Latest / Bluegrass State of Mind / Kentucky Football's Big Test + Kentucky Basketball Is Underway
Transcript
- Dillon: What's up guys? Welcome back to another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. Got a lot of Kentucky stuff for you all. We are going to hit the Kentucky South Alabama game. Looking forward to the South Carolina game this weekend. Kentucky basketball is back. They had Media Day this past Monday. Big Blue Madness will be on Friday. we also got some President's Cup stuff that we're gonna hit at the end. We'll do BSM from the stand. So a lot of good stuff for you all for this episode. I do think though we need to take a moment to kind of just send up our prayers and thoughts for the Hayden Phillips family. for most of you all who are listening, you all probably are aware of the situation. No need to go into details, but it was the state trooper who Who lost his life in the line of duty. fellas, it's just I think hit a little bit closer just because it was somebody that was, you know, close to home. I didn't know him, but I think that we all know somebody who did. And you just hate hearing that. So, wanna send up our prayers and Yeah, I mean, just a tough situation. So wanted to go ahead and he may be a listener, we never know. but just keep that family in your prayers. Tough situation. and Colton, it it made me think though, again, don't want to go in too depth with this, but it made me think about how we get on here and we talk about all this sports stuff and one thing that you've always referenced, you know, talking about the money stuff of these players. the the amount of money they're getting when looking and you've always said you've got people who are going out there police officers, first responders, Kentucky State Troopers who are putting their lives on the line. I don't know. It's just a thought I had I I don't know, but prayers up for that family right now. but getting into some Kentucky stuff. before we start that one more thing, wanna Give a shout out to our friends over at Bluegrass Elite. I see that we are all ripping the hats tonight. looks good. And and Mason's got the shirt on. go ahead and guys, the promo code is still live. So go click on the link in the bio. And the the promo code is BSM302, and you get 15% off. It is a veteran-owned company. Rooted in the bluegrass state. They love all things Kentucky. I promise you, you will not be disappointed with your purchase. Please go give them a visit and continue to support them because they support you all. They support us Kentucky. So, all right, Kentucky versus South Alabama. Obviously, we're a couple days out from that game. Kentucky did win the game 45 to 21. I I think that we maybe the best way to go about this, fellas, would be just kind of to talk about the highlights that what we liked and what we didn't like rather than breaking down the whole game itself. This was one of those games that you're expected to go out and win. so when when when thinking of that, Kentucky now improves to three and one after beating South Alabama again, like I stated 45 to 21. the final score looks comfortable, looks good, but the story is a little bit bigger than that. when looking at as far as just the biggest story, I think we got to start with the backfield. You're looking at an an absurdly productive day on the ground from the running backs. You had 390 rushing yards, 42 carries, 9.3 yards per carry, five rushing touchdowns with three different Kentucky running backs who topped 100 yards. That was CJ Baxter with 16 carries, 149 yards, a touchdown. Jason Patterson, 12 to 13 carries for 137 yards, three touchdowns. Javante Barnes, eight carries, 100 yards, and a touchdown. That's only the second time in Kentucky history that three Wildcats rushed over 100 yards in the same game. And the other was against Ole Miss in 2020. And if I'm not mistaken, One of those who was rushing was actually Terry Wilson, I believe. It wasn't actually a three running backs. So Colton, it all starts with the offensive line, right? I'm gonna let you take it away from there. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, so these are the type of games where like you say w you're expected to win. but you you wanna see certain things, right? You w you wanna see airline dominate a line that they should. and that's and that's what they did. Right? There was different parts of this game that were ugly, early that we w weren't going like we would. It looked we came out a little, you know, lost some focus, probably just didn't have the motivation that we needed. But man, you know going into this game, seeing what we had saw Kentucky do at Texas A and with running the ball and controlling the line of scrimmage, you wanna see that going into this again. You you wanna you don't wanna have a game where that doesn't happen. And er, you know, our offensive line, the big blue wall, is is showing up over and over again. I mean, they're making their name for themselves. I mean, they're putting up numbers You know what we what we were expected, what we talked about, what was the big news on the off season. Hey, we've built this line to be a a top SEC line in the and and right now, I mean, you producing three hundred yard scores, I don't care who it's against. South Alabama is really not a bad team. I I know that they Dillon: Yeah. Well Wins Will Stein did say that he thought they were the best team in the Sunbelt. Kolton Myatt: for sure. I and if you look at the I mean you look at some of their stuff, like they were gonna score, like they were they had some players and and they were a good team and and early on I mean we just weren't we weren't ready. But as far as being able to run the ball, I mean that the whole game and we we just dominated on on the offensive line and it's it starts with Colton Price, guys in the middle. I mean he's he's a true leader out there. I mean he's I I think it said that he hasn't allowed a a single rush or something to the quarterback this year, yet. Pressure to Mason: pressure. Kolton Myatt: the quarterback this year. He's the voice of that line. I mean, he's leading it. You can tell that they're in sync. But man, it it's fun to watch. Dillon: Mm-hmm. Mason, you know, I I you sent a message in our group chat. You was like, man, Kentucky, they're Kentucky's got a hangover right now. When looking at a at that, did you expect that from this Kentucky team? Did you think that okay, they are gonna come out after beating Texas A and They're gonna kind of go ahead and put it to them. The they're gonna finish them off in the first quarter. Let's get some of these reserves in. What what was kind of your whole thought process on watching the game unfold the way it did, in particular the the first half. Mason: Yeah, I mean, I think we all want them to not have that hangover, right? You know, come out, fire it up, you know, keep dominating, but let's be honest here, right? mean... Most of these guys are still young kids, right? Getting into adulthood, like, obviously they're coming off probably one of the highest highs they've ever had, right? Winning down at Texas A You got South Alabama coming up. I'm sure, you know, as a coach, you can do everything you want, you know, to try to keep your team focused and stay locked in. But at the end of the day, teams are going to have this. So I'm just glad to see that we responded, right? Like we came out a little asleep in the first half. Wilston said at halftime, we're getting out coach, we're getting out plate. That's all there is to it. Dillon: Yeah. Mason: and they came out in the second half and they changed that. So I think that's what you want to see from a team because you are going to have these halves or these quarters where you can't perform, especially coming off a big win sometimes. But I think it's good that they responded, came out, and dominated the second half. Dillon: Well, we had a big, big momentum shift. So l let let's not forget that South Alabama actually did take the lead in the second quarter of a score of twenty-one to fourteen with one minute and twenty-two seconds left. Kentucky was going to get to get the ball st at the start of the third, but Kentucky Jason's Patterson rips off a seventy five yard touchdown the very next snap after they score to then tie the game. South Alabama gets the ball and then we have a tip interception, which then allows us to kick a field go to go into the half at twenty-four to twenty-one. That's a huge, huge momentum shift right there because then it's it it not only do you are you getting the ball back, but COVID, it's also one of those things I think it kind of gives you that wiggle room to breathe, just having the lead and after seeing the how whole entire first half transpire of looking okay, we did not play our best football, obviously. We're still going in against a pretty decent team and we have the lead. Let's just use that small momentum and carry it over and kind of tur turn that gear to another power, right? And I think that that's kind of what we was able to see. But I do want to talk about what what Mason had brought up and and see what I want to hear your thoughts on it, Colton. we'll stein. Going into halftime, Will Stein said, We're getting out coached, we're getting outplayed, we're not playing hard. We gotta pick this thing up. I like hearing that. I I I don't only like hearing hearing that. I love hearing that from our head coach because I think that, you know, after the South Carolina game, or excuse me, not South Carolina, the Texas AM game, he said it on national television. He said, This we expect to be here pretty much. Like this is the standard now. And they were not playing up to par. So when when you when you heard that, seeing everything that kind of happened the way it did, the going into the half, did you think that, okay, we'll be good the second half? Well what was your entire thoughts on that situation with Wilson and the way that that momentum kind of shifted back in our direction? