2025-04-07 LEACH REPORT

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This podcast of The Leech Report is presented by Boone's
Butcher Shop in Barnestown at one hundred old Bloomfield Pike,
family owned and operated since nineteen forty six, with fresh
meat cut on site daily Boone's Butcher Shop.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Goodday, everybody, Welcome into our first show of.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
The new week here on The Leech.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises. Hooray, hooray, the rain is.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
Gone finally, mercifully it is moving out, has moved out
and we are going to be left with actually real
sunshine today and they will be racing at Keenland on
a Monday, Monday and Tuesday races. These are the two

(00:50):
cards that were postponed from Friday and Saturday because of
the weather. So yeah, it's going to be a little chilly,
but it'll be sunny and maybe by tomorrow even hopefully
a fast track that they got the meat started yesterday.
We'll talk about that a little bit later in the show.
We're gonna lead off with Brandon Ramsey, the coach who
will join us from on three Sports and Ksarta talk

(01:11):
about the final four and about the Wildcats who picked
up a second transfer portal commitment over the weekend, and
then Jerry Tipton will join us later on, former longtime
beat writer on Kentucky basketball for The Herald Leader. Two
of his colleagues being inducted into the US Basketball Writers
Association Hall of Fame today down in San Antonio. So

(01:33):
that's the lineup. Wildcat News of the Day presented by
just Seppies of Lexington. National Title game tonight will pit
the Florida Gators against the Houston Cougars, and if Kelvin
Samson and Houston win it, coach Samson will be the
oldest coach to win a Final Four, and maybe Todd

(01:54):
Golden would be the youngest. I don't know if that
would be. I haven't heard that stat, but he's got
to be close if they If the Gators win, I'm
sure Florida's favored. I haven't seen a number, but what
a pair of games on Saturday, as Florida rallied from
eight down at the half to eliminate Auburn, and then
Houston finished the game with an incredible run for a

(02:17):
very improbable comeback win over Duke. Houston was down double
digits in the second half and they looked dead in
the water with about two minutes to go in the
game and came back and won it. And we'll talk
about all of that with Brandon Ramsey here in just
a bit. There are as first transfer portal news for
Kentucky reports that the Wildcats either will or have done

(02:39):
a zoom call with USC wing Wesley Yeats, the third six',
four really good. Shooter sounds kind of like you look
at his, numbers you, know A Jackson robinson type of,
PLAYER aau teammate.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Of Jalen, low the new point guard commitment for The.
Cats so a lot of names we, said get thrown
around in the transfer portal and we'll see if there's
any legs to this particular. Story Kerk krisa has found
his new college basketball. Home he will play for The
Cincinnati bearcats just up the road next, season so he'll

(03:15):
be back in The big twelve from his days At
West virginia And arizona and a Former, Wildcat zavadimir Of
esich Big, z he is transferring To illinois where he
will join his, Brother so The esich, brothers and maybe
we'll get a final resolution on the. Pronunciation surely with

(03:37):
both of them on the same, team we will because
they Each if you in the media guides for each,
player there are media. NOTES i think the pronunciation is
a little different for each.

Speaker 1 (03:49):
One John rostein reporting THAT cbs reporting The kentucky as
a non conference game schedule With bellerman it'll be right
Before Christmas december twenty third In Rupper Scotti davenport has
stepped down as the coach, there his son is taking.
OVER Uk gymnastics finished third in the regional up In,

(04:11):
pennsylvania so they just miss out on getting to the
national championships by one. Spot Sharon lee won The beam
competition For. Kentucky links to the stories that we talk
about each day can be found on the Bud Light
Leech report page At tom leachky dot com and our
opening segment Of Wildcat News always a service Of giuseppes Of.

