WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:02.960 Oh, oh, guess what day it is? 2 00:00:03.560 --> 00:00:05.200 Guess what day it is? 3 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:12.560 H anybody, It's hump Day. 4 00:00:12.119 --> 00:00:13.640 Yes, it is hump Day. 5 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:15.640 Dick Gabriel with you on a Wednesday edition of The 6 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:18.000 Big Blue Insider. Thank you so much for joining us. 7 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:20.960 And as we reach the midweek, there's all kinds of 8 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:24.800 stuff to talk about, because of course, the portal never 9 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:25.960 never fails. 10 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:28.280 It always gives us something to talk about, doesn't it. 11 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:31.320 And last night, late last night at the portal closed 12 00:00:31.320 --> 00:00:36.200 at midnight, and last night or sometime late yesterday, Travis 13 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:39.520 Perry puts his name in the portal. Doesn't necessarily mean 14 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:42.719 he's leaving, but for all practical purposes, if he wants 15 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:46.640 to play, you know, appreciable minutes this coming year, then 16 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:49.520 he'll find somewhere else to play. So we got that 17 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:53.719 to talk about. The Wildcats lose one in terms of 18 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:55.920 football to Vanderbilt. 19 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:57.200 We'll talk about that as well. 20 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:02.079 Arkansas apparently is losing a quarterback or maybe not. 21 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:03.119 They're gonna fight it. 22 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:07.200 That story popped up yesterday as well, and Lane Kiffin 23 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:11.519 takes a cheap shot at Carson Beck. Lots and lots 24 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:15.480 of portal news, which kind of shoves the Kentucky baseball 25 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:17.120 win over Louisville last night. 26 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:19.239 To our second segment. 27 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:23.079 It was a really, really unexpected kind of game after 28 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:26.000 those two teams played and again it was bitterly cold. 29 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:29.000 Two weeks ago over in Louisville played a heck of 30 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:31.519 a ball game. It went ten innings and Louisville won 31 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:33.519 at four to three. Kentucky scored a run on the 32 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:36.959 top of the ten, Louisville put up two and came 33 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:39.560 away with the walk off win. Well, last night, Kentucky 34 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:43.519 jumped on the Cardinals early and just kept piling up runs. 35 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:46.359 I got to tell you, with all due respect because 36 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:49.200 Dan McDonald knows what he's doing the head coach at Louisville, 37 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:51.799 especially when it comes to pitching, but that was the 38 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:55.200 worst pitching I've ever seen from a Louisville ball club 39 00:01:55.400 --> 00:01:56.480 in that game. 40 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.840 And I've seen just about all of them through the years. 41 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:01.840 They and we knew going in. 42 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:04.760 We were told by somebody who covered the team that man, 43 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:07.480 these kids can hit, they can score runs, but they've 44 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:09.759 got some real issues when it comes to pitching. They're 45 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:14.759 still in the running in the ACC, but they've got problems, 46 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:18.719 especially midweek. So Kentucky took full advantage. We'll talk about 47 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:21.039 that coming up. We'll also talk about that with Aaron 48 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:23.919 Gershan of the Cat's Pauls, who was covering the game 49 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:26.919 last night. But we need to talk about, of course, 50 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:29.520 Travis Perry jumping into the portal. We'll talk with Aaron 51 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:33.439 about that. Perry, it's a bit of a surprise because 52 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:36.960 by all accounts he was coming back. Most of us 53 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:39.800 thought he was coming back, and he had not indicated 54 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:43.240 any interest in entering the portal. In fact, people talk 55 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:46.840 to him right after the NCA tournament was over, but 56 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:50.960 he jumped in just ahead of Tuesday's deadline eleven fifty 57 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:57.439 eleven fifty nine pm last night. Second scholarship player to 58 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:00.719 hit the portal, as you know, kerk Crisa was the other, 59 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:03.759 and then the two walk Ons, Grant Derbyshire and Walker 60 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:07.879 Horn also in the portal. So now Kentucky with twelve 61 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:11.719 Skalie players for next year. Waiting to hear from Otega Olway, 62 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:16.039 who's going through the NBA draft process, he'll make his decision. 63 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:19.919 He has to by June fifteenth in order to withdraw 64 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:24.439 in order to maintain his eligibility. Perry played in thirty 65 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:28.000 one game, started four as a freshman. Of course, Lamont 66 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:32.560 Butler's injury gave him more opportunity to play. Averaged two 67 00:03:32.599 --> 00:03:36.039 point seven points, only hit thirty one point three percent 68 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:40.159 from the floor thirty two percent from three point range. 