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This Bingie beef Jerkey Podcast of the Leach Report is also presented by Boons Butcher Shop, one hundred old Bloomfield Pike in Barnestown, fresh meat cut on location daily and they're family owned and operated, have been since nineteen forty six. Good day, everybody, Welcome into the Leach Report, presented by Bobcat Enterprises, and we have a packed show today. We'll lead off with new Kentucky women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks. Michael Eves will check in from Valhalla where he is covering the PGA Championship this week for ESPN. Kentucky boy does good, It makes good Brown and Michael and the great work that he does at ESPN. We got a chance to catch up to coach Alvin Brooks the third yesterday. We're going to be getting with all of the new assistant coaches over the course of the next few weeks. But we've got an interview I did yesterday with coach Brooks, Alvin Brooks. It's two Coach Brooks is today and then Larry Vaught. So that's the lineup. We had News of the day always the service of Giseppes of Lexington and let's get to little Kentucky basketball news. With the schedule yesterday announced from the SEC for men's basketball, the home of home and away opponents, Kentucky and Arkansas will play only once this season, and it'll be at Rop Arena, with John Calipari coming back into the building in which he coached for fifteen years. Kentucky will have home and homes with Tennessee, Vandy, and Alabama. They'll take road trips to Texas and Oklahoma, among others, so the two newcomers, we'll both get to post Kentucky no trip to Florida. As best I can tell, it's the first time since nineteen sixty three that the Cats will not play in Gainesville against the Gators. Annsley Almanor is a name you need to know for Kentucky basketball. He's from Fairleigh Dickinson and he's visiting or going to visit UK. Six seven two nineteen sixteen point per game average last season, shot thirty nine percent on threes. If they land him, seems to be just a key piece that they needed. They need one more big guy, preferably one that could help stretch the floor. They've got two bigs that are more back to the basket inside guys, although certainly a Mariy Williams is very comfortable playing out on the perimeter, but as a score more of a back to the basket guy alman Or very much kind of in the mold of the young man for wake Forest Andrew Carr, who can face up, stretch the floor with his three point shooting. So it would be a nice pickup for Kentucky if they can land him. Zagswog reporting that Saint John's is going to play in rap Arena next season twenty five to twenty sixth season, and then the Cats would return to MSG the next year Madison Square Garden. That's according to what Rick Patino told some folks and Adam Zagoria with that report. Football note twenty five commit running back Isaiah West has decommitted from Kentucky, a lot of folks thinking he will end up pledging now to Ohio State. This comes in the wake of Kentucky getting a recent running back commitment for that class too from Marquise Davis. Links to the stories that we talk about, you can find those on the bud Light Leech Triport page at Tom leachky dot com, heading to the break and back with coach Kenny Brooks. Opening segment presented by Giuseppes of Lexington and if you are looking for a fantastic meal and just a really special setting, it's Giuseppes. Go to Giuseppes Lexington dot com or open table to make your reservation. Fantastic food, full wine and bourbon selections to Scott at the Bar makes a fantastic martini. Check it all out at Giuseppes Lexington, just off Nicholasville Road. We'll be right back with coach Kenny Brooks thirteen past the top of the hour. We come to you from the Clark's pumpin Shop studio. Return, refresh and refuel at Clark's. Go to Mike Clark's PNS dot com if you're looking for work and you can start the process right there. We go to the Club lou Nil hotline. Bring on UK Women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks. Coach, how you doing? I'm doing fantastic. How about yourself doing well? You certainly hit the ground running when you arrived in Lexington. How what's left to do? What boxes are left to be checked before the next your first season her starts. Well, there's a lot to do you know, I was talking about it was a whirlwind as we got there, and we upgraded it toward tornado because hitting the ground running and having to, you know, to put together a whole roster. Essentially, it's a new age, a new age of college athletics. And but we we did a really good job. I was very proud of my staff. They came in, they hit the ground running. I think we assembled to a really good team. Have a couple more pieces we'd like to put together through this recruiting process, but it's never ending, never ending cycles, so we're still working. Do you feel comfortable saying what types of pieces you're looking to add, not necessarily who, but just what. Yeah, I think it's been well documented. We've got the good size and we just probably need some more depth at the the guard spot. We we've got some experience, we've got some younger players. I think what South Carolina proved this year that you need depth and uh, you know, so hopefully we can we can finish it out. I like where we are. We're just trying to it's almost, so to speak, trying to put the cherry on top, uh, to really give us some assurances. But I like what we put together so far, and we're excited. I