The one two pits got it, slaving stack Cremucky pulls off the upset.
That's the way Darren Headrick called it. On Friday night, when the Kentucky Baseball Wildcats opened a three game series with Oklahoma with a thrilling win over the Sooners. Little did we know at that point, although you kind of thought there might be a chance that the Wildcats were going to win not just the series, but sweep and put itself right back in contention for a good spot in the NCA Tournament. Welcome to the Big Blue Insider,
Dick Gabriel with you on a Monday. We will talk Kentucky baseball a little bit later on with Keith Madison, the Hall of Fame coach who worked on radio side with Darren both on Saturday and Sunday. As the Cats closed it out with the Mother's Day win yesterday, and I saw this. I'm not sure who had it first, if UK had it or somebody else did on the interweb, but Kentucky never trailed after a full inning. Oklahoma took the lead early in a couple games, but Kentucky answered
immediately either tied it up or took the lead. And so Kentucky was absolutely on point for the entire weekend. Now, this is in contrast to the weekend prior when the Wildcats just slogged through the series with Mississippi State and the Bulldogs swept at a time when Kentucky should have won at least one and could have won a couple games, really needed to, but just didn't play well. And this
was after the loss in the midweeks. So Kentucky reeling going into this series, but did not look anything like that team. It looked like a team that's absolutely ready for postseason. Now, there's one more series coming up with Vanderbilt, but the Wildcats now thirteen and fourteen on the season. Look, everybody gets into the SEC tournament, that's not a problem, but you want to get as many wins as you can to try to lock in at least a bye.
You're not going to get a double buy if for Kentucky, but to at least get a buye and improve your standing, of course in postseason. But what that does is prep you for the NCAA. Is Kentucky sad to say, doesn't it? With all due respect, doesn't have enough pitching. I don't think to win the SEC tournament. Stranger things have happened, but you've also got to look ahead to the NCAA
tournament and have your pitching ready for postseason. But this is a Kentucky team that has been tested against a tough, tough schedule and is ten and ten against Quad one teams. They are ten and ten against ranked teams, eleven Quad one victories. And the Wildcats they're just tough physically, they're tough mentally. They've bounced back a couple times this year. They have now been hit by pitches one hundred and
thirty five times. That is a program record, single season record for hbp's third in the country, and over the last three years the Wildcats have been hit by pitches three one hundred eighty four times. You know by now if you follow Kentucky that the motto is we don't move and it pays off. They got all kinds of free bases against Oklahoma, not just bruises, but walks. They got some timely hitting Tyler Bell with a two run home run in the fourth yesterday. God, he crushes the
ball sometimes. He has reached base safety now just a freshman forty seven of forty eight career games twenty straight games. Do you remember if you played Little league or higher you remember what it was like if you played a ball game and you never got on base. I don't know about you, but I always felt like I kind of cheated myself if I never, you know, either walked or got a base hit. I just never felt like I was part of the fun offensively, win or lose.
And so I can't imagine what it's like for a guy as a freshman playing in the toughest league in America and college ball to get on in almost every game. That's amazing. James McCoy had a huge weekend, including yesterday two for three, an RBI, a double, couple of walk he reached four times. The freshman Ryan Schwartz has a big weekend in and out of the lineup and is
just thriving right now. And of course Ben Cleaver, left handed starter yesterday the Slim Reaper six innings, six hits, only two runs, eight strikeouts and one walk, and Simon Gregorson came in and nailed it down. And in the last nine games he's gone seventeen and a third, giving up only nine hits, a run and fifteen strikeouts. So baseball, Wildcats are playing their best when they new to the most. They play at Vandy this coming weekend. They have a
midweek game tomorrow night with Northern Kentucky. We'll have that one for you, Doug Flinn and I will on SEC Plus and you can hear it right here on six thirty WLAP with Darren Hedrick, and again coming up at the top of the hour, we're going to talk with
Keith Madison, who worked the game over the weekend. Looking over at football, a lot of recruiting news right now, and the Wildcats are hot after a couple of huge offensive linemen from bordering states and according to two four seven Sports, both being recruited by O line coach Eric Walford, which makes sense. One of them is named Cameron Miller.
He is from Hammond, Indiana. He is six' five three thirty and What miller told two four seven was he likes the fact That Eric wolford has sent fifty eight people roughly to THE. Nfl and as the young man, said that's a lot of. People he, said to have that type of development From kentucky is really big for. Me this guy paid a visit to THE uk during spring practice he, SAID i like the way he, coaches how he coaches and why he does things a certain,
way the way he uses the film, room et. Cetera if you listen to The monday Night State wide, show you know That Billy relig AND i have discussed and Debated Eric. Wolford billy's not a huge. Fan i've, said, Well Dick saban wanted to hire, Him Bill belichick talk to. Him they must know. Something but apparently recruits like him as, well including an old lineman Named Jack fuchs six foot,
six two. Eighty he is From, Hendersonville. Tennessee he's another guy who has come up multiple, times according to two four seven to watch practice to talk With Eric. Wolford he was in for the spring and he said according to the, website he can envision himself one day playing For wolford said. Absolutely it was super great getting to
see him work with his guys and learn his. Style so you can find all of that on The Cat's pause website two four seven sports dot com or type in Cats paws and it'll take you to two seven two four seven dot. Com backslash college backs Slash kentucky and you're gonna want to. Subscribe of, course they've got pretty good info there and right now they get info about huge old linemen being recruited by The. Wildcats softball is in THE ncaa. Tournament Rachel lawson's ball club gets a.
