KSR Postgame UK MBB vs Texas AM 01/14/25

00:00:00
Speaker 1: Welcome everyone. It is the local Toy Dealers KSR postgame show. The Cats with a great win in Lexington tonight on a freezing cold day, eighty one to sixty nine. Kentucky goes to three and one in the SEC and now with its fifth win this year against a team ranked in the top fifteen. Pretty amazing run for Kentucky. Five and zero against ranked teams. That's the best record of any team in the country. If I'm nine two eight oh twenty two, eighty seven will open it up. As you know, when we do these late nights during the week and SEC play, I really like to hear from you all because it's usually been a long day. But tonight was. I thought, uh, you know, it wasn't the best game Kentucky's played all year, but in some ways I think it was one of the more impressive and important wins. And the reason I say that is Kentucky won without playing its best and without in one a different way. Basically, if you go look at the games they've played against really good opponents, they've won them by out scoring the other team. The Duke game was a little strange, but still in the end made plays down the stretch that Duke did not make. Gonzaga. We score in the nineties, We score one hundred and six against Florida. We score in the nineties against Mississippi State. This game, even though we scored eighty one, a lot of that was free throws at the end. This was a game played in the sixties and seventies, and as we've talked about, I wasn't sure if this team could beat a good team in a game that's in the sixties and seventies. Well they did, and for me, the story was defense and rebounding. I mean, it's the first time I can say that all year. Offensively, they weren't bad, but they were kind of a notch down from them at their full power. Obviously, started one for eleven from the line, shot a lot better after that, but even in the second half, it just didn't feel like the offense had complete flow. But defensively, you know, they really help made Texas A and M take the shots they wanted them to take. And what I mean by that is they wanted A and M to take threes. They didn't feel like A and M could make them. They made some at the beginning, but in the second half they adjusted a little, and A and M just had a hard time getting good looks the entire game. And then we out rebounded A and M. And if if you had said to me, you're gonna out rebound A and M, I would have been surprised. And if you're gonna tell me you're gonna essentially keep them off the offensive glass, I would have been even more surprised. And they went and did it, and I think that makes us win extra special. TEXA. A and M is a tough team. They're physical. Without Wade Taylor, they don't have the explosive scoring boost. But it was easily a game that we could have lost if we didn't play tough, and we did. A couple people I thought were especially impressive. For me, the player of the game was Amari Williams. You know, we've talked a lot about how you know Amari. I don't want to say I've been hard on him, but like his limitations have frustrated me. But tonight I thought he was excellent, rebounded well, he's passed well really all year, and distributed, but also thought his defense was good. He only played twenty three minutes but had eight points in twelve rebounds, three blocks. I really just loved the way he played the entire game. I thought it was it was probably his best performance of the year to me that we've seen. Jackson Robinson obviously great in the first half. Fifteen points in the first half, twenty two overall. I think he hit the biggest shot in the game, which was the little pump fake three that then became a two. I thought that was kind of the game, the shot that sealed the game. But in the first half, when Kentucky was really struggling, he ended the first half hot. And when Kentucky had the lead at halftime, after I thought they hadn't played well, I felt really good about the game. So, you know, excellent win. Travis Parry six points, two big threes, ten minutes with Butler. You know, first of all, Butler got banged up about as hard as somebody's gonna get banged up in a game. I think Billy hurt his shoulder, he hurt his angle, and he hurt his knee, and he hurt his face, he got I think he hurt everything in the game. But Perry had ten minutes and I thought he did really, really well in those ten minutes. Andrew Carr looked a little limited just in terms of how he was able to move, so other guys came in. Al Minor had really good minutes. You know, one of the things I promise you that, Like, I know, I'm repeating myself, but when one of the things I love about Mark Pope is and it sounds simplistic, but we haven't seen this in recent years. He sees mistakes and deficiencies and rather than just saying, you know, we'll get him in March or we'll cover it up, he works on it. So a huge problem for this team has been boxing out. So what do they do. They create an award for whoever boxes out the best in a game. I mean, Billy, that's awesome. That's the one thing this team was deficient at. So they create an award. Annsley Almanor wins it the first two times, but the mere fact that they create an award for it says they recognize the problem and they fix it. They don't just double down on poor decisions. So I just I love that. It's so refreshing to see a coach who is not stuck in his way but is actually willing to change and listening to Pope. On the post game, he talked about how he A and M's weakness was shooting threes, so he wanted to have guys shoot threes, but he wanted the right guys to shoot threes. And at the beginning a couple of those guys made them, but they thought it would even out over time, and then it did. And you know, they hit seven threes in the first eighteen minutes of the game. I think I tweeted out at that moment, they're averaging five a game in SEC play. Now they have seven. They didn't hit another one, Billy, the rest of the game, is that right? They didn't hit another one. So when I tweeted out that they had seven, they didn't hit another one the rest of the game. Well that's how you win, right, So big time victory Cats. Three and one in the SEC doesn't get any easier. Alabama comes in here Saturday for what should be an awesome environment. Uh they lost tonight at Homed Old Miss. Kind of a surprising result, not kind of, definitely a rising result. Old Miss is now four and oh in the conference, time for first place in the conference with Auburn. Alabama, now that they have they have one loss, so they're three and one. So the game Saturday, yet another biggie. But I really believed You've heard me talk a lot on the show about how kind of think there's Tier one, Tier two, Tier three, tier four teams, and I kind of thought we were in the Tier two and it was important we beat those teams. Well, we've now played three of those teams with Florida, Mississippi State and A and M, and we're three and oh, and that's gonna be huge come tournament time, seeding time. You know, maybe Old miss is in Tier one, maybe we're in Tier one. We'll see. But winning all three of those is big. Now, two big results that could be happening right now. Florida is losing at home to Missouri. Believe that would be a huge upset if it ends like that, every by the way, could end up three and one in the SEC. And I mean, I don't know what the coach's name, but a guy at Arkansas is if he's not careful staring Ohen four in the conference in the face, they are down seven with two minutes to go at LSU. I feel like Billy, I'm watching every Kentucky road game in the last I mean it like it is. It is every Kentucky road game of the last three or four years besides this one. If they lose this, I mean Arkansas. I'm not gonna say they're cooked, but they're pretty cooked. If they can't pull us out, chance to go oh to four in conference, all right, we'll take a break. Eight five nine two eight oh twenty two eighty seven Kats with a big time win against Buzz Williams, who a lot of people were saying to me after the after the game they thought looked like Ryan Lemon. Do you agree with that? No?

