WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:03.640 Comes into Oway, Oway sprints up in the front court, 2 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.480 drives it down to the baseline, flips it up. Hold 3 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:11.199 Kentucky five to play shot from back parts. 4 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:16.679 No god, oh my, oh way, face to dad. Yeah 5 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:21.440 they did it twice. Remember that play? Yes, I know 6 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:21.879 you do. 7 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:26.039 That was from the SEC Tournament, the Kentucky Wildcats knocking 8 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:30.760 off Oklahoma thanks to otega Oway, who had transferred in 9 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:35.240 from Ou and for the second time disappointed Sooner fans 10 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:36.600 with his heroics. 11 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:39.240 And now he has delighted. 12 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:42.479 Kentucky fans with an announcement that he will return and 13 00:00:42.520 --> 00:00:43.640 be a Wildcat again. 14 00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:49.840 You know, this year exceeded all my expectations, through all 15 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:51.719 the highs and the rose. You know, I found a 16 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:54.640 family in Kentucky forever. So let's running back and stay home. 17 00:00:55.240 --> 00:00:58.159 That was the announcement yesterday. Welcome to the Big Blue Insider, 18 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.119 Dick Gabriel with you. Well, of course we did and 19 00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:03.159 have it on last night's show because I was involved 20 00:01:03.159 --> 00:01:04.040 with Jerry duty. 21 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:06.000 So here we are a day later. 22 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:09.120 But the Big Blue Nation, of course talking about this 23 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:13.480 because really, when you look at the Kentucky roster, it 24 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:18.560 is complete now and this is the first day essentially 25 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:22.359 of the era of the twenty five twenty six team. 26 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:25.319 If you want to mark your calendar from when the 27 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:29.200 season really began for this upcoming Kentucky team, this is 28 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:32.480 the day because on this day, when you got up 29 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:35.480 this morning, everything was settled. Really when you went to 30 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:39.840 bed last night, everything was settled because Oteoga Ohway came back, 31 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:43.959 which was expected. But I see so many people on 32 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:46.079 social media I kind of got a kick out of 33 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:51.519 it who instantly recognized when they saw always announcement on 34 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:56.480 Instagram that he had recorded this some time ago while 35 00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:58.159 he was still a UK did it over at the 36 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:02.239 Craft Center, were in UK gear, And so some people 37 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:06.400 have I think drawn a mistaken conclusion that he was 38 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:10.120 always coming back to Kentucky. That's not the case. Common 39 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:13.960 sense tells you that had he decided not to go 40 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:16.560 to the NBA, sure he comes back to Kentucky, He's 41 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:20.159 not going to enter the portal and transfer again. I mean, 42 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:22.800 he could have, but no, there was never any indication 43 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:25.520 that that was the case. No, he was going to 44 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:28.879 test the waters for the NBA, get everything out of 45 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:31.360 it that he could, which he did, waiting until the 46 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:34.599 last minute, but getting as much information as he can 47 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:36.759 to help him moving forward. 48 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:39.400 But it only makes sense. 49 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:42.520 And I'm sure somebody UK suggested that to him, Hey, 50 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:44.919 you know, if you decide to come back, we sure 51 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:48.680 hope you do. Let's go ahead and record that now, 52 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:51.319 because if he had made his decision within the last 53 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:54.599 forty eight hours leading up to the deadline, he would 54 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:57.800 have had to record that in a hotel room and 55 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:00.560 a gym somewhere else. He could have had as UK 56 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:03.439 gear on, but it wouldn't have the same backdrop. And 57 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:06.719 you know, he had people from UK working with him 58 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:12.159 on this announcement, So this whole NBA draft thing was 59 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:16.080 not you know, a ruse or just you know, an exercise. 60 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:20.520 He was serious about this, of course, because had he 61 00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:23.520 excelled even more, I'm sure he did well, But had 62 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:25.439 he excelled to the point where a team said, you 63 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:27.879 know what, we're going to take you in the first round. 64 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:29.240 In fact, we're going to take you in the first 65 00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:32.599 you know, fifteen slots or something like that, he would have. 66 00:03:32.599 --> 00:03:33.919 Left and you couldn't have blamed him. 67 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:39.120 But because of the financial considerations with the NIL, he 68 00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:42.639 didn't have to settle air quotes for being either a 69 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:45.159 second round pick or a free agent with a two 70 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:48.240 way contract with a G league. He did what was 71 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:51.280 financially prudent, but also what was best for his career. 