WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:02.919 Welcome to the Big Blue Insider Day. Gabriel with you 2 00:00:02.960 --> 00:00:06.280 on April Fool's Day. That's right, April first, and we 3 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:10.000 should still be talking about Kentucky basketball. But you know, 4 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:13.039 of course that the season ended prematurely in the minds 5 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:15.720 of many, in the minds of most. We'll talk about 6 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:18.480 that tonight. We'll also hear from the players here from 7 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:21.480 Mark Stoops and Cameron Mills is going to join us 8 00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:23.839 at the bottom of the hour. He will be here 9 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:27.160 in the garage to talk of course about high school 10 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:31.800 basketball and UK basketball in the sweet sixteen. But I 11 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:38.679 keep reminding myself that preseason, me, media, people, fans, we 12 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:42.280 all tried to figure out what this team would do, 13 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:44.399 where it would go, how it would finish, and what 14 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:48.399 might be as satisfying ending to this year given the 15 00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:52.600 misery in their quotes of the last two or three seasons. 16 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:55.359 And I think we all kind of agreed that if 17 00:00:55.359 --> 00:01:00.399 this team could break even in the SEC and win 18 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:05.120 an NCAA tournament game. Now, once we saw how good 19 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:08.840 this team could be, Hey, they beat Duke, right, they 20 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:15.040 beat Florida, right, final four teams. Now the ceiling rises, 21 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:21.280 the floor rises, everything grows, Expectations and hopes and all that, 22 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:25.840 and I've kind of adjusted myself to where when this 23 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:27.959 team was at its best, I thought this team could 24 00:01:27.959 --> 00:01:31.480 get to the second weekend. Then the injuries started to come. 25 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:34.840 So now if we backtrack, and if I had told 26 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:38.920 you when you were trying to figure out your expectations 27 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:41.920 and your hopes for this team, realistic hopes. And I 28 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:44.400 know that's a fluid term in the Big Blue Nation, 29 00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:47.519 really in all the sports, But if I told you 30 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:52.959 going in, Okay, you've got this roster capable of winning 31 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:59.359 any game it's in. But for significant stretches of the season, 32 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:02.599 you will be without your three of your top four 33 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:06.120 perimeter players. You'll be without Lamont Butler, You'll be without 34 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:10.960 Jackson Robinson, You'll be without Kerr Kriesa. Okay, Butler will 35 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:13.560 come back, but he won't be one hundred percent. The 36 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:16.360 other two will not. So that means there are going 37 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:19.800 to be times when Otago Olway has to play the point, 38 00:02:19.960 --> 00:02:22.520 or the freshman Colin Chandler comes in. And if I 39 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:24.120 had told you that first of the year, you would have 40 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:27.439 what you know, what about Travis Perry, Well, he got hurt. 41 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:32.240 Now Chandler of course started really showing what he's going 42 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:34.039 to be toward the end of the year. But you 43 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:35.680 didn't know that because he was coming off a two 44 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:38.280 year mission. So if I told you all that, oh, 45 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:40.599 by the way, you're seven foot center, he's going to 46 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:44.199 have to play a little point forward, you would have thought, Man, 47 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:48.240 if this team can be five hundred, that would be outstanding. 48 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:52.960 And what we saw was outstanding, and the way they 49 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:55.919 got there, to me, I still can't get over it. 50 00:02:57.159 --> 00:02:59.919 And I was, I know, I'm always pessing a miss 51 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:05.120 going into the nca tournament Sometimes, I mean, you know, 52 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:06.800 some of the teams you can't help but think they're 53 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:10.719 gonna kick butt. But going into this tournament, I liked 54 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:14.199 their draw up until Tennessee. I picked wins and everybody 55 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:18.080 did up until Tennessee. And we had that debate for 56 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:21.280 several days about a team that's beating a team twice 57 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:24.759 beating them a third time, and there were stats that said, 58 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:28.639 more often than not by a significant margin, the team 59 00:03:28.680 --> 00:03:31.280 that won the first two will win the next the 60 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:35.759 third game, that's fine, but I think in the NCAA 61 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:39.039 tournament a lot of that goes out the window. And 62 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.800 I do think that Tennessee was probably a better team 63 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:46.560 this year than Kentucky. It just was. But Kentucky was 64 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:50.759 better on those first two nights. Tennessee helped by jacking 65 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:54.800 up forty five threes. They lost their minds trying to 66 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:57.960 beat Kentucky at its own game. I still can't believe 67 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:00.800 that Rick Barnes let that happen. And again, if you 