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Speaker 1: Comedy Up Broadway in Lexington welcomes Mike Armstrong, Mark's twenty

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Speaker 1: seventh through the twenty ninth. Then it's the Lexington debut

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Speaker 1: of Lorie kill martin April third through the fifth, and

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Speaker 1: catch rising comedy stars Sam tallon April eleventh and twelfth.

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Speaker 1: Comedy Up Broadway opened then Downtown Lexington in nineteen eighty seven,

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Speaker 1: and they're still bringing the best and stand up comedy

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Speaker 1: to the area at thirty eight years later. Call eight

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Speaker 1: five nine two seven to one joke or visit Comedy

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Speaker 1: Off Broadway, dot com com Off Broadway.

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Speaker 2: It's our listeners, a great morning. Actually, Drew Franklin here,

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Speaker 2: mchaus Bar and Grill. I'll be here from ten to noon.

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Speaker 2: It's a busy, busy, busy busy morning. Today's show we're

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Speaker 2: brought to you by TJ Smith, personal injury lawyer called TJ.

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Speaker 2: He'll make a pay. We want to hear from you

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Speaker 2: on the Clark's Pumping Show Pump. I can't talk Clark's

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Speaker 2: Pumping Shop. Foon line eight five nine eight oh two

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Speaker 2: two eight seven. We'll get the whiskey thief call of

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Speaker 2: the day. We'll get the a vision autoglass text of

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Speaker 2: the day if you send it to Amsterdam. I don't

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Speaker 2: have that. But Matt's in Amsterdam with all the guys on.

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Speaker 2: I'm here hosting the show. I have Jack Pilgrim, Steven

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Speaker 2: Peak with me, and we're a little flustered because right

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Speaker 2: as the show started we had some breaking news hit

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Speaker 2: the button. Rick, Ladies and gentlemen of the Big Blue Nation.

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Speaker 2: As of about five minutes ago, Jaden Quainton's, a projected

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Speaker 2: top ten pick in the twenty twenty six NBA draft,

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Speaker 2: has committed to your University of Kentucky Wildcats boys. How

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Speaker 2: about that, Jack, You're smiling, just what everyone knows. Jack

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Speaker 2: was working the phones as I was doing that intro.

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Speaker 2: That's why I was a little flustered. Uh, making sure

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Speaker 2: everything's good. Maybe even try to get him on the

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Speaker 2: show later. But it is a this is a busy

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Speaker 2: scene here at Ksbar right away, Jack Pilgrim, But we're

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Speaker 2: starting off with huge news throw away the NCAA Championship.

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Speaker 2: We'll get to that later. One shouting moment. We'll get

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Speaker 2: to that later. Mark Pope added another player at the

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Speaker 2: final second before we started the show, and he's a

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Speaker 2: big one, a former commit under John Caliperry at Kentucky

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Speaker 2: even considered sticking around after cal left, but he ended

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Speaker 2: up at Arizona State last season for his freshman year.

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Speaker 2: Suffered a torn a cl in February, but he's expected

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Speaker 2: to still be back maybe on time, maybe a little

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Speaker 2: bit late next season. Whatever happens with that, I think

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Speaker 2: it is still an amazing get. I'm so flustered right now. Yeah,

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Speaker 2: you were on the phone as I was doing my intro.

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Speaker 2: That's why I was fumbling over my words.

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Speaker 3: I had to hang up because I heard the intro

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Speaker 3: music and was like, oh, craft were I don't want

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Speaker 3: to get hot mic right now. But Mark Pope Lands's

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Speaker 3: biggest fish yet, like we so much about, Like you know,

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Speaker 3: he needs to can he land a high, high profile,

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Speaker 3: blue chip, top five true recruit and you know some

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Speaker 3: misses along the way, and you know some striking out

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Speaker 3: on some high profile transfer targets, and you know that's

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Speaker 3: always just kind of been lingering in the back of

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Speaker 3: BBN's mind of you know, can he close on a true,

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Speaker 3: legitimate talent. And Jayden Quaintans is that guy he wanted

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Speaker 3: to be here the first cycle. In fact, it was

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Speaker 3: funny now that I can kind of tell the story

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Speaker 3: exactly one year ago today, I was the one that

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Speaker 3: had to call Jayde's dad and at eleven forty five

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Speaker 3: at night and say, hey, is John Cali Perry leaving

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Speaker 3: for Arkansas? And he said, what are you talking about?

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Speaker 3: I haven't heard anything to suggest that. So funny. Here

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Speaker 3: we are exactly one year ago to the day. As

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Speaker 3: we were waking up this time last year wondering what

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Speaker 3: our future looked like and if Jayden was going to

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Speaker 3: be a part of that. Now we know he's going

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Speaker 3: to be a part of that, and it's pretty darn good.

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Speaker 2: Incredible addition, let me set us back up. That was Jack.

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Speaker 2: A lot of you know Jack from sources say he's

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Speaker 2: hosted this show many times. It feels like a good

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Speaker 2: time to have you on. I almost want to say,

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Speaker 2: I knew this was gonna happen. That's what I picked

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Speaker 2: you to do today. We'll get to that. Had another

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Speaker 2: commitment yesterday. Of course, the college basketball season ended last night.

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Speaker 2: But we also have Steven Peak here. Steven is ksr's videographer.

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Speaker 2: He does some on camera stuff on ksr's YouTube channel,

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Speaker 2: but a lot of time he's behind the camera when

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Speaker 2: Jack and I are doing our rapid reactions. He does

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Speaker 2: travel videos with Jack, goes to all the interviews, pretty

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Speaker 2: much anything you've seen on ksr's YouTube channel. Steven's the

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Speaker 2: one that made it happen. Steven, how's it feel to

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Speaker 2: be on the radio show for the first time?

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Speaker 4: Yeah, first time? Pretty special. I've been listening to this

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Speaker 4: show since twenty eleven. So, I mean, this is a

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Speaker 4: pretty big day for me. I'm not gonna lie. I'm

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Speaker 4: really excited.

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Speaker 2: Pretty unique circumstances, getting that commitment right away, right out

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Speaker 2: of the gate. I mean, I think we need to

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Speaker 2: have me on more often.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, both, at least schedule it because yeah, certainly we're

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Speaker 4: atty big days, pretty big day for Kentucky basketball.

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Speaker 2: So Jack, what does this? What does this mean? All Right?

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Speaker 2: So I mentioned that he had the ACL injury, suffered

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Speaker 2: that in February. But you know, I'm not a doctor,

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Speaker 2: but the Internet and WebMD tells me acls aren't what

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Speaker 2: they were twenty years ago. You can bounce back from

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Speaker 2: those a little quicker, recover a little better. I see

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Speaker 2: some fans already trying to throw it aside, you know,

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Speaker 2: complaining that this is a guy that coming off an injury.

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Speaker 2: I mean, this is a top ten lottery pick. Come on, people,

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Speaker 2: but what are we doing. We can't be happy, We

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Speaker 2: just can't. Please, will you please give everyone some comfort

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Speaker 2: at home that is worried about him coming off that

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Speaker 2: injury and just what he can put essentially be when

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Speaker 2: he gets back to full speed.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, doctors are very optimistic that, you know. I don't

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Speaker 3: think anyone is making a promise that he will be

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Speaker 3: ready for day one of the college basketball season. That's

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Speaker 3: the goal, that's the hope, that's the plan. But I

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Speaker 3: think they just kind of acknowledge that, Hey, it's you know,

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Speaker 3: ACL surgery mid March. Turnaround on that is pretty quick.

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Speaker 3: But I think people are kind of losing sight of

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Speaker 3: the fact that, you know, this is a big man

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Speaker 3: coming off a torn ACL. Yes, he is a projected

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Speaker 3: top five pick, but he also has to prove that

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Speaker 3: he is a top five pick. And I think everybody

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Speaker 3: around that this kid wants him to be able to

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Speaker 3: prove that he is at because I think there will

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Speaker 3: be NBA teams that have doubts about that. So yeah,

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Speaker 3: I think there is a lot of optimism about him.

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Speaker 3: Let's just let's just pen pencilhim in the early stages

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Speaker 3: of the next of the next college basketball season that

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Speaker 3: he will be playing for Kentucky.

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Speaker 2: But the positives before he got hurt last year at

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Speaker 2: Arizona State ten points a game, eight rebounds, two point

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Speaker 2: six blocks. When he committed to Kentucky, you know, he

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Speaker 2: seemed to really love Lexington. He was even introduced at

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Speaker 2: Rupparina for a game. They brought him out at halftime,

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Speaker 2: he gave us a big wave. Then, of course the

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Speaker 2: coaching change happens, he reopens his recruitment and ends up

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Speaker 2: at Arizona State. I think he did well for himself

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Speaker 2: making that commitment there, heading out that direction. I think

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Speaker 2: they paid him pretty well. But now heading back to

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Speaker 2: be a cat in the word around him and you've

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Speaker 2: been talking to the family. He seems to really like

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Speaker 2: Pope's system and he might even gotten him at a

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Speaker 2: discount just because he really likes the fit here and

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Speaker 2: wants to be a part of Big Blue Nation again.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think that was a big part of it,

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Speaker 3: is just watching what Amari Williams did this this past

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Speaker 3: season and just knowing like, hey, if this kid from

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Speaker 3: Drexel can come in and do what he did, and

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Speaker 3: just elevate his you know, pro stock. Whether he's drafted

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Speaker 3: or not, he has carved out a legitimate pro career

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Speaker 3: because of how he played in Mark Pope's system. And

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Speaker 3: they saw that and just like, man, imagine a legitimate

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Speaker 3: pro playing in that system, in that same role, bringing

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Speaker 3: the ball up the floor, making decisions, you know, having

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Speaker 3: just the flexibility to kind of be the straw that

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Speaker 3: stirs a drink in a you know, the biggest brand

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Speaker 3: in college basketball that was really really a peeling. I

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Speaker 3: think they understand that. They I think they realize what

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Speaker 3: they were missing going to Arizona State, kind of being

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Speaker 3: out of side, out of out of mind, where the

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Speaker 3: highlights are unbelievable, the numbers were unbelievable, blocks, rebound, steals.

