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WHY NOT US?! | Kentucky Storms Norman + Basketball NON-OVERREACTIONS! · Bluegrass State of Mind

• Dillon Geralds: What's up, guys? Welcome back to another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. If you are tuning in, we first off want to thank you all for tuning into some Bluegrass State of Mind. This is going to be another great episode because hey, our cats just keep winning. And it it it it is just I can't believe it. I cannot believe it. So tonight we're going to be hitting all of the college football. For Kentucky, and also we'll hit on the exhibition game for your Kentucky basketball team and a little bit of other games around the SEC. stick with us. This is going to be an episode you will not want to miss. So before we kick it over and start that, if you do see, you may notice myself and Colton repping a new shirt. Let's put up put up the two, Colton. Put up the two, going for two. That's right. And then also, right here it says, if you are scared, go to church. I mean th this shirt, Cone, I talk about it enough. I talk about our our friends over at Bluegrass Elite enough. I w I want them to hear from you. What what do you have to say about our friends over there at Bluegrass Elite? Kolton Myatt: I mean, guys, right now, I mean they're look at this shirt. I mean right now it's representing the entire football program. I mean it's a perfect shirt right now to to get behind the hype that is around our football team. So shout out to our friends over at Bluegrass Elite and a a company right here in Kentucky, veteran owned. They have everything from hoodies to to hats to T shirts. To anything you really need. I mean, right now is there's no better time than to be buying merchandise, to be wrapping the cats, and especially when they're coming out with things like this that are iconic, that I mean just really represent not only our coach, but our our entire hype around this entire team. So if you haven't checked them out, go and check them out and make sure and use the code BSM three two and get fifteen percent off. So guess I mean not only do you get to go get some great merchandise, but there's a code that you can use for doing in a fan with us, BSM302, and and get fifteen percent off. So yeah, make sure and go check them out. We can't thank Bluegrass Elite enough for their partnership with us and and we we look forward to to n creating more moments like this and seeing more merchandise Dillon Geralds: Yes, sir. Kolton Myatt: come out. Dillon Geralds: And I think the best thing too, real quick, is just like it it it not only and I've said this before it not only it looks good, but it really does. It feels amazing. The shirt, the hat, I've got the rope hat, Coat and you're repping the hat. Like it it it looks good, it feels good, and you are repping your state in a company that is built in the bluegrass state. Love it. So let's get into some football. man, all right, so your Kentucky Wildcats football program. Go into Norman, Oklahoma, where there is a little bit of okay, there may be still questions. There's people still asking, well, what's this week going to be? Is it going to be a game where they they may show us something that okay, maybe they're not built for this moment? You have the Oklahoma team coming in who just beat their rival, the number one ranked team in the the country in the Texas Longhorns. They had had some momentum going that we we talked to Mason last time, a little mojo, right? How do you come in and you respond to that? Well, you go in and you respond by winning a game that you had no business of winning. Kentucky goes in to Norman, Oklahoma to defeat the Oklahoma Stoners of a score of 21-13 to improve to 6-1. That's right, 6-1, already bowl eligible, where many people had us just predicted to win four games at best. And then also improve to 4-1 in SC SEC play. Which is now tied with Georgia and Tennessee or excuse me, no, Georgia for first place in the SEC regular season right now. And when I I I have it pulled up right now, guys, and when I see that we are tied with Georgia, I just I can't I I I can't get over this. Mason, I let off right there by saying like we had no business winning this game. Immediate reactions. What is it? Go for it. I wanna hear it. Come on. Mason: Yeah, well I I think the biggest thing and I said it before the game is, you know, limit turnovers. And this team You know, i if we're taking care of the football on the offensive side and not turning the ball over and our defense is able to force one or two toe novers a game, you're gonna be able to play with just about anybody in the country. Right? Because I mean w we we don't make Kolton Myatt: Yeah. Mason: dumb mistakes, we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. we said it all season long, our defense is kind of a bend don't break, right? Like they're gonna give up some yards, but at the end of the day, if they hold them to field goals, that's fine. so I I think this game, you know, w we knew it was gonna be like a gr a rough, grinded out type of game, right? Just because of Their defense, their offense isn't great. You know, we figured we might not be able to move the ball at times. so I mean I'm really excited after this game because it showed that we can go out against these teams like LSU and put up 35 points if we have to, or we can play in these grinded out type of games and win these type of games too. So I really like where we're sitting at. like I said, I think if our offense and defense continue playing like this, we can beat anybody the country. We really can. Dillon Geralds: Colton, Kentucky comes in, you know, already bowl eligible. But really, that's not really what we're looking at. Like that, I'm just mentioning that because, hey, it's just something to mention, but we're we're we got the bigger picture at hand and we're looking dead on with a playoff berth. Like it's getting really real. Like it it is there. It is there for us to take. We take we we have Vandy coming in this weekend, which we'll we'll we'll get to in our next episode when we release that on Friday. But tonight's really just about us playing Oklahoma. when looking at this game itself. Let's get into the stats. But also before we I I do want to say something else too. Will Stein becomes the first Kentucky head coach. In more than 100 years to win six of his first seven games. If you're scared, go to church. I mean, and then also, we've won three road games in a row. I mean, how impressive is that to win not only three road games in a row, but to win them the way we have and also win them in the SEC. Which Will Stein has also said, hey, this is basically the NFL. It's like right under the NFL. not saying it is the NFL, but it's the closest thing to it in college. So Colton, let's let's let's go with some stats real quick. And I want you to pick out something that sticks out to you. So when looking at this game, first downs, Kentucky had 14 to Oklahoma's 19. We had 72 rushing yards to their 76 or passing yards, just 158, actually, to their 270 total offense. We only had 230 yards of offense to their 346. total plays, we had 54 to their 72. Third down conversions. We were five for twelve for their eight for seventeen. Penalties, we only had four penalties for 32 yards to their four for 31 yards. And then zero turnovers to their four intercept four interceptions. Anything stick out to you when re when hearing those stats? What will you got for me, big dog? Kolton Myatt: I mean, obviously, I think the only one that sticks out that actually, you know, references us is the turnover battle and Mason mentioned it earlier. I mean, that's what we've been really good at all year, right? I mean the turnover differential has been in our favor all year. Outs and the one game that it wasn't great was the Alabama game and w and we saw what happened there. But when we haven't done that, I mean we've we've won these games and we've competed with anyone because we we have a We have a very poised quarterback, so he's he doesn't get panicked. we have great play calling going on right now. We have a great offensive line who can compete with anyone, meaning that you have you have the ability to run the ball against anyone, you have the ability to give your quarterback time to and your receivers time to get open. All right, especially having a receiving core that are doing their job right now. They're not elite. They're not like one standout that's just like, Hey, they're going first round or anything like that. But the offensive line is doing that. It's just when you don't turn the ball over, you allow your strengths to take place. And our strengths is the offensive line. Our strengths of our defense is to to all of a sudden, like I said, to give up maybe some yards, but to really crack down in the moments when you have to when you have to do it. And to design, you know, it allows Jay Bateman to make these designs that yes, we're going to give up some yards all of a sudden and then We're gonna attack you in areas that you weren't prepared for and maybe cause these turnovers. So as long as you're not throwing the ball over to them, you get to play to your strengths, and and that's what we've done so far. And as long as we can play to our strengths, there's no one that we can't play with, and that's Thane. Now, are we a team built to go and crush anyone? Probably probably not. Every single game from here to the end of the end of the season is probably gonna be very similar to Dillon Geralds: Stress. Kolton Myatt: what we've played. I mean, that's just the truth. I mean, even though we're winning. Even the Vandy game next week, the Louisville games, games that you're not looking as much into as as maybe some of these others, they're going to be tight, I guarantee it. And it's just because we don't we're not built to just go run away from teams. So but we're built to be anyone and that's that's a good thing to have in the SEC. Dillon Geralds: think the biggest takeaway for me is Kentucky just keeps finding ways to win. Like we we just keep finding ways to win. And this was in a night when our offense was was not at its best. when looking at you know we only had 230 yards of total yards compared to what was theirs it was three hundred and or no three hundred and forty six I think there's a lot of different storylines you can go here. You can also add in there the momentum factor that Oklahoma had coming into this. they CJ Baxter was out. We didn't he didn't even play. Like th there's so many different little areas that you could pinpoint and be like, okay, this didn't go right. We didn't have this guy, we didn't do this well, but at the end of the day, I think Will Stein said it best. I don't know if you all heard heard his postgame comments, but he said something along the lines of that stats is for losers sometimes. Basically saying like, hey, sometimes, you know, you just you gotta go win the game. whether the stats show it or not, like you go out there and you win the game, but you won't keep hitting home on this turnover thing. And I I do wanna pin pinpoint something for you all. I wanna give a little shout out to Austin over at BBN Unfiltered. He had put this on his socials and I I really liked it and I wrote it down here. But w when playing these teams, I want you all to listen this, okay? When playing against Texas A South Carolina, LSU, and Oklahoma, those four powerhouses who were all predicted, other than South Carolina, to be in the playoff picture. Across those four games, Kentucky has recorded 10 takeaways while committing how many turnovers? Zero. That is a plus 10 turnover margin against those four turnovers. So, Colton, my question for you is is this a The clearest sign of Kentucky's identity under Will Stein is that we take what opponents give us, we protect the ball, and we let our defense really just create game changing moments and then we capitalize on those moments when we can't. Like is that kind of what you take away? Well I mean, what what do you think? Kolton Myatt: Well, one of the most impressive things about this team, and this is how you know it's very well coached, is we get better as the game goes on. Right. And the moments when we're down and the moments 'cause Dillon Geralds: Yeah, that's a good point. Kolton Myatt: 'cause in the past, what you saw a lot of times, even in the Mark Stoops years, even when we didn't have a great team, there was games when we played against like a Texas last year or two years ago at Texas when we didn't think you had a chance. But you had a pretty good first half and then it starts to filter away. Ole Miss at home. you know, they start to filter away as the game goes on because you bring your best stuff early and then what happens when adversity hits? The difference is in this team is when adversity is hitting, they're getting better. Right? They're finding ways to come together. It I mean, you take the third quarter against Texas A and You take the fourth quarter against Oklahoma last night. I mean it's just it's it's unreal. The the the difference in how they're getting better And so to me their identity is just that they're they're maintaining what they do best and they're learning as the game goes on. So we're not making mistakes, maybe we're not thriving early, but we've learned, okay, now is this how our defense needs to attack in the third quarter compared to the rest of the game? These are the adjustments that need to be made. And then offensively, you know, we just had to have one big drive there. And and we did. We we found a way to put it in the end zone. They had a great play call. I mean, an un To me, in a great formation. that was just a genius play call to get the Willie Rodriguez his second touchdown. I mean, that's to me the identity is that the the adjustments that are being made throughout the game is just not what we had been used to seeing in a long time. And right now it's paying off because you're finding ways to win games close. Usually Kentucky have found ways to lose games, right? Now I feel like we've got a co set of finding ways to win games. Dillon Geralds: You know, I Mason, l let them just keep doubting us. Let just l let them keep doing it. You know, when looking at college game day, college game day, out of their five picks, three chose Oklahoma, two chose Kentucky. When looking at this game, Mason, I I I this was one of those games that I whenever I was watching it, you know, we started off that first drive. I mean, Colton, I think you was sent you sent our group text like what a drive. And I was like, I know, like what very impressive. Okay. And I'm sitting here, I'm like, okay, I don't think we're going to run away with this, but man, like that, that was a really good, good, you know, that that was a good run, you know. Like let's let's let's do that every single possession. Great possession, start off the game. But then, you know, we we kind of settled in, maybe nerves, I don't know what it was, but it was the the running game was not there. we we didn't really solidify ourselves defensively. They kind of was passing it everywhere, whether it be the defensive front, getting to the quarterback. whether it be the secondary struggle and there was a lot of different areas that we really were struggling at. But I said that I thought that one of the keys to this game was you gotta let your your studs be studs. Like on these away games, and when when we talk about these studs, I think we gotta highlight Willie Rodriguez. Willie Rodriguez did make his presence known. He only had five receptions for 38 yards, but he also had two touchdowns. And you know, it was just the scheming all around. I don't know if y'all saw this that clip of whenever they they tried that flea flicker and Will Stein is like looking at him like yelling like I got you, I know that's coming. I already already knew that. Mason, like let them keep doubting us. But when when looking at this game with with with the studs coming in, some performed, some didn't. Man, I just talk about the core in itself, as far as the the wide receiving group, because also before I let you I want to listen this. Willie Rodriguez was the five receptions, thirty eight yards, two touchdowns. Nick Anderson Five receptions, 48 yards. Kenny Darby, five receptions, 35 yards. DJ Miller, four receptions, 28 yards. Kenny mentioned he ended up 21 of 28 passing for 158 yards for two touchdowns. That's a that's a lot of people getting involved and getting some touches. But like when seeing that, does that not make you feel so good knowing that we have all these guys that can go make some plays? Now, obviously, not all of them are going to be the guy. Willie Rodriguez was that night, but how how good did that make you feel seeing Mason: Mm. Dillon Geralds: us spread the ball out to multiple people? Mason: Yeah, I mean it it obviously feels good. You know, after after that Bama game we were all a little worried, right, about our receiving core and, you know, who who would be our go to guy. and different guys have stepped up, right? You know, one game it's been Kenny Darby, the next game it's Willie, the next game it might be Nick Anderson. You know, Jacaden Ferguson last week, he kinda came out of nowhere, made some big catches. So, you know, all these guys are stepping up and it's it's just good to know you have those options, right? Because especially in a game like this, right? You know, we we've talked about it. A grinded out game. you're gonna have to try to create different looks and get it to different guys. so I I think they did a good job of feeding those those top four, you know, that have really stood out over the past few weeks. and, you know, talking about our studs on the defensive side of the ball, you know, Jordan Castell and Ty Dillon Geralds: Mm, that's where I was laid next. Mason: Yeah, Jordan Castell Ty Bryant. I mean, you know That's two players there in the secondary and they come in big, you know. This this defense just continues to impress me, right? Like you're sitting there thinking they're going on a drive and you're like, Man, here they go. They're just driving it down the field. But I tell myself every time I'm like, you hold them to a field goal here, it's win. And I feel I would love to see what our red zone, you know, like when teams get across the fifty, I'd love to know what our actual percentage is of giving up a touchdown on the season. Because I mean it has to be really good. 'Cause I feel like, you know, every game there's three or four drives where they're just moving and then all of a sudden we force a pick or we hold them to a field goal or whatever it may be. And to harp a little bit on, you know, kind of this game and what Colton was saying, these close games, right? When we're in these close games, it comes down to coaching and execution. Right? And our coaches have done it and our players have gone out there and executed it. If you can do that, you're gonna win close games. And that's what we've been doing. So it it's really exciting to see. It's good to know, you know. like Colton said, in the past we wouldn't win these games. but now you've got this feeling, right? Like you've got Stein on your sideline, you got Minchie back there so poised, makes good decisions. Like these guys are bought in. They execute. Execute. So you going into these close games now, like yes, you're still nervous, but you feel a little bit better than what you did in the past because of who we got now. Dillon Geralds: Let's talk a little bit more too about that defense because I think that we've got to give those flowers to the to the defense as much as we do offense. But Kentucky, they they intercepted Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, not once, not twice, not three times, but four times. A lot of that too, Colton, you know, we just kept sending it in our group chat, you know, like, guys, like we gotta get a stop on a third down. When looking at their third down conversions, they went eight for seventeen. I know we cannot be the only ones who were sitting there like, my goodness, we got them backed up, we got them backed up, and then boom. You know, like they convert another third down. But it goes back to what Mason has stated from the very beginning of the season. This defensive team is a bend, don't break mentality. We may bend, but they are not going to break. Jordan Castell has two interceptions, including the 41-yard pick six. Ty Brown records two interceptions with one return for 42 yards. We record five sacks. Tavion Gatson one and a half sacks. Humphreys. One and a half sacks. CJ works one and a half sacks. Like these guys, they just find a way to show up in the big moments. And and it I just I I don't know. Like I am I'm just so impressed whenever you think and you may count them out that they get that stop. They limit it to a field goal. Like that's so big. Whenever we're sitting there texting each other, like if we hold them to a field goal, that is so big for this. this team especially being on the road. So Coton, w w anything else on the defensive end? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, I mean, just what I said earlier. It's adjustments, right? We I mean we were getting cooked in the first half, but the reality of it is was is that we went into halftime, still just down ten seven, right? It seemed like they had their they were at wheel in the first half, especially passing the ball, and we gave up ten points. you know, it it felt like we gave up twenty-one for sure, but we gave up ten points. so they've they dug deep. they but they made adjustments in the second half. And then we've got some momentum. And it's a crazy thing what momentum does. At the moment that we get the interception, we come down and score on the short field to take the lead 14-13. Our defensive line absolutely took over. I mean, they were getting absolutely after. Dillon Geralds: Yep. Take over. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, they did. I mean, and it was just un unreal. And I don't know. I can't remember. It may have been Humphreys at the end of the game. They interviewed at the end of the game one of the defensive linemen. I can't remember who it was. But She kept asking him, she was like, you know, what did it take? And he said, and he multiple times kept going back. He said, We just stuck to our core values that we had been practiced that we've been taught. Like, and over and over again, he kept bringing up, he said, We just stuck to our core values. And that's right there coaching. Like it it was like the first thing that went to his mind was like, and you know that's what's their what's being preached is hey guys, we're gonna get better. Dillon Geralds: One play. Kolton Myatt: We're gonna get better. One play, here's your net. You didn't give it up, but you can do better. You can't do nothing about the next play, but you can make up for it on this play. I mean, that's and that's pretty much all we talked about. And you could tell that those guys were feeding off of it. They were hanging in there. That you could tell that they were like, Yep, hey guys, just stay together. We're gonna still win this game. We're in it. We've got to do this. If we can get this stop here, the offense can get the ball back and they can score. Once they scored to take the lead. Hey guys, now now it's their turn. Let's get the stops. Let's get it stops. Get it back to the offense. I mean, it was just a total team effort. I mean all from all aspects of the of the game. so I mean you couldn't you can't say enough about how how awesome those guys were on the defensive side especially. Dillon Geralds: Alright, well, let's talk about it then. Let's talk about this field go. So when looking at the fourth quarter, 13-14, we get the interception. We have all the momentum back on our side because we're like, man, we got to have something here because it looked like they was driving the ball and they were going to go score a touchdown. We get the interception. We have the opportunity, I think it was like fourth and what? Fourth and four, maybe is what it was. to go ahead and make it a four point lead. Instead, though we decide to go for it. I'm gonna go ahead and start things off with saying I did not agree with that. I thought, and I think we all were saying, take the points. This is a game where you gotta have the points. however, though, I was not shocked. I was not shocked just because look who our coach is. He is not scared, he is he's not scared. Will Stein, that's how aggressive he is. This time, it didn't work out. But it did work out. You know, like it w we we won the game, but it could have come back to bite us in in the end. Colton, what what do you why d why do you think that he decided to go for it? Wha w what what is your true gut telling you that he why did he not take the points? Kolton Myatt: Think he's I think he thought that if we could get up a touchdown, that Dillon Geralds: Game. Kolton Myatt: we had that was game. I think he knew it had been such a exhausting game on both sides. But I think that he he thought that Oklahoma probably had enough gas for one good drive left. Right. Like then in his mind, I think he was thinking, man, they I think they've only got one good drive left in them. But if we can get a touchdown here Then like at best they're tying us, then maybe we can come down win it with a field goal. Like I think that was his mindset. like go ahead, you're on the road, right? I think at home, I actually 'cause by when you see him kicking that field goal, I think he should have kicked it regardless. in that situation, especially given that they have like an all American field goal kicker. And so if all and they were struggling to get down the field all the way into the end zone, so you was gonna have to make them go the length of the field. But at the same time, that's Will Stein's personality. Right. And I and I love to see that aspect of it. It's not like he's like up and down, like, what do I need to do here? Hey, if he's gonna ride with it, Russ ride with it. I mean, it's got us two wins so far and it worked out in this game, right? I mean, essentially we didn't get it, but they got backed up on their own side of the field and got a then we got a bogus pass interference call on us. But still, I mean the the reality of it is the aggressiveness right now is paying off and he's got his own style. And if that's what it needs to be, whether it works out or not. I mean he could have also went for two. I mean, we went for two both times and it could have not worked out. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: But it did. And so no they're not always gonna work out. This one we still won the game. So I if he's gonna be that way, I'd rather him just stay that way. Dillon Geralds: Shout out to the special teams as well. Mason, I'm gonna get to you here in second on that too as well. But you you look at I was just laughing, sitting here thinking about it. You know, whenever towards the end of the game when we had to punt it, me and Colton, we were like, there's no way this punt is going to be good. And it was the the greatest punt of his entire lifetime. I think it put it back in their like own 10-yard line, which then allowed us to test up for I think that maybe in the same possession that we got that pick six. but overall Really good. and that's what you gotta have. You gotta have those little things go your way. But Mason, that leads me to you on the special teams. Do you think that in part the reason why he may have went for it? Did he have any doubt you think in Zuwagi? I don't know if doubt is the right word because of what he's he's Mason: Mm-hmm. Dillon Geralds: orchestrated whenever he sends him out there to kick that fifty two yarder. I I I think that that was at was that at South Carolina or Kolton Myatt: Texas A N. Dillon Geralds: take at A and But do you think that that would that played a factor into it? A little bit of, you know, I let me take control, let us control our destiny here? Or or do you think that it was just he that's what he wanted to go with? Mason: I think it's just Will Stein being Will Stein. you know, and we we all said, you know, I think you take the points in this situation, but like Colton said, I'm not mad with it. It is who he is, you know, he's being consistent with it. So if that's what he's gonna do, that's what he's gonna do. I I think Stein was probably thinking I mean that was probably in the back of his mind a little bit, but I think he was sitting there thinking, Okay, we pick up this first down, you know, we can maybe milk another two and a half, three minutes off and then punch it in, you know, and then it the game's over. so I I really don't mind it. we ended up winning. I you know, maybe Been a different conversation if we end up losing that game. You know, they go down and kick a field goal and we end up losing by two. I is what it is, though. It's Will Stein. He's kind of been aggressive, you know, since he's been here with the two-point conversions and everything. He's being consistent, so that's just the type of coach and guy he is. so I don't mind it. I I think it wor it worked out for us in the end, but I think you'll see Will Stein do that more often than not with who he is and how he's been coaching. Dillon Geralds: We got to talk also about Mr. Seneca Driver. For those who don't know, Seneca Driver, that is a five star tight end. is he is it the number he's a top three tight end. Is he number three or is he number one or is he number two? I think he's number three ranked tight end in the country. I could be wrong. I'm looking at two, four, seven sports here. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, something like that. Top five should be a thing. Dillon Geralds: but nationally ranked number thirty-nine. He is currently committed to The Oklahoma Sooners. He is living in Kentucky. He goes to Boyle County. but just a stud. When looking at this game, Mason, I got to think that we got our boy Willie Rodriguez involved a lot with scheming, got him in the end zone not once, but two times for a reason. He was at that game, I believe. Seneca Driver was at that game. We are still fighting for him. You think Will Stein done that on purpose? Mason: I mean it wouldn't surprise me. I mean I I think at the end of the day, you know, like you said, feed your studs, right? Willie's one of the best tight ends in the country, in my opinion. So getting the ball, letting me, get him involved in different ways. you know, I I said before the game I wish Will Stein would have gone to Venables and been like, all right, let's just put a bet here on Seneca Drive or winner gets Seneca. You know, let's just settle it right here on the field. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Mason: obviously that didn't happen. I do think I seen something earlier where they asked him after the game, you know, if he was still wanting to go to Oklahoma and I mean a course you he gave his answer like yeah you know that's where I want to go, that's that's where I'm going, blah blah blah. I I do think though, wouldn't surprise me if he does end up flipping at some point. 'cause I mean y you sit back and watch like Oklahoma's offense has been pitiful, right? And I know they got Jason Witten and, you know, all these guys there at Oklahoma and it's Oklahoma football program, but if you sit back and you watch this Will Stein offense and how much he's not only gotten Willie Rodriguez, but Boyer, right? I mean he's caught what, three touchdowns, four touchdowns for us this year, been heavily involved, so I I think there's still a good chance we can flip him. Dillon Geralds: Colton, let's get into this whole SEC madness. Okay. So, what what what a day for college football. I couldn't even keep up with it. I know you were playing golf, Mason, you were playing golf as well. I actually I took the boys to the park, came back, and then put on something went bit went and done something else. But I couldn't keep up with it because there were so many good games on. It was like I I I just can't, I can I knew when Kentucky played and that's all that mattered, but I also was wanting to watch a bunch of different SEC teams because it matters now. Like it gives us a little bit more focus. Like, okay, what are these teams doing? What what what is that how's that going to play in not only the SEC standings but our playoff birth and everything that comes with that now? We're not used to this. This is unfamiliar territory for us. But when looking at the SEC, so number one Georgia Falls to an unranked Auburn team on a last ticket field goal. Number seven, Texas loses to an unranked Florida team after being up, I think it was 17 to 0. Florida comes back 27-24. Number six, Alabama goes to Nealand Stadium in Tennessee and loses to 26 to 10. Missouri, number 13, loses to number nine, O Miss. Number 16, Mississippi State. Well, they yeah, they got shut out completely by number 22 LSU. and then we go on and beat Oklahoma, Vanderbilt loses to an unranked Arkansas 31-21. Just complete madness. If that doesn't if that's not a testament to what we've stated that the SEC is so hard. It is so difficult not only to win at home, but to win on the road, it it you you can't just show up. Especially also in today's age. and that's also Coton, that's not to mention all the other madness that occur that happened across college football. There were five of the AP top seven teams entering this weekend lost on the same deep same day. Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama, and Texas. Coton, it's it's the first time in AP poll history dating back to 1936 that five of the top seven teams lose. on the same regular season day. So what does that tell you? What does that tell you about college football and in particular the SEC that we're in right now? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, welcome to the NIL era, right? I mean, where teams can get better faster and what you s what you don't have anymore is that five or six team just absolute dominance that you know that these five or six teams are the clear cut best five or six teams in the country. And why why is that a lot of times? It's because one, those teams that the the Georgia, Bama, Ohio State, Clemson's, Notre Dames, why were they always so much better than everyone else? It's because not only did they have the five stars that went there because they wanted to play for them and they had the best recruiting, but their backups and their backups backups were five stars. Well, those backup five stars are now playing for Indiana and Kentucky and these other random schools because they can get paid to not have to sit and go and be a starter somewhere instead of just having to sit for two or three years waiting their turn. And they don't want to do it. Why? So why do that? So now all of a sudden these other schools that never would have got these type of players and athletes are getting them and they're making impacts immediately. And you don't have the depth on those other teams. Right? They have great initial starters, but football's a physical game. So when linebackers have to go out, who's this linebacker coming in? It's probably not a five star like it used to be, or it wasn't this absolute stud like it used to be. And you're you're having guys that you can match up one on one with. And so man, it's it's a new I mean we talk Miami went to overtime at home against Florida State, or else you're talking about another team falling. I mean, and it's that has a crazy ending to it. I mean, just it it was a crazy day for college football, but this is a new era. And I know we haven't got into the talk of of them expanding the playoff to twenty four teams. But man, and I think that is crazy in a way, but well well well, Dillon Geralds: Well, let's go. That's fun. Let's go. Talk about it. Kolton Myatt: I mean You know, I to me, the more I the more I t think about it. Initially I was kinda like, I don't I don't know about it. But now in this era, and I'm not just saying this because I'm, you know, we're Kentucky and twenty four teams in mo most years is gonna actually give us like a chance or more more of a chance. I think in general, I just think it's good for the game. Because yes, there's a twenty fourth ranked team getting into the playoffs seem kind of crazy. If you do it the right way. where you do reward your top few teams with a couple buys at least or something to that matter. Those games where number thirteen and fourteen played a bowl game after they missed a twelve team playoff, except half their teams would go to the NFL draft and wouldn't even play in that bowl game, those games are going to matter now. Right? Though those are the games that are going to matter. You know, bowl games used to mean something. And right now if you didn't make the top twelve or you weren't some young school that that got the six wins that's extremely po proud of it. Those that middle bunch that was disappointed in their season, they didn't even have half their team. They weren't playing. They weren't trying. The bowl games weren't really meaning anything. Now they're going to and we're and they're gonna happen on college campuses. Right? Multiple weeks of college campus playoff games. I mean got I mean look, for a fan, I love it. I mean I do. I know everyone's saying it's a money scheme. It's this and that. I'm tuning in. I'm tuning in. I'm Dillon Geralds: Mm-hmm. Kolton Myatt: hyped for it. I'm looking forward to it. I mean, it it it may be it is a money scheme, but I overall I actually do think it is going to be for the betterment of bringing back importance of bowl games. Maybe it weakens the regular season a little bit. Maybe it doesn't make it as important if you can maybe get in at nine and three as a lock or possibly even sneak in as an eight and four. But now if you start making if they do adjustments to make teams play. Maybe a SEC first Big Ten game every year. Like you have to play that. I think you can I think you can save that importance of it, but but man Dillon Geralds: Mason, I I I I I don't I I get the audience that that's saying that it may weaken the the regular season. A and maybe that is for just like their placement and their record. But it's really hard for me to sit here and think that your Auburn and Alabama when they play that it's not going to mean anything. Your Kentucky and your your Louisville's not gonna mean anything. I have a hard time believing that, especially passionate fan bases. They're still gonna show up But going to to Colton's point and adding on to that, it may, yes, weaken the regular season, but I do think it's going to strengthen the postseason. And why I say that is like whenever you're looking at these bowl games, if you have a Wake Forest and a I I I don't know, a South Carolina in the Mayobo, I'm not tuning into that. Unless it's my team in one of those bowl games, I could care less. That's not going to interest me. But now that it's going to be built like a March Madness platform, that hey, this is a one game. You advance or you're out. I think it's going to actually draw some interest, but it is interesting to see how this is going to to shape out and how it's going to play out. Mason, do you do you like that, the twenty fourteen playoff? And then after that, we'll get going. Mason: Yeah, I do. a couple of things here. One, Colton touched on it, but it's it's the NIO era, right? And you saw what happened this weekend. So, I mean, you're sitting here saying all that twenty fourth ranked team, yeah, they might not, but you never know nowadays, right? 