WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:02.640 Welcome to the Big Blue and Sider Dick Gabrielle with 2 00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:05.519 you Tuesday edition of our program. Ordinarily this is a 3 00:00:05.639 --> 00:00:10.240 men's basketball night, but Kentucky Vanderbilt moved to Tomorrow night 4 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:13.599 thanks television. So the Cats and the Doors go at 5 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:14.519 it at seven o'clock. 6 00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:16.559 We'll have it for you right here with Tom. 7 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:19.399 Leach and Jack Gibbons. Our local coverage at four point thirty, 8 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:22.800 Network coverage at five thirty, and the Commodorees and Wildcats 9 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:27.719 tip off as Kentucky looks for revenge over a Vandy 10 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:32.280 team that beat the Wildcats down in Nashville earlier this year, 11 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:35.719 and that was a game that saw Kentucky fall behind 12 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:40.439 by fourteen and a half time played horribly down in Nashville, 13 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:44.280 came came back, took the lead, had a seven point 14 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:47.479 lead in the second half, and then lost seventy four 15 00:00:47.479 --> 00:00:48.159 to sixty nine. 16 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:49.039 Sound familiar. 17 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:54.039 Wildcats came back against Texas, took a lead and then 18 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:56.759 let go of that and fell to the Longhorns. Holser 19 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:59.759 to at least two games, and the Georgia game will 20 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:01.719 also factor in to me. 21 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:02.880 On selection Sunday. 22 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:05.680 No matter what happens, and it may be a rough 23 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:09.159 day for Wildcat fans, given the fact that it doesn't 24 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:13.280 look good for Butler and Robinson coming back anytime soon, 25 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:14.760 if at all. 26 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:17.400 So it might be a day when Kentucky gets a bid. 27 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:20.280 Assuming it does, Wildcats are gonna have to win some 28 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:23.920 more to get a bid to the NCAA Tournament. But 29 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:28.640 even if and when they do, you're gonna wonder what 30 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:30.120 might have happened if not for the. 31 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:32.560 Injuries, but also the games that got away. 32 00:01:32.760 --> 00:01:36.159 Even if those games don't get away, they might still 33 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:39.439 make it no problem minus Jackson Robinson and Lamont Butler. 34 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:44.200 But the losses to Georgia, Vandy and Texas I think 35 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:46.959 will haunt this team. I don't know that it's gonna 36 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:49.840 be able to recover enough to go on a run 37 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:53.879 so they can shrug off those losses. And as for 38 00:01:53.959 --> 00:01:58.040 the injuries themselves, well, Mark Pope didn't sound real optimistic 39 00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:02.359 last night. He was upbeat but basically said it's status quo. 40 00:02:02.760 --> 00:02:06.519 For Lamont, he's actually moving pretty well. He still has 41 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:08.639 a practice done a live play. But for him, it's 42 00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:10.879 just a matter of how far along does he have 43 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:12.240 to get where he can actually take a hit in 44 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:15.280 the game. That's the biggest question for him, and that's 45 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:17.759 you know, that's gonna be a little bit of a 46 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:20.919 guessing game. We'll try and get him just some live 47 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:23.800 stuff in practice over the next week or so. For 48 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:26.680 Jack's you know, he hasn't uh, he still hasn't done 49 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:29.360 anything with his right hand. He's he's done a ton 50 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:35.439 of left hand shooting and and probably unsurprisingly he's making 51 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:38.479 a lot of shots left handed. So I am actually 52 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:42.439 pushing him to just just tie up the right wrist man, 53 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:45.439 just get that thing safe in a in a big cast, 54 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:48.360 and let's go just play lefty on Wednesday. I'm not 55 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:51.759 sure he's he's prepared to do that. Yeah, that's where 56 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:54.080 we're in negotiations right now, trying to figure out. So 57 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:56.360 those guys are working really hard to try and get better. 58 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:00.879 That was Mark Pope on the Mark Pope Shows to 59 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:04.960 Tom Leach, and I honestly believe the left handed talk 60 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:09.840 with Robinson was strictly tongue in cheek. So now Kentucky, 61 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:12.319 with virtually the same lineup that it put on the 62 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:16.240 floor against Texas, will have to try to knock off 63 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:18.280 this Vandy team, which has been kind of a giant 64 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:23.240 killer all year long. In the SEC seventeen and eight overall, 65 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:27.560 Vandy on or nca bubble. So Vandy's going to be 66 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:31.000 playing its butt off in Lexington against the team it's 67 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:33.479 already beaten. Doors are five and seven in the league, 68 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:36.960 and if it makes a run in the SEC tournament, 69 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:41.280 doesn't have to win it. Vandy could make the NCAA 70 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:45.080 