Bid they're gonna play in The Clemson. Regional sixteenth straight season Under Rachel. Losson this team has suffered from a lot of. Injuries this year had its ups and, downs but we'll play in The Clemson. Regional clemson got the number eleven national. Seed also in that, Regional northwestern AND Uc UPSTATE uk not only in the, regional is the two seed in the. Regional so The cats open up a third seed In northwestern at two o'clock On. Friday
you can see it ON Espn. Plus so if you were, concerned and you should have been about the Softball cats because they were, struggling but they're, in not just, in but there two seed in The Clemson. Regionals so we'll keep you up to speed on. That up, next Former wildcats in THE nba. Playoffs some of them are doing incredibly. Well, also who's got the toughest schedule in THE nfl coming
up this? Year who has the best Receivers bengals. Fans you're gonna like that, answer and we're gonna find out more about how Dub bears came to be and how we almost got a lot more of one of the great sketches in the history Of Saturday Night. Live bottom of The, Hour Ben. Roberts later On Keith madison on
six THIRTY Wlap welcome back to The Big Blue. Cider coming up in just a couple of, Minutes Ben, roberts we'll, talk of, Course kentucky, basketball recruiting the, portal the roster That Mark pope has put, together been covering the program Before The Herald. Leader haven't talked To ben ABOUT uk basketball in a, while BUT i know he's in great
demand for talk shows. Everywhere so we'll talk To. Ben and then coming, up as we mentioned earlier at the top of the, Hour Keith, madison The hall Of Fame kentucky baseball coach who worked radio side With Darren headrick over the weekend as The wildcats Swept. OKLAHOMA i, mean
they needed to win the, series no question about. That but the sweep Puts kentucky right back in uh PROBABLY i don't want to say the driver's, seat but in control of its, fate much more so than it was prior to that loss of all three games down In Mississippi. State so that comes, up and then the seven thirty it's the Nickmnjy own. Show he'll be in a great mood when he talks To Darren, hedrick no. Doubt it
is a great time of. Year if you like college, Baseball you've got the tournaments coming, up but you've also got in the pro ranks playoff. Hockey if you're like, me you don't pay much attention to, hockey you don't have any real ties to it if you're from this, area but or any rooting interest, Perhaps but playoff hockey is, great there's no. Question but so IS nba basketball the.
Playoffs and, again AS i talk every now and then about what goes on with Former wildcats in the, PLAYOFFS i was checked AND i checked that throughout the regular, season but especially in the. PLAYOFFS a lot of Your celtics. Fans they Destroyed Karl Anthony towns and The knicks. Yesterday they put up seventy one in the first, half took a seventy one to forty six lead on The. KNICKS a little ticked off about losing those first two games
and going to win a one fifteen to ninety. Three towns did have a double double twenty one and Fifteen Jalen, brunson the Former villanova star at twenty seven, points but really nobody else did much for The, knicks so The celtics now are looking to even that. Series some Former wildcats at play in The Nuggets Oklahoma city series and OK c actually won this one ninety two to eighty, seven came back and won at won a tight. Game
that's basically How denver usually wins in the. Playoffs denver is won six of its last seven playoff, series but now this series is tied at two games. Apiece Oklahoma city got great minutes from Obviously Shay Gilgis alexander twenty five, points nine of them coming in the fourth quarter When okasee went on an eleven oh. Run case And wallace had two huge three. Pointers that's, right Former Wildcat case And. Wallace if you don't really keep up he is a
member Of. Okasee you remember they also Have Chet, holmgren the seven four kid or whatever he. Is he only had eight points but thirteen boards For Oklahoma, city But wallace was key in that fourth quarter rally For Oklahoma city Against, denver which Has Jamal, murray but he had in forty one, minutes he only had seventeen, points So Oklahoma city did a nice job on him. Defensively pacers
beat The. Cavaliers they Destroyed cleveland one twenty nine to ONE o. Nine the Only wildcat Former wildcat peripherally involved in that one Is Isaiah Jack and remember. Him he was a center who played At. Kentucky didn't get a lot of, run but he was such a raw talent and big he's six' TEN that i thought he would, come back but he went after one year and he is still With, the pacers but he has not Played. Since November on, NOVEMBER first i think it was he
blew his achilles and so he's been out ever. Since then and he was a valuable player coming off the bench For. The pacers he averaged about sixteen to seventeen minutes, a game averaged, seven points five and a, half rebounds so he was an important player For. The pacers but
again he has been Sidelined. Since november, his, team though did take a three to one series lead and right on the verge, of course Of, eliminating cleveland which earlier in the year looked as though it was really going to have a great chance at rolling to at least to. The Finals, In Minnesota julius randall huge game For. The timberwolves actually this game has Played In, san francisco But
the wolves got a triple Double From. Julius randall, you remember traded From the Knicks to minnesota Four Essentially Karl, anthony Towns but randall ended up with twenty four to twelve. And ten became just the second Player in minnesota playoff history to get a. Triple Double kevin garnett is, the other And in game two he had twenty four points and, Eleven assists so he is the first player in franchise history with multiple twenty point ten plus assist games in
a single. POST season i know that's really mincing things a, little bit but it just goes to show you How when, Randall's on minnesota's got. A shot people do believe Though the knicks got the better of, that deal but you get a chance to see coming down. The stretch So former wildcats with great performances over the weekend IN The.
Nba playoffs biggest news IN the nfl scal schedule release that came over, the weekend that came early this, morning actually and the teams that will open The season Dallas. Versus Philly the eagles are. Defending champions they will Host the Cowboys, On thursday september Fourth At Lincoln. FINANCIAL field a lot of you out There are, cowboy fans and the two teams that love to hate each other will open things UP. On nbc who has the, Toughest schedule
it's all going to. Come out the entire schedule is going to be coming out, this week but they have released a lot of information and Apparently The New, york Giants The New York football giants have the toughest schedule of the thirty. Two Teams The cleveland browns right, behind them followed By. The lions but the way they figure this out is they just look at the teams on the.