68 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:04.120 listen to me, thank you. You know I'm not one 69 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:08.520 who puts everything on a coach and worships a coach, 70 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:11.919 and oh, you know, the coach can do anything, knows all, sees, 71 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:15.199 all does all no. But in a game like that, 72 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:19.160 I've got to think that Barnes could have and should 73 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:22.199 have pulled his team together, said, fellas, we're not a 74 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:25.800 great three point shooting team. Knock it off, just like 75 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:28.399 John Caliperry should have done that against West Virginia back 76 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:30.720 in twenty ten against that one to three to one, guys, 77 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:33.199 stick to the game plan. That's not the game plan, 78 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:35.920 stop jacking up threes. Otherwise he would have won a 79 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:40.560 national title with that team. But the next time they 80 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:43.319 played Tennessee, and again Kentucky was never a full strength. 81 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:47.319 The balls didn't help him like that, and Kentucky still 82 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:52.759 won but this day Tennessee was better. Tennessee just beat 83 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:56.560 Kentucky on the boards physically. That had so much to 84 00:04:56.600 --> 00:05:00.439 do with why Kentucky lost that game, and that's been 85 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:04.959 a problem all year rebounding. So maybe the kid from 86 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:07.399 Julane who comes through the portal will be a big 87 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:10.120 help there. Malachi Moreno should be a big help there. 88 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:13.639 Got to see him in the Sweet sixteen. I'll give 89 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.000 you two thumbs up on him. And I'm a little 90 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:18.199 prejudiced or a little biased because he does go to 91 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:21.399 Great Crossing where my daughter has interacted with him for 92 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:25.319 a couple of years. Now. She's a special needs teacher 93 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:30.120 and Moreno and his buddies, his teammates and other kids 94 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:33.360 come to her class and help her with the kids, 95 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:38.079 you know, pushing wheelchairs and things like that. So and 96 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:41.560 they do it voluntarily, they like doing it. So anyhow, 97 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:44.079 it's going to be fun to see how they come 98 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.879 together next year. But now he've got a sneak preview 99 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:51.639 of what kind of offense they run, and now I 100 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:54.800 think Pope more than likely. And now I don't know 101 00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:57.720 what was his mindset when it came to when and 102 00:05:57.720 --> 00:05:59.560 how he taught defense this year, but they were a 103 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:04.000 late it, weren't they But once they did, they locked 104 00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:07.959 it down and they were so much better. It was phenomenal, 105 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:13.439 how much better they were defensively. The key is crafting 106 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:16.480 another roster the way he did it. And he's got 107 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:19.720 more time now, clearly, but the way he did it 108 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:25.560 this time, pulling this team together, meeting the needs of 109 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:30.279 what he had to have to run his stuff, his offense, 110 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:34.720 his defense, but also the personality, the meshing that went on. 111 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:37.800 He got such great guys, He got the right guys. 112 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:42.480 Could have used one more, maybe two, but given how 113 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.000 little time he had to do it. And so after 114 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:46.759 the game, you may have heard little bits and pieces 115 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:48.519 of this, but I'm gonna share a couple of comments 116 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:53.319 with you. The players were asked first question, and I 117 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:56.279 think it was a student from Indiana University asked about 118 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:01.000 being a part of Kentucky basketball with Mark Poemm. We'll 119 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:01.480 start with you. 120 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.600 I'll say it's incredible, man. We were you know, we 121 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:07.439 came in nobody, not knowing each other, you know, really 122 00:07:07.480 --> 00:07:09.800 no coaching staff, and you know we built something that 123 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.759 was you know, really great, really inspiring you know for 124 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:15.560 other people, you know, just even to play at Kentucky 125 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:17.839 as a dream come true for myself and a lot 126 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.519 of us guys up here. So we're really grateful for 127 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:23.120 him to bring us here and able to experience something 128 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:25.879 that you know, we we may have not experienced before 129 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:29.639 before this year. And I really just really grateful, honestly. 130 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:34.519 Kobe, Yeah, I say, I think the University of Kentucky 131 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:37.480 is in great hands. Like I mean, just to see 132 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:40.079 what he's done this year, his first year, and not 133 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:42.160 only that, but he's a life changer, you know, to 134 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:45.199 like to just our group. I feel like he's helped 135 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:48.240 has grown so much off the court and on the court, 136 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:50.600 and it's going to be really special to see what 137 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:52.439 he continues to do for this team and for his 138 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:53.360 own university. 