Latest / Bluegrass State of Mind / PLAYOFF PICTURE: KENTUCKY'S BIG TEST AT OKLAHOMA + UK BASKETBALL RETURNS

Transcript

PLAYOFF PICTURE: KENTUCKY'S BIG TEST AT OKLAHOMA + UK BASKETBALL RETURNS · Bluegrass State of Mind

• Dillon Geralds: What's up guys? Welcome back to another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. Fellas got a lot to get into tonight. Happy Friday. This episode will be releasing on Friday morning, October the 16th. We Yeah, this is gonna be our second episode this week. This is kind of the time of the year where we start to transition into two episodes. So hope you are are looking forward to that. I've had some people asking for more bluegrass state of mind. I'm like, hey, you guys got Just wait, just wait, we'll get there. fellas, how we doing tonight? Kolton Myatt: Here, go cats. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. H d have you all felt a little bit like you've held your head held your head a little higher than usual this week? maybe I I d I don't know. I just feel like I've been carrying that sense of pride all week long. Like anytime I see a Kentucky fan, when I see somebody who's not a Kentucky fan, my my my head's kind of pretty high right now just because of just everything we're getting able we're able to witness. it's been a great week. The uncut video was released today on Thursday. I I'm sure you two have watched it. If you all have not watched it, man. Had me ready to run through a brick wall on a Thursday afternoon in a parking lot. Mason, I saw you shaking your head. I've I I've I can probably tell that you was probably pumped watching that. Mason: Yeah, I mean it was electric. I took hold and I I had like cold chills the entire time it was going on, you know. Dillon Geralds: yeah. I probably would have used a couple different words, but it was definitely very very hype. I know that. Also, real quick before we get going, I want to kind of lay the foundation of what tonight's episode is going to be looking like. We're gonna be getting into the Kentucky-Oklahoma game. that's very crucial this weekend. Gonna talk a little bit about The road to the playoffs. We're gonna have that discussion tonight. Coton wanted to jump into it a little bit on our live. I I could tell he was very antsy about that. So we're gonna really unpack that tonight. Then we're gonna get into a little bit of basketball. Today's Friday. we have an exhibition game tonight against Arkansas Little Rock. Travis Fora is coming to rep arena. Just just a lot of lot of sports, Kentucky sports stuff. wanna give this time though, real quick. I see we're all repping it tonight in some form or fashion. Give a shout out to our friends over at Bluegrass Elite. they are our sponsors right now. we have I'm ripping the hat. Colton's wearing the hat. Mason's repping the shirt. I got the sweatshirt on. Hey guys, I'm telling you all that this 15%, they have humbly kept it going. So if you have not gone over, check it out right now. We also have some new merch coming in. if you all have seen the Where Will Stein, I'm sure you know you've seen the logo of him holding up going for two. We got some shirts coming in that we can't wait to put on and and show out for you all. but yeah, go over to our friends over at Bluegrass Dash Elite, use our promo code BSM302. Wow. Mason: Whoop! Whoop! Dillon Geralds: Okay. I didn't expect that. I don't know if the Mason: Hello. Dillon Geralds: I don't know if they heard that on the podcast, but yeah, Mason's dog just Mason: Hey, if y'all aren't listening, you're now. Wake up. Dillon Geralds: went crazy. But anyways Go give a follow as well to them and go buy some Kentucky merch. All right, guys. So let's start things off with some football. Currently, right now, your Kentucky Wildcats are 5-1 heading into Norman, Oklahoma to face the Oklahoma Sooners, who come in at 3-2. This is going to be another night game. Now there is a lot of Top 10 matchups this weekend. Kentucky's probably not going to be the one that catches your eyes, but as Kentucky fans, it is catching our eyes because of what it could mean possibly for the playoffs. Colton, just looking at Oklahoma in itself, if you have not watched Oklahoma, those listening, I know that it's hard to watch all these games, but when when you're looking at this team, they're not a very efficient offensive team. Really what what's kept them in it and what really kept them in it when they beat Texas lack last week is their defense. coming into some of the stats though, Kentucky comes in averaging thirty-four point seven points per game to just Oklahoma's 23. Now points allowed is where it's the difference. Oklahoma's defense is just allowing 17.6 points per game to Kentucky's 28. I think that's really what's going to determine this game. but Colton, what it what Let's talk about what this means for Kentucky going into Norman. Do you think that we're gonna have a a a good turnout as a fan base? What does it mean for us? Let's not get into the playoff picture, but just continue on. Like, what can it mean if we go in and get a win and the atmosphere in general? Are we going to respond? just unpack that. I know that's a lot of questions, but what is your total thoughts? Just give me about a minute and a half, two minutes about what's your thoughts about going into Norman, because this is a this is a big game. But we've also had big games where we won, such as at Texas AM and bounced back and didn't play very well. What are your thoughts on this game? Kolton Myatt: It's a weird game. it is because Oklahoma was a preseason like projected to be in the college football playoff. Like that's Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Kolton Myatt: not like they're any scrub team. They started off a little rough, but they also are coming off of a victory over their rival and the number one team in the country. So we know that they still have the talent. It's not like they just they didn't get preseason ranked where they did because they didn't have the talent to be a top, you know, playoff team. So they have that. You're going on the road. Yeah, but they're they don't have that rank symbol next to They've had some early struggles, so they've kind of flown under the radar like we have. and so it's weird, right? You went into Texas A and and they were the obvious favorites. I mean, like sixteen point favorites entering that game. You you win. LSU was the obvious favorites coming into your place and you win. And so you know, South Carolina was even favored and you win. And yeah, Oklahoma's right now almost I think six and a half points right now is what they're favored. Dillon Geralds: Yep. Kolton Myatt: But it just feels different because you're coming off of a big win, but they're coming off a big win. And, you know, you just have to have that focus, right? Every week in the SEC is just gonna be a battle. I mean, there is no room to celebrate and lay a dud game. Like there's just no team in the SEC that you can go in there and do that and probably walk out away with a victory, especially Kentucky's level. And so my thought, you know, it's a it's weird because I don't I don't have a I can't r really describe I have an excited feeling to watch Saturday. Like I can't wait for Saturday night. But I also have a weird feeling that, you know, it's just so hard to to get hype for so many games, even though they should be able to. But as a player, when you go to battle each time and you you ride those emotions and now you've got to go on the road again and play Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: a team that just beat the number one team in the country, can you keep that you know, can you keep that You watch all these uncut videos and every time they're like, You've got to go win the physicality war. You've got to go win that. When they when they preach that in the locker room in this game too, against a very physical Oklahoma team, can they rally and do it again? And, you know, that's I hope they can. I'm excited for Saturday night. you know, we'll we'll see how it plays out. Dillon Geralds: You you know, Mason, when when Colton is saying that, I think that hi his feelings is kind of how I'm feeling. And I I I think that I think that that's most Kentucky fans right now, because I I and you all can correct me if I'm wrong, and that's why I'm I'm asking you, Mason. Then Colton, I want you to to add on to this as well. But it it it's just a weird feeling right now, right? Like like I I don't think that we're we have been here before, but it feels a little bit different. And what I'm what I'm getting at is, you know, when you look at your your your big dogs in Georgia, like a a bad season for them is nine and three. Your Alabama, a nine and three. Like they're they're they're used to getting nine to ten wins. Like that that that's it is what it is. Like it's it they are going to find a way, and they do. Kentucky football's not been that. And we have a chance to get there, and it's almost as if There it's not that it's coming from and what I think Colton is kind of getting at too is it's not that we don't believe in this team. Cause I think we absolutely all believe in this team, but there's still just that feeling I think of like, is this real? Like is is there what's the catch? Like w what are we waiting on? You know, I I that's kind of how I feel. Like I am I'm I'm right there with you, Colton. I am pumped up, but I think that it's just kind of figuring out That this this new Kentucky sh is going to be the new norm, right? And Mason, like, is that kind of how you're feeling? I I don't know if that and I don't know if I worded that the right way, but that's just how I'm feeling because like it it's just like, okay, can we do it? Can't we? We've we've done it against South Carolina, we've done it against Texas AM, LSU, like, but can we do it again? Can we? And I don't mean win the Mason: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: way we want, but just go out and win on the road against an SEC preseason top. Fifteen teen. Mason: Yeah, and I for me at least. I I think all this kinda just boils down to past Kentucky football, right? Like we're not over that yet. And like you said, I I all of us believe, right? But I I think we're