Opposing schedule, of course the computer sets up, the Schedule and giants opponents last year one fifty seven percent of their GAMES and i think it's eight of their opponents made the playoffs. Last year you got a coach on a, hot seat you got a team that just isn't. Very good. Rookie quarterback so, My man aaron gershawan very Likely and i'm sure he knows this is going to be suffering this. Coming, season again don't mean to laugh, at him but. It's tough,
my Team. The packers, OUR schedule i think is, ranked Fifteenth But green bay is predicted to win at least nine games. Or more there are more. My team The Green bay packers HAVE what i believe is rated the ninth. Toughest schedule packers are predicted to win nine and a half the over nunders nine and a, Half Wins so i'll, take THAT and i think we win more. Than That the, bengals have according to, the projections the seventeenth, toughest schedule
so somewhere in the Middle. For cincinnati easiest schedule goes To, the niners followed By the patriots And The New, orleans saints who now need another Quarterback Because derek. Carr, retired hello maybe They Call aaron rodgers go. Right ahead couldn't. Care less there's a story out THERE on nfl dot com Written By bucky brooks OF The. Nfl network he's a former player and. A scout he rated the receiving corps for the top teams IN, the nfl and he's
Got the bengals. On top if You're a, bengals fan he believes you've got the best receiving group In The National, football league and you better with the money That the bengals. Have Spent jamar chase, four years one hundred and sixty, ONE Million t higgins, four years one hundred and, Fifteen Million mike joseki tight end, three years twenty five and a. Half million say thank You To. Joe burrow he was
advocating for all. Those guys they got their, blockbuster deals and Now with cincinnati dominating opponents on, the perimeter better be able to. The ball but if, you can you got, A shot. Bengals, fans plus obviously you got to show up. That defense but You Got. Jamar chase he won The Receiving triple crown, last year led the league, in receptions, receiving yards. And Touchdowns plus higgins had Ten touchdowns joseki sixty.
Five Catches so bengals have the best. Receiving corps according to an expert ON The, Nfl network philly, is second followed By the Vikings And. Tampa Bay billy's Billy Retligious Tampa, bay buccaneers so a lot to like if You're a. Bengals fan, manageable schedule and perhaps the best receiving corps In The National. Football league before we hit, The brake
i've got to share this. WITH you i was listening to a part Of The Rich eisen show and ON The, nfl Network and Eisen Had, joe Montagna And joe montagna is a very good actor and right now stars and A Called criminal MINDS, on cbs but you may know him best as part of the discussion Group On Saturday. Night live There were bears fans And, dub bears, those,
Guys Right so. Mantine talked he was one of the first guys and he talked about how it actually, came about and it all began with the Writer Named, robert schmeigel who to me is maybe the best writer EVER. For snl it was his idea to come up with a sketch involving these guys that sat around, drinking beer eating sausages and talking About. The Bears, robert smigel who was, you know.
Was one of the writers at, the time had come up with this idea, and, said well, you know you're right You're a, bears fan right or of course, you know, he, SAID well i got. The sketch we want to do, this thing, you know The The. Swirsky brothers you'll, be bombed and, you know you'll talk about your brother who's not there because he had a, heart attack which all. MADE sense i, was LIKE so, i, thought, well hey
this would, be fun this would. Be great so we do, the Thing and, i'm, thinking great the People in chicago are going to probably, love this and that'll. Be THAT but I think i had to Go to chicago about a few, days later as it, turned out AND when i, get there that's all people were. Talking about they said they were running that skit like twenty four hours on the radio, and this and there were there are already billboards going up within Months Saying, Dub Bears, Doub Bulls,
duck Cubs The Dub. Paul university they were putting a dog in front of everything There was chicago that they could. Think of, and so of Course then george went and hosted it a couple of. Weeks later, of course they made him, my brother and they would always ask me to come In whenever george would. Do It so george had Been off cheers then and was like for him, was great and he was Living, in chicago just Fly To.
NEW york i.
WAS working, i couldn't, you know jump on a plane and keep Flying In. New york so he'd, always, say yeah My brother bob's not here because He had i'm not a. Heart attack AND finally i did one more because they happened to be FREE and I think i Was In new YORK and I Think danny DeVito, Was Hosting so GEORGE and i both.
Did it and if you're, a fan You Remember chris farley was part of this and they wanted to make a movie out of, this sketch and it's BEEN done i think nine, different sketches eleven, movies Made Including. Wayne's world, you know there Were Multiple wayne's. World movies but it, didn't happen, of course because They. Lost farley but can you imagine if they followed through with the movie and montage you talked, about.
That they did, A movie they wrote a movie, for it and we were supposed to do, the movie but It. Was Chris chris farley was so huge at the time and they wanted to build it around. His, Character yes chris, passed away and it was one of those things that that was it that kind of Put the nicks on doing the movie version. Of it but the movie we wound up doing a couple readings of It in chicago, for charity and We had ditka come in and actually do it, with us and In typical, ditka form we did.
Two performances he did the. First one we took a. Dinner break he went out to dinner with his and forgot there was a, second one so it didn't. Come back but luckily there WAS a i forget what picture was one of the pictures Of The. White sox came to the second one and what we got him to do because you got him a dude came in because we're reading off, Scripts Anyway.
Hurricane, ditka right?
Who wins?
Who?
Wins more who wins? The fighter Hurricane?
OR ditka i mean?
All, that, yeah exactly it's the Mini dick we got you many. Miny dick way if the whole team, was shrunk maybe they only win by thirty, five points but, you know.
You slipped right back, into it.
Right yeah, Oh.