Tournament because of course you've got an opportunity in the 71 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:49.400 Southeastern Conference for quad one wins. I'll tell you a 72 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:52.159 bad loss for Vandy. They lost at Oklahoma, which is 73 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:57.520 not a great team, ninety seven to sixty seven, and 74 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:03.360 then lost to Florida, top ranked team on the road, 75 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:08.599 eighty six to seventy five, but came back and beat Texas, 76 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:12.319 same team to just beat Kentucky in Nashville eighty six 77 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:15.800 to seventy eight. Due respect to Texas, it's not a 78 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:17.879 real good team. It's got a great player in Johnson, 79 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:22.439 but it's not a great team. Andandy also lost to 80 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:26.319 Auburn in Nashville and Tennessee in Knoxville, and I saw 81 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:30.079 the end of that game. Bandy had a sixteen point 82 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:34.800 lead against the Tennessee team that has a hard time scoring, 83 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:39.879 as you know, but Tennessee allowed Tennessee to come all 84 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:43.360 the way back and win at eighty one to seventy six. 85 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:47.639 So the Cats and the Doors tomorrow night, and it's 86 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:50.759 another must win for Kent. Tell you got to protect 87 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:56.959 the home court now period to make the tournament and 88 00:04:57.079 --> 00:05:00.360 to get the best possible seed, because that's what you're 89 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:05.199 playing for now in postseason play. You're playing to get 90 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:09.079 the best possible slot in the SEC tournament. Remember, it's 91 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:13.199 a new format now in the SEC attorney thanks to 92 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:16.800 the two new teams, So you've got to protect yourself there. 93 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:20.160 And then of course if you can get the NCAAs 94 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:25.079 and get the best possible slot. While we're talking about 95 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:28.879 the SEC, what are the big ten in the SEC 96 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:33.680 up to When it comes to the college football Playoff? Well, 97 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:38.560 remember last year there were the heat of negotiations over 98 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:43.399 the future of the College Football Playoff and in the end, 99 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:49.279 executives from the ten FBS leagues and Notre Dame sign 100 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:54.720 that memo of understanding which basically gave control the college 101 00:05:54.720 --> 00:06:01.480 football's two richest conferences, and everybody kind of bracing themselves 102 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:07.240 for what happens next. Momentum now they say, is building 103 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:11.879 to further expand the playoff to fourteen or sixteen teams 104 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:18.759 and assign multiple automatic qualifiers per league, maybe as many 105 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:24.120 as four for the SEC and the Big Ten, and 106 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:28.160 then finalize a scheduling arrangement that, of course, will bring 107 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:33.600 in gazillions of bucks from its various TV partners. But 108 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:37.720 a playoff format change just might clear the way for 109 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:42.199 the SEC to make that long discussed move to play 110 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:48.879 nine regular season conference games, and it says here, according 111 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:52.439 to a story on ya Yahoo, it could trigger all 112 00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:58.399 four power leagues to overhaul their conference championship weekend and 113 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:02.040 as I mean, do away with conference championship games. I 114 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:06.439 don't know that the TV networks would allow that, but 115 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:11.560 the power brokers, the most powerful conferences, clearly throwing their 116 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:14.839 weight around when it comes to the college football playoff. 117 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:20.720 And I'm good with any of this if it ultimately 118 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:25.120 leads the college football breaking away doing its own thing 119 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:29.600 and leaving everybody else alone. So maybe we can get 120 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:33.879 back to sanity when it comes to geographical alignment in 121 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:42.680 the conferences, because nobody, nobody likes what is happening with 122 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.839 teams going east coast to West coast and back and forth, 123 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:53.920 and traditional geographic rivalries disappearing ridiculous. I so like the idea. 124 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:59.759 It would take some doing of giving football whatever freedom needs, 125 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:04.240 whatever or leeway at once, because look, fans will come 126 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:07.079 for college football. I mean, it'll be like the Mini 127 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:11.120 NFL or the NFL Junior, NFL Light NFL two point zero, whatever. 128 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:17.000 But it makes too much sense to pass whatever legislation 129 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:22.639 you need to pass to see to it that maybe 130 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:25.759 the PAC twelve comes all the way back. How about 131 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:31.120 the Ohio Valley Conference showing some sanity, and I would 132 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:35.399 be willing to hazard any kind of guess that university 133 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:41.279 presidents and ads would love it if their teams win possible, 134 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:45.679 could go back to bus rides instead of plane trips 135 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:47.679 and spare that expense. 