The Mike Keith Show (Mar. 26, 2026)

Rick Barnes talks Friday night hoops.
Jeremiah Telander loves the Jim Knowles' defensive scheme.
And Evan Blanco thinks playing ice hockey when he was younger has helped him as a pitcher on Sundays.
An all new Mike Keith Show to cover it all.

Transcript

SPEAKER_11 0:00

From the banks of the Mississippi to the peaks of the smokies, this is the home field of champions. More than 75 years of broadcast excellence. We are the Fall Network. We're big orange fans. Get ready for game day. Your guide, The Voice of the Falls, Mike Keith.

SPEAKER_10 0:44

Delivered by Uber Eats. So glad to have you with us for the Mike Keats Show delivered by Uber Eats. On game day, you don't want to miss a single play. Uber Eats brings your favorite food right to your door. Wings, pizza, burgers, whatever you're craving. It's just a tap away. Download the Uber Eats app and use the code GOBIGORNERGE to get$15 off all orders. Uber Eats, official on-demand delivery partner of the balls. Let's eat. And when the Valls play late tomorrow night, when they take on Iowa State and Chicago, would be a great time to use that Go Big Orange code and enjoy some Uber Eats. Remind you, too, that this segment of the Mike Keith Show is brought to you by KUB Fiber, the world's fastest internet at Vall Nation's favorite way to connect. Let's bring in Mr. 865, Dr. Andy Brock.

SPEAKER_07 1:42

How are you, sir? Mike, I'm good. I'm already preparing my coffee for tomorrow night for the fourth straight year, Sweet 16.

SPEAKER_10 1:49

Sweet 16 for the Vols, and it is going to be late night with the Vols. 9:30 Eastern Time air time on the Ball Radio Network. If you're in the central time zone, it's a little easier. 8:30 air time. Tip is scheduled for 10-10. But Andy, you point out it might not be 10-10.

SPEAKER_07 2:09

It depends on that game beforehand. Two years ago, Tennessee was in Detroit, and that game started a good 20 or 30 minutes later than proposed, and that was also a 10-10 start time. Beautiful. Sounds great.

SPEAKER_10 2:22

Someone who will be fighting to stay up to watch it. I know she will. Sarah Deadweiler.

SPEAKER_26 2:28

You would be correct, Mike.

SPEAKER_10 2:30

Host of the Everything Orange podcast. How much do you have to fight to stay up for a late basketball game?

SPEAKER_26 2:38

So much. But you know, I'll probably prepare myself by getting a nap in.

SPEAKER_10 2:43

A nap.

SPEAKER_26 2:43

And then I'll be good to go for a 10-10. Who knows? Even maybe even later. Tip.

SPEAKER_07 2:48

A nap. It's the sweet 16. You have to.

SPEAKER_10 2:51

You have to.

SPEAKER_26 2:52

We have to rally.

SPEAKER_10 2:53

You have to rally uh for sure. By the way, who's on the Everything Orange podcast this week?

SPEAKER_26 2:58

No one. No one. No one. No, we don't have a podcast this week. We'll be back next week, though. But this week, we've got some documentary stuff that we're in the thick of at the moment.

SPEAKER_10 3:08

All right. Documentary stuff we're in the thick of. Good to know. All right, we're keeping up with all of that. I'm looking forward to the documentary. Uh, I did want to ask you, you're from Virginia. Did you give the business to anybody from Virginia after the win? Because you you didn't go to UVA.

SPEAKER_26 3:26

No, and I actually didn't really grow up a Virginia Tech or a UVA fan, but uh my boyfriend is a big UVA fan, grew up a big UVA fan, but he was uh turpin on his games too, all of his buddies about Tennessee. So we were we were putting out the good vibes for Tennessee. No, wait a minute to get that one.

SPEAKER_10 3:44

So he's a UVA fan.

SPEAKER_26 3:47

Yes, he grew up one.

SPEAKER_10 3:48

But he was talking trash on behalf of Tennessee.

SPEAKER_26 3:52

Correct. Like he was talking trash to his UVA friends from back home because he went to Tennessee. He's a Tennessee rat. Okay, so missed context there. Now I'm he's an alum of Tennessee.

SPEAKER_10 4:05

Okay, much better.

SPEAKER_26 4:06

Much better.