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, it's one of those that you you never know how p some players are going to react when you're down. Right? So the last thing you want to do with you kept thinking, okay, Kentucky should eventually win this game, but man, we're letting hang around. Well, you know, if you say you go down twenty one fourteen going into the half and say something doesn't go right at the beginning of the third quarter and they somehow score again and you become two scores down in some way and and I mean it's your pressure's on, like you've got you've only got four or five possessions left, you better score on so just getting that momentum switch at least gave you the leeway room to get the halftime be like, okay, we've got the lead. We played un like let's let's take off from here and just finish it. But yeah, you love hearing that from Will Stein because it means he's not satisfied. Right. And that's what we want a we you want that coach to have these expectations and want you to play up to those expectations. And I mean, I'd say they're not able to replay his halftime locker room speech for for Dillon: Hi and the Unkai. Kolton Myatt: the uncut version 'cause I can't imagine what it was probably like. But that's you know, you want h that type of expectation. If a coach goes into it and I I think any coach I can tell you playing that team, they would have been upset with it. But he knew immediately. He was like, Hey w we're getting out coached like we we know what we want to do. We expect know where we want to be and you look at the second half. We didn't allow a point in the second half. Right? Really Their defense of the first four games, the two worst times their defense has looked really has been the two games that we were expected to win by quite a bit. They looked Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: better against Alabama and Texas A and both and w Dillon: That's a good point. I didn't Kolton Myatt: they they Mason: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: really did. They didn't look great early, against Ball State and they didn't look was it Ball State or not Ball State, Youngstown State. Dillon: Or no you don't extend. Mason: Youngstown. Kolton Myatt: Youngstown State and then they didn't look great against huh? Yeah. Mason: Penguins. I said the penguins. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, they didn't look great against South Alabama, but they look pretty good against Alabama and they look pretty good against Texas AM. So I think it's obvious that that's the focus here. And I'll be honest, going into South Carolina, a hostile atmosphere, another SEC game, I know this is a weird saying, but maybe that first half could end up being a good thing. Because if it took them playing like that, you still get the win in that type of game. Maybe they wake up and Will Stein gets that message across. It's like if you guys do this next week, you're not gonna win. You're not gonna come Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: back and win, that's not gonna happen. So I'm hoping that it just makes them lock in even more coming into this upcoming game. Dillon: Well Mason, you know, well when thinking of, you know, let's just keep feeding off of Will Stein here, he he said that at halftime, but then he proceeded to say after the game, you know, you look at the score, it it's forty-five to twenty-one. You're looking at it, okay, great job, took care of business. This wasn't a clean game from Kentucky. Kentucky had three fumbles, two loss fumbles, two turnover two turnovers on downs, a muffed punt. And then a targeting ejection in the first half. By no means is that a a a clean game, nor is it a game that that Will Stein probably imagined happening following the big win at Texas AM. So even after that, after the game, his post-game interview, he gets on and he says, This is not our standard. If you slip or think that this is the way to play football here at Kentucky, then it's going to be a long road ahead. And I I just I keep going back and thinking back to what you said about how in all these uncut videos and everything we're seeing and hearing from Will Stein that as good as as he is as a football coach, he's even a better leader. And and and I think that that's exactly what he's showing here. First off, he takes he takes responsibility at the half saying, We're getting out coached. Shout out to Chan Singling. He was like, I love that. You know, like he said that first. He said We're getting out coached. He didn't say we're getting outplayed first. He said we're getting out coached first. He put it on himself. And then at the end of the guy, he said, Listen, I good, yeah, we won, but this is not the standard. Talk a little bit about that. Like these guys, I feel like they have to be motivated hearing that and and recognizing, like, our coach, man, like he has I high expectations, and he should. He should because we are a good football team. Like, this is the standard now. So Mason: Yeah, I mean it's refreshing, right? To hear that coming from a coach and I'll say this too, I bet they had some hard practices these first two days this week. I bet they were pretty intense and they were going pretty hard and he was trying to get that out. Dillon: Well it gave him something to look at too. Mason: Exactly, and I mean it's just... It's good to know that the leader of your program is holding to that standard, right? He's the type of guy that's going to hold everybody. Not just the start quarterback, but all the way down, you know, he's building that culture, right? And it's great to see, it's great to hear. I've said it over and over. I think Will Stein's special. I really, really do. And I just hope we can keep him around for a long time because I think he's doing a great job and I think it's trending all in the right direction. Now we'll see if that translated, you know, getting us into some higher bowl games, maybe the college football playoff at some point, but think he's definitely off to a great start. Dillon: Second half came out, took care of business. Don't really think there's any much more to touch on. Do you want to talk about anything else with the South Alabama game? I think more importantly, let's get into the South Carolina game. All right, let's get into it. So moving into Saturday, Kentucky comes in now, three and one, ranked in the AP poll for the first time since October of twenty twenty three, I believe, is what I got down here. but we are ranked number twenty-four. South Carolina is coming in at two and two after getting hammered. Forty-nine to eighteen at number ten Alabama. this game will be played Saturday at South Carolina on the SEC network. one one important piece is that South Carolina has beaten Kentucky for four straight times, including a thirty-five-thirteen win in Columbia last season. This is kind of one of those weird teams that we just have beef with. Like i i it's it's really odd to me, I feel like. And I think that it's not really necessarily the teams as it is the coaches. Beamer, stoops, stoops, beamer. But we kind of turn to that next chapter of stoops, and who knows, South Carolina could be changing the next chapter right with with with Mason: We're about to do the same to them. Dillon: Beamer. so before we get into it, the players and kind of the context of the game, Colton I think that this is a game that kind of I'm not gonna say solidifies where we are at with Kentucky right now, but this is a every game is important. But I think this begins the stretch of games that you look at that you're expected to win. Like if you're going to be ranked, if you're going to to have that new standard, this is the first game of the season that they're even though we are a two and a half underdog, I believe, is last time that I heard and checked, like We are expected to win. And I think most people predicted in going into the season this was a game we should go win. So when looking at that, how important is this particular game? Obviously, again, I'll say it again. Every game is important, but this is where you look and say, okay, is Kentucky, Alabama, Texas, Georgia? Maybe not there yet, but If they're going to be in that next tier right under them, you gotta beat these type of teams, this South Carolina team who is is struggling right now, whether it be the players, the coaches, their performance, it all shows. And this is where it starts right now. So talk a little bit about that, like what how important this is, not only for Will Stein, but also the team itself moving forward. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, these these are the type of games where you're gonna really find out what type of team Kentucky is. All right, Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: we've watched Mark Stoops go to Ole Miss and beat Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss team, right? We've seen those type of games where we won the Texas A and Now, granted, the third quarter of Texas A and was a quarter that we had not seen Kentucky football play in maybe my lifetime for sure. But Dillon: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: the the truth is these are the type of games where you're gonna find out the most because South Carolina's had our number. I predicted we lose this game and and ever First predictions because I hate going to South Carolina. That stadium's rowdy. It just seems like we can't never figure it out there at South Carolina. So you know that going in. You've had not had great history here. Can you change it? Are you different? Do you go in and lay an egg? Or do you go in like you did against Texas A and and be the more physical team? Are you the more con you know disciplined team? And and that's where you're going to see if it's changed. If if we go in and we do that, then you know things have really changed. We're going into the road, a hostile atmosphere, coming off, you know, now as a ranked team going in against an unranked team. I know that they're favored. I I feel like that's appropriate. I I do. look, we're talking about a South Carolina team that also has a quarterback still that's projected to be, you know, a top five to seven quarterback taken in the draft. Like they're not supposed to be a scrub team. But