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Speaker 3: I mean, he's kind of one of just those do

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Speaker 3: it all threats, but he's kind of, you know, lost

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Speaker 3: the national spotlight. I think they they loved what that

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Speaker 3: was as a recruit, and I think they wanted to

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Speaker 3: get that back. And what is absolutely his final season

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Speaker 3: of college basketball.

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Speaker 2: So city critics, you know, saying Pope can't get a

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Speaker 2: big time talent. I mean, let's say this goes best

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Speaker 2: case scenario. He has a good year ESPN dot Com

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Speaker 2: right now hasn't projected fifth overall to the Rafters, Rafters, Raptors.

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Speaker 2: Maybe we'll put him in the raptord. Let's do both

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Speaker 2: Rafters and Raptors. But that's one thing another box. Pope

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Speaker 2: needed to check that he can go out and get

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Speaker 2: a lottery pick. You know, Caleb Wilson, you're in the conversation,

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Speaker 2: missed that not looking good for Nate. Amen to the

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Speaker 2: guys that are kind of projected in that in that

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Speaker 2: uh that area, But I mean, what could this be

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Speaker 2: for Pope if it really pans out that way. It's

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Speaker 2: the it's the the proof of product.

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Speaker 3: It's a it's a it's an ability to say, hey,

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Speaker 3: we know he can do it with you know, good

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Speaker 3: college basketball players. He can do it with portal talent,

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Speaker 3: But what can he do with a legitimate superstar. What

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Speaker 3: does it look like when Mark Pope can you know,

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Speaker 3: get especially a superstar. It's kind of just a piece

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Speaker 3: of clay that he can kind of mold and turn

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Speaker 3: into this. I mean, he's a he's seventeen years old

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Speaker 3: and already put up historic numbers, especially on the defensive end.

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Speaker 3: As an all defensive team. Remember in his debut season,

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Speaker 3: it airs on a state, so it's it's one of

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Speaker 3: those deals where if this works out, this is a

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Speaker 3: you know, high risk, high reward, but absolutely lucrative.

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Speaker 2: Long term award from Art Pope on the recruiting drip.

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Speaker 4: I think that's why it's like having the season they

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Speaker 4: had this year was massive because it allows you to

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Speaker 4: get a guy like jayde I mean, just to win

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Speaker 4: the games that they're able to win.

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Speaker 5: It.

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Speaker 4: You saw Mariy Williams growth throughout the season, and I mean,

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Speaker 4: I'm excited to see what Pope's gonna be able to

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Speaker 4: do with Jane Quinn's because the raw talent is there.

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Speaker 2: Heck yeah. And then Jack, you were kind of reporting,

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Speaker 2: not kind of you were reporting this was ahead last

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Speaker 2: night on kas board. Another reason to get on KS

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Speaker 2: board KSR plus, but you were following it very closely.

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Speaker 2: And is Auburn the official second place finisher? It sounded

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Speaker 2: like he was down in Kentucky Auburn, which as someone

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Speaker 2: who's petty, that just feels good to be too. Given

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Speaker 2: Bruce Pearl and el Bruce is getting pretty desperate down

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Speaker 2: there at Auburn. I worried he might overpay and we'd

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Speaker 2: have to see quaintans in the conference. That would have

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Speaker 2: been the worst him having a big, huge season and

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Speaker 2: doing it for Auburn. But it sounds like, you know,

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Speaker 2: Pope got one over on Bruce here and when in

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Speaker 2: this recruitment, it.

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Speaker 3: Really does feel like his first high school recruitment where

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Speaker 3: Kentucky kind of solidified itself as the favorite, you know,

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Speaker 3: the likely landing spot down the stretch. Then Missouri kind

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Speaker 3: of came in last second, just kind of made them

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Speaker 3: just think one extra second about it. And I think

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Speaker 3: that was where Auburn was where I was told that

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Speaker 3: he was actually ready to commit two nights ago. And

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Speaker 3: like those early conversations went really really well with Mark Pope.

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Speaker 3: They kind of had a not a great relationship after,

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Speaker 3: you know, when Mark Pope first got the job. I

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Speaker 3: think there was some you know, Mark Pope not wanting

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Speaker 3: to get some of Col's leftovers and kind of wanting

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Speaker 3: to just start fresh with his own players. And I

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Speaker 3: think they kind of gave him grief for that to

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Speaker 3: start the process and being like, hey, you didn't want

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Speaker 3: us last time, but now, oh now you want us,

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Speaker 3: And where the you know, we were one of your

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Speaker 3: most important recruits. So I think that relationship kind of

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Speaker 3: started off. They had some history together and they were

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Speaker 3: able to very quickly fix that and they I think

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Speaker 3: it was one of those deals where Bruce Pearl made

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Speaker 3: the phone call and was just trying to see where

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Speaker 3: things stood with Kentucky as the heavy favorite, kind of

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Speaker 3: even things up, and then Mark Pope jumped back up

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Speaker 3: and ended in a masterful job closing this one.

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Speaker 2: So edit, Bruce put that in your barbecue Edit Kentucky

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Speaker 2: naysayer's huge get for the Cats. How does this fit

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Speaker 2: with the you know, Brandon Garrison Marino. You know, we

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Speaker 2: thought they'd go shooter in this next commitment, not really

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Speaker 2: a shooter, but a generational talent you're not turning down.

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Speaker 2: But how would that kind of shake up with the

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Speaker 2: pieces they already had there.

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Speaker 3: It's now the ball is in Brandon's court to decide, Hey,

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Speaker 3: do you want to still be a part of this.

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Speaker 3: There's a fit they still want him. It's definitely not

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Speaker 3: like a sign that you know we're gonna get some

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Speaker 3: type of portal announcement from Garrison. I think it's one

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Speaker 3: of those deals where you know he has to decide

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Speaker 3: Mark Pope. It's in his best interest to build the

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Speaker 3: most talented national title contending roster that he can. And

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Speaker 3: I think, you know, if whatever the remaining Dominoes that

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Speaker 3: fall after that, so be it.

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Speaker 2: But it's my my.

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Speaker 3: Read on it is that it is joining the joining

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Speaker 3: forces with the guys they have the all five of

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Speaker 3: the guys they plan on bringing back right now, that

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Speaker 3: it's an addition, not a replacement.

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Speaker 2: Well, you mentioned Domino's falling. I thought we'd be talking

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Speaker 2: about a different Domino because he wasn't the only commitment

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Speaker 2: we've added since last time I was here talking to

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Speaker 2: you on KSR. Also took Mohammed du Bate from Alabama yesterday,

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Speaker 2: another forward, similar in how he brings defense and some rebounding,

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Speaker 2: but a little bit shorter than quaintance. How will he

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Speaker 2: fit into this equation if.

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Speaker 3: You can't beat him, take him. I think that was

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Speaker 3: Mark Pope's a he was tired of. We saw this

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Speaker 3: actually funny. We bring up Brandon Garrison, like Brandon Garrison

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Speaker 3: torched BYU and in Mark Pope's first year in the

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Speaker 3: Big twelve, and he said, I'm not having any of that.

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Speaker 3: I'm going to have him be a part of what

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Speaker 3: we're doing. A very similar situation where three times three

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Speaker 3: laws us and he always always kind of the thorn

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Speaker 3: in Kentucky side. And all three of those losses, the

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Speaker 3: second one, even though he only scored four points, held

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Speaker 3: Otega away to one for nine, shooting his first game

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Speaker 3: in single figures as a Wildcat. So just to do

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Speaker 3: it all defensive threat, a guy that you just kind

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Speaker 3: of plug in and say, hey, we need a big stop,

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Speaker 3: we need a you know, big finishing transition, We need

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Speaker 3: somebody to come, you know, pull down a tough rebound.

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Speaker 3: He's just kind of how how many times this past

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Speaker 3: season did we say where's the physicality?

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Speaker 2: Who?

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Speaker 3: Why is nobody there for the offensive rebound? Like we're

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Speaker 3: missing something, who's diving for the loose balls? That is modiabatte.

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Speaker 3: That's exactly what this program needed. And yeah, he feels

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Speaker 3: a very clear need for for Mark Pope that that

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Speaker 3: was very clearly missing from last ye's roster.

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Speaker 2: And we have a lot more to say about him.

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Speaker 2: You know, he was gonna be the headliner. So acquaintance

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Speaker 2: drops at the last second before we started the show.