SPEAKER_10 4:07

I mean there was not a there was a disconnect somewhere there. So sorry. Like here's the other thing. So we're at the game the other day, and it's Tennessee against Virginia. And there's some guy in the third row who's wearing a North Carolina Michael Jordan jersey. And like standing up, raising his arms, and I'm like, and that's one of the things in sports that absolutely drives me nuts. Is when you've got when you go to a game and someone arrives at the game in a jersey that has absolutely nothing to do with the two teams they're playing. I I don't get it. I mean, Andy, why do they do this?

SPEAKER_07 4:53

I mean, because I guess because all the games are in neutral sites, and so there are typically just in general college basketball fans who are curious.

SPEAKER_10 5:01

No, wait, wait, wait. I mean, if somebody had showed up in an Eagles jersey in Philadelphia, okay. I get that, that what you're talking about. But I'm talking about people who will show up in Pittsburgh for a Steelers game. It's probably not the best example, but let's just say it is. Somebody will walk in and it'll be the Steelers playing against the Ravens, and somebody just decides to walk in in a Patriots jersey. Why do that?

SPEAKER_07 5:31

I think if I'm putting myself in their shoes, if I'm a fan of a professional team, uh-huh, but I'm not like I'm going to a game of another professional team just because I like football, right? I don't want to cheer for either team. I'm there for a good game. I'll wear my team's jersey, sure. Seriously? I think I would. I'm pretty sure I've done that before. I think it as a if if I'm a Tennessee fan and I'm going to another game out.

SPEAKER_10 5:56

I think you don't know where you are.

SPEAKER_07 5:58

True. I think you definitely stand out and you have to be ready for ferocious comments, but Well, I mean, and this guy in the Carolina jersey, too.

SPEAKER_10 6:06

I mean, maybe he doesn't like UVA. Get it. I mean, oh, okay, get that. But hey, Bub, you blew a 19-point lead in the first round. You you did. Why would you want to go out and say, hey, here we are? I mean, not the time.

SPEAKER_07 6:24

Not the best time. Right.

SPEAKER_10 6:25

But I I just don't get it. I mean, I would show up at different NFL sites, and people would have on jerseys of teams not involved. It's like, so, I mean, you do you feel like you need to represent them? Like they're being, like, they're not they're not getting their due here at the the game in Los Angeles. So you're, you know, you're gonna wear a Buffalo jersey here?

SPEAKER_07 6:49

I think college is more egregious. I I feel like an NFL game, the ones I've been to, I could probably count at least 25 teams represented at one NFL game at any point.

SPEAKER_26 6:58

Why? Free tickets?

SPEAKER_07 7:01

No, it's not, they're not free.

SPEAKER_10 7:02

They're banful.

SPEAKER_26 7:03

Well, I'm saying like they maybe got tickets from a friend or they're just going, you know, to go, but it's not their team.

SPEAKER_25 7:09

So I mean, listen, their team.

SPEAKER_10 7:12

I just don't. Wearing a jersey of a team not involved in a game to a game, it just makes no sense.

SPEAKER_07 7:21

What should fans who are going to games that aren't fans of either team wear? Just a whole t-shirt, plain white t-shirt.

SPEAKER_10 7:30

I mean, wear something else. A shirt. Your team's not there. I I mean, I think you look dopey. I I mean, I mean, if it's all you got to wear, fine. I get that. I mean, if you just, you know, you packed and maybe you I don't know. I just I'm looking at this guy and I'm thinking, why? You know, Virginia and Tennessee here.

SPEAKER_07 7:54

Maybe you should bring some extra t-shirts this week in Chicago.

SPEAKER_10 7:58

I don't get it. I I mean, I just don't, I don't understand. It's Tennessee and Virginia. I mean, like I said, if you're an Eagles fan and you're in a college basketball game or a Phillies fan or a Sixers fan, uh, you know, or a Flyers fan, okay, that's Philadelphia. That's where we're playing. But North Carolina guy shows up. And I'm not knocking North Carolina. My son went to school there.

SPEAKER_08 8:28

I'm not knocking him.

SPEAKER_10 8:32

The other thing that struck me about Philadelphia, too, and I and I I have to admit, this always gets me, but I felt bad. I felt bad for the UVA fans because they've had this great year, the year's over, and man, those people just walking out when you lose in the NCAA tournament. I mean, even if it's a team you don't care for, a school you don't care for, it's still hard to see people. I mean, it's you're happy for you, but you're like, man, I don't want to feel that way.