(04:33):
Lexington keeenland's underway now and there's still time to get
a reservation in For giuseppes to follow a big day
At keenland for you and friends and. Family it's a
great place to celebrate any special, occasion a, birthday at,
anniversary a, promotion or just a big day At keeenland
or A uk sporting. Event go to open table and

(04:54):
make your reservation For. Giuseppes the food is, fantastic ambiance
is off the. Charts the jazz, music if you sit
in the lounge, area is a perfect accompaniment to a
very it's very. Special just Off Nicholas Field road outside
Man O war having some technical issues with the computer
system right, now so we're gonna have to roll without

(05:15):
a break for the. Moment so we'll go ahead and
bring on our first guests to get things started and
at some point we'll hopefully get this fixed and break
away and get back into the normal. Routine but let
us bring in on the Club blue nil dot com
Hotline Brandon, ramsey a former coach who now covers college
basketball as a. Podcaster you see a show on, YouTube

(05:39):
you read his posts AT ksr and on Three, sports
breaking down, opponents breaking down the tape Of kentucky, games
And brandon also analyzing New wildcats coming in via the.
Portal we want to get to that in a, minute
BUT i want to start with The final four and
your take on the two games that played out On.

Speaker 3 (05:59):
Saturday, yeah it, was you, KNOW i think it's sort
of lived up to the. Hype, honestly in terms of
the fact that we were we were going to have
A saturday evening with pretty clearly the four best teams
in college. Basketball. Uh, certainly the The Houston duke game
had had a very exciting finish to, it AND i

(06:23):
think it was one of those semi finals where you,
know kind of no matter what, HAPPENED i think that
it wasn't going to be overly shocking because of WHAT
i just, said because all all four of the teams
are so, strong AND i think that over the course
the entire, season you watch these four teams separate themselves
from the, field so to. Speak so it was it
was nice to see a national semi final like, that

(06:47):
AND i think, that you, know, SIMILARLY i think you'll get,
something you, know that that really delivers for a national
championship game tonight between you, know a team In houston
that's been you, know just consistently excellent throughout the, year
and they won The big twelve by four, games WHICH
i think probably went a little under the radars to
some extent this season is because of how dominant THE sec,

(07:08):
was and then you had A florida team that you,
know go in to the end of the, season THE
sec tournament all that, stuff you, know was probably playing
as well as anybody in the. Country SO i think
it's it's certainly fitting that these are the two teams
duking it out In San.

Speaker 1 (07:21):
Antonio THE tv numbers saw a note WHERE cbs had
their best numbers in eight. YEARS i don't think That
cinderella is necessarily. Dead you, know it may be a
little more challenging for teams to make a, run but
YOU'LL i think you'll still see upsets in future tournaments

(07:42):
that bring the some of the charm of THE ncaa.
Tournament but by the time you get to this, POINT
i think the brand names are what drive the biggest, numbers.

Speaker 3 (07:53):
Right i've always said that to, me The cinderella's the
ups that's that they're really fun in the, moment AND
i think that there's a place for them in that
first weekend OF ncaa. Tournament but, then you, know sometimes
you forget that as you're cheering for that fourteen or

(08:13):
fifteen seed to win and that's all. Fun then you
still have to turn around and watch them next in
the next, game and sometimes that games not as competitive
or quite frank, frankly from a ratings, standpoint people just
aren't as interested, Nationally SO i think that those upsets
are are fun and maybe even to some extent good
for the game early. On but THEN i think as

(08:35):
the tournament progresses and you get into the second weekend
and certainly into the final, FOUR i don't. Honest you
just think it's good for the game when you have
the best teams still, playing and obviously when you're in
a one and done, tournament that's not always going to
be the. Case that's part of what makes it so.
Exciting BUT i, think you, know the ratings are proving

(08:55):
that what's best for the game really is when the
best teams Veils.