72 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:56.560 You think about a kid in his shoes, best possible situation. 73 00:03:57.599 --> 00:04:01.840 Because of the nil dollars and because of his skills, 74 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:04.759 he'll be there next year, he'll be in the first round. 75 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:07.520 I believe he's sitting on a huge year. And I 76 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:10.000 only say this and you're probably thinking the same thing 77 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:15.159 because of what happened with Antonio. Reeves came back at 78 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:20.240 his best year as a collegian, helped himself enormously, and 79 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:22.360 of course he was on the nil doll as well. 80 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:24.319 And by the way, you may have seen this, but 81 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:29.279 Kirby Smart was talking to yaou Sports and he talked 82 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:33.800 about the fact that some NIL collectives are spending five 83 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:38.800 figures a month to retain commitments of prospective recruits. He 84 00:04:38.839 --> 00:04:43.199 wasn't talking about just Georgia collectives. These are collectives everywhere, 85 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:47.959 he said. In some cases, kids are getting twenty thousand 86 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:53.560 dollars a month from collectives. Now, if that kid, let's 87 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:56.120 say he's getting it from a Georgia collective, if he 88 00:04:56.160 --> 00:05:01.360 doesn't go to Georgia and signs elsewhere the collectives quote 89 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:06.600 will request that money back. Requesting is one thing. Getting 90 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:11.319 it is another. And it all depends on what's written down. 91 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:15.319 Is there paper, Is there any kind of legal agreement 92 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:20.800 on paper? Otherwise it doesn't exist. But it's Smart pointed out, 93 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:23.800 these are high school kids getting money from an entity 94 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:28.439 not affiliated with the university, but is a collective of 95 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.839 the university, and there is a fine line. Yeah, who 96 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:35.800 asked Smart to name the schools to which the collectives 97 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:39.399 he referenced are affiliated. He would not, but said the 98 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:46.639 programs aren't SEC members. How about that again, no guardrails. 99 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:50.319 They're trying like heck to rain this in. And as 100 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:52.480 I mentioned a few days ago, and you may have 101 00:05:52.519 --> 00:05:57.079 seen this on social media, Tennessee University of State of 102 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:03.600 working against the guard rail, else passing legislation that basically 103 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:07.240 says we can do whatever we want in Division one. 104 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:12.480 When it comes to nil's paying our players not healthy, 105 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:16.399 that'll end up in court. But there's a lot of 106 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:19.040 ground to cover between now and then. Anyway, back to 107 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:24.199 the Wildcats, otega Oway is a Kentucky Wildcat once again, 108 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.759 and the play he made in the tournament was sensational, 109 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:31.800 But of course It goes back really to what he 110 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:37.439 did during the regular season when Way, against his old school, 111 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:41.279 brought the Wildcats all the way back, scored Kentucky's last 112 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:46.040 eighteen points and made a huge play at the very 113 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:49.160 end to win the game. Kentucky had been leading eighty 114 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:52.199 to seventy. Oklahoma goes on a fourteen to three run 115 00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:55.360 up eighty four eighty three was six seconds left, and 116 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:58.120 then here came the former Sooner to win the game. 117 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:01.759 Calls for Away to come out, takes the handoff, always 118 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:03.120 got it, goes to. 119 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:06.199 His left down the lane, angles right, flips it up Godad. 120 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:10.560 With six seconds to play, here comes Oklahoma. 121 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:13.279 Fierce drives into the lane, goes for the rams clock 122 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:15.120 by Garrison, picked up by prayer. 123 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.879 Oh my MirOS on the clock, and the Cats get 124 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:19.439 out of Oklahoma on the wind. 125 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:25.480 What up when Ohtag Always saves the day against his 126 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:27.240 former school, and that. 127 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:30.199 Of course the voice of the wildcast Tom Leech and 128 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:33.439 and elated Jack Gibbons. So now you keep you here 129 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:36.800 to the tracks about who's doing well in pickup games. 130 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:40.439 They gotta stay healthy all that, But it's a big 131 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:44.439 day for the Big Blue Nation, and in fact, an 132 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:49.639 ex Wildcat Shay Gilgris Alexander adding another trophy to his 133 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:52.720 personal trophy case. You may have seen some of this 134 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:54.639 game last night. I can't blame if you didn't watch 135 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:57.759 the whole thing unless you're a big Oklahoma City thunderfan. 