at the point where this has been such an exciting season, right? Like we've had so many great wins. You know, you're you're seeing Will Stein change that culture and change the program. Like we don't want to get our hopes too high yet, right? Like it's the first season. Right. So I think we're all Dillon Geralds: Yeah, that's a good point. Mason: I think we're all kinda at that point where like, okay Maybe the old Kentucky football is behind us. But we don't want to get our hopes way up here, right? Because we know it's the SEC, we know it's Stein's first season, we know this is a brutal schedule that we gotta go through. so I I think a lot of that just has to do with what we've had what we've been through in the past as Kentucky football fans. You know, I I think I said it before the South Carolina game. You know, like I didn't feel good about the South Carolina game and I think part of that was recency bias from Kentucky football, right? Because that's a game where Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Mason: normally we would go in there and we would lose. so obviously we're all excited, you know, I think we all believe in this team. I think we can win this game. but I think we're just trying to keep our expectations level, right? So that that way we don't get our hopes too high and then I got a visitor. We don't get our hopes too high and then we get let down. Dillon Geralds: You know, when when looking at you know this game in particular, okay, let's kind of get into a little bit more of the game with with Oklahoma and Kentucky. Colton, I don't know if you seen the injury report that came out, but CJ Baxter is listed as questionable. that that that that I I do think he will play, but let's talk a little bit about that. So CJ Baxter is Rush for 123 yards and two touchdowns against LSU. Okay. that's kind of how the if you look at the past two games, that's kind of how we have solidified our presence. Is it hasn't been the passing game immediately. It's been establishing a a good run game. When looking at Oklahoma's defense, their their defense, like I stated, They're just allowing 18.6 points per game. That's going to be huge. So I guess my question is, how much does Baxter's availability change your prediction or change the status of what this Kentucky team I guess chances, odds, however you want to look at it, like how crucial is CJ Baxter for this game? Kolton Myatt: I mean, I think he's huge. for depth anyhow, you know, the here's the thing. The best part about it is our offensive line, w if I don't know if you saw, but like we have both Patterson and Baxter are in the top ten in rushing yards in the SEC right now. Right? So we have two running backs that are top ten in the SEC. And I'm like my whole thought is, okay, a big part of that is that one, your offensive line that means your offensive line is doing its job. It don't matter who's back there. But at the same time, it gives you the depth, right? If one guy can come in and be more of a ground and pound, right? Baxter's kind of your heavy load guy, multiple carries, and then and then Patterson comes in with a little more speed, with a little more shiftiness. And when the defense is wore down from constant running and Patterson can come in, he can really break off those big runs. So, you know, not having Baxter is huge in the sense of the depth part of the team. However, as I said, I I really do feel like, you know Patterson and the way our offensive line is that right now if we just have, you know, one or two guys healthy back there. and, you know, j I don't know if Barnes is playing. I I'm assuming he's healthy enough to play, but you know, he played for Oklahoma. You know, maybe he has a little, you chip on his shoulder. Maybe it's a Barnes breakout game, make some big plays if if Baxter can't go. but I I do think Baxter would probably be ready to go. I mean he'd come back in at the end of that game. Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: I'd say he's definitely sore with the carries and and playing L S U but so they've got him as questionable. I'd say they're doing everything in their power right now and I'd I'd say adrenaline will take over come come Saturday morning and and he'll be good to go is my prediction. Dillon Geralds: Yeah, and you know, just as equally as important as is as it is for CJ Baxter, I think this is going to be a star power game. You know, I I've said it a couple of times now, pressure is a privilege. And, you know, when you look at this game, your stars have got to be stars in this game. Kenny Minchie, I think, has to come into this game. do what you've been doing all season long, limit your turnovers, come in and and, you know, be poised. You're gonna have, I think, a I think that An Oklahoma team, an Oklahoma fan base that is kind of really bringing in some mojo after previously knocking off their their rival in the Texas Longhorns last week. You know, when looking at that, Mason, I I I think also mentioning Kenny Darby. Kenny Darby I think has to come in and you know he didn't really show up till towards the end of the game against LSU. But he's a guy that I think that you you have to get the ball too early. You know, him and Willy Rodriguez. Like not everything is important, but all the the names I'm mentioning, you know, I I think that it was kind of a a total buy-in at home when when, you know, we talked about previously Ferguson, one of the receivers who the whole wide receiving core, you know, kind of came up and and and showed up and and helped out. But you know, when you're on the road, it it it you really gotta have those stars. perform well because winning on the road in the SEC is just tough. So Mason, I I guess what I want to get into now is when looking at Oklahoma, you know, that it's a team that going into the Texas game, they were two and two. Okay. They knock off, improved to three and two. They're still struggling, but they do have you know, some mojo, like I stated, coming into this game. Do you think it was actually a good thing that they had won? Do you think it's a good thing that they they had beat a a Texas team, maybe just to kind of had they not beat them, would we still be a six and a half underdog? Ha had they not beaten them, you know, does it not look as good on our record to, you know, go and beat Oklahoma on their home field if we can do that? Do you think it was a good thing that that Oklahoma did beat Texas, or is it just one of those things like, no, we don't want them to be feeling good whenever w we come into their place? Mason: Yeah, I mean listen, I I think it was a good thing for a couple of reasons. I think one, if we do win this game, like you mentioned, it helps our resume a little bit, right? Like they knocked off the number one team in the country the next week we go into their house and we get a win on the road. So I mean obviously that's a a good looking win, you know, no matter really how they finish, they beat the number one team in the country. And, you know, looking at their schedule, they don't really have a tough schedule left. So I mean, Oklahoma could finish with a pretty good record. and then another thing, you know, I I We're coming off a win, they're coming off a win. And I said it last week, you know, I was like, Man, I just I don't know about this Texas Oklahoma game. It's a rivalry game. Anything can happen. So, you know emotions were running high. you know, I I'd say they probably had a little bit of extra energy, you know, a little bit of extra umf that they were putting into that game, going into that Texas game. So I think it's a good thing, you know, we're coming off a big win too, but I I think that I mean one one of the keys, obviously I think is limiting turnovers. yeah, I think you said it a minute ago, Dylan, you taking care of the football. 'Cause Looking at Oklahoma last week they had two defensive touchdowns, right? I mean they had a block punt and then they had a pick six there towards the end of the game that really changed the momentum of the game. And their offense just hasn't looked well. and you know, y you say they're mojo, and I I guess you can say they got their mojo, but they had two big defensive plays. I still don't think their offense has found a mojo. Dillon Geralds: Mm-mm. Mason: so I I think it's gonna be important to take care of the football. don't let them get any defensive touchdowns, and I think we're gonna have a good chance to win this game. Dillon Geralds: So I got five different things right here. I guess five keys for what what Kentucky must do to win. And you can add that turnovers that you'd mentioned there, Mason. but I'm gonna I'm gonna say five of them, and I want you all to pick one apiece and kind of for you, what is the most important thing. but also, you know, before I get into that, John Matir, that is their quarterback, he did complete 18 of 26 passes for 155 yards with with no passing touchdowns or interceptions. So That is just an attestement to what you stated there, Mason. Is like maybe their offense isn't really finding that confidence in gelling. It's just that, you know, they they did find a way to win to win that football game. but so five five keys for us to that we must do to win this game. The first one is win early downs. avoid third and long situations. the second one is Copen, we gotta establish the run. I think that making Oklahoma respect that and respect the play action. The third one, Mason, is protect the football, like you said. We've entered with with a plus seven turnover margin. That that's just so impressive. Look when looking at playing Alabama, South Carolina on the road, Texas AM on the road, and LSU, and that's that that is your plus minus turnover ratio. Like I mean that that is so impressive. The fourth one is containing Mateir. Pressure him without letting him escape and also letting him get going. you know, the that's the that's a huge thing on road games is you cannot let any any home team find any sort of I guess confidence and and then just get going. You know, that's what that they're waiting for the fan base to buy in. And then the last one is you got to finish drives. You got to score touchdowns in the red zone and you got to execute special teams. You've