WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:02.720 Welcome to the Big Blue and Cider. Dick Abriel with 2 00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:04.960 you on a Thursday edition of our show. We'll be 3 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:08.679 abbreviated not too terribly much though, because we have UK 4 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:11.359 women's basketball coming up, not at the top of the hour, 5 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:14.640 but at seven point thirty because the Wildcats are playing 6 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:19.000 over at Miszoo and Columbia. So Darren Hedrick's pregame comes 7 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:21.440 up at seven point fifteen, with tip off just a 8 00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:24.640 minute or two after seven thirty sec plus has it. 9 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:26.879 But of course we urge you to sing things up 10 00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:30.039 with our radio call with mister Darren Hedrick coming up 11 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:32.920 in just a few minutes. Of course, we're going to 12 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:36.560 talk tonight about Kentucky's win over Vanderbilt last night. That 13 00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:39.719 was a must win anytime you play at home, of 14 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:42.399 course you got to protect the home court, but especially 15 00:00:42.520 --> 00:00:56.640 now with postseason, with postseason coming up so quickly, both 16 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:58.840 the SEC if you've got to get that at least 17 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:03.439 one by one night by and Indian say, rack up 18 00:01:03.479 --> 00:01:06.760 as many wins as you can, but protect that home court. Yes, 19 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:10.599 tough for the Wildcats because as we all know, terrible 20 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:13.640 terrible injury problems in the back court and we may 21 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:16.799 not see any of these three by the end of 22 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:19.280 the year. I'm hoping we see Lamont Butler, of course, 23 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:23.079 sooner than later. You got to think Crisa would be 24 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:25.439 back by now. But I have no idea what's going 25 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:28.280 on from here with him. Don't know if Butler's gonna 26 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:32.439 need postseason surgery, you know, if it's torn labram or 27 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.920 just a spring or whatever. And every time I think 28 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:38.959 about what Pope has said about Jackson Robinson, I just 29 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:42.400 really wonderful'll ever see him again this year in a 30 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:45.159 Kentucky uniform. So he just got to move on. And 31 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:48.159 Pope again last night called it a new season. He's 32 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:51.079 called it that before, not just you know, hang in there, 33 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:55.159 guys till the troops get back. But regardless, last night 34 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:57.439 was a big win, and it was tight in the 35 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:00.400 first half and looked like the first Kentucky Vanda and 36 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:03.400 saw actually Vandy jump out to a big league Kentucky 37 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:05.799 came all the way back, took a nice lead, then 38 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:09.639 blew it. But last night the Wildcats really exerted themselves 39 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:14.199 and imposed their will in the second half against Vandy. Now, 40 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:16.520 Colin Chandler had a big game, no question about that. 41 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:19.360 We're going to talk about him coming up after the break, 42 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:22.960 specifically because there was a lot of postgame talk about 43 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:25.840 him from Pope and his teammates and Colin. Of course, 44 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:29.240 I hope you heard his interview with Jack Gibbons. But 45 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:33.479 early in the second half, I mean, the first several possessions, 46 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:36.199 it was obvious, it was clear. I tweeted as much. 47 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:38.960 You saw it, you heard it, Tom and Jack talk 48 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:42.599 about it. Kentucky went to the bigs. Kentucky went to 49 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:45.840 Amari Williams and Andrew Carr. And it's not as though 50 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:49.919 Vandy didn't have any size of its own, but Kentucky's 51 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:55.360 bigs played really well last night. Andrew Carr looked healthy 52 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:58.759 for the first time in forever. I mean, he's played, 53 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:04.319 but he had that back injury. And Pope talked about 54 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:07.439 how well Carr played at a time they needed it 55 00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:07.919 the most. 56 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:10.000 You know, for the last month, we felt like we've 57 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:13.120 been without three of our leaders in Lamont and Jackson 58 00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:16.479 and Drew. And he's been working so hard to find 59 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:21.759 his way back, and I thought he was brilliant. He 60 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:24.400 really did look like his old, physical, attacking self. 61 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:28.159 The last two days were the first time where he 62 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:33.319 had back to back essentially full practices, and I think 63 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:37.680 he felt much better jumping back into the starting lineup, 64 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:39.159 and I thought he was. 65 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:41.639 I thought it was really really good tonight. I mean, 66 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.759 we all know this Andrew Carr that performed tonight against 67 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.719 a really imposing frontline. That's a terrific defensive team. This 68 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:50.479 is a really special Manerbille defensive team, and I thought 69 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:51.159 he was terrific. 