136 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:05.480 Absolutely destroyed the Minnesota Timberwolves, including Julius Randall, and including 137 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:11.160 Anthony Edwards, who apparently had some problems with Shay Gildess 138 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:15.839 Alexander being named the MVP for the entire season. I mean, 139 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:21.160 he was clearly the MVP of the series, but SGA 140 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:27.120 being named MVP and Anthony Edwards either flat out stated 141 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:29.439 or kind of applied to I'm the best player in 142 00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:31.279 the league or I'm better than he is or whatever. 143 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:37.039 And of course his nickname is Aunt, just like Anthony Davis. 144 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:41.519 A lot of people call him Aunt. But Converse, which 145 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:48.559 is SGA's shoe sponsor, dropped an ad last night right 146 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:53.120 after OKC punched its ticket to the NBA Finals. It 147 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:59.720 released a video featuring a real ant, of course, indicating 148 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.440 Anthony Edwards of the Wolves. 149 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:05.000 Well, and that's all. It was video of an ant and. 150 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:09.360 The text reading nothing left to say, question mark unbelievable. 151 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:15.440 How about that? The shoe sponsor taken up for its 152 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:21.039 favorite player at the moment, so Converse going after Anthony 153 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:23.440 Edwards with a video on all he can do is 154 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:26.759 swallow it. But he did. I mean, he did not 155 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:29.279 have a great game, missed ten of his first eleven shots. 156 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:34.879 It was not a game from Minnesota scored the first bucket. 157 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:38.559 It was a three by Edwards. That was it for 158 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:42.080 more than seven minutes, really more than eight minutes, as 159 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:49.559 Minnesota's got buried by Okasee, and he owned it. He said, basically, 160 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:52.399 we lost the series. They took it to us, we 161 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:55.600 didn't respond and I wasn't good enough. So now we'll 162 00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:00.320 see how that affects him in the near future. Former 163 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:05.480 Wildcat Shay Gildess Alexander hosting the championship trophy from the 164 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:10.159 Western Conference named for Magic Johnson, and the MVP Trophy 165 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:15.279 as well. Before we hit the brake, Mark Pope and 166 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.799 Kenny Brooks, two pretty good hires right from Mitch Barnhart. 167 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:21.639 He did an interview down at SEC meetings. It's going 168 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:24.559 on right now, the Spring Meetings in Destin, the annual event, 169 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:30.799 and big things often happened down there. Paul Feinbaum hosts 170 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.799 his show from down there and we played earlier. I 171 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:38.679 guess back last week maybe a comment from Nick man 172 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:41.159 jonas he was talking to fine bamb at the SEC 173 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:45.960 Baseball tournament. Finebaum moved his show as People to Deston 174 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:50.879 and he is talking to everybody, including Mitch Barnhardt, and 175 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:54.440 he talked to Barnhart about the fact that the UK 176 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:57.440 Athletics director made two pretty good hires when it came 177 00:10:57.480 --> 00:11:01.159 to basketball coaches, Mark Pope Kenny Brooks. 178 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:04.080 Just just two really special coaches, you know, and have 179 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:07.600 the opportunity over a three week period of time to 180 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:11.200 switch both your basketball coaches, uh and bring in two 181 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:14.960 guys that are so bright and so thoughtful. They came 182 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:18.799 in and they had essentially no roster and no coaches, 183 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:21.840 and what they did from scratch and in the new 184 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.279 world that you can do that a little quicker, There's 185 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:28.879 no question about that. But and then obviously coach Brooks 186 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:31.279 brought in and a dynamic player in Georgia Amore, who 187 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:33.240 was so much fun to watch with the team that 188 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.240 she made everybody better around her. And then coach Pope 189 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:39.679 obviously put together a roster that that fit his personality 190 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:42.320 and his team, and the two of them together. They 191 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:45.120 played off each other very very well, and it was 192 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:48.720 It was a lot of fun. And there's there's probably 193 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:50.720 a chapter two in the book somewhere along the way 194 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:53.000 for the way it all came together. But boy, you 195 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:55.120 couldn't have done it without really really special people. 