heard one of your players, George Amore, on with our Sunday morning show guys here in Lexington last weekend. She's a very impressive young lady. Yes she is. I tell you what. You have to have her on. She is as dynamic as she is on the court, she's more dynamic in person. Just her personality. And I've been very, very proud of her. I affectionately call her my mini knee, and uh, you know, we we we've been together, been through some you know, some tough times, some good times, and and you know she's like my she's like my daughter. And uh, and so having her come along with us, uh, you know, BBN's going to love her. And not just because she could put the ball in the bat in the basket, but she's a she's a delightful young lady. She's helping us tremendously through the recruiting process. Uh. And I just think that everyone's going to fall in love with her personality. You can certainly see leadership on a on a court, but I thought with her you could hear it just in the in the way that the interview went. Yeah, she had to grow up quickly. You know, she traveled across the world, not across the country, across the world, and two months into her tenure in the United States, you know, COVID hit And so she was essentially not on her own because you know, we brought her in and everyone welcomed her to the point where she's you know, part of our family. But you know, she had to endure a lot. And she was starting point guard as a freshman, uh in a high level conference. Uh. And we threw it to the wolves, and you know, it was either you know, swim or sink. And you know, and she's plan very beautifully and developed into a very confident young lady, you know. And what she does not only for our team, but just for like the community. Little girls, little girls idolize her, and you know, so many, so many high school kids idolize her because she's not physically imposing. You know, she's five foot six on her tipetoes, tremendously athletic, but she just got an aura about her that exudes confidence and everyone wants to follow her. Little girls want to be her and uh. And so so it's a great start for us to have her leading our program for the first year as you change leagues in this career move, how do you think it? Uh, do you need to change in terms of building a roster to be able to succeed in the SEC? Yeah, time, I've heard that question a lot. But I think what you have to do you have to be true to yourself, you know. And I'm I'm I'm no genius, So I don't think that I'm too dumb where I'm gonna think that I can just come in and you know, don't have to adapt at all, you do, But I think you have to stay true to your philosophies and what you want to do. And we've played against SEC teams and we've had tremendous success against them doing it our way with our style. But I think you have to just be ready to pivot, you know, at certain times. But the main thing is to be true to yourself. And you know, we're going to bring in some size, We're going to bring in some shooting, We're going to bring in some high IQ basketball players who are willing to get in there in battle and bang a little bit. And I think that's the recipe for me to be successful, because I don't know how to do it. Any other way. I don't know how to at my age just totally flip it and change it, to adapt to something that I haven't done my whole career, which has been successful doing it the way we've done it. So we'll just keep doing it, but we'll be ready to pivot and understanding that it is a different league. We know that, but we're excited to be able to bring what we can bring to the league and hopefully it's the same thing we did in the ACC You know, we were a little bit different than most teams and uh yes, we had to adapt to them, but they also had to adapt to us as well. Doble coach Kenny Brooks of UK women's basketballs he gets set for his first season at Kentucky. It's an exciting time for the women's game with the explosion of interest through players like Kaitlyn Clark and Angel Reese and in recent years, how does the just collectively, you know, is the stalwarts in the game. Now, what's what can you guys take advantage of to continue to grow the sport. Well, you have to capitalize on the popularity of it. We were kind of in that explosion when it happened. We went to the final four when we were at Virginia Tech two years first time, right, yeah, first time, first time ever. And the two young and young ladies that you mentioned who really helped transform women's basketball to what it is right now, you know, the Caitlyn Clarks and the Angel Resons. We we played against them, we played alongside them, and we were there and that's how Georgia Amore uh and Elizabeth Kittley, you know, burst onto the scene and their popularity grew uh in which we brought back to Virginia Tech. And you know, last year we were selling out a nine thousand seed arena and you know, we we just have to capitalize on it. But I think you do that by showcasing the young ladies talents, but also their personalities. And I think the you know, the networks have done a really good job of doing that. Everyone's jumped on board. It's been some tremendous stories that have been put out there. But I think we need to continue. You can't just rest on your laurels and what it is. You have to continue to capitalize on its, whether it's the w NBA with their popularity and you know, having pretty much the summer to showcase the talent and women's basketball. Uh. And then we as we as coaches, we as you