00:08:48
Speaker 2: But there was also another character on the A and M sideline who I did not know his name, but he looked like a love professor Georgetown.

00:08:54
Speaker 1: He did no, No, he looked like a professor at like a Northeastern like liberal arts school like he he looked like he looked like an English professor. Jimmy Dyke set him up to uh say something, uh to show that thing where he does the fouls during the free throws, and then he didn't do it. But that dude got a lot of airplay in his uh nice suit. He war but he did look like a professor A five nine two oh twenty two eighty seven. We will take a break and we'll be right back. It's a Local Toy Dealers KSR postgame show. Walking back. It is Local Toy Dealers KSR postgame show a five nine, two eight oh twenty two eighty seven Cats with a eighty one sixty nine win. We will take your calls and get to it. Uh, let's see what else is going on in in basketball Indiana, they were booing Mike Woodson channing fire Woodson tonight at Indiana.

00:09:48
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a bad look.

00:09:49
Speaker 1: You know. I mean, I don't want to say I told you, but I always thought that Mike Woodson high was a terrible hire. Indiana fans crowed it, and in the next fifty six seconds there might be another one that falls into that mark. I feel bad though, for those Indiana fans such usually such reasonable people, right, really is that right? Well?

00:10:14
Speaker 2: They you know Kentucky plays him next year, right?

00:10:16
Speaker 1: Yeah? Yeah, I bet we'll be playing them with a new coach at this rate. All right, who's up first?

00:10:22
Speaker 2: Let's start with Travis.

00:10:23
Speaker 1: Travis, Go ahead, Travis.

00:10:26
Speaker 3: Hey Man, thanks for taking micall. Shout out to Dave White.

00:10:28
Speaker 4: Driving back to Brookville, Indiana tonight. But I love listen to your trends. Are we at a point now where if Brea or Jack and Robinson have big games, it's almost a guaranteed win or getting close to it.

00:10:44
Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, I think Robinson's the key one. Yeah, Butler, you know, appreciate the call it is. It's interesting We've now beaten Mississippi State and Texas A and M back to back, and I don't really think Butler played well in either game. So I mean, I still think there's a notch of for this team what we've seen. By the way, how do we not talk about always dunk Billy? I mean, that's that goes up there as one of the best ones we've ever had, don't you think.

00:11:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, that was a really really good one.

00:11:11
Speaker 1: I mean he's tried to jam on people like four straight games and not done it. But he got it tonight. He got his body tonight. I mean it was that was a absolute throwdown, in your face dunk and that's that'll be a poster. I mean that, the the video is great. The steel frame picture is pretty awesome too. You gotta give uh that'll be one one we remember, dude, he always goes to the room with such authority. Yeah, I mean the Jackson first of all, those officials. They shouldn't have called the technical on the kid from A and M. And they shouldn't have called it on Jackson Robinson like that. We do not want to see you call technicals unless you have to call. And both those technicals were cheap, both of them. They called the A and M when first, but Robinson was was too. You know. Yeah, clearly though, there's something there. You know, I said that today on the pregame show Billy. Something's there with Robinson and Buzz. You know, Buzz says the right things, which is what he should do as an adult, but there's no there's clearly something there, right, Yeah. Yeah.

00:12:17
Speaker 2: He was at A and M for a year or so.

00:12:18
Speaker 1: He was at A and M for a year, and you know, Buzz said, oh, he's a great and I that's what he should say. But I had heard Robinson had been pointing at this game all year. There's got to be something there. You don't jaw at your coach twice former coach unless unless there's something but good for Robinson, nothing better. I mean, Davian Collins right now is playing really good in this game against Arkansas against cal I think Aaron Bradshaw played really well against US. I think guys just have an extra an extra ounce of excitement when that when that happens. Who's next, Dawson, Dawson, go ahead, Dawson, what's that man?

00:12:57
Speaker 5: Obviously there's a lot of good things talk about tonight, like Jackson.

00:13:00
Speaker 6: Performance to take his dunk and whatever.

00:13:02
Speaker 7: But I just want to bring up how cause I know you mentioned it. I hope I'm not the only one who was getting up to fit. But Jimmy Dykes was unbearable tonight.

00:13:11
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna talk a lot about this tomorrow because on a personal level, I like Jimmy Dykes, but he was on one tonight, wasn't he like like you know, like yeah, I mean he was just kind of on one, like what what his car? Creasy thing? Like whatever language he speaks, I mean.

00:13:28
Speaker 7: Speaks listen to his interviews, he speaks English.

00:13:33
Speaker 8: And at the end, like I think where.

00:13:35
Speaker 7: It was like sending this left, we were up to speak since he was like he Tooki's for the like fifteen but.

00:13:40
Speaker 8: A lot of time lest like Lamont shoot his free throws and that was.

00:13:45
Speaker 1: That last free throw that that last time out. My buzz was stupid and I don't know why Jimmy took up for it like that was that was a dumb found fourteen point game. I mean, that's that was dumb. I'm with one.

00:13:56
Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, like it's for the future, it's not. You're down fifty.

00:14:01
Speaker 9: This is what playoffs.

00:14:03
Speaker 1: It'd be for the future if it was like six or five. Yeah, but when it's fourteen, I'm with you. That was ridiculous to me. Yeah, I know, well, I appreciate the call. By the way, all of you driving home, I mean it's like five degrees outside any I'm sure there's still it's still slippery, so everybody be careful, those of you driving all across the state. I know. I got a crew guys heading back from to Glasgow who were at the bar tonight. So it's good seeing all of you all. If I'm nine two eight, twenty two eighty seven, LSU is up two on Arkansas twenty seconds to go and LSU will go to the line. Missouri is up four on Florida with four and a half minutes to go. Florida was down twenty in that game. Uh, trying to scrap their way back. Who's next, Jordan, Jordan, go ahead, Jordan.

00:14:54
Speaker 10: Matt Otaga is one of those players. While he may not be here miss gild or misconsistent, he's one of those q out of your seats and flex at the TV players because.

00:15:03
Speaker 1: Yeah, he's he's the only one of those guys we got. He's the only one of those guys we got, and you're right, he does it.

00:15:11
Speaker 10: And then I was gonna see, uh, in, who are your favorite players like that?