I you know, that's you the game against Texas AM, what after we got beat the way we did against Alabama, I said the difference in Will Stein and like Stoops will be how we respond the next game. If we get put in that situation like we did against Alabama again, where it was like third quarter, it was a tight game, I was I would expect this not to happen what happened against Alabama again. And you went on the next you went on the road to a top 10 team the next week and you didn't let it happen. So now you woke up slow in the South Alabama game. I would expect Will Stein, and what I'm expecting is this team to not start out that way against South Carolina. Is to start Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: in focused and and to really show up. Now look, it's SEC road games are tough, guys. I mean, look, we they are. I'm not gonna Dillon: Yeah, absolutely. Kolton Myatt: sit here and say, hey, yeah, we ha we do need to win this game for scheduling purposes, right? You still gotta play LSU. You still gotta play Tennessee on the road. I mean, you've gotta play these type of teams and these are one of the games where y you know, you're looking to make a bowl game, you need to win. And I I expect us to be vote focused. I I expect us to f be physical. I think it'll be a close game, but, you know, this is a game you definitely gotta go get. Dillon: I I you know I I hadn't thought about that, but you I you are one hundred percent correct though, Coe, when when saying that you look at our defense of how well they played against Texas AM and Alabama in comparison to Youngstown State and South Alabama. but you know, and also to your point, Mason, I think that that's also very true that maybe this was a good thing. Maybe it was a good thing that we didn't have our our our best performance to give Will Stein and these players something to work hard for this week because You know, i i it can be the throughout the season, you are going to have those halves that you just don't play your best ball. You don't want to ever see though your team play down to its to its opponent's level. and it seems that what we've seen so far, other than the second half of Alabama, we've played up to that our the level of competition that we're playing. Now, South Carolina is not really good right now. So hopefully that kind of changes. But let's get into some specific players, Mason. Colton mentioned him already. The biggest player Kentucky has to account for on every single snap right now is Lenore Sellers through four games. Sellers has thrown for 833 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions, while also contributing two hundred and forty four rushing yards. then you also have the running back Matt Fuller who he ran for 112 yards against Alabama, ripped off a 56-yard run on South Carolina's opening possession. but then also when you're talking about the stars, let's also not forget that they're also going to be without their star edge, Dylan Stewart, who is suspended indefinitely right now. And that's one of those things that when you're looking at another top draft pick, another top name guy. kind of what that does for that program leading into a game. I think you could see it, you can look at it two different ways. You could look at it in the sense of, okay, they're down without their star player on the defensive side of things. Let's go rock and roll. Like they're going to be down. They're going be like, man, we don't have our stud this game. But you also could look at it in a sense that maybe South Carolina has something to play for. Maybe they're going to go out and say, hey, listen, it's, it's, we don't need him. I'm not saying that's what they're saying, but like this gives us something even more to play with. Not even to mention that it's Kentucky coming to us. Like we have we have some some history with them. So Mason, when looking at those those three players, is there anything that sticks out to you in particular? Is there any other players that you're looking at that kind of no I guess worries you a little bit going into this game? again, we have a small dosage to base of what we've seen based on competition. with Texas Stadium and Alabama. I I still think we haven't truly seen what we our true identity is just yet. I think we've seen sparks of it. but w what what do where were you thinking right now? Mason: Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest one to me obviously is Lenora Sellers. And he kind of falls into that same boat of the Keylon Russell and the Marcel Reed, right? Like that mobile quarterback who he can beat you with his legs, he can beat you with his feet. And both times we've played Alabama in 8M, I feel like we've... done a pretty good job of being able to contain the QB from creating those plays with his legs. Obviously it's going to happen here and there, but it's not like he killed us with his legs all night in either of those games. So I think if you try to focus and limit him being able to scramble and get outside the pocket and create some of those plays where you have perfect coverage, there's nobody open, but then he goes and picks up first down. And we've done a really good job of that the past two games. So I think if we can keep that up, I think that's a key moving in. him and keeping him in check. Dillon: Colton, South Carolina is struggling. they they are coming in at two and two. They're 0-2 in SEC play, coming off a four and eight season last year. The Ganghawks have also lost seven straight SEC games and eleven of their last thirteen games against power four opponents, according to the CBS sports report that I've got here in front of me. I I I don't want to get the mindset of, this is a trap game. Like we that that That's not where my head's at. I I don't want us to get there because that is again, we're not going to reference it old stuff. Like this is turning the page. If you I was talking a little bit a while ago there about identity. Again, small portion to look at. But if you had to say this Kentucky team, if you had to stamp an identity of this team right now. What would that be? What what would if you had to put down one thing, what would the identity of the two thousand twenty six, twenty seven Kentucky football teams identity? What would that be? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, it's physicality in the line. Dillon: Mm. Kolton Myatt: and the biggest thing if you're look, if you're wanting to go win on the road, the biggest things that travel are physicality, high IQ, and running the ball. Those three things travel more than anything. All right. Though those three things and defense. Right? We the defense you played against Texas A and Like that's tough type of thing. But the physicality and and up front and running the ball can make a huge difference in this game. We're talking about a stadium that wants to get rowdy, but if you're taking eight nine minute possessions because you're running the ball constantly, getting first downs, marching down the field and they can't get into the game 'cause they can't get a stop because you're just constantly running and you can't allow you know, the the best way to keep sellers from from hurting us, keep him on the bench. but so you gotta have these sustained drives with the run game. And And when you do that, it opens up so much more for the passing because we don't have, you know, we have potential receivers, but we don't have just these stud receivers that are winning constant one-on-one matches. And when you're w running the ball and they start having to bring in their corners and their safeties into the box to try to stop the run, it allows so much more room for your receivers to get open and and create plays for them too. So it just really starts with the line of scrimmage. If we can control it at the line of scrimmage. Especially with their star edge being off, you know, not playing not playing in this game. I I think that's that's gonna be your biggest advantage if you can come in and control that aspect of the game. Dillon: Mason, I I think taking it from a different perspective too, not an identity, but something that's that's really going to be crucial. I'm really excited. I'm really excited to see how Kenny Minchie comes into this game. You know, looking at what he was able to do at Texas AM, 14 of 18, passing, 252 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, was able to to to hit his one, two, three, being able to look at everything, the schemes that were that he had had to go through. That Will Stein was drawing up for him and and Sloane. I we've talked about it all year up to this point, even though it's just been four games, the poise that he's able to show, the way that he's able to make the right decision, not trying to force thing. I I'm excited in because I guess I don't want it to be a fluke. I I I don't want Kenny Minchie to be looked at and say, okay, he just had that game at Texas AM, right? I'm excited to see can he go do it again in a hostile environment? Going on the road, as Cotton stated, is it is tough. It doesn't matter who you're playing. So when thinking of Kenny Minchie, talk a little bit about that. What what do you expect from Kenny Minchie going into this game? Mason: Yeah, I mean, let's just be honest and look back here, like... I feel like Kenny Mitchie's done really, really well this year. Like you said, Dylan, he's had one big mistake and that was in the Alabama game, right? Other than that, like that's his only interception on the season. I think he's completing close to 70 % of his passes. I think he does a really good job of, like you said, Dylan, maintaining his poise, being able to kind of keep control over the game, you know, keep everybody together in that huddle when things get tough, you know, making those right reads. And I think our offensive coordinator and Will Stein, I think they put him in a great position and obviously comes back to our big blue wall, right? Like if you're running the game that opens up so much it makes it easier. So I mean I expect Kenny Metchie to perform just fine, I really do. He was fine, know Alabama was at home, that