Yeah so that's how far. It got they actually wrote, the movie but Of course farley passed away way, too young and it. Didn't HAPPEN but i Always remember farley in one of, those sketches right in the middle, of things has a, heart attack, and uh they asked him how many for him that that'll Make a. Baker's dozen Bob, oh man that was. So Great but i've always wondered how that, came ABOUT and i shouldn't be surprised It Was.
Robert schmigel, All right, Up Next ben Roberts Of The harrow leader here on six thirty W lap welcome back To The Big. Moon sider joining us now on the celebrity Headline Is. Ben roberts he is the beat writer for The basketball wildcats heading out of town tomorrow up To. The combine do you enjoy, Covering, That, BEN yeah.
I do it's actually it's kind of one of my. Favorite Events the, you, know obviously especially this past, season's team that the guys are are, great interviews but they're even a little BIT more i don't relaxed is the, right word because they're obviously trying TO impress, nba scouts but they're a little more laid back in, those settings don't have the day to day cried of the college season and you Know with Otega And, kobe braa It'll
be it's always fun catching up of. THOSE guys i got to Talk to Reid and Rob And jutsin Edwards And antonio reeves last year, and yeah always always good seeing those.
Guys again what do you Think of oway and and his his path? Right now how do you see that? Playing OUT just i know it's just a, hunch maybe but you've, Got it you've had an. Educated, OPINION.
Yeah I mean i think so far everything has gone exactly according to how everybody thought it would go Back. In march, You know kentucky's staff was well aware he was GONNA test nba draft waters and, encourage him, you know to.
Do SO.
And i know people some people are kind of freaking out about his recent comments about being all in with the. Draft PROCESS but i don't know what else you're supposed to say in, that, SITUATION right, i, mean obviously you know you, Jump in you're not you're not doing it. For fun you're not going to say you're wasting. People's
TIME and i don't think. HE is, i mean, if somebody, you know if he impresses the team to the levels that they're going to give him a, you know some sort of, guaranteed contract multi year contractor or jump him way up into first. Round territory that's the whole. Different conversation but, RIGHT now, i mean it seems pretty clear
that he's a borderline draft pick. At all there's obviously thinks he can work on in his game three, point shooting both both kind of volume and timing of, THAT release, i think being number one on, the list and then obviously ball handling two and creating his own shot off the dribble even better than he. Has been, SO yeah I mean I think i kind of see him in a similar Situation As antonio reeves when he went through
the process two. Years, ago Yes and antonio took all of that information that everybody was, telling him came Back to kentucky for, a year did everything he was asked, to do and got drafted the. Next YEAR and i kind of see something Similar.
Unfolding protaga that's Exactly what I'VE what i thought And what i've Said about otaga and the road map that That basically reeves.
Got FROM, the nba and then he went out and worked, his tailoff didn't he and made. IT work, i mean it's like he took every word they said. To HEART and i Can't recall ben a player who's done that much Better at Kentucky Than. Antonio reeves ind, you.
Know YEAH and i mean he everybody knew he, could shoot but the way, HE won i mean he continued to do that at a.
Very high level and even, higher, level yes but.
He also was able to create, for himself which he showed towards the end of that, first season but showed a lot more obviously the. Second year AND then i think the biggest thing. Was defensively everybody told him through, that process you've got to be a. Better defender you've got to be a. Better DEFENDER and i mean he was night and day different from year one to year
or Two. At kentucky and he'll be the first one to tell, you that and and everybody around him, will, be well we'll tell you that that it was, hard work, you know away from, the game so both in practices and on his own that that helped him get to. That point, and, yes uh, you know will take you as a. Smart guy he's a, hard worker and he's got obviously a lot of great coaches and players. Around him so if he does decide to.
COME back.
I would i would be surprised if he didn't make a similar lead.
NEXT year, i Agree and i've talked to a lot of people about the Fact that i'm sure you, have too that probably the hardest thing to develop to improve upon. Is defense because you got all kinds of shooting and ball handing drills you, can do but what kind of drills do? You do, you know you could do, footwork stuff but, you know if you don't have a really good player in front of you with, a basketball how
do you work on? Your defense but it can, be done and again we, saw that like, you said With The. Antonio reeves we're Talking To ben Roberts Of The hero leader covers The. Basketball wildcats so much talk, right now, of course it's it's way. Too, soon stuff all the rankings been and, YOU know i, always say the internet's any bottomless pit and we have to fill it with either talk. Or words but so much talk about the rankings of the recruiting and the transfer portal classes and.
All that but by, All accounts hope has put together another roster that potentially THERE'S that p word could be even better than. Last year is that the way you.
See, it yeah.
IT is, i, mean uh, you know there's always so many unknowables when you when you go into a situation, like this, and obviously at least, this time he'll have some guys, coming back and SOME guys i think will be key players, coming back especially if a. Taker RETURNS but, i think you Know Something colin chandler told me a couple of, weeks ago is is uh his cope is is always good at its finding guys who are going to be the right guys on and off, the court
that are going to bring the. Right MENTALITY and i think if you trust him to, do that the talent that he's, assembled here uh is is is. PRETTY unbelievable, I mean i think they're definitely A top tennish, preseason team and, these days if you're a top tennis, preseason team you're you're Certainly a final four contender and even a national, title contender just because there are so many
unknowns going into. A season but if you get a group that, can gel that can, play unselfishly, YOU know, i think, You Know kobe braa is a perfect example of this. PAST season, i mean he's a guy who came in a lot OF people i talked to kind Of That june, july period thought around the team thought he would be, a starter, you know he set out some in practice with the pre, existing injury.
Did not end.