00:15:16
Speaker 3: Who?

00:15:17
Speaker 10: They may not be your number one or even two or three guys, the man, when they get to it, they just get you riling up.

00:15:25
Speaker 1: The first thing that comes to my mind like that was, you know Iski Uh, I don't know if I don't know if he was ever the best player on the team, but he would just dunk in people's faces and he would make you, uh, you know, he would make you sort of scream and get excited. Yeah, I don't know. I mean last year do had a little bit of that in him? But but yeah, you're right when he definitely like that?

00:15:51
Speaker 11: Who?

00:15:52
Speaker 10: And then we're we're a game away from four and non conference, and we're a coach away from ooms four. That's all I got freaking out.

00:16:00
Speaker 1: Well, I mean, you can't help but notice it since it's happening right here. I mean it is LSU is up four with five seconds left, and I don't know, did they they calling a fowl here? So I guess Arkansas is still theoretically in it. But I listen. I mean, this was the right it was the right move, and it it had to happen. I will tell you I did not think on Damien Collins gets the game winning block. Poet, Wow, Damien Collins gets the game winning block. I thought it was the best move long term. But I'm even I am surprised at what's happening this year. I really am. I'm surprised at how good Mark's doing. Mark Pop, I mean, this team. Buzz Williams said for the game he thinks he can win the national championship. You know, I don't know, but just that ha beening a conversation is pretty amazing. And then what's happening in Arkansas. They're zering four and ls she's the worst team in the conference. And the thing is, look at that arena, Billy, there's nobody there, Like everybody's Super Bowl you think if we were there is that place packed.

00:17:09
Speaker 2: Lining it around the block.

00:17:11
Speaker 1: They're lying around the block. There's nobody there, so it's a dead atmosphere, and they still lose. You know, I don't want to. I don't take Glee and other people suffering, but I will say this, if you remember what this show was like and what things were like last year when we even dared suggest that maybe it was time for a separation. To now, I mean, it's pretty amazing. Who's up next? Thank you? Jack?

00:17:44
Speaker 2: Golkid that Golkie?

00:17:47
Speaker 1: Yeah, well, you know, maybe that was although I still, how's it go on?

00:17:51
Speaker 8: Mat?

00:17:52
Speaker 1: What's going on?

00:17:55
Speaker 12: You know, I'm I'm only twenty five, so I haven't been watching Kentucky basketball as long as most people have. But I can't remember a team that could be down eight to twelve points and that you actually feel confident that they're gonna come back.

00:18:09
Speaker 7: You know.

00:18:09
Speaker 12: I hate the hate on the other guy, but I feel like when we were down the last few years that there was absolutely no chance we're coming back, and I actually never feel like we're out of the game with Pope.

00:18:23
Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't either. I think you're right about that. I feel like the only game I just never felt like we were gonna come back was the was the Georgia game. But in general, I agree with you because you feel like you're one runaway. I mean, look at tonight, We're down for that period of time, Robinson gets hot on like a two minute stretch. Next thing you know, we're leading at halftime. So I mean, they're with Robinson and Brea especially, but even throw in Butler and Carr and Perry and the guys that can hit. You know, though, with Robinson and Breya, you're one little two or three three pointers in a row flurry from being right back in the game.

00:19:04
Speaker 13: Absolutely.

00:19:05
Speaker 12: My only question I have is can you remember a guy that was more important to a team defensively and both as a point guard as Walmont Butler is, And I'll hang up and listen.

00:19:16
Speaker 1: I can't. No, he is the most defensively, he is the most important player on the team. Yeah, I don't. I can't think of it. One. I mean, Tyler Ewis had a little bit of that, where like if he didn't play defense, you'd wonder who would. But no, he's hugely important defensively. But this whole team played well defensively. Now today I mean, I mentioned Amari. I thought Away played really good defense. I thought Robinson played good defense. But when they crashed the glass, you know, Almanor rebounded well, Garrison, all this team. The very few offensive rebounds we gave up were because of shots that just you know, went in weird places, long threes, et cetera. We gave up that one. We got two free throw rebounds, which you shouldn't do. But A and M. I guess that's their specialty. But in general, the offensive glass was not an issue, which I think we all were worried. Uh were worried that it would be. I mean, do you have do you have Tyson Foods? Address? Should I send them?

00:20:23
Speaker 2: They were getting a little chesty sending all that stuff to the bar.

00:20:28
Speaker 1: They sent a package of chicken nuggets to the bar as a thank you package. I mean, I feel like I should send them a package back. Right. We could send them, you.

00:20:37
Speaker 2: Know, a dead hog.

00:20:39
Speaker 1: I could send them. No, I mean, I can send them a dead hog. What is this? They come on? Now, you got something playful? I mean they were being playful. I don't know that we have to send a dead hog. Your mind? What's your mind? That Billy who's next, Thomas, Thomas, Go ahead, Thomas.

00:21:00
Speaker 6: I just there's a thousand points I want to make, but you're gonna make. We beat the eleventh rank in the country tonight. When these teams started in April.

00:21:10
Speaker 14: It was equal.

00:21:11
Speaker 6: Cal Perry had his team, he pulled. These kids in Popa had nothing tonight. L usu us love rank in the country. Oh my gosh, I don't know where to start. If Pope loses three in a row, we would least say he's doing the best he can do. Yeah, I love this guy.

00:21:30
Speaker 1: Well, I you know I want you. Here's what you gotta do, sir, because I did this as I was waiting for this postgame show. If you go to KSR, there's the video of Buzz Williams press conference. And Buzz Williams can be annoying. He was whining about Jackson Robinson and all that, but put that aside. I think he's a good coach and he's a smart guy. And Buzz Williams was talking about studying Mark Pope's offense and he said, I get actual, real joy out of studying Mark Pope's offense to get ready for this game. And he was saying this very respectfully, So I mean, I want to be clear, he was being very respectful, but he basically was saying, like he gets these dudes to execute at such a high level, it's unbelievable. And he didn't say this, but implicit I think in what he was saying, Sir is like, this is not an uber talented team, but he just takes it and they execute to their ability so well that they just become really fun to watch. And he said, really fun to scout. It is so refreshing and fun to watch that it's we are not watching guys and saying, this dude has so much potential. I hope he gets to it. We're watching guys who are giving one hundred percent of what they have and we're watching like everything they have to give is on the floor, and I just I really think that's refreshing and exciting.