'Cause these guys are going elsewhere. You see some of these programs, they can have big wins 'cause Now they're closer, right? Like used to, like Hoban mentioned, they would have five stars, five stars, five stars. Now these other teams can get closer, right? Like they shortened that gap because of the NIO era. so I I think it is gonna make it more interesting, more fun and and going back to like the regular season thing, I just people can say it's gonna take importance away from it, but You act like these teams aren't still gonna be trying to win games. Right? Like it matters for your seeding too. Right? You you're talking about March Madness, like would you rather be a three seed or would you rather be a six seed, right? Like go out there and win your games in the regular season. You're gonna have a better seating. You're gonna have a better road in that playoff in that bracket. So I mean I I get what people are saying, like it's gonna allow more teams to get in, yes, but teams aren't just gonna go out there and roll over and not care about the regular season. Dillon Geralds: You know, shifting gears now a little bit, still staying on the topic of Kentucky football, but talking about the disrespect, it just keeps piling on. We've we've touched on a little bit, but the college game day, nobody picking us. AP polls come out today. They put us not in the top ten, but now we're just ranked 12th. I I I'm really confused on that. Looking at who we have beat, the strength the the strength of schedule that we have played. I saw a tweet that somebody said if anybody else played the schedule that the University of Kentucky football team has played and was six and one, they would not be the number 12 ranked team in the nation. And don't give me that. Well, you who have you beat? Who have you been? You can't you cannot keep saying that. We are a good football team. We are a good football team. So looking at now, Colton, the playoff picture is there. It is is it is alive. We are six and one. Hosting Vanderbilt next week, who has not won an SEC game yet. Could be seven one. And then you got bye week, and then you headed to Neeland Stadium. And then we're gonna get there in a second. But I real quick, give me s give me thoughts on this. Playoff picture. Are we there? Are we there? Can we do it? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, absolutely. I mean that you had to win the one game on the road. I told we we talked about this last time. To give yourself a chance in the end to be in the conversation, you had to win one more road game and we've got to win our home games. Right, we play Vandy next week. Once again, I hope it is the SEC. We just watched Auburn walk into the number one overall team and and beat at Georgia. There is nothing to take for granted. But take care of business against Vandy next week. Get healthy on your bye week. Get some of these linebackers back. Get deeper on defense. Rest up. Nealin is such a tough place to play. I mean, you're going to go into that game. And I guarantee you we're at least probably a touchdown underdog. I mean, I guarantee you we're going to go into that game as touchdown Dillon Geralds: Team Deltoness. Kolton Myatt: underdog, which is good. That's what we want to be going into that game. But the reality of it is that type of loss is not going. I mean, look, Bama went in at what seven? Mason: Six and a half, seven. Kolton Myatt: Or something like that. But I'm saying like they were they were ranked they only fell like two spots after getting beat the way they did at Tennessee. Like that's such a tough place to go in and win. So you could probably afford that loss if if it was a cum. But now but then take care of a Florida who's you know, they just strengthen their resume by going to Texas. So that's another win that if you pick up your resume's just getting better by beating a Florida and and then finish off your home game at Louisville. try to win one of the last two a Tennessee and Missouri. Right? It and if you don't, if you can just fin win in the home games, you still give yourself a chance. You're gonna be in the conversation. I guarantee you at nine and three, we will be talked about. Whether or not we get in it not, we are gonna have an argument for that final spot in the SEC based on how it's falling. Especially Texas going down now. I mean that look they've got they've still got go to Missouri, I think, and go to LSU And the way they've looked, and they've Mason: They still gotta play O Mess too, right? Kolton Myatt: I play and yeah, I think they host O Miss, go to Missouri, go to LSU, they go to Texas AM, who I know is not, but the I mean Texas A Texas ain't looked good. So now if that team all of a sudden is not in the running, if Missouri finds a way that ends up four losses, maybe you're just looking at maybe there's about a five-team conversation and four of you get in, but you're you're right there at it. Dillon Geralds: Mason, you gotta bring me to talk to me about this. just br bring the bring me some energy here to you. You know, I I can't get over how disrespectful I feel like we just keep getting shots at, you know, and then you know I thought it was hilarious. The post-game comments right after the game, the girl, bless her heart, she she says, What does this mean for for you all to go on the road and and beat beat a ranked opponent? And Will Stein says, We're ranked, we're 15th. I don't know that they were ranked. Maybe they were. The rankings don't matter. This is the SEC. It's the closest thing to the NFL. Every Saturday matters. Every play matters. The girl didn't even know that we were the ones who were ranked. Talk about that real quick. I mean, come on now. I mean, like, we gotta start getting some respect on our coach and this football program. Mason: Listen, that to be honest with you, I like it. Like let let keep doing it. 'Cause all it's doing you see these guys like I feel like week after week they're just getting more fired up. They're buying in more, they're getting closer, you know, like I I feel like that's what's driving them right now and I absolutely love it. and I I saw something I think I think it was like our Strength of schedule and like power ratings. We were number two in both. So our power ratings and our strength of schedule so far. We were number two in the country in both of those. And I'm just sitting here, you know, I was thinking just a minute ago while Coleman's talking, like, okay, we've beat we beat South Carolina who beat Florida. Then Florida bleeds beats Texas. Texas has beat Ohio State. You know, like you just you keep circling some of these wins that we've got and then you go back and look at these other teams that have beaten some of these other teams, like We really probably are. Like power ratings probably in the top five in the country and we've had a tough schedule. Like I know you can sit here and say, Yes, I guess Bama's probably a better win than LSU and you know, that's probably the only win as far as like Tennessee has that's better than us. But if you stack all of our wins together, like we have some really, really good wins. so I let keep respecting us. I I don't care. I really don't. I think it's just putting a fire under their butts right now. Keeps going. Dillon Geralds: It's got a fire under me. Mason: And and I hope I hope Will Stein uses what happened this week in college Dillon Geralds: he is. Mason: football to get them prepared for next week. You know, like, hey, look, 'cause I I really feel like this is a big trap game for us, right? 'Cause like we're at that point where we take care of business, we're in the college football playoff. And this is the easiest opponent we have left. The absolute easiest. You can't overlook right? Let's go in here, let's take care of business, let's get to the bye week, and let's move on to the next you know, going to Tennessee to get healthy. Dillon Geralds: Fellas, last thing. We gotta talk about it. We we gotta talk about it. Kolton Myatt: What are we doing? Why are we talking about Rocket Top? Dillon Geralds: I I wanna hear your thoughts. I wanna hear your thoughts. Mason: Rush in the field. Dillon Geralds: So I I I do. I want your honest opinion. And if it's different than mine, it's different than mine. You give your honest opinion. Number 14, Tennessee, goes in and plays number six Alabama, top 15 teams playing. Tennessee has beat Alabama not once but twice. This is the third consecutive time at home. And they decide to rush the field. Maybe I just despise Tennessee that much that I'm letting it rub me. Rub me the wrong way. And I have family that are Tennessee fans, live in Tennessee, love them to death. Great people. I'm I'm not saying anything ill will. I'm talking about what they did. Colton, I know you despise Tennessee too. Mason, I know you do too. But what what are your thoughts about that? I think most people know my thoughts, but be honest. Like if you disagree with me, that's okay. What are your thoughts about rushing the field with with that scenario? Kolton Myatt: I mean, I I don't think that was reason to do it. Maybe if Tennessee I could I could see if Tennessee wasn't ranked. I could see it. Dillon Geralds: Yeah, but they're right! Kolton Myatt: But they were they were ranked. and especially Dillon Geralds: Five and one! Kolton Myatt: and and here's the thing, especially Mason: Here. Kolton Myatt: because they done it a few years ago, right? They took the goalpost down to the river. Like that that one justified it because they hadn't beat Bama in so many Dillon Geralds: Yeah, I know. Kolton Myatt: years. That one did. This one did not justify it. I the only thing is I I get it, like third weekend of October is Bama, Tennessee. They've got there's three or four songs, country songs out there that literally just apply to to that game in particular. So I'm not gonna say that it's not like a like it's a certain hatred towards so I I know but I think part of it's just a matter of like we're just gonna stomp on you more than that, 'cause like we're so excited to actually win. It's just more of a show off we just we're gonna storm the field because we hate you so much. So that's the only reason that I I yes, I think it's ridiculous what that they done it. But I don't think they done it out of like, my