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Speaker 2: We'll take a break and talk more about that in

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Speaker 2: the roster breakdown. Also, we're gonna be joined by Kentucky

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Speaker 2: women's basketball's Tianni Key. She's gonna drop in before she

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Speaker 2: heads to class. We've been talking a lot about the

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Speaker 2: men's team, but we know ever really closed the book

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Speaker 2: on the women's season. It's nice to her to stop by.

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Speaker 2: She had a great breakout year with the Cats and

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Speaker 2: she'll be back next year, so we'll talk to her

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Speaker 2: about what's going on over there and her excitement for

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Speaker 2: next season. Phoenix Stevens is here. He'll also jump in

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Speaker 2: on the women's basketball discussion. But we got the dia Bonte,

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Speaker 2: the Quainton's commitments, Kentucky's roster's shaking out, more portal targets.

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Speaker 2: There was an NCAA champion last night. Kentucky was on

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Speaker 2: one shining moment. It's a busy, busy morning here on KSR.

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Speaker 2: Andrew Franklin filling in for Matt Jones, filling in for

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Speaker 2: Ryan Lemon, filling in for Shannon the Dude, filling in

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Speaker 2: for Mario Maitland. Everybody's gone, but I'm happy to have

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Speaker 2: Jack Pilgrim and Steven Peak here. They made the trip

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Speaker 2: to join me at KAOS Bar and We're gonna talk

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Speaker 2: a lot of basketball today, a whole lot of basketball.

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Speaker 2: We want to hear from you if you have any

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Speaker 2: questions again on the Clark's Pumping Shop phone line. That's

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Speaker 2: eight five nine two eight h two two eight seven.

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Speaker 2: We'd love to hear from you. I left a lot

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Speaker 2: of people on hold yesterday as Corey Price was dropping knowledge.

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Speaker 2: But we'll run through the phone lines today. Is there's

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Speaker 2: some there's some excitement as the roster is really shaking up,

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Speaker 2: and there's even been some those way too early rankings

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Speaker 2: that look good for Kentucky if you trust those opinions.

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Speaker 2: But for right now, we'll take a quick break and

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Speaker 2: we'll be right back. Welcome back to KSR. Drew Franklin

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Speaker 2: here with Jack Pilgrim, Steven Peak. We are living the

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Speaker 2: office meme where he's what is he? Oh my god,

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Speaker 2: it's happening. We're just running around with our hands in

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Speaker 2: the air as this place is on fire with news

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Speaker 2: and excitement as Jaden and Quaintan's made the commitment. Uh,

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Speaker 2: we're still efforting, getting Jayden on the phone later. We're hopeful,

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Speaker 2: but it wasn't affirm Yes, Jack, you you you spoke

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Speaker 2: to to his dad. I guess is it We're looking

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Speaker 2: decent there top of the hour, on top of the hour, Well,

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Speaker 2: just you know, pencil it in understandably. So he's a

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Speaker 2: busy man this morning, even even even probably as good

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Speaker 2: for you.

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Speaker 3: He's going to be a rehab in an hour for

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Speaker 3: fans that are fans that are wanting to know how

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Speaker 3: how is he doing it?

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Speaker 2: On schedule?

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Speaker 3: Within a word, in an hour from now, he will

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Speaker 3: be at the doctor getting get a check up.

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Speaker 2: So and the last thing we want to do is

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Speaker 2: in an interrupt rehab because the KSR haters will say

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Speaker 2: we're trying to hurt Kentucky basketball by keeping him from

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Speaker 2: fixing his knee.

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Speaker 5: Uh.

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Speaker 2: Still a great commit, but we got to keep giving.

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Speaker 2: Do you bought to his Flowers six foot seven, two

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Speaker 2: hundred and fifteen pounds forward from Alabama with two years left.

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Speaker 2: Big defense guy, big rebounding guy, big toughness guy, a

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Speaker 2: lot of what UK lacked. Unfortunately, we remember him well

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Speaker 2: for shutting down otega Oway, which at the time we hated.

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Speaker 2: That game in Tuscaloosa. He helped hold O Way to

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Speaker 2: two points the first game of the season when Oway

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Speaker 2: didn't have double digits. Wasn't a big fan of him then,

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Speaker 2: but Jack now it's a piece, just another good piece

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Speaker 2: that Pope needed and more excitement around the roster.

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Speaker 3: Like I remember just this time last year talking about

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Speaker 3: Lamont Butler when everybody's like, oh, well, look at his stats.

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Speaker 3: He only averaged nine points a game and he shot

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Speaker 3: sixty percent from the free throw line.

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Speaker 2: Of how is that a guy? It's like, he just wins.

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Speaker 3: Like we don't need to get into the you know,

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Speaker 3: counting stats and looking at box scores and going, oh, well,

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Speaker 3: he only had this. He wins games. He's He's a tough, gritty,

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Speaker 3: hard nosed, physical guy that every team in college basketball needs.

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Speaker 3: There's a reason why Alabama fans are heartbroken to see

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Speaker 3: him leave like that. That was a fan favorite, a

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Speaker 3: guy that they really kind of, you know, wanted to

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Speaker 3: be a long term piece, a core piece under Natodes.

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Speaker 3: He wanted an expanded role. He wanted to be a

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Speaker 3: part of something bigger, and you'd be a greater part

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Speaker 3: of that. So I think it's a great fit for Kentucky.

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Speaker 3: And you know, I always gauge the opposing fan base

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Speaker 3: if they're celebrating his departure, you go, I don't know

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Speaker 3: if I love that their heartbroken that he's a Kentucky

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Speaker 3: wild Cat, and for that I'm very happy.

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Speaker 2: And he kind of split his time at the three

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Speaker 2: and four there they were crowded there at forward. Grant

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Speaker 2: Nelson was a big GIF for them. He had a

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Speaker 2: big year. How do you see him fitting into the

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Speaker 2: rotation at Kentucky now, especially d Quaintance who'll also be

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Speaker 2: playing a little four and five.

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Speaker 3: He's just kind of a plug and play, do it

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Speaker 3: all kind of guy. If you need him at the three,

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Speaker 3: you know, spot minutes of the three, if you need

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Speaker 3: him at the four, you know, he's kind of a

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Speaker 3: you know, plays bigger than his body, and I you know,

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Speaker 3: could do some small ball five stuff and just throw

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Speaker 3: him in and just see what happens. I did envision

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Speaker 3: him playing, you know, twenty three twenty and I think

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Speaker 3: that's the beauty of Mark Pope's system, where whether he's

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Speaker 3: starting or coming off the bench, he's gonna play twenty

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Speaker 3: to twenty five minutes a game and in a pretty

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Speaker 3: expanded role. So I don't know if we want to

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Speaker 3: pencil him in for any specific starting role, but you know,

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Speaker 3: probably starting at the four. But I don't think that's

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Speaker 3: necessarily locked him, but more so, the role that he's

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Speaker 3: gonna plays is pretty.

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Speaker 2: It's the toughness they needed. There are many times last

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Speaker 2: season where there'd be a loose ball and we're yelling

403
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Speaker 2: someone jump on that or a rebound, go get that.

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Speaker 2: He's that type of guy. And Steven he's another lefty.

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Speaker 2: Here we go. I mean, we're up to four lefties.

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Speaker 2: We are loaded with lefties on this team. You know.

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Speaker 4: I love talking with with our Brandon Ramsey, another KSR guy,

408
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Speaker 4: who says that that that's worth like a couple of

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Speaker 4: points because the defender will typically just jump the right

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Speaker 4: hand because that's how they're used to. Everybody else is

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Speaker 4: right handed, so that sounds like we're getting a lot

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Speaker 4: of points.

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Speaker 2: I don't know.

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Speaker 4: I mean, it has to be the most left handed

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Speaker 4: team in Kentucky basketball history.

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Speaker 3: We talked about it in on our Rapid Reaction. I

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Speaker 3: think the only team that compares is the one with

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Speaker 3: James Young, Julius Randall, that Jared Poulsen, Jared Beard Polson,

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Speaker 3: and who was the one with Sam alone? I think

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Speaker 3: Sam left throwing him in the max yet. But that's

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Speaker 3: the only team that has been comparable to this lefty business.

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Speaker 4: You know, you look at the roster right now, it

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Speaker 4: looks really good. I think there's there's like one maybe

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Speaker 4: one piece, like a good or like a coach, because

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Speaker 4: somebody to replace Kobe Brea Jack. How do you feel

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Speaker 4: about Yates and where things stand with that?

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Speaker 3: I have I have heard the Washington noise. I know

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Speaker 3: that that's kind of looming in the back of BBN's mind.

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Speaker 3: But like I, for the last twenty four hours or so,

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Speaker 3: there's a lot of private Kentucky buzz that has me

431
00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:28,400
Speaker 3: feeling really good.

432
00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,320
Speaker 2: I it's it's all about relationships.