136 00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:48.799 They got to find. 137 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:52.080 Ways to spare expense these days. So instead of having 138 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:55.720 your team fly from coast to coast, or from Michigan 139 00:08:55.799 --> 00:09:00.840 to Florida and back, stay closer to home. It makes 140 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:03.759 too much sense. So you gotta wonder if it's ever 141 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.120 gonna happen. You Eric from Mark pop Up. Next, we're 142 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:09.320 gonna hear from Kenny Brooks. He talked on his radio 143 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:12.240 show last night about one of the top players in 144 00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:17.080 the country wearing Kentucky blue and white Georgia amore and 145 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:22.039 just about how talented players kind of set the tone 146 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:26.440 the best talented players do for their teammates. A little 147 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:28.960 bit later on David siske Off Catch Illustrated, it'll break 148 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.159 down the UK Texas and talk about what the Wildcats 149 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:34.679 have to look forward to this year. David, of course, 150 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:38.120 with the Rivals Network, we're also gonna hear in a 151 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:41.120 few minutes from Greg Stottlemyer, the voice of the EKAU Colonels, 152 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:43.480 and coming up in hour number two, Jeff Picoro of 153 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:45.919 SEC Plus will join us here on a Big Blon 154 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:49.080 Sider six thirty wlap. Welcome back to the Big Bloon Sider. 155 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:51.399 Coming up in just a few minutes, we'll chat with 156 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:55.639 Greg Stottlemeyer, the radio voice of the EKU Colonels, who tonight, 157 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:58.879 coming up at seven o'clock, have a huge conference game 158 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:02.960 Atlantic Sun conference game with Lipscomb over in Richmond. You 159 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.320 can see it on ESPN Plus, you can hear it 160 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:10.120 on a one hundred point seven FM, and obviously Greg 161 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:12.320 getting ready for the game right now. It's pre recorded, 162 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:16.200 but EKU is on a real heater seven game win 163 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:18.759 streak and This is a big one. Don't know that 164 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:23.000 Eastern is going to win. It won't the regular season championship, 165 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:26.759 but heading into tournament play, it is one of the 166 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:29.759 hottest teams right now in the country under aw Hamilton. 167 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:33.679 So Greg will tell us what's going on with the Colonels. 168 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:36.879 In our next hour, David Sisk from KATS Illustrated, we'll 169 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:39.679 talk about the basketball Wildcats. We're also going to talk 170 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:42.919 to Jeff Percoro about the UK women. Jeff and Christy 171 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:47.679 on Sunday work the Kentucky Georgia game and the Wildcats 172 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.039 blew out the Lady Bulldogs. This was after the loss 173 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:53.960 to Texas that saw Kentucky hang in there for a 174 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:58.120 while and then just then the Longhorns eased away and 175 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:00.960 made it a rout. This is maybe I think it 176 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:04.000 is the best team in the country, Texas, which has 177 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:08.000 beaten both South Carolina and LSU. And if you got 178 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.000 to see the game, either in person I was courtside 179 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:14.919 or on TV and listening to Darren hedrick Man, Texas 180 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:18.879 is good under head coach Vick Schaeffer. It just had 181 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:23.039 Kentucky out manned. It's a reminder I kept thinking about 182 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:26.279 there are a couple of players who injured preseason for 183 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:29.120 the Wildcats, which is why Kentucky is not a deep team. 184 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:33.360 It is talented, but not super deep. But still Kentucky 185 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:36.039 could do a lot of damage in the postseason. And 186 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:41.120 when you have a player like Georgia Amoor, anything's possible. 187 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:44.080 And now I didn't have the greatest of games against 188 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:47.720 the Longhorns, but you had to know Texas was going 189 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:53.840 to tailor its defense around stopping Georgia Amore, keeping her 190 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:56.679 from getting any kind of decent look. 191 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.960 At the basket. They succeeded. 192 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:03.639 She bounced back obviously against Georgia all due respect, but 193 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:06.879 against Texas, I mean against yeah. 194 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:07.600 Against Georgia. 195 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:12.360 Georgia Aymore planninggaint Georgia against Texas, she was five or sixteen, 196 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:15.960 missed all three of her three point shots, five turnovers. 197 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:19.679 If you're into plus minus, she was minus eighteen at 198 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:24.440 fourteen points, but just couldn't play her game and Texas 199 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:25.120 saw too that. 200 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.799 But when you've got. 201 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:31.120 Talent like that, I mean elite talent, that's what happens. 