196 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:56.759 I certainly don't want to tell you what to do. 197 00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:59.679 I think you ought to consider writing it. It would 198 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:05.759 be an extraordinary conversation about the inside of one of 199 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:09.679 the most dramatic moments in the history of the greatest 200 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:12.399 basketball program on the face of the earth. I would 201 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:15.080 love to read it, so put me down for a 202 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.000 pre sale copy. 203 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:16.559 Thank you. 204 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:17.360 I appreciate that. 205 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:21.639 Curtis City, the SEC Network, that is Mits Barnhart talking 206 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:24.840 to Paul Finebaum. When we come back. We'll hear from 207 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:27.559 Nick bnjee on in the Wildcats. The baseball Cats open 208 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:33.799 up NCAA tournament played tomorrow at noon down at Clemson taking. 209 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:35.240 On West Virginia, a game you'll hear. 210 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.639 Right here coming up a little bit later on Aaron 211 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:40.919 Gershaan of the Cat's Balls, Sean Woods, our unforgettable guard, 212 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:43.759 and West Ham Bureau chief Gary Moore. We usually talk 213 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:46.799 to these guys on Wednesday, but as I said, Jerry Duty, 214 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:49.759 we had the best of last night, so slighting everything 215 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:53.679 one day. It's the Thursday edition of The Big Boon Sider. 216 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:57.159 Here on six thirty WLAP Welcome back to. 217 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:57.960 The Big Boon Sider. 218 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.919 Coming up at the bottom of the hour. Aaron Gershan, 219 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:03.519 the Cats Paws, our number two, Sean Woods, the Unforgettable 220 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:06.039 Guard and West End Bureau Chief Gary Moore. And of 221 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:09.639 course tomorrow at noon it's Kentucky baseball, the Wildcats in 222 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:15.240 West Virginia opening NCAA tournament play down in the Clemson Regional. 223 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:17.639 And earlier this week we had a chance to chat 224 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:21.279 with Nick Minjeon and a couple of his players and 225 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:24.399 one of the things Minjeon talked about and I actually 226 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:26.440 brought it up and I played the comment the other 227 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:28.320 night on the show about how he spoke to Paul 228 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:33.039 Finbaum on the SEC Network about margin of error being 229 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:37.080 so fine, and how he had the Kentucky season whittled 230 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:40.519 down to a handful of plays that separate this year's 231 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:44.919 team from contending for an SEC championship, which had won 232 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:49.519 last year. It is so minute, the margin for error. 233 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:52.559 But what that also meant was this team struggled a 234 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:57.080 bit this season, but because he somehow got these guys 235 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:00.000 to realize how close they were to being what they 236 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.919 they want to be and need to be. That's why 237 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:05.240 they've been able to come back so many times this 238 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:09.279 season from some rough patches and put themselves in a 239 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.600 position to play in the NCAA tournament. 240 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:14.600 Yeah, thank you for bringing that up, because yesterday I 241 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:16.639 just told him how proud I was of them, because 242 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:18.799 when we went through that stretch where we were losing 243 00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:21.399 those one and two run ball games, there's so many 244 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:23.759 other teams that would just folded and been like, man, 245 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:26.799 this is too much, this is too much, and this 246 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:29.159 team did not do that. Like I have so much 247 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:31.559 respect for them. But a lot of it has to 248 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:33.200 do with some of our leadership, the guys that have 249 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:36.000 been in our program, you know, like Devin, he's been 250 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:39.759 here five years, and Evan and James and Novi and 251 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:43.039 Patty and these guys that have been in our program. 252 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:45.000 They just they've helped us. 253 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:48.440 He broke down all the stats again for the media 254 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:51.399 as symbol how many pitches are involved in a game 255 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:55.440 and a season, and how so many wins and losses 256 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:58.799 can turn on one play, which means one pitch, which 257 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:02.480 means one moment and when you look at it that way. 258 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:06.080 And again, every team can say this, but Kentucky can 259 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:09.320 say it just as well as anybody. They're that close 260 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.600 to being at the top of the conference. 