00:23:02
Speaker 6: So don't you think if he fails the people of Kentuch, he would say, but he's giving this coach is giving us all he had.

00:23:10
Speaker 1: I don't know, it's hard for me to see. It's hard for me to see him failing, you know what I mean, Like, I mean, this will be this will be okay, this team will be the least amount of basketball. Like, well, I don't want to say talent, because they're very talented, but like, we're gonna have a lot higher ranked players in the future. Now, will they be better than this, we'll see, but we're gonna have a lot higher ranked players. But it's hard for me to see him failing because I feel like, and maybe I'm wrong again, he hasn't won a tournament game ever, which is it's important to remember that he's never won even won an NCAA tournament game yet. But it's hard for me to see him failing because they're he's so smart that, like, I just feel like, if something's not working, he'll change and that'll make it work, you know what I mean?

00:24:05
Speaker 6: Yeah, oh yeah, I think no matter what he does at this point, we're forgiving because nobody could do anything more than what he's doing for this state. I think we're more forgiving than just wins and losses.

00:24:17
Speaker 1: Well, I think we can say that now because we're winning when we If we have a year where we lose, it might be different, but.

00:24:26
Speaker 6: Three three years maybe.

00:24:28
Speaker 1: Yeah. No, I appreciate the call. I mean, this year, this year, unless it's a complete collapse. I don't think anybody will be anything but happy, you know, Billy, I mean like, there was a part of me when I thought about these last two games I think we had, didn't Madison or somebody call and say somebody called the pregame show before Missippi State Billy and said, like, is there a chance we don't make the tournament? Remember that? Yeah? Yeah? We talked and I thought to myself, no, not likely. But if we were to lose to Mississippi State and A and M with Alabama next, that would at least be a conversation that you might start having. I don't think you have that conversation now, even if you lose to Alabama and now it's really about seating and matchups. And you know, I don't know what's gonna happen in the tournament. Tournaments are one and done, but I do know this. We're gonna be prepared. And I've had so much We're halfway through the year. I've had so much joy with this group that I can't imagine being angry or upset about anything. I might be disappointed, but I don't know how you could be upset. Who's next? Todd?

00:25:44
Speaker 2: Is next?

00:25:45
Speaker 1: Todd? What's up Todd, So.

00:25:48
Speaker 11: Man, I think you should celebrate this win tonight with a good old cold glass of milk.

00:25:56
Speaker 1: That's gross, but I can't think of anything worse, but I still will celebrate it.

00:26:01
Speaker 15: Why that would be good to just ask Billy. I wanted to say that I am very thrilled with the improvement on defense tonight. It seemed like we were more aggressive and grabbing rebounds. Instead of grabbing it and coming straight down, we turned away from the defender with it and protecting the ball.

00:26:24
Speaker 1: And I was just remember there was that play in the first half. I did think we were getting out hustled and out tough a little bit in the first half, And there was that play where the A and M player dove on the on the floor and Braill just kept bending down to try to get bread.

00:26:41
Speaker 11: Just just been over out.

00:26:42
Speaker 1: It's just been over me too, and then they need to break. And I, honestly, I don't know if Pope. I mean, I know a lot of our fans noticed it. I tweeted about it, but we went there was a time out, and then all of a sudden, the next time they came. I don't I feel like the energy was different after that I wonder if Pope pointed that play out, because you're right, I felt like after that our effort and toughness was as good as it's been.

00:27:10
Speaker 11: All year, right, and I hope we can keep it up.

00:27:15
Speaker 1: Yeah, I do too appreciate it. Missouri now up five at or up six at Florida with two minutes to go this that's to be a huge upset for Missouri to win on the road. You know, Missouri I kind of had as one of the bottom teams in the conference, but they beat Kansas earlier this year. If they win at Florida, those are two two pretty great wins. Maybe you have to start moving Missouri up a tier of the SEC. Eight five' nine twenty two eighty seven. Let's take a break. We'll be right back. This is the Local Toy Dealers KSR post game show. Walking back. It is the Local Toy Dealers KSR postgame Show. Eight five nine two eight oh twenty two eighty seven. Cats get a big victory. Uh nine guys played double digit minutes tonight. You don't see that a lot, actually, but you know right now, there's not One of the problems I thought early in the year is that there would be a significant drop off when they would go to the second team. Guys, I don't feel like that's happening as much. You know, Almanor had six points in the first half, Perry obviously hit those two threes, and I thought played well Garrison. I feel like now when they go to the second group, you're not seeing the kind of dramatic down downplay. And maybe that's no, but no one is that true for more than Almanor, who obviously, you know, won the game at Mississippi State with his shots. You know, he scored six points when we were having a hard time scoring in the in the in the first half, and then he you know, he wins the box Out Award two games in a row like that. Kid has really improved and been a big, big boost to the team. In these last two games, Who's next?

00:29:02
Speaker 2: Yeah, and two games Kobe Brean hasn't played very well, and.

00:29:06
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean that's part of why I'm excited. They've beaten two top twenty teams. And I don't even know that we've played great. So I certainly don't think we played great tonight offensively. I actually don't think we played well offensively. Now, we were great defense, I'm not sure this team can play much better defensively and rebounding than they did tonight. Who's next, Brandon? Go ahead? Brandon?

00:29:30
Speaker 6: Hey?

00:29:31
Speaker 3: Did you hear me?

00:29:32
Speaker 1: Yes, sir? Yes? Go ahead?

00:29:34
Speaker 3: Hey, Matt, first time long term?

00:29:37
Speaker 1: Who are.

00:29:39
Speaker 3: Hey?

00:29:39
Speaker 16: I just I got a few things real quick. I just want to say section two forty one. We set near the top, but we're up in like row G or whatever. And the crowd was crazy tonight. It was amazing, and I got a couple things real quick. Travis Perry gives us really good minutes off a bench. He's ahead of schedule. He's not like a future NBA player by any means, but he is way ahead of schedule. He handles the ball against pressure, he set screens, and.

00:30:10
Speaker 6: He does well.

00:30:12
Speaker 17: He does what he's supposed to do.

00:30:14
Speaker 16: He does good for us off the bench.