know, administrators, we as rulemakers have to continue to make our game exciting for people so we can bring in not just the hardcore fan, but the casual fan or even the doubters and uh. And so I think it's a great time because there's a lot of eyes on us. We just need to continue to capitalize on it and don't rest on our laurels of where we've gotten to and continue to game to grow. Yeah, I think it's it's an exciting time for the game, but for your program in particular because a lot of enthusiasm that is certainly out there now. Uh and new or you know, it's a revamped Memorial Coliseum that people are going to be excited to see. So we appreciate the time and uh, I'm really looking forward to seeing the team in action for too long. Yeah, it's an exciting times, to tell you what. You know, I said that this is a sleeping giant, and just walking around Lexington, even if I think I'm incognito, there's a lot of people who are are watching and aware. And it's been a very very exciting month or so and we're looking forward to opening up Memorial and getting a lot of people in there. And it's gonna be a tremendous, tremendous atmosphere. I think it's gonna be. It's gonna be very very intimate, and uh, I think it's gonna give us a home court advantage. And we're seeing it with the crowds for for baseball and men's teens. When things are going well, the Big Blue Nation will jump on board. Yes they will. We're looking forward to being a part of it. Thank you, coach, Thank you Tom. That is coach Kenny Brooks. We are going ahead to a break. He joins us other Club Blue ATIL hotline Michael Eves in the on deck circle. Go to Club BLUEIL dot com click join Club Blue and do it by midnight tomorrow to have a chance to be a part of the New Era in UK basketball event coming up in June where you can do a meet and greet we coach Pope and the staff and the team. If you're a subscriber by May fifteenth midnight on May fifteenth, then you're eligible for that special VIP event that's only open to Club Blue subscribers various levels in which you can participate in the NIL e for for Club Blue nil dot com and then click join Club Blue and you'll see all the options avatable. We'll be right back. Nature Report's presented by Bob tat Enterprises and next up on the Club Blue NIL is Michael Eves. He'll be angering the Sports Center coverage from Valhalla this week for the PGA Championship. And Michael, I know you love these big events in covering golf in particular, it has to be pretty cool to be doing it in your home state, though, No, you're right, Tom, It's just it's a convergence of two of my favorite things, and that is a major championship golf in my home state. And you know, I remember the very first PGA Championship way back in nineteen ninety six. That was at Valhalla and I was working at WAKYC there in Lexington and it went over a couple of days, me and Dave Baker, and that to me at that time, it was one of the coolest things, right as the closest I've been to, you know, golfers at that level. But I haven't been back to Valhalla Tom since then. Oh wow. So yesterday it was the first time I've been back on the property. I've never played the golf course. I'm hoping to do that this week though, or next week, i should say. So it was really cool to be back and just kind of see how it evolves over the years. But I'm really looking forward to this week. It should be an exciting brand of golf because every time a major venue, major championship has been at this venue, it's been an exciting finish, whether the first one is Mark Broke to ninety six, you know, beating Kenny Perry, or everybody remembers what happened with Tiger, but even Rory in twenty fourteen as a one shot win over Phil Mickelson and the drama coming down the eighteenth hole with the with the light and trying to get it in before it got dark. Like, It's been some exciting golf here. So I'm really looking forward to it. I mean, I remember that when Kentucky was playing in the Bahamas for the first time and everybody was rushing to the beach, and I was rushing to get to my room to watch the final part of the PGA Championship, And you can barely see it on TV. Yeah, it was so dark towards the end, but it is special, and you know the thing that I appreciate. I was out there yesterday for a couple hours and I ran in Gary Woodland and talked to him briefly that all the players, they really love the golf course that I've heard so far, and it looked spectacular. Number one, It's just it just looks great. So it's a good representation of Kentucky and especially central Kentucky, this area. And you know what I had forgotten about how the golf course set up, but just driving to it yesterday and seeing the fencing as you get to the property, just reminding you that you are in horse country and that this was a horse farm and exactly horses on the property on the regular. It was just it's a cool moment. And the players really kind of get a kick out of it too. You're going to be doing Sports Center segments player interviews. And then I think I saw a note preview shows today and tomorrow. Is that right? Yeah, we do practice round shows on ESPN Plus. Again it's three hours each time, and you know, we get we actually take fans out on the golf course and kind of give you an idea of how the course is going to play. We do some interviews with players out there as well, and it's really this, especially the Wednesday one, is the last time that we really get an idea of what the golf course is going to be like. And