God, I can't believe we beat Alabama as much as it's like I don't care if we were ranked number one, y'all were ranked twenty fifth and we beat you, we were gonna storm the field because we don't like you that much. You know? Dillon Geralds: And I think though I Mason: Yeah. Dillon Geralds: think though, Colton, I think I'm coming more to like I'm trying to get understand it because I wanna be like I I feel like I have been respectful. I didn't say anything ugly. But like Mason, i i you're talking about though a program that again, if you talk to fans, most fans like they're like, we're up here. We're we we are way, Mason: That's what I'm gonna say drives me wild about. Dillon Geralds: way up here. We are a college football team or we're a college football school. Like they claim to be this. But then you do that. Like I mean, like if you're gonna be there, act like it. But then, Colton, I know you've said on this show before, Tennessee's one of those they they try to fit in. They they they can't really fit in. Like they they say this and then they want pity whenever they lose, but then they claim to have r put r some respect on our names. Like, Mason, what are your thoughts on then we'll move on to basketball? Mason: Yeah, that's what that's what drives me wild about it, is just Tennessee fans in general. Like they get on here and they're always talking this crap, we're a football powerhouse, you know, blah blah blah. Act like it. Right? Like what do you and I've seen some of them saying, it was a celebration, you know, they invited everybody down. Act like you've been there. Like you've you've beat twice in a row. Y'all sit here and say every year, you know, I don't know how many times you see Tennessee fans in in Kentucky, you know, if you're on X, you'll see Tennessee fans in the comments just saying stuff, right? about how their program's so much better than ours and blah blah blah and all this, you know. So I think what drives me wild the most is just all the crap I hear Tennessee fans talk about and then, you know, you're just acting like this, acting like you you haven't been here before, but whenever you're on social media you act like you're one of the best teams and programs in the country every time. So which one is it? Dillon Geralds: Amen. And I love it. And we don't ever talk about other teams, but I just wanted y'all's honest opinions about that. And I think it really is. We've said here that we dislike them more than Louville, it seems like at times now. but let's flip scripts, let's get into some basketball. It's crazy. Basketball played. so The University of Kentucky men's basketball team did have their first exhibition game on Friday night. They beat and hosted Little Rock, defeated them with a score 69 to 49 in an exhibition game. Again, does not count. Halftime score was Kentucky 30. Little Rock 19. Milan Momchilovich led Kentucky with 17 points and seven rebounds. Malachi Marino recorded 11 rebounds and three blocks. We'll get into a little bit more of those. but guys, I Before we unpack this game, I I I don't want us to overreact. If you want anything in any clarity whatsoever, and you're not kept up with any of these exhibition games, guys who are listening, Tennessee lost their exhibition game against help me out here, guys. Who do they lose Kolton Myatt: Xavier. Dillon Geralds: to? Xavier. Now did they they didn't play little? Mason: Saviour. Florida just lost two. Dillon Geralds: I know they didn't play Little Rock. I understand it's a bad, but Tennessee lost. Florida just lost. to Baylor, who else lost? That Indiana smoked North Carolina. Guys, it's an exhibition game. Teams are trying to figure things out. They're trying to kind of get guys' minutes, shake off the nerves. But now let's kind of talk about this though with Kentucky. Kentucky did start slow. They shot 35.7% from the field in the first half. They did improve to 51.7% in the second half. but really I I think that for me, I think I saw a lot of nerves. I did. I saw a lot of guys trying to do things, try to kind of solidify themselves and be like, hey, I deserve to be here. but we gotta we gotta cut down on on on some of our turnovers for sure. I think that's one talking point. But Colton, before we get into the stats, other than what I've mentioned, what what's kind of your first reaction to this University of Kentucky basketball team? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, the I think the positives are that I think we are like long and lanky as far as like length wise. We're kinda we're kinda skinny and more than like muscled, so I don't know physicality how would but I do think we can be some I think we can be disruptive on defense at times. I think that, you know, we can create some some th plays and and things with their length. So I mean that is a positive. I do think we have multiple shooters. I like to see like McBride, who I was thinking was going to be more of a, you know, inner like kind of like a Mo Diabate type guy. And he had a pretty pretty smooth, you know, hit two or three threes. I mean, looked like a pretty good jumper. Obviously, we know Milon, you know, Cam Williams will come back. we we watched some multiple guys make some shots. So that's exciting. Malachi Moreno rebounded well. I think he played more like a true big man in the game. So those are some positives. I think it's hard to tell. I do think And we'll see. I think over time it could be I know they talked about like Malachi being the leader of the team. He's still just a sophomore. Right. And I think you could tell that maybe it when you're having turnovers and chaos is kind of happening, you really need a leader on the court. All right. You need your coach to be a leader, but you also need a leader. I kind of think that Owe had been that for us the last couple of years. that first year you had several seniors, right? Andrew Carr, Lamont Butler, like you had guys that were leaders on the court at Amari Williams. The other night it looked like we didn't have like that leader, right? When we we couldn't break the press, we couldn't get the ball in bounds. Everyone's kinda we were having turnovers. We were looking it's kinda like, all right, who's gonna step up right here and and be like, let's calm down, let's play basketball. Hopefully that develops over time, whether it's Malachi, whether it's one of the guards, whether it's Milan, I don't know, but I I think that's kinda the only takeaway that I'm gonna be looking at right now with it being one exhibition game. Dillon Geralds: Yeah, I mean there's not a a ton and again not not going to overreact. I think I said Milan had six seventeen. I think it was sixteen points. But looking at the some of the team stats, so Mason, we did shoot twenty-five for fifty-seven, and then on the three point in, we shot twelve for twenty eight at forty two point nine percent. Some individual stats, Uzi, Uzmay Nadaya. Did finish with five total points, two turnovers. Milan Momchilovich had 16 points. he was four for seven from three-point land. Malakamarino had six points with eleven rebounds. Zoom Diallo had seven points, five assists, three turnovers. Alex Wilkins finished with 11 points and four turnovers. I I I think Mason, one of the things I want to talk a little bit about is Malachi Marino, because I know you're going to get into Alex Wilkins probably, and I want to hear your thoughts on him, but I'm going to take this time to talk about Malachi Marino. I I I I agree with what Cone said. He is j he is young, like we he is just a sophomore. However, we need him to play like he's a junior senior. Guys, Malachi Marino was three for four. He's got a, and I know it's an exhibition game, and I'm not overreacting, I promise. But He's got to get up more shots than four four shots a game. I was very, very pleased with his rebounding. He and again, this was just Arkansas Little Rock. So, like that, that doesn't really give you a true test of what SEC is going to be like. But we can't have him just taking four shots. it looks like he he had a lot of great passes. He's looked, but he needs to find a way himself, Mark Pope, this offense. We gotta get some inside outside movement. I felt like a lot of times it was a bunch of guys trying to go make a play. but also to that same statement though, Mason, there was times that whenever we tried to make a play, we would pass it around looking for someone to go make a play. At with with these teams, just just go beat your man. Go be a stud. Go be a dude. Go be a dog. Like like go take your man and score at will. These are the games that If anything, you should be doing that and should be able to say, hey, I'm better than you. I play for the University of Kentucky. I'm here for a reason. I am him. And I felt like at times we we didn't have that, but at times we did see a little bit of that. I want to hear your thoughts on Alex Wilkins though, Mason. What was your thoughts on him? Mason: Yeah, so I mean listen, it's an exhibition and I feel like a lot of this was probably treated as like a practice, right? Let's go out here and run our stuff against somebody different. You know, we we know we can probably go beat some of these guys, but at the same time we're not gonna be able to do that all season. So let's take these opportunities while we got it. and and just see if we can run our stuff. And I think some of us probably nerves. but getting into Alex Wilkins, I think you seen flashes, right? I think you seen glimpses. kinda what Pope was t Dillon Geralds: Exactly what Mark Pope said. Mason: Yeah. I I kinda like Mark Pope was talking about, right? Like some nights he could look like the greatest player in the country, and I don't know if that's true yet, but you can see those flashes, right, where he's that guy who can go get you a bucket. Right? He's shifty. He can create his own shot. and I I think the the decision making and things like that, you know, w we talked about it on the last podcast, right? Just let him play through