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COMEBACK CATS! KENTUCKY RALLIES TO BEAT SOUTH CAROLINA! · Bluegrass State of Mind

• Dillon Geralds: What's up guys? Welcome back to another episode of Bluegrass State of Mine. As you see, Coton is not with us tonight, but we have picked up Mr. Trey Turner to hop on the podcast with us tonight. Mason, you know, we we've we've we've been doing this podcast for a little over two years now. I forgot to tell you that we hit the hundred episode mark, but we didn't pick the greatest time, I feel like, in Kentucky sports specifically. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: basketball and football to have like all kinds of excitement. There's been very few times it has happened. but there has been very few times that my immediate reaction to the game is like I cannot wait to get on the podcast. I can't wait to to talk about this just because of how fun and electrifying the game that we're about to talk about was. so Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: Let's dive right into well, I guess to give you a little foreshadowing for tonight, we're gonna be talking about the entire South Carolina, Kentucky game, the LSU game coming up, Big Blue Madness. so stick with us through that. Got a little fun game at the end, and we'll throw over to these boys. Want to take this moment as well before we get going to tell you all a little bit about our sponsorship with Bluegrass Elite. I can see Mason's ripping the hat and shirt. I got the hat on tonight. Veteran Owned Company rooted in the bluegrass. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: All things Kentucky, we'll say, and keep saying you can go get 15% off right now for this Kentucky sports season. So go ahead and go visit them over at bluegrass-elite.com and put in the promo code BSM302. All right. Let's get into it. Number 24. Your Kentucky Wildcats went to South Carol Columbia, South Carolina, and defeated the South Carolina Game Cox 3534 in overtime. Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: Now the Kentucky Wildcats improved to 4-1 on the season, and the South Carolina Gamecocks actually fell to 2-3. This also improves Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: us to 2-1 in SEC play. And, you know, again, this is Will Stein's first season, but that was the largest comeback. 17-0. We were down 17 points. That was the largest comeback for a road game in Kentucky football history. Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: history. Immediate reactions. Mason, let's go with you. Man, what I mean there is so much to unpack, but let's go. Come on. What's the immediate reactions? Mason: Well, I mean, immediately after the game Britney was yelling at me, sit down 'cause I was jumping up, screaming at the T V and, you know, going crazy. but I I said all week, you know, I I don't think I said it on our podcast, but you know, talking to my buddies and talking to you all and code and like this game was a tone setter for the rest of the season. Right? Like we win this game, we could have a really, really good season. We lose this game, it's probably just gonna be an average season at best, right? 'Cause you got LSU coming in. so I mean it's a heck of a win. especially for this team. Treg Turner: Okay. Mason: Going into a road environment, getting down seventeen nothing, not giving up, not quitting, you know, battling back, playing the entire game and finishing it off there at the end. I it's huge for Kentucky football, it's huge for Will Stein, it's huge for this program and the culture that he continues to build and change. So I mean, obviously just a huge, huge win and and like I said, I think it sets the tone for the rest of the season and we could do something special this year. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: Treg, I think you keep seeing it all over the internet, but you know, it there's a reason for it. This is not the same Kentucky football team we're used to seeing. Whether you want to take it two games back where you get not embarrassed because you were competitive for two quarters against Alabama, but then you come out and lay an egg the second half. There was questions like, okay, what are we going to do? Well, then you go into a top 10 Texas Anya and beat them on the road. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: That kinda answered some questions. Then you come back and you start a little slow and then you follow that up by going into a very tough environment, the history that we have, the way that we have just not been able to play well in Columbia, being down seventeen zero and responding the way that this Kentucky football team responded. It's a different Kentucky team, right? but what what was some of your thoughts on on the the game itself? Treg Turner: Well to your point I mean Of course there was a lot of hype with the Bama game and then You know kind of a letdown, but then you come back you go on the road beat A fan base is back again. So the jury was still kind of out where the fan base was and just actually how good this team is. I think in most years that we've been competitive, we've been pretty good. We took care of South Carolina. So and that hadn't happened in I think four years. So to beat To get down early like that You know and and I'm not gonna lie I was one of them was like boy here we go And Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Treg Turner: then you know, I stayed with them. I didn't turn to the channel And to watch that come back to watch Just how hot Stein was on the sidelines. I mean to see that enthusiasm that energy and then to see the guys perform and come back and win that game. And to beat Beamer, mean, that could put the nail in the coffin for Beamer, which is kind of icing on the cake with some of his words that he's used for our program in the past. I think it's big for the program because now there's a lot of talk about game day coming to Lexington. I know we didn't get it, but. you know with LSU coming in and you know, you go look and see what tickets are going for for that game and you can tell the fan base Dillon Geralds: Yeah. It Treg Turner: is the fan base is it's ready for football and Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Treg Turner: I'm really glad to see it. Dillon Geralds: Well, I think the tickets I'd seen was higher than actually the Georgia Alabama game. some of the tickets that I was seeing the prices. you was talking about how you know, how pumped up Will Stein was on the sidelines throughout the entire game. I just immediately thought of whatever he's sitting sitting over there and he was sticking his tongue out like, going crazy. Claire looked at me and she was like, Is what's wrong with him? And I was like I was like, Claire, he's just he's just a hype. He's excited, he's a young enthusiastic coach. and they and then that kind of got us down the road of about she she was like, D is he kind of cocky? And I was like, Yeah, he is. But most good coaches are have a little bit of cockiness to them. a little arrogance about them. Not not saying that they're bad people. now Wilstein he does have a potty mouth. but he he's a good coach. I mean he he he gets the job done. I think the players respond to him really well but Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: You know, you was talking there, Treg, about how you wasn't giving up on the team. Wasn't I didn't turn the channel. I did change my shirts once or twice towards the end, when things were not going our way and they were going our way, going back and forth to that. But you know, the it first quarter, South Carolina comes out, punches us in the mouth, seven then it's fourteen But then there there's well, and then they actually kick the field goal to go seventeen But then there was a very, very pivotal moment in the game, whenever they had the ball back again. Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: and they were driving it. And then you have Jordan Castell, who's been just a dog all season long on the defensive end, force a fumble to allow us to get good field position, go in and score, and then it's 17 7. They did come back and respond to that with a field goal to go to the half twenty to seven. But I you you know, going into that. Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: One of the the stats that I had wrote down that I had heard that was kind of interesting early in that game, and it feels like this is not a trim, but it this is where things can start to go the opposite direction, is whenever we get those third and longs. I think the first three drives or or first, third downs, it was third and eight, third and sixteen, third and thirteen. You can't do that on the road, right? You you you can't get behind the change that much. but w I I was happy to see us respond and Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: But it seems like, Mason, that the response all season long has been our defensive play. It it starts there. I am to the point now, Mason, where I am saying that we have a good defensive team. I I I have still had questions about okay, is it is it too hype? Is it real? What is it, you know? But when looking at this team, we're plus four on turnovers this season when they were going into that game, excuse me, into that game. Now it's plus six. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: You know, like we're that's a good stat to have for for what you have as a head coach not known for his defense. But talk a little bit about that, you know, the defensive play of of how important this is. and and and Colton said it best. He said physicality that travels. And we were the more physical team that de on the defensive side of things, specifically the second half. But Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: go ahead. Mason: Yeah, and I mean look, I I think our defense is good, but but I think they're more of a a bend, don't break, right? 'Cause I mean, we still gave up. right under five hundred yards on the day. Treg Turner: you Mason: you know, but but a couple of those force fumbles, you know, interception, you th these things that we keep forcing in these different games, like that that's what Treg Turner: you Mason: keeps us in us. That's what helps change that momentum. And, you know, our defense has been really good at helping us out, especially when our offense gets stagnant at times. being able to create some of those game changing momentum plays. And so I I mean that's that's really good to have. I don't think anybody really expected that from our defense. I think there were some question marks around our defense. And I mean, even even losing Afari, right? Like right before this game you find out you're not gonna have Alex Afari. I that that's a big hit. Right? He he's one of your leaders. He's one of your better players on the defensive Dillon Geralds: Mm. Mason: side of the ball. so I I think it's a a big statement from from our defense. Like I said, just kind of a bend don't break. That's what we've seen all season, right? Like they may give up, you know, four or five first downs on a drive, but then they come in and they may make it a pick or make it a fumble and, you know, we're right back in it and have some momentum. So Treg Turner: you Mason: It it's good to have that, especially when your offense can get stagnant, like we've seen a little bit of times, but it helps create momentum and keep Treg Turner: you Mason: us in it. Dillon Geralds: Well, you know, the momentum, the second half immediately was was I I said that's usually coming from your defensive side of things, but we got the ball back and that momentum started with the offensive side of things that second half. Trag Stein was saying that, you know, the biggest thing, the adjustments I I was listening to the postgame comments, the biggest thing for him was just the tempo. He's Man, we gotta get it we gotta get going. Like we gotta get our offense going, to allow our defense to stay off the field. Now that's an obvious answer, but you know, we come out, we Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: Kenny Mitchell went four for four for 63 yards in the first possession out, and we score on the first drive. You know, I I mean, like that. What's yeah, that is that's what I had. Yep. So when looking at that, on top of that, you had two fourth down stops. All momentum was Kentucky's way. I want to hear your thoughts on where where was you at whenever Castell, not not Castell, sorry, Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: Marcel Reeves, he took his big seventy, seventy three yard run Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: whenever it was third and twelve. What what was running through your mind then? Treg Turner: Let's go. Dillon Geralds: They do what? Treg Turner: That's it, let's go! Dillon Geralds: Well no, not us. We didn't get it. Treg Turner: You gotta keep going. Dillon Geralds: you're saying like let's go, like keep going, keep going, keep going. Treg Turner: Yay. Dillon Geralds: Did you think we lost momentum at that point? Treg Turner: I mean, yeah, you let a guy break off a big run. mean, you're, yeah, but at the end of the day, I thought that's who you're Dillon Geralds: That's saying Marcel Reeves, I meant sellers, sorry. Mason: Maybe it's I know what you meant. Treg Turner: talking about. You kind of confused me there for a second, but at the end of the day, I've got full confidence in this big C. I mean, I know a lot's been made about Stein being offensive minded, you know, all that, but I think something that got lost was we pulled that guy out of A who just had a huge year the previous year. And who was having momentum under Elko and we pulled him away from them to go with a first year head coach So I've got confidence in that guy. I Do I do worry about you know? Our linebacker core without a far and we took some injuries in the game too. I'm pretty sure but you know It's hard to contain sellers. I mean they run for almost 150. So Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Treg Turner: is that a concern? Yes, but at the end of day I do have confidence in our defense coordinator and put us in positions to succeed and get the ball back to our offense. Dillon Geralds: The big blue wall showed up again. I mean, there was multiple occasions that you can see highlights of our O line, and I don't want to say just one in particular person, but there there was multiple occasions where you just see them, whether they're pulling and going the opposite side of the field, leading the the way for our CJ Baxter, Patterson, whoever it may be. But man, they they continue to show up and show out. Let's get into some of the stats though. So Kentucky Wildcats had eighty one total plays. we was averaging 4.6 rushing yards. We had 37 attempts for 122 yards. Receiving was 28 receptions for 272 yards. And we had zero turnovers and held the ball for 33 minutes. South Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: Carolina had a total of 75 plays, 6.1 average yards on rushing with 37 attempts for 232 total yards, 20 receptions receiving for 226 in their time of possession for 26 minutes. Treg Turner: you Dillon Geralds: So coming toward down to the end, Treg, I'll start with you. You know, it we had our chance to actually take the lead. It was a right at the four minute mark when we decided to kick the field goal. I've heard a lot of people say they were a little surprised at that, based on because of how aggressive Will Stein has been this year. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: But what was your thoughts on that? Did you like that? Did you think that that was the smart play? again, we were it was seventeen twenty, kick the field goal, four minutes left, let the defense do their thing, and and hopefully we can get the ball back. What what was your thought process on that? Would you have gone for it? I think it was like fourth and three, maybe, or did you did you like that call? I mean it worked out, but Treg Turner: I mean, no, at the time, really liked him kicking the tie in the game up. You know, we had the momentum. And don't kill it right there. Put it all on your defense. Which I know even tying it up your defense is still going to have come out and get a stop. But I just don't think... At that point in the game, I mean, I just don't know that it's a Necessary go for it before me to go anyway So go ahead and tie it up and then and then you know get the stop you have a chance to get a kill go instead of Instead of having score a touchdown. So I just Been impressed. I was really impressed with it was time, you know when it was time to get high up you got hot But when it's time to stay cool calm and collected he did that too. I mean there's multiple times where they show camera angles on him in big moments