Page 2, The Estill County Tribune, December 27, 2017 How Do Media Members Believe Cats Will Fare In Friday’s Games? drama, but it won’t mat- ter versus an improving team in . The Cards are even streakier than the Cats from the outside and can’t match Kentucky’s athleticism and newfound confidence. If this game were at the Yum Cen- ter, I might worry, but with a raucous crowd behind them, the Cats will roll.” Larry Glover, LarryGlov- erLive on WVLK: “I think UK wins the by Larry Vaught game. The Cats talent, over- all, is better but the differ- Friday could be the best ence will be Calipari. David day, worst day or some- Padgett may well be a great where in between for Uni- coach at some point but he’s versity of Kentucky fans. not ready for this moment If the Cats beat Louis- and this rivalry.” ville in basketball in Rupp Ryan Lemond, Kentucky Arena — something coach Sports Radio: “Kentucky John Calipari’s team is ex- wins the basketball game pected to — then UK fans because they’ve got a better are going to be happy. If the coach, better players, it’s at Cats beat Northwestern in Rupp Arena, and I don’t like Nashville in the Music City Louisville. Seriously, this is Bowl — something coach one of the few years where I Media members believe UK football fans need a bowl win to restore their faith in the team. (Vicky Graff Photo) Mark Stoops’ team is not think Kentucky should win expected to do — then UK by double digits. It’s one signs point to Northwestern lose some games this sea- It’s hard but on the other with the crowd. fans will be giddy. of the few meetings in the here, but I’m anxious to see son, the football team is in hand it is unreal you are were constantly passed to But what if UK wins just last 10 years that won’t be how Kentucky plays after a desperate need of momen- watching your child play on him. He would sign every- one game — or none? That close.” lackluster effort against Lou- tum after a disappointing TV. I am proud of what he thing that came through and won’t make for a happy Question: Who do you isville in the regular season end to the regular season. has done, too.” then stop and interview.” day. think wins the Kentucky- finale. Benny Snell is obvi- Last year, it was big enough She’s also learned not to , UK’s next I wondered how media Northwestern football game ously Kentucky’s catalyst, just to be in a bowl, but for overreact to what she might coach after Smith, would members felt about Ken- and why? but Northwestern has the Mark Stoops to continue see on social media about only sign autographs if a tucky’s big day because I Tom Leach: “Many bowl 10th best run defense in the this program’s growth and her son even though that’s basketball was handed to thought you would enjoy games are decided by some- country. If they stop Benny, get the fans back, he needs not always easy. him. Calipari came in and their answers. Here’s what thing that’s hard to mea- Kentucky doesn’t have a a big bowl win. Meanwhile, “I just ignore it. We, as a restarted what Smith had five state media members sure—does it matter sig- shot.” a loss to Louisville in bas- family, P.J. really does not done. who cover both UK basket- nificantly more to one team Larry Glover: “I think ketball won’t sting as much want us responding, and “He started signing and ball and football think about over the other and I don’t UK is more mentally and now that Pitino’s gone.” that’s fair. I get that. Good or it was just easier to focus Friday’s matchups. yet have a feel for that part physically ready for post- Larry Glover: “A win bad, he doesn’t want us do- on basketballs because he Question: Who do you of this matchup. I would season this time around but would be more important ing that,” Sherry Washing- was getting everything from think wins the Kentucky- think the Cats would be Northwestern is likely the to the football program. ton said. “Now is it hard for wedding napkins to slips Louisville basketball game highly motivated to re-write better team. That sad, I have Strangely, a winning foot- me as a mom? Yes because of paper. At some point, he and why? the ending to their season. I a odd feeling that UK finds ball season has a disap- I always want to protect my said it would be just basket- Tom Leach, UK Radio think a month of healing for away to pull it out. Once pointing feel given the slide kids. I have to really, really balls.” Network/Leach Report: players like Stephen John- again, Stephen Johnson down the stretch. UK really hold back at times to keep Leach said he would like “UK wins because first and son and Quinton Bohanna finds a way to make enough needs a strong finish to give myself from responding. to see someone take a pic- foremost, it’s at Rupp. To will be a big plus for Ken- plays to put Benny Snell the program a boost heading It’s hard. ture from behind Calipari win here, I think opponents tucky. I’m predicting UK and UK in position to grind into next season.” “I would encourage any on the postgame show when will likely need to have a will win the turnover mar- out an important win.” Ryan Lemond: “I think parent of a high profile kid “about 500 basketballs get significant edge in 3-point gin stat and that will be the Ryan Lemond: “Ken- it’s more important to win to try your best to stay off thrust into the air in unison” baskets and I don’t see that key to an upset win for the tucky wins the football the football bowl game. The social media. If I respond for Calipari to sign. happening in this matchup, Wildcats.” game even though North- football program needs a and they say something “But he always gets plus the Cards’ defensive Alex Risen: “UK needs western is a