69 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:44.439 Had his best games, ironically enough, in losses to Alabama. 70 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:49.639 He scored twelve points at four steals in a loss 71 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:53.599 at Alabama February twenty second, played really well, and then 72 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:56.840 in the loss to the Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament, 73 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:00.919 the blowout, he scored eleven points. Perry hit at least 74 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:04.960 one triple in thirteen of UK's final twenty one games. 75 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:09.919 But of course Mark Pope and staff bring in Jalon Lowe, 76 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:14.400 the kid from Pittsburgh. Denzel Aberdeen comes in. Maybe that 77 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:18.040 was the last straw. Who knows you knew Jasper Johnson 78 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:22.560 was coming. He's a combo guard. Travis Perry is considered 79 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:26.160 a point guard, and that's primarily what he played for Kentucky. 80 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:28.639 I never really thought of him as a point guard 81 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:31.319 simply because and I know that's the position he played 82 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:35.040 and that was his assignment for Kentucky. But watching him 83 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:37.759 in the sweet sixteen, of course as the guy who 84 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:42.040 broke King Kelly Coleman's record. He was the facilitator as 85 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:45.399 well as the scorer for Lion County. 86 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.279 He handled the ball a lot and he looked to. 87 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:52.040 Get his teammates involved, but they needed him to score 88 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:55.040 and he did. That's why he was the most viable 89 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:58.120 player in the Sweet sixteen, leading the Lions to their 90 00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:01.160 first and only state champion and ship a couple of 91 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:05.439 years back, five thy four hundred and eighty one points. 92 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:09.360 Also the career leader in field goals made with nineteen 93 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:13.199 hundred and eighteen free throws nine hundred and thirty three. 94 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:17.000 He holds the record for mad three pointers seven hundred 95 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:22.240 and twelve and steals at six hundred and fifty and 96 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:25.759 coming out two four seven Sports rated him the number 97 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:29.959 eighty eight overall prospect in the country in the twenty 98 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:34.600 twenty four class and the number seven point guard. But again, 99 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:37.439 I never really thought of him as a point guard, 100 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:41.120 although given his size, that's essentially what he probably needed 101 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:44.519 to play in college, and he wasn't going to be 102 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:49.279 needed to score that much for Kentucky. Now where's he 103 00:05:49.319 --> 00:05:52.040 gonna end up? Well, who else recruited him? Western Kentucky, 104 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:56.279 Ole Miss Cincinnati. You know, can he play in those 105 00:05:56.279 --> 00:06:00.079 places depends on who they have, who's coming through the 106 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:01.199 portal to them. 107 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:06.120 Who's leaving through the portal. So kind of a surprise 108 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:07.000 to the Big Moon Nation. 109 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:10.800 I think people are a little disappointed, but surprised only 110 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:14.399 by the timing. If you looked at the roster, you 111 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:16.800 had to wonder when and if this kid's ever going 112 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:19.879 to get a chance to play. That's just the nature 113 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:23.800 of the portal right now. So best of luck to 114 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:31.759 Travis Perry. Wildcat football program missed out Jalen Sloan, who 115 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:38.680 visited UK, chose Vanderbilt. He's a Southeast Missouri defensive lineman 116 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:42.839 and it, from what I understand, look good for the 117 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:45.240 Wildcats until the lake going. 118 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.560 And he's going to Vandy. 119 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:54.160 He tweeted an image of himself in Vandy Cullers and 120 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:57.720 all I said is committed six two, two eighty eight 121 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:03.120 three star recruits from a Georgia played thirteen games over 122 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:07.360 the last couple of years with Southeast Missouri and didn't 123 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:13.959 have great numbers, but he is the second lineman to 124 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:17.959 choose Vanderbilt. Vandy's getting done in the portal. Apparently, Clinton 125 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:20.920 as a bookie or might he might pronounce it as 126 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:24.360 a week A is an old lineman from northern Arizona, 127 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:28.920 the Lumberjacks, and he announced he was going to Vandy. 128 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.879 That was not a kid that Kentucky was looking at, 129 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:36.079 but Jalen Sloan was somebody the Wildcats coveted, but instead 130 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:40.040 going to Vanderbilt. Hey, you win some into portal and 131 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:44.480 you lose some. To me, the biggest portal story today, 132 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:49.480 well there's two of them. Number one, Lane Kiffin sniping 133 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:51.040 at Carson Beck. 134 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:53.680 I mean it's Lane being Lane, right. 