SPEAKER_26 9:03

Yeah you know? Yeah, I heard someone call it March sadness.

SPEAKER_10 9:06

March sadness.

SPEAKER_26 9:07

You know, so yeah, it's hard.

SPEAKER_10 9:09

But you know what I did wonder? I mean, UVA is uh a school that has a lot of famous graduates. Do you think they were disappointed? I mean, like, I give you an example. Here's an example. Katie Koorig. She went to UVA. Do you think she was disappointed? Surely.

SPEAKER_26 9:27

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_10 9:28

Virginia. Do you think she kept up with it enough that she would be disappointed? Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 9:32

I don't know her personally, but this time of the year. Okay. Virginia basketball, that's that's number one over there.

SPEAKER_10 9:38

Okay, so here's another one. Dave Matthews. Dave Matthews is a graduate of Virginia. Do you think Dave Matthews was disappointed? Did he know they were playing? You know? Was he down after the loss? Do you guys know who Dave Matthews is?

SPEAKER_07 9:56

Of course so. Not personal friends.

SPEAKER_10 9:58

No, but I mean, do you you know who Dave Matthews is? Yes. Sarah, do you know who you do not know who Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews band is?

SPEAKER_26 10:06

No.

SPEAKER_10 10:06

Really?

SPEAKER_26 10:07

Yes.

SPEAKER_10 10:08

What would you say?

SPEAKER_26 10:10

Like, would he be upset? Is that what you're saying?

SPEAKER_10 10:13

Right.

SPEAKER_26 10:13

Yeah. I think so. I think like if you don't pay attention to any part of the season, you would pay attention to the postseason.

SPEAKER_10 10:20

Alright. So here's the one that really stood out to me, though. Because I love her. She is just the ultimate. Tina Faye. She went to Virginia. She wore a Virginia sweatshirt once on a segment of SNL that she did that was very famous. Very controversial, but she had on her UVA sweatshirt. Do you think she knew Tennessee put her school out of the NCAA tournament and was disappointed in a way like those fans did?

SPEAKER_07 10:50

If she's rapping UVA on SNL, she probably knows Jacoby Gillespie's name, where he started school, who Nate Ayman is.

SPEAKER_10 10:57

Because you know, some some fans who are big name alumni are huge fans. I think she might have known. I think Tennessee may have disappointed Tina Faye.

SPEAKER_07 11:10

She might know your name as well. They said your name over the broadcast on Sunday. She don't know my name. She might. She don't know about it. Trust me.

SPEAKER_10 11:18

That's that's not a thing. But if they do feel bad, sorry about that. We're moving on. I'll get over it quickly. We've got more of the Mike Keith Show coming up. Let's see who's next. Oh, it's Coach Rick Barnes. Rick Barnes in the house next on the Mike Keith Show delivered by Obreeds. The Mike Keith Show, sponsored by Pilot, official travel stop of the balls.

SPEAKER_22 11:44

See you out here by Firehouse Dubs, home of the hottest dubs in Big Orange Country. RJV Kubota, with two convenient locations in Knoxville and Knoxville. By Hound Dogs, your one-stop shop for all things big orange. And by Farm Bureau Insurance. Our agents are there when you need them. Farm Bureau is Tennessee's Insurance Company and the official insurance of Default.

SPEAKER_02 12:10

Like the Diamond Vault, Fox Moving and Storage is moving at a championship level. Whether it's local or long distance, large or small, give one of Tennessee's premier moving companies a call. With offices in Knoxville, Nextville, Chattanooga, and the Dry Cities, Fox Moving and Storage has you covered across big orange country. With experienced, trained professional movers for your home, office, or condo. Get your move on with Fox Moving in Storage. A proud supporter of Tennessee Baseball.

SPEAKER_10 12:39

For a limited time, Firehouse Stubbs is serving up the French dip stuff. Piled high with premium roast beef, caramelized onions, and melty provolone on a freshly toasted garlic butter roll. Served with warm, savory au for dipping. Big portions. No shortcuts, just crave-worthy stubs made to truly satisfy. And at Firehouse Stubbs, every bite makes an impact. A portion of every purchase helps to provide life-saving equipment to first respondents. Download the Firehouse Stubbs app, skip the lines, tack the flavor, and support your local heroes.