00:30:16
Speaker 1: It's interesting he is. Here's where he is with me. I when he first committed, and then when Pope became the coach, I kind of really didn't think we were going to be very good, and so I thought he was going to play a lot, and I thought he and so then when he first came out, I thought he might be a little disappointing because then I saw how good these older guys were. Now he's kind of getting to kind of where I thought he'd be, a guy coming off the bench playing eight to twelve minutes giving you bucket. So I actually think he's kind of right on schedule. But he is a head of schedule where I thought he'd be when we watched those first few games of the year where I really didn't think he was gonna play at all. And you know, part of that is Kerr got hurt, which I think is giving him a chance, and he stepped into it.

00:31:06
Speaker 16: Yeah, when when Kerkkrisa comes back, he's definitely gonna still be in the rotation, I think, But Kurr's probably.

00:31:13
Speaker 1: Not gonna come back. Just for the record, I don't think Kurr's gonna come back. I mean that's just my take. I would be very surprised if we see him the rest of the year. Really, yeah, I mean that's just my take. I mean he I mean, he's still not walking under his own like he's still not he's still hopping when he when he walks. You know, we're gonna be seven weeks from the tournament. Even if he comes back. I don't know how much he's gonna play. You know, he's got another year though if he wants to. By the way, as does Almanor, under the new rules, they both conceivably could come back but go ahead.

00:31:49
Speaker 18: In the Clinton game and and the Ohio State game. I thought maybe that we would struggle in like muddy games. But today he taught me because we didn't score ninety ninety six points and we still manage to win the game.

00:32:03
Speaker 16: Today told me we can win in a different manner. We didn't have to score ninety plus to win the game.

00:32:10
Speaker 1: Yeah. No, I think that's the key.

00:32:12
Speaker 14: The key.

00:32:12
Speaker 1: Take Wait, you only get three things? That was three. That's a lot. We're gonna have to go to other people. I appreciate the call. I mean, I'll take three. I usually like one or two. That was three. But I do appreciate the call. Florida's trying to come back here seventy nine, seventy seven. They're gonna do it, but they haven't. They have not led this entire game.

00:32:29
Speaker 2: That'd be brutal loss from his aeria.

00:32:31
Speaker 1: And be a brutal loss. Lead the entire game into the last thirty seconds. Who's up next?

00:32:36
Speaker 2: We have another Todd on the line.

00:32:38
Speaker 1: Todd, by the way, that was the line. I guess it didn't get fixed, right, the one that pops. Did you hear that?

00:32:43
Speaker 2: I heard it a lot on that one, but that was not the same line as last time. So but I did hear.

00:32:48
Speaker 1: No, that's not a good sign. All right. Who's up next, Todd? Todd, go ahead, Todd, Hey, Hey, what's up?

00:32:57
Speaker 19: So Pope.

00:33:01
Speaker 13: I was in Mesco and I heard Pope was our coach, and I was kind of like dumbfounded by it, and I.

00:33:08
Speaker 3: Was like whatever.

00:33:09
Speaker 13: But he really brings Patino Ball back to Kentucky.

00:33:15
Speaker 1: It's fun to watch. It's Patino ball, though up updated.

00:33:21
Speaker 13: For people would hate Patino.

00:33:24
Speaker 1: Yeah, but it's not. It's not. But it's Patino Okay.

00:33:28
Speaker 11: Good, I'm forty five. I'm forty five.

00:33:31
Speaker 13: He brought Kentucky back for me, I understand as a young kid.

00:33:36
Speaker 1: It's Patino ball though for the modern era, because it is he is. He is not just he's not like we don't press, for instance, which is a big part of Patino stuff, because you can't really do that anymore. Got too good a ball handlers. So he is running motion sets. It's not you know, when Tino was shooting threes, he and Arkansas were like the only ones doing that, and now everybody do it. But he runs these these sets that are just different and that get guys open and include back cuts. It's almost like a mixture of the way Patino plays with a little bit of the Princeton offense with back door cuts and and overplays, and I just it's so it's really high level basket love.

00:34:18
Speaker 13: How he plays.

00:34:21
Speaker 1: Yeah, I appreciate you call, don't I don't know, you know, with a Mari and Brandon like sometimes you know, you go, man, they dribble a lot, but they also like when they're up at the top of the key, it opens up the court so much so, I mean, Pope kind of knows what he's doing. And wait till he gets big guys that he gets to train in that system. Remember these dudes played in other systems last year. Wait wait till he gets guys who he gets them from moment one and does it. I think that's gonna be even better. Who's next, Randy, go ahead, Randy, Hey, Matt.

00:34:57
Speaker 19: I think it was a couple of years ago after a rough South Carolina loss that I called and it was very emotional on the radio, and it's amazing what a difference two years will make for us as Kentucky fans, because you know the adjustments that Mark Folk makes as a coach. He changes everything up and we're three and one SCC. You know, nobody knew where he was going to be with this group, and I mean, they're just an exciting bunch. The crowd to night was amazing, and I just I don't want to wish my life away, but I can't wait till March. I'll hang up and looking Yeah.

00:35:36
Speaker 1: I mean, I I don't think I've ever said this before, and I appreciate the call. I don't like I'm not looking forward to March because I really enjoy this team playing. I want to keep watching them, you know what I mean, Like, I don't want it to end. I look forward to these games. Last few years, If I'm being honest, I did not look forward to most games. I found them brutal. You know, your team was a little better because I really liked Antonio Reeves. Red rob was fun, so last year's team was a little more fun to watch. But a lot of these teams last few years have not been fun to watch and I look forward to this group. Man. I mean, they they're just fun, like, they seem like good guys, and that whole ability to get a greater hole than some of the parts is just a really really cool thing. Missouri's got a free throw here ability that if they hit, they're they're gonna be hard for Florida beat him. Well, let's we'll see if he makes it. Let's see it's up and good. So they're up for twenty eight seconds to go. Who's next.

00:36:38
Speaker 2: So you're saying, right about at the time I joined the postgame show, is when you stopped enjoying watching Kentucky basketball games.

00:36:44
Speaker 1: Uh? Yeah, that correlation was probably correct, but uh no, I mean I enjoyed. Look, it's not like I hated it, but the games were tedious. Man, It's like it felt like I mean, it's like, honestly, it's like watching Arkansas play right now, Like every basket it's a slog, that's what it was, and now they're just so free for you. When they have one or two plays where they get bogged down, you're like, oh, this is weird, and then he usually calls time out and next thing you know, they're right back to the to the flow. Let's do one more and we'll take our phone break. Who's next, Kevin, Kevin, go ahead, Kevin.