Up starting otega took that that, starting spot but still obviously played from NOT an nba draft pick to now The top kentucky player on everybody's draft board going into. Tonight's lottery SO just, i mean an unselfish dude who
just took his role and ran. With IT and i Think if pope has a simple a similar crew, this YEAR which i think he has judging just talking to a few of them already and and hearing what some others, have said that that's going to be the biggest key is getting everybody on the same page early and then. FROM there, i mean he's he's got. The talent it's just gonna be a matter of how many of these guys can con peek and continue to improve over the course of.
The season what a great exact ample That Now mark pope has for anybody who MIGHT be i, don't know grumbling or wondering or whatever about minutes or concerned about everybody's got To be and Just pointed, KOBE breath, i say look at, this guy, you know like exactly what you, just said instead of being, a starter came off the bench and played his way INTO the. Nba drafts so that's invaluable for, any coach Isn't it?
It IS and I, mean otega, you know obviously you want him back If You're, Mark pope but if you don't get, him back that means, he's working really gonna be a. Draft POSITION and i think that's an even better Example, because otega if you remember like, he was he was intriguing to a lot. Of us but if you go back and look at, anybody's analysis maybe this time, last year a little later in the, Off season otego, was mentioned but he wasn't mentioned as the guy who's going to be the.
LEADING scorer i could.
Mark Everything Was, jackson robinson Wasn't It?
JACKSON robinson, I mean kobe was getting some of those mentions with his great three. Point shooting there's a lot of Talking About andrew Carr And lamar Butler And kirk creesa just down. The list, You know otake it seemed like he was the fifth or sixth or seventh, guy mentioned, often overlooked and we saw what, He became, SO yeah. I think i think there's a lot of guys on.
That Roster mary williams is another. Great example he was nobody in the year draft boards this time, last Year and i'm not saying he's going to, be drafted but but, you know he was put in a position where he's at least in. The conversation, SO yeah, i, THINK yeah i think that, first, season obviously for all the other success, they had that that's going to be one lasting impact of.
That Group, ben roberts my Guest From The harold leader Covers The. Basketball wildcats we'll come back and talk More with ben on the other side of the break here on six POINT Thirty wlap. Welcome back we're Talking With ben Roberts Of The harrow leader Covers the Basketball. Wild cats You Mentioned colin, chandler EARLIER who i firmly believe was reason number One That travis, perry, THOUGHT man i
need to go get. Minutes Elsewhere but i'm As excited ben to see him play as anybody on this roster. NEXT season, I Mean, Jasper Johnson, malachi mareno all these guys. Coming IN but i really am curious in a. Good way about About seeing chandler. Come in, you know he's shaking. The rust he played so well down, the stretch you know.
HE did, i mean AND and i don't think anybody really got to see The Real colin chandler This. PAST yeah i watched him some in. High school actually watched them play The three shepherd UH in aau ball sver
a few. Years ago and, you know talking, to, people people some of THE people i trust the most in grassroots basketball told me they thought he could be a legit one and done player had he not gotten in the mission trip that's straight to bey you and people were telling, him that and he and he chose to to go on that, mission anyway which obviously speaks speaks
to him as. A. Person uh but then, coming back it's hard to overstate, how, difficult uh that this past year must have been for him And he he's talked about, it plenty and we talked about it again a couple of. Weeks ago, BUT yeah i don't, AND well, i know we didn't see The Real colin chandler really at, any point even when he was showing those flashes late in.
The SEASON and, i think obviously he's gonna get more playing time this, coming season even with everybody they have in the, back court but just the fact of going into an offseason and a, preseason healthy with that year of foundation, Under him it's just going to be absolutely huge to be able to go Up Against jalen Lowe And jasper Johnson And vinzie Aberdeen and otega if he.
COMES back i mean he he Just praised otaga all season long about how he helped him get in better shape and in better basketball shape for the end of. The season, so YEAH and i think he's. Another one like you mentioned the, incoming guys, THE freshman i think this coming season is gonna be kind of where you see him maybe take those massive strides over the course of.
THE season i think you'll see him play. Plenty EARLY but i Think The colin chandler that we See in november could look a lot different From The colin chandler that shows up on the Court.
In, march man that's going to. Be fun you mentioned some of the guys you came through. The portal, of course Most Recently Reese potter miami gives them, some DEPTH but i am just fascinated by the Fact that aberdeen came through. Diabate gam these are guys playing for teams that Successfully challenged kentucky IN the sec this, past year tremendous athletes and really, nice players and here they are In, lexiingon now what did you make?
Of?
THAT yeah, i mean, You know diabat was obviously the first one in, that duo and that kind of surprised me because obviously he, was playing, you know wasn't a, regular starter but he was playing a good role on two Really good, alabama Teams a final four team And the elite eight team that had similar aspirations for.
Next season so.
The fact that they were able to, get HIM and i think he kind of sums up exactly what, you know if you Listen to pope throughout this. PAST season i. DON'T know i wouldn't say it was a, surprise NECESSARILY but i think the level of length and physicality and athleticism once they GOT into sec play maybe made him think about future rosters a little. Bit different and if you're talking in that, VEIN think i Think via baide
is exactly the kind of guy you go out. And GET and i was Talking To brandon garrison two or three weeks AGO and i mentioned Him and brandon kind of just kind of flashed that back grin and it just talked about how physical he is to play against and just watching him play and being out there on the court. Against him he was just really looking forward to the physicality that he would bring both the practices
and then obviously. To games, and, THEN yeah, I mean denzel was a it was a stunner when he Jumped into portal because he was projected as a as a starting stuard on the defending. That champions, but uh you KNOW found, i mean, you know elephant in, the room found the found a better nil Situation. At kentucky But also kentucky's ranked Higher than florida and on a lot of those pre twenty five lists, right now he's a reason.