SPEAKER_13 13:10

In this town, we don't just root for the team. We are the team. We rise before the sun, stay long after the lights go out. We are Big Orange Country. And with this team stands another. UT Medical. We feel the hurt, fuel the comeback. Keeps all nations stronger, tougher, together, with care that never lets up. UT Medical, official healthcare provider of the Vault, and all of all nations.

SPEAKER_01 13:40

From the practice court to the fourth quarter, our attitude is always the same. Confidence and commitment can easily turn dreams into reality. Where there's a dream, there's a way. And that's First Horizon's philosophy. Big bank muscle, small bank hustle. That's First Horizon. Over 160 years of banking based right here in the volunteer state. It's no wonder First Horizon is the official bank of Lady Ball basketball.

SPEAKER_10 15:02

That was the Sonic Fast Break of the Week brought to you by Sonic. If you're looking for a meal that's never boring and guarantees fun, look no further than Sonic. Sonic is now offering the$6 All-American Smasher meal for a limited time. It includes the all-American Sonic Smasher Burger, medium tots or groovy fries, and a medium drink. Only now at Sonic. This segment of the Mike Keith Show is brought to you by Food City, the official supermarket and tailgating headquarters of the Vols. Speaking of the Vols, the Vols were in Philadelphia last week where many of the players' families had a chance to be there. And every time you see the families around, you always see the players' moms. It's a good story about some of those moms and how they follow basketball and how their boys learn basketball from them. Here's Sophie Starkey.

SPEAKER_23 16:01

Before the bright lights of March Madness, there were early mornings, long drives, and one constant through it all, mom.

SPEAKER_18 16:08

I think at five years old he told me he was going to be seven foot tall and play D1 basketball at five. And I'm like, honey, probably not going to happen. Dad's 6'2, mom's 6'4, my mother-in-law's five foot. I'm like, I don't think and he, I think he's willed himself into being a seven-foot D1 basketball player.

SPEAKER_23 16:24

Long before the packed arenas, these moms saw it first from their first AAU tournament all the way through high school. They believed their sons were capable of something special.

SPEAKER_19 16:34

When he went into middle school for his orientation, he looked around the gym and he said, I'm going to put some banners up in here. And he did. He put two banners in there. When he went to Myers Park High School, his junior year, he transferred schools and he said, I want to win a state championship for these seniors. And he did. I always tell Bishop, like, fifth grade bishop would be geeking out right now at what sophomore bishops about to do in college.

SPEAKER_23 16:57

But the journey to Division I basketball isn't just about the players.

SPEAKER_21 17:01

These moms have formed a team of their own. We meet for dinner, we meet um for different activities and just get to talk because being a D1 mom, everybody dreams of and thinks it's going to be great, but is very stressful and it brings a lot of emotion because you want your child to do so well, because sometimes they people say things and they on social media and you don't they don't realize what they're going through on a day-to-day. So it is great to have a group of moms that are all going through the same thing at the same time.

SPEAKER_19 17:31

A D1 mom is a different breed. I mean, a mom, a sports mom's a different breed, and then a D1 mom is a different breed.

SPEAKER_23 17:38

This group has become more than just parents in the stance. They've become a support system, a group that understands the sacrifices, the stress, and the joy of watching their sons chase a dream.

SPEAKER_12 17:49

I think it breaks our heart more than it breaks their heart when something doesn't go their way. Because you know how bad they want it. Yeah. And then you gotta listen to all the people just they just don't understand how hard they work.

SPEAKER_18 18:03

You know, we all sit in the same section. You know, we we all hang out, which is it's it's nice to have your boys be all close and feel tight like family. And of course we love all the boys, but it's also nice to have those families around you, and you don't have that everywhere.

SPEAKER_23 18:17

And even now, on the biggest stage in college basketball, they're still just mom, making sure their sons get a message before each game.

SPEAKER_21 18:26

I send him a text to every game, and it always just ends with good luck. I try not to say a lot like, hey, you need to do this. He's getting that from his coach. I just try to be a mom and just send him just good luck, love you, um, praying for you, hope you do well. I either send him an inspirational quote.

SPEAKER_18 18:43

I think today was short and sweet. I just said leave it all on the floor, dominate the paint, next play mentality, and keep that team, be a connector, keep that team connected. And I love you. And I always get I love you too, mom.

SPEAKER_12 18:54

So I just told him, You got this, you're ready. It's your Tom. I mean you're gonna shine. It's the Tom. And you gotta leave it all out there.