Speaker 1 (09:01):
The Coach Brandon ramsey's with us here on The Leech
report via The Club blue nil dot com, hotline and
their sister, Organization Commonwealth causes is back with Another april
or Another bourbon, raffle this one for the month Of.
April Circle april twenty fourth on your calendar and go
To Commonwealth causes dot org to get your tickets. Today
you don't want to miss this. One twenty thousand dollars

(09:24):
worth of bourbon is going to be, raffled including the
Legendary Pappy vanwinkle six bottle, set also a well or
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Commonwealth causes. Dotorg talking With Brandon ramsey From on Three
sports AND ksr and obviously For kentucky fans The Big Blue,

(09:48):
Nation duke losing is excuse, me almost always a good.
Thing it is always a good, thing depending on your
point of, VIEW i think for most of. Us and
part of the reason for, me just as a college
band Is duke gets so overhyped individual players and. Teams
this is an Outstanding duke team and and so you,

(10:12):
know deserving of you, know a lot of praise for
how good they they. Were BUT i know the numbers
Like Ken, Palm i've seen that stat many, times regards
it as one of the top teams in the LAST
i don't, know quarter of a century or. Something you're
a former, coach JUST i, know whatever the numbers, say just,
logically not even the eye. Tests just, logically how likely

(10:34):
is a team without a real point guard and starting
three freshmen one of the best teams in the last thirty.

Speaker 3 (10:38):
Years, yeah it's pretty. Unlikely AND i think, that you,
know one of the issues With duke this, year and
obviously it was it was probably what was talked about
with them nationally throughout the season was that that THE
acc just wasn't very, Good so it was hard to
get a read on exactly what this team. Was and

(11:01):
now to credit to, THEM i think that we, probably you,
know overplayed even a little bit how bad THE acc
might have been compared to how it is in the,
past AND i think that that probably led to some
people down Playing duke too. Much but then at the same,
TIME i can palm and so those analytics, websites Then
duke got so much credit for beating these teams as

(11:24):
handily as they, did And duke does deserve some credit for,
that but it's just hard to, Know like what does
it mean to BEAT Nc state by twenty? POINTS i
don't know how GOOD Nc state? Is like what does
it mean to Beat Virginia tech by twenty? POINTS i
don't know how Good Virginia tech. Is and these analytic
websites really give you a ton of credit for beating people,
badly and To duke's, credit they were able to do that,

(11:45):
consistently and that's how they kind of ended up getting
rated the way that they. Had but, YEAH i think
that you, know as excellent As Couper flag is and
as excellent As Tyris frocter And continental and all these guys.
Were no DO i think they're one of the ten
best teams of the last you, know decade or. Whatever probably,
not but they were pretty darn. Good and you, know
it took a you, know a pretty incredible comeback By

(12:08):
houston for to not Be duke watching the.

Speaker 1 (12:10):
Season, Ironically duke really lost the game the way they
lost The kentucky game way back In. November freshman mistakes
and then just, missing you, know some key turnovers late
in the, game and you, know they get the ball
To flag and he spins into the lane just like

(12:32):
he did Against kentucky always stole the ball, there And
houston just defended the shot well this.

Speaker 3 (12:37):
Time, YEAH i think it is somewhat fitting that you
saw the seasons sort of begin and end in that
manner when you're just trying to roll out the, freshman
because obviously it was able to it allowed him to
win at a very very high level throughout the, season
and they were just a few seconds away from playing
for national. Championship so it's hard to say that didn't

(12:58):
that it didn't. Work but against The houston, team it's
just so, inflappable and they have older guys and obviously
Seeing holder are great coach And Kelvin sampson and, like
The houston guys aren't going to make those. Mistakes AND
i think that there was still just a little bit
of that of freshman being freshman For duke that at
the you, know in the biggest, moments at the biggest,

(13:18):
Stage houston was just able to kind of remain calm and, say,
HEY i know we're down fourteen points with eight minutes,
ago but we can still do. This, WELL i know
we're down six points with thirty seconds, ago we can
still do. This and sure, enough when it hits, zero they,
say were the one a mancon.

Speaker 1 (13:33):
Got to catch up on. Breaks we got this system
up and ready, Again so let's get to a quick.

Speaker 2 (13:37):
Break we'll be back with more From Brandon ramsey is
at b RAMSEY ksr on x Or. Twitter will be
right back On The Lake's report presented By Bob Kat
enterprises twenty.