00:37:24
Speaker 6: Matt.

00:37:25
Speaker 8: Great to hear from you.

00:37:26
Speaker 19: As always.

00:37:26
Speaker 8: I always like to think that the Kistar postgame Show it's sort of like going to the d m V in the sense that you know, it takes all types. I love it. It is absolutely the.

00:37:34
Speaker 1: Best going to the DMV. No one likes that well.

00:37:40
Speaker 8: I said in the in the regard of the fact that you get it's all types. You know, you get all sorts of different love. That's a lot of It's a lot of a lot of any case, Uh, tonight, I think the biggest segue one we got to find out what is going on with Lamont Butler's shoes. I don't think I've ever seen a guy have more blowouts in my life than this guy. I mean, he his shoes are slipping out from under him every other play.

00:38:06
Speaker 1: He does slip a lot. I hadn't thought about that, but you're right, he does. And he gets hit in the face a lot too. He I don't know, he needs to move his face back, and maybe we do. Maybe he's wearing those shoes eye and wore it, Duke. I don't know.

00:38:19
Speaker 8: He's a handsome guy. I don't want I don't want the complexion getting banged up too much, but uh, I gotta say shout out, Jackson Robinson found his edge. I feel like tonight getting in getting that little extracurriculum as buzz unbelievable. I feel like he needed that. We needed to see that, uh that killer attitude from him, that that was what we needed big time.

00:38:39
Speaker 1: I just need to know what that what that drama is, because there's certainly some drama there, because like that was a that was a little personal and when he did it twice after having gotten the technical the first time, that means it was it was extra special. I appreciate the call. I listen Jackson Robinson. The last two games, that's two games in a row where he's looked like a star. And I continue to believe for this team to be great, Jackson Robinson has to be great, and he's been great these last two games. So I really like that kid. Kind of like with Antonio Reeves last year, I think I like him even more than he is good, just because for some reason, I just really want him to succeed and I I really like watching him play man. I mean, he's not Braa, but he's close in terms of when he's open. That thing is good. It looks like Missouri is going to beat Florida on the road. That's a huge surprise. Eighty three seventy nine. Well, I guess they're about to. It's not over yet, but for the most part he is. We'll take a break and be right back. This is the Local Toy Dealers KSR Post game Show. Quarner back, It is the Local Toy Dealers KSR post game Show. You know something I just realized, Billy that I'd forgotten. There's a guy named John Nighbors who does a daily show, daily Art Kansas show, and he's been he's always been nice to me going back however long he's done it, five or six years. I think I've been on this show a few times. And he's coming to town for the for the Kentucky game. And he asked me, I guess he's getting here Thursday morning. He asked me if he could do his afternoon Arkansas show at the Bar on Thursday. Really yeah, And I said, you know, sure if you want to. I mean, he needs a place to do it. And it's like at like three in the afternoon or something like that. And now he asked me that, like maybe when he thought they'd be good. I wonder what that'll be like now he can just sit and interview Kentucky fans all the time if he wants, or we could all just bring him thank you gifts.

00:40:45
Speaker 2: That'll be a miserable show doing that in nimey territory too, Like that?

00:40:49
Speaker 1: Do you think you think we could all bring him thank you gifts? That would actually be nice. It'd be like a peace offering to the Arkansas host. That would be nice. Yeah, thank you for taking forty million dollars off of our books. Yeah, and uh and helping us out. Who's up next?

00:41:02
Speaker 2: James's next?

00:41:03
Speaker 1: James? Go ahead? James?

00:41:06
Speaker 3: Yeah, This is James from Johnson County, first time caller.

00:41:10
Speaker 1: Who are.

00:41:13
Speaker 8: Yeah?

00:41:13
Speaker 3: I was took my son tonight to his first basketball game and we had a We had a great time. Uh, it was a great atmosphere. We really really enjoyed watching them play hard on defense and do a lot better on rebounding. And Uh, I have one question we do Uh, cars seems to be getting a whole lot of minutes and I know he was getting a back het at Mississippi State, and he seemed to be stiff tonight, a little bit stiff.

00:41:47
Speaker 1: He's clearly got it back in He's got a back spasm or something like that. He's got some kind of back issue. Uh that is. I think he's had a lot of the year, but it's apparently been worse. Uh he was, he was on the injury report the last two games. I think it was Jack Gibbons, who's around practice every day, set after the game that Andrew basically wants to get through the Alabama game and then you know, we have a we have a week off. We we we don't have a midweek game next week, and then rested during that so. Uh So, No, he's definitely hindered a little bit with his back. And you know, if you've ever had back pain, you know that can linger for some times.

00:42:28
Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely, definitely, But he just seemed to be a little steve and we was that we were just figuring, h we would we would ask about him and see if you knew.

00:42:38
Speaker 12: Uh.

00:42:41
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I think he's gonna.

00:42:43
Speaker 1: Be appreciate the call. I hope he I hope he ends up getting better and you know, I mean, look, he's still playing pretty well considering the pain. I mean, he's it clearly has effect affected his jumping and his quickness. But when he gets the ball in the paint, he's made. He's finished on some both in Mississippi State and tonight some big place.

00:43:07
Speaker 2: Yeah, Goose called him the key to the second half.

00:43:10
Speaker 1: Oh he did, really? Did he say? Why? Yeah?

00:43:12
Speaker 2: Because they put him in different action. I guess they put him up top and instead of a mari and that led to them scoring a little bit more.

00:43:20
Speaker 1: Okay, well there you go. Goose knows uh more than I do. Let's do five more and we'll go to bed.

00:43:26
Speaker 2: Who's next, Todd?

00:43:27
Speaker 1: Todd?

00:43:27
Speaker 17: Go ahead, Todd, Hey, Matte, I appreciate you taking my call. Called after the Georgia game and kind of got on Robinson a little bit.

00:43:36
Speaker 4: So I'll gladly.

00:43:37
Speaker 17: Come on here and eat my crow. If he's going to continue playing like that, well.

00:43:42
Speaker 1: I mean those are three big games. There's three big games with this Mississippi State in Gonzaga that we don't win any of the three of them if he doesn't have big games. So while he's not gonna do this every game, I do think he deserves some praise for us. Three of our five biggest wins of the year had really been directly attributable to how he's played.