139 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:58.480 Andrew, Yeah, I just definitely agree with what those guys said. 140 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:03.480 I think a lot of us never, you know, even 141 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:06.480 just one year ago, even thought that we'd be at Kentucky. 142 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:10.360 So for Coach Pope to believe in everybody who is 143 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:14.360 on the team, you know, believing myself is really special 144 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:17.920 for for all of us. And it's pretty you know, 145 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:21.199 super proud of the team and and everybody. This season, 146 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:23.879 we were able to make history at the mecca of 147 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:27.360 college basketball. And so for us to uh, you know, 148 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:30.920 be able to come in here and coach Pope's first 149 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:34.120 year and be able to do that has been you know, 150 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:37.840 nothing short of amazing, and I'm super excited to see 151 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:40.879 for the next you know, ten fifteen years, what kind 152 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:43.399 of dim and run coach Coach Pope can start back here. 153 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:47.320 So those are the players on the podium after the 154 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:49.960 loss to Tennessee. And there was the next question I 155 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:53.879 believe came from Darryl Bird. Darryl always asked really interesting questions. 156 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:56.559 But Daryl, of course has been here from day one 157 00:08:56.679 --> 00:08:59.840 with his team, and he took them back to one 158 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:04.240 first got here and then asked them, with the season 159 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:08.639 behind them, to reflect on what it was like to 160 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:11.919 be a part of UK basketball from day one. 161 00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:18.759 And start with you, Yeah, it's certainly very difficult. Don't 162 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:22.519 wanna untie my shoes, don't want to take off this jersey, 163 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:28.080 you know, definitely shout out a BBN and and all 164 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:32.279 of the fans. It's like nowhere I've ever experienced, and 165 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:37.159 really have just had the most fun playing basketball this season, 166 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:41.720 and you know, I really appreciate them welcoming all of 167 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:45.200 us in with with open arms and really caring about 168 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:48.200 all of us more than than just a basketball player 169 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:51.639 and being a fan. They really you know, you're welcome 170 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:54.440 into the Kentucky family and it's a family for a reason. 171 00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:59.559 So definitely is is an amazing experience that you know 172 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.360 right now, But as we continue to get older, just 173 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:04.399 look back and be more and more proud as time 174 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:04.799 goes on. 175 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:08.519 Kobe, Yeah, I don't know who's in charge of the 176 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:10.639 jerseys and all that, but they're gonna go through some 177 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:14.320 trouble to get mine. It's still like, it's still surreal 178 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:16.799 every time, you know, I walk in the locker room 179 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:20.360 and I'm able to put this jersey on, just just 180 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:22.360 from everything I've dealt with, everything I've been through, where 181 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:24.080 I come from. Just to be able to put it on, 182 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.320 it's just super special. And then you know, just to 183 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:29.000 have my brothers and you know, we were all strangers 184 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:30.960 when we first got here and we didn't have a 185 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:33.759 lot of time to really to bond and get to 186 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:37.159 know each other, and you know, make this possible what 187 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:40.480 we just did. So like we're all a big family 188 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:44.919 now and BBN has made an amazing they made this 189 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:47.360 dream like a reality for real for me, Like just 190 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:50.840 ever since I stepped into campus, everybody's greeting me with 191 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:53.240 open arms, and they've been amazing to me and my family, 192 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:55.840 and it's been everything I've wanted to be in more so, 193 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:58.120 I'm just happy with my experience here for sure. 194 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:01.720 Yeah, this is is just a special place where it 195 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:03.399 was special people around. 196 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:04.559 It, you know, the whole program. 