true. 355 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:15.839 Yeah, you know, Tennessee, Auburn, Kentucky. I think you put Florida, 356 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:19.720 Florida into that now, they're awesome. I mean it is 357 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:23.119 going to be a really fun SEC tournament. Yes, I 358 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:25.720 mean you could have some really good teams playing on 359 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.519 that first day. 360 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:29.559 Wade Tailor is out tomorrow. Really, he is out tomorrow, 361 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:32.880 So Kentucky will play them without their best. Somebody else 362 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.359 get the minutes and go to nuclear. 363 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:40.880 Speaking of Florida, what in the world got into the 364 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.759 Gators with. 365 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:46.119 Tennessee Tennessee had like fifteen and a halftime of that game, 366 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:49.559 it was they couldn't make a three. I mean it was. 367 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:51.200 It was an ugly It was like one of twenty 368 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:54.559 one at one point of something like that. That was 369 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:57.519 an embarrassing performance, there's no doubt about it. But also 370 00:17:57.640 --> 00:18:00.640 goes to show you that win versus Florida is maybe 371 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.359 something that holds up for the rest of the year. 372 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:04.319 And like I said, I'm not ashamed to say it. 373 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:08.400 They were fortunate gaters didn't hit their free throws. But 374 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:11.319 to win games like that, you got to hit your shots, 375 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:14.799 and Kentucky did. I looked at who was I sitting 376 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:17.319 next I can't remember who I sitting next to. But 377 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:22.480 in that Florida game, nine minutes to play, Kentucky had 378 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:26.839 eighty points. Eighty points. That tells you how first of all, 379 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:30.319 tough points were to come by down the stretch. But still, 380 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:34.480 you know, you had two or three spurts where both 381 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:38.079 teams are throwing in shots. People are still talking about 382 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:42.039 that game, but it's the kind of game where they 383 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:46.200 may do it again, you know, And if Kentucky keeps 384 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.960 scoring the way it is, that means the other team 385 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:51.119 gets more possessions, so they may end up. 386 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:53.559 Watch for that Saturday. I think tomorrow A and M 387 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:54.960 is going to try to slow the heck out of 388 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:58.039 the game. That's how they play, yeah, hopefully right, and 389 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:00.720 they're the number one offensive rebounding team the country. They're 390 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:03.519 gonna try to tip out and use twenty seconds. But 391 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:06.880 Alabama is number two in the country and ken Palm 392 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:10.319 adjusted tempo, they play at a lightning quick speed. That 393 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.960 is a game that's gonna be a lot like the 394 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.640 Florida game. You're you're gonna see both teams nearer above 395 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:15.480 one hundred in that one. 396 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:18.880 It's gonna be interesting. And I doubted Pope tips his hand. 397 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:21.319 But if your mark, Pope, do you try to match 398 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:24.279 that or do you try to maybe drop it down 399 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:24.720 a gear? 400 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:26.880 I don't know. Kentucky at their best is when they're 401 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:29.240