so yeah, on ESPN Plus you can see that first one Today's twelve twelve to three. Matt Barry's actually anchoring the one today because I've got to do something else, and then I do the one on Wednesday with Michael Eaves. The ESPN hometown Boy Makes Good started out. I grew up here in Kentucky, worked at k y T for with Rob Bromley, Dave Baker to Gabriel How many years between the years I started when I was in college to the time I left. I was there for six years ninety nine. Well that that's interesting. Well get into to that here. The second with that kind of coincides with the new men's basketball coach. But before we get there, let me ask you about you know, you cover a lot of big time sports, talk to some of the top athletes in the world. How's it different working and talking and interviewing golfers versus athletes and other big time sports, is it? I say collectively it is. Individually it is not. You know, most golfers come from a country club background, right, as opposed to most athletes, whether basketball players, football players. Most of them didn't come from me, right, So from a cultural standpoint, it's different. And you know, these guys are pampered a little bit more on the PGA tour compared to other sports, right, So that is a bit different, just collectively, right. But when I'm doing the actual job, especially the post round interviews that I do with the matches that I do here this week on Thursday or Friday, at that point, it is just really like any other postgame interview as far as I'm concerned, because you want to give the fans and the viewers watching and some insights into what the players were thinking feeling as they were playing. More with Michael Leaves, will we cover right back? It is the lead report Leach repart presented by Bob Cat Enterprises, And on the line with us is Michael Leaves For a couple more minutes. I wanted to you mentioned you were with the KYT guys in the mid through late nineties, so I want to get your take on Mark Pope, who you covered them coming back as the new men's basketball coach for the Cats now. Well, first and foremost, I'm very happy for him. Marks one of the nicest guys who ever meet. And he works hard, obviously with his playing career at Kentucky to become a decent player and then you know, making the NBA for a while, and he's worked really hard in his coaching career as well, so to get this opportunities great for him. But when this was happening, I didn't think he would be a candidate for the job, quite honestly, and he probably didn't either. I mean, this the way things played out, Yeah, life is funny that way. But again, like I think he's going to bring all the enthusiasm that I think the program needs right now based on how Calan Perry's exits played out. So you know, as far as I'm concerned, Pope is hope and I'm hoping that this thing gets turned around pretty quickly and we get back to the level of competing for championships that the fans expect. He had to completely rebuild a roster and then put together a staff, so things done a nice job of putting that together on the flies, I think you know, what his team will ultimately kind of his personal stamp on it probably won't see until, you know, maybe years two and three and beyond. But in a short amount of time, he seems to have done some good work. Yeah, it was funny. I actually mentioned this on social media recently. When he got his fifth player on the roster. It's like, all right, well we got enough to play, good to go, Yes, we can start a game. He's got five players out there. But yeah, I mean, considering how the thing transpired and what he had to do in a short period of time, Yes, And I think Kentucky fans realized that, Tim and you got to be a little patient based on how this roster came together. And then to your point, I think you're exactly right. His identity of what a team will look like, you won't see it for least two maybe three years. Yeah, it is. You know, it's a job here that excuse me, Joe Joe Hall kept for thirteen years, and he I think even said that that was a little too long. Kind of tends the number of most people talk about. But that's it's understandable. I mean you know what the spotlight's like here. I mean, you grew up here and then covered it, and it is a hard job to stay in a long time, especially these days when you know the coverage is to the level that it is and the passion has always been there. Yeah, it has been and it always will be, and that's what makes the program great, quite honestly. But for you know, coaches coming into this position, and that's why, you know, quite frankly, some of the other coaches turned it down. And to me, as an alum in Kentucky statue, I thought that was kind of embarrassing. But when I thought about it, not everybody's built for that. Yeah, and you you, and for Mitch Barnhardt in that situation, he was not prepared to hire a coach because you think he's gonna need one, because he thought Calvi was staying, so all of a sudden it happened. And that job is not built for everyone, and you have to have a certain type of personality to want that job. And to your point, Kyl was there for a long time and maybe as it played out, it was best for him to leave. Maybe the manner in which he left doesn't sit well with a lot of people, but he probably felt that he wasn't treated in a certain manner at the end that led him to leave the way he did. But none of that matters ultimately as you move forward. But for as long as he was there and the