was his one mistake, but he looked great at Texas A and he's just made good decisions all season long and I don't see that changing. Dillon: If there's one key to winning this game, I I I guess Colton, you've already stated yours is physicality and the controlling the line of scrimmage. I I think that's kind of what pretty much in a nutshell, that's kind of what you you you said would be, I guess, your key and at this point you would think is our identity. Mason, what is a key for you going into this game? How do we win this game? What must we do? Mason: I mean, I agree with what Colton said. If you're looking at the main key and what's going to win us this game, it's done. Dillon: Well give me something else. Mason: Okay, we talked about Kenny Minchie. Dillon: Well you you d you can Kolton Myatt: turnovers. You can you can't turn the ball over. Like you can't give Mason: I mean... Kolton Myatt: them you can't get you can't give them the the short Dillon: Can't give him a laugh. Kolton Myatt: you can't give them the short fields. You can't give like air defense is a very bend don't break type defense. Even if you get like don't make a play, make make go the length of the field. Right? Because if we can get into a time possession battle where we're running the ball and we're taking a lot of clock, even if we get to midfield and we decide to punt it down to the ten, we have to make go to length of the field. Before you know it, the first quarter's over, it's zero zero. You want to be in that type of game. You just don't want to give you like a we don't I still don't think we're built to play from behind. Because we want to run the ball. Like that's our identity. And if you're playing Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: from behind, you abandon the run and you go to the pass. And that's not something we need to get into is constant passing. And so no turnovers. You can't give them life from short fields. Win the time of possession battle. Dillon: Good answer, Mason. Excellent answer, Mason. Mason: Thank you. Dillon: I think for me I I'm gonna stick I yes, controlling the line of scrimmage, running the ball, like yes, that I'm gonna just throw something different out there. I think also just the front line of the defense or the entire defense itself. Because I think that that's also that when looking and watching this team, are we Do you all think that we are comfortable enough to say our defense is legit? Or has it been the case? Okay, we went at Texas AM, had a really, really good game. Okay, first half against Alabama, but then you look at the South Alabama and the Youngstown State, like what where is our defense actually? Are we actually a really good defensive team? Are we kind of middle? I think that that is where my answer is finally. I I have my answer. After this game, I want to see us go in there, be just as physical as Coltman Staten on the offensive side of things, but also on the defensive side of things. I I've one thing I have absolutely loved seeing from this team, specifically the front line on the defensive side of things, is they're very handsy. If you notice, there's a lot of tip balls. Anytime that the the quarterback gets out of the pocket, you see them hands flying everywhere, chasing. I I just I love seeing. That side of the defense of things as far as like let's keep things going, make them make tough decision, make them have to make an absolute play on the ball, whether it be a miracle play or something that probably shouldn't be made. I I think that that is along with everything that Colton has said, he he touched a lot on the offensive side of things, but just bringing it to the different perspective of the defensive side of things. I think that our defense is going to be crucial in this game because it's one of those things that South Carolina are barely breathing right now. They need something. And as soon as they can catch life, that's when things can get dangerous. Don't let them get that urgency. Don't let them have that spark that allows them to gain momentum. And then all of a sudden you find yourself falling behind 21 to 7, 21 to 10, and you're fighting back and having to. pressure and like, man, our defense, they're they're taking a lot of time off the clock. We're having to rely on our offense to go, go, go, go, go. Let the defense control that and then let the offense just just take things and and move downfield, score touchdowns, and let's go up early and let's control control the game. So that that's one thing I was wanting to throw in there. Anything else moving into Saturday's game against the Gamecox. Anything else? All right. Fellas, basketball season's right around the corner. It's so you know, we were talking on here right before we started, like Colton was like, Man, basketball season is here. And you absolutely are right, it's here. Media Day was on Monday, Big Blue Madness is Friday. We have our first exhibition game against who was it I said I just went completely blank. Ark yeah, Arkansas Little Rock. So it it's here. Let's start with Media Day. Media Day was this past Monday. If you all have not speaking to the to the listeners here, if you've not got a chance to go watch the Media Day interview with Mark Pope, go do that. It's about 23 minutes. I I watched it, I took a couple notes, but let's just for starters here, Mason, let's talk talk about the injury report. Jerome Morton, a new injury has hit it. Jerome Morton has a knee injury. in practice and will be reevaluated in a couple of weeks to go along with that. Milan, as we know, it had the finger issue. He is set to be fully cleared next week. Trent Noah is still injured. Hopefully returning in a few weeks. Cam Williams is still in the boot. Hopefully to return by the start of the season. I mean I Kolton Myatt: Sounds like a lot of hoping. Mason: Yeah. Dillon: I yeah. I Mason, do you think that it's one of those things that this guy just has bad luck? I mean, like what at some point, you know, I was listening to KSR and then I was watching and reading some other stuff, and I you know, it's it's one of those things that is it truly bad luck? Do you look at what we're doing as far as training goes? To me, it's just bad luck. I mean, like, no, it's not a specific injury that everybody is having that's reoccurring. I you're looking at Milan. with a a finger issue. You look at Jerome Morton, he had the knee at practice. It wasn't nothing I don't think in contact actually. I could be totally wrong about that, but I I didn't think it was in contact stuff. I just how important is it for for Mark Pope to have a healthy roster, I guess? Mason: It's very important, especially after you know... losing Mitchell kind of the way we did, thinking we were having him, I mean, makes us a little bit thinner. I mean, it's obviously really, really important. you know, I just think it's bad luck too, because you sit back and think about it like our strength and conditioning coach and whoever's over all this, like they're at the University of Kentucky, right? They're not no scrub, right? They know what they're doing. It's not like we're doing anything completely different than what other programs are doing. It's not like we're going, you know, this hard every single day. They're giving them proper rest and all these things that they need. it just... It sucks. It's part of the game. And, you Colin and were talking about this earlier this week. You you look at the NFL right now, like, how many injuries Dillon: Yeah. Mason: are across the NFL? Like, injuries are a part of the game and they suck. They really do. Dillon: Well, and it's really hard to also kind of have a a true judgment of the performance of Mark Pope because you know you on one hand, you gotta be like, okay, the man still ha right now doesn't have a a f fully healthy roster. Can you really judge him and and and kind of critique him because of that? But then on the other hand, it's like, okay, well, this is Kentucky. You still got to go out there and perform. Like you still have that crowd saying all that. it's just very, very unfortunate. So in this in this interview with Mark Pope, I wrote down a couple of things. Colton, I'm going to say some of them, and I want you to choose one to talk a little bit more about. And then I'm going to do the same with you, Mason. Okay. And then I'll hit one. So a couple of things that I wrote down that Mark Pope had stated. One, he was very adamant that length is our strength. He he had said that length is our strength. He also talked and said he talked a lot about creators. We've heard that in this offseason that he was wanting to go out and get creators. And he talked about the actions. I love this part though. He he talked about the actions of the five man being a creator. And that got me to thinking about okay, last year you would see Brandon Garrison and Malachi Marino, Yelovich. You you really didn't see that creative. That we got to see from Williams the previous year, who would be at the top of the key, kind of being that creator a lot of times. then he also said something about not running away from rotations. They have to be really sound. When the question was asked about this rotation with all these players, and he strict he he came out and said it. He said, Hey, listen, we're not running away from rotations. They have to be really sound this year, is all. he also talked a lot about Malachi Marino. He said he wasn't happy because the question was posed to him, like, hey, what's the update on Malachi Marino? What's he looking like? And he and Mark Pope stated that he wasn't happy with Malachi Marino the first four weeks. But since then, and I quote, he said he's almost unrecognizable with some of the skill sets he's brought to his game, specifically the interior scoring, rim protection, and his leadership. when asked about the identity of his team. Mark Pope's he said that this team can work its way into the style of play that is winning basketball. Creative basketball and then connected basketball on the defensive end. and then the last question was they asked him are you gonna are you gonna get that fifteenth roster spot filled