433
00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:34,280
Speaker 3: It's all about you know, years back, you know, talk

434
00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,240
Speaker 3: conversations and being able to as Hey, remember when I

435
00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:39,879
Speaker 3: first recruited you out of high school. That's where Alvin

436
00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,480
Speaker 3: Brooks comes in. That's where Michael MacLean comes into, local

437
00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:44,720
Speaker 3: Texas guys that are doing a lot of the heavy

438
00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,120
Speaker 3: lifting in that one that. Yes, I know that there's

439
00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,280
Speaker 3: some you know, public intrigue with the whole Quincy pondexter

440
00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,280
Speaker 3: assistant coach. You know, is he going to go back

441
00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,679
Speaker 3: to Washington and would Wesley Yates follow through all of

442
00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,880
Speaker 3: that very public noise. There's a lot of private momentum

443
00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:02,280
Speaker 3: for the Kentucky Wildcats, and that would wrap up, in

444
00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,680
Speaker 3: my opinion, a national championship contending roster.

445
00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,240
Speaker 2: Wow. That man. We'll spend a lot of the show

446
00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,840
Speaker 2: breaking down the roster further and Jack's national championship pick.

447
00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,399
Speaker 2: But our special guest Tianni Key just walked in. She

448
00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,080
Speaker 2: has to get to class in a little bit, So

449
00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,280
Speaker 2: I'm gonna bring on Phoenix Stevens, who covers Kentucky women's

450
00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,960
Speaker 2: basketball for the rest of this covers Kentucky basketball, and

451
00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,080
Speaker 2: I'm bringing on for the rest of the segment before

452
00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,600
Speaker 2: we interview Tianni and let her get to class. I

453
00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,040
Speaker 2: know it's weird to just move from this big excitement

454
00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:29,479
Speaker 2: of the roster over to the women's sport, but they

455
00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:31,440
Speaker 2: had a big year too, Steven, and you're right in

456
00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,679
Speaker 2: the middle of it as our beat reporter. How did

457
00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:35,920
Speaker 2: it fill to cover a team that you know, took

458
00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,120
Speaker 2: over a twelve and twenty program and goes and wins

459
00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,080
Speaker 2: twenty three games and has the year that they did well.

460
00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:41,800
Speaker 6: I gotta say, Steven here of viw Oogford does a

461
00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,040
Speaker 6: great job. But my name is Phoenix Fear. I think

462
00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,399
Speaker 6: that every time Phoenix Steven Stevens R.

463
00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:48,199
Speaker 2: Think if y'all can't tell him a little flustered by

464
00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,600
Speaker 2: all the chaos that's been going on, Phoenix Stevens, Where'd

465
00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,520
Speaker 2: I say, Stephen? Phoenix just said Steve.

466
00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,160
Speaker 6: But you never know when the dominoes are gonna fall,

467
00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,080
Speaker 6: so off call I was ready to tell of the Phoenix,

468
00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:58,080
Speaker 6: but uh, yeah, it's been. It was a great year

469
00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,320
Speaker 6: for Kentucky women's basketball, and you know, obviously a lot

470
00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,280
Speaker 6: of things happened, you know, throughout the season. Yeah, you

471
00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:05,560
Speaker 6: had some injuries before the season. You know, you never

472
00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:07,359
Speaker 6: know really how things are gonna go for the team,

473
00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:09,960
Speaker 6: especially with two great players like that being hurt. You know,

474
00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,000
Speaker 6: how are they gonna make the make the mold fit.

475
00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,560
Speaker 6: But they had a great year and so far, Transford

476
00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,120
Speaker 6: Portal's doing really good. Got a really good commitment from

477
00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,160
Speaker 6: Joseph Gilvin, a nice player there. But things are looking good,

478
00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:21,880
Speaker 6: looking positive, should be on the upper trend.

479
00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:23,640
Speaker 2: It might be awkward because she's sitting right in front

480
00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,480
Speaker 2: of us, but I noticed yesterday you wrote a story

481
00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,680
Speaker 2: about her, Tianni Key, not even knowing that she was

482
00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:29,960
Speaker 2: gonna be on the guest on the show. Today, So

483
00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:31,960
Speaker 2: it just kind of summarized that and then we'll of

484
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,120
Speaker 2: course get to talk to her in just a minute minute, Yeah,

485
00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:34,440
Speaker 2: of course.

486
00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:36,480
Speaker 6: Uh yeah, Like you said, I had no idea this

487
00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,119
Speaker 6: was all happening today. But yeah, Tianni, Uh you know

488
00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,720
Speaker 6: I wrote that yesterday. I wrote yesterday she had a

489
00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:45,320
Speaker 6: really good junior year and to me, you know, maybe

490
00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:47,240
Speaker 6: she'll maybe she'll say otherwise. I thought it was kind

491
00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,920
Speaker 6: of refreshing to watch because her first two years North Carolina,

492
00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,960
Speaker 6: you know, there's injury, just things going on. And finally,

493
00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:56,200
Speaker 6: you know, in a fresh start at Kentucky was able

494
00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,480
Speaker 6: to really get going, had this really great junior year.

495
00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:00,680
Speaker 6: But I think next year, her senior year, Drew it

496
00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:02,359
Speaker 6: could be a really big jump for her, you know,

497
00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,240
Speaker 6: time for her to take the next step, maybe be

498
00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:05,520
Speaker 6: an all SEC type player.

499
00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,520
Speaker 2: Hey, Kentucky can take a big next step too. I mean,

500
00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,040
Speaker 2: you lose George A. Moore and Dja Lawrence, two special

501
00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,800
Speaker 2: players at guard, but still some returning pieces and that

502
00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,040
Speaker 2: you witness at all, you were in all the games.

503
00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,560
Speaker 2: That excitement was higher around Memorial Historic Memorial this season, right,

504
00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:20,439
Speaker 2: historic Memorial call it seems what they want to call

505
00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,280
Speaker 2: it now. But yeah, the excitement is great, and of

506
00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,679
Speaker 2: course you have to you have to replace Georgia or

507
00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:27,320
Speaker 2: it's hard to even say replace Georgia. I mean, two

508
00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,080
Speaker 2: time All American did the you know, absolutely incredible here

509
00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,160
Speaker 2: in your lone season at Kentucky. But yeah, you try

510
00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:35,720
Speaker 2: to replace Georgia Amore and Dejah Lawrence and some of

511
00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,560
Speaker 2: the players that hit the portal. But you know, you know,

512
00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,000
Speaker 2: Josie Gilvin's a good start.

513
00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,439
Speaker 6: You have a lot of more more commitments, you know,

514
00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:47,360
Speaker 6: potentially lining up some really good players that they've contacted.

515
00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:48,800
Speaker 6: You know, it's kind of like the men's side, you

516
00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:50,879
Speaker 6: don't know to like they contact how strong are they

517
00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,920
Speaker 6: actually in the mix there, But a lot of positive

518
00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,680
Speaker 6: steam for the women's program and things should be moving forward.

519
00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,640
Speaker 2: Awesome, Phoenix, I'm gonna stop calling you. Steven Sitting next

520
00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:02,280
Speaker 2: to Steven is gonna mess with me all day. But

521
00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:05,000
Speaker 2: I like your McLean County hat, right, Yeah, Western can

522
00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:07,119
Speaker 2: shout out to mc clane County. Well, we're gonna take

523
00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,320
Speaker 2: a break here, bring Tianni in so we can talk

524
00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:11,119
Speaker 2: to her for a few minutes before she heads to class.

525
00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:12,680
Speaker 2: You know, they're student athletes. They got to get to

526
00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:14,520
Speaker 2: class and then we're gonna get right back to the

527
00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,320
Speaker 2: excitement of the men's basketball roster. Still more portal movement,

528
00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,359
Speaker 2: still shopping around. Jack still thinks we're gonna win the

529
00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:25,600
Speaker 2: national championships. So uh, Drew here with Jack, Steven, Phoenix,

530
00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,160
Speaker 2: and soon to be tianni Key as we fill in

531
00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,920
Speaker 2: for the KSR guys. They're all on vacation. Matt's gone,

532
00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:33,960
Speaker 2: Ryan's gone, Shannon's gone, Mario's gone, but we're still having

533
00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,159
Speaker 2: a lot of fun here on KSR. We'll get to

534
00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,480
Speaker 2: the phone lines as well, the Clark's pomp Chop phone

535
00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,159
Speaker 2: line two eight to oh two two eight seven. Right now,

536
00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:42,680
Speaker 2: we'll take a quick break and we'll be right back

537
00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:50,280
Speaker 2: with tianni Key. I am not Matt Jones. I am

538
00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:52,680
Speaker 2: Drew Franklin filling in for Matt Jones with my good

539
00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:56,520
Speaker 2: friend Jack Pilgrim, Steven Peak, and Phoenix Stevens and we

540
00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,680
Speaker 2: are now happy to be joined by our special guests.

541
00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:01,520
Speaker 2: She is one of the breakout stars of Kentucky women's

542
00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:05,720
Speaker 2: basketball's breakout season. She averaged eleven point four points, eight

543
00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,640
Speaker 2: point three rebounds, and one point seven blocks per game.

544
00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,960
Speaker 2: She is tianni Key and she is joining us now. Tiani,

545
00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:13,119
Speaker 2: welcome to KSR.

546
00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:14,199
Speaker 7: Thanks for having me.

547
00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,679
Speaker 2: You know, I know the goal was still to be

548
00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:18,840
Speaker 2: playing basketball last season, but you still had a great

549
00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:22,040
Speaker 2: first year at Kentucky and Kenny Brooks first season. How

550
00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:23,520
Speaker 2: did it feel to be a part of that big

551
00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,720
Speaker 2: turnaround in Lexington that brought so much excitement to Historic Memorial?