70 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:54.840 Pope also gave credit both in the media session and 71 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:59.199 with Tom Leech to Angley Almanor, who was the guy 72 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:01.319 who had to sort of take a step back, lost 73 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:04.240 some minutes because he was playing a lot more. In fact, 74 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.039 he started a game or two, didn't he with Andrew 75 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:12.400 Carr either completely sidelined or slowed by that back injury. 76 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:18.959 But he gave Almonor full credit for accepting his role. 77 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:23.360 And when he said he went and talked to him 78 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:27.199 about the fact that Andrew's going to start, get more minutes, etc. 79 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:31.920 He just said, all right, coach, let's go. And it 80 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:37.720 worked out, didn't it. Amari Williams man I was a 81 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:43.959 man played huge and Pope brought up, of course, metrics 82 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:47.600 that can tell us just how well Williams is playing. 83 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:52.319 Guys we're witnessing, you know, we're seeing all these metrics 84 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:55.560 right now where Amari right now is top five all 85 00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:00.759 time in the SEC in terms of PR forty minutes, 86 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:06.319 top five all time, Like that's insane what we're witness 87 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:08.600 seeing him do. He is, he is a unique player, 88 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:10.439 and he's just getting more and more confident, more and 89 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:13.519 more comfortable. He's getting more and more confident around the rim, 90 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:16.079 where he's all you know he was he was not 91 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:18.600 unstoppable at the rim early in the season because he 92 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:22.279 would get rushed. Right now, he's just like, yep, I'm 93 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:23.920 just gonna go to work down here, and I'm gonna 94 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:25.399 get to two feet, just kind of go to I 95 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.279 thought he was brilliant tonight. 96 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:31.079 And again that's something that Pope brought up on the radio, 97 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:33.199 but he gave more of an explanation. I guess he 98 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:35.240 assumed the media folks it would either look it up 99 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:40.439 or knew what it was. Par looks at average points 100 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:46.319 plus assists plus rebounds per game all right now, he's 101 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:50.920 playing about twenty one minutes a game, Amari Williams. So 102 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:55.279 if you do just rough estimates and round down, let's 103 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:58.000 say twenty minutes a game is so double it right average, 104 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:04.160 he'd be averaging twenty points, sixteen rebounds, and six assists 105 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:06.680 per game. That's as good or better than Oscar she 106 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:16.160 Boy numbers incredible. So when you look at how Vanderbilt 107 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.480 went after Williams last time they played and did a 108 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:22.959 good job compared to this time, it was a huge difference. 109 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:26.480 And Mark Byington, the Mandy coach, brought that up as well, 110 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:27.680 or was at least asked about it. 111 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:31.120 Well, he's huge. You know, if he was six six, 112 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:34.120 I wouldn't worry about it. But his arms are incredibly long. 113 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:34.639 He's tall. 114 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:37.079 We know he's going to his left hand. Everybody in 115 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:38.519 the country knows he's going to his left hand. 116 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:42.360 Still tough to stop. And we were a little. 117 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:45.839 Undersized, and we didn't want to double because he's a 118 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:48.839 great passer. So if you double, you know, then he 119 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.199 gives up threes. And the first game we played him, 120 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:52.680 I thought we did a good job of kind of 121 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:55.839 keeping him from getting to a deep post position. Today 122 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:57.639 he did a really good job, and like I said, 123 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:00.680 especially in the second half. It was a problem for 124 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:01.480 us in the second half. 125 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:04.360 Now, one of the things that Amari has done of 126 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:09.240 late is play more physically and this has been a process, 127 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:13.800 and Pope talked about this as well, because he's learning 128 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:18.360 what he can get away with, essentially my words. You know, 129 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:23.040 Pope talked about getting the whistle or whatever, but basically 130 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.240 what he talked about was what can you get away with. 131 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:28.600 At Drexel, he was the biggest, the strongest, the longest, 132 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:34.439 the toughest and planning in smaller guys, so no doubt 133 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:37.839 within the eyes of the officials he had perhaps advantage. 