261 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:14.399 I can tell you that we are nine plays away 262 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:17.679 from being back to back SEC champions. I've got it 263 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:19.840 down to nine plays. I can tell you every single 264 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:23.600 one of them. And I say that because that's how 265 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:27.879 small the margin of victory is. And to get this 266 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:30.879 team and to get this group of new players to 267 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:35.440 understand that, it's a real challenge. But they understand it now, 268 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:37.639 and I told them yesterday, I'm like, I hope you 269 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.679 guys understand now. 270 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:43.399 I always think about that when I'm covering games and 271 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:47.120 you look at a rally by another team that starts 272 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:50.559 with two outs and two strikes, or a walk that 273 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:53.240 you know leads off the inning and opens things up. 274 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:56.519 I mean, one pitch here and there makes the difference, 275 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:59.559 It really does. You know how many times have you 276 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:03.360 seen a guy laced one down the line or knock 277 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.159 one out of the park on a one to two 278 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:08.879 or zero to two pitch. Clearly a mistake by the pitcher, 279 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:11.919 but it can turn that inning around, which can turn 280 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:14.519 the game around, which can turn the series around. It 281 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.799 just goes on and on like that. But that's baseball. 282 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:20.120 A lot of sports. Every sport turns on moments. But 283 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:23.399 because baseball breaks down the way it does, it's easier 284 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.759 to chart it. I think pitch by pitch, and I've 285 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:28.840 thought about that for several years. Of course, Nick, being 286 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.639 a numbers guy, has it all broken down and he's 287 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:34.720 got these guys understanding it. And now they're playing in 288 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:38.279 the NCAA tournament and Patrick Herrera, who transferred in a 289 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:41.919 couple of years ago from Northwestern, is having a chance 290 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:46.240 to play in a third consecutive NCAA tournament. He was 291 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:48.440 a big part of that World Series team last year, 292 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.279 even a bigger part this year when he hasn't been injured. 293 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:52.759 And this is the. 294 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.600 First time that the Wildcats will play in the NCAA 295 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:59.879 Tournament on the road, and Herrera said he can handle 296 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.840 it no problem. 297 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.799 The thing I've just done my whole career. You know, 298 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:05.000 high school baseball is obviously different than college, but like 299 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:08.920 when I've played in you know, high pressure, cool environments, 300 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.480 I just you know, people who are nervous or when 301 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:13.519 I get nervous, I just take some time to enjoy 302 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:16.200 the moment. Like if the crowd chirps you, it says 303 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:19.319 something funny like laugh, it's pretty cool. You know, loud 304 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:21.799 crowds just take a moment. So, you know, being an 305 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.720 offer sect like this is a really cool moment. I've 306 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:26.680 worked super hard to get here. I've done this for 307 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:28.720 twenty two years of my life. I'm just going to 308 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:31.079 stick to the training and you know, things will fall 309 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:32.599 into place. So yeah, I just kind of enjoyed the 310 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:35.440 moment and when it gets roudy just like that. 311 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:40.200 Area has led the Wildcats and on base percentage much 312 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:43.160 of the year, but again has had a rash of injuries. 313 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:46.720 He's dealt with, you know, a groin injury, an arm injury. 314 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:49.359 But he makes a difference when he's in that lineup, 315 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:53.039 he makes a difference. You're not a power hitter, but 316 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:57.319 he can hit for extra bass. Tremendous defensive player, but 317 00:17:57.559 --> 00:18:01.880 vital to this Kentucky team was Evan Byers. He is 318 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:04.599 a veteran of this team. He has been his fifth year. 319 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.640 He's a fireman, short relief guy. He bring him in 320 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:09.720 in the middle of the games, usually every now and 321 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:13.400 then he'll close one out, but think about him. He's 322 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:17.440 from Nicholasville, played his high school ball in Electionon and 323 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:21.880 he was watching Nick benjalones first ball club, which won 324 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:27.319 a regional title back in twenty seventeen, and dreaming of 325 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:30.440 being a Wildcat and the following season. 