and a coaching spot filled? And he pretty much said he likes his team, they're gonna move forward. So out of all those little things, I'm sure there was something that caught your attention, like a that If you did or didn't listen to the interview, but let's start with you, Colton. What was maybe one thing that that was kind of a summary of of the the interview itself, but what was something that stood out to you that you didn't like, you did like? Kolton Myatt: Well, I think that the creative and connected statement is because I think that's what we're gonna have to do with this team, right? It's such we talk about how much of a mystery they are. You know, on paper it looks like a team that's very deep. We also thought last year's team was very deep, right? But so that's a mystery. He says we're very long. Well, I feel like we went and got a bunch of athletes last year. That's not what we necessarily needed. So I just feel like you you have such a mystery with the team that when you talk about creative, I do think that this is gonna be a team that's gonna have to find multiple ways to win. Right? Is it gonna be a game where Merino all of a sudden is a stud down low and and we're feeding him and all of a sudden he's developed this offensive game and he's kind of being the leader on the court and we're playing through him? Is it gonna be a game where we need our guards to to do the creating? They're gonna have to get to the basket. Is it a game where we outshoot the other teams? b with Milan and and Noah and Cam Williams and all these guys. And so, you know, is it like those right, if we can get healthy. And so that's the and that's the thing. Is it is it a game Dillon: If we can get healthy. Mason: Hahaha Kolton Myatt: where we're gonna have to play, you know, a lineup that we didn't know we were gonna have to play? And I think that he's probably thinking all those things, right? He's probably looking at this team and thinking, it it's gonna be one that I don't know what their identity is necessarily going to be because just looking at it, I don't know where I If I could just look at this team, I don't know what I hang my hat on is what I look at them and being like that's gonna be their identity. So maybe creative is the correct word. But if they are connected, as he said, then you can win in multiple ways. It don't really you don't have to have an identity. Maybe your identity is creative, right? Maybe your identity is a mystery that your identity is that other teams don't know how to how to defend either because you can win in multiple ways. That's Dillon: Mm. Kolton Myatt: that's gonna be my hope going into this, is that the creative and connected is how we have to win this year. Dillon: Bulldo brand it tonight, Mason. Check him out. Mason: He's a poet. Dillon: Man, I just sit here thinking, man, look at him. He's like, maybe this is the like our Mason: You Dillon: identity is creative. What you Mason: You Dillon: Cody, you worked hard today? Kolton Myatt: I'm like j I've been I no, I've been listening to Jameis Winston. Dillon: A Mason: Hahaha! Dillon: man. Baseball was something that if you listened to it or if you gathered what I'd say, what was something that stood out to you? Mason: think for me it's Murano and I think this kind of ties into what Colton was talking about just then, right? Like, who really knows, but... I think of what Mark Pope's saying, right? Like if he's developed this ability to score at will inside, if he's talking about Moreno being the five outside, you know, kind of being creative and helping run that offense and being able to hit back door cutters and you know, things like that, I think that changes our whole identity as a team, right? Because that's one question we've been asking, right? Like, you know, you have Milan, but then who's it going to be? Is it going to be Wilkins? Is it going to be Zoom? Is it going to be Cam? You know, who's it going to be, right? Like who's going to be your other go-to guy? And if we have that Moreno, I mean, I think that's huge, especially if he has this inside presence because of the shooters we have around him this year. You can't dig down and help off of Milan. We have fours that we can put in there that you're not going be able to help off of. You have Wilkins. So I think for me that really caught my eye and kind of perked up when I heard that. was like, ooh, that could be really good for us if Moreno is how Mark Pope is portraying him and what I'm understanding right now. That's going to be really big. Dillon: Well, he said hit that, you know, he's almost unrecognizable with some of his skill sets that he's brought into his game. I mean, you gotta love hearing that. Now, it it's one thing to say it, you we gotta wait till we see it. Mason: Exactly. Dillon: but when when thinking of the Mark Pope interview for Media Day, I think that the one thing since you all took two things that were positives, I'm not gonna say this is a negative, but it it kind of was just like, It kind of it didn't worry me, but I guess I was just kind of like, I don't I I I I really would love to know what he truly means by that is whenever he got to talking about the rotations. He said that we're not running away from rotations, they have to be really sound. And the reason why, you know, that makes me have that is because that is something that Mark Pope in the past like specifically last year and even the year before that was something that There was a lot of criticism was you gotta get these rotations right. You can't be throwing in guys left and right, like let your feed your studs, like you know, like let them do their thing, let them play 33, 35 minutes a game. You can't be having those guys playing 27, 28 minutes with others like okay, for example, here you can't have you cannot let Milan Mokchilovic play 27, 28 minutes, Malakai Marino play 29 minutes. You Wilkins, if he's gonna be the a dude this year playing 28, 20, like those guys have got to be on the floor 32 to 34 minutes a game. I know it's just four minutes, but those are four crucial minutes. So for me, whenever he was talking about not running away from the rotations, I'm sitting here, I'm thinking, okay, I hope what you mean by that is that we are gonna rotate guys in there. It's just they have to be sound. They have to be at the right moments. Whenever we can get Milan, a 30-second break. That's not a crucial moment of the game. We're going to give him that 30-second, 45-second break. We're not going to do a mass substitution. We can't, we like, I don't think this is a team that can afford that. Because we in any team that is successful, unless you're the platoon system that we was in 2015, you just don't see 12 guys, nine, Mason: 7a usually. Dillon: Or yeah, you just don't see that. Like it it's seven to eight guys that you can truly put your faith and hope in. You are going to have some guys in rotation come in and play some of those scrap minutes, but for the majority of the game, the crucial parts of the game, you cannot rely on that many players. It has to be sound, which is what he stated. So I'm hoping that he's saying, Okay, my rotation this year is going to look different in the sense of I'm going to make it a point that these studs are going to be in the game and I'm going to allow my other substitution comes in come in and kind of work with them. It's not going to be that mass substitution. I just I hope and pr please do not do that or else I may lose it. What y'all have any thoughts on that? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, no, I I mean that's substitutions has been an issue. you know, I and it worries me that I think a lot of it was an issue because he was so he's such an analytical mind. Right? Like Dillon: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: and and so I feel like he was approaching a lot of substitutions based on, okay, we've gotta have this you know, we feel like they'll be best at this many minutes when the reality of it is it's just go play your best. Right? Whoever's playing the best, go play Dillon: Yeah, go make a play. Kolton Myatt: best. Don't make it you know, don't switch it up. If they're rolling, they're rolling until they're over there like, hey Take me out, I can't do it no more. Let'll ride. Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: Like I mean ride with it. So I think that that's I I'm a hundred percent in on that because that's been a frustrating aspect the first couple of years, is getting on these runs, taking the guys out, bringing in and watching these teams come back slowly and you know, we can't have that going forward. Dillon: You know, you actually see that though more than you ever would expect it, I think. Not just at at Kentucky, not just but and not in particular the college level, but any level in that matter. I'm thinking of high school too. Mason, I I can't tell you how many times I've watched a game and a guy is just cooking. Like he is on a he's on fire. And then out of nowhere, coach pulls him from the game. let's just give him a breather, right? Let l let's just give him a breather. Like what wha what why? What are we doing? Like I don't care if he's Mason: I will never understand that. Ever. No. Dillon: I I never did that when I was coaching. I'm not saying I was the perfect coach by no means, but it really does. I i I'm just sitting there like, why are you doing that? Like what give me a point of because honestly, Colton, I think a lot of it too, you find in those moments, and Mason, I'll throw it over to you, is that it's in those times that you are on such a heater, whether it be basketball, but we're specifically talking about basketball right now, that you kind of dig a little bit deeper and just like you just find it internally, like, hey. Make a play. Like I I'm feeling it. I'm just gonna go do me and I'm gonna make a play. Why would my coach wanna take me out that time? Mason, we was about say something. Mason: Yeah, no, I was going to say, when a guy gets on a heater, he's either going to cool off or he's going to fall over on the floor before I take him out of the game. Like, I just, I will never