552
00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:30,439
Speaker 5: It was surreal, like it was huge just because what

553
00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:33,399
Speaker 5: we were able to accomplish was such a quick turnaround.

554
00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,080
Speaker 5: Knowing each other for less than a year. It was

555
00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,720
Speaker 5: a super special year for us. I think it was

556
00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:41,600
Speaker 5: a great foundation for what's going to keep building here

557
00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:42,160
Speaker 5: in Kentucky.

558
00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,680
Speaker 2: Your career got off to a little bit slower start.

559
00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:46,760
Speaker 2: You had the ACL injury before your freshman year at

560
00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:48,919
Speaker 2: North Carolina, had a couple of years coming back, but

561
00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,640
Speaker 2: from a distance, it felt like a big breakout year

562
00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:53,600
Speaker 2: for you with twelve double doubles. Did you feel like

563
00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,000
Speaker 2: you really found your confidence at Kentucky and really turned

564
00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:57,520
Speaker 2: things on this last season? Oh?

565
00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:00,199
Speaker 5: Yeah, for sure. It was obviously the best year yet.

566
00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:04,000
Speaker 5: I think especially off the court too, Everything was just great.

567
00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,440
Speaker 5: Just being able to be given the opportunity to get

568
00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:08,840
Speaker 5: out there and just showcase my abilities and be with

569
00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,879
Speaker 5: the coaching staff and help everyone on the team, and

570
00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,920
Speaker 5: then also with the coaching staff, like with the developmental piece.

571
00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:17,040
Speaker 7: That was it was huge this summer. This past summer

572
00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:17,360
Speaker 7: as well.

573
00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:20,400
Speaker 2: Kentucky lacked some height for many years till brook Scott here.

574
00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,399
Speaker 2: But then you know you. Clara strac Amelia called you

575
00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,440
Speaker 2: the triplets, said you are like interchangeable inside on where

576
00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,639
Speaker 2: you rebound block shots, even said you all had a

577
00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,439
Speaker 2: special bond. Was there a special bond between you all

578
00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,719
Speaker 2: that kind of added to some competitiveness and practice. What

579
00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:34,920
Speaker 2: was it like playing that role?

580
00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:36,800
Speaker 7: Oh yeah, it was, No, it was huge, It was huge.

581
00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:37,000
Speaker 2: It was.

582
00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,919
Speaker 5: It made everything a lot more fun, especially like in practice,

583
00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:41,840
Speaker 5: like you said, going at each other just you know,

584
00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,320
Speaker 5: iron sharp as iron, so just learning from each other

585
00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:46,840
Speaker 5: and and then going at each other was it was huge.

586
00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:48,840
Speaker 5: Even off the court, it was really special too. We

587
00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:50,440
Speaker 5: all got along pretty.

588
00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:51,920
Speaker 6: Well to any I thought it was fitting you came

589
00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:54,360
Speaker 6: on today because, like Drew said about that article busy yesterday,

590
00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:56,960
Speaker 6: and I was just curious because you know, after, you know,

591
00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,359
Speaker 6: after the season. I know, coaches a lot of times

592
00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:01,240
Speaker 6: like the half converse sessons of players. You know, you

593
00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:02,760
Speaker 6: know what I want to see from you next year.

594
00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:04,920
Speaker 6: Has there been that conversation with coach Books yet? And

595
00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:06,800
Speaker 6: if so, you know, what are the kind of things

596
00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:08,359
Speaker 6: he wants to save from me in your senior season.

597
00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:08,760
Speaker 7: Oh?

598
00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:11,919
Speaker 5: Yeah, absolutely, We've had that conversation the day after the

599
00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:15,760
Speaker 5: game our last game. Basically it was just you know,

600
00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,600
Speaker 5: just focusing on sharpening everything that. Yeah, there was a

601
00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:20,280
Speaker 5: growth this year.

602
00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:20,520
Speaker 2: It was.

603
00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,479
Speaker 5: It was a good season, but there's so much more

604
00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:23,679
Speaker 5: that we need to work on, so much more they

605
00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,280
Speaker 5: need to get better. So I think just focusing on

606
00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,200
Speaker 5: like sharpening them all around skill set on the court,

607
00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,720
Speaker 5: and then just strength purposes, getting a little put it

608
00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:33,399
Speaker 5: in a little pounds.

609
00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:35,560
Speaker 2: So yeah, one of my favorite status is as a team,

610
00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:37,359
Speaker 2: you all led the country in blocks, but you and

611
00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:40,080
Speaker 2: Clara Strack average four point one blocks just between the

612
00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:42,240
Speaker 2: two of you per game, and that was more than

613
00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:46,080
Speaker 2: three hundred Division one basketball teams. Do you get into rhythm,

614
00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:48,600
Speaker 2: blocking shots and win? Our opponents gonna stop bringing this

615
00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,080
Speaker 2: week stuff inside Listen.

616
00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:52,040
Speaker 7: I don't think they'll stop.

617
00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:56,200
Speaker 5: They obviously haven't learned, but I think it was huge

618
00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:58,840
Speaker 5: just because, like you said earlier, we're all interchangeable, so

619
00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:00,760
Speaker 5: like if one of us is out on the perimeter

620
00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,240
Speaker 5: or something like that, you know, when somebody's got your back,

621
00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:04,880
Speaker 5: you know, it just allows us to play more connected,

622
00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:06,680
Speaker 5: more together, and be more aggressive defensively.

623
00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:08,080
Speaker 7: So I think it was it was huge. It was

624
00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:09,280
Speaker 7: a big part of us and.

625
00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,640
Speaker 2: You were ranked seventh in the SEC eight point one

626
00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:15,400
Speaker 2: rebounds per game with rebound? Is that more effort technique?

627
00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:17,120
Speaker 2: You know, walk us through the strategy of how you're

628
00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:20,800
Speaker 2: able to rebound so well with that prows.

629
00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:21,719
Speaker 5: It's a little bit of both. I'm telling you, they

630
00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:23,399
Speaker 5: you gotta you gotta work for them for sure. That

631
00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:25,960
Speaker 5: nothing comes easy. Obviously there's a lot of good rebounders

632
00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:27,600
Speaker 5: in the secs. So I think it's just it's a

633
00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,760
Speaker 5: lot of positioning and then mostly effort, really like just

634
00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:32,199
Speaker 5: going to get it and put it, get in your

635
00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,120
Speaker 5: hands on it and being strong with it because there's

636
00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,000
Speaker 5: a lot of big battling down there for sure.

637
00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:38,480
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, what feels better blocking a shot or getting

638
00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:40,560
Speaker 2: an offensive rebound to keep the possession alive?

639
00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:43,960
Speaker 7: Oh that's a good question. That's a tough one. I'd say.

640
00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:47,880
Speaker 5: There's there's nothing like a block and a shot, though,

641
00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:50,440
Speaker 5: you know, it really gets everybody going, the whole team really.

642
00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,080
Speaker 6: Now, Towny Drew and I we're both big Tennessee haters,

643
00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:58,120
Speaker 6: you know big. Oh yes, we're massive, massive Tennessee haters. Now,

644
00:26:58,240 --> 00:26:59,879
Speaker 6: I want to preface this by saying, your sister to

645
00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,159
Speaker 6: Mari played at Tennessee. I just want to ask when

646
00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,520
Speaker 6: you all beat them by a million earlier this season?

647
00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,200
Speaker 6: You know, was there was there any friendly banter between

648
00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:09,639
Speaker 6: the two of you or you know what, you know,

649
00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:12,840
Speaker 6: what's her sulking and the sadness good enough for you?

650
00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:12,879
Speaker 5: No?

651
00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:15,679
Speaker 7: I was pretty humble about it. I was. I was

652
00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,199
Speaker 7: pretty nice, but no, it was. It was.

653
00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:20,879
Speaker 5: It was fun seeing seeing her reaction though, just I

654
00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:22,120
Speaker 5: mean that game was fun too.

655
00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:23,639
Speaker 7: Just it was.

656
00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:26,160
Speaker 5: It was funny because we were the week before trying

657
00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:27,680
Speaker 5: to decide, Like we were kept talking to her like

658
00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,639
Speaker 5: what are you wearing? Where are you sitting? And she

659
00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:31,399
Speaker 5: didn't know, and I was like, girl, just put on blue,

660
00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:35,159
Speaker 5: like come on it. She had a hat that was

661
00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:38,480
Speaker 5: blue and orange. So a little bit but still the

662
00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:40,359
Speaker 5: wind was the wind was good enough for me for sure.

663
00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:40,879
Speaker 2: Tianni.

664
00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:43,480
Speaker 3: We're talking about rivals, just the Louisville rivalry means so

665
00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,119
Speaker 3: much to this area being a part of that, and

666
00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:48,760
Speaker 3: you know just how exciting that one was. What was

667
00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:49,840
Speaker 3: that experience like for you?

668
00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:51,440
Speaker 7: Oh, it was huge. It was really fun.