things he accomplished, you know that as a Kentucky program, we have to be happy for him. But at the same time, yes, that is a long time to be anywhere, especially modern day coaching. You know, you don't see that happen much. You got it with Micha chefskid Duke before he retired. Bill Selt has been at Kansas for a long time. But that's literally, that's it. That's a handful of people who stay in a position as long as Kyl did at Lexxington. Well, Michael, I know you're very busy. I appreciate the time. You know, all of us that know you from here just burst with the pride with the work you're doing at the highest level. So keep it going. Oh, I appreciate it. Tom. I'm glad that highest levels now in Kentucky. This week, hope there you go. The coverage you can watch Michael Leaves on Sports Center on Sport on the ESPN Plus doing his coverage from the PGA Championship this week. Now, I want to shift gears. And I had a chance to sit down with one of Mark Pope's new assistants yesterday, Alvin Brooks, the third His dad was on the staff here with Billy Gillespie for a couple of seasons. Got a chance to sit down with Alvin yesterday and talk about joining up with Mark Pope. So, Alvin, tell me what was the appeal of coming to Kentucky from a very successful program you ran at Baylor. I think, you know, first of all, I think Lexington is a great spot for our family. We have two sons with autism, and the resources here to help our sons we feel like would be great. So that was the first thing. And then after that, I mean, Kentucky basketball is Kentucky basketball. My dad was here for two years. He raved about how much he loved Lexington, how much he loved the program and the support from the fan base. And you know, after doing a lot of research and talking to Coach Pope and actually being around him and the staff, you know, I felt comfortable to be able to make a move and leaving a spot to where we won seventy three percent of our games in eight years, so plus a national championship in two Big twelve championships, So it had to be a special place in order for us to leave Baylor, and we felt like this was it. Did you know Mark before he approached you about this job? No, just the two times I shook his hand in the games this past season. Once shook his hand, happy, I shook his hand and I was mad. So other than that, No, but I did my research. I talked to different people that work for him. I talked to different coaches that you know knows him, and everybody raved about how much of a great, you know, great person he is. But still there's that one on one meeting where you want, I'm sure, in your contemplating that kind of career change, you want to really connect with the guy that you're going to be working with. So what was what was it about that meeting that kind of convinced you, Yep, this is what I need to do. I don't you know? It took a while, I think, well, I shouldn't say a while, probably a week, but you know, I could feel him interviewing me the first phone call for like twenty five minutes and then the last five minutes, I felt like he went to recruiting me, and so I think after he went to recruit me, I knew, you know, I had to make sure that we were a great fit as well as he did. And so we had a chance to connect a lot a lot of different conversations, and I think we just I felt comfortable with him, and I felt comfortable in the vision that you know, he wants where he wants Kentucky basketball to be moving forward. Did you get a feel in that process? Tore like, Okay, this guy's going to be this is about I can have a lot of success with it because he's gonna be a good recruiter. Yes, I mean I thought, you know, me and coaching for over twenty years and my dad and close to forty, like, I've heard a lot of different recruiters throughout my life, and so just you know, to me, it was more genuine. And I think the fact that I could tell he wasn't selling me a dream and he was just telling me the reality of things. And so you know, that's kind of how I feel when I communicate with guys, is I want to just know the truth and then let me make the decision from there, and I thought he did a great job with that. For me, that's interesting because I think that's how a lot of fans have received him. That he's saying all the things you would like the guy in that job to say, but they seem completely authentic, and so that cuts through a lot. I'm sure with players these days it does. It does. I mean, because you know a lot of players, you know they're going to be sold to dream and so I think a lot of times they have to know the difference between reality and you know, somebody that's just trying to get you to come play for him, and you know, I think the fact here is we can't only you know, we could tell you, but we can also show you. And so I think that's the difference. Like when you talk about a passionate fan base, we could say, but then we could give stories on how our Twitter followers have went through the roof for you know, how when you go in the community, people know who you are, Like those things don't happen everywhere. So I think that really helps us in recruiting. Larry Vaught, longtime media member here, covered your dad when he was here, heard Larry telling the story about maybe he talked to your dad or heard an interview where your dad tried to steer you away from coaching initially, So tell us why you did that and how you found your way back. Yes, he did. Now, to be honest, I never wanted to be a coach. I actually grew up. I