Speaker 1 (13:45):
Three past the top of The Hour chat With Brandon,
ramsey the former coach who does the posts or on
three sports AND ksr and breaking down the games during
the season and then analyzing the New wildcats coming in
via the portal this time of year and the most.
Recents Jalen, low point guard From. Pittsburgh what's your scouting

(14:06):
report on?

Speaker 3 (14:06):
HIM i Think kentucky got one of the more dynamic
playmakers from the transfer. Portal quite, FRANKLY i think just
in terms of some one on one playmaking and shot,
creation both for himself and. Others he probably has a
gear that, nobody quite frankly on this Pass kentucky team.

(14:28):
HAD i think he'll be able to break guys down
one on one at a higher level than what we
saw this, year get paint, touches and require teams to come,
help probably at the higher level than what we saw this. Year.
Obviously the first and sort of the easy critique On
Jalen low as if you just look at you, Know

(14:48):
Sports reference or, whatever and you see his three point shooting,
numbers and when you see twenty six point six, percent
and you think about the shooting that coach cops teams
generally have or want to, have maybe that doesn't sit still,
perfectly but it was on incredibly high volume Because pitts
versus offense wasn't very good outside of, him so he
was required to take some really tough. SHOTS i think

(15:11):
there's two, reasons well probably three reasons for some real
optimism in terms of those shooting. Numbers, one he's not
going to have to take the volume in this offense
To kentucky that he did a. Pit he's going to
probably just, get you, know, cleaner better looks from, three
and those will be the ones that he's supposed to
shoot At. Kentucky, secondly if you look back to his
freshman season when he was on a much more reasonable,

(15:33):
VOLUME i believe he shot about thirty five thirty six,
percent making about one three per. Game so the there
you're in the realm of kind of like What Lamont
butler did this past. Season and then, also he's a
very very high level free throw shooter on very high
volume from the free throw line as, well and generally,
speaking those free throw numbers give you an indication of

(15:57):
whether or not there's room for improvement from. Three if
he was a poor free throw shooter and a poor
three point, shooter Then i'd be a little bit, worried
but the fact that he was like almost eighty eight
eighty nine percent from the free throw line makes me
believe that you're going to see his three point shooting
numbers improve this.

Speaker 1 (16:11):
Year we saw a lot of guys For pope in
his first year make have a lot of personal best
in various. Categories shooting another.

Speaker 3 (16:20):
One, absolutely AND i think that he's a, guy you,
know for all the REASONS i just, OUTLINED i think
he's a guy that that very likely could could be
next in line for. That he's a guy that could
that could make you, know forty to sixty three at
thirty four to thirty, six thirty seven percent this next,

(16:40):
year regardless of what you saw the numbers this past,
SEASON a, PITT i honestly just don't think that's going
to be a very good reflection of what is to
be expected this.

Speaker 1 (16:49):
Year appreciate the. Insight. Brandon will keep keep you on
the line here for future weeks as this team eventually
comes together and more newcomers come into the, fold and
we will Chat i'm sure frequently between now and the
end of the roster. Building thank you for the.

Speaker 3 (17:07):
Time, yep, Anytime, Tom thank you at.

Speaker 2 (17:09):
B RAMSEY ksr on x Or, twitter and it is
The Leach Report Radio network presented By Bobcat. Enterprises and
we'll get caught up on our breaks here and be
right back on The Leach.

Speaker 1 (17:21):
Report each report's presented By Bobcat. Enterprises and it Is
opening weekend Of keenland in a little unusual. Manner yesterday
Was Opening day and then The friday And saturday cards
have been moved to today and. Tomorrow and before we
talk about, that let me just play a. Clip this

(17:43):
is from a K et special On Ted, bassett the
longtime leader Of keenland and The Breeders cup that passed
away in the past. Years so it'll be the First
Keenland meet in a long time.

Speaker 2 (17:57):
Without Ted bassett coming up out for a.

Speaker 1 (18:00):
Visit this was just a clip from THAT kt.