got to score and put points on the board early. So out of those five, win early downs, establish the run, protect the football, contain Matir, finish drives. Mason, what what is out of those five pick one for you that stands out? Mason: I'm gonna go win early downs and I think that kinda ties into establishing the run, right? you know, a lot of those early downs, you're trying to establish that run, pick up a few yards, shorten the chains, for second, third down. And let's be honest, I mean our third down, we saw the stat last week. I think we were one for twenty seven on third and seven and longer. and I know we picked up a couple there towards the end of the game, but I think that's huge because We've already alluded to it, but Oklahoma's defense is good, right? And that's what carries this team. So, you know, if we come out and let's just say in the first quarter we go three and out, three and out, three and out, you can't move the ball, our defense is gonna start getting tired, right? You know, they're on the field a lot, you know. So I I just think it's really important to establish that run, get ahead of the chains, and I I think this is gonna be the type of kind of grind it out game, right? You know, try to control the clock and I think that our coaching staff's done a really good job with some of these defenses. I I keep seeing people saying, it's it's almost like every game, right? Like, well they hadn't seen a defense like Oklahoma. People said the same thing about LSU. Right? You know, so I I think our coaching staff does a really good job of drawing up schemes and figuring out how we can move the football, get our offensive rhythm. So I think it'll be interesting to see what we do against that defensive line. They got a really good defensive line. so it'll be interesting to see that matchup between the big blue wall and that defensive line. Dillon Geralds: You know, it's funny there, you said about, you know, another grinded out game. That's also a question mark that you keep asking a as a Kentucky fan when looking at these games that we have won. I mean, can our guys, you know, they they I feel like they have mentally got to be exhausted with these games that, you know, being down 17 0, coming back and winning that two double overtime games back to back. Like like that they're grinded out games. Now, that's just part of the SEC though. but but you love t you love to see that though, that hey They're they're mentally strong. They're gonna be able to do it. But you you gotta wonder, is it i is it going to ever hit the wall where it's like, Okay, we just need to refresh? I hope not. We'll see this week. Mm Colton, do you have one stood out? Kolton Myatt: I mean it's it's definitely the run. And that's just because in these type of games you have to control the clock. the when their defense is that good, you can't get down multiple but if you you know you can't get down multiple touchdowns, you can't let them be high flying. But if you're running the ball, you're controlling the clock, you're controlling possession time. So at the very least, if you make it maintain a game, and we've seen how we finish, right? We we've made the plays in the end. We've been there to grind it out in the end. But you have to give yourself a chance there in the end. you can't get down to the point to where you're having to sling it all over the field and they know that you're obviously passing. Right. We don't have the receivers that are, you know, they're gonna win a bunch of one on one matchups all the time. But where the reason our receivers are making plays so much right now is because our run game is giving them chances. Right. They're defenses are locking in on the run because we're we're running it down their throat. They're having to bring guys down. They're playing a lot of man coverage and it's giving their receivers a chance to make plays and get open. And so if you stop establishing the run and it becomes a passing game, you know, that's not the type of game that we we want to be in. So yeah, I mean you have to you have to be able to run the ball and and control the clock. And and if you're there, you get there it's the same way the Alabama game and the Texas A and game and the L S U game, South Carolina, you get to that midway third quarter and are you in the game? If you're in the game, how do you, you know We we've got a chance, Dillon Geralds: Got a chance. Kolton Myatt: you've got a chance. So you just got you've got to get to that point of that game at least and and Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: still have a chance and and that's one way to do it for sure. Dillon Geralds: Let's go win this game. Let's go win in Norman. improve to six and one and improve improve to the national stage of why Kentucky football is here and deservingly deserves to be in the playoff picture. So let's get into that. Our next segment here is going to be the road to the playoff. Guys, I that that just sounds so weird saying, you know, I who who would have ever thought that we would actually be able to have this discussion in the first year of the Will Stein era, but it is here. And and it is by no means not crazy to talk about or think about. So let's start there. what I what a plan to do here, Colton, because I know you've done a lot of research. I really want to give you the opportunity to kind of to lay out the foundation after I say our remaining schedule and then Mason, me and you can tag along. but this is real for you Kentucky fans. So let's real quick talk about the remaining schedule. So right now we are currently five and one. We play this Saturday at Oklahoma. The following week after that, we have Vanderbilt at home. Then we go on our bye week. Coming off our bye week on November 7th, we play Tennessee at Neeland Stadium. Then we host the Florida Gators. Then we go to Missouri. And then we end our regular season hosting our rival, the Louisville Cardinals at home. Colton, take it away. I know you're excited about this. You've done a lot of search on this. So we'll The road to the playoff. Lay out some different scenarios for us and let's talk about it. Cause this is real. Like this is fun. this is a fun time. So what what do you got for Kolton Myatt: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: us? Kolton Myatt: So you're sitting here at five and one. the way looking at it when you look around the league, the best case scenario, if you can fin it find a way to finish ten and two. Right. I think you're a lock for the playoff. I really think you are because you've already got a couple really good wins. Y if you finish ten and two, you're gonna pick up a couple more good wins. so I I think you're if you're sitting at ten and two, I think you're a lock. I still think there's a chance at nine and three. And when at being at nine and three, I think what you have to do, you have to win your three remaining home games. Right. You've got Florida, Vandy, and Louisville. Those are three of your and they're still all good teams. So they're all still, you know, very capable of not winning the, you know, of beating us. But you win those are probably on your schedule right now, your three weakest teams you have left on your schedule. technically, by based on like where they rank. And so if you go if you win you gotta win those three home games. If you do that, you've got to just find a way to steal one road game between Oklahoma, Missouri, and Tennessee. Now we know at Tennessee is always just tough. I mean, it just seems like a place that is so hard for us to try to win. But you've got to find a way to win one of those games. If you do that, you finish nine and three. Looking at the rest of the league, you got essentially There's twelve teams that's going to make the college football playoff. Right now, looking at the big ten, you pretty much have two pre teams that you pretty much feel comfortable that are going to make the playoffs in Indiana and Ohio State, the rest of that league where Dillon Geralds: That are playing this week. Kolton Myatt: with and they're playing this week, but I still think both those teams probably make the playoffs. But with Oregon falling off the way they have this year, you have UCLA that's kind of been a surprise. They just lost their quarterback though. So if they drop a couple Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: games, the committee's going to look at that. So they probably fall off. Iowa. doesn't play anyone, you know, and so they're not gonna have a l really lot a lot of quality wins. So if they finish like a ten and two, like I can't see the committee looking at that and being like, you know, they're better than a nine and three SEC team. So I look in two Big Ten teams. I'm looking at Big Twelve. They don't have a lot of quality think, you know, you have a Utah, BYU and Texas Mason: Do you? Kolton Myatt: Tech. These three teams, they're gonna have to play each other. BYU also plays Notre Dame, I think next week maybe. Mason: This week. So Saturday. Kolton Myatt: Or is it this week? They play Notre Dame. Yeah. So so they play Notre So Notre Dame goes in there and takes care of business against BYU, then they lose to like a Texas Tech. They're they're not gonna have wins. So ideally, let's just say maybe only one Big Twelve team makes it. So then you've got three teams. You're gonna have your power five team, Boise State. Right? You've got f so there's four teams, and you're gonna have your right now it's just looking like one ACC, you know, Miami. Mason: Miami. Kolton Myatt: probably is your only ACC team making it. So now you're at five teams. So Mason: Overdone. Kolton Myatt: and Notre Dame is your independent. So right there at the very least gives you a chance at maybe six SEC teams go in. So that's now let's be realistic. Let's say they put two Big 12 teams or a third Big Ten team in. So now you've really got about five spots open for SEC teams. So you know Georgia and Bama, I think are pretty much locks. I think Texas because of their wins at Tennessee and home against Ohio State, if they can finish nine and three, they've probably got a good enough resume to to get in because of because of those wins. Dillon Geralds: Mm. Kolton Myatt: So now you got two