134 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:42.399 Disadvantage was throwing his weight around and they probably called 135 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:46.720 more fouls. But in the SEC you can get away 136 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.560 with a lot inside. My man Cameron Mills and I 137 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:52.120 argue about this. He hates the fact that, you know, 138 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:56.279 they call hand checking out on the perimeter, fine, but 139 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:01.000 that comes with officials looking at trying to stop a 140 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:03.800 guy from getting where he wants to be in the 141 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:08.639 middle in the paint, it's just about body on body contact. 142 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:11.720 Those same guards who might be called for fouls for 143 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:15.759 hand checking outside if they're inside, as Colin Chandler was 144 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:18.639 banging around the rebound, that's not a foul, at least 145 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:22.800 not at the SEC level. So Marii talked about the 146 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:26.120 difference now and what he knows he can do physically. 147 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:30.000 In that conference, it was like, you know, the charges, 148 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:32.279 if you keep banging too much, they'll just droping. That's 149 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:34.960 something I was always worry of my four years Batu, Like, now, 150 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:37.200 no big is really going to do that. They kind 151 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:39.279 of go pride and taking stand. So just knowing that 152 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:41.519 and just knowing how to get around it is something. 153 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:42.039 I'll tell you. 154 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:44.480 It's got to be a lot more fun for him 155 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:46.919 to be able to get in there and be as 156 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:50.600 physical as he needs to be and make things work. 157 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:53.799 Before the break, I did want to share with you 158 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:59.039 comments from Pope about whether or not this team is 159 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:01.879 where he needs it to be. Defensively, you know, just 160 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:04.679 how good are they right now? They're better than you were. 161 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:06.159 How good are they? 162 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:08.799 Well, there's a lot of roomment for improvement because we're 163 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:11.960 not great, so but we're we're getting better, and with 164 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:15.120 this new group, we're getting better. I thought, you know, 165 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:19.080 Travis Perry had a really really hard job tonight and 166 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:23.279 I thought he stood in there admirably, right I'm talking 167 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.120 about on the defensive end. And Colin Chandler I thought 168 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:28.720 was really really good on the defensive end and still 169 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.399 you know, has a ton of room to grow up, 170 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:32.639 and he's able to catch move time time. And you guys, 171 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:34.960 think about this. I have Trent Noah. I know Trent 172 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:37.840 didn't make any shots tonight, but I have Trent Noah 173 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:42.519 guarding Jason Edwards, their leading scorer a microwave score like 174 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:46.600 five eleven. Jet guard for four and five minutes stretches 175 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:49.600 during the course of this game. And if you had 176 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:51.879 asked me at the be of the season if that 177 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:55.840 was going to be the game plan, I would have said, no, never. 178 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:59.120 But but it's been forced, honest, and these guys are 179 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:01.200 stepping up into do it. I thought Trent Noah gave 180 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:03.559 us a really really special defensive effort. 181 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:05.759 I thought it was really great and that is what 182 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:08.000 will take them where they want to be here as 183 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:12.480 far as they can go in the postseason. They're gonna score. 184 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:14.879 They're gonna run into a night though, and you've seen 185 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:20.200 it where the shots that starn't falling. Can you get 186 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:25.799 through by winning with defense? Early in the year, the answer, 187 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.159 but this team was no. It was one of the 188 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:30.320 worst defensive teams in the country, just like Caliperi's team 189 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:34.320 last year. It's getting better with every game basically might 190 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:37.480 not look at always, but they're not giving up one 191 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:40.000 hundred points a game right now. And we'll see what 192 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:43.360 they do against Alabama. They're gonna need to control tempo 193 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:46.799 against Alabama. Can they do that and can they win 194 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:51.600 doing it? Obviously that's the question. And if they don't, well, 195 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.080 you know, they may have a little bit of fun 196 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:57.120 in the postseason, but it won't last long enough before 197 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:59.919 we get to the break. Comments from Mark Pope about 198 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:04.360 the charity drive from last night, Don't Any Can Goods 199 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:07.559 and raising money for the flood victims in Eastern Kentucky. 