197 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:07.840 You know, the fans, they're out there, you know every day, 198 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.720 even when I first got here just you know, just 199 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:13.720 greeting me with love and greeting everybody with love. It 200 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:17.639 was the first time we people were coming up to 201 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:20.879 our dorm and getting autographs and stuff like that. So 202 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:22.840 it was kind of surreal when we got here. The 203 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:25.679 you know, the fan love, but you know, just the 204 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.080 bond that we were able to create this year was 205 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:30.799 just amazing. You know, in one year, usually don't get 206 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:33.639 teams that are able to you know, really get connected 207 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:33.919 like that. 208 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:35.639 Usually it's like two or three years. 209 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:37.399 But you know, we we kind of bonded really quick. 210 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:40.720 You know, this coach Pope brought some really good guys 211 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:42.480 that I'll call brothers for the rest of my life. 212 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.600 And I'm really just. 213 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:45.799 Really grateful that God gave me this opportunity. 214 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:46.320 To be around these people. 215 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:49.799 And as you probably heard on the Mark Pope Show, 216 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:53.279 Tom Leach talked about it again. This morning, these guys 217 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:56.279 went back to the hotel or back to the dorm. 218 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:00.480 I wouldn't entirely sure where they were, but they got together. 219 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:03.799 They kind of drifted into the same room later that 220 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:08.120 evening and sat and talked and reminisced and shared stories 221 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:12.600 about the season. And they didn't break up until six am. 222 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:15.480 And this is gonna sound a little odd, but I 223 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:20.759 flashed on a documentary I just watched on the making 224 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:24.679 of We Are the World, the video that that you know, 225 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.559 that was back in the eighties, but I happened to 226 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:31.039 watch the video and one of the last parts of 227 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:36.440 that video was somebody retelling the story when everybody left, 228 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:38.240 they all kind of left a little at a time, 229 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:41.159 and finally they were just a, you know, a Quincy 230 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:46.200 Jones and I can't remember who else, but all the 231 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:49.519 artists were gone except for one. And they heard a 232 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:52.639 sound in the sound studio and they walked in and 233 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:57.039 it was Diana Ross and she was weeping. She was crying, 234 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.639 and she said, I just don't want this to be over. 235 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:05.519 It was such a special experience and it had to 236 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:08.360 feel the same way for these guys. I just don't 237 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:11.120 want this to be over same way for the UK fans. 238 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:14.399 But imagine being one of the ballplayers and knowing this 239 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:17.360 is it. You know we're never gonna play together again 240 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:20.440 as a team, This entire team. Every team goes through that, 241 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:23.360 but imagine what this team went through. Hi, my name 242 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:25.000 is nice to Meetia. Where are you. Oh you're the 243 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:29.320 guy from Drexel. Oh, okay, you're the guy from Fairleigh Dickinson. 244 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:33.080 All right, good to Mitia. Let's go play. Let's go 245 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:35.919 see what we can do. And they did up Next 246 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:38.759 with it from Mark Stoops, his team scrimmaged over the weekend. 247 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.600 Back in a minute on the Big Boon Sider and 248 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:43.759 a little bit later on Cameron Mills joins us here 249 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:48.440 in the garage six point thirty WLAP Welcome back to 250 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:50.200 the Big Bluon Sider. Coming up in a few minutes. 251 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:52.799 Cameron Mills joins us here in the garage. The chaos 252 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:56.080 will ensue, but seriously, we will talk to Cameron about 253 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:58.679 this year. Cameron, of course, part of our pregame coverage 254 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:02.360 of Kentucky basketball on the UK network, and he and I, 255 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:05.639 along with Jody Dummling and Greg Stottomeyer worked the boys 256 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:08.919 Sweet sixteen this past week, so Cameron got a good 257 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.000 look at so many of the great teams in the 258 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:14.559 state of Kentucky, including the eventual champion, Great Crossing. He 259 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:18.679 and Greg worked the championship game featuring future Wildcat. Now 260 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:20.559 I guess I don't know if he's signed yet, but 261 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:23.000 his high school career is over, so now he's a 262 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:27.159 Kentucky Wildcat. Malachi Moreno, whose high school career ended on 263 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:29.960 the same court where he will begin his college career, 264 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:33.320 and it's coming up fast. So that comes up here, 265 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:35.919 coming up fast as well. At the bottom of the hour, 266 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:39.559 Mark Stoops and his team worked on Saturday. We get 267 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:42.159 a chance to watch them practice tomorrow, so I'll be 268 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:45.320 reporting on what I saw, you know, I mean, what 269 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:47.679 can I tell, But I'm going to watch the quarterbacks. 