spots. Okay, well now I think those two spots really come down to a Tennessee, Missouri, O Miss, and Kentucky. Mason: Yes. Kolton Myatt: Really, I mean I think those looking at the scheduling and all a bunch of those teams If they finish the way like it should probably finish, they're they're all going to finish round nine and three. And so it's a matter of who's got the better resume. Now it's important. We play Missouri. We play Tennessee. You know, if they get the head to head on us, who knows what the way the committee goes. But man, I mean, that's a real conversation to have right there. I mean, that's you're looking at being one of those final few that's that's they're trying to decide who gets in or not. And that's the road to it. I think that's your best chance. You win the three home games, you win one more road game, and and you're gonna be there on selection on the final selection day, Mason: Conversation. Kolton Myatt: you're gonna be in the conversation in that room. And that's crazy to think of for this year. Dillon Geralds: Mason, I I I think that obviously you the when you're realistically speaking, the nine and three is probably going to be the more realistic than ten and two. If we go ten and two, yeah, it's locked. Let's not even have that discussion. Let's but let's let's focus on the nine and three. you you gotta take care of business, as Coton said. You cannot lose. I know Coton gave him a little look gave him a little bit more grace, but Vanderbilt's not very good. They're not. you can they're they're a decent team, but you cannot lose to Vanderbilt at home. But you know, when you're looking at, okay, when it comes down to the end of the season, we could be Mason looking at playing against our rival that could decide possibly if we go to the playoff or not. And who's to say that if Louisville wins out, do they have two or three losses already? Is it three three, never mind. Okay, I thought they had two for some reason. Yeah, Kolton Myatt: They've got three losses. Mason: They're they're gone. They ain't making it. Dillon Geralds: they but they could knock us out. Not for them, but and when you Mason: Like we did with Lamar. Dillon Geralds: E exactly. I was gonna say, you know, that's typically kind of what we're doing. We're playing the very last game of the year in and hopefully try Kolton Myatt: Trying to play spoiler. Dillon Geralds: yeah, trying to knock them out of a playoff picture and a playoff berth. Mason, what games do you foresee us winning and losing? Well, let's talk a little bit about that. I want to give you a chance to talk. Mason: Phew. Dillon Geralds: to get to nine and three. Mason: I'm gonna say I I agree with Colton. I think I think we win all three home games. And I think our our best chance of winning on the road's probably Oklahoma this weekend. just because I I do not think Tennessee's that good. I'll go ahead and put that out there. I really don't. they're going through some quarterback issues right now. I think their backups gonna be starting this weekend. they they've got a pretty easy schedule, honestly, this year. you know, they got some of their tougher games at home, so that gives them a little bit of an advantage. You know, Texas at home, BAM at home. but most of their road games are are pretty easy. I think they got Arkansas left maybe. Kolton Myatt: They just played Arkansas. Mason: Arkansas, yeah. Maybe I don't remember who they have left on the road, but Kolton Myatt: I I think they p they go to Vandy. yeah, they I and they they put they played Auburn already. Yeah, they they don't have a whole lot they don't have a whole lot left. Mason: Yeah. Have they already played Auburn? I think they play Auburn. Yeah. Yeah, that they don't have a hard schedule. So It's just so hard to win at Tennessee. I I I do think we're a better football team than Tennessee. but just going into that environment. And like Owen said, you know, though that and the Missouri game are gonna be really big because of the head to head. Right. I think it's gonna come down that we're gonna have pretty similar records with both of those teams. And I think that head to head's gonna play an important factor. I think Oklahoma's our best chance to win on the road, but I think you steal one of those two, like we talked about. You're you're definitely probably in. You finish ten and two, you take care of your home games and you can steal one of those Tennessee or at Missouri. so Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Mason: I'm going I'm going win at Oklahoma, all our home wins, and then I'm just gonna say loss at Tennessee, loss at Missouri for him. Dillon Geralds: I'm gonna say I I I would I don't disagree, but I think for for building the resume, if you had to let me pick my poison, I think you would say the same thing. But I think that if you do drop a game, I would rather drop this Oklahoma game and beat Missouri to to make sure you secure that head to head spot. And obviously Missouri is the better team between them and Oklahoma. but then obviously then it goes, okay, did Missouri beat so and so? Did we but you you do beat them head to head, which typically does go further than other opponents, I would say, for for the voters. you know, let's talk about a little bit of this then. Will Stein. Kentucky was picked 14th in the SEC preseason media poll. Fourteenth. We are five and one. I think Will Stein is absolutely in the conversation for SEC coach of the year. And I do too. I think he's in the Mason: Right. Dillon Geralds: conversation for the national coach of the year. Let me ask you all this. If Kentucky does finish nine and three, does he win SEC coach of the year? Kolton Myatt: Yeah. He's got to, right? I Mason: Absolutely. Kolton Myatt: mean he's got to. Dillon Geralds: Okay. I I I I agree. I was just what about national coach of the year at nine and three? Mason: I think it's between him and UCLA right now, honestly. Yeah. Kolton Myatt: I mean yeah, Bob Chesney for sure. Dillon Geralds: But let's say UCLA drops off. Do you think there's any other teams that you don't foresee? Because Mason: I think Dillon Geralds: like Coton said, UCLA's co or quarterback did go down. So then let's just say they they don't get that. Okay. They don't get a playoff birth. They kind of lose here two or three games here at the end. Who else is there? Mason: I think if you Kolton Myatt: I mean, unless they wanna give it to like a Kirby Smart because they finish undefeated possibly. Maybe the only maybe the only team that finishes undefeated. I could see them giving it to Kirby Smart, especially, you know, they play Alabama and they play Ole Miss. Like it's not like they're you know, they're gonna have to win some big games and still finish undefeated. So I mean I could see that maybe. But other than that, I mean I don't see a Miami maybe, same thing. If they finish undefeated. They go in and beat Mason: I like it. Kolton Myatt: if they go in and beat Notre Dame Finish undefeated and maybe they give it to Crystal Ball, but Mason: Yeah, maybe, but I think you look at you know, you're projected fourteenth in the SEC and you finish fourth, fifth in the SEC, I think Kolton Myatt: Yeah, I mean I think you have to give it yeah. Mason: you have to give it to Stein. Dillon Geralds: No. I mean I agree. I was just wanting to hear y'all's thoughts on that. any more thoughts about Kentucky football before we kind of shift gears to Kentucky basketball? Anything else? Mason: You know, I want to say one more thing that I saw today. y'all know Aaron Torres. Y'all y'all see him on X and stuff. So he put out something today that it was kinda wild to think about, right? Like after this start, you know, and he was like, if Kentucky finishes the season nine and three after this start, and I I don't think Kentucky fans will be like this, but he was like, It would almost kinda be disappointing after this start and, you know, how good they're playing right now. And I was like, I don't really agree that it would be disappointing because of where we're at. Like, would it Would it not feel good to have been ten and two and make the playoff? Absolutely. But he put he put that out there today and I was like, That's just wild to think about that a nine and three season and people are sitting here saying that it could be disappointing after how Yeah. Kolton Myatt: When we were projected to win four games. Dillon Geralds: No, I mean it it truly is. that the I the percentages, I know we mentioned it last time on starting five and one. If you look at also I heard the percentages of us winning the games, not starting five and one, just winning the games, they're they're even more dramatic. I I mean it it's just unbelievable what Will Stein has been able to do. all right, let's get into some Kentucky basketball. So this is Kentucky basketball. We have our first exhibition game tonight against Arkansas Little Rock. The SEC Media Day was held on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Or is it Wednesday, Thursday? Or yeah, it's Tuesday. Yeah, Kolton Myatt: I think it's Tuesday, Wednesday. Dillon Geralds: it's Tuesday, Wednesday. but let's let's dive right into that. I guess this is going to be the beginning of what is going to be a very, very crucial, crucial year for Mark. Pope. So Mark Pope, Mark Pope enters year three as the bus driver, the head coach of the Kentucky men's basketball team. Why is this such a crucial year? Wrote down a couple of stats for y'all to listen to. pretty sure all these are right. Went back and looked at some stuff. So when looking at Mr. Mark Pope, Mark Pope, is he on the hot seat? Is he? Is he on the hot seat? You know, that's the question. what's he gonna do? Is is this year going to be it? Is he gonna go out and prove everybody wrong? Let's talk about the first two seasons. So in the 2024, 2025, his season was 10 and 8. Last year was 10 and 8. When looking at overall record, his first year at 24 and 12 to last year's 22 and 14. then that is a total of 44 and 26 overall record. Or yeah, 46 and 26. Let's let's continue a little bit more. Ruperina home losses in his first season. He lost to Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn last season, lost to North Carolina, Missouri, Georgia, Florida. He's