it, especially early on here. Right? Let him play through it. Let him try to fill out what it's gonna be like night in and night out with these guys around him and also feed off some of these other guys around you, right? Like I feel like sometimes he was trying to do a little bit too much, maybe. so I We seen glimpses though, so tha that that's really all I wanted to see. I'm kinda where you all are right now. I don't want to overreact too much 'cause, you know, we've talked about some of these other teams that have lost. We came out and we beat Purdue last year in an exhibition, so it's an exhibition game. I'm sure there were some nerves. I'm sure it was just treated as a glorified practice, right? You know, trying to run our sets, trying to look at some different stuff. So I'm I'm not too worried about it. we'll get to see more I think this next exhibition's gonna be a little better. Dillon Geralds: Is it Texas? Is it Texas Tech? Kolton Myatt: I think it's takes a stack. Dillon Geralds: Yeah. well let's also touch on Milan. Milan Momchilovic. I I think that he is going to be one of those guys. If you just watch him play, he's one of those guys. He is fundamental That's all. Like he he he uses his body so well. He's not the greatest athlete. Like he he just knows. How to use his body, get to his spots. He's under control. He's not going to do anything that is going to amaze you as far as athleticism goes. But you do see glimpses of himself being able to show you those flashes of being able to create in different ways. I I you know, I think for example, you look at the guy, whenever he crosses half court, does behind the back, pulls up for three. Like Mason: I didn't know he had that any. Dillon Geralds: He is going to be, I think, all s I well I I I I I don't want to say I didn't. but if you watch that though, Mason, it was very slow motion. It was it was very, it wasn't quick. It wasn't it wasn't like boom, boom, boom, boom. Like it was so so motion, but he's able to make tough shots too. And that's why I was wanting to get to Colton. I think Milan Momchilovich is going to be a little bit different than a Cam Williams. Cam Williams is pretty much your guy. If he can get healthy, he's a spot up. Wide open shooter. Milon Motchovich, he's gonna make tough shots. Like you see it, he we saw it last last year whenever we played Iowa State. He does the little fadeaway, the step like he he's able to be a little bit of dirkish, really. That's what he reminded me of whenever he does that little turnaround one legged fadeaway. if only he could be Dirk Navincy, that that would be pretty cool. But Colton, was you impressed with Milon? Kolton Myatt: Yeah, for sure. I mean he he's under control. you know, defensively I think obviously I think you're gonna get what you're gonna get with him. It's came same thing with Jokic and and some of the other ones in the NBA, right? They're not they're they have to be high IQ defenders rather than athletic defenders. I mean, that's just gonna be the case with with Milan. So I think you're gonna have to live and die by maybe some of the matchups that you you get with him on some teams. But man, he he's he's confident in his his shooting ability. So there's no hesitation, which I love. Right? He's not scared. He's not scared if he misses it and it comes right back to him to pull the trigger again. And that's what you need. You need someone out there confident that they're gonna make every shot that they shoot because we've heard that we've had a lot of shooters, but we've seen over the first couple of seasons that that doesn't always translate to the games. And maybe it's because we didn't have as many just confident Shooters, right? I Brayo was pretty confident and you saw him knock down. I think Jackson Robinson had times when he was confident he knocked down. Milan's the same way. I think he breeds confidence. I don't think we've seen that yet out of like a Cam Williams and maybe a consistent Trent Noah when he's out actually out there healthy, right? We talked about how good of shooting. Hopefully Wilkins. I think Wilkins has the confidence to take it. Let's hopefully has the confidence Dillon Geralds: Yeah. Kolton Myatt: to make it. I mean, I don't but I think you're gonna see that. With him, yeah. Milan, I think he's gonna be as advertised. I I I hope he's the leader on the court. Right? You talked about Wilkins a minute ago, how you're gonna have to live and die by him. Like we need a guy out there that when Wilkins isn't hitting or he's taking bad shots, that that lets him know in a good way that's like, Hey, let's calm down a little bit. But also in the same way that if he's sh taking good shots and he's not hitting because he wasn't hitting early last night. to go over to him and be like, hey, I know you can make Keep shooting Right? Keep go be you. And I wanna s I hope that Milan's that leader on the court. Like I hope that he is, because if he can be that along with the type of game that he's got, yeah, I mean we got by far, I think, the best transfer portal player. Dillon Geralds: You know, and looking at Milan, he reminds me so much of like when looking at just like a Kenny Minchie. Poised and under control. That that that's kind of what I I was seeing. Right. Mason: Didn't do anything too flashy. Dillon Geralds: He just does what he's supposed to do. But Mason, I will say this. this is not an overreaction. This is just like simply stating what I was able to see with my own eyes and maybe something that doesn't worry me right now because I need to see it more. But something that kind of stood out to me is kind of what going to what what Cotton just referenced to is let's say that That Wilkins, he is having an off night, or vice versa. Milan's having an off night. And then the other guy needs a break. Who is going to be that next guy? Who is going to be that guy that steps up? Is it going to be a Malachi Marino? It's not going be a Malachi Marino if he's only getting up four shots. Is it going to be a Zun Diallo? Is it going to be a McBride? Is it going to be who Mason Williams, who we haven't even talked about tonight? Mason Williams, also true freshman, comes in 10 points, three assists, one turnover. Who is going to be that guy? Because that also goes to, I think, substitutions, what we've talked about, Coton. Mark Polk, now that you have Morton out too, you have Zum Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Mason Williams. We got to get some guys healthy. We got to get the Cam Williams back because when looking at it, like you are going to have to play your Milan 33, 32. Five thirty-six minutes a game, your Alex Wilkins to thirty to thirty five minutes. Like these guys have got to be on the court. But if they for some reason they're out or in foul trouble or just an off night, who is going to be that guy? Mason I know that you've been really big on Mason Williams, Mason or Mason. Do you think Mason Williams can be that guy? I don't know if he can be that guy, but do you think that Cole's talking about leadership? Do you think he could be that leader as a true freshman? Mason: Well, that's what I was gonna say. I don't think he can be that guy as far as scoring goes yet. But I think he can Dillon Geralds: I agree. Mason: I think he can be that type of guy who has the ability to come in and kind of help control the tempo of the game. Right? Like you can tell he's a high IQ player, right? Like he understands the game. For a freshman he has a great body. For a freshman I mean he's built well. obviously his dad, you know, has he's been around basketball his whole life, right? So he understands the game really well. and you talk Dylan, I mean ten points, three assists in your freshman debut debut with one turnover and three Steals, like, it's pretty good. And I I've been saying it all season, you know, he's surprised me in this game a little better than what I expected. But, you know, I I could just tell from watching his film and watching some of the highlights that I've seen from him that like this kid understood the game, right? Like he he's pretty smooth, he's under control. So I that is one of the bright spots, right, from this game, is I think that he has the ability to be that sixth seventh man, right? And and not saying he has to come in and score twelve to fifteen points for us. Right? But I think he's gonna be a great person to come in off the bench and help run this offense and lead this offense. You can tell he he does all the little things too, like talking on defense, you know, like he understands the game. He's he's that guy who could step into a little bit and take a leadership role. Even though he is a freshman, that's what you want from a point guard, right? And if he's gonna come in and be your backup point guard, you want him to be able to do that. Dillon Geralds: I also, you know, I want to talk a little bit about Mark Pope. Colton, you know, one of the things I sent in our group text too, whenever we go in at the half, what was it? It was at halftime 30 to what? Was it I had it wrote down somewhere. Kolton Myatt: Like nineteen. Dillon Geralds: Yeah, it was Mason: Yeah, we were up eleven. Dillon Geralds: 30 eleven points. You know, we was starting to to push away and then all of a sudden they they make a couple baskets. We don't make anything. I bring up Mark Pope for the reason I said he needs to be chewing them out. And I I I can't help and I'm not comparing. I'm not truly not. But I I think back to our last episode where you're talking about your attitude. And then I brought up well attitude reflects leadership from Remember the Titans. I just hope that in those moments that it's not one of those things that it's like, hey guys. We're getting our nerves out, which I don't th think he's saying that calming of a voice, but not I I don't want him to be giving these guys excuses. I don't want him to be giving them breaks. Like it's just an exhibition game in in a sense. Like push these guys. Like challenge them. Get