200 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:11.519 You know, giving supplies and giving donations a cash to 201 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:14.840 the people of eastern Kentucky is really important right now. 202 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:21.720 The website is UK Athletics dot com forward slash flood 203 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:25.600 Relief and I've been in contact with Governor for share 204 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:32.000 several times and and the the donations there one hundred percent, 205 00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:36.639 there's no administrative overhead. One hundred goes to serving these people. 206 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:40.000 It's going to start. The first bunch of money is 207 00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:44.000 gonna is going to be dedicated to to paying for 208 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.840 funerals to the fourteen I think that's still the number, 209 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:49.519 the fourteen people that passed in the flood, and then 210 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:54.000 every dollar after that is going to go to immediate 211 00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:59.240 emergency services for these families. So we're just asking everybody 212 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:01.639 if they can jump in. And I couldn't be more 213 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:05.000 grateful to BBN. We put a giant truck out there 214 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:09.080 and it's full, and that just is man, it's an 215 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:13.440 incredible commentary on just what Kentucky is and what BBN is. 216 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:17.000 I get the rupp Aerna fairly early when I go 217 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.759 and last night I brought them can goods and I 218 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:23.759 went upstairs to drop them wherever I was supposed to 219 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:26.279 drop them, and there was a little hand cart there 220 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:28.679 right outside the front door. Nobody e been let in yet, 221 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:32.320 and I was just about to drop mine on the handcart. 222 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:34.600 But who was ahead of me but Deb Moore, who's 223 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:37.240 in charge of the pr for the basketball team, So 224 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:38.679 she went ahead of me. I said, no, no, you 225 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:40.480 by all means you got to go first. Because she 226 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:43.879 had a huge, huge bag. I had a smaller bag 227 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:46.799 with three or four things in it, but she had 228 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:50.240 a huge bag on behalf of Pope and the team 229 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:53.360 she was dropping off to take out the truck. There 230 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.879 were people already putting stuff in the truck. So it 231 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:59.039 was really impressive what the Big Boe Nation did last night. 232 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.240 All right, we'll talk about Chandler on the other side 233 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:05.759 of the break here on six thirty WLAP Welcome back 234 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.720 to the Big Blullonsider. Coming up at a few minutes, 235 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:10.200 Sean Woods will join us and break down last night's 236 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:13.320 win over Vanderbilt. Sewn usually with us on Wednesday, but 237 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:15.960 obviously we had basketball last night, and I will tell 238 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:19.000 you he liked what he saw from the Wildcats. Then 239 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:23.720 at seven fifteen pregame Kentucky women's basketball Darren Hedrick's got 240 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:27.399 it katz in Missouri coming up at seven point thirty. 241 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:30.440 Colin Chandler had his best game as a Wildcat last night, 242 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:33.159 no question. Only one of four from beyond the arc, 243 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:38.759 but seven points, six rebounds, and a couple of assists, 244 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:43.039 a couple of steels, two turnovers in what fifteen minutes. 245 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:46.799 I mean, he was obviously playing with a lot of confidence, 246 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:50.559 a lot of smarts, and a lot of heart, and 247 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:55.879 he was happy that he played well and talked about 248 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:59.679 the fact that his fellow freshman Travis Perry and Trendeou 249 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:02.759 have had a little bit of success and they've kind 250 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.559 of helped him along. 251 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:06.960 Yeah, I mean it's it's tough. I mean it's tough 252 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:12.360 stepping in and especially in a league like the SECS 253 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:16.519 and playing at Kentucky, there's a big adjustment to it. 254 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:18.720 And I think we're all we're all in it together, 255 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:21.159 and it's nice to have people to to relate to 256 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.879 and and to talk to and to feed off of 257 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:27.120 each other. And and so those guys have been a 258 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:31.840 big blessing in my life eric Kentucky, and I'm glad 259 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:32.879 to go through this journey with them. 260 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:33.480 It's been fun. 261 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:38.600 Andrew Carr, as we mentioned earlier, looking healthy, looking much better, 262 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:42.200 also very happy for his young teammate. 263 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:48.240 I'm really proud of me that he really didn't know. Man, 264 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:51.320 super proud of him. We're super super proud. You see 265 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:55.360 how much he how hard he works and everything, and 266 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:56.960 you know, it's the same thing for him. 267 00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:58.120 It's kind of similar. 