lost seven games in two years at Ruperena. Losses by 15 points or more. His first season, he lost to Ohio State by 20, Auburn 16, Alabama 29. Three games by that he loses by 15 plus points last season. Michigan State by 17 to Gonzaga. Shout out to you guys. lost by to by 35. Vanderbilt 25. And Iowa State by 19. That is seven losses by 15 or more points. Guys, those are just a couple of stats. You could also talk about the recruiting. You can talk about what he said whenever he came in to his big press conference saying he knows. He knows what the standard is here at the University of Kentucky basketball. It's to hang banners. We've not even mentioned that we played on the first day ever last year. And the SEC tournament on Wednesday, finishing eighth and ninth his past two years in the SEC regular season. Those are the reasons why there is so many questions surrounding Mark Pope. And on top of that, and then I'm gonna send it over to you all. On top of that, the preseason ranking for Kentucky basketball, we are preseason ranked seventh out of 16 teams. It's not Kentucky basketball standards. Fellas, thoughts. Go anywhere you want with it. I'm gonna shoot it over to Mason. Mason, what are your thoughts heading into this season? he's getting he's fixing his seat. Mason: Well, Dylan, I I mean, I think it's a make or break season for Mark Pope. you know, just just looking back at the past two seasons, you know, everything that you just read off, that's not the Kentucky standard. And, you know, Mark Pope can sit there and say that he knows it all he wants. I mean, he knows it, we know it. All the big blue nation knows it. But at some point you gotta you gotta rear back and and get some results, right? And so I I do kind of feel for Mark Pope. you know, a lot of stuff going on, you know, when he came in, we were kinda at a low a little bit. you know, now the football team's taking off, adding a little bit of pressure. We talked about that a little bit. but it he's on the hot seat. As much as people don't want to say it, he is on the hot seat. And I think I think with Jay back coming in as A D, he's not scared to make moves. And I think if Pope doesn't I I'm just gonna say Elite Eight. I I think if he doesn't make an Elite Eight, if if he doesn't make an Elite Eight, he has to have a a good regular season, right? Like finish top three in the SEC, make a good run in the SEC tournament, maybe we get bounced by some Cinderella, you know, stuff happens in March. But Elite eight or top three in the SEC, he's gone. and and I think Jay Bat has come in and he's revitalized you he's helped revitalize his football program. We see all the things that he's helping do, you know, as far as like marketing goes, fundraising goes. so I don't think he's afraid to sit back and say, Okay, yep, your time's up. We're gonna go find a guy who can come in here and get us back to what we need to be. so it is. Pressure's on Mark Pope. He is on the hot seat. I think he knows it. I don't know if y'all have seen some of the people talking, like we we don't see the cheery Mark Pope right now, right? I think he's feeling it. I really, really do. I think he's feeling it. And I think he understands it like he says. But at some point You have to get through and be able to show results and get through to these guys. And I think that's been one of the biggest issues with Mark Pope. Yes, maybe we haven't had the talent the last two years, but I just don't think that he you know, I I said this to Colton earlier. I don't think he's a great leader of these guys, right? I don't think he's able to connect with these guys the way that you see Will Stein connecting with this group and how he has everybody bought in. I don't think Pope's able to do that. So he's on the hot seat for sure. Dillon Geralds: Coton, Kentuck, I I I can't get over this. Kentucky is picked seventh out of 16 teams behind Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Vanderbilt. My question for you, Coton, is is seventh fair? Do you think seventh is fair or is Kentucky being underrated? And I'll also add on to this as well. Man, like if you all I I I was driving today, watching the SEC media, some of these coaches, they look that like you can just tell. That they look like they're they're feeling good about themselves. And I can't say that about Mark Pope. I I don't know what it is. I I really don't. Like I look at John Calipari talking, and yes, he's always John Calipari. He's a politician. Gets on my nerves doing saying all this stuff. Are you on crack? That's what he said. Well, or am I on crack scheduling who was it that he they scheduled the first game of the s Kolton Myatt: Virginia. Dillon Geralds: Virginia, yeah. And he says that I'm like, Cow, be quiet. but you look at him, you look at Todd Golden, like you can just They have that aura about them, right? And they always have. But I'm listening to Mark Pope talk. I'm watching. And I've said I'm going to be positive until proven otherwise. And I am. But I don't know. I'm I'm right there with you, Mason. Like he he kind of like you don't see that holly jolly, which may maybe that's a good thing. Maybe we need to see what we've referenced this dark pope. But Colton, is seventh fair? Is seventh fair for this Kentucky team? Kolton Myatt: I mean, I I think is Vandy sixth. I think we deserve to be probably in front of Vandy. I know they have Tyler Tanner coming back and Vandy's a tough place to play. I think overall we probably have a better roster than what Vandy does, so I think you should at least be ahead of Vandy, but besides that, I mean tell me what roster is better than you know, or tell me what roster errors is better than than the other ones. I mean on paper it's it's not and at the same time you can't tell me they're not being ranked off of previous performances. Right? I mean we you have Dillon Geralds: And coaching. Kolton Myatt: right and coaching. So I mean that's that's where they're at. So I mean I think it probably is a fair ranking. I mean until proven otherwise where you finished your first two years at and especially with the team you were supposed to have last year, I get it, injuries happened. All right, we know that it's you know, we've been played with them the first couple of years. And so far in offseason this season, we've been plagued with them, it seems like. I I get all that. So maybe you don't have your full version of what you were predicting, but still, all right, there there's different aspects. You've got to find ways to win. Everyone goes through different issues in the season and they find ways to win. So you do too. I just I think it's fair ranking. I you know, I think that Pope needs to take advantage of where the I think right now is a good time for Pope. To take advantage of the hype around the football program. Right? Everyone's so locked in on football that basketball is starting. And everyone, yes, we love college basketball and we love it. And especially when it's gonna come on on like Tuesday nights when while we're while we're waiting for football to come on the weekends. But the hype around Kentucky, you've got a fan base that is reunited. Right? It didn't hurt it didn't help that as Cal's final years were struggling, that Stoop was also starting to go downhill. And the fan base as a whole didn't really have anything to look forward to. And in the first couple of years we've kind of you know, you've had some up and downs with Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: Pope. So now it seems like the fan base is reunited. I mean, that the whole fan base is so hype about this football team. So how awesome would it be if we're winning in football and we've just come off a big win and you go and beat Kansas in your first big game of the year, right? Tyron Stokes who turn who did what he did to us as in the recruiting trail, but you go and beat Kansas. Man, I think that's his opportunity to the fan base to be like, let's go, like football's here. We just beat Kansas. Let's let's get all in on all these sports. And I think this is a chance. I think you you've got it right now. I think you really do have a chance to reunite now with the and so I I think he needs to take advantage of the hype. Because man, I I'm with I'm with you all. I don't know that he's going to be let go this year. I maybe he has to have a disastrous year. I think I feel like if he gets to a sweet 16, he's probably and if he has a decent recruiting class, if he ends up with a decent recruiting class, I think they probably keep him for one more year. But now if you finish seventh or eighth in the SEC again, get bounced on a Thursday, and you don't get passed around to 32, how do you bring him back? Dillon Geralds: Mm. Kolton Myatt: And that's not a knock, but I mean how how do you do it? Especially with a new A D who wants to bring in his guy. You know, he wants to be responsible for his guy if he can he can live with it and be like, Well, my guy fails. Dillon Geralds: Night outs. Kolton Myatt: Right. Well I me and me Mason: Billy Donovan. Kolton Myatt: me and me and Mason talked. I I talked about NATO's this morning. I thought, you know, it seems like but he Dillon Geralds: We don't have to talk about that. I was just Kolton Myatt: seem you know, he's a real candidate 'cause I think he's where I didn't think he was, I think he's getting into a lull at Alabama now where they're always good, but It seems like they can't quite get over that hump either now, like the Elite Eight hump. I I wouldn't b you know, s is he someone that would be ready for a change now all sudden? I mean look, there are there are different did you see Brandon Garrison's comments about the different Dillon Geralds: Yeah, well I'll let you talk about here in a second. I was gonna get into Kolton Myatt: So Dillon Geralds: that some too. But you know, and I'm not bringing him up because I want Pope out. I am Kolton Myatt: Right. Dillon Geralds: going to give him, and I think we all have we're going to give him this season to have that opportunity and chance. But you know, we bringing up that all of I sit here thinking whenever you're saying this that all of Big Big Blue Nation is reunited as one and he needs to take advantage of that. But on the flip