understand that. I really won't. And if it's a fatigue thing, right? Depends on where the game's at and kind of how it's going, but I'm almost willing to take a time out Dillon: Sure. Mason: for him. Like, hey, you need a breather, you need 60 seconds, come over here and sit down, go back in there and keep doing what you're doing, all right, let's burn one these time outs. Come over here, we're gonna draw up a play for you, we're gonna get the ball right back to you, and you're gonna keep this thing going. So I just, don't understand taking a minute, I don't. Dillon: Well, and you know, when looking at the response of the other team, you you just watch it. The next time somebody is on a heater and he gets taken out of the game, watch what the other team 'cause more times than none, the other team will all of a sudden you go on a little run themselves. All of a sudden it's like and it was because of just that guy being brought out, the impact that he was having on the game. It it it just it I'll never understand it. Colton. Big Boo Madness is this Friday. going along those same lines before we get, I guess one thing to note coach Mark Pope also stated that they will not be having a blue white game this year. he did say I Mason: whatever last year. Dillon: did lose he said I did lose my point guard last year in the blue white game. he's not superstitious, he says. but that was just one thing he said. We're just gonna do like an open practice type deal. But getting into Big Boo Madness, Big Blue Madness sold out in 22 minutes. Colton. We're still the most passionate fan base in America. I mean, it you can hate Mark Pope, you could love him, but to sell out in 22 minutes, Big Blue Minds, I don't know how many tickets they sell. I don't care. To sell it out in 22 minutes, man, it's different. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, I mean that's that's Big Blue Nation at its best. I mean, every year. That's just tells you the excitement. It doesn't matter who the coach is, it doesn't matter. Every single year when basketball season rolls around, like Big Blue Nation is ready to believe that we have that we're here to win a championship. And they're not showing up to look at a team. They're they're show you know, just any random team. They're showing up and buying these tickets like that that fast because they want to get the first glimpse of meeting and being introduced to a team that they hope is going to take and win a national championship. I mean, that's why they Dillon: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: go and buy these tickets. It's like, hey, I was there when they introduced him and and we went on this run. Like I was there. And I I be honest with you, I think the football hype is has brought back a lot of the passion, not just for the basketball, but in UK as a whole. 'Cause I think the the fan base is getting to r Dillon: We needed it. Kolton Myatt: I think they're uniting around the football team right now. And so that you you know, being united around the football team and the hype around it right now is is gonna feed into basketball. Like, hey, we're all in on football right now. Basketball's at its early stages. Let's just go crazy for Big Blue. Now hey volleyball team shout out, you know, doing their thing right Dillon: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: now with volleyball. I mean y y you know, just taking all those things and it's just a a lot of passion around Big Blue Nation at at the moment. And, you know, that's that's when Big Blue Nation's at its best is when the fans are that united and and showing that love for all of the All the sports. Dillon: Love it. And that was kinda like the video that I made was just about the United that or that everybody's bought in. Why can we not be that way moving into basketball season until proven otherwise? Mason, you're gonna lead us into our blue gri Wh go ahead. Mason: Did, hold on real quick, real quick. Did y'all see, I just thought it was astonishing. Like after it sold out, how many people were still in queue? It was like 102,000 people were still in the queue waiting to get tickets. I mean that, Dillon: Mm. Mason: that's insane. And I think they sold, don't remember the exact number, but I think it was around 20,000, you know, 20,000 tickets for it. And there was still over 100,000 people waiting in the queue to try to get tickets. Dillon: Well, you know, okay. Let let's kind of say talk about that then, you know. Let's just get a little deep here, talking about how how passionate Big Blue Madness or BBN is. I'll give you this example. We had a I had a speaker with my job come at flying from Washington and he was talking to me about his sports teams and I was talking to him about my sports teams and you know, I told him I was communicating, I was like, Listen, yeah, I mean As far as professional sports, it's just really hard. You got you know you have people in the south, southern Kentucky, NFL, probably gonna be Titans, could be Falcons, but then you get in the north yeah, yeah, you get in the northern part Kolton Myatt: Cincinnati maybe in the north. Dillon: of Kentucky, you get Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis, like it's kind of a mixture of variety, right? and then with with basketball, same thing. It but our our sports team, our professional sports team, Mason, is the University of Kentucky. Like it it it's it's just different. So I Mason: 100%. Dillon: Mason, you got us in blue or you're leading us into BSM from the stands. All right. Take it away. Mason: Yep. let me get a pull back up here. So it was a comment on one of our videos after the A game, I believe. Yeah. And he said, it takes more than one game to prove culture change or anything else. You can speculate about this after they make it to an upper level bowl game. And I get that, but just looking, you know, from... Kentucky fans perspective and what we've been through. Just want to get y'all's take if you can see that, if you think, is that statement true? Do we have to get to an upper level ballgame to see that the culture's changed? Or are we already seeing that? So give me your take on that Dylan. Dillon: I think whenever you see and you know, I'll take I'll take it a step further. I'm going to apply it to both basketball and football. when you're when you're talking about the culture change, I think when looking at let's start with football, yes, it does take more than two games. But I I don't necessarily agree that it it has to be an upper level bowl game in particular, specifically because it's Will Stein's first season. Because now transitioning into basketball, you look at our basketball team, we have actually beat really good teams, but there's still would you would you say that our culture is where it needs to be right now? I mean, you look at okay, we beat Duke two years ago, we've beat St. John's last year, we've we've we've beat who else have like we we beat Arkansas, like yeah, like we we've we've Kolton Myatt: Big ones again, we big Arkansas. Yeah. Dillon: had really, really good wins and That you would look at and say, okay, Duke, their culture is headed in the right direction. St. John's, Rick Fatino, he he's got the Johnnies looking good right now. Gonzaga has a culture of its own. like, but yet you look and you question our culture right now for the Kentucky program. When I I think what ultimately defines culture is not just in particular, one game. one bowl game whether it be a big time bowl game because you could you look at Louisville. Would you say Louisville's culture is really good? You a lot of that's their schedule. They they they had a almost a cupcake walk and they could have made it to a big time bowl game, but is their culture where it needs to be? What I'm getting to is that culture is over the entirety of the season. It's what you what you showcase from game one all the way to game twelve in football, game one all the way to game thirty-two, thirty-three in basketball. What are you doing throughout the season? What does that look like? Who who are you beating? Who are you competing against? Are they are is it competitive? So I look at it for its entirety. And when I'm looking at our basketball team right now, no, the culture is not where it needs to be because of what we have seen as far as performances go, where we've been at in the The post after get getting into the postseason success, but then in football, it's the same way. I you you gotta next week or this week, if we go and beat South Carolina and then you look at Oklahoma and we go on the road and lose to Oklahoma, but we're competitive. Like, yes, I would say culture is changing, culture is shifting in the right direction. I don't know if that answers your question, but I'm looking at it for its entirety of the whole. So no, I don't necessarily Mason: Cough Dillon: think that it takes a big bowl game for us to see a culture shift. It's all about vibes. It's all about the fan base being bought in and performance and and the entirety of the season. And right now, I would say yes, the football's culture is changing. It it's heading in the right direction. Basketball, we shall see. Colton. Kolton Myatt: I n not immediately, but three or four years from now, by within by year four, yeah, I think you wanna see an up you you need to see an upper level boat game. Right? This year, no. I mean, Rome wasn't built in a day. That's not what you're here to do. There ain't no one here to go from what we were at the last couple of years to all of a sudden getting into the college football playoff. And so I when you talk about culture, what you wanna see is changes. And that's what I meant by like the South Carolina game. In the past, when we would go on this road game and it'd be a hostile atmosphere, and all of a sudden we get killed. Don't let it happen this week. Play hard to the very end. Right? But sh be competitive in these games against teams that, you know, the any other year we would have got blown out. Show that you can sustain recruiting. Show that you can sustain, like you can keep guys. Right. Once they get to Kentucky, they wanna stay at Kentucky because they love it there. They see the they see the big picture in the end. A and that's how you change culture. Yes, no, I I ultimately, yes, within four years you do wanna see a bow game, right? 