SPEAKER_10 19:09

Well, here's a gentleman who knows all of those families very well, and especially those mothers. It's Tennessee head basketball coach Rick Barnes. The mamas have always been important in the process, maybe even more so today than they were early on when you started coaching.

SPEAKER_24 19:24

Well, first of all, I'm on the record saying it, we've got great mamas, right? We've got great mamas. And you know, when I first broke into recruiting, and this was in 1978, 80, somewhere in there, the first lesson I learned about recruiting was get to the mother, you know, and not the next most important person would be the grandmother. But uh I don't think there's any question that as we get to know families, you know, the mothers through the years, and certainly our our parents here right now are great people. But uh they're involved and they should be. I mean, we're still dealing with young young guys that are still growing, and uh and believe me, Mike, we've reached out through the years and we think that we need help from them, even when they're here, we say we need you to have a talk with them. We we've been able to do that, and we've always had great response from our parents.

SPEAKER_10 20:11

Let me ask you about Philadelphia from the standpoint of you win that ball game on Sunday night. And I mean it's a heart stopper. I mean, it's they come back and take the lead, and then you win it in the last two minutes. How long, after all these years, does it take Rick Barnes to come down from the adrenaline of a game like that?

SPEAKER_24 20:30

You know, Mike, the the the honest answer to that question, I've talked to a couple people about it today and last night. I don't know if I've ever enjoyed winning games the way I should. I I I don't because the only time I've ever been able to somewhat do that is on a Saturday early game where I don't have to go right home and watch the film because normally those late games or afternoon night games, I go in and it's just I've never not been able to go to bed without evaluating the game and get while I got my thoughts. And once you get back into that film, you never let down, it just stays with you. I mean, I can't tell you how many times in the night I wake up with a pad by my bed, writing a note that comes across my mind. And but I don't know if that's a a fear of failure, but the fact of the matter is uh it does take me some time to do that. Uh just it it's a habit. Uh and I'm a I think I'm a creature of that habit. And uh I wish I could enjoy it more. I really do. But uh my thought process, I don't know if it's uh would be considered a fear or a failure the next game, but my mind quickly goes, uh almost every night uh in the locker room uh after we went, I asked her who we got next, and my mind starts going there right away. And that's just the way I've done it. And I just thank the good Lord for getting me through all those times that I really messed it up. And uh He got me here where I am today, and I'm thankful for that. Do you recall a coach or know a coach who took it even further than that?

SPEAKER_10 21:58

Who who just Not only couldn't stop thinking about it and go on to the next game, but just lived with it for a long period of time, couldn't let it go.

SPEAKER_24 22:08

You know, I don't know if I can answer that for everybody, but I think probably more than we and maybe for then I would admit it. You know, it's easy. You know, sometimes coaches, I did it for a long time. When did people think I had it all under control when I really didn't? And I'm at the age now where I don't really care. You know, I'm just being I'm at the age where I'm gonna be brutally honest. And uh uh I think there's more and and I feel for coaches this time of year that have lost their jobs. Uh I actually started prayer lists when that that started happening, and because I know the trauma that they're going through. I know the lives that are being disruptive right now, and uh I know the pressure that they feel, and uh I know that lives are gonna be changed, but I truly believe that God's in charge of all that and he's gonna land them somewhere where he wants them. But uh I think I think uh losses uh are are probably well, there's no doubt because you're you're you're always gonna you know doubt yourself, you know. Did I do enough? Did I do too much? Did uh you know, where do we come up short? That's why we've over the last couple of years, we we I do think that we got a a winning formula and we stick with it, win or lose. And I think people, and you could ask some of the players, I think they would truly tell you that I'm much harder on them in the film session after a win than a loss. What were you most pleased with that the Tennessee Volunteers did in two wins in Philadelphia? Oness of the players, and we told them right now this time of year, they gotta take ownership. I mean, you know, we're we're here, you know, there's no tomorrow. And uh, but we go to scouting reports, we go to practice, they should be able to walk us through it. I mean, we're not gonna see a lot of uh different actions, so to speak. Personnel is very really, really important, and it is up to them, every man to know every guy, not just who they think they could guard, because when we're playing defense throughout the game, there's a ton of adjustments going on. Uh you got to know that you can be gardener, point guard, point guard, be gardener, post guy, and how are we gonna do this on certain things? So understanding personnel at the level that they need to know, you know, and what that means is some guys are we call them runoff guys, as soon as they get that ball, we've got to run by them and make them dribble the ball. Some guys could be a short close-out guy, some guys could be a hit and pop back guy. So they have to know it. And it's not just who they think they might be locked into, but it's got to be that they get caught in a switch or what we would call a fix-it situation.