and he was, you know, he was calm, you know, and in that moment, you know, it's been easy to go gung-ho and go for it, but I really liked kicking the pickle, but. Dillon Geralds: I thought it was the right decision. Mason, I know we were in our little group chat. Me and you both were very adamant saying I like this call. And it goes back to momentum. Like we had all of the momentum, and like you said, Craig, like it don't take that chance there of putting it all on your defense. Our defense had already stopped them not once, but two times on fourth downs. They had played very well the entire second half. Yeah, four minutes left. Get get a stop. And get give our guys a chance to go win this ball game. And that's exactly what they did. So now let's transition into the the two minutes after that. We get the ball pretty much at the two-minute mark. Mason, we go down, and Treg Turner: you Dillon Geralds: poor clock management ended up hurting us. This Treg Turner: you Dillon Geralds: may be a different episode. if we don't go win, or it would have been a different episode had we not went in and actually won the game in overtime. Treg Turner: you Dillon Geralds: But When when looking at what happened in the two minutes following that decision to kick the field goal, ultimately we did get the ball back, but we didn't get a chance to win the game outright in regular regulation. And Will Stein was very adamant that that was his fault. In every post-game interview that I I had had seen, the very first thing he said, that's on me. He said, I've got to be better about that. Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: Like I I gotta make sure that me and Sloane are on the same queue. I we gotta get something going out of bounds, not more in the middle which I thought he would know that by now for sure. But in that situation, Mason, d obviously the coach has to take that, right? He has to be the one to say, Hey, that's my fault, that's my fault. But is that his fault? I mean what what's your I what Treg Turner: Yes. you Mason: I mean, what did I text y'all in the group after it happened? I said that's on Minchie, right? Like you you're gonna drop a play and you're probably gonna have some guys going over the middle of the field to try to keep defenders away from that sideline, right? Like you you draw up something, but Minchie has to know better to be able to just throw that ball over the middle of the field and not take that chance of not having the time to get up there and clock it. And I know it was a little controversial there at the end, you know, some people thought we had it clocked, some people didn't. I don't think we did, but I mean I just think at the end of the day and Dillon Geralds: Well you shouldn't have got to that point. Mason: right, and I I think Minchie's been great, right? I mean, like he went on the road, didn't throw any interceptions, you know, like he did a great job. But I I just think at the end of the game there, like I I get it too. This is really his first time starting, but he's been in college for what, three years now. I think he's a smart enough quarterback that don't throw it over the middle, right? If you don't have none, throw it out of bounds and you know, I don't I don't know how far it would have been Treg Turner: you Mason: from where we were at 'cause that last play was only like what? Three yards, six yards, something like that. Like it didn't get us a whole lot, I don't think. two yards. I was just looking at it. Two yards. So I mean, you know, is two yards really that important? Throw it out of bounds and you know, let's go out here and see if our kicker can make a field goal. Dillon Geralds: Dre, you wanna say something? Treg Turner: I it's not yeah, I I Understand Mason: PAH Treg Turner: what you're saying. Mitchie's the one that threw the ball, but I also put that a little on the offense though see You can't run routes underneath the first down marker. I mean That's You just don't do that I mean if anything he throws it away and then and then you throw a harrowmare hell Mary at the end zone if you can't if you can't get the touchdown and the second point is He didn't he didn't even spike it. Did you did y'all see the did you see the replay? Dillon Geralds: Yeah, he he if it he yeah, he didn't spike it. Treg Turner: He went straight back. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. But I the clocks Mason: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: were at zero though. Are you are you are you saying that he wasn't even gonna have time or? Treg Turner: No, I'm saying we're not going have the time to kick a field goal. mean, Dillon Geralds: yeah, no, it was gonna have to be a Hail Mar Hail Mary 'cause he didn't spike it. Treg Turner: but I just think if that's the mindset, then why are you calling any kind of route that goes underneath the first down marker Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Treg Turner: if the next play is going to be downfield anyways into the end Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Treg Turner: zone. Dillon Geralds: No, I mean that that's a fair point. I I I do think that that's something for sure though to work on because you are going to like though those are the types of things that you work on since spring, since whenever you get the guys there. Like though just like you had you they've been working on that two point conversion. They already had that play. Like that's the kind of stuff. Two minute drill. Two minute drill, two minute drill. You know what you should be doing. You should have all your plays ready to rumble and you should know exactly how to execute them. So it may have just been a little bit of I don't know. I'm gonna act like I'm gonna know, but I don't know. let's get in though while we're Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: on Kenny Minchie. Let's continue on this stat line. I'm gonna throw out some stats for you on each player. I want each of us to pick one and kind of elaborate and talk a bit about one. So starting with Kenny Minchie, Kenny Minchie was 28 for 41 for 272 yards, three touchdowns. Kenny Darby had 12 catches, 96 yards, a touchdown. Nick Anderson, five catches, 80 yards, a touchdown. CJ Baxter, 13 carries for 48 yards, one touchdown. Willie Rodriguez, five catches, 57 yards, and the crucial two point conversion. And you know, going before we get into that though, but Mason, the really weird stat though, is that I think either you or Tregassette, South Carolina had 458 total yards to our 394. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: And they also averaged more yards than we did per play. The biggest difference was the turnovers, right? Like that that that that's so big and so crucial. So let's let's throw it over to you, Craig. What's one player that you look at out of all the stats? You can elaborate on the stats if you want, but just just pick a player. Who who is somebody in that game is just like, man, that was just that that was huge for us. Like that without them, and I know you can collectively say all of them, but just a spotlight player for you. Treg Turner: Well, I'm gonna pass on one even though I know I probably should say him, but I'm gonna go back to Mincy. And it's only because of this quote, or I wish I could remember who wrote it, but I was reading the tweet and they said, Mincy, when he gets the script, he goes out onto the field and... I've heard this out of other players as well, but or from some others and not but I think it was professional and they will like go through the the script of the play nobody on the field just just mention and he would go read defenses and go through the checks on what he would do with this particular play call and if you watch on that two-point conversion he goes to the line Dillon Geralds: Yeah, that's what he's gonna get, yeah. Treg Turner: till it moves his protection and then he tells CJ Baxter who to pick up Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Perfect. Treg Turner: And CJ Baxter picks that guy up to give him the time to make that throw to Willie. For a guy that's really on, this is his first year starting, that was pretty impressive to me after reading that. And I didn't really notice it. I didn't think about it when he did it on the two point play, because we're all just waiting for the play itself. But then going back and reading that and then reading the preparation that has went into what he's doing. This dude's only gonna get better and I wish we would have him for more than one year, but Dillon Geralds: Hey, we can. We could Mason: We can't. Dillon Geralds: possibly get him next year. Fifth year. Mason: Yep. I do too. Treg Turner: I hope. let this, what was it, Pontowski Dillon Geralds: Pin Pinatowski. Mason: Yeah. Treg Turner: said, and well then that freshman that's coming in too that's highly rated. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Treg Turner: But yeah, I'm gonna take the easy out just because of that quote and what I read and go with, very impressed with Minchi, very impressed. Dillon Geralds: Yeah, I and I love what you that's why I was gonna bring up at some point, but let's we can go ahead and talk a little bit about it. Mason, you can even talk about it too, because it like it it was very, very impressive to see because that is true leadership. Will Stein was not in his ear saying, Hey means you go do this, go do that. Like he I'm he was taking that, he knew that and that I didn't know that about the quote. So he he absolutely knew exactly what to do. He had prepped for that, he was ready. And he was able to do that because, you know, had he not called that auto, whatever it would have been, you know, for CJ Baxter to come up and pick the blitz up then yeah, I mean there's a sack and we lose. Mason, who was one of your guys? Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Mason: go a little double here. I'm gonna go our wide receivers. So I'm gonna go Kenny Darby and Nick Anderson. I mean obviously Kenny Darby stepping up having a huge game for us being a freshman. I think that's huge. you know we we kinda talked about after that Alabama game, right? Like we saw receivers weren't really getting separation, you know, thought it may be one of our weaknesses, you know, would that hurt us, you know, later on in the season. Treg Turner: you Mason: but it's it's good to see, you know, Nick Anderson as well. He hadn't had more Two catches in a single game this year. the only time he had two was against South Alabama. So I know, you know, coming into the season people were kinda talking about him a little bit, so it's Treg Turner: you Mason: good to see him kind of find his feet. so I I think that's huge moving forward for not only our offense, but the confidence of those receivers as well. Cause I mean we we've seen what the big blue wall can do, right? And if you have a couple guys on the outside who can get open and make some plays for you, yeah. our offense can get rolling if we can have that on the outside. Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: You better watch out. I'm gonna take then I guess the only ones that I'm gonna do the the backfield, but also I'm gonna throw in there Jason Patterson. I I will just tell you, I am highly impressed with with Patterson, more so just because I didn't know what he was going to be like because he hadn't showed that production. Like this is his breakout year. I think he's leading the entire SEC for yards per carry. and then w looking at you have Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: I just went blank. tell me his name. Baxter, CJ, Mason: Barnes. Dillon Geralds: or yeah, Baxter, CJ Baxter, who is coming off injury. Texas wanted kind of a refresh, restart button. But I all of that is is credit to the O line. But guys, like these guys, when they run the amount of yards after they get touched or wrapped up, it just continuously shows me that these guys are running hard. Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: You know, going downfield doesn't matter. Like that they are going to get every yard that they can. And really, that's kind of where it all starts. You have a strong run game, Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: it opens up everything else. It gives Kenny Darby, it gives Miller, it gives Anderson all the these opportunities. Willie Rodriguez, Boyer, like it gives them these opportunities. But it starts with the O-line and that that the the backfield just running hard. and I think that collectively Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: You're starting to see all these pieces click and and come together. So when looking at that and thinking about these pieces clicking and coming together, you tell me how in the world does Kentucky drop out of being the AP AP top 25? Going on the road, SEC, hostile environment, on the like do or die for South Carolina for their head coach. Treg Turner: you you Dillon Geralds: You win in overtime and now we drop out of the AP top twenty five. I'm not really worried about it. it does kind of just give you like a I don't know about that. but did y'all have any what I Mason: I mean yeah, I mean obviously I just I don't see how that happens. I think a lot of it probably stems from there's a lot of noise last week about all S C C buys, you know, and complaining about the A C C and the Big Ten and the A C C teams are getting favoritism, you know, 'cause they play in the S C blah blah blah. Whatever. I mean it is what it is. Like you look at SMU Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Mason: Like they lose to Louisville and then Louisville goes and loses two in a row and they jump into the top twenty five after they barely beat Boston College and barely beat Missouri State the past two weeks. So I think it's just a bunch of Treg Turner: Okay. Mason: political bull crap that people are just complaining and Dillon Geralds: Baloney. Mason: yeah, so I mean I and and honestly I said it earlier, like it doesn't bother me. It really doesn't, 'cause I think Stein's just gonna use this to fire his guys up and it's just another way for them to keep going. I think it was was it Treg Turner: It. Mason: Ty Bryan after the game where he like, Y'all can keep sleeping on us if you want You know, he he said that after the game, like, everybody's been sleeping on us, y'all can keep sleeping on us if we want. We know what we can do. So Yeah. Treg Turner: I mean, it's all media driven. Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Clicks. Treg Turner: It's not just SEC on TV. mean, they've got to have other teams to promote and... It's whatever I mean still a season ago. mean and I'm Dillon Geralds: Yeah, I mean it it is what is. Mason: Go go shut up next Saturday. Treg Turner: gonna tell you I tell you another thing. It probably hurt him is Missouri thrashing Florida. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Treg Turner: You know where as to where Missouri probably supposed to get beat drop them. We go up a little higher, but instead for some reason you drop completely out of it. But as an underdog on the road, I mean that's it's wild. But once again all that stuff will take care of itself in the end still. Dillon Geralds: yeah. Treg Turner: Halfway through the year. Dillon Geralds: Well, you know, you keep saying like Will Stein, he's not gonna be bothered by it. Let's talk about our our boy Will Stein. Stein time, baby. Feed the studs because of me. If you're scared, go to church. Trey, and in all of your years, you've got a couple years on us. Being a being a Kentucky football. I want to also say basketball fan. Where does Will Stein rank at right now? I know it's early, but just like his approach, he, he, he, the way that that he just he he gravit, like, I don't know, there's something about him, right? He has that kind of cow swagger about him. Like, you know, even after the game, on his post-game comments, he says everybody could about like why'd you go for two? Everybody, he said, everybody could see in the country, right? We weren't stopping him much. You gotta go for it. Put it in the hands of number three, who played his butt off tonight and throw it to 81, who is one of the best tight ends in the country. Like he continuously is praising his players, but he has that swagger about him. Like, Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: how impressed have you been of Will Stein? Treg Turner: He's a young cow. He's a promoter. He knows what he's doing. That's all recruiting. mean, it's straight from the cow recruiting playbook. When you get the camera in your face, you make the quotes. And sometimes you gotta eat those quotes, but he's not afraid. So that's what I about him. I mean, he's young, he's brash, but right now he's backing it up. So. Dillon Geralds: No he Treg Turner: In terms of where