135 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:58.120 Carson Beck transfers to Miami, hurt his arm in the 136 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:03.839 championship game and has to go and get his arm repaired. 137 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:09.079 He rehabs, and then he jumps into portal and signs 138 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:14.000 with Miami after his season ended in the SEC title game. 139 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:19.560 But apparently he has rehabilitated well enough for him to 140 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:23.120 be handed an NIL deal worth more than four million. 141 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:30.199 Lane Kiffin was on a podcast called The Pivot with 142 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:35.559 some former NFL players Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor, 143 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:39.480 and one of the hosts brought up the fact that 144 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:41.960 college kids are making an insane amount of money. 145 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:44.720 Right now compared to what the NFL guys make. 146 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:47.960 So, like you bring up the comparison to what they're doing, 147 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.799 they're really getting NFL much. It's crazy, coach that you 148 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.360 bring up the NFL structure with college now, because they're 149 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:57.399 in the contract, they're making money. They're making millions a dollar. 150 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:01.039 I think down in Miami, what's a Carson Beck four 151 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:04.720 point three four points value union? He I think my 152 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:08.879 biggest year was six. He's a college kid. So, like 153 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:11.679 you bring up the comparison to what they're doing, they're 154 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:13.320 really getting NFL money. 155 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.320 Mimi even four point three million dollars, that's what the 156 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:20.279 evaluation says. Hey, did they watch this game against Oh, 157 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:24.960 don't have to be great, Jane trying. 158 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:25.200 Not to go. 159 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:31.480 That's Lane Kiffin appearing on the podcast The Pivot, and 160 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:34.200 you could probably maybe hear him in the background saying, oh, 161 00:09:34.200 --> 00:09:35.519 you set me up or something like that. 162 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:36.720 But he was still laughing about it. 163 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:37.720 Uh. 164 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:42.240 To his point, Beck did not play well against Ole Miss. 165 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:43.840 Which beat Georgia last year. 166 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.639 Beck was twenty for thirty one for one hundred and 167 00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:53.320 eighty six yards and one interception. Now, Carson Beck played 168 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:56.879 well in the second half against Kentucky, but it was 169 00:09:56.919 --> 00:10:02.279 interesting how Kentucky stayed close to the Bulldogs until halftime, 170 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:06.279 when it was apparent that the Georgia brain trust got 171 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:08.480 together her and said, look, we need Carson Beck to 172 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:11.000 win this game for us. And he ended up having 173 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:14.960 a really good second half and the Bulldogs pulled away. 174 00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:16.279 But for the. 175 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:18.759 Season, Beck threw for more than thirty four or nearly 176 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:23.879 thirty five hundred yards, twenty eight touchdowns, twelve picks, sixty 177 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:29.360 four point seven percent pass completion rate. But evidently Lane 178 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:32.919 Kiffin isn't all that impressed with him. He did say, 179 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:34.840 I don't get mad at the kids. It's not their fault. 180 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:38.120 The system is they can go get it. It's free 181 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:42.840 market with no cap and in some areas unlimited boosters. 182 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:48.679 Apparently Beck's deal is only second to arch Manning's in value. 183 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:53.080 Apparently arch Manning, who is now I guess the starting 184 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:58.720 quarterback of Texas six point six million. The other story 185 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:04.240 is what's happening at Arkans. The Razorbacks apparently lose a quarterback, 186 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:10.000 Madden Iamaieva, the brother of Nico. He is in the 187 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:14.679 portal and heading apparently for Southern cal I'm sorry for 188 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:18.759 Ucla to play with his brother, but Hunter Yurachek, the 189 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:24.440 guy the ad who hired John Calipari, has stepped in and, 190 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:29.639 as one reporter put it, rattled his saber. He has said, 191 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:32.519 I've spoken with the leadership at Arkansas EDGE that's a 192 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:37.320 collective at Arkansas, and expressed my support in their pursuit 193 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:42.600 to enforce their rights under any agreement violated by our 194 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:46.960 student athletes. Moving forward, we appreciate EDGE his investment in 195 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:51.039 our student athletes and acknowledge the enforcement of these agreements 196 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:56.799 is vital in our new world of college athletics. In 197 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:59.519 other words, you can't take the money and run, or 198 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.879 at least if you do, there are going to be 199 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:06.879 consequences because it says here a lot of kids have 200 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:08.440 ignored buyout language. 