SPEAKER_10 24:34

Was Felix Akpara the unsung hero of Tennessee's two wins in Philadelphia?

SPEAKER_24 24:40

Yeah, you you you can put him there and certainly when Bishop has the game he had against Virginia. I mean, Felix is, you know, I mean, there's no doubt. There is no doubt. This time of year, you need the guys that have logged the most minutes to be at their best. I mean, that's what you're hoping. You know, we we've got to this point going into the tournament. You know that you need the guys that have put the most time in, guys that would be the high volume guys that they they need to play really good basketball. If not, you're hoping that you get the the play from the bench. And and it like, you know, we've talked about it uh many times. With our team this year, we haven't had a great deal of consistency from really six on down, and they've all helped us win a game, every one of them. But it goes back, and I'm telling you, and the players would tell you this, if they were standing right here with us. When I'm watching our coaches go through the game, the defensive game plan, if I don't see them locked in, they know I'm judging them right there. Because if if we have to keep calling the same guys when we're rehearsing over and over, and especially after the first day, the first day I'd get it. You know, we're stopping and going, you've seen us do it. But that third and fourth day, I expect them to be able to do it flawlessly. And if I'm talking about even if we're in a ballroom, if we're talking about being in a gap early and they're in the ballroom thinking, well, we're in a ballroom is it's important. And uh that's what we talk about on us right now. We want them in that ballroom talking, we want them talking about heavy gap, we want them talking about, you know, short cloak, whatever. We want them talking their way through these scout reports. And in a walkthrough, if guys aren't doing it, it it sticks in my mind. And so when we're in a game, oftentimes it sticks. And uh I'm I've already really kind of made up my mind that, well, we're not going that way today because we're gonna go with the guys that are truly locked in right now.

SPEAKER_10 26:24

More with Coach Barnes coming up on the Mike Keith Show, delivered by Uber Eats.

SPEAKER_02 26:32

It's gonna ball fans, and you don't want to miss a single play. Uber Eats brings your favorite food right to your door. Wings, pizza, burgers, whatever you're craving, it's just a tap away. Download the Uber Eats app and use code GOPICAR to get$15 off all orders. Uber Eats, proud sponsor of the ball. Let's eat.

SPEAKER_17 26:58

When getting the job done right is job one, you need construction equipment that's built right, from compact track loaders to the world's number one selling compact excavator. The Kubota construction lineup features durable Kubota engines, more comfort, and the versatility to do it all and do it right. Visit your local Kubota dealer today. Go to KubotaUSA.com for full disclaimer.

SPEAKER_03 27:22

Visit RJV Kubota locally in Knoxville or Nashville. RJV Kubota, a proud supporter of the Vols.

SPEAKER_07 27:29

Get game day ready at Hound Dogs, your one-stop shop for all things big orange. Locally owned and operated, Hound Dogs has everything Vall fans need. All in one place. Check out the newest polos and pullovers from Hound Dog's private label, plus their latest and boutique ladies' apparel. And don't forget about all the gear from Columbia. If it's orange and white, it's at Hound Dogs. You're up at Hound Dogs, located on Kingston Pike in West Knoxville, your one-stop shop for all things big orange.

SPEAKER_04 27:59

Taste like women. Yeehob Ruin Company is the home of Vall Lager, a beer made for fans by fans. Founded by UT alumni, we've created an experience that feels just like home. And as the official watch party for Tennessee Athletics, our tap rooms make the best place to cheer on the Vall. Visit YeehobRuin.com to find a location or beer near you. GeehobRuin, a VFL. Every season, every day.

SPEAKER_11 28:51

My teeth continues. Delivered by Uber East.

SPEAKER_10 28:57

This segment of the Mike Teet Show is brought to you by our friends at Pilot, the official travel partner of Tennessee Athletics. Continue with Coach Rick Barnes talking about what's coming next for Tennessee tomorrow night. 1010 scheduled tip-off. That's Eastern time in Chicago against Iowa State. We're on the ball network at 9.30 Eastern. The late start. You have played seven late games this year. Does it help going into tomorrow night?