side of things, Colton, if he goes out and he starts losing some games. Just like you're saying that all of BBN is reunited, they are going to be united, but they're going to be reunited of negativity. Get him out, get him out now. Because I think last year, and I I will I'll openly say it, I am very scared of this season of what that could look like. Because you look at last season, I think the first year you had two different sides of the first season, but with With the injuries, the wins that we had against Duke, Gonzaga, the comebacks, getting to the Sweet 16s, like, okay, okay, we'll give you another year, right? And then I think last year you saw, like you stayed with Kenny Minchie, you saw the C part. Right? You had this side who was for Pope, the Pope lovers, and you had this side who is getting him out, get him out now. We told you day one, he had no resume. He had like, what was you all thinking getting this guy here? And if he goes out and starts losing early. You are going to see Big Blue Nation at its worst. You are going to see a united front calling for his name to get out. And I think it's going to be scary and it's not going, it's going to be ugly. It's not going to be fun because you're coming off this high football season, happy, holly, jolly. Yes, yes, yes. we're we're back. And then all of a sudden it's like Kentucky basketball? That's what we're known for. Are you kidding me? And I I I I I that's what I'm fearful of. real quick though, getting into all SC teams, Milo Mobchilovich was preseason second team coming off last season at sixteen point nine points per game, forty-eight point seven from three, and a hundred and thirty six made three pointers. I don't know if you all did see this on his Media Day comments. One of the guys asked him, Hey, like what is it that you're wanting to do this season? He said he he said that he was going and wants to break the the three point record. I love it. I love that that That confidence. Like, yes, that's what we're going to need you to do. We're going to need you to come in here and be you. Mr. Malakai Marino was third team all SEC last season, had 7.8 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, shooting at 58.2% from the field. So we have two selections for the preseason. first team, second team, third team. we had one for the second team and Milan Momchilovich and Mr. Malachi Marino on the third team. Colton, you did mention, I was gonna get into it, but I'm gonna let you take it away. And then I want you to ask Mason and myself those comments about Mr. Brandon Garrison. For those listening, if you don't remember, BG Time is what we referenced it to. But man, he's one of those players that just had an up and down. You loved him, you couldn't stand him, you loved him, you couldn't stand him. But he goes to Alabama. Modi Bate, who was at Alabama, had a big it seemed like his comments played a big role into that. And Moldai Bate is also at LSU, so my come take it from there. Kolton Myatt: So I didn't see Diabate's comments. Did he make comments too? Dillon Geralds: he didn't make comments about it. It was just that Brandon Garrison made comments right. Mason: He kind of led Garrison Kolton Myatt: Okay, gotcha. Mason: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: So so yeah, so they asked Garrison essentially the difference in coaching styles. And I will say Garrison's been very like for the most part he was very, you know, respect he wasn't going at Kentucky in any way. I don't think like they asked and he you know, he Dillon Geralds: No. Kolton Myatt: talked about how he enjoyed his time at Kentucky. that it was the it Dillon Geralds: He said Kentucky's the Mecca. Kolton Myatt: was the pendulas make of college basketball. He he learned a lot, like he he was very appreciative of his time at UK. So he didn't come at UK like that. But he made comments. They asked him about the difference in coaching styles, right? We have Nate Oates who name was mentioned prior to the Pope hiring. you know, he was a b a hot like a big time name that people was thinking about wanting the to bring here and they asked him about the difference in coaching styles. And essentially they he talked about how Oates was more of an intense yeller and, you know, had the analytics side of it and he was analytic driven where Pope was more laid back and more X's and O's driven. And we can take those comments on really however you want to take them. you could sit there and say, well it's not bad to have a X and O's driven guy compared to an analytics driven guy. Or you can have a guy that maybe doesn't yell as much. But me and Mason talked about it. To me the one thing that Pope has lacked this entire time, the one thing that I think has hurt him in recruiting, the one thing that has has hurt him in getting the team to play with the maximum effort at times is the respect from the guys. Like I think the guys love him, but I think they love him as like this fun dad. But there's a difference in in playing with, you know, well, I know he'll be proud of me no matter what. And then instead playing with the the urgency that like I want to make him proud. Like or else like I know he's going to be disappointed in me. And to me it seems like we haven't seen that urgency at times. And I think to me that's the biggest difference. I think there's a lack of respect or as much not I won't even know if it's respect as much as we don't play with that sense of urgency to to get after it, to go to go be better because maybe he's more laid back. Maybe Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: he's a it's okay, like you gave it your best, which I'm not saying can't be good at times. I think there's a a certain, you know, time for those type of you know, comments towards kids, but I I think it's interesting because I think that the way it sounds like Nate Oates is, is the same way it sounds like that to me that sounds like a cow and a Rick Patino and a Bill Self Mason: Then. Kolton Myatt: and Golden and these guys, right? You don't you probably don't hear laid back in the name of of those guys that I just named. Like that's probably not gonna be the description. Mason: Dan early. Kolton Myatt: Right, then her that's not gonna be the description that the players give about those coaches. So it's interesting that it's given about Mark Pope. Dillon Geralds: Mason, before you give your comments on it, you know, when I'm when I'm hearing this, my immediate thought is Colton, your your favorite movie, Remember the Titans, when Julius looks Kolton Myatt: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: at Gary Bertheer and he says, Attitude reflects leadership. And you look at the attitude of Will Stein right now. What kind attitude do you think those players are like that's leadership? And and again, to Mason's point, leading can be different ways in form. Like there's different forms of leadership. But it goes back to like in in today's society, you really don't have many coaches when I say and I'm talking about coaches, not in businesses or i in in other affiliations, strictly talking sports here, you really rarely see in college sports where you're coaching younger kids, NBA NFL professional is a little different because they are much older, like they're the best of the best. But when you're coaching younger kids, You know, attitude. I mean it's like, okay, look like you look at if you watch the saving documentary, have you all watched that? I mean, look at his attitude. I like Mason: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: Kirby's smart. I we're talking football two right now. I mean like there i i it one hundred percent. What you just said, Mason, what are your thoughts on it? And then I'm gonna get into something. Mason: Yeah, I mean it it didn't really come as a shock to me. You know, I think you can look at Oates and look at Pope and see that. and and like you said, I mean I I don't guess it's necessarily a bad thing. I think we would like to see that fire sometimes. you know, and I will say th some players respond differently, right? Like some players respond better to that type of Nate Oates coaching. Some players respond better to that Mark Pope type of coaching, right? and, you know, when you said that earlier, Colton, it It made me think and kind of going back to that dark poke a little bit, right? Like I feel like we're starting to see a little bit little bit of that come out of him because there was a clip and it may have been from like the pro day or a practice or something, but Trent Noah's, you know, throwing passes over on the sideline. And I don't know if y'all seen this, but they kept they were like practicing corner threes, right? Like kinda floating down to the corner and shooting a three. And they kept stepping on the out of bounds line, like the sideline. And Pope walked by Trent and he said, Trent, if they you know, next person that touches the sideline, if they touch it again, I want you to send and make touch top of the rafters. And I just like I I haven't seen that side of Pope, right? You know, like he he's kinda getting a little fired up and and kind of I don't know. I I'd like to see more of it from Pope. I I just don't know that he has that Right. I d I just don't know that he has it Dillon Geralds: Be the bad guy. Be be that. Like Mason: in him. I don't Dillon Geralds: I I agree. But you know, Mason, when you're and cotin' like when you're thinking of coaches though, it's that's a great example though. Coaches have to be able to turn on and turn off the switch. There are times that they need to be able to connect with you and be that buddy. But then there's times that they need to be the worst person on planet Earth that you cannot stand. That instills that fear, the respect that that Colton, you've talked about. Like that is when you gain and you're like, okay, I'm not messing with him. Like I I respect you. Like, okay, I I yes, sir. We'll do what you say. And and that that's huge. That is that you've got to have that. And I I agree with everything you are saying. I we'll see this season. We will definitely see this season. getting into one last thing before we shift gears into some of the thoughts that Mark Pope did have. well we are shifting