00:44:04
Speaker 17: Yeah, yeah, and you're right. I really think he's the kind of the key to the teams. But he's that one guy that we kind of got that can get his own or create for someone else. It's good to get a to get a win without Butler and o Way playing overall really good. I mean they did. They played okay, I mean especially defensively, but offensively they were pretty rough to not A question though, is with Butler. Uh to me, he seems to overpenetrate or to get too deep a lot of times for his size. Is that something coach, I don't know?

00:44:42
Speaker 7: Lay up for.

00:44:43
Speaker 1: Three or I don't. He misses a lot of layups, And I think you're right that he misses a lot of cut and he gets blocked a lot, probably because he gets so deep. I did notice, and I appreciate the call. He and one of them. He missed the free throws, but he he has been Tonight, he drew a couple more fouls, which is what I think he's actually pretty good at if he wants to, but finishing is an issue with him, and it surprises me a little bit because he's he's you know, he's he feels like he can handle contact. He clearly gets hit a lot, but he does struggle finishing and he has all year. But but you know, he's a tough kid and defensively, we got to have him four more. Who's next? Dave? Dave? What's up? Dave?

00:45:34
Speaker 5: Taking my call? Just I know you guys have talked a lot about how the SEC is so tough this year and to really kind of be expecting, you know, a team that has a lot of losses to do well in the tournament. And I was thinking about I get encouragement about that because I was thinking about, wasn't Dan Hurley's first Yukon Championship. Didn't they go through the Big East and they.

00:45:56
Speaker 3: Had a bad record going in?

00:45:58
Speaker 1: They lost. I think they lost well, they had a good wreck. I think they were like a four seed, but I think maybe in January or early February, maybe they may have lost like four straight games or something, and then they got really hot at the end of the year. I think they came in as a four seed. But we're playing as well. As anybody in the country at the end of the year, and it wouldn't shot me if there's an SEC team like that, right that gets.

00:46:22
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm sorry, no, go ahead.

00:46:26
Speaker 11: Yeah.

00:46:26
Speaker 9: I was thinking, like some remember Dan Hurley was saying in a press conference, like the Big East prepared us for this, and I was just thinking about I'm not saying we're gonna win a national title, and we're definitely exceeding expectations, but man, I'm just encouraged about decks.

00:46:38
Speaker 5: I think the SEC is definitely the best conference, and Kentucky I think I Final four is definitely reasonable for real.

00:46:46
Speaker 1: Oh wait, we're certainly going to be a contender for it. I agree, and I appreciate calling that year the Big East was really really good. That that was two years ago, and I don't remember, but there were a bunch of teams that year the Big East was really good, and you're right, that was kind of how that Yukon team team was. I you know, we're what's crazy is, Okay, we've won five games against teams in the top fifteen, But what if I told you, Billy, I think we're gonna play six more games against teams in the top fifteen six, two against Tennessee, two against Alabama, one against Auburn, and then I think by then Old Miss might be in the top fifteen.

00:47:29
Speaker 2: So it's unbelievable, you know.

00:47:33
Speaker 1: So we're gonna take some I mean, we're three in one in conference. We still got two against Alabama, two against Tennessee, one against Auburn, one at Old Miss. We still got six really hard games and that doesn't even count like at Missouri, you know, at Bandy, you know other games that like if you're not ready, you could lose. So there's still there's still a lot of at Tax, at Texas, at Oklahoma. I mean, it's not gonna get easier in any of these games. And we're gonna take a bunch of losses, which is why I think when you can, you gotta hold servant home and you got to steal a cup on the road. And we've done that in the last week. Uh what was it? Three more? Three more? Who's next?

00:48:18
Speaker 2: Bones next?

00:48:19
Speaker 1: Bones? Go ahead? Bones?

00:48:22
Speaker 7: Hey, what's going on?

00:48:23
Speaker 6: Man?

00:48:23
Speaker 7: Thanks for taking my call. With a great win tonight, man, just just another great win. It was exciting. Finally got back to rut since the twenty eighteen and man, that place jumps.

00:48:33
Speaker 8: Now.

00:48:34
Speaker 7: Uh, it was just a really exciting game, but just two quick things when I was really, really really impressed with Travis Perry. But it wasn't his offense. He actually started to show his defense and wasn't such a liability, had a big steal, was on the floor. You can tell his confidence is growing fast. And then the other thing is I was talking to somebody the other Hey, so I was talking to somebody the other day and about the officiating. I don't want to sit here and the playing. But that's like three games with a lot of phantom, crazy calls, and I know the coaches can't really criticize it. I think there ought to be some kind of like I guess, I don't know what you're gonna call punishment rule whatever that the NCAA after each game reviews and obviously you're gonna miss some calls, but they should have started putting notice on these guys about the egregious calls, maybe like hey, here's your warning, here's your second warning, and then if it happens the third time, you know, there's got to be some kind of fun. But it'll also help them to keep an eye on which officials constantly do it or whatever. But that's all I got, Man, go cat.

00:49:34
Speaker 1: Appreciate the call. I didn't. I didn't think the officiating was bad tonight.

00:49:40
Speaker 2: There's one bad call against a Mari early in the game, if you remember that, which one was that he was he was just he was mugged in the corner and they called an offensive foul on here.

00:49:49
Speaker 1: Oh yeah that yeah. I didn't like that call. You right, But I also noticed in like three of the two of the first four place Andrew Carr and Amari threw the guy out about and they didn't and they didn't call anything. I actually thought the officiating was you listen, I mean I could get every call right, like they're just like they're they're they're not. What I think is the mark of bad officiating is when it is clear and official does not like a coach, which I don't think is gonna happen to us with Mark Pope. I can't imagine an official knock and there were guys that did not like cow. And then I also hate when it's like inconsistent, like they're calling everything and then they're calling nothing, and then they're calling everything. That's what bothers, That's what drives me crazy, and I didn't feel like any of that was really the case tonight. The only thing that really annoyed me was calling those technicals. I mean, I didn't complain when they called it on A and M, but they probably shouldn't have called it on them, And then the one on Jackson was just stupid. You gotta let guys have fun. Who's next, Trey? Trey? What's up, Trey?

00:50:58
Speaker 14: What's going on? Fellows? Say? So, Matt, we talked about this, I don't know it was last week, about how many opportunities Kentucky's gonna get too correct, this whole physicality in the league. And here we are now.