Speaker 4 (18:02):
Special the thing THAT i hope the founders would look
on as we did, expand as we increased the sage
of the, grandstand the, facilities the barn, areas that we
were able to nurture the sort of mission Of kaitlin
and that we didn't lose the traditional.

Speaker 2 (18:24):
Charm so that was from THAT kt special On Ted.
Bassett as we welcome in on the Club blueenile dot com.
HOTLINE vp Of Racing Gatewood, bell AND i think there
would be one hundred percent agreement That Ted bassett hit
the mark he was shooting for there, Right oh for.

Speaker 5 (18:42):
Sure what he was just a legendary, man a Legendary
kentucky and.

Speaker 6 (18:47):
Yes all things just, Black keenland And. Kentucky.

Speaker 1 (18:52):
Yeah AND i always enjoyed when he'd come out for a,
visit running to him out their track side, somewhere and
he was just as comfortable with the as as the
with The queen on her visit as he was with
somebody he'd run into the track kitchen out of keel and,
so oh, yeah. Exactly rest in peace to Mister. Bassett
let's talk a little racing as he would, enjoy and

(19:13):
you cut The friday And saturday cards playing out today and,
tomorrow AND i hope you guys will take a little
bit of a hit on handle on that most, likely
but it's certainly much safer with what the conditions will
be today and tomorrow and supposed to be, sunshine and
so it'll also be more enjoyable experience for the, horses

(19:34):
the horsemen and the fans, Right, yeah.

Speaker 6 (19:36):
I'd tell, You i'd say you've nailed.

Speaker 5 (19:38):
IT i will probably take a pretty good bottom line business,
hit but that's that wasn't really number, one, two three
or four factors out. There it'll be much more, pleasant
the track will be, safer just more certainty that we
were able to run and get these big, races these
Big steaks races in and while not, ideal you, know

(19:59):
everybody's been eight and people that work At keeenland are
just second to, none and the.

Speaker 6 (20:03):
Patients and willingness to adapt has been been. Fantastic it
made it a lot.

Speaker 1 (20:10):
Easier, yeah The grade One Central Bank ashland headlining a card,
today one of the, LAST i, guess the last big
prep for The Kentucky oaks On derby, weekend and it
is a feel that is well. Matched it looks, like, right.

Speaker 6 (20:25):
Yeah it's wide. OPEN i mean Obviously.

Speaker 5 (20:27):
Mahima last year looked like she was the early kind
of early winter book favorite for The oaks and didn't run,
terrible but didn't run up to up to, expectations probably
in The.

Speaker 6 (20:38):
Honeybee and then you've got.

Speaker 5 (20:40):
A really Nice philly super speed coming in From, California
Mark Cassi's Philly La. Cara Wesley ward has a has
a Local philly that looks very.

Speaker 6 (20:51):
TOUGH i mean you could make a case for all
eight of, them for.

Speaker 2 (20:54):
SURE i was talking To kenny McPeak for The Today Keenan.
Show we hooked up on zoom when he was over
In dubai over the weekend With rattle And, roll and
he was telling me about His philly and they Take Charge.
Milady her maternal grandmother is Take Charge, lady who was
five for five At. Keenlan and he, said This philly

(21:15):
is the spitting image of Take Charge.

Speaker 1 (21:17):
Lady, YEAH i mean she did you throw out?

Speaker 6 (21:20):
Her you draw a line through her last race and
she fits right.

Speaker 5 (21:22):
In and if he says she looks like Take Charge,
LADY i think that's one of the only she. Won
she won what three grade ones At. Keenland, yes she
was a queen here back last.

Speaker 2 (21:33):
Decade and then tomorrow you've got several stakes on the
card headlined by The grade One Toyota. Bluegrass and it
feels like to me same kind of deal as The,
ashland where it's a race where just about you could
certainly make a case for just about everybody to win.

Speaker 6 (21:49):
It, yeah this is a really.