669
00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:54,480
Speaker 5: I think that was like our first big, big matchup really,

670
00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:56,919
Speaker 5: so just seeing all of us come together in like

671
00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:58,639
Speaker 5: a hard fog game like that, it was. It was

672
00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,000
Speaker 5: a huge push her momentum for our season.

673
00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:01,280
Speaker 2: It was.

674
00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:03,000
Speaker 7: It was amazing. The rivalry is pretty good.

675
00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:04,600
Speaker 2: It was one of your best games of the season.

676
00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,240
Speaker 2: Seventeen points, non rebounds. When you have a big game

677
00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:09,160
Speaker 2: like that, how much better does it feel knowing it's

678
00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:10,480
Speaker 2: against a rival team.

679
00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:11,800
Speaker 7: No, it was huge.

680
00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:13,680
Speaker 5: It was definitely a good start to the rival me

681
00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:15,399
Speaker 5: and I'm excited for the next one.

682
00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:18,399
Speaker 6: Now Drew's actually you know, Drew met. They've had Georgia

683
00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:21,879
Speaker 6: Aymore on this show multiple times. Just curious what's it

684
00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:24,479
Speaker 6: like playing with her, you know, in her one season, Lexington,

685
00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,280
Speaker 6: I'm in great talent, obviously great on the show. What

686
00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,040
Speaker 6: was it like being around Georgia Aymore?

687
00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:31,520
Speaker 5: She's unreal, like one of a kind, truly, like a

688
00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:33,159
Speaker 5: generational talent person.

689
00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:34,320
Speaker 7: She's amazing.

690
00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:37,080
Speaker 5: So it was honestly so grateful, such a blessing, to

691
00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:39,680
Speaker 5: be around her, just even off the court, learning from

692
00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,600
Speaker 5: her on the court, her work ethic, like, she's a

693
00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:43,400
Speaker 5: phenomenal person.

694
00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:45,240
Speaker 7: So it was it was super.

695
00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:46,920
Speaker 2: The two times we had here, sitting up here with us,

696
00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,280
Speaker 2: she was really funny, Like I think she was gonna

697
00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:51,640
Speaker 2: take all of our jobs. I know she's obviously very

698
00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:53,920
Speaker 2: serious and competitive to get to where she is, But

699
00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:55,880
Speaker 2: what is she like behind the scenes? Is she is

700
00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:56,840
Speaker 2: she cutting up a little bit?

701
00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:00,640
Speaker 5: Oh? Absolutely, George is always cracking jokes. She's the funniest

702
00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:03,040
Speaker 5: people I've ever met. She's it's got like a like

703
00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:06,240
Speaker 5: a slick little banter tour. So it's it's fun. She's hilarious.

704
00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:08,680
Speaker 2: What's one of your favorite off the court memories with

705
00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:12,440
Speaker 2: your teammates this this season, whether just be out having

706
00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:14,120
Speaker 2: fun or Yeah.

707
00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:16,520
Speaker 5: So when we when we first got here, like in

708
00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,600
Speaker 5: the summer, there wasn't much to do, so we all

709
00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:21,960
Speaker 5: decided to go to karaoke. This was like the one,

710
00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:24,960
Speaker 5: the one big thing we'd done together.

711
00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,640
Speaker 7: It was it was hilarious. We everybody was laughing.

712
00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,080
Speaker 5: It was a great time, and we are horrible singers,

713
00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:33,640
Speaker 5: so it was it made it even better to a

714
00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:38,760
Speaker 5: karaoke song. Oh, I think I did. Me and a

715
00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,520
Speaker 5: Milia we did one together. We it was a sexy

716
00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:42,080
Speaker 5: red song.

717
00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:45,840
Speaker 2: So you didn't do solo performances. You got up there

718
00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:47,080
Speaker 2: with your with your teammates.

719
00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,280
Speaker 5: Oh yeah, and it made it so much better because

720
00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:50,640
Speaker 5: we were like going off each other.

721
00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:54,280
Speaker 2: Was great. Phoenix mentioned your sister Tennessee Ball, which we'll

722
00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:56,280
Speaker 2: live with that. But what kind of impact did she

723
00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:57,840
Speaker 2: have on your career and getting you to this point

724
00:29:57,920 --> 00:29:58,920
Speaker 2: being a little bit older than you.

725
00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:01,240
Speaker 5: Oh yeah, she was huge, Like you know, she really

726
00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:04,720
Speaker 5: paved the way, just like just showing me like what

727
00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:06,480
Speaker 5: it takes to get there and like you know, be

728
00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:07,800
Speaker 5: successful at such a high level.

729
00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:09,480
Speaker 7: It was. She was a huge piece.

730
00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:12,080
Speaker 6: Now, Tiana, we spend a lot of time talking about

731
00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:13,800
Speaker 6: coach Brooks, and you know, rightfully, so he's done a

732
00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,040
Speaker 6: great job here, But I think the assistants deserve a

733
00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:18,640
Speaker 6: little bit of love to coach Josh Peterson. I know

734
00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:21,160
Speaker 6: he works with you directly. What's it been like working

735
00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:22,680
Speaker 6: with him kind of day in and day out?

736
00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:23,800
Speaker 7: Amazing?

737
00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:27,280
Speaker 5: He brings such a like a refreshing energy and just

738
00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:31,320
Speaker 5: always reminding reminding me that like you know, be like

739
00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:32,520
Speaker 5: have gratitude and stuff.

740
00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:32,760
Speaker 2: Like that.

741
00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:34,640
Speaker 7: So he's he's a great, great person.

742
00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:37,600
Speaker 5: It's been such a great year working with him and

743
00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:40,720
Speaker 5: learning from him, and just every day has been really

744
00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:41,240
Speaker 5: really good.

745
00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,600
Speaker 2: We mentioned Georgia her and Djel Lawrence. You're losing two

746
00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:46,640
Speaker 2: great leaders there and you were a big role, had

747
00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:48,719
Speaker 2: a big role last year, but you see yourself stepping

748
00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:50,360
Speaker 2: into more of a leadership role to kind of help

749
00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:51,040
Speaker 2: fill those shoes.

750
00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:54,080
Speaker 5: Oh, absolutely, just being like now, like you said in

751
00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:55,960
Speaker 5: my senior year, I think it'll be a huge piece

752
00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:58,400
Speaker 5: just being able to lead and you know, gott having

753
00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,200
Speaker 5: a year under my belt under the coaching staff, I

754
00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:03,320
Speaker 5: think it'll be huge for all the people that we

755
00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:04,959
Speaker 5: bring in freshmen included.

756
00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,280
Speaker 2: What's something you want to check off your your bucket

757
00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:10,080
Speaker 2: list before your college career? In still got some time left,

758
00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:11,600
Speaker 2: but what's what's the main goal?

759
00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:12,560
Speaker 7: I want to get a ring?

760
00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:17,920
Speaker 5: For sure, it would be SEC national title both. I

761
00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:20,000
Speaker 5: think that that'll be a huge piece. That's definitely a goal.

762
00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,320
Speaker 2: What do you think you and maybe the team will

763
00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:24,080
Speaker 2: need to do to kind of take that next step.

764
00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:25,960
Speaker 2: You already took a huge step for the program in

765
00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:27,920
Speaker 2: your first year here with Kenny Brooks first year, but

766
00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:29,840
Speaker 2: what do you think needs to happen to go next,

767
00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:32,120
Speaker 2: Maybe something you're working on in particularly, or any pieces

768
00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:32,600
Speaker 2: you need to add.

769
00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:37,720
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think definitely just firing on all cylinders. Just

770
00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:40,959
Speaker 5: being more consistent, I think is something that I'm definitely

771
00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:43,320
Speaker 5: focusing on, just you know, all the little things. I

772
00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:46,320
Speaker 5: think some of those games we lost, the little things

773
00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,640
Speaker 5: are what separated them and us. So I think that'll

774
00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:50,400
Speaker 5: be a huge focus this year, especially as we bring

775
00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:51,440
Speaker 5: in a lot of new faces.

776
00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:53,720
Speaker 2: What class are we keeping you from right now? I

777
00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:55,800
Speaker 2: noticed you said we could take our time.

778
00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:00,800
Speaker 5: It's a sponsorships class. A sales and sponsorhip class. Yeah,

779
00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:01,280
Speaker 5: it's fine.

780
00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:02,960
Speaker 2: Maybe we've learned a few and I al things.

781
00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:03,479
Speaker 7: Is there right?

782
00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:03,720
Speaker 5: Yeah?

783
00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:07,200
Speaker 2: Well, we appreciate you joining us today. It's been great

784
00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:08,920
Speaker 2: to talk to you. It's fun watching you last season.

785
00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:11,680
Speaker 2: Love having you as a cat, got you out of

786
00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:13,720
Speaker 2: North Carolina where you need to be here, kept you

787
00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:16,040
Speaker 2: away from Tennessee, where your sister went. It's been a

788
00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:18,080
Speaker 2: pleasure watching you through one year at Kentucky and can't

789
00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:19,720
Speaker 2: wait to see what you have next. And we appreciate

790
00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:23,960
Speaker 2: you being on with us today. Thanks a lot. All right, guys,

791
00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:26,360
Speaker 2: we'll take a quick break here or no, we got

792
00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:27,800
Speaker 2: do we need a break? We got a call Rick,

793
00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:32,080
Speaker 2: what's going on? We've got all we can take a break.