201 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:13.799 And now this may be tested legally. I won't say 202 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:16.399 in court, but legally. 203 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:20.960 So these are going to be really interesting times when 204 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:23.320 it comes to nil contracts. 205 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:25.360 How legal are they? Not? 206 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:29.000 Long after Nico transferred to UCLA, Madden told the coaches 207 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:31.919 he's homesick, wants to go back to southern California. 208 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:34.720 But the rub is. 209 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:38.879 He never played a game for the Razorbacks. He had 210 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:42.600 originally committed to UCLA flipped to Arkansas agreed to a 211 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:47.960 one year deal with Arkansas Edge, and now he wants 212 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:51.320 to go to UCLA, which originally, as we said, had 213 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.840 signed him, or at least he committed to UCLA. 214 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.200 This is going to be interesting, all right. 215 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:58.720 When we come back with talk Kentucky baseball a little 216 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:00.879 bit later on, Aaron Gershon of the cats Balls will 217 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.759 chat with us, as will Shawn was the unforgettable Guard 218 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.080 and our Weston Bureau chief Gary Moore here on six 219 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:10.039 thirty WLAP. Welcome back to the Big Blue Cider. Coming 220 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:12.000 up at the bottom of the hour. Aaron Gershan of 221 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:15.200 the cats Balls. We'll talk about the Travis Perry decision 222 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:18.279 to end of the portal and some doings with UK 223 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:20.399 football as it relates. 224 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:20.559 To the portal. 225 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:24.159 Plus he covered Kentucky baseball last night. Our number two 226 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:27.120 Weston Bureau chief, Gary Moore, will join us. 227 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:28.320 Also Sean Woods. 228 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:30.360 We talked to Sean every Wednesday, but this will be 229 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:34.399 our first conversation since he was named the head basketball 230 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:38.919 coach at Scott County High School. So Scott County, which 231 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:41.960 went six and twenty one last year, making the change, 232 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:45.360 and we're going to see if Seawn can work kind 233 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:48.279 of the same magic that he worked at Mississippi Valley State, 234 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:52.320 a team that he coached to a conference and conference 235 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:57.039 tournament championship into the NCAA Tournament. When Shawn began to 236 00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:59.679 really make a name for himself, you might recall he 237 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:02.639 was an morehead state. Things were going well and then 238 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:05.720 there was some sort of misunderstanding with one of his 239 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:09.639 players who made an accusation about Sean. Long story short, 240 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:12.879 it was a big misunderstanding, and as it was explained 241 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:16.159 to me, this was a young man who was prone 242 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:18.919 to get down on himself, and after a mistake prior 243 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:22.120 to halftime, he was hanging his head in the locker 244 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:24.639 room and Sean kind of popped him on the shoulder 245 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.919 and said, hey, man, get your head up, We're good. 246 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.159 And later on the. 247 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:31.600 Kids said to his father, hey, the coach hit me, 248 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:33.720 and the dad made a huge deal out of it, 249 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.080 and then the young man wanted to recant and just 250 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:39.159 make it all go away, but it was too late. 251 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.919 By then the school had made a bigger deal out 252 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:43.919 of it. Frankly, as I understand it. 253 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:47.840 Then it should have. So since then, Shawn's been looking 254 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:48.559 for a new gig. 255 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:51.320 He's been doing this and that, but wanted to get 256 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:55.600 back into coaching and was coaching right along. When he 257 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:59.639 was on TV with Glacott dot Com the teams in 258 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:02.440 the eleven region and had a chance to chat with 259 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:05.879 him about high school basketball leading up to the Sweet sixteen, 260 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:09.679 and at one point he indicated that he was maybe 261 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:12.360 interested in coaching at the high school level because he 262 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:14.919 got excited about it again. So we'll talk to him 263 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:18.000 about all of that coming up in our number two 264 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:22.159 baseball Wildcats last night got their revenge and then some. 265 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:25.080 They lost to Louisville four to three and ten innings 266 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:28.519 two weeks ago. Last night it was seventeen to five. 267 00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:33.200 The big blow that opened the gates. Patrick Herrera crushed the. 268 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:34.919 Ball to center field. 