202 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:36.480 Georgia struggling this year, and Georgia Aymore bounced back with 203 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:42.080 twenty one seven assists, only two turnovers plus minus was 204 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:46.000 twenty nine and his three out of six three pointers. 205 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.840 She is one of the best players in the country. 206 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:52.679 And the other day we had Jenna Liftin from the 207 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:57.320 Kentucky Colonel on the show and she wrote about what 208 00:12:57.480 --> 00:13:00.519 was it a couple of days ago, the fact that 209 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:05.879 Georgia took her place in women's basketball history, became just 210 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:10.120 the third d one player in women's basketball with twenty 211 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:15.960 three hundred points and eight hundred career assists. And when 212 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:17.919 you look at the other names, I mean just to 213 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:22.000 be the third player period, but the most. 214 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:24.279 Recent to do that. How about Caitlin Clark. 215 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:31.799 Obviously the Iowa superstar and Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu did it 216 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:36.519 finishing up her career. In twenty twenty, she was AP 217 00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:38.879 Player of the Year, Nasmith College Player of the Year, 218 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:44.720 and of course both players Clark and Ionescu, were first 219 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:49.720 overall in their respective draft classes. Amore twice this year 220 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:54.600 has been named the Ann Myers Drysdale National Player of 221 00:13:54.639 --> 00:14:01.120 the Week. At Kentucky. Yeah, little low Kentucky really helping 222 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:03.519 to put them on the map. I don't know that 223 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:06.519 she'll be named Player of the Year. It could be 224 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:11.879 the kid from Texas Madison Booker, probably Juju Watkins from 225 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:16.440 Southern cal She's a real superstar. But I'll be extremely 226 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:20.519 surprised if Aymore is not at least a second team 227 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:24.519 All American playing the way she is in the toughest 228 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:28.279 league in America. And you know, she had that forty 229 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:33.559 three point game that really made headlines. She's on the 230 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:37.759 Naismith College Player of the Year mid season team, the 231 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:40.559 Wooden Award mid Season team, on a lot. 232 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:42.919 Of watch lists. Pretty incredible. 233 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:46.960 And Kenny Brooks was talking about her last night on 234 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:51.919 his show with Darren Hedrick. And he's a guy, of course, 235 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:55.200 who had a lot of success at James Madison and 236 00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:59.600 at All Star players there that he helped develop at Virginia 237 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:05.600 Tech as well. Probably his best player that he's ever coached. 238 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:07.879 It's not Georgia Aymore, believe it or not, at least 239 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:13.240 not yet, so Elizabeth Kittley. At Virginia Tech. She was 240 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:16.240 a two time All American, actually three time All American, 241 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:21.919 three time ACC Player of the Year, three time All. 242 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:25.919 Defensive Team in the ACC, Freshman of the Year. Just 243 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.080 an incredible talent. 244 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:32.559 But like Georgia, Aymore worked her buttle and that carried 245 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:36.360 over to her teammates, and Kenny Brooks talked about that 246 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.039 last night. 247 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:39.960 I've been very fortunate where my best players have always 248 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:44.240 been the hardest working players. And you know, and you 249 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:47.879 know I've since James Madison all the way to Virginia 250 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:51.440 Tech when we were successful and now here. When your 251 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:55.200 best player is your hardest working player, everyone's going to 252 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:58.159 follow suit. You know, when the kids see Georgia, you know, 253 00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:59.960 in the gym, they're gonna be like, we'll have Georgia 254 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:01.679 in the gym that I need to get in the gym. 255 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:04.360 And you look at Clara Strake. Clara Strack watched Lyz 256 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:07.159 Kitley and she was like, Okay, well, Lyz Kitley got 257 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.960 extra shots in. I'm going to get extra shots in. 258 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:11.240 And it just continues on and on and on. For me, 259 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.120 it started way back when, and you know when I 260 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:16.639 had Tamra Young at James Madison University and she was 261 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:19.120 the first WNBA draft pick I ever had. She went 262 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:22.120 number seven overall from James Madison and it was because 263 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.360 of those kind of workouts. 