Speaker 5 (21:53):
HANDICAP i know it's only seven, horses but from a handicapping,
perspective this is a really really intriguing, Race like who's
going to go to the how fast are they going to?
Go Is Owen almighty going to? Go As River tim's
going to? Go Obviously chancer mcpatrick's probably gonna sit off of,
it but he wasn't as far behind as he normally
is in The Tampa Bay, derby And Chad brown said he,

(22:14):
was you, know seventy or eighty percent Fit.

Speaker 6 (22:17):
East. Avenue which one shows, up.

Speaker 5 (22:19):
The one that looked like the second coming secretariat here last,
year or or the one that you know ran last
last month down and the Fair grounds and didn't bring
his a, Race so it's it's a really intriguing. Race
Ian wilkes's colt looks really good.

Speaker 1 (22:38):
Wide.

Speaker 3 (22:38):
OPEN i don't.

Speaker 6 (22:39):
Know i'll listen to who you like WHEN i put
my money.

Speaker 1 (22:42):
Down, YEAH i THINK i ended up Taking East, avenue
but it's it's not the strongest opinion in the world
because of his disappointing outing this. Year but the horse
that broke his maiden down At ellis and then came
in and won The clayburn breeders futurity so. Impressively if
we see that horse show up in the blue, grass
then he becomes one of the leading derby. Contenders, yeah for,

(23:06):
sure for.

Speaker 5 (23:06):
Sure now it's a it's a great. Weekend hopefully we'll
be back on the. Grass we're gonna run on the
grass today in The. Transylvanian we'll in the grass. Tomorrow
for for, DEFINITELY i would like to think definitely and
hopefully not, definitely hopefully both of the the grated steaks
and we'll see how it how it dries out and handles.

Speaker 1 (23:24):
Today, yeah the, uh it took a ton of, rain
BUT i know from the time it was installed the
drainage system was hailed as being one of the. Best
so it does dry out on the grass pretty, quickly doesn't.

Speaker 5 (23:38):
It, yeah definitely quicker than probably most other turf tracks
and dirt tracks for that, matter because it was the
dirt track was laid over the old poly track which
had a full full drainage system under, it and we
have his full drainage system under the turf track as.
Well and it's a sand based, track so especially when
those big, downpours it's not.

Speaker 6 (23:55):
Going to be pooling water or anything like. That it
actually drains drains very very.

Speaker 2 (23:59):
WELL a couple of great, cards a couple of great
cards these next two days and it's. All it will
be a chance for a lot of fans of handicapping
to play a little hooky from.

Speaker 1 (24:12):
Work so that's.

Speaker 5 (24:14):
Right yeah that normally can't get a ticket for For
Bluegrass day In.

Speaker 6 (24:21):
Ashland.

Speaker 1 (24:21):
Day there you, Go so it's a chance to you,
know sneak away take a half day off or. Two
gatewood thank, you Thanks tom Pep Race Gatewood bell From.

Speaker 2 (24:32):
Keenland we're going to take a quick break and come
back With Jerry, tipton long TIME uk fans basketball beat,
writer A Litlexingdon Harold. Leaders we're at The National championship.
Night how About yukon the only two seed among the
men's and women's final.

Speaker 1 (24:48):
Fours everybody else was a. One they Demolished South carolina
yesterday to win the twelfth national title For gino Ri
ema'll be right back With Jerry tipton on The Leach.
Report sixteen away from the top of The. Ours Leeg's
report presented by Bobcat enterprises for locations for them In.
Kentucky so when you need to buy a rent some heavy.
Equipment that's the place to. Go google.

Speaker 2 (25:09):
Him you'll find the one that's closest to you and
you can Do you won't find anybody better to do
business with than the folks At Bobcat. Enterprises Jerry tipton
joins us now The club blueennil dot com, hotline longtime
men's basketball beat writer for The Lexington Herald, leader author
Of Deja, blue his book that chronicles his for decades

(25:30):
of covering The, cats And, jerry two of your former
colleagues are being honored today down In San antonio THE
Us Basketball Writers association luncheon as new members of The
hall Of fame that you're a member. Of so one
time down there in the newsroom On Middleland, avenue there
Was Jerry tipton And John clay And Chuck culpepper all

(25:50):
in the same newsroom and all now in THE Us
Basketball Writers Association hall Of.