didn't want to follow in his footsteps. I have a finance degree, and if I knew I was going to be a coach, I probably wouldn't have to have a finance degree. And I have a master's degree as well. So I for a year I tried financial advising, and I shadowed Jim Sinner, who's the athletic director youtub, because I thought I wanted to be athletic director. But I was miserable for that year, and so I ended up calling my dad said I want to coach. He said, no, call me back in two weeks, and so it was a long two weeks. And it's ironic that one of my close friends, the best man of my weddiness was Shaw Lewis, and he was playing for the Seattle Sonics, and so I was in Seattle. It was him and I went to watch him practice and Nate McMillan and Dwayne Casey were the two coaches that I actually watched, and I was like, I could do this, and that's you know, long story show up. My dad called me and he wanted me to start in junior college because he wanted me to learn to be more than just a recruiter as FIRS as coming here taking this particular job. What kind of advice did your dad give you? Be myself and you know, just stay locked in. He said it could be a lot of distractions with just because this is the best of the best, and he says to get distracted, So he say just stay focused and just be who I am and then let the rest take care of himself. I think as part of that story too, with your dad steering you maybe away from coaching initially and then when you did get into it, he wanted you to be in a situation where you had to do everything. You weren't just focused on recruiting primarily, right, Yes, he did, because you know, my dad became a head coach at a young age. He was maybe thirty three years old. He had maybe one or two scouts his whole career leading up to being a head coach, and so he wasn't as prepared that he needed to be. And so it's hard to be successful as a head coach when you're great at recruiting, but you got to do more once they get on campus. And he wanted to make sure that when I'm blessed to be a head coach, I wouldn't put in that same position. So starting in junior college, we literally did everything. So I'm glad I did. He was at Texas A and M at the time, and I thought I should go with him, but I'm glad I because I wouldn't be where I'm at now. How do you what's your approach to coaching beyond your dad who kind of influenced that. I just you know, growing up and you play, and a lot of times I just used the experiences that I experienced as a player. I was blessed to play with a lot of great players. I was blessed to win a lot of games. But I also been a part of a time where we didn't win, and so I look back now and I see why we didn't win, and so I use those experiences as a coach, and I explained the stories to different student athletes to let them know like, I've been there and so I know what it takes. And you know, luckily we've had some players that listen and we've been blessed to be a part of a lot of winning. As much as you can tell us, How does the staff dynamic work? You guys, you get together and you have meetings? Is it you know, a lot of back and forth? Does Mark kind of take the lead? How does all that work? Yeah? I mean, obviously the head coach always take the lead, so coach Pope take the lead, but he also allows a lot of input from all of us. I think we have a very experienced staff and guys that have coached for a long time, and so you know, I like to say everybody has an ego, but you know, I could tell with this staff, we all put our ego to the side for the main mission. And so I think it's been an opportunity for we all share different stories and we all share different knowledge, and you know, it's been it's been very very cool to see. It's been fast, but it's been very cool to see as far as Mark's pitched to you or his vision for what he wants to do here, what was it that really kind of what were some of the things that really kind of stood out to you. I think the main mission is the pursuit of winning national championship number nine. I think that's you know, that's something that I've been blessed to be a part of three national championships, and that's another opportunity for me to come here and try to be a part of number nine. So him saying that, and you know, to me, that's the main thing. And you know, I think everything under that, you know what happened as far as guys being able to play professionally and guys you know, obviously obtaining a degree. I think that's important. And I think those three things I think we'll be able to do together. Look forward to working with you. Look forward to it as well. Coach Alvin Brooks the third and sharp young man, and he's I think gonna do great things here. We're gonna get to break come back. Larry Vaught will join the program. We're presented by Bobcat Enterprises with four locations in Kentucky. If you are looking to buy or rent Bobcat a loader, excavator, forklift, any kind of heavy equipment, they're the folks you need to see Google Bobcat Enterprises find the one of those four locations that is closest to you. Great service after the sale as well, we'll be right back back to the club Blue and Highline. Larry Vaught joins the program from your Sports Edge dot com walts us dot com. Larry and I have been doing this long enough to know that you should never say never, because a few years ago, the odds probably were pretty long that Rick Patino might come back into rupp Arena coaching against the Wildcats and get a real nice to ovation. And