FOR that i think he's put himself in a, position where, you know he has just as good a chance to get back to, that stage, you Know In march april, next SEASON and i also obviously play.
Maybe a little. Bigger role it'll be interesting to see.
What he does with Him And jalen Lowe if otega away, comes back because those are three guys that could obviously, be starters and not, just starters but those those, THREE guys i don't think would surprise anybody if THEY'RE all sec caliber by the end of. The season so that's that's gonna be, an interesting uh interesting DYNAMIC if o, comes back.
And so is the Recovery of Jade and quaintin's, but uh you're gonna have to be patient. ON that a couple of minutes Off With ben roberts uh covers basketball catch for The hero leader all these. New faces one of the, first games it's weird, to say but one of the earliest games they'll play Is the. LOUISVILLE game i got, to think as a guy who appreciates a, good story you were, Not pleased and not that we have any say, in it but that's that's just that's, just weird isn't it playing that game?
So?
EARLY yeah i LIKE the i don't like that it kind of bucks Up. AGAINST christmas i feel like, every year every everybody kind of has to Make their christmas Plans, around yeah when When the louisville game is. Gonna BE but i do like that from a basketball perspective that it it's kind of that that last big non conference game before you jump AT a, seah play especially the times where it came a Little before christmas and you Have that, christmas.
Break everybody kind of regroups and recovers.
And and moves on to h to their respective league plays. After that and also you get you know There, it yeah like you were, IMPLYING there i feel like you get a sense of build up to. That, game yes it's there that everybody's season on. The calendar it's six weeks or seven weeks away at the beginning of, the season but it's it's. Right there and if You're a, kentucky fan you're looking At how.
Wolisvill's doing if You're a, woible fan you're.
Paying Attention now. Kentucky DOING and i obviously you're you're not going to get that when it's when it's week two of. The season everybody's paying attention to everybody in their preseason and obviously both coaches doing a great job in the portal and and. Retaining guys, BUT yeah i feel like for, the rivalry that's that's.
Not the best part of.
The calendar Well maybe, i'm NAIVE but i really believe that if both programs keep doing what they're doing now and settled back into the, top TEN then i do think that that there will be more of a of a desire to have, this game more of a high marquee value situation WITH the Tv NEW where's tv? Rules all we, Know that, BUT man i remember many years ago and that Game dropped Horror of HORRORS to espn two and everybody was up. And arms so just keep
winning and. It'll Happen, Ben roberts i'm The, Hero Leader BEN. Roberts hl that's the best spot for You?
On twitter, uh, YEAH yeah i Mean just Kentucky dot com ever, everything there and we've got. The newsletter now that's probably about once a week in the, off season but we do that about two or three or four times a week during. The Season and i'm sure you know once the preseason really kicks in, The, gear yeah it'll be a lot. More active and That's, how yeah that's actually pinned.
At the TOP of i think at the top Of.
My twitter, good, deal.
Yep sign up for that and you'll you'll get everything. We do you'll be dropping at Least, every friday, and uh, you know probably probably more frequent air coming.
Up.
Too thanks we'll watch for you with, the combine.
All right thanks, A lot dick by the.
Way that newsletters called Beyond. The arc just Go To ben's twitter account and you can find. Out more coming up next in our Number To KEITH madison's uk. Baseball coach and at the bottom of, The hour nick mnje on here on six thirty wlap.
Then, think anything then tacking donning to.
Welcome back To The big Blue, and cider and, as promised joined now in the celebrity highline by a guy who saw some pretty good baseball over the weekend a lot of. Us Did Coach, keith Madison the Hall of famer who is the winningest head coach in the History of. Kentucky baseball second Now Is Nick. Minji Keith and i'll tell, you what because the weekends like the one we just Saw the wildcats have Really lifted nick MinJe owned to number two. Behind you and that was a lot, of fun.
Wasn't it it, Really was and it was really a. Great series it was. CLEAN baseball i think there was one error made the. Entire weekend so both teams were locked in and competed. Really Well and oklahoma is a very good Team and kentucky just had a weekend where they did a lot of things very. Very, well YEAH and i.
Want to start with you mentioned clean baseball in. Your right in terms of the way the game, WAS played i was a little surprised by the Fact, that oklahoma which was thirteenth in, the country was. Top twenty legit at twin brothers who are going to play, pro ball they might make the. Major leagues that would be. Really something But the, witherspoon brothers but between them. They struggled really all the ou pitchers walks and. Hit batters, AND
yeah i say That. BECAUSE kentucky i Felt like kentucky's approach at the plate was, so good aggressive swings. But smart that impressed me as much, as.
Anything you KNOW what. I, mean, yeah absolutely. You're RIGHT they i Think the oklahoma pitching was. Their, downfall yeah because, YOU know i was talking To the oklahoma coaches before, THE game i think IT was i think It, was saturday and they, were saying, you know we Know that kentucky plays baseball a what like we do that they they're aggressive on, the bases they try to take advantage
of every mistake. You make and one of the, coaches said the key to this, whole series it's preventing the leadoff hitter each inning from getting, on base, and boy that turned out to be prophetic because it Seemed like kentucky took advantage almost every time when we got that leadoff.
Runner on they, really did and yet at times took advantage with. Two outs so it was just up, and down especially yesterday when every starter with, one Exception no, i'm, wrong everybody every starter got a base. Hit, yesterday yeah one. Through nine so that with that kind, OF pressure, i mean and then The way kentucky plays on. The bases but it, Is interesting, You're right DOUG and i talked about this on The, broadcast friday that these teams are kind of, mirror images.