268 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:01.279 He really obviously wants to be able to step up 269 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:03.679 and step into that role, and we knew it was 270 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:07.159 gonna happen for him. He's been a great done a 271 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:10.159 great job and practice for us. And so being able 272 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.840 to see, you know, like you're talked about seeing those 273 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:14.840 results on the floor is really special, and I'm really 274 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:16.919 proud of me that he really didn't lost some job tonight. 275 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:19.919 You have to remember a couple of things. Chandler, for 276 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.720 whatever it's worth, was rated higher as a high school 277 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.720 prospect then both Perry and Noah. I mean, he had 278 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:27.799 a terrific high school career Player of the Year in 279 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:32.559 Utah and all that, but hadn't played organized basketball, especially 280 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.919 at this level for two years. Did his church mission, right, 281 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:38.480 So now he comes back and he's just trying to 282 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:41.000 get back in the swing of things and like everybody, 283 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:45.000 trying to learn his new teammates. He's a really, really 284 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:48.679 good athlete and he showed it last night, but it 285 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:51.960 didn't surprise his coach, I guess. And leave it to 286 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.399 Mark Pope to come up with an interesting analogy to 287 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:58.759 describe just how well Chandler has been coming along college. 288 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:02.759 Chandler, you know, we talk about these bamboo trees. You 289 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:06.559 guys know the deal about these bamboo trees. So if 290 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:08.600 you think about a bamboo force, you know, a bamboo 291 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:11.960 tree can grow up to I think the Guinness Will 292 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:15.279 Book of World Records, it's thirty six inches in a day. 293 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:19.039 I think thirty five inches in a day. What happens 294 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:22.440 is they grow over time. They go these massive networks 295 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:26.200 of roots growing, grown, grown, growing, growing. You don't see 296 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:29.240 it right, and then all of a sudden they shoot 297 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:31.080 up out of the ground and they're going a yard 298 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:34.720 a day almost, which is almost incomprehensible. That's a little 299 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:36.799 bit of Colin Channel, like he's been growing big time 300 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:39.679 roots and the place he made today he's been making 301 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:42.240 in practice, and he is going to help us in 302 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:44.720 a huge way. As we moved down the stretch. I 303 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.639 was really proud of him tonight. 304 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:48.759 That was a really entertaining analogy. And I only know 305 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:52.159 this about bamboo trees. Number one. When I lived in Dallas, 306 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:57.120 there were houses that backed up to these busy thoroughfares 307 00:16:57.159 --> 00:17:00.440 like Northwest Highway is a big one in Dallas, really 308 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:03.279 expensive homes. So in order to cut down on noise, 309 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:07.960 people planted bamboo because it grew so thick and so fast, 310 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:13.160 it was almost like a green wall of vegetation behind 311 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:15.640 their homes. But a friend of mine used to live 312 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:19.799 next to a noisy apartment complex, so he planted bamboo 313 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.319 to try to cut down on the noise. And all 314 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:25.119 that well, it worked, except it grew so fast he 315 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:28.240 had to cut it almost every day, had to cut 316 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:32.000 it back to keep it at bay in his yard. 317 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:35.640 So if Chandler's coming along as fast as bamboo, I 318 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:38.720 thought that was a really interesting place for Mark Pope 319 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:44.640 to go, describing Colin Chandler's growth as something that you 320 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:48.559 might see in a bamboo forest. And remember, now, bamboo 321 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:51.400 is not just like those fishing canes. It can grow 322 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:55.519 a foot around and really strong and thick. So you know, 323 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:58.359 maybe that's the proper analogy. Who knows? All right? Coming 324 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:00.839 up next, Sean Woods. We'll talk with us about last 325 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:04.319 night's went over Vanderbilt later on at UK women's basketball 326 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:08.160 Wildcats and the Tigers at Missou here on six thirty. 327 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:11.039 Welcome back to the Big Blue Insider this Thursday. Boy 328 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:14.000 had basketball last night, so tonight we talked with the 329 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:18.000 Unforgettable Guard showing Woods' jersey hangs in the rafters of RUP. 330 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:22.160 Last night, Sean Vandy comes to town, a Vandy team 331 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:25.559 to beat Kentucky. As you know down in Nashville, I 332 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:29.079 don't remember much of the game except I remember watching 333 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:32.119 the ticket how is this happening? And then last night 334 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:34.039 the first half of it kind of looked like a 335 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:37.480 similar game. What changed at halftime? Do you think? 