I was ranking, I mean, man, that's tough. I mean, Dillon Geralds: It is tough and Treg Turner: he's not passing Patino and Cal right now. But in terms of football, mean, Hal Mumey was dead young. I mean, and then even Stoops, it's just still too early for me to rank that. But he's a good one right now. Dillon Geralds: No, he is. I'm I'm just a little excited. he did throw a little basketball code in there. He he was talking about Wildcat basketball Mason: Not a heck ahead. Dillon Geralds: fans, come back. He said, Come back freaking cats here in Columbia. I love it. Mason, like I I just I I think that Will Stein continuously just keeps checking them boxes. Like like Treg right there right away, he said he's a recruiter, right? He's already the camera in the face, he's already promoting and saying the right things. But man, like I I I love the aggressiveness. And also I I didn't understand the kind of, or at least I don't know if you all were hearing this, but today I was hearing some of this from some people and and reading some, but talking about how they was a little shocked that he went for it. And I was sitting there, I was like, I was not shocked at all. Knowing how aggressive he's been, right, I mean, and then like all momentum, they scored really quick. The momentum kind of had shifted towards South Carolina's direction. You're on the road. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Mason: They'll you ask this. Dillon Geralds: You you gotta take that, right? I mean, obviously, we'd be sitting here bummed out if we had lost that game, but you have to take that shot. And then I I I talked a little bit about this. I want to see if you agree with this, Mason. I want to hear your thoughts on this. I said, think of it this way. Let's let's go basketball terms, because I was talking to some basketball heavy fans. I was like, think of it this way: when you're on the road against a team that has just took the momentum, you have the chance to Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: win on the road. How many times do you see a team go for the win? Shoot a three? A lot, I think. You don't see a lot of times Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: drawing up a play for a two or for a mid-range or a layup. If it's there, you'll take it. But more times than none, you're going to see a play drawn up for the win because you got to take that chance. Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: You just got to. But Mason, like, talk about your boy Will Stein. Talk about him. Mason: Man, I I've said it all along. I love Will Stein. I think he's special. we gotta do everything we can to keep him. But you know, Dylan, you you asked us, right? Like, I don't know, when we got after South Carolina scored, you said if Treg Turner: Okay. Mason: we score here, do we go for two? And I said, Absolutely. Like, you you know that they have a play drawn up just for this, right? And Will Stein said it after the game. Like, and knowing Will Stein and you know, he he bets on himself and and I love it. He continues to bet on himself and it it kind of goes back like the Bama game, Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Yep. Treg Turner: you Mason: right? That one he didn't get. Right? Tries a fake punt, you know, create a little momentum. That one he didn't Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Mason: get. But he's gonna keep doing it. He's gonna keep betting on himself. He's gonna keep betting on his guys. And I love it. And I agree with everything you said too. Like, you're on the road, they kinda took the momentum. Who knows what happens if you go into a double, triple over time, you know. Go win it. Go win it. Go go win it. You've been practicing for this. You have a play drawn up just for this. Trust your players and go win it. And I loved it. I've seen people saying the same thing though, Dylan. They were like, you know, I was scared. I didn't really like the call, but it worked out. I loved it. Treg Turner: If he Dillon Geralds: All right, Tray. Treg Turner: if he did if he didn't do it South Carolina was gonna do it in the second one if we score the touchdown That's Mason: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. I agree. Treg Turner: why I that's why you do it and how much confidence did sign showing Minji in making that call though? That you know Dillon Geralds: Yes, see that. Treg Turner: if once again if he wasn't prepared and ready if Stein didn't think he was ready for the moment then then he would he would kick the extra point but You got two yards to win a ball game on the road, you go for Dillon Geralds: Yeah. SEC. Treg Turner: it. Dillon Geralds: Go get it. And he has the confidence in our kicker to send him out and keep kicking them Phil goes. I love it. two things I was thinking of, Craig, was one, thank you, Mitch Barnhart, for making another great hire. I know you're like you're going to be remembered for this. Like this was not a J Bat hire. This was a Mitch Barnhart hire. But two, Treg, we better soak this up. We better soak it up because I know it's early. And I know the game is transition, but I I don't know. This guy's good. He's great, I feel like. Mason: I think it's gotta be I think it's gotta be one of the big four or five, like Ohio State, Bama, somewhere like that for him to leave. I really do. Dillon Geralds: And I hate even thinking about that because this is great. Mason: I don't know Dillon Geralds: Like I but like I wanna have these conversations because that means we have a great coach. Craig, well I what do you think about it? Treg Turner: I think Indiana changed the game on all of that. mean, Dillon Geralds: I I re Treg Turner: look how long Stoop stayed here. mean, Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Mason: Uh-huh. Treg Turner: his family's right here. And as long as he's successful, or even semi-successful, he's gonna have that job for however long he wants it. Mason: Long time, yeah. Treg Turner: I mean, you're going into a... I mean, look at Ohio State, before they won the two back to back, they went back to back, right? Mason: Hope. Treg Turner: Ohio State. Dillon Geralds: aha site? I don't think they well like I don't I don't think they did. Mason: No, Indiana won last year. Treg Turner: that's right. But they were in it. I was thinking they ran it against Indiana. So three years ago, Ohio State was ready to get rid of Ryan Day, you know, so and then. Dillon Geralds: No, Miami was in it last year in the championship game with him. Treg Turner: Really? I'm off. Yeah, it was back, it? Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Mason: Yeah, it was Miami. 'Cause it was in Miami. Yep. Treg Turner: Anyhow, I thought, you know, I guess Ohio State was the best team in the country in my opinion, but anyhow, they didn't. But right, they were ready to get rid of Ryan Day and even Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Treg Turner: Bullard down in Bama, I they've been on him. So like, Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Treg Turner: it's just different. You know, you talk about them jobs, it's like sitting in the seat at... Kentucky basketball, Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Treg Turner: you it's like, you know, to that, but I don't know. Dillon Geralds: Well, you know, Treg Turner: It'd be a tough call for him. Dillon Geralds: you're bringing up Bohr, Kellanda Bohr. Let's kind of shift gears to another powerhouse coming in next week. Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are coming into Lexington. This as we've mentioned, game day made the call to Kentucky because we were a possibility for them to come. Obviously, we didn't get them. But this is going to be the second biggest game of the week. You have LSU coming in, a top ten team, four and one. Kentucky, four and one. Kentucky's bringing back the Power K. there's just a lot of momentum right now going on. So when looking at this game, I'll be I've watched maybe a a game and a half of LSU. I don't know a ton about That's not why I want to get on like I we're not gonna sit here and and recap and talk about it, but Treg Turner: you Dillon Geralds: I guess let's more let's start with just the atmosphere itself. I think it's going to be electrifying. I was at the Alabama game. Mason, you was at the Alabama game. This is going to be a not game. This is a 7 p.m. kickoff. It is going to be absurd. The ticket sales are crazy. You are going to see BBN at its best for this game. And if there is Treg Turner: And then. Dillon Geralds: If there is any way we win this game, which I think there is a way, I mean I don't know what the percentage chance have y'all seen, I don't even know what the spread is right now. Have you have y'all checked? I is i is it even out? Mason: Mm-hmm, I can probably tell you. Treg Turner: I think it's that eight nine and a half eight and a half nine and a half maybe Dillon Geralds: That sounds about rot. But Mason: opened at ten and a half, it's down at ten right now. Dillon Geralds: Okay. So but Mason and Craig, whichever one want to take this, I think that you're looking at okay. And the way that I I I I s I worded it is Kentucky, I don't know, Kentucky's not Alabama. Kentucky is not Texas, Kentucky's not Georgia, may not be at they're not Elish. But I think they are definitely right under that tier. But if you go beat LSU and you have just got done beating Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: South Carolina on the road and a Texas AM on the road? You're gonna start turning a lot of heads. You're gonna start having some people really think, this Kentucky Wildcat team, like I don't I still don't know that they're there. But then you start thinking about not only a bowl game, but a playoff game. I don't want to jump the gun, but guys, like if we're gonna win this game, that's five and one. That's two top ten teams you beat. We're gonna win this game? No little silence. Look little Mason: I I'll say this. I'll say this. I I think that it's gonna be a close game. I don't know I I don't think LSU's offense is that great. I think their defense is pretty good. like Levitt struggled a little bit. I think he already has seven interceptions this year or something. Like he he struggled. He hasn't looked great. Like, you know, we keep saying this. Like I feel like I say this every week, but containing Levitt's legs is a huge, huge focus point on this week. 'Cause like you I've watched a couple of LSU games and they struggle at times to move the ball, but he Treg Turner: you Mason: his legs is what keeps them alive a lot of times. And they like to do a lot of kind of design runs, Treg Turner: you Mason: bootlegs for him, you know, try to get him out, make some plays. so I I think we can, but I think it comes back to limiting him again. You know, we didn't really limit sellers. I he had that one long run, but he had 140 yards rushing. so I I think we can win. and We'll we'll just see what happens. I'm gonna go you may give a prediction right now? All Dillon Geralds: We'll give that the end. Mason: right. Dillon Geralds: Wanna hear Trek's thoughts? He was shaking his head too a little bit. Treg Turner: I'm with Mason on this one. I think Levitt's the key. I if he plays well, I do think it's going be hard to beat him. But it's massive game with a lot of underlining stories, in my opinion. I we thought we had Levitt, you know, and I think this defensive coordinator is going to have something for him. But on the flip side, I also think know, Levin's got something to prove to UK fans as well as this isn't really a game Kiffin can lose in Dillon Geralds: That's that's what I was gonna get to here in a minute. Treg Turner: his first year. And it's a massive game for them because they've already got a loss to Ole Miss. Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Treg Turner: And if they lose this game, he may not make the playoffs in his first season at LSU. So, but to your point, Dylan. If you do win this game. And you got Oklahoma next and then you got Vandy. Mason: Vandy. Seven and one going into Tennessee. Treg Turner: And then you've got a break, you've got a week to prepare for Tennessee in Knoxville. That could be a lot of fun. Mason: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. I I that's that's the route I was going, Craig, was was your route was Kentucky comes into this game, there should be no pressure. I I I don't I I think that you have like as far as and when I say that, I say that as like nes something still to prove, but to the fans continuously being bought in the culture itself, I'm taking it more of that. Like we're all bought in right now. Like you you ha have surpassed what we thought Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: could be. Now the season is not over. Could we lose out? Yeah, I mean that that's a possibility but I'm just saying for right now, where we are at, four and one, LSU coming into your house, they have, like I said it with Alabama, they have everything to lose here. Lane Kiffin, like you said, Treg, a two loss season losing to Kentucky at Kentucky? You can't do that, right? That I mean like that but go in and the just do what you've been doing. I think it's gonna be a a very, very fun atmosphere, fun game for Kentucky. Also another national spotlight, ESPN. just another opportunity for us to showcase that this is not the old Kentucky. This this is this is a new era. We we are we're we're a different team, different culture, different vibes, different coach. Like, watch out. We've already got the Treg Turner: Okay. you Dillon Geralds: recruits coming in, like just continuously to pour off that. But but let's kind of Shift we're gonna get into some basketball, but before we do that, I got something for y'all here. Speaking of the power K. Okay, before we get into basketball, stay with us guys. If you're listening, we got we're gonna talk some basketball and it's gonna be fun. but you the power K is coming back. Now now Treg remind me, was this was this part of your generation? Because like the I Mason, I I I Treg Turner: Okay. you Dillon Geralds: this is not really nostalgic for us because this was before we really existed. Right. Trey, was this going on with you? Like did you remember this? Treg Turner: Yes, I've still got a hat somewhere with it. I can't remember what year they actually switched it, but... Dillon Geralds: It was from nineteen seventy five to nineteen ninety one. Treg Turner: Yeah, so you know, I was a wee little tach I guess when Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Treg Turner: they they went a different route, but I do I do remember and I've still got I've still got some things with it. I like it. I love I love the nostalgia. Love the old look. Dillon Geralds: Okay. Treg Turner: And said I still got a hat that I wear that's the power K. So I'm sorry about it. Dillon Geralds: Okay. All right, well I got you a little game then. we're gonna do a little blind ranking of Kentucky logos. We got seven of them here for you, okay? All right, so I hope this works. The first one we're gonna do, this is the UK Interlock. Can y'all see that? Does that work for you? Sweet. All Mason: Yep. Treg Turner: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: right. We got seven of them. So we'll start with this. This is the UK interlock. This was rep reping for UK. This was like the the main logo from two thousand and five to two thousand sixteen. So one through seven, where are you putting this at, boys? You gotta come collectively. You gotta agree together. Mason: I mean I I think it's on the higher end, but I I was thinking like around three trig. Treg Turner: Yeah, I'm good with that. I like the interlog. It's got the PowerK reference, but Mason: Yeah. Right. Treg Turner: I like three. Dillon Geralds: Okay. Alright, our next one we're gonna go with then. We're gonna go straight to it then. Our next one is going to be the Power K. The Power K. This was from what did I just say Mason: Something seventy five to ninety one or something like that. Dillon Geralds: Yes, 1975 to 1991. The Power K. Where are you all going to rank this? Treg Turner: that tour for. Mason: I I know what my favorite one is. So I'm Treg Turner: How do you do? How do you do now? Mason: I'm fine with two if you want to put it at two. I think it's good. I hate like the the new school Wildcat they brought out a few years ago. You know, it looks like a lion's mane coming off of it. Like I I hated that new one. reminded me of like Kansas State. All right. Treg Turner: Let's go with a four and say, I could put it at two. I would really like to slot Mason: I'm I'm fine with it. Treg Turner: it in at three, but let's go four. Mason: All right. Dillon Geralds: Okay, so you got the Power K at four. All right, your next one is going to be the logo from