Aren't they they are, they are and they both have have. Good players. YOU know i was really impressed With the Oklahoma. Catcher carmichael he's a very. Athletic catcher he, can run he's got. Some, power uh he's he's built like a major. League CATCHER and i was impressed also with the middle Infield with willis and His Name. Kyle, Brand Branch kyle brand both really. Good players they just, You know branch
seem to make he seemed to make. Every play, AND yeah i like, their club, you know and and it JUST and i say, that, thinking MAN if I like oklahoma almost really Really, Like kentucky kentucky just.
Swept them, YEAH yeah i put itself. Into gration now you got to go Down to vandy. And win we'll talk about that in, a minute but let's Talk about kentucky's. Middle infielders you talk about some huge spikes to Fill In grant Smith And. Amelia petrie but, once again Everybody Knows tyler, bell's story, highly drafted, highly rated and is playing with a lot of poise for a freshman at a huge home. Run YESTERDAY but I Think luke lawrence kind of flies under the radar a.
Little.
Bit keith he got off to that slow, start offensively but now he's banging the ball and he's making just about every play defensively The way. Petrie did Isn't?
He yes? He is? He is and that, that one that home run ball he Had When tyler Bell and luke hit the back of the bass cat ball. Was crushed and to be honest, with YOU and i don't mean this in a, NEGATIVE way i Didn't know luke had that.
In, him, yeah yeah.
And he just he crushed that ball and he uh and it sort of reminds You of petrie a, little bit, you know Because in median had had really good power and had put together some great. At BATS but i like our middle. End. Field uh we have plenty of speed in, the outfield. YOU know i if, we could if we could play Well, at vanderbilt, UH man, i, like uh, you know you, never know we could we could possibly go deep in.
The tournament, you know another guy WHO is i think playing maybe his base best baseball of his career right Now is. James. McCoy uh, you know a guy who was a right fielder last year For The world series team has played very little right field, this year but has pitched a, lot more maybe. Not lately And, now keith because of injuries and whatever they've they've had to play him at. First base and he had rarely played first base before he got to college and really before.
This season yet he's making plays defensively and meanwhile he and what if he has four or five hits over. THE weekend, i mean, you know when you've got a guy like that who can play multiple, positions, defensively pitch he, can run and he's a. SWITCH hitter, i mean going to. The postseason that's that's you can't ask for.
Much, more yeah. That's Right and i'm really Happy for james because he's he's had to battle every it, seems like every game to get into, the lineup And and Nick ben jones finds a way to get him in the lineup. A lot and then down the stretch with all, The injuries james has been in there pretty much every game and he's really. Played well and, you know you, Mentioned. Something dick he's played very little, first base but he
looks like a natural. Over there the way he the way he feeds the pitcher on, the ball hit on the, right side just, his uh his poise and defensive skills over. There there.
It's, depressio well it's just a, great athlete, You KNOW like, I said i, can run, can throw, can hit and uh.
He could pitch a little bit and we.
Can pitch yeah. When Needed, h yeah let's talk a little bit about, the pitching which is which is, Your Alleyway. BEN cleaver i guess it's not a surprise that he's pitching. This well, but again just, a sophomore although toward the
end of last year he looked like anything but. A freshman and It's, interesting keith and that he's got a, good fastball not a, great fastball but when you mix in that big curveball of his and the way That That dan roselle calls, those pitches The way, cleaver executes it's so much fun to watch, him work. Isn't it it.
Really is and you've heard me say this before that he reminds me a Lot of Scott, down yes his competitiveness and.
His.
Curveball uh and he's, you know he's a little, bit cockey which, Is okay so he he he's really good. Out there and that's that even though his he had a, good fastball but it's not it's, not great but that big hammer that he throws makes his fastball look so. Much quicker plus he's one of those guys that gets he gets great spin on, his fastball so he can pitch inside the, right handers and he could pitch up
in the zone more than most pitchers and be. Very EFFECTIVE and i would say his eighty nine to ninety mile for our fastball to the hitter probably looks ninety.
Ninety, three, yeah yeah especially because of the way his bender comes in there at times in the. Mid, SEVENTIES yeah, i mean you talk about setting, up hitters and there's a reason he's called The, slim reaper not the biggest guy in. The world but he told us, about It and nick has talked about this About how cleaver stayed in basically did not play summer, league ball just wanted to work on, his body added some good weight and muscle and if he can, add, more coach can he
add much more to his fastball in terms? Of velocity do?
YOU think i think. He can, YOU know i don't think there's going to be a, tremendous LEAP but i think there's going to be a good enough leap that will really get the interest of the. Professional SCOUTS and i think his, you know, his height his his, arm motion his all the. Other things his breaking ball, he's developing, you know change up and slider a. Little. BIT now i think all that put together puts him in a
great position to get a chance to play. Pro ball and he has become one of the best lefties In The, southeastern conference which is the best league in. The country so he's doing he's getting the job done at a. High, level well.
You Mentioned, scott downs who is now the head Coach at Election, and catholic and of course she had a long career, left. Handed right but he was always in demand because he knew what he was, doing obviously and he Played. GOLL lee i want to say, twelve years fourteen years in.
The, LEAGUE yeah i think it was, around thirteen and he was using, different roles, you know he, started SOME but i think one year he led the he Led The national league. In appearances, you know he was a quality reliever for most of his career and it was it was fun to watch he pitching the big leagues because he carried that same confidence onto the big league now that he had In The. Southeastern CONFERENCE and i see a lot of That In.
Ben. Cleeveran yeah downs in seven eighty one Appearances, for toronto and, you're right, he led, he led, you know, yeah exactly and played for seven. DIFFERENT teams, i mean if you have a pulse and you're, left handed you got, a shot and you know teams that needed. A lefty let's Go Get. Scott downs we'll take, a break come back and talk more Baseball With keith madison in just a minute here on SIX. Thirty wlap. Welcome back we're
Talking With. Keith madison he worked radio Side With, darren Headrick the Hall of fame coach who was alongside for the Sweep. Of Oklahoma Now keith kentucky Goes. To vanderbilt never easy to win. DOWN there i think if you, win one you're in. GREAT shape i think they're okay Now the wildcats in terms OF, the ncaa everybody's IN.