336 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:43.160 Well? First of all, Kentucky came out more aggressive defensively, 337 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:48.839 I thought. And then two, you know, it's hard winning 338 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:50.920 at Bandy. I don't care how good you are. I 339 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:54.720 don't care how good we as a Kentucky team. They 340 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:58.640 always find a way every so often every year, two 341 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:02.920 three whatever to beat us at Bandy, and that happens. 342 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:06.559 I don't care how good your team is. That just 343 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:10.880 happened at Bandy's. It just does. And you know, I 344 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:14.359 didn't panic with that one, because you know, you never 345 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:16.720 can't get used to that arena, You never can't get 346 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:21.359 to the dynamics of it and things like that. So 347 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:23.319 that wasn't big for me. I just wanted to make 348 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:26.319 sure that we took took care of business here. Even 349 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:29.519 though we're hurt and injured, we still got good enough 350 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:31.559 to beat Bandy at home, and we were last night. 351 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:35.279 I felt like at one point Kentucky missed like eight 352 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:38.119 of nine or nine a ten three point shots. I 353 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:41.319 felt like they were working, they were hunting three pointers 354 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:43.559 preps a little too much, just you know, my opinion. 355 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:47.440 One man's opinion uh. And in the second half, clearly 356 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:51.039 they thought let's attack the rim. They used the size, 357 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:54.240 they used Car, that use Williams and and really went 358 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.640 out and established things. 359 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:59.599 Did you see it that way, Dick, I'm gonna say this, 360 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:04.480 It was like that. And the reason being because when 361 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:07.680 you're scouting Kentucky you already know that they want to 362 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:12.640 shoot thirty threes. Okay, So what you do is you 363 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:18.000 get delusional on the fact that Alway can drive you. 364 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:21.559 You get delusional that Williams is better than what you 365 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:25.559 think he is off the bounds, taking it from coast 366 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:27.759 to coast, or even just getting to his left hand. 367 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:31.519 He's so strong, you know, to get that car can 368 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:36.440 score when he gets to his spot. So I think 369 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:39.960 from a defensive standpoint, you put so much coaches and 370 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:43.519 other teams put so much emphasis on the three point 371 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:49.319 shot that they they really they don't really respect. They 372 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:53.240 disrespect the fact that Alway and those guys can get 373 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:55.599 to the rim and finish better than what you think. 374 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:00.960 And like I told you last week, Dick, it's not 375 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:04.759 a surprise that we're better defensively. We can play defense 376 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:08.960 when we want to individually, and now that we've been 377 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:12.559 smacked in the face. We've been embarrassed a few games 378 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:16.119 going that they can compete, you know what I'm saying, 379 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:20.039 and and and that's what's happening. And I'm not seeing 380 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:24.400 be the best defensive team in the country, but my god, compete. 381 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:26.559 And that's what they're doing right now, and it's given 382 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:28.200 them chance to win. And I thought that was a 383 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.640 major part in the game last night. 384 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:32.880 We talked about the fact to your point, that they 385 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:35.839 have stepped up the amount of work that they've done 386 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:39.400 in practice on defense and it's paying off, isn't it. 387 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:42.400 Well. I think Pope has grown up a little bit 388 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:45.599 too and realized that defense is more is just as 389 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:50.200 important as that offense. And you know, you can't just 390 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:53.720 practice all day shooting threes. You got to really defend, 391 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:56.240 and you got to have defensive principles. You know, I 392 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:59.960 wasn't seeing team defense. I wasn't seeing up the line defense. 393 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.960 I really wasn't seeing just fundamental defense like help side 394 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:07.839 and things like that. I saw it last night. And 395 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:09.839 that's what you gotta work on, you know what I mean. 396 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:13.799 And I'm sure next year from summertime, whenever he gets 397 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:15.720 you know, gets this team back together, with all the 398 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:19.839 transfers and everybody, I would hope that defense would be 399 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:25.039 a significant part of his workouts. Uh. And two, all 400 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:29.160 you got to do is watch coach Patina. I'm just 401 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.759