in their their grills. They they need this. That's what that that I and I know that. I don't everyone and we said this before too, I don't want Mark Pope to be uncharacteristic of who he is because then I think you really start to go away with who you are and what you do best, but at the same time These guys need that. They need to be challenged. They need to be like, hey, this is not okay. Like, not only is this not the standard at the University of Kentucky, it's not the standard anywhere in D1 college basketball for Power Five schools. If you are playing Arkansas Little Rock, you I don't care if it's the first exhibition game or not. Go out there, do your job, do your thing, and let's go, let's let's go get this. But I well do you think Mark Pope is saying that, Colton? Do you think he's acting like and that's hard for us to say because we don't know Mark Pope, but Based on what you're seeing, his actions, dark pope, smart pope, whatever you want to call him. Kolton Myatt: Yeah, I don't it's tough because obviously I don't think Mark Pope, and you've heard from players, you've heard from I mean, h you heard what Brandon Garrison said. He's not like the the yeller, right? And I and I don't know if he's is does he need to be? you know, we know that Calipari was the it looked like he chewed a guy out for missing a layup, right, and d immediately jerked him out. Does he need to be that type of guy? I don't think so. But yeah, I think The way we've seen the first couple seasons go, the way we've seen some games where we question the effort, right? When we're get we're down twenty, we're down thirty, we're we're seeing things that we you should not see at the University of Kentucky. And you start to question effort and you say, Well, effort root flex leadership, right? Is he is he chewing them out? Is he really getting the max out of these guys? I think he has to have that combination. And I don't know if he's saying it or not, but I he's he's definitely gonna have to get that way. And maybe this is the season he does. Maybe behind the scenes he is. But yeah, I agree. I think this team is in need of leadership. Not only on the court but with him, at the coach. So Dillon Geralds: And and when you say that, Colton, like to me, that is something that it you have every right to say. And I think you're not the only one who's thinking that because I think I'm sitting here saying that to myself and Mason is too. But we really shouldn't have to even be questioning that right now. We're going into year three. Mason, what are your final thoughts on this? and then we'll move on. Mason: just the exhibition itself. Dillon Geralds: well the h the Mark Pope thing situation. Mason: I I don't know. I don't want to read it read too much into that just 'cause it is an exhibition and I mean I I think at some point he has to get fired up, right? Like he he has to understand his butts on the line and if he's okay with mediocrity, then that's on him, right? Like he's gonna be gone anyway. So I I I don't know. It's just we we talk about you talked about it, but you look at Will Stein, you look at Mark Po. Two completely different people, right? Like two completely different ways that they're coaching and You see how one group responds? You see how the other group's been responding. Dillon Geralds: It's hard not to compare, I will say that. Mason: So, I mean, how do you how do you not sit back if you're Mark Pope and I mean, I know it's hard to change who you are, but you almost have to find somebody, right? Like within your coaching staff, good cop, bad cop, if you gotta play it, but you gotta find somebody who can bring that intensity and bring that fire and and bring that aggression sometimes, right? because whatever you were doing last year wasn't working. So you gotta find a way to get through to these guys. Dillon Geralds: I'm gonna do some closing comments and then I'm gonna send it over back to you too. not prepped you at all, but I want your final take on this Kentucky football team after this weekend and how excited you are moving forward. So get your little monologue ready, and I want some energy. but for those listening out there, again, thank you all for listening, tuning in. Hit that subscribe button, share it, like it. wherever you're listening, please, please continue following us on this. We love doing it. I mean, we appreciate you all tuning in to the very end. but let's send it over after this weekend, after improving to 6-1 and 3-1 in the SEC, being tied in first place, or excuse, excuse me, four-and-one, Kolton Myatt: Four and one. What four and one in the SEC. Dillon Geralds: four and one in the SEC. What are your final thoughts on this University of Kentucky football team? Mason, I want to start with you. Mason: Listen. I absolutely love this football team. I mean, right now, from the time the game ends, like that's all I'm thinking about, right? Like I'm just looking forward to the next football game. I enjoy watching this team. It's fun watching this team. It's fun watching Will Stein. Every week after the game, I'm counting down until the uncut video comes out so I can watch them. This team's having so much fun together and you can see it every week, right? Like this team, they are truly bought in. They're extremely close. Like they want to do it. You hear over and over, right? Do it for your brother. Do it for the guy next to you. And I feel I truly feel like every one of these guys believes that and they do it every Dillon Geralds: Well. Mason: single week. And, you know, I I said it earlier. This team, we're not we're not gonna blow anybody out, right? We're not super flashy. But we do the little things right. We take care of the football, we execute, we make changes during the game to figure out, you know, what they're doing well, how we can stop it, what we need to do better. We do the little things right. And if we take care of the football and keep doing these little things right and execute, we can beat anybody in the country. And I I I'll be honest with you, at this point I'm expecting it. Like, seriously, I am. That's where that's where I'm at now. I was trying all season not to get too excited. At this point I'm expecting it. Like I've seen I've seen this team. We can beat anybody in the country. I truly believe it. Dillon Geralds: I'm about to send Mason's little monologue there to uncut itself. Okay. Cohen, you gotta follow that up, Bulldog. All right. Give me your final take. What do you got for this Kentucky football team? Kolton Myatt: Why why not us? I mean, why can't we be the next Indiana? Why can't why can't we be these these teams that have all of a sudden thrived since the NIL started? Right? You you've went through the meat of your schedule against the teams that were supposed to whoop you and you've you've managed to get to six and one and you're four and one in the SEC. Why not finish it off? Right. this is not the same Kentucky team. And the reason why is we've won big games in the past. Right. We watched that Andre Woodson team take down LSU at home, the number one team, get to number eight, and then go to go to South Carolina that you're supposed to beat and get beat by 20, right? But we go to we go to Oklahoma after beating a big winning a big game and we win. Right? You you you grind, you win that game. Right? This ain't the same Kentucky team anymore. I mean it's it's not. They're here and they've got the guys that can that can beat anyone in the country. Are we the most talented? Absolutely not. But are but do we have a together a team that can beat anyone? Absolutely from all aspects of it. And you but more than anything, you have a bunch of guys that believe. Right. You have a fan base that believes now. And together that I mean that momentum can carry you a long way in college football. And so why not you know, why not us right now? Why not keep it going? There's nothing that has to stop it. You're you control it, the fan base can still ride with it. I mean there's nothing that says that we can't do it and so why why not keep the pedal down and keep going? Dillon Geralds: Love it. You know, you're sitting there talking about that that that unbelief. You know, I think for me, this has been the most it's been the most fun that I have ever had being a Kentucky college football fan. I I the the old me used to sit and watch games, get up and kind of do what I need to do throughout the day while they're playing, just because I'm like, okay, can we do it? Can we not do it? I don't know. Here we go, another Saturday watching Kentucky football. It is what it is. That's completely changed. It is completely done. I do not move from my seat. My my little three-year-old was wanting to do something, and I looked at him and I said, Haze, you know what the rules are now. Whenever Kentucky football is on, we're locked in. We're watching this. And he sits down, he watches it with me. I I mean, I've got I'm wearing a Will Stein shirt. If you are scared, go to church. Like he has brought so much passion. To BBN, to myself, to you all, to everybody in the state of Kentucky and throughout the night nation that like it it it's just so fun. It truly is. And I I can't put it into words what he's done thus far. And the season's not over. And Mason is I'm just like you, brother. Like, as soon as that game ended, I'm ready for Vanity. I'm ready already looking forward to when are we playing? Give it to me. Give me a Catterday. Let's get it. Colton. Why not us? I love that. Why not us? For those listening, what are you doing? If you've not went and got your bluegrass elite gear, go do it right now. Get you some Kentucky gear. But hey, we appreciate y'all. This has been another episode of Bluegrass State of Mind. Thank you all for tuning in, fellas. Great episode tonight. And we will be back with you all for another episode. Probably be releasing Friday morning to unpack the Vandy game and also the Kentucky Exhibition game against Texas Tech. As always, go cats. Mason: Cats.