The sec but tell me a little Bit about. Vanderbilt's program you knocked heads, with him you recruited, against them you played against them when you were coaching for the. Longest Time tim corbin came along and they were able to make some moves with grant money and things like that and built a. Great program but it's been Interesting watching vanderbilt become a power In The, southeastern conference? Hasn't it it.
Really. Has uh, You Know tim corbin came on the scene at the end of. My career we compete against each other a few years. And uh and then before that he, was uh he was an assistant Coach at clemson under The Legendary. Jack leggatt, But Uh, tim corbyn, you know people talk about the. Grant money they were able to. Get it. That's true they, they had they had somewhat of an advantage on other schools because of their academic grants and and and. All That But Yim
kim corbyn is a very smart. Baseball coach he's a very he's a, very bright very. Competitive, guy uh he's he's a. Great leader, he's uh HE'S what i call a lifetime learner when we go to baseball clinics, and uh he's always sitting on the right on the on the, front road taking notes when when other. Coaches speak and, you know most coaches that have reached, his status they don't even show up for. The clinics, but he, you
know he's. In there he's in there just learning. And growing, and uh he's a he's a leader of young men and very Similar To. Nick minjel you know that they both have great. Leadership SKILLS and I Respect tim corbyn a lot because the way he's built the Program of batterbelt because they were, you know they're there and it wasn't it was no Fault Of roy muburn and The other.
Vanderbilt coaches but at, you know Back Before, tim corbyn they didn't utilize the grant money like, they DID and i think it Was, just tim, you know being smart and knowing how to work the system within. The university and and then then, you Know coach muburn had that. Great facility he, orchestrated That and tim. Inherited that, but man what a great job, he's uh, you know he Definitely put vanderbilt on the map. Of baseball two, national
championships and they're good. This year they're, they're uh, you know they're one of those, teams, that uh they're they're they're one of probably eight or ten teams that From The southeastern conference that could win the national championships. This year they're.
Sneaky good they're. SNEAKY good a few minutes Left With. KEITH madison i did want to ask you the last time YOU and i chatted on, The, show uh your book had just, Come out Coaching, With purpose the game plan that helps coaches build winners on and off. The field, Since, then keith what's been the reaction from from guys in your profession now and former as coaches and just.
In, general yeah it's been really a lot. Of FUN and i really set aside quite a bit of time last year in writing, that book AND and i tried to use a lot of stories, that uh you know that, that occurred things that occurred during, my career good, and bad learning from my mistakes and those kinds. Of Things
but I've just i've been excited about. THE response i had a coach From the atlanta area called me the day, And, said hey one of my assistant coaches read, your BOOK and i want to buy twenty five and give out to my. Coaching FRIENDS and. I get i've had that happen a. Few times. It's overwhelming, it's like wait, a minute you want to about twenty? Five books and so it's, been great and it's it's almost inspired me to write, another BOOK but i haven't quite got. There yet so it's a lot.
Of, work, hey yeah you're one of those people who's learned that it's it's not much fun, to write but it's fun TO say i. Have, written yeah once.
It's, over man it takes a lot. Of TIME and i had to get a lot of help BECAUSE and i gotten from, my wife who's A former, english teacher and and my, Youngest, son tyler who Was an. English major so they helped me a, lot because as, You know I'm, not shakespeare but.
Not yet.
Not yet at the, SAME time i just have been blessed with a lot of life experiences and and and observation in the world, of leadership AND and i think coaches and leaders can can gain value from the Book because, i'm brilliant JUST because I think i'm a guy that learned. From mistakes AND also i could, Figure, out hey, this Work and i'm going to keep. Doing it, and uh and it's it's a lot, about, communication uh with, your players and connecting with your players and believing in. Your.
Players UH so i appreciate you bringing up it was it's been a.
Fun, project well, YOU know i see comments on. The internet you can Go to amazon and buy. The book you can also get it through. Your WEBSITE am i right at The Coach keith madison. Dot com, AND uh i Just remember coach many years ago when A documentary i did popped Up. On amazon, you're, LIKE hey i, did that, You, know yeah that's. Pretty, cool, yeah yeah it's it's. Pretty cool so, but yeah, you're right it's it's.
IT'S work, I mean i'm trying to bang a book together myself and just creating the time and making yourself sit down and.
Do.
It uh sometimes it's easy sometimes it's, a chore but it's always fun to go back. And again like, you said learn from. Your mistakes you probably learn more from them than you do. Your successes, and uh that's A topic i want to get into the. Next time i've got You and Doug and darren here in. The garage we haven't Had the chain gang together in the garage in, a while so we need to.
Do that we need to do that. For Sure, AND dick I would i would encourage you to write a book because the people that you know and the experiences. YOU'VE had, i mean you've told me one hundred stories over the past few years that were fascinating, and interesting and you've just been a guy that you've been around a. Little, while now you've met all the coaches and you've you've heard a lot of a lot of their stories and you've seen a lot of up. And DOWN so i
agree you. DO that i think you'd, enjoy it, All, RIGHT.
Coach i do, appreciate that and we will see you at. The, Ballpark, okay dick.
Thank you that's going to.
Do it stay tuned now For the Nick MinJe oonnes Show With darren headrick and coming up tomorrow Night At kentucky baseball final home game of the season to Catch, In. Horden kentucky well have it. Right here six, to fifteen, three games, six thirty. First pitch. That's it good night from the Garage.
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