00:51:16
Speaker 1: Yeah, back two games back to back, when they've.

00:51:18
Speaker 14: Done it, Yep, exactly. Hey, so I've been I've been thinking about this for a while. Let's do a hypothetical real quick. All right, does Kentucky thunder John Caliparty with this current regime and they beat Duke this year?

00:51:42
Speaker 1: All right? So, I mean you'd have to figure out, like, Okay, who's the roster?

00:51:45
Speaker 14: Right?

00:51:45
Speaker 11: So Zach roster with this roster.

00:51:50
Speaker 1: O would have been terrible with this roster.

00:51:52
Speaker 11: I mean he.

00:51:54
Speaker 1: With this roster, he would have been awful. Now, if you take the roster, if you take the roster he would have had, which I still don't think would have been a good roster. But if you take the roster he would have had, he'd be better. He I can't imagine a group of players he'd have been worse with than this one, because his whole theory of offenses beat your man off the dribble, and we don't really have any guys who do that, So we would have been terrible.

00:52:21
Speaker 14: Okay, Kidzaga.

00:52:24
Speaker 1: No, we wouldn't won any of those games. I mean we'd be owing Foreign Conference probably right now. No, we would, Yeah, we'd be owing for in conf Yeah, we'd be owing for in comt with this roster. But he would, to be fair to him, he wouldn't recruit this roster like this is not a rong. He I don't think there's any guy on this team that would be on one of his teams. The better question is, let's say he had the roster that he would have had here, which is basically the roster that he has at at Arkansas, minus take out Trayvon Brazil and maybe put in somebody else. I don't know, would he we'd be having the same result.

00:53:05
Speaker 14: You know, so o, hey, how about this? On a contrarian thought, what would Mark Pope do?

00:53:14
Speaker 1: He wouldn't be good with Cow's roster. He wouldn't be good with it either though, like that, like because he needs guys who can shoot, and that's a team full of guys that can't shoot. So now there are dudes on that team that would play better for Pope, like the John L. Davis would be better with Pope because he's just he's just lost down there, and you know, Pope considered trying to give him John L. Davis would be a lot better off here. But like again, trying to be fair, a kid like you know, Jackson Robinson or Andrew Carr is not even gonna play for Cow, right, So like there's it's just you know, they just recruit different kind of dudes.

00:53:56
Speaker 14: No, that's uh, that's good food for thought. And hey, last I'm no genius when it comes to this, but with the phone popping and everything like that, I do work for the telecommunication company. You guys probably have damaged copper on your on your line, so okay, I have somebody look.

00:54:16
Speaker 1: At damaged copper. Right. I appreciate the call why will you? Will you tell guys and Nathan to look for the damaged copper? Billy?

00:54:23
Speaker 2: Yeah, but you know, we don't have phone lines. We do this all on like digitally.

00:54:28
Speaker 1: But but there's probably something in there that's copper. I mean, there has to be something right, like it's digital, but like there's a phone somewhere, isn't it. Yeah, I don't know what I'm talking about. The only thing I know about copper is that people in the mountains steal it.

00:54:44
Speaker 2: That's all you know about copper.

00:54:45
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's people like go up. You know. When I was a lawyer, I represented a certain power company and people were always stealing our copper, and sometimes they would hurt themselves stealing the copper, and then they'd sue us.

00:54:57
Speaker 2: How can they do that?

00:54:58
Speaker 1: Well they couldn't. I'd win. Yeah. I really only had one of those cases. But we won tell you that story one day. Probably shouldn't say it on the here, who's neck last one?

00:55:09
Speaker 2: Who's the last one?

00:55:10
Speaker 1: Barry? Barry?

00:55:11
Speaker 20: Go ahead, Barry, Hey, Matt, I would try to be cohering arahad a whiskey, see fit. I forgot it's full proof a little while ago. But the okay, The question I have is do the with a fourteen to three record, do the three kind of considered kind of bad losses way more than.

00:55:32
Speaker 14: No the good win.

00:55:33
Speaker 11: No.

00:55:33
Speaker 1: The NCAA, because you may remember many years ago. I don't know how long you've been listening to this, but in twenty thirteen, I was part of the NCAA. They do this media mock bracket process where they bring the media up and teach them about how brackets go, and they bring like fifteen every year, and they picked me that year, and it was oddly the year Kentucky didn't make the tournament. But I went through the process and it was very interesting. It was very instructive on how they do it. But basically, they obviously consider who you beat and who you lost, but when it comes down to it, if there's a tie break, they are more interested in who you beat than who you lost to. Does that make sense? So I think a win is worth maybe one and a half points more than a bad loss. So if we were gonna lose three games and win, or if we're gonna lose three games, we've done it the right way. We've beaten the good teams.

00:56:31
Speaker 20: Well that's what I was thinking. I would rather have these good wins and forget about the bad loss.

00:56:36
Speaker 1: You don't want to take the one thing you don't want to do. You get punished for taking bad losses, so like you don't get punished for losing at Georgia. That will not be a punishment. At Clemson will not be a punishment. The Ohio State game will probably be a little bit of a punishment because it's a neutral court when we got crushed and they're not good. So the Ohio State game is probably the only game that on Selection Sunday they will hold against us at this point at all. But we will weigh outweigh it with these With these wins.

00:57:07
Speaker 3: I'm so excited.

00:57:08
Speaker 20: This team seems to every game they seem to fix an issue that they had previously. And I think by the end of the year, you know, with the defense we played tonight and with you know, it just seems like the team's going in the right direction. I love his coaching and the way he fixes things and it's exciting.

00:57:26
Speaker 1: Totally agree with you, appreciate the call. I still don't know how we lost that Ohio State game like we did. Really, how do we lose that game by twenty points, like Georgia and Ohi Georgia and Clipson. I understand their home court crowd's crazy. I get it. How did we lose by twenty Ohio State? Yeah, I don't know.

00:57:42
Speaker 2: I mean the bench plays stepped up a lot since then, rebounding's gotten a lot better.

00:57:46
Speaker 1: But that's gonna be one of those that you're like, remember, I remember one year, I think last time Duke won the title. They lost that year at home to like Miami by twenty five, and I was like, how did that happen? I wonder if that'll be like that with this game. Hey, folks, thank you all very much for listening. We will be back tomorrow morning at Ksbar. This has been the Local Toy Dealers KSR postgame Show