nineteen seventy-three to nineteen eighty-six. Mason: Drake, what are you thinking? Treg Turner: I like it, but I'm probably gonna go five. Mason: Fine with me. I like it. Dillon Geralds: All right, so you got five. Mason: Trying think of the other ones right now. Dillon Geralds: Alright, your next one that's going to be popping up is you now have, you're gonna think, huh, we just already have done this one, but you have not. This is actually the newer version of the UK interlock. This was in started in 2016, is now still present. Treg Turner: Six. Mason: I don't mean I'm trying I'm trying to keep thinking. We have two, seven and one. And seven. Yeah. Dillon Geralds: Okay, so you still have you have so you one, two, and seven. Okay, your next one is going to be Treg Turner: Seven. Seven. Mason: At seven at seven. Yeah, that's seven for me. I Dillon Geralds: The l Mason: hate that one. Get that outta here. Yeah. Dillon Geralds: What what what What happened Treg Turner: It's Kansas State, Dillon Geralds: here? What happened here, Trey? Like was was it what what's going on Mason: Garbage. Dillon Geralds: with PR right here? Treg Turner: I think, I think whoever was in the tech PR department was just trying to make a name for themselves and failed miserably. Mason: Trying to like more modern style, it is just not good. Treg Turner: Yeah, I mean, I don't fault them for trying and I love like new flashy logos and things, but this, Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Treg Turner: it's just don't go. I'm just not a fan of it. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. All right. Right here now you got the 1986 to 2005. This is the secondary attacking wildcat. Mason: What's that? Treg Turner: Yeah, I mean that's the one I was thinking about, but there's one where the tongue is different. Mason: Isn't there one more with a little more color? Yeah, yeah, like it's yellow or something, right? Like there's Treg Turner: Yeah. Mason: more yellow in it. Yeah. And that Dillon Geralds: What we got Treg Turner: I'm gonna go the safe Dillon Geralds: here? Treg Turner: route and save one though. Mason: Do what? Treg Turner: I'm gonna go the safe route and save one just in case he goes back to like the 30s. Yeah, me too. Mason: Alright. If he has a other one the other one would be one for me, but alright, so we'll put it one Dillon Geralds: Alright, so that's gonna be one. Here is your next one. Mason: just in case. Yeah. Treg Turner: I don't see it. No. okay. I'm good with that. Mason: Y'all see it? It's the one we were talking about. Has like the yellowish kinda Yeah. Like the Wildcat's yellow. Dillon Geralds: god. Treg Turner: That's the one I was looking for. Mason: Me too. That's the one I was waiting on the whole time. Dillon Geralds: Well, I that's my favorite too. I wish we'd actually use that like I I that's the shirt Mason: Me too. Dillon Geralds: that I love wearing. the the attacking wallcat, the yellow, I think it it is it i it's by far my favorite. Mason: I wish they'd put that back on the floor at Ruck. Treg Turner: It's what I remember the most about them. They would come on Jefferson pilot way back in the day for basketball and they would show the logo and Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Treg Turner: it'd be Kentucky basketball. I loved that logo. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. I think it's the best one by far, actually. all right, well let's get into a little basketball. So Big Blue Madness was taking place last Friday. Trey, did you get to watch it? Treg Turner: Yes, I actually went back and watched it. I couldn't find it live, but I did go back Dillon Geralds: Okay. Treg Turner: and watch it though. Dillon Geralds: Mason didn't get to watch it, so we're gonna have to talk a lot about this. you know, I Mason: I was so locked in on football. Dillon Geralds: Yeah, he Treg Turner: Ha Dillon Geralds: here here's my thing. Well, we actually didn't do anything Friday. Here here's my thing with it. And Treg, I want to hear what your thoughts are too on it, since you did get to watch it. No matter what Mark Pope was going to do, you had a lot of people online saying what in the world, like this is terrible. People that were there I talked to said it wasn't really that It it was not fun at all. Here's my thing. You should know what you're buying a ticket to. You're not going to watch a scrimmage. You're not going to watch something where you are going to see a lot of action. no matter what Mark Pope was going to do, he could have came out and done his introduction where he just smiled and waved and walked off. He took the route of trying to be Dark Pope. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: Playing many men standing on a 20-foot pedestal and just kind of doing the Darth Vader look and not cracking a smile. I I don't care what he would have done. I think there was gonna be criticism no matter what. And the reason why is because this is such a crucial year for it. so sticking on the the Mark Pope route before we get into actually other things, Treg, but did you have any thoughts? Like when you seen it, was like, What are we doing? Or was it just like Treg Turner: Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna shock you I don't think it's on Pope. Dillon Geralds: Okay. Treg Turner: Pope's job is to coach the team. I don't think that Big Blue Madness and all that stuff, I don't even know how much Cal had to do with a lot of that stuff. I'm sure he had some input, just like I'm sure Pope had some input. But a lot of the spectacle that it has been and what it is, I think that goes back to the AD and people around him and people that put together those. those things. I do not think that's on Mark Pope. And I'll say Dillon Geralds: That's a good point. Treg Turner: this too. I'll say this. I don't, I don't, that's probably the least promoted Big Blue Madness that I can remember. So Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Well it is a week earlier too. Treg Turner: I would go back to Jay Blatt on that. And I think a lot of it, be honest with you, is not to take away from football. It's still, you're in the prime of football season Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Treg Turner: and it's not. to diminish Kentucky basketball in any way. mean, it is what it is and be honest with what they did. It's probably still better than anybody in the country. Did Dillon Geralds: Right. Treg Turner: you have to see anything Indiana did and how many people were there for that? It was an empty Mason: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: I I didn't Treg Turner: arena. Dillon Geralds: Well, Arkansas, theirs was kind not empty, but it wasn't near as like I I did see some highlights of their dunking contest and man Billy Richmond can throw it down. I did see that. I don't know if y'all saw that dunk of him, but it was insane. Mason: Yeah. Yeah. Dillon Geralds: but to your point too, Trey, you know, you was talking about the the influence of it taking away from football. That that's something me and Claire talked about. Claire asked me, she said, 'cause we were watching, she said, Do you do you think that this is like How do you think Mark Pope is feeling about everything? Like, do you think he's like excited with football going on? Like, do you think he's feeling the pressure? And I was like, That's a good question, Claire. I said, I think he's absolutely feeling the pressure. I said, You can look at it two ways. You can look at it one, Mark Pope absolutely wants the football team to be successful because their success is going to carry into that to the the hype and looking forward to basketball season, however, though. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: The way that it's going right now, it's going to raise those expectations if we continue down this route and be like, Hey Mark Pope, hey, you your your partner over there, Will Stein, he bit he be a dog, right? Like what you got for us, you got something to prove. But then also if you look at it in the sense of, okay, if they weren't doing so well, which they are, but if they weren't doing so well, then you could say Mark Pope might be thinking of the sense of, Okay, now the fans are down and about, which we Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: have not used to, but just not having that kind of excitement that we have right now in the sense of, hey, now it's our time to shine. Let's go build Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: up this fan base. I think there's that you can look at it two different directions, but Mason, after what has transpired with this football team, I think he is absolutely feeling the pressure. And it is hot right now. Not not necessarily I'm not saying for his job right now, but I'm just saying that like Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: He has got to go prove and kind of change this narrative because every narrative I'm reading is not a good narrative. Mason: Yeah, no, I agree. I mean, i i it's awesome what the football team's doing, but you're right. I mean, you sit back in your pope and it's like, okay, they're doing this, you know. Everybody everybody's still locked in on football. I mean, I I was, you know, like even before the South Carolina game. Like, it it's probably the the first time in a long time I can remember where I wasn't, you know, like just waiting, you know, sitting here saying, Okay, when's basketball gonna start? Right? When's Big Blue Madness? so yeah, I mean the the Treg Turner: you you Mason: fan base is excited right now and then, you know, once football season ends Treg Turner: Okay. you Mason: It's gonna spill over. but vice versa. You know, if we get off to a slow start, then there's gonna be some noise, right? So I I think that I think that Pope's expectation and his I'm not gonna say his job's on the line yet. i it it's getting close though, right? Like everybody kinda knows this is a make or break season for Pope. and it's just adding a little bit more. So I I I hope he can live up to it. I hope Dark Pope is coming ready to go and He has his team locked in and they can figure it out. But I think there's definitely some pressure, added pressure on Pope because of what's going on right now. Dillon Geralds: So Trek talking about players, I I I think the the biggest talk was Alex Wilkins, right? I I th and the shooters. I I think that's the biggest takeaway. Treg Turner: He was reconnecting on my end, but I'll just say from from my standpoint with Pope Unless you're talking about internal pressure And in terms of what he's feeling then yes, I will fully Say that I think he's probably feeling it but from a fan base perspective, I I've been honestly I hadn't thought as much about basketball right now just simply because Mason: Neither is what I said. Treg Turner: of of what the football team's been able do. So to me, in terms of fan base pressure, I think he's actually getting relief and even media for that matter because he's not having to do any press conferences right now that I'm, you know, and if football were, you know, football will say, you know, two and two or two and three, you know, even three and two, you know, he may be getting. more media requests to start basketball season up. in terms of internal, I'd say he's feeling it, yeah, because you see a young cat over there bringing the football, the fan base to life. But at the same time, I do think he is getting some relief from the football program as well, in terms of, but when that first game starts, obviously it's gonna be bar none. Dillon Geralds: Sorry, I hopped out, it kicked me out for a second. Did y'all talk about any of the player spotlights, Alex Wilkins? Treg Turner: No, in terms of that, overall, know, obviously it's been talked about Wilkins is shooting. I mean, he, and they even said on the telecast, but, and I noticed it like Dillon Geralds: Looked effortless. Treg Turner: in his second rack that he shot in that three point contest, it's Antonio Reeves clone. I mean, it looks exactly like Antonio Reeves. He barely jumps, but man, it's fluid. Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Treg Turner: And then, and then my second one, I really, I was kind of surprised by how good he shot it, but, but, but probably the biggest thing I was surprised about, I didn't realize how athletic McBride was. That dude, that- Dillon Geralds: Yeah, I think he's lost a pretty pretty good amount of weight. I I was a little shocked at that too. I agree. Treg Turner: Was highly surprised at how athletic because everything that I'd seen from him he looked like you know a six eight six nine just bulldozer he was big but man Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Treg Turner: he was showing some sewing some hops that I didn't know he had I thought Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Yeah. Treg Turner: he's gonna be like a Ainsley Almonor, you know, but no that wasn't what he was Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. No, he has lost some weight though. No, I agree. And then obviously you we talked about bringing out Carl Anthony Towns. I mean, I thought I that I I liked it. I mean, you you try to bring some type of former cat in there, a little bit of hype, something to kind of get the fan base excited. My full though take on it is just it was just a welcome to team. Like what did you expect? I I I think that it's all stemming from the that there's not been the amount of success that everyone had hoped there had been. And now that's kind of translating over to judgment, no matter what he would have done. Speaking of Mark Pope. But Trek, that is a great point though, thinking like that that that's that's more of your PR team coming from higher ups. Not not that maybe necessarily Mark Pope. We did have a couple of big time recruits there though. I d I did see that. I I just I I think going into this season Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Dillon Geralds: The biggest thing i is just that you gotta get this fan base on board. You gotta and how do you do that, Mason? Go win games. Go win games. obviously w we can't talk about a ton of basketball stuff just because we've not seen them play yet, a full game. But when we do see that, then we can start to unpack and discuss that. they they do have their scrimmage though coming up. this is it this Friday or next Friday? Treg Turner: Okay. Mason: What is this Friday? The ninth? I think it's the next, isn't it? Yeah, I think it's the sixteenth and the twenty third are their two exhibitions. Dillon Geralds: Think so. I think it's in two weeks. Treg Turner: Okay. Dillon Geralds: So, any other thoughts on the Big Blue Madness trade? Not a lot to to talk about Big Blue Madness. I it was just a welcome to team. Treg Turner: No, I was fine with it. didn't, you know, I was fine with it. You can only do so much of that thing. it, and most years they've bloated out of stratosphere, but the Pope is not the talker that Cal was. We all know that and that's okay. just meet the team, get out there and shoot some shots. Stay injury free and let's go. Dillon Geralds: Right. Right. Mason, big time game coming up real quick. Let's give our let's give our what we think who who we think is gonna win the game for LSU and Kentucky. What is going to be the score for the LSU Kentucky game? What do you got? Mason: Ugh, I know I said earlier, I I truly think it could go either way. but I mean right now I I can't pick against my cats right now. so I'm going I'm gonna go Thirty four twenty seven cats. Treg Turner: you Dillon Geralds: Mmm, I was close. I was close to yours. I'm gonna go ahead and go. I'm going to go. I went Alabama. I'm switching the tide right here. I'm going 3027, Kentucky Wildcats knocking off Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers. 30 27. Trey, what's your prediction on the scores? Treg Turner: 31... 31... 27... Did you say 31, 27? Mason: He said thirty. Dillon Geralds: I said thirty twenty seven, Mason said thirty four twenty seven. Treg Turner: I'm going I'm going 3127 LSU. Dillon Geralds: Mm, all right. We got two of the three. That's okay. We'll see. regardless of the outcome though, you ain't got nothing to lose, Kentucky. Go out and be some dogs. Be some studs. Don't be scared. And if you are scared, go to church. Will Stein said it best. So this has been another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. Pre we appreciate y'all for tuning in. Trek, thanks for hopping on here tonight. maybe we can get Bulldog on here next week if he'll he's on a little on a little He's taking a week off. he's gonna relax a little bit. But appreciate you all. Go give us a follow. and make sure you go visit Bluegrass Elite, get you some Kentucky gear, and as always, go cats. Treg Turner: Okay. Okay. Mason: Okay.