269 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:38.840 And I had just been talking to Doug Flynn, my 270 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:42.480 broadcast partner on SEC plus, about the sun, and Doug 271 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:46.279 always brings that up as a Gold Glove winner, how 272 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:49.679 difficult the sun can be both on hitters and defenders. 273 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:52.840 And we could see with the shadows covering the infield, 274 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:56.799 outfielders were still shading their eyes from the sun that 275 00:15:56.919 --> 00:16:00.559 was right behind the stadium and the Louisville the centerfielder 276 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:04.120 simply lost the ball in the sun never had a chance, 277 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:08.000 and that was a screamer that Herrera hit and it 278 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:10.480 rolled all the way to the wall. It bases loaded, 279 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:13.840 cleared the bases. Herrera ends up with a triple. He 280 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:18.000 later had a home run that was an unbelievable massive 281 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:22.639 shot that was about six to ten feet past to 282 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:25.200 the right of the fair file pole. So he had 283 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:28.080 a huge game. And we talked to Patrick after the 284 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.679 game on SEC Plus. 285 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:31.600 And when you squared up the ball they went for 286 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:33.600 a triple, you knew you had crushed it, right. 287 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:36.639 Yeah, Well, I hit it and I was like, dang, 288 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:38.600 I think I got all that. I don't know why 289 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:42.639 he's running in and you know at our field the 290 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:45.639 sun is right. Yeah, filled his eyes so kind of 291 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:47.919 lucked out, hit it hard, couldn't ask for anything more, 292 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:50.120 and then got by him. So he I was happy 293 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:52.600 with that swing and happy I could get the rbs 294 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:52.919 right there. 295 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:54.279 And you had to be happy with the swing on 296 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.639 the home run. Tell us about that. 297 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:58.240 Yeah, that one a little more so, probably than the triple. 298 00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:01.799 I don't mind that one at all. But yeah, got 299 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:04.680 a pitch in a good count and uh just got 300 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.599 my swing off. I told myself before I swung like if. 301 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.400 I miss miss early. 302 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:11.519 So that was that was a good swing, Patrick, over 303 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:13.440 the last week or so. You gotta like where your 304 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:15.559 team is right now. You guys are playing good ball. 305 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:18.960 The pitching has really come around, and every opportunity you 306 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:21.359 get to knock in some runs, you guys have been 307 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.799 stepping up getting some big hits. 308 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:27.400 Yeah, for sure, We've started a new thing where we 309 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:29.279 just want to hop on the quab train. You know, 310 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:32.279 we don't need a bunch of home runs or doubles. 311 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:34.160 We just want to get a bunch of quabs one 312 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:36.680 after another. So we found a way to do that 313 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:38.880 this past weekend tonight. So yeah, it's been good for us. 314 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.279 All right. 315 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:41.200 You eased up there at first base on that one 316 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.240 hit you okay. 317 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:44.200 Yeah, I'll be good, ready to go for the weekend. 318 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:46.519 Yeah, we figured that, We figured that, all right. 319 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:49.440 You played well in Northwestern You have been an important 320 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:51.880 part of Kentucky baseball. What's it like for you now 321 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:54.799 as a leader for this team. You got a lot 322 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.880 of new faces this year, helping the young. 323 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.519 Guys come along. 324 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.599 Yeah, for sure. You know I've I've lucked out over 325 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:03.200 the years. I've had guys like writer Childs who I 326 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:03.559 lived with. 327 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.640 He's now one of our coaches. 328 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:09.039 Grant Smith, Amelian Pedre, Mitch Dailey just like showing me 329 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:12.160 how you're supposed to go about your business. So I've 330 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:14.680 just learned from them and use that this year, and 331 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.240 I'm just really blessed to be in the position i 332 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.720 am this year. 333 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:19.960 For Hey, you got to be really proud though, buddy, 334 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:22.279 I'll tell you what you paid your dues. You worked 335 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:24.440 at it, you kept getting yourself better, and now it's 336 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.000 paying off. 337 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.000 Yeah, for sure, I'm glad the hard work's paying office here. 338 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:29.559 And you know, we've been playing well, so we just 339 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.279 got to keep it up. 340 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:33.519 That's Patrick Herrera and his last year with the program. 