'Cause if not, you know, seven and five is not gonna be a big difference, right? We we need to we need to eventually see back to a the nine and threes and and we wanna see that at Kentucky and get a ten and two or or sneak into the you know, college football playoff if it's sixteen or if it's you know, th or twenty four. Like we wanna be there in that. And you wanna see that within the next, you know, I would say three to four years. You really build up your recruiting classes. I think that gives you enough time. But immediately, no, that's not what the culture is. I think that you can definitely see a change in the shifts right now. Yes, you're a little weary 'cause I as I said, Mark Steops beat O miss a couple of years ago on the road. We w I mean Kentucky itself has more top ten away wins since twenty what it twenty twenty. We've got three road wins against top ten teams. I mean that's and two of those were stoops. So I mean they we've won big games on the road. So yes, you want to pump the brakes a little bit. But we want to see it, you know, take it on the road. I do think it's going in the right direction. I know, I do not think you have to win a boat a big time bow game this year to say the culture has changed. Dillon: And it's also the little things too, I would say, Mason, and I'm gonna let you go. But I also think that it's just like the the the little w the uncut videos. The the the little Will Stein, the pregame, the walk out, the getting the we haven't even talked about the the K coming back, right? the bringing s nostalgic stuff back to the program. Mason: edition. Dillon: you know, w and that's that's more geared towards f toward towards football 'cause that was what the question pro was proposed. But It's also just little things like that that gets culture changing and heading in the right direction. I think the basketball team still has a battle. I think that they have struggled with a lot of things, but maybe we we'll see a little bit of a difference. But Mason, what was your thoughts on it? Mason: No, I agree with both of y'all and I think for me, like when I sit back and think like culture, early on you may not see that reflected in wins and losses, right? But you can see that shift like Colton talked about, like Dylan, the little things you talk about, like those uncut videos, you can see... You can see how connected this team is, right? You can see the passion that they have and it's all stemming from Will Stein, right? And so I do think the culture is shifting and it's kind of like, you know, I keep going back to Will Stein, but like you have some of these guys, right? Like I'm going to give you an analogy here. Like you walk into a game and you see him play for the first time and you see three possessions and you're like, that dude's got it, right? And like just watching some of these uncut videos of Will Stein and you know, the way he's leading these guys and everything that he's about and how much attention to detail and what he's been able to do on the recruiting trail since he's been in Kentucky. I'm just looking at him right now like, yeah, this guy's got it. And I think the culture's shifting. Now the upper bowl game, yeah, obviously you would love to see that, right? And I think at some point, like Colton said, three or four years down the road, if you haven't, then yeah, maybe the culture has changed for the better, but you've kind of hit a plateau. So I think eventually it should translate into that, but I think you can definitely see that the culture is changing. Dillon: Yep. Alright, let's get into the last segment of the night. USC, USC, USC, COTAN. President's Cup. Let us have it. Kolton Myatt: Try it getting into a little golf here to finish off. So this past weekend, the 16th annual President's Cup took place with the USA going into it, had won all but two of them, and one of those being a tie. So a very dominant performance in the President's Cup so far. you know, just a little background, the USA did come out on top 17 to 13 in points, but just to give a little, you know Recap of how the week went. Thursday started out with 3-2 and four balls. you know, that's a one that we've normally dominated, so it was a little closer than we thought, but still USA took the lead. Friday is whenever things shook up, when the USA got swept in alternate shot. it was just crazy to think that we lost every single match in alternate shot. It's been a format that we have struggled in in the past cup. the past few cups that matches that we've played in and all of a sudden w USA found itself down seven to three going into Saturday. After Saturday you had a morning four ball matches and morning alternate shot matches or afternoon and alternate shot matches. The USA found a way to just gain one point essentially on the Saturday so they got one point closer so it it was ended up going into Sunday at ten and a half to seven and a half. We were down three with twelve points available on Sunday. The international team only needing five points of the twelve to win the cup. make a huge upset. And the USA came alive as they should have and won singles nine and a half to two and a half. Just absolute dominance on singles. Mason: nation. Kolton Myatt: just continuing their dominance. So obviously it was a big win. for the US we're always gonna be excited when the US wins. It doesn't matter. We know how competitions go. I guess even though you should dominate on paper, it doesn't always go like that. The important thing is that you win. And the US did that. However, just some big storylines for you guys to discuss. To me, the biggest storylines was obviously one, the comeback and the singles dominance. it was one the biggest comeback in that in the President's Cup. History to come down from three on a Sunday to actually win. I think it was the biggest difference in singles matches that there had been nine and a half to two and a half, which was a crazy stat also. So that's to me, that's one big storyline. Yes, it was a dominant in singles for the U.S. and to get the win and the comeback. However, the other storyline that not so positive is that the US continues to struggle in foreshums. Alternate shot. I'm we are 8 and 26 over the past four cups. So including Ku Resident Cups and two Ryder Cups, we are 8 and 26 in foursome matches. Mason: Cheers. Kolton Myatt: That is terrible, fellas. I mean, that is awful. That is right there a story in how we are not winning some of the the rider cups for sure. You cannot have that type of record in the rider in foursums and expect to win the rider cup. So I guess a couple questions I want to pose is one. Why do we think either one of you can take this question, but why do we think that we struggle in that format? I mean, we have the I mean, of the twelve guys we played, besides Coyvin, I would think, and I mean, I don't I'm not sure exactly where Bridgman is ranked, but the other ten guys I'm pretty sure are all ranked in the top twenty in the world. I mean, we we we threw out there ten guys, essentially twelve guys that are ranked top twenty-five to top thirty in the entire entire world and yet we cannot figure this format out. I mean I I get it, it's a tough format. You're only hitting every other shot. You're relying on your partner to to do things when you can you it's not in your control. But guys, how are we so bad at this compared to everyone else? And does anyone have a suggestion why we are? Dillon: I the something else though out there. I was listening. So I was listening I listened to the Smiley Kaufman show. I don't know if y'all have ever listened to it, but it's it's a good little podcast. singles has not been an issue whatsoever. I the between the last Ryder Cup and this president's cup, we have won 18 out of the twenty four possible points. 75% of the points we have gained, which makes sense when you're looking at our guys top to bottom. Where they're at, ranked amongst the opposing team's best players playing their own ball week in, week out, it's obvious we have the best crew. So yes, Cohen's like, what what is it? I think, and again, everybody has their own take. I think at the end of the day, it comes down to the pairings of who you're putting out with each other. For example, who cares if you're buddy buddy? It like if your best friend it does not matter or does not matter. But I also think at the same time, when you're looking at it from an analytical standpoint, you gotta be careful on what you're actually looking at. And Smiley Coffin and I forgot who he was talking about. They started talking about this, like that's a that's a good point. They're talking about when you're looking at let's just take Jacob Bridgman and Russell Henley, for example. You got two great putters, right? But more in particular, you got Jacob Bridgeman, who was the best putter strokes game on on tour this season. And then at the same time though, Russell Henley is not the deepest whatsoever. So what you're really relying on heavily is Jacob Bridgeman's putter. And on Friday, that showcased that that allows him only one spot for him to really shine. And if that spot, putter, is not working, then it's like, okay, completely like. Derailing, like okay, you're exposed. Whereas you look at our Saturdays pairing in Chris Goddard and Sam Burns, it comes down to today's game length. And what they were saying was the amount of distance that Chris Goddard up and Sam Burns was having compared to who they were playing on Saturday on those approach shots, you don't have to have the best putter. You don't have to have the best iron player. You can match those guys up who are decent in those areas, but you gotta find a way to put the ball closer to the hope. I know that sounds so simple, but for some reason it seems as if we're trying to look at it too analytically, thinking, okay, let's put a guy who is a great ball striker with a guy who is a great putter, right? That's not always going to work. I don't