794
00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:34,240
Speaker 2: Let's go and take a quick break. We got to reset.

795
00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:37,240
Speaker 2: I think Jack has locked in maybe more acquaintance news,

796
00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:39,040
Speaker 2: so he's working the phone here. We'll keep Phoenix on

797
00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:40,520
Speaker 2: for a few more minutes. But thanks again. It's to

798
00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:43,000
Speaker 2: Yanni Key. We'll be right back after this quick break.

799
00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:47,120
Speaker 2: Welcome back to a chaotic edition of Kentucky Sports Radio.

800
00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:49,640
Speaker 2: Drew Franklin here filling in for the whole crew. Just

801
00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:51,840
Speaker 2: had Tianni Key on the show. We're gonna get back

802
00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:55,960
Speaker 2: to the men's team's roster, updates, portal shopping. We still

803
00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:59,040
Speaker 2: haven't even mentioned the National Championship game last night. I

804
00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:01,000
Speaker 2: thought i'd lead with that, but we've had a lot

805
00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:03,320
Speaker 2: going on before we keep going. Let me tell you

806
00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:05,800
Speaker 2: about UK Federal Credit Union the segments brought to you

807
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808
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810
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811
00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:20,200
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812
00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:23,120
Speaker 2: savings this basketball season and earn up to four percent

813
00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:25,800
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814
00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,240
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815
00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:32,440
Speaker 2: local branches to open a high Yield savings account. To date,

816
00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,920
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817
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818
00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:43,640
Speaker 2: Before we get Phoenix out of here, what'd you think

819
00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:45,280
Speaker 2: of that Tiani Key interview? Like I said, you wrote

820
00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:47,280
Speaker 2: a story about her yesterday and then who you are

821
00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:48,240
Speaker 2: talking to her on the show?

822
00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:50,560
Speaker 6: Yeah, Tiani's always She's always been great on the mic

823
00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:52,840
Speaker 6: in front of the camera. I remember we didn't like

824
00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:55,440
Speaker 6: kind of I think it was when trying to thank

825
00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:57,400
Speaker 6: heading into the Liberty Game, the NCAA tournament.

826
00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,560
Speaker 2: We did like locker room interviews with them. She was great.

827
00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:03,120
Speaker 6: She was awesome, So no surprise having te on on

828
00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:05,520
Speaker 6: the radio. She does a great job with the interview there.

829
00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:09,319
Speaker 6: Really like how she you know, was like tomorrow you're

830
00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:11,520
Speaker 6: wearing blue gushdarn it. You know, I don't care if

831
00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:12,640
Speaker 6: he went to Tennessee, were in blue.

832
00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:14,240
Speaker 2: I like that. It's got to be a fun rivalry

833
00:34:14,239 --> 00:34:16,960
Speaker 2: for those two. I'm glad she she uh picked the

834
00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,360
Speaker 2: right side in that Leah. Of course, our hills we

835
00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:21,399
Speaker 2: don't really like them either. But you no North Carolina native.

836
00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:23,160
Speaker 2: She was all American in high school. I was a

837
00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:24,920
Speaker 2: big get. Kentucky got her and then she followed through

838
00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:26,879
Speaker 2: last season, had a great year and I think there's

839
00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:28,400
Speaker 2: still a lot more ahead. It was fun to hear

840
00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:31,400
Speaker 2: from her. Jack, where are we were still efforting the

841
00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:35,160
Speaker 2: phone lines on our on our boy Jayden Uh eleven am?

842
00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:38,719
Speaker 2: Is it confirmed? Jadan Quaints will be on at the

843
00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:40,600
Speaker 2: top of the hour. Look at look at us just

844
00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:42,799
Speaker 2: getting it done. You know, Matt Ryan Shannon. They're gonna

845
00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:44,520
Speaker 2: come back and not have a job. I'm worried about it.

846
00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:47,440
Speaker 2: That's a goal. I mean the moment we took over

847
00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:49,880
Speaker 2: the mics, the portal, we started getting some movement with

848
00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:52,600
Speaker 2: the roster. Last week it was all speculation and the

849
00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:55,520
Speaker 2: sky's falling. Now it's all coming together. We'll way up

850
00:34:55,560 --> 00:35:01,720
Speaker 2: to twelve eleven today. Twelve pieces, like I mean all pieces.

851
00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:05,040
Speaker 2: Think of where we were last week and the panic

852
00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:07,920
Speaker 2: and just the oh my sky is falling. Mark Pope

853
00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:08,560
Speaker 2: can't close.

854
00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:11,719
Speaker 3: Like the roster's done, like you add one more piece

855
00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:13,960
Speaker 3: and it's like, okay, let's roll the balls out. Now

856
00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:17,520
Speaker 3: we have months to kill with talking points. Now we're

857
00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:19,160
Speaker 3: like okay, well now now what.

858
00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,400
Speaker 4: So expectations now have have risen dramatically. I mean, I

859
00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:25,200
Speaker 4: feel like this year there was a lot of he

860
00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:27,839
Speaker 4: had only a few weeks to put together a team.

861
00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:31,120
Speaker 4: There's a lot of uh, there's injuries or stuff like that.

862
00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:33,920
Speaker 4: And this year, for like, expectations are going right back

863
00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:35,799
Speaker 4: to where Kentucky's got to get a one seed.

864
00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:36,000
Speaker 2: Again.

865
00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:37,840
Speaker 4: We haven't had a one seatsin is twenty fifteen. We

866
00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,040
Speaker 4: have to get one of those top four seeds.

867
00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:41,040
Speaker 2: It has to happen.

868
00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:42,640
Speaker 4: If it doesn't happen next year, like, it's got to

869
00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:45,040
Speaker 4: happen soon because that's that's the longest drought in school

870
00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:46,760
Speaker 4: history by like four years.

871
00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:48,319
Speaker 2: I gotta bring the mood down.

872
00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:51,200
Speaker 4: I'm just saying, like this, this team has to we

873
00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:52,400
Speaker 4: have to get back to that. You look at who

874
00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:56,000
Speaker 4: wins national championships. It's since like twenty ten, it's been

875
00:35:56,560 --> 00:36:00,480
Speaker 4: all one seeds or Yukon or Villanova won the buzzer.

876
00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:03,520
Speaker 4: So you if you're gonna the goal at Kentucky is

877
00:36:03,560 --> 00:36:05,440
Speaker 4: to win the national title. That is the goal, right,

878
00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:07,560
Speaker 4: I mean it's not like the expectation every year, but

879
00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:08,160
Speaker 4: it is the goal.

880
00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:10,560
Speaker 2: This is a good year to prove that one seeds

881
00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:12,080
Speaker 2: can make it far with all of them in the

882
00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:12,640
Speaker 2: final four.

883
00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:16,040
Speaker 4: Right, right, And that's happened with one another well twice

884
00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:17,759
Speaker 4: two thousand and eight, I think. But yeah, but if

885
00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:20,440
Speaker 4: you are a one seed, you are there's a like

886
00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:23,440
Speaker 4: forty percent chance of getting to the final four, the

887
00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,520
Speaker 4: highest and of all the other seeds obviously, but this

888
00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:29,680
Speaker 4: is the kind of roster jack when you say that

889
00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:31,319
Speaker 4: that could absolutely do that.

890
00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:36,000
Speaker 3: They they a lot of the flaws that last year's

891
00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:39,200
Speaker 3: team did, like a lot they were masked, masked with

892
00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:42,359
Speaker 3: good coaching and you know, shot making and kind of

893
00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:46,160
Speaker 3: just raw skill allowed for the you know, the floor

894
00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:49,040
Speaker 3: to be a lot higher than maybe it probably should

895
00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:52,680
Speaker 3: have been. But with the pieces they have added, you

896
00:36:52,719 --> 00:36:55,640
Speaker 3: can say truly that the ceiling has been elevated as well.

897
00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:59,360
Speaker 3: Where Like you, obviously we're Kentucky fans, we wanted a

898
00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,480
Speaker 3: dream big and say this is you know, Kentucky goes

899
00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:03,160
Speaker 3: to the Final four every single year and all that.

900
00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:06,640
Speaker 3: But when Pope built last year's roster, you went into

901
00:37:06,719 --> 00:37:09,560
Speaker 3: it saying, hey, a Sweet sixteen would be a really

902
00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:11,879
Speaker 3: awesome year for this just to get the monkey off

903
00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:13,800
Speaker 3: our back with the first weekend and all that stuff.

904
00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:16,160
Speaker 3: There's a lot that just kind of went into just

905
00:37:16,239 --> 00:37:20,000
Speaker 3: getting some of the old demons out more than anything.

906
00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:23,160
Speaker 3: But if you look at this roster, assuming you can

907
00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:25,920
Speaker 3: added somebody like Wesley Yates to fill that you know,

908
00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,600
Speaker 3: sharpshooting role, replacing Kobe Brea, like, you can look at

909
00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:31,080
Speaker 3: this roster saying there's no reason why this team can't

910
00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:32,360
Speaker 3: go to a Final four, And I think that's what

911
00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:33,680
Speaker 3: Kentucky fans need.