341 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:35.839 He transferred in from Northwestern. He was all Big ten, 342 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:40.000 but was a utility player last year infield or outfielder 343 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:42.440 for the team that went to Omar. He locked down 344 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:45.079 the third base job and except for some games where 345 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:46.240 he was the DH because he. 346 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:48.160 Was a little bit injured. He hit an arm injury. 347 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:51.799 He's back now excellent defender and had a great night 348 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:55.240 against Louisville last night. So the Wildcats heading into the 349 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:58.519 weekend with a series against the South Carolina game Cocks 350 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:01.680 who have been struggling this year. Big opportunity for the 351 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:04.880 Wildcats to rack up some more wins and get themselves 352 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:09.480 in a position for postseason, to take the decision making 353 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:12.200 away as much as they can from the committee members, 354 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:15.599 make sure they're locked in and rack up as many 355 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:18.400 victories now as they can. The schedule lets up just 356 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:21.680 slightly the Cats with a home series this weekend against 357 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.319 South Carolina. 358 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:24.559 You'll hear all those games right here, and you'll see 359 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.599 him on SEC Plus. 360 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.319 Up next, Aaron gershan of the Catch Balls here on 361 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:32.079 six point thirty WLAP Welcome back to. 362 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.880 The Big Blue Insider. 363 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:35.200 Joining us now as he does every week, is Aaron 364 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.599 Gershaan of the Catch Bass. 365 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:39.079 We try to give Aaron some time off. 366 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:41.079 He joins us on the State Wide show on Monday 367 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:45.319 through the seasons. But Aaron, there's too much going on man, Baseball, football, basketball. 368 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:50.039 Let us start with Travis Perry's announcement. Should we be 369 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:54.119 surprised by that, because by all accounts he was coming back. 370 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:56.799 Does this represent a change of mind for him? 371 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:58.559 Or did we just assume too much? 372 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.000 Yeah? 373 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:05.119 Probably, It's probably a combination of bolts. Honestly, I mean 374 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:08.799 the fact that came down to the eleventh hour quite literally, 375 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:12.599 with a portal closing at midnight last night. You're seeing 376 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:15.599 some you know, announcements today. That's just the paperwork being 377 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:21.160 filed and trickling in. But you know, clearly he put 378 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:24.880 as much thought as he possibly could into this decision. 379 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:27.319 And you know, I don't think we as the media 380 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:29.119 read too much into it because he was the only 381 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:33.240 guy after the Loston Tennessee that was asked if he 382 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:36.160 was coming back in point blank answered with yes. So 383 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:40.279 I mean, it's hard to not take a kid at 384 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.599 his word. But when you see what Kentucky did in 385 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:45.759 the transfer portal right this offseason, kind of loading up 386 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:49.119 at his position and clearly recruiting over him, and you 387 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:57.799 know they were at thirteen scholarship players, it just it 388 00:20:57.960 --> 00:21:01.039 just made sense for Travis, I think. And there just 389 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:04.039 wasn't the playing spot. I think Mark Polpe like to 390 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:07.720 play eleven guys. Probably the two odd men out with 391 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:10.000 the thirteen they originally had would have been I would 392 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:13.319 say Malachi right now and Travis Perry. So, uh, it's 393 00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:15.960 a frustrating thing. I'm sure for Travis this is probably 394 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:21.279 oh I know for a fact, this is Rome School. Yeah, 395 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:23.319 it made sense. 396 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.640 Wait a minute, now, you think that did. Malachi won't 397 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:28.000 get much run this coming. 398 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:32.440 Season, not as a true freshman. I just don't think. 399 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:36.480 So you have Jaq Clayton, you are, you have Jay 400 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:40.680 and Clayton's Jake Hughes his nickname. If he's that healthy. 401 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:43.799