SPEAKER_24 29:27

I don't know who's helping, but where are you normally at 10 10? Oh, I'm out. I'm normally not, you know, but I could be dozing at 10 10, but I'm I promise I'm gonna be waking back up if especially if I've got my iPad my iPad in front of me watching stuff, and it's been late all year for us. It's really interesting. You know, my first year in uh I think it was my first or second NCAA tournament, we played the last game on the second day in Salt Lake City. So it's already down to 33 teams. That was I can remember that being one of the long and in Salt Lake City. Yeah. We've had a bunch of them, you know. We have and uh, but it is what it is. Our guys will deal with it. You know, we'll we we know the schedule and we we have a like I said, a formula schedule that we that we stick to and we hope it's the right thing.

SPEAKER_10 30:12

Yeah, the routine is probably almost exactly what you've done on the road for the other seven days.

SPEAKER_24 30:18

And we had a 10-10 start yet. I know we've had some nines that have been pushed back. Yes. We've had that, so I don't know if it's been that late, but uh the tough part about that game, and I think it's the toughest part that you somewhat adjust to in this tournament is is the halftime being longer. You know, because you used to getting back there pretty quickly, getting done what you need to get done, and now you know 20 minutes. They say 20, but I'm not sure when he started that 20. I don't know if they're waiting till everybody's off the court, whatever, but it seems longer than twenty.

SPEAKER_10 30:48

Makes a difference. When you knew that you were gonna draw Iowa State, what did you immediately think?

SPEAKER_24 30:55

Terrific basketball program, uh obviously many years in the in the uh Big Twelve coaching against that at the University, you know, Cyclone Alley, you know, going there. And we we actually played him one year here, I think. 2019. Was that a challenge? Yes, yeah, and I think it was during the challenge. And uh a lot of respect for TJ and his staff. I mean, he's gone everywhere he's been. Uh I've watched him play. They uh off and on, you know, before this, not a lot, but his teams really defend uh those three guys, and I know one of them's hurt right now, which you you really do hate it. I wish Nate Amount was 100% healthy, and you don't want to see players as much as you want to win, you it's not fair to players not to want them to be at their best this time of year, but they they guard. Um got I mean, they're they're they wouldn't obviously one of the toughest leagues in the country this year. Um haven't lost 29 wins, that speaks volumes about them. And um they what I think they finished what fourth or fifth in the league, and but they had top five team in the country, and so uh they're an extremely proven team, hard, hard, hard, hard playing team. Um But this time of year it really doesn't matter, but uh this is who it is, and uh you've got to be ready.

SPEAKER_10 32:11

Does a TJ Oxelberger team in many ways want to do what a Rick Barnes team wants to do?

SPEAKER_24 32:18

When I look at TJ's team, uh they're not gonna beat themselves. They're gonna they're gonna try to take it from you. And uh they they do all the fundamental things that I think that's why teams keep going. You know, they they they have a defensive mindset, a really strong defensive mindset. They like you know what we would call the sideline defense, they try to get you there. You you know, you go baseline with it, you better know exactly what you're doing with it. Uh his teams are again, when I think of his his teams wherever he's been, uh you're gonna have to beat them. They're not gonna beat themselves.

SPEAKER_10 32:52

The point guard matchup.

SPEAKER_24 32:53

Tamin Lipsy, Jacoby Gillespie.

SPEAKER_10 32:57

It figures to be one of the better ones of the entire NCAA term, at least on paper.

SPEAKER_24 33:01

Well, two terrific players. Um very much probably in some ways underrated based on the class this year. There we talk about those both of those guys that being just incredible meaning to both teams. And we all know that you've got to have that position covered, and we certainly are excited about ours, and I know that Iowa State's excited about theirs, you know. Milan Momchelovich.

SPEAKER_10 33:25

Best three-point shooter in the country statistically. What do you do with a guy like that who shoots 49% from three?

SPEAKER_24 33:32

Well, first of all, my coaches are afraid of shooters. You know, when we're getting ready to play Miami of Ohio, you know, everybody's saying, well, they can't do they wouldn't win a game here or there, but we all know if you've been in this game long enough that guys get going and uh they start throwing those darts up there, and and he's one of those guys, and we and we've played against guys in our league, but like as you said, he's put it in the book statistically, analytically, and it takes uh it won't take one guy, it'll take a uh group of guys to to work hard to try to uh keep him from just having one of those spectacular nights, but even with great defense, he's gonna make some shots that everybody just all you can say is wow and hope that uh he can't get many of them.