264 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.120 She does it. 265 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.799 She did it, and you know, Don Evans saw her 266 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:27.759 do it. So many of the great players were doing 267 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.159 it that now it just becomes tradition and it's something 268 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:31.399 that we hang her hat on. 269 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:35.000 In her story in The Kentucky Colonel, Jenna wrote that 270 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:37.840 the world was sunned, the basketball world was stunned when 271 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:42.159 Georgia left Virginia Tech. I don't know, and I'm not 272 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:45.480 picking on Jenna, but I do wonder if that was 273 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:49.360 truly the case, because they have such a great relationship 274 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:51.919 Amore in Kenny Brooks, and really, when the word came 275 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:55.320 out Georgia Aymore's leaving Georgia Virginia Tech, I'm sure a 276 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:58.840 lot of people were surprised until they heard she's following 277 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:03.039 Kenny Brooks to Kentucky. And given their relationship, and anybody 278 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:05.839 who followed that team in that league had to have 279 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:10.000 known of their relationship. And Kenny Brooks and George Amore 280 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:12.319 talk about that all the time. How they can, you know, 281 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:17.279 finish each other's sentences, read each other's minds. So I 282 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:20.559 think when a player as established as Amore does transfer, 283 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:24.759 that's one thing, but to follow the coach, and he 284 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:29.079 talked last night Brooks did about how he helps work 285 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:34.119 with Georgia Amore on drills for Kentucky and then drills 286 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:38.680 for the WNBA, helping her prepare for a pro career. 287 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:43.920 So it is a great relationship, but minus Georgia aymore 288 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:46.119 this year. All due respect to the rest of the players, 289 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:49.279 and of course Claire's track transferred as well from Tech 290 00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:53.599 you know at Kentucky's not anywhere close to what it 291 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:56.039 is right now. It's been pretty amazing and a lot 292 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:59.720 of fun. I will say, to follow UK women's basketball 293 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:01.759 this year. All right, we'll take a break, come back, 294 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:04.759 talk about those EKU Colonels. Top of hour number two. 295 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:08.319 David Sisk breaks down what he saw and the Wildcats 296 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:11.640 lost to Texas and where they need to improve moving 297 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:15.279 forward given their injuries. And then Jeff Picoro will talk 298 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:17.000 with us a little bit as well here on the 299 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:19.759 Big Blue Sider six thirty wlier. Joining us now in 300 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:22.279 our celebrity hoighline is a long time friend of mine, 301 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.839 friend of the show, and the longtime radio voice of 302 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:29.160 the EKU Colonels, mister Greg Stottlemeyer. And he's got a 303 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:32.160 big game coming up tonight it is Lipskin, which starts 304 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:33.720 in just a few minutes seven pm. 305 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:37.160 But we got to talk Greg about EKU man. 306 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:41.559 There were struggles early the Colonels arguably are the hottest 307 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.519 team in the country. 308 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.680 What's going on over there. 309 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.119 They've really played hard, and they've played together. They moved 310 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:50.599 the basketball, and they've hit shots. I mean, if you 311 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:53.079 go back and look, they've won seven in a row, 312 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:56.240 all in the conference. And in that win streak, they're 313 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:58.559 scoring eighty six and a half points a game. They're 314 00:18:58.599 --> 00:19:02.240 hitting forty five percent from three, they're assisting on over 315 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:05.519 half of their makes. And you know, we can make 316 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:08.839 a complicated game simple, or it's really a simple game. 317 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:11.319 Hit shots. If you hit shots, you normally win. And 318 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:14.200 they're hitting shots, which they weren't earlier in the year. 319 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:17.039 They buffed their free through percentage. They're up with well 320 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:20.279 above eighty percent over the last sixteen games, and they're 321 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:23.839 doing it without their leading score the last two games. 322 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:26.920 Who injured a knee a little bit over a week ago. 323 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:31.960 You know, watching some of these games on ESPN Plus, 324 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:35.279 I saw the Austin p game down in Clarksville, a 325 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:38.240 winnable game if not for shots that just wouldn't fall. 326 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:41.720 The Stets and loss in Richmond by one point. Again, 327 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:47.319 shots just weren't falling. And you posted a stat on 328 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:50.160 Twitter or X if you will, just the other day 329 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:54.839 about how great shooting has led to this streak. And 330 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:57.200 it's really remarkable, isn't it. 331 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:59.519 It really is. I mean you look at when they 332 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:02.680 outshoot an opponent this year, they're twelve and one. When 333 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:06.000 they get out shot, they're four and ten. Aw Hamilton's 334 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:08.839 been at Eastern for seven years now. 335 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:10.640 He's when he. 336 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:12.799 Does not when his team doesn't get out shot Dick, 337 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:18.559 he's ninety three and ten. So again, that's the simplicity 338 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:20.519 the stat that tells you the most. 339 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:20.839 Right. 