912
00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:37,000
Speaker 2: Rick, we better get to some phone calls. I've left

913
00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:38,719
Speaker 2: them on hold for a while, which I promised I

914
00:37:38,760 --> 00:37:40,680
Speaker 2: wouldn't do, but it's been very noosy and we had

915
00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:43,040
Speaker 2: Tianni key. So let's go to the Clark's Pumping Shop

916
00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:46,520
Speaker 2: phone line. Who's up first? Okay, got Rusty up first? Rusty,

917
00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:47,200
Speaker 2: thanks for waiting.

918
00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:54,160
Speaker 8: What's up, hey, Drew, Jack Stephen? Hey got a question?

919
00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:56,440
Speaker 8: So last year, you know, we kind of had the

920
00:37:56,480 --> 00:38:02,160
Speaker 8: same situation without Jaden obviously where we're all very positive,

921
00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:06,160
Speaker 8: but what ended up being is the hard games were

922
00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:10,160
Speaker 8: won by defense. Gonzaga do things like that. So Jack,

923
00:38:10,239 --> 00:38:12,560
Speaker 8: I guess this is for you. What is our main

924
00:38:12,680 --> 00:38:16,920
Speaker 8: focus with the current roster? If nobody changes, we don't

925
00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:20,160
Speaker 8: get anybody else, like who is our defensive guy? Who's

926
00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:22,880
Speaker 8: our Lamont Butler on this team? So I'll hang up

927
00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:23,239
Speaker 8: and listen.

928
00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:26,399
Speaker 2: Thanks, we appreciate the call. It's a great question.

929
00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:28,759
Speaker 3: Jaden Quaint's had one of the best block rates, a

930
00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:31,799
Speaker 3: historic block rate for his age. It's seventeen years old,

931
00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:36,600
Speaker 3: playing rookie college basketball, younger than you know, who's the

932
00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:39,319
Speaker 3: youngest player in college basketball this past season and put

933
00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:42,560
Speaker 3: up historic block rates. So, you know, we talked a

934
00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,080
Speaker 3: lot about, you know, Amari Williams being the three time

935
00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:47,480
Speaker 3: CAA Defensive Player of the Year, but still kind of

936
00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:51,719
Speaker 3: wondered why he wasn't the shot blocking presence he necessarily

937
00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:54,760
Speaker 3: could have been with the tools, what his tools suggested

938
00:38:54,840 --> 00:38:57,080
Speaker 3: he could have been. That's what Jadan Quaints is, so

939
00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:00,319
Speaker 3: you look for him to anchor that obviously modi bat

940
00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:02,880
Speaker 3: that's exactly what he brings to the table. I mean,

941
00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:05,560
Speaker 3: if you you're wondering where the defense comes from. Let's

942
00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:07,880
Speaker 3: go to the guy that stopped you know, one of

943
00:39:07,880 --> 00:39:11,120
Speaker 3: the all time streaks for Kentucky basketball with double digit

944
00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:13,319
Speaker 3: scoring in Otega oh Way, he was the guy that

945
00:39:13,480 --> 00:39:13,840
Speaker 3: ended that.

946
00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:16,200
Speaker 2: So those two just the.

947
00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:18,520
Speaker 3: Last forty eight hours for Kentucky basketball, I'd say that

948
00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:20,760
Speaker 3: those uh, that's where that's where you look for defense.

949
00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:22,400
Speaker 2: And obviously some of the other guys have tools.

950
00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:24,239
Speaker 3: Otaga is a good defender and if you can get

951
00:39:24,320 --> 00:39:27,040
Speaker 3: him back, So yeah, there's definitely a lot of defensive

952
00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:27,680
Speaker 3: upside with the.

953
00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:33,240
Speaker 2: Right Mormon mamba. Oh Mormon Williams too, I mean Mormon mamba.

954
00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:35,919
Speaker 2: Colin Chandler showed some defense even before he really broke

955
00:39:35,960 --> 00:39:37,840
Speaker 2: out offensively earlier in the season. He had he was

956
00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:40,120
Speaker 2: pretty hands. He had a lot of steals. Uh, played

957
00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:42,080
Speaker 2: a big role in the hate Stanate out loud. The

958
00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:44,200
Speaker 2: Arkansas game didn't go well, but in that second half

959
00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:46,080
Speaker 2: he should helped shut down John L. Davis.

960
00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:47,920
Speaker 4: That's the one player I'm really looking forward to. I

961
00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:50,239
Speaker 4: think we are kind of sleeping on what he's going

962
00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:52,480
Speaker 4: to be able to bring next year. You saw him

963
00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:55,319
Speaker 4: kind of get a little more comfortable with his game

964
00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:57,520
Speaker 4: there late in the season and started to have some

965
00:39:57,560 --> 00:39:59,440
Speaker 4: confidence that. I mean, you know, we don't have a

966
00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:00,920
Speaker 4: whole lot of high it's from that Tennessee game, but

967
00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:02,160
Speaker 4: that was a big three hit at the at the

968
00:40:02,239 --> 00:40:03,760
Speaker 4: end of the half, and he hit some big shots

969
00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:06,480
Speaker 4: against Missouri also. I mean, like he's somebody that I

970
00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:09,200
Speaker 4: really think is going to contribute a lot next year.

971
00:40:09,239 --> 00:40:11,839
Speaker 4: He's gonna be a twenty two year old sophomore, twenty

972
00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:13,640
Speaker 4: one year old sophomore, whatever, whatever.

973
00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:15,880
Speaker 3: It's gonna be. I mean, he'll be married, he'll be married.

974
00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:19,160
Speaker 3: I mean he's settling down, you know, twenty one years old.

975
00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:21,880
Speaker 2: Rick. Let's get one more in before the break. Okay,

976
00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:25,040
Speaker 2: we have Adrian up next. Adrian, thanks for calling in.

977
00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:28,120
Speaker 2: What's up, Hey, good morning.

978
00:40:28,120 --> 00:40:28,839
Speaker 9: How are you all doing.

979
00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:30,480
Speaker 2: We are excellent. Thanks for asking.

980
00:40:32,480 --> 00:40:34,920
Speaker 9: I guess the question is you can all chip in,

981
00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:37,040
Speaker 9: But I guess this question is more for Jack. Are

982
00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:40,040
Speaker 9: we still in the running for Native Mint? And what

983
00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:42,440
Speaker 9: about the kid from Robert Morris that's from Spain that

984
00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:43,440
Speaker 9: we were kind of looking at.

985
00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,839
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, great questions. I would I would probably put,

986
00:40:48,280 --> 00:40:50,640
Speaker 3: you know, put that on hold. I do not think that,

987
00:40:51,719 --> 00:40:53,479
Speaker 3: you know, I think Nata ment. I think that ship

988
00:40:53,520 --> 00:40:56,080
Speaker 3: has sailed and I think this is this Jaden Quainton's

989
00:40:56,160 --> 00:40:58,120
Speaker 3: edition is kind of the writing on the wall there.

990
00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:00,759
Speaker 2: But you know, we'll see.

991
00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:04,279
Speaker 3: With Olivarro, obviously, I think him kind of putting his

992
00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:06,919
Speaker 3: recruitment on hold. And you know, if if you were

993
00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:09,759
Speaker 3: to get a surprise decommitment or enter the transfer portal

994
00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:12,080
Speaker 3: with a Brandon Garrison or something, I think that's something

995
00:41:12,080 --> 00:41:15,919
Speaker 3: they would reevaluate. But until then, I think the guys

996
00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:17,520
Speaker 3: they have right now in the front court of the guys,

997
00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:19,240
Speaker 3: they're very comfortable with going into next season.

998
00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:22,080
Speaker 2: I was pretty excited about the Big Spaniards. He still

999
00:41:22,080 --> 00:41:22,440
Speaker 2: in Spain.

1000
00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:24,400
Speaker 3: Did he come back if we heard? If he's not,

1001
00:41:24,680 --> 00:41:27,160
Speaker 3: I have not, I have not heard. I think they

1002
00:41:27,239 --> 00:41:29,720
Speaker 3: thought he was coming back and did not come back yesterday.

1003
00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,600
Speaker 3: But you know, I we're pretty excited.

1004
00:41:34,680 --> 00:41:36,560
Speaker 2: Board. We got to introduce him at reparating again. I

1005
00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:38,279
Speaker 2: love that moment when he when he popped in and

1006
00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:40,200
Speaker 2: gave everybody a big wave. Let's run him back next season,

1007
00:41:40,239 --> 00:41:41,839
Speaker 2: but we'll be running it back in the second hour.

1008
00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:45,880
Speaker 2: Drew Franklin, Jack Pilgrim, Steven Peak, Thanks to Phoenix Stevens

1009
00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:47,880
Speaker 2: and tianni Key for joining us talk a little women's

1010
00:41:47,880 --> 00:41:50,279
Speaker 2: basketball in the middle of all this. We also want

1011
00:41:50,280 --> 00:41:52,279
Speaker 2: to hear from you on the Clark's Pumping Shop phone

1012
00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:55,280
Speaker 2: line eight five nine two eight zero two two eight seven.

1013
00:41:55,560 --> 00:41:57,839
Speaker 2: We're having lots of fun on a Newsy Day. We'll

1014
00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:00,080
Speaker 2: talk about the championship when we get back. This is

1015
00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:00,600
Speaker 2: ks R.