326 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:32.480 He was, Yeah, I take great pride in it, you know, 327 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:35.839 as a university and as a fan of Kentucky. I 328 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:38.160 mean I remember going to the twenty seventeen regional here 329 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.680 and then kind of signed the next year after. So 330 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.559 it's kind of a full circle moment to be able to, 331 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:45.400 you know, be a fan growing up wanting to play 332 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.839 for the University of Kentucky, then getting the opportunity, and 333 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:50.640 then go into three straight regionals. So it's a great 334 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:53.559 opportunity and I'm blessed to have it, And it wouldn't 335 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:55.319 have been done with all the guys in the locker room, 336 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:57.400 you know, the guys in the locker room, the coaches 337 00:18:57.400 --> 00:18:59.319 in the offices, they're doing everything what it takes for 338 00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:01.759 us to be success one, giving us every chance and 339 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.519 resource that we need. So it's been really cool to 340 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:07.200 see how this program has grown in this university, and 341 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:09.039 it's just I love to see the joy that that 342 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:11.200 brings to fans, because that's what keeps us going. 343 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:14.440 Well, you know, if fans will follow this team down 344 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.599 to Clemson. Don't know how many, but a lot of 345 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:19.119 people made it to Omaha last year, and I'm sure 346 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:22.200 if this team somehow gets to Omaha, you'll see Sea 347 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:25.519 of Blue there as well. But Clemson's a tough place 348 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:29.400 to play, they all are. However, this has been deemed 349 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:33.160 one of the more winnable regionals. Clemson's good, that's why 350 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:37.640 Clemson's hosting. But it's not an SEC team at all. 351 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:40.119 Due respect, we know how tough that can be, so 352 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:43.119 the Wildcats. Of course, you don't go to a regional 353 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:46.319 hosted by an SEC team, But this is not a 354 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:49.559 place that's as tough to win, say as Arkansas or 355 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:53.799 LSU or Texas. Clemson's tough, tough to win on the 356 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:58.680 road all the time, but again, games turn on individual moments. 357 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:01.599 Make enough of those moments, you got a chance to 358 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:04.240 go to a super regional. The bad news is if 359 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:07.000 you win, you probably go to LSU. But I can 360 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:10.839 tell you the Wildcats would accept that gratefully. Now if 361 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:13.680 you told them they'd be regional champs again and we 362 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:16.160 will have it for you right here. It's a noon 363 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:19.599 start eleven forty five. Pregame up next to Aaron Gershan 364 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:23.400 of the Cat's Paws here on six thirty WLAP Welcome back. 365 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:25.920 We are chatting with Aaron Gershan of the Cats Paus 366 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:28.759 who joined us usually on Wednesdays, but of course sliding 367 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:33.519 everything a day for my jury duty. And it's fortuitous, Aaron, 368 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:37.680 because now we can talk about Otago always decision we 369 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:40.599 had talked yesterday, we would have missed it. But he 370 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:43.680 is coming back. I guess, not a real shock. But 371 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:46.279 are you surprised he waited till the last day? 372 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.759 No, I don't. 373 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:51.640 I don't think so at all. I think one it 374 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:54.000 was just because of the schedule. You go look and 375 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:56.640 he had no He had to work out with Brooklyn 376 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.400 Mets on Tuesday. 377 00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.279 I believe. 378 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.839 I don't know what team it was, by I know 379 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:03.240 he had to work out yesterday as well. So he 380 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:06.319 went through the entire process as he should. Get all feedback. 381 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:09.279 You possibly can meet with every team that is going 382 00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:11.720 to let you in there building, see what they have 383 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:14.000 to say. You know, it just takes one team right 384 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:16.319 to get that promise you're looking for. And if he 385 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.960 got it, you know, he would have been well in 386 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:20.759 his right to go ahead and take it. But clearly 387 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:22.759 he didn't get what he was looking for as far 388 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:25.559 as that goes. And now he comes back armed with 389 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:29.119 the feedback of the NBA knowing exactly what they expect 390 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:31.839 from him to be a first round. 391 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.279 Take next year. 392 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:36.240 That gives him motivation for himself. And you know, I 393 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:39.039 just know the competitor he is. He's already motivated for 394 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:41.720 you know how well last year went, but you know 395 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:44.400 a sour taste in your mouth about how it finished. 396 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:47.519 So it's a I think it's a great situation for take. 397 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:50.359 You know, any guy who's on the cusp like that 398 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:52.359 should absolutely take it down. 399 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.720 To the wire. 400 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:55.720 And you know, you saw a couple other players pull 401 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:58.960