into that, but the team thoughts, but I want one more player that we didn't talk about. Mr. Alex Wilkins. I think this is after listening to this and hearing this and reading this quote, I think it's it is spot on whenever talking about Mr. Alex Wilkins. that one of the Media Day members asked about Alex Wilkins and Mark Pope said, and I quote, he's going to have some games where like this is the best player in college basketball. And some moments that are head scratchers, but as long as he's trending into that place where his discipline unleashes his creativity, we're working in the right space. Now, what I take from that is Do I think Alex Wilken is going to have spurts of being the best player in college basketball? I don't know. Don't know about that. I think that as a coach, yes, you want to say that to build that confidence up for your players. Do I think that he could be elite and really good? Absolutely. But when I'm seeing that and reading that, I think that that is what you're going to get. Kind of like a Rob Dillingham, right? There's going to be moments where he is flashy and you're like, whoa. Like you're just, you take a step back. But then. There are going to be times that he may shoot you out of a game or find a way to put you in a place that you're going to have to come back because of this slump that he's forcing things. I think it's going to be an up and down road. I could be totally wrong. but you know, coming into a completely different league. And, you know, guys, most of the time that's what your best players and great players do, anyways. It is that they they are just going to have some nights where they just don't have it. But yet here is what I will live and die by. I will live and die by that I'm going to give it to the best player on my team to live and die by. Right? Like I would rather at this point, from everything that we've seen and heard, as far as creativity, getting your own, being that dog, getting space, going and getting your own bucket. That's going to be Alex Wilkins this year. So that there's going to be times where he is going to probably force things and you're going to want to get him out and be like, what are you doing? No, you can't do that. You just gotta let him figure it out and play his way through the game. And ultimately, it's just one game. You know, basketball's a lot different than football, right? I mean, like, yes, if he's absolutely killing you, yeah, you can give him a break. But you play 32, 33 games, let him figure this out. Okay, it's a long season. but that's kind of my thoughts on that quote. Mason, did you have any thoughts on that when I was reading that? Mason: Yeah, no, I I agree with everything you just said there at the end. Yeah, it just sounds like to me he's a little raw, right? Like we've obviously seen that he can do it against this higher level competition, right? Like he did it against UConn, but can he do it consistently, right? Like can he make the right decisions? Can can he consistently do this night in and night out in SEC play? And Dylan, you're absolutely right. Like w with players like this, right, you've got to let them play through. You've got to let them learn. Right? Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Mason: Because y you can sit here and say, he does this in practice, but practice is completely different than a game, right? Like if you're wanting if you're sitting here saying he can sometimes be the best player in the country, you have to let him figure this out in game reps and then After the game. That's when you sit down. That's when you go back and you dissect and you look at the film and be like, okay, here, right? And then you apply those and he starts building. No, no, Dillon Geralds: Not during the game. Not during the game. Mason: no. You let him fight through it. You let him learn through it, right? And then by the end of the season, he's taken that jump, right? Instead of pulling him out and sitting down for seven minutes, and you've kind of broken his mojo, right? You don't let him get any momentum. You don't let him build any confidence. You don't let this type of player who needs that type of rhythm, right? That type of consistency to be able to Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Mason: build his confidence and be to understand those things at this level and get to that next level that he's trying to make that jump. So I I agree completely. You just gotta let him play through it and live with some of those early season mistakes that he's gonna have. Dillon Geralds: And I've never understood anybody, any coach's mentality of taking a guy out, your best player, ripping them and letting them learn their lesson on the bench. I just I I've never been that that type of coach when I was coaching, whenever looking at a player, if it's been done to me, the response is usually not not good. it kind of hurts the team, it hurts the confidence, and it hurts the relationship rather than actually building and trying to figure it out and let them play through. It makes no sense to me. Mason: I used to always tell my players, if you're gonna make a mistake, I want it to be an aggressive mistake, right? Like that I want you being aggressive. My better players especially, right? Like you're one of the better players. Like we're gonna go through you. So if you're making a mistake, make an aggressive mistake. Now, if you're not giving effort or you're giving a bad attitude or you know, anything like that, that's when you're gonna get pulled. But I'm not gonna pull you for going down there and making a trying to make a play. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Colton, two more things I want to shoot up I want to shoot it over to you. there was two things that that Mark Pope also emphasized, and we've talked a little bit about this. He said that we have a chance again to be an elite team, defensive team. He doesn't ever ever say individually. He always references that this team has a chance to be elite defensive or an elite defensive team with their length and with their their their speed. But also another thing he also stated is that he thinks is said that this is his best shooting team. Now we also heard last year that we have a Ferrari. We've heard this stuff, but with those two things, Coton, do you think that this team is is he kind of just saying that to be saying it? Or I mean when you look at this roster, I mean we are w the they are very long. when you're looking at the three, four, and five spots, they are v athletic. I I mean, other than Koopnang, Whatever Big Frank. I mean, th like Mason: Tank. Dillon Geralds: they they do have what that that frame of of, you know, just long and being able to get deflections, what word am I looking I I don't know what word I'm looking for. But anyways, Colton, what do you think about this team? Kolton Myatt: I mean I I'm sure they do have a chance. I do think they're supposed to be long. They're they're big. That allows you to close the gaps faster, right? I mean, when you're especially, you know, help playing help defense. You talk about guys being able to get into positions quicker, or cover more space w the longer the wing spans. maybe you pr you're able to protect the rim more. That's something we've struggled with the last couple of years. because, you know, Moreno's a big guy down there, but he's not the most athletic. It's not like he jumps out the roof. It's not like he's the quickest footwork. So some guys can get by him. so you need help and the longer, you know, you have guys out there, the more you're gonna be able to do that. So I think there is a chance. Now I don't now a lot of it's gonna be do we have guys that are willing to really play defense? Right? Like Wilkins, I think is known for being a a star. You know, I think he has an offensive potential to be that Rob Dillingham to make some plays that you're like, man, this is a unreal. And we know that Milan is a great shooter. Are those guys, you know, are they going to be able to defend to to top levels? And can you have both out there at the same time? Right? We're talking about two guys that Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: we expect to be starters. And if two of your guys are out there and they're not great defensive players, then that means other guys have to make up for it. And so that's those are all mysteries. Wilkins was a mystery. He said that about that, but I think that's the entire team. I Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: I think the entire team is is an unknown. Now shooting the wall, I mean I think they all should be able to shoot the ball, but shooting in practice is a lot different than shooting in the game. Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: I think Milan's proven it in his time in college. I think others have to go and prove it, right? I mean, regardless of the percentages, I think you have to prove it in Rup Arena, big time moment, 20,000 fans yelling. Dillon Geralds: I suppose we'll say proving it at Iowa State's different than proving it at a Ruperina. Kolton Myatt: Big time games. Right. I mean, you you have to be able to go in and and shoot the ball. And I hope I hope they can. we've heard we've heard that in the past, but I re I really hope that we have multiple guys. Cause I think that that's how you're gonna have to play. I think you're gonna have to I think we're gonna have to outscore teams. I don't Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: think we're getting into defensive battles. I don't think we're Virginia. I don't I don't think we're Houston. I don't think we're those type of teams. I think we're gonna have to outscore teams a lot of games and And so and just pick and choose your times when you make that big defensive play, but otherwise you need to be able to score points. Dillon Geralds: The the two words I I had a little brain fart. I was I was trying to spit spit out. Aggravate and disrupt. That's what kind of defense that when I'm hearing that you're long a and lanky. Yeah. That that's that's what I'm thinking. Mason: That's exactly what I was gonna say. Like I d Dillon Geralds: Disrupt and aggravate. Like I I couldn't think of those words. I'm like, what am I trying to say