know if that made sense to you all the way I worded it. But for me, at the end of the day, it was just like, hey, get the ball closer to the hole. And then you have those guys, Sam Burms, Chris Goddard up. I don't know what their strokes game were on putting or iron play, but it wasn't terrible. So that can be good enough because of how far they're sending it. I that was just a different perspective. I was like, I like that. So I but at the end of the day, I don't know. I really don't. That's just a suggestion. It doesn't it don't make sense. It it doesn't. Mason, what do you have any thoughts on it? I mean Mason: I mean I honestly don't know, but when I just sit back and look at it, I just sit here and think it has to be something mental, right? Because like we talked about the individual matchups, right? Like we dominate. So why can't you go out there with another guy? You know, is it that they're worried about letting this guy down? Is it that maybe they're talking and you know, like this guy's like, you know, I'd hit it right here on the green. This other guy's like, no, you know, I want to play it here. Maybe they, you know, try to do something they wouldn't normally do. I really don't know. But at, Dillon: think it is something Mason: It has to be doing it it has to be at this point You can sit here say that about parents Dillon: mental though. I I I I don't because I I I know that's but that's the easy the easy out. Like it has to be something mental. Mason: all you want Dylan, but we won 95 % of them on Sunday So how do they go for one day getting swept Dillon: I know but I it's hard for me to sit here though and think Mason: to the next day we win 9 out of the 11 or 8 out of the 12 or whatever it is, you know singles matches Like how how did we just go from doing? Dillon: Right, right. So then that goes again you could look at it that way, but you also could say though in the same same point that yeah, it shouldn't Mason: Cough Dillon: be it's not a mental thing because these guys went out and d put a beat down on They have they don't have nothing mentally going on. I know, but Mason: That's what saying though, they didn't have a partner. They didn't have somebody else playing with them. Dillon: I just I I don't know. I Mason: I think it has to be mental. Kolton Myatt: So so I'm kinda on the side of Mason though, and just the sense of there's no world where Scotty Scheffler, the clear cut number one best player in the world, playing with the most comfortable guy he can play with, who is also ranked eighth in the world, should lose to a Nick Taylor and Corey Connors. Like there's no way that that happens. I don't care who We should have been able to throw any two guys, I don't care if they had never met each other. You should throw two guys out there and be able to beat Nick Taylor Mason: like me and Dylan beat Chance and Cope. Kolton Myatt: and Corey Connors. But that you should be able to do that. Like with the team that we had and the fact that we can't makes me think that maybe we just I'm afraid in that format we don't have the type of guys with the mindset that you have to have to play that mind that that format. You have to still have a d like dogs in that format. And I don't know if it's we're worried to mess up for the other guy, right? Or if we got a bunch of guys who don't like feeling out of control because after you've hit your shot, you are. You can only control your shot, but you're not going to be able to control the next one. And maybe we have a bunch of guys who don't like that feeling. Because it just it does not make no sense. Yes, if you want to say, you know, when we play John Rom and Tommy Fleetwood, that's different. Scotty Scheffler and Sam Burns should not lose to Nick Taylor and Corey Connors. Mason: You Kolton Myatt: It's not like that should not happen. It's not about, well, Sam Burns only does this well and Scotty only does this well. These are an the by far best player in the world and the eighth best player in the world playing a couple of these guys. Like they every aspect of their Dillon: I don't they didn't lose though. They they got half a point, didn't they? Kolton Myatt: No, they lost. We we all got they we Dillon: Did they? I I thought they got half a point. Kolton Myatt: we got swept on Friday. They won all five points. Dillon: I was thinking of but okay. I I understand that. But also though, can you I think it's also a pairing thing. I do, because you look at the Ryder Cup, you're seeing a lot of similarities. You're looking at the Scotty Scheffler and Sam Burns going out together. You're looking at Mason: don't think it matters. Dillon: Xander and Patrick Cantley going off together. Like there's gotta be s I I just I have a hard time I I get it. Like I think that yeah, there that may be right. It may I don't know. But I just It's it's hard for me to sit here th and think that our guys are mentally not able capable of doing that, that they're afraid that they're gonna let them down or like that that is I don't Kolton Myatt: I I don't know. It is it is a crazy I mean it's no, no, I agree. I mean Dillon: I'm not saying you're wrong, I just don't understand it. Kolton Myatt: I and it could be parents. I mean you you Mason: my nose. Kolton Myatt: y you could find 'cause look, Cantley and Xander, they had their moments, right? And they they were the only ones that take down Tom Kim and Seawood on the weekend. So right, they kinda found that old Cantley X magic where they had kinda lost it a little bit at the Ryder Cup and and early on. So th I mean they f kinda found a little bit with it. But yeah, who knows? I mean and look, golf's crazy because at the end of the day it comes down. It's not It's not like a a coach can go out there and draw plays up for you. Right? An offensive coordinator can draw a play up to get you wide open. Snedeker can't go out there and and put that eight footer for you to to win the hole or to tie the hole. Like it it comes down to who can make it and who doesn't. And I think that's a lot of it. But other than that, the other only storylines I really like to think. What about Jackson Coyvon guys? I mean, I think the r Mason: back here. Kolton Myatt: the rookies, Chris Goddard up. Right. I mean, play the rookies performed. Jacob Bridgman kinda you know, he played with Henley, who kinda struggled a little bit. He did get the game, you know, the the match winning point against Menw Lee. I th it wasn't the best match them back and forth if you got to watch it. But at the end he came up on top. so the rookies did well, but in particular, I think Coyvin and Goddard I know that the format's gonna be different and I mean as far as the point system goes to earn the team on the Ryder Cup. But man, I think those are two dogs that you have to have on the road going to the Ryder Cup next year. Like I think that Dillon: Well, that's what I was gonna ask you though, following that up. So at this point, do you are they gonna fall in that tier where the say next year, let's just say Coivin doesn't have a good year, that it's like, just because he played really good, like I think you also have that I'm just asking. I mean, like it it it's Kolton Myatt: No, I agree. I agree. No, I don't think he can go and play terrible all year and you take him. I don't think that that's that's what you do. But I do think if he's anywhere in that you know, you you've got six captains picks and he's anywhere in that top fourteen, I think he's a guy that you probably take. Like I think you're not even if he's number fourteen, I think that you're a guy you're like, Okay, like we need this type of mentality going in. We need 'cause we need a resurgence of JT. We need a Bryson DeChambeau to to play well in the majors this year and take that type of attitude over there. I mean Dillon: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: we we need Cam Young to be a dog. Chris Godder up seems to have that mentality too. We if you're going to go Mason: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: and win on the Road Rider Cup after losing to these Europeans back to back years and the dominance that they've had and now you're going to go on the road to Ireland, Rory's home country. I mean the hike that's going to be around there after the criticism he took at Air Rider Cup. I Mason: It's got me wild. Kolton Myatt: mean you're going to have to have dogs out there. And we're and I think we've Dillon: I better not hear anything from the fans. I better not hear anything about unsportsmen. Kolton Myatt: I think we discovered a couple of dogs and got her up in Quiven. So I I'm big fans there. I hope they play well this coming season so that it's not even a question. They're automatically there on the team. But man, I they've got me excited because I think, you know, we thought that Speith was going to be that. We thought Fowler was going to be that for a long time. JT, we thought he was going to be that. He played well in this one, but he had kind of fallen off a little bit. We thought Kepka was going to be there for a while. DJ, Patrick Reed. We've had some changes. Dillon: after whistling straights everybody was like, man, what is about to come? Kolton Myatt: Right. Well yeah, we we were there. Everyone was like, Well man, bring on anyone you want Dillon: Buckle up. Kolton Myatt: And we've lost some of those guys 'cause of Liv. We lost some guys that got older, they've fallen off, their games have disappeared. Maybe Coivin and God are up are two of the guys that are there to replace those those guys we had in the past, so Dillon: Yep. It was a fun weekend. USA all the way, baby. well, hey, thanks for tuning in. go hit that follow button. we have a lot of Kentucky stuff this weekend. As always, go check out Bluegrass Elite, get your Kentucky gear. Football and basketball season is both collectively here starting Friday. it's gonna be an exciting season, lot to Lot to come, a lot of expectations. We'll see where we're at in a couple of months. But thank you all for tuning in. This has been another episode of Bluegrass State of Mine and fellas, as always, go cats. Mason: Chokettes. Kolton Myatt: Cats.