270 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:51.600 You better know that. However, Stoops after the scrimmage on 271 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:55.919 Saturday wasn't specific about names that he wasn't going to 272 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:58.679 be or what happened within the scrimmage, but somebody said 273 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:01.960 what group stood out? And he said the D line, 274 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.440 which I guess is to be expected. 275 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.720 You know, if I gave a shout out to any 276 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:07.879 would probably be defensive line. I think you know that 277 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:11.000 group is you know, really the defense in general is 278 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:13.600 flying around and this time of year, you know, traditionally 279 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:16.720 defense is a little bit ahead anyway. But they're playing 280 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:20.200 really hard. It's a very united group and playing very tough, 281 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:22.720 and so I appreciate their effort for sure. 282 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:27.240 Naturally, somebody asked about quarterbacks. Again, no names, but stoops 283 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:28.039 like what he saw. 284 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:30.000 You know, I'm not going to talk about any individual. 285 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:32.519 I think they're you know, during the spring, They're each 286 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:35.080 going to have their moments, you know. And what I 287 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:37.080 like is I feel like we got better the last 288 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:40.399 you know, several practices early on coming off spring break 289 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:42.000 and having that early practice is going to be a 290 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:44.720 little rough at times. But I feel like these last 291 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:47.840 two practices in particular, were making some jumps. 292 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:50.399 I will tell you is during spring break, I bumped 293 00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:54.480 into a Kentucky assistant and I just said, a's it going. 294 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:57.600 We were chit chatting. At at one point he mentioned 295 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:59.399 to me that he liked and this was not the 296 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:02.600 O line. I can't stress that enough, but he said 297 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:04.720 he liked what he saw in the old lineman the 298 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:09.279 guys who have transferred in. They look good, they're athletic, 299 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:11.320 They've got a chance to really be good. I'm not 300 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:15.120 going to tell exactly what he said, but he was 301 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:18.559 incredibly optimistic. Now it's got to happen. They got to 302 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:20.679 got and put in the work, and Stoop said, that's 303 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.559 happening right now. 304 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:24.639 I love what I'm seeing as far as the question 305 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:27.159 that you're asked from the leadership, from the effort, you know, 306 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:30.320 from the continuity, we have big bodies. You know, they're 307 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:33.679 working very hard, and I love the group. You know, 308 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:39.639 we're definitely you know, making progress, and as long as 309 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:43.240 they keep that same attitude and work ethic, you know, 310 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:46.600 will be significantly improved. And you know that's the goal 311 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:50.559 across the board. But again, I just like where they're at, 312 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.279 you know, I like I like the group. I like 313 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:55.039 coach them. They take coaching, and they're working really hard. 314 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:57.480 We still don't know yet what is going to happen 315 00:16:57.559 --> 00:17:00.240 with the open practice for the fans or won't be 316 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:03.200 a spring game per se, but there will be something 317 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:05.559 on the last day of spring practice. So obviously we'll 318 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:08.480 let you know as soon as we know one other 319 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:10.599 note about UK baseball. You may have seen this on 320 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:14.119 social media, but Tyler Bell is the SEC Freshman of 321 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:16.240 the Week. This is one of the weeks where the 322 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:20.480 Wildcats play on Thursday. Generally in the past, now generally 323 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:22.359 it was in the past it was the last week 324 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:25.920 of the season when teams played Thursday through Saturday, but 325 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:30.799 that happens now a lot because of TV. So it's 326 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:34.319 Kentucky's turn this week and the Thursday game will be 327 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:37.319 on the SEC Network. Friday Saturday will be on SEC 328 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.960 Plus with Yours Truly and Doug Flynn. The Wildcats play 329 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:43.720 Ole Miss, coming in a team that a couple of 330 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:46.599 years ago won the national championship and has been struggling 331 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:50.440 ever since. But you got to expect anything and everything 332 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:54.079 when an SEC team comes to town. And think about that. 333 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.680 If you're an A and M fan, your team was 334 00:17:56.759 --> 00:18:01.000 number one in the country preseason, how excited were you? 335 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:05.759 And it just fell off the edge of the earth 336 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:09.960 and Kentucky, which had been struggling a bit, went into 337 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:13.359 college station and took two out of three. Tyler Bell 338 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.440 was one of the big reasons he had a great weekend. 