here? well hey, what let's let's let's finish this up and get into BSM from the stance because we are running a little short on time. So tomorrow or today actually, today's Friday, because we're recording this on Thursday night. We do play Arkansas Little Rock. There's really not a lot to unpack here. Travis Ford, head coach there, is coming back, previous Kentucky player. I think the biggest thing, guys, is is come out of this game injury free and have the fan base bot in and build confidence going into these next couple exhibition games. I think that that's pretty pretty simple, straight to it. and then get get these guys who need a shot. to prove themselves. Now again, it's just exhibition, but get them out there, get their reps going so they can translate that into the regular season. Who has BSM from the stands tonight? Bulldog. All right. Kolton Myatt: I'll do it. I've got it. All right. Mason: while you pull it go ahead. Kolton Myatt: I've got one. this is from one of the episodes where we talked about Mark Pope's KSR interview. I think it was KSR interview when he he talked on KSR or when he talked about given like what the team's style of play was gonna be, and essentially he was just like and I talked about how maybe that is air identity, is creativity. Right. And well, there's someone commented and said, Do you think this is where we need to be as a program to be creative to find ways to win? That in itself shows there is a problem. I love Mark Pope because he is one of us. But I seriously have my doubts about him as our head coach after two seasons. Not to mention over twenty million was spent on this roster. So I guess my thought is when you hear the word creativity, is that a Do you think that and be like, man, you know, that means the the mind's always working? Or do you hear creativity and say that's a that's a fancy word or a or a nicer word for I don't really know what's going on, so we're gonna use creativity as as the identity or what we wanna do. We wanna be creative, or do you look at like being creative as you know We don't have a specific strength, so we're just gonna have to find a ways to create some strengths. you know, I think that is a fair point. You d you like to hear more confidence than probably the word creativity, but I don't think creativity can also mean a bad thing. I I said that maybe that's it, maybe that is our identity. Maybe we just have maybe we're good in a lot of areas, but maybe we're not great in any areas. But if you're good in a lot of areas, then maybe you can create things and and in some games be great in some areas. And to me that's so I I get I get where he's coming from. what when y'all hear the word creative and when it comes to tr trying to find ways to win, does that instill confidence in either of you? Dillon Geralds: Yeah, I'm I think that you said you what I was gonna say is it comes back to just identity. Identity, identity, identity. Listen, if your identity is to be creative, meaning that that is your identity, that you can find different ways to win, then sure, yeah, like that I I have no ill will towards that and I d I don't think of it as a bad thing. You know, you look at okay, Caliperi, Caliperi's identity is dribble dry for a while. Like lit spread the floor. Let your guys go downhill, be athletic, make plays. TJ well TJ Otzelberger, I will state his identity, defense. Like everybody has an identity. So if our identity is creative, and it may not be scoring 100 points, it may not be defense, it may not be we're gonna make sure that we don't turn the ball over and we hit X amount of free throws, get to the free throw, like. I don't care what our identity is. I could care less what our identity is. But if our identity is creative, that we can do all of those things, then sure, yeah, like that's a good thing. I think that that proves and shows that you can go out and win games in different ways. because if you do look back and you do have an identity that's limited to really one thing, such as like Calipari, Calipari a lot of times struggled against Zone. He struggled against Zone because it allowed or made his offensive teams have to shoot the ball, which is typically not your caliper teams. Okay. And you know, when looking at that, yeah, that that could be a negative. So for me it comes down to it's a good thing if that is your identity, because then you you can have all sorts of different ways of winning. And also think it's how you take that. that's how I I take it. When listening to being creative, that's how I took that that comment from Mark Pope is that that is going to be our identity is we're just creative, right? Mason: Yeah, and I I'll say this, I I completely get where That comment, whoever said that is coming from, because you know, when you first hear that you probably sit there and think, Okay, well, that means that maybe we don't have these studs, right? Like maybe we don't have an area where we know we can go and get a bucket. But when I when I think back to to last season, right, like we would become stagnant at times, right? we wouldn't be able to score. And I I think with this creativity, the first word that pops into my mind is versatile, right? Like if we're creative and we got we got guys who can do different things and we have this creativity, then we're gonna be a versatile team. And in those nights where the shots aren't falling, maybe we have guys who can create, you know, get downhill. Be the post of Melicamoreno. so I I get where it's coming from, I truly do. But I I think the creativity is It's honestly kind of exciting to me because I feel like we haven't seen a whole lot of versatility with his first two teams, right? Like they they had Dillon Geralds: One dimensional. Mason: their weakness and they would kind of get stuck. Right. so i i it's exciting to me, but I do get where it's coming from, and you know, with a little bit of skepticism, just because it's kind of a I don't want to say a cop out, right? But a very generic thing to say. but it it excites me a little bit that this team, you know, he's saying they have creativity and like I said, it just kind of comes back to my mind as in they're versatile, right? Like we can do multiple different things. Yeah. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Well, fellas, our time is coming up. one thing, you know, Coton, you wasn't on here last time I had said it, but I wanted to say it to you too, with you on here is that we did surpass a hundred episodes of Bluegrass State of Mind. Fellas, I I I do I I'm not on here to brag on on us, but I you know, I do want to give us our flowers. I I I I really am proud of us for keeping this thing going. I I really enjoy doing it. I know you all do as well, Mason Coton. I wanted to give you one last time before we get off here to share thoughts on this too. for those out there, thank you all for listening. Seriously, I I ran into somebody yesterday last night and they were talking to me about the podcast. And it it really just brings me joy because I'm just like awesome. That like I I love that we're able to get on here and talk sports and that like you get something from it because I listen to to podcasts all the time while I'm driving. So seriously, for you all who are listening, thank you all so much for tuning in to Bluegrass State of Mind. we do work hard on this. This is not something that we just show up and be like, all right, what are we gonna talk about? Like we actually give thought on this. and I think everybody has a a role that goes into this podcast and and kind of like a basketball team, kinda like a football team. We all have a role to play and if we don't execute it then it's not as good. But Coe, Mason, y'all have anything any thoughts on that? Kolton Myatt: Yeah. thank you from from me for sure. You've saved us all Carpal Tunnel from texting out our our thoughts or messages. Instead we get to come on the podcast and bring our bring our thoughts, which was the original idea. we got on here, we just we sent we had these big messages that we were sending back and forth, talking the same things that we're talking on here now, and we just wanted to be able to s to share it with more than just a few guys in our group. And so it's been a it's been an awesome run so far. We love that, you know, it's continuing to grow and we appreciate all the fans because I mean you're you're the reason that we're continuing to do this. so we hope that you'll continue to to listen with us. We we love Kentucky. It's exciting time right now to be to be a Kentucky fan and to get to talk Kentucky sports and and we look forward to it and we'll hope that you continue the journey with us. Mason: Yeah, yeah pretty much hit the nail on the head. but we appreciate all y'all. like Colton said, it it kinda gives us the opportunity to to sit back and actually enjoy games sometimes, you know. 'cause I I feel like in the past, like you said, we'd just be sitting there, you know, constantly like, what what are they doing? What is this? But this allows us to get on here and and we enjoy interacting with you all. Dillon Geralds: Which we still do a little bit, just a little. Mason: Well yeah, yeah. but we enjoy interacting with you all, you know, and getting to hear other people's thoughts and feedback and, you know, just just getting to to share our thoughts with each other and and talk about Kentucky, you know. we we've said it before, but the the Kentucky fan base, Big Blue Nation, it's one of the best in the country and it it brings people together. so we we appreciate you all and look forward to continue doing it. Dillon Geralds: Absolutely. Hey guys, thanks for tuning in. If you have not hit that subscribe button and you're listening to us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, hit that subscribe, like, follow button. Do it for us because it really it just notifies you when we have new episodes. And we are now putting out two episodes a week because of the football basketball crossover. This is the time. If you're traveling, put us on, let us know what you think. and this has been another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. Let's go get a win in Norman, fellas. As always, go cats. Mason: That's Kolton Myatt: Cats.