340 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:24.880 Rebounding is important, turnovers are important, all that kind of thing, 341 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:28.559 pace of play, but it gets down to the making shots. 342 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:32.240 And again, I when they lost George Kimball to the 343 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:35.920 knee injury. Over these last three games, other guys have 344 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:39.720 stepped up. Mayor Wall of six to eight sophomore is 345 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:43.880 a transfer from College at Charleston. He's once he's had 346 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:47.480 his opportunity. He's averaged twelve and a half points over 347 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:50.680 the last five games. He's over the last couple of games, 348 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:53.039 he's hit over half of his three point shots. And 349 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:58.519 they've found open three point shooters, and their three point shooters. 350 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:00.839 Have had good have had good run Now that. 351 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:05.240 Said, Lipscombe probably the best team in the conference overall, 352 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:08.920 picked to win the preseason veteran team back. So this 353 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:11.279 will be a really really tough one on what is 354 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:14.640 Eku's senior night in the regular season. 355 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:18.920 And yet Eastern wins add Lipscomb down in Nashville a 356 00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:19.799 couple of weeks ago. 357 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.680 How did that happen? 358 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:25.079 Shot the ball well, just kind of had a great 359 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:29.240 defensive game plan. The guy that they lost to the injury, 360 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:33.480 Kimball and will not play, we don't expect in this game. 361 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:38.119 He had a great game defensively and offensively. It wasn't 362 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:42.039 Lipscomb's night. They're really good point guard or not point guard, 363 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:44.799 but two guard. It was one of seven from the field, 364 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:49.079 only had two points and ek you just really they 365 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:52.359 jumped out on him early, kept the lead, repelled every 366 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:56.559 comeback that the Bisons had, and I think it was 367 00:21:57.079 --> 00:22:00.200 game plan. It was execution of the game plan from 368 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:04.119 the walk through on over to tip off. And it'll 369 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:06.240 be interesting to see if they can keep it going 370 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:10.359 because they've kind of positioned themselves they hold their destiny 371 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:13.480 from here on out to the end of the regular season. 372 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:16.880 The only team that they don't have a tiebreaker over 373 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:20.319 is North Alabama, who's really good too. It's North Alabama 374 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:24.160 Lipscomb tied for first and EKU is one of two 375 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:27.000 teams a game back. So I didn't see this coming 376 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:29.400 three weeks ago, I'll be very honest about it. And 377 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:32.599 it's been a pleasant surprise to see what they've done 378 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:35.519 and to keep it going. Who knows, but they're solidly 379 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:39.079 in the postseason tournament. Obviously, you know in a one big, 380 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:42.440 one bid league, you want to be playing well in February, 381 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.000 end of March. 382 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:45.799 Talking to Greg Stottlemeyer, the radio voice, and you can 383 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:48.400 also see him on her least here, I'm on ESPN 384 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:51.960 Plus coverage of EKU basketball coming up tonight at seven. 385 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:55.759 It's Lipscomb and the Colonels over at Baptist Health Arena. 386 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:59.240 You mentioned Aw Hamilton. I really enjoy talking to ad 387 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.559 of course, you know it kind of and you've been 388 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:03.720 around for a while. Makes Fielo when you've covered his 389 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:07.319 high school team. But it's just been interesting watching him 390 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:11.480 develop into one of the hot young coaches in the country. 391 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:16.000 And man, that energy is infectious, isn't it. 392 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:18.960 It really is? And you know you can have energy, 393 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:23.319 but is your energy genuine, and his energy is genuine. 394 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:27.000 He's a genuine person, and I think when you combine 395 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:31.359 that with what he can do as a coach and 396 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:34.599 make the right decisions on the sidelines, it's a good combination. 397 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:40.400 He's got that record well above five hundred. He's had 398 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:43.519 a year where he got again, like most mid majors, 399 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:46.720 he got hit by the transfer of portal. His top 400 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:51.160 two guards went to Florida Atlantic and to Evansville. But 401 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:54.000