Speaker 1 (25:53):
Fame that's pretty.

Speaker 2 (25:54):
Cool, definitely, yeah very, much very much deserved For Josh
clay And Chuck.

Speaker 1 (26:00):
Culpeper and you, KNOW.

Speaker 2 (26:05):
I Think i'm not trying to disparage, this BUT i
think at least part of it has to do with
Covering kentucky or being involved With kentucky basketball where what you.

Speaker 1 (26:15):
Write is going to get noticed.

Speaker 2 (26:19):
More there's probably a lot of people covering mid majors
teams and stuff like that that are doing a great,
job but it's just not noticed as. Much, so you,
KNOW i would tip my cap To kentucky.

Speaker 1 (26:34):
Basketball, NOW i would agree same thing in WHAT i.
Do there's a lot of great guys out there and
ladies doing that work that just don't get as noticed
as you are when you're connected to The kentucky platform
and kind of segues into the final four that is
now down to the final. TWO i saw the ratings

(26:55):
were the best in eight years FOR, cbs AND i
think part of that is that the brand names are
what draw the eyeballs in the, ears, Right.

Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yeah, definitely you, know four number one seeds first time
since two thousand and. Eight AND i Know kentucky fans
probably don't want to hear, this But duke is definitely
a brand. Name and you, Know Cooper flag to say the,
least has been noticed this season and been, applauded and

(27:27):
SO i you, KNOW i watched both. Games in my favorite,
Games tom are the ones that come very competitive and
come down to the last few posessions and that's what
we had in both. Games and you, KNOW, i you,
KNOW i thoroughly enjoyed watching both, games and as a basketball,
FAN i Enjoyed houston's comeback. Win BUT i must acknowledge

(27:53):
That Cooper flag got a horrible call on that. Foul,
Now houston did end up with the re bound and
may have ended up either scoring or getting fouled at
the other end, anyway but it was a bad. Call
and so that was one of the instances where didn't
get all the. Calls, well these things, Happen, yes, BASICALLY i,

(28:16):
mean you, know even to the brand, names even to
the Blue, bloods the refs are. HUMAN i find it
very very hard to believe that the refs have some
sort of. Motive, no try to bring down a. Team,
no but they're human and they you, know they you
know's many Times i'm watching ON tv And i'm, thinking,

(28:36):
oh you, know that guy walked or, this or that
there was a file, there and then when they show the,
replay especially in slow, motion THEN i can, See, okay
the ref was closer obviously and had a better look at.

Speaker 1 (28:49):
It so, okay so the ref has to make that
decision in a split. Second, well you AND i can
watch the replay super slow.

Speaker 2 (28:56):
Motion, correct, Absolutely and you, KNOW i think it's a you,
know the, players as you, know are so athletic and
moving so fast and all of, that and so it's
not an easy job to try to.

Speaker 1 (29:10):
Officiate you Covered Mark pope as a player here for
his two. Seasons he was three seasons, HERE i guess
when as they're sitting out as a. Transfer so he
played two seasons in ninety five ninety. Six now not
doing the job anymore and watching from a little bit farther,
away you watch his first year as the head coach

(29:33):
back here At. Kentucky what was your take on what
you saw over the course of the whole.

Speaker 2 (29:38):
Season, WELL i think it was reassuring For kentucky. FANS
i think at the, beginning you, know they had those
big names being mentioned as possible new coaches For. Kentucky
Dan hurley comes immediately to, mind the guy At, baylor
and so you, know then you're then they Hired Mark,

(29:59):
pope AND i think that there was you, know some
hesitation there From kentucky, fans and then that opening press
conference at a filled Rupp. Arena he did such a masterful.
Job as the cliche, goes he won the press, conference
AND i was really impressed with how he drew a

(30:20):
contrast With John caliperi without being, negative without being, critical
when he, said you, know we're going to play for.
Banners you, KNOW i think that hit a key With
kentucky fans about you, know their dislike of the one
and done and, so you, KNOW i thought he did
a masterful. Job and then the season of putting together

(30:43):
a roster from scratch and advancing further Than kentucky has
advanced in a number of, years you, know all very
much a.