339 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:18.400 He had multiple hits all three games, a total of 340 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:22.279 eight for the series. He had won base hit in 341 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:25.839 the midweek game, so nine all week long, in seventeen 342 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:29.640 at bats in College Station, at the double in each game. 343 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:33.759 Homered Saturday during a four to four performance, drove in 344 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:41.079 seven and it was unbelievable the way Kentucky just kept 345 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:43.160 coming back, coming back, and he was a huge part 346 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:46.839 of it. So was bad and pitching. Kentucky's pitching wasn't 347 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:49.480 much better. So it had to be that kind of 348 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:53.440 weekend where the offense came through, and it did. And 349 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.920 Tyler Bell right now, he's only hitting three forty seven 350 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:59.920 true freshman, leads a team in doubles, has five home runs, 351 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:03.359 leads to the team in RBI, has stolen five bags, 352 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:09.279 and pretty good defensively too. So Wildcats need more of 353 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:11.960 that when the Rebels come to town. Up next, Cameron 354 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.680 Mills of the UK and net Work. We're back in 355 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:17.359 just a minute on six thirty WLAP Welcome back to 356 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:19.799 the Big Blue Insider and joining us now. I spent 357 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.319 much of last week with Cameron Mills because we worked 358 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:25.559 the Sweet sixteen together the high school version while the 359 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:28.400 NCAA tournament was going on. We will talk about both 360 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:31.839 So let us start with your beloved Wildcats, and you are, 361 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:35.400 as well as being a veteran of the Sweet sixteen 362 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:38.400 as a player, also a Wildcat, but also a teammate 363 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:41.599 of Mark Pope, and you are an unabashed fan and 364 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:44.039 you made no bones about that as you worked a 365 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:49.279 pregame show with Dave Fan and a friend and all that. 366 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:52.000 Oh Mark, yeah, Mark Yeah, I mean cut you back 367 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.000 your teammates, of course. 368 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:56.680 But I talked in the opening segments tonight about the 369 00:19:56.720 --> 00:20:00.720 fact that I do believe this team surpassed the expectations 370 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:05.839 of most Kentucky fans back in the summer, but once 371 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:10.079 the season began, I said, the ceiling was elevated. The 372 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:15.000 floor was elevated because the team, the team played so well. 373 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.920 Oh you know, I know you don't like playing on it. 374 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:21.039 The death sentence floors, yes, or the broken leg floors. 375 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:23.839 We've talked about it, but no. I mean, once we 376 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:27.039 saw what they were capable of doing, and then we 377 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:31.200 all started thinking, hum, you know, but then the injuries occur. 378 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.839 It was that kind of year. There were so many 379 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:36.359 ups and downs, and somebody pointed out to me within 380 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:39.960 a week span they never won two straight games. You know, 381 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.519 they win a game, lose a game, win a couple, 382 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.960 then going into the next week. 383 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:47.680 Once I mean we got into SEC play, maybe and 384 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:50.640 I'm saying that once we got SEC played, that happened. 385 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:53.519 But if they'll never put together a long winning streak. 386 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:55.880 No, I know, well, they definitely didn't put together I 387 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:58.400 don't think six games in a row. And that's kind 388 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:00.720 of to me personally, like, i't what part of the 389 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:03.720 season you're in. That's kind of like indicator number one 390 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:08.200 you can do it. Yeah, even though yeah, no, I think. 391 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:10.559 I think because you've got to put together six games, 392 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.079 you're on the tournament and I don't care if you're 393 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:15.359 playing Little Sisters of Marcia at the beginning the season, exhibition, whatever. 394 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.759 You got to put six games a row into six 395 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:20.960 games in a row together. But I'm not saying a 396 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.079 team couldn't do it otherwise. 397 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.799 Let me back yeah, let me back up a little bit. 398 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:30.359 If I had told you your your basketball knowledge, Yeah, 399 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:33.440 going into the season, all right, they're going to do 400 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:36.559 X y Z, but at some point they will be 401 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:40.160