that'll probably happen next season, right I would think it death. That looks like it's going too and I think with Mark Pope here, it'll be a nice ovation and to be a little bit unusual to have two former UK coaches bringing teams into Rupperena in the same season. Well, I guess that it could happen. I mean, it'll be the twenty five twenty six for Rick, but Kentucky and Arkansas potentially could play. They have to be playing twice this year, so maybe they'll play twice that next season and we'd have two two in the same season. Yeah, that's what I was thinking, that probably they'll see how good it goes this year, the SEC does match him up again next year, you would think. So let's talk a little bit about Red Shepherd. You were very bullish on what he could do as a college basketball player when not as many were from covering him, and he goes and just shines. Now at the NBA combine the latest example of exceeding expectations for that young man forty two inch vertical leap I think yesterday, and the testing was the fourth highest, and they obviously got to look at how well he can shoot it, and being talked about his potential top five draft pick. I mean, as I said, you were bullish on him. Were you that bullish? No? I'm not that smart, Tom. But I thought he was going to be far better than a lot of people thought he would be because I knew he was a much more athletic player than probably what he couldn't give him credit for. But I got admit I never quite saw the huge leap in his three point shooting percentage, because he was a good shooter in hiskell, well above average in high school, but not the way that he turned out to shoot this last season, or the way that he put the ball in the basket at the workout yesterday had just been pretty phenomenal for him. So really happy for Reed Shepherd. I don't know if this will happen, but I kind of hope it does. That more guys and ladies will recognize that you can stay with your high school team and do just fine. Yeah, And it's pretty pretty cool that Kentucky's going to have three guys that have done that come through here now with Free Shepherd, then with Travis Perry, then with Trent Noah, all guys that had chances to leave and go somewhere else, stayed with their high school team, had success and ended up playing at Kentucky. So in a day where a lot of top athletes transfer for different reasons, those three guys all decided to stay right where they were. It's been pretty cool to see that. Yes, yes, it has stockbolt Kentucky Baseball. They're have to number two in the D one baseball rankings this week and hosting Wright State if they get to play that one tonight and then Vandy this weekend, and they could wrap up just the second SEC championship in school history. And you know that it was the old hot seed discussion before last season for Nick Bingeon and they had a great year last year, winning a regional and now they may be hosting a regional and if that goes well, a super regional. Yeah, it's been incredible and they are so much fun to watch because you never know what's going to happen. I mean, they sometimes give up a lot of runs, but they also score a lot of runs. And they have a unique style on the field. And you got to give Nick Bingji own credit. I mean he kind of adapted and went heavy into the transfer portal, changed his playing style a little bit, and his guys certainly have fun make it exciting to watch it very frustrating, I think to play against them, and I would think unless they get swept by Vanderbilt, they've got to be in a position that if they win a winter regional now to host a super regional with a rank second like what they are. Yeah, everything I've read that the sinces, the top eight seeds are almost locked in at this point with the schools that we'll get to host super regionals if they're able to advance that far. And you know it's the crowds have been tremendous. Yeah, I mean the capacity every game. It seems like I'm sure there will be this weekend if they get the Super Regional, A Regional and super Regional. I think it's going to rock out there. Larry Vaughan, Thank you much, all right. This is the Leads Report Radio Network. Stan Wildcatt History is presented by Kentucky Roads Show, Sports Cards and Memorabilia, Romney Road in Lexington at roadshowcards dot com. Couple of birthdays Aaron Bradshaw, Happy birthday as he is headed off to play at Ohio State. And the person that has scored the most points as a basketball player, the history of the University of Kentucky. Valerie still celebrating a birthday today. I was in school when val was playing PJ. Hedges or Edguington Lee Wise as great Kentucky Women teams, and I think the Kentucky Women are headed back there. With Kenny Brooks Triple Crown coverage the Spring presented by Claiborne Farm doing the usual unusually well for more than one hundred years. Mooth installed as the eight to five favorite over the Derby winner for the premous Mouth Draws post four out of the Bob Baffort Stable Derby Winter Mystic Dan Kenny McPeak five to two second choice. He'll break right next door in post position five this Saturday up in Baltimore. See you tomorrow, I'll The Leach Report presented by Bob Kat Enterprises. Thanks for listening to The Leach Report. Anytime you miss the show, you can catch the Mingy Beef Tricky Podcast. Find them at Tom Leachky dot com or on the iHeartRadio app. Interested in advertising on the show, email Leach Reports at gmail dot com. We'll see you next time on The Leech Report.