Speaker 1 (30:52):
Plus NOW i.

Speaker 2 (30:53):
Like to THINK i don't like the, thing BUT i
do think that the bar is continually raised For. Kentucky
the fans continually raise. It so you, know if they
don't get any further than The sweet sixteen over the
next few, years then there's probably gonna be some.

Speaker 1 (31:09):
Grumbling but you, KNOW i think he did a masterful. Job.
YEAH i think he was in the rare situation of
getting being able to somewhat ease into the job because
of the postseason failures of recent, years and then getting
to the second weekend WAS i think pleasing to certainly

(31:32):
pleasing to, fans AND i think he gets good marks
from just about, everybody if universally in the fan. Base
but you're right that only lasts probably for one.

Speaker 2 (31:41):
Season WELL i should have mentioned too that you, know
the injuries have to be factored, in that they weren't
the complete Team Jackson robinson out and then the other,
injuries so you know you have to kind, of you,
know put an asterisk if they're with it also because of.

Speaker 1 (31:59):
That ultimately it comes down, to you, know the players
that you're able to. Get and now it's a much
different landscape than for your, Time Covery kentucky basketball with
the transfer portal and how THE nil. Works give me
your thoughts on that part of the change of college

(32:20):
basketball for the game that you covered for four. Decades,
well this is just you, know a personal. Opinion but
anytime it's about, money that's not a turn on for.
ME i you, Know i'd like to.

Speaker 2 (32:34):
See good play and and, competition as we, said and
things like, that masterful players that are. Heady I'm Tyler
uless always comes almost immediately to mind for.

Speaker 1 (32:47):
Me but then when it's about.

Speaker 2 (32:50):
Money you, KNOW i wondered with the, portal Like i'm
A marshall, graduate and if they were to get a good,
now chances are he would transfer to a higher, realm you.
Know and what effect does that have on. Fans The
marshall fans care very, much you, know they're into it

(33:13):
emotionally and.

Speaker 1 (33:16):
Over a long. Haul what sort of an effect will
that have.

Speaker 2 (33:20):
On fandom at the lower. LEVELS i don't know how
much of a priority that.

Speaker 1 (33:25):
IS i assume it's.

Speaker 2 (33:27):
Not and of course some people have pointed out to
me that sometimes a player at a high, major you,
know for whatever, reason we'll want to maybe to transfer
for more playing, time and we'll go down to a
mid major. Level so, okay maybe there's some balance. There
but it's not as much fun for me just as

(33:49):
a fan, watching but it can be very. Entertaining AND
i Think i've said this many times that there's a
lot more parody now than there used to, be AND
i like.

Speaker 1 (34:01):
Parody AND i.

Speaker 2 (34:04):
Think number one seeds are now one hundred and fifty
eight and two in the first round, games and the
two losses have come in the last SEVEN ncaa, tournaments
so and the number two seeds have only. LOST i
think this is right eleven, times and it happens three

(34:26):
times in a row in twenty twenty, one twenty twenty,
two and twenty twenty. Three SO i think those are you,
KNOW i like, PARODY i like competition and competitive, games
so you, know The cinderella is a nice story.

Speaker 1 (34:40):
Too Deja blues still, available and all the local book
selling sources and then local. Bookstores and hope that has
done well for, You, jerry and appreciate the.

Speaker 2 (34:50):
Time, yeah sure thing, Anytime. Tom Thanks that Is Jerry
tipton is simply Add Jerry tipton on x Or twitter
if you want to follow for his observations on basketball
and The. Cats we're going to get to a break
come back for our final. Segment here on The Leech,
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(36:40):
women's basketball picked up a transfer portal commitment over the.
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(37:44):
over the turf.

Speaker 1 (37:45):
Course so excuse, me, thanks enjoy the racing out At
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report presented By Bob Dad enterprise