better team. good win. After letting wins negative to me, then my son some serious signing done,” rebounding percentage is a bowl victory to rally fans. Northwestern doesn’t want slip away against Florida gets mad. It’s best to just Leach said. not good and offensive re- Good season full of ‘what to be in Nashville playing in and Ole Miss, and then get- leave it alone.” Quotes of the Week bounds are a big part of the if’s’ dampens success. the Music City Bowl. They ting blown out in their final by Larry Vaught Cats’ script for success.” Northwestern might not had their sights on bigger, two games, this team and our Quote of the Week: “He Alex Risen, WTVQ-TV be the name-brand game better bowls. We saw the fans need a feel-good win. Tom Leach knows when is going to be okay. I think sports director: “UK could fans put value in, but at 9-3 same thing years ago with The basketball team and our he does a postgame radio once he figures it out he will use another big win over a and in top 25, Northwest- Clemson and Florida State. fans will be fine even if they show with Kentucky coach be fine. I just can’t have him power 5 school. Tough to ern could be just what Cats Neither team really wanted lose to U of L because I be- John Calipari at Rupp Arena taking two steps forward beat UK at Rupp; even for need to put stamp on prog- to be in Nashville, and it lieve this team can make a that fans are going to throw and three steps back,” Paul an improving UofL bunch ress headed into 2018. UK showed. UK is hungry af- big run in March. Football basketballs to Calipari for Washington on the progress that will come in with big has to stop the run (North- ter finishing the season with needs the win more than him to sign. He remembers his son, P.J. Washington, is chip on shoulder knowing western’s Justin Jackson is back to back losses. UK basketball.” a time one ball actually hit making at UK. the crowd and environment well decorated and rushed wins in an upset.” As for me, I see a Ken- Calipari in the head but an Quote of the Week 2: will be toughest of season. 1,000 plus yards in each of Question: Is it more im- tucky basketball win but I even bigger problem was “That’s secret. I could tell But UK also will have a his four seasons). Cats have portant for UK to win the just don’t see UK’s passing another time when a ball you this: Unfortunately I chip after the UCLA loss. struggled to be tough on ‘D’ football game or the basket- game being strong enough landed on the network’s haven’t made that recruiting UK beats UofL 76-67.” but have the time to prepare ball game? to win the football game. equipment and knocked trip yet, so I’m going to have Tyler Thompson, Ken- and personnel to get it done. Tom Leach: “I think the by Larry Vaught them off the air. to maybe go -- might have tucky Sports Radio: “Ken- With tons of blue in Nash- ‘important’ part of this dis- “Imagine trying to inter- to go in January,” Kentucky tucky wins. David Padgett ville, Cats beat Northwest- cussion is overstated. The Sherry Washington has view preacher during ser- coach Mark Stoops after has done an admirable job ern 27-24.” basketball team is going to tried to get used to not being mon, and he is preaching signing Australian punter after all of the Tyler Thompson: “All be a lot better in March than able to watch her son, Ken- to the crowd,” Leach said. Max Duffy last week. it is now so a loss would not tucky freshman P.J. Wash- “Sometimes there will be a Quote of the Week 3: keep the Cats from getting ington, play in person ev- few thousand fans there. Cal “We have already bought where they want to go, al- ery game this season. She’s stands up and does it (the a 38-foot RV. We have to though you could make the almost always been at his show and autographs). He have somewhere to stay argument that a home loss games but living in Nevada, is preaching to the crowd in when we come to games, might end up costing them she knew she would miss Rupp but also talking to a so his mom’s idea was to a line or two on the bracket games this season. larger on the radio get a RV. So we got one,” come Selection Sunday. As “Yes it is hard. I am yell- and internet. Louis Poore on already be- for football, a win would ing at the TV screen and I “The thing with the balls ing prepared to follow Ken- certainly put a better spin on know he doesn’t hear me,” goes back to (former coach) tucky football after his son, the overall perception of the Sherry Washington said. Tubby (Smith). He was gra- Chance, signed with UK season but I don’t see it nec- ‘But I am yelling. I am nor- cious and would sign stuff last week. essarily having a big impact mally yelling in the stands. forever. He would interact on next season and win or lose, I think fans are always going to lament the one that got away against Florida. I think the Cats would be best served by not thinking about how ‘important’ the game might be and just play relaxed and see what hap- pens.” Alex Risen: “Bowl win bigger than early season victory over rival in hoops. Fans hate losing to Louis- ville, but football program needs a postseason win. Huge jolt in arm headed into 2018 would keep progress in motion. UK could lose tight game to Cards, still show progress and learn (as Cal says) and be fine come league play.” Tyler Thompson: “It’s John Calipari always manages to sign a lot of bas- close, but I say the football ketballs during his postgame radio show with Tom game. Whereas we know Sherry Washington monitors social media but knows no matter what she sees Leach. (Vicky Graff Photo) this basketball team will about her son, P.J. Washington, she can’t respond. (Larry Vaught Photo)