SPEAKER_10 34:14

Does he get his shots from plays he creates? Do they set their offense to get him catch and shoot opportunities, or is it so of both?

SPEAKER_24 34:24

Well, I think a lot of it starts with the point guard. He knows who he needs to get the ball to and when to get it there. And they and they do a lot, you know, they're gonna run him off some zooms and they're gonna do some things, but he does his part. Now he knows how to get himself open. Uh, but you know, what really makes it a really good basketball team is everybody on the court knows when and who should get the ball at what time. And I think he's got a group of guys around him that understand that for him.

SPEAKER_10 34:47

Has Tennessee played a team like Iowa State this year? Any comp that comes to mind?

SPEAKER_24 34:53

Well, what I've looked at so far, I do think they're certainly one of the very best, if not the best defensive team we faced. I mean, they they really guard you. And uh uh there's no doubt that they're gonna put a great deal of emphasis on going after DJ. Uh how they and they'll double the post, they're gonna they really flood, they they really flood to the ball. They are aggressive, you take it down low, they're gonna go try to get it from whoever's in there, you drive the ball. But uh they again they the year they've had the success that you know TJ's always had. Um again, he and his staff, and you know, they understand the importance of getting good players that buy into that system, and they and they've done that.

SPEAKER_10 35:31

What is the most important thing that your big guys have to do well against the site clubs?

SPEAKER_24 35:37

I think anytime uh this time of year, you you know, transition defense, and that that's not just a point guard. You don't want to leave him back there. Everybody's got to do their job there, and taking care of the basketball, you know, uh we can't defend turnovers. And you know, we had too many in the second half the other night that we shouldn't have had. And uh we've got to we've got to take care of the ball. And then what we talked about earlier, our players have to, and and and they obviously we've got great respect for Iowa State and what they've done. You've got to be really truly locked in. But there's a a fearlessness that you need to play with, there's a looseness, but yet there's an intensity and a focus that you have to play with. And and uh right now, I've said it for the last couple weeks, we are who we are, and we gotta be who we are at the highest level we can possibly be.

SPEAKER_10 36:22

The key is just do what you do well, right?

SPEAKER_24 36:25

Yep, right now, and and everybody, we need everybody to on on alert. Obviously, this playing late on Friday, you know, Nate needs some time. Jacoby needs some time, and uh, we're hoping to rest. And there's and there's a fine line with that. And so I trust you know, Garrett Maidenwall, and I trust Chad, and they they they've got their system and they they know what we want to do to try to keep us in the rhythm that we want to be in. But I learned a long time ago that uh you know you need three hard workouts a week. It doesn't have this time of year, two of them have to be your games. And uh, but that other one doesn't have to be as long as what we would normally do in the preseason, but it's got to be a high-level intensity and alertness and focus.

SPEAKER_10 37:06

Coach, look forward to it.

SPEAKER_24 37:07

All right, thanks.

SPEAKER_10 37:07

Philadelphia was great. Chicago gonna be even better tomorrow night, 1010 Eastern time tip off, or at least that's how it's scheduled. Sometimes they start later, 9:30 air time on the Vol Radio Network. We've got more coming up on the Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats right after this.

SPEAKER_16 37:24

Any coach will tell you speed is a huge advantage on the field. It's also a huge advantage online. That's why there's KUV Fiber, the world's fastest internet, right here in Tennessee. Speeds up to 10 gigs per second, a price that won't go up, and a connection still reliable. It has 98% customer satisfaction. So whether you're watching the game, streaming the highlights, or railing about a bad call on a message board, you need Fall Nations' fastest, most reliable internet, AUB Fiber.

SPEAKER_10 37:55

Rackley Roofing is now the official roofer of the Falls. And Rackley is more than a roofing company. They're part of the communities where they work and live. Investing in neighborhoods and opening doors to a career in an industry that's growing year after year. Ractley Roofing's mission is clear. Transform the roofing industry with unmatched customer service, detailed documentation, and the highest safety standards. Because Rackley believes the ladder to a great roof is only as good as the people who climb it. Rackley Roofing, building roof, building futures.

SPEAKER_02 38:25

And make your tailgate party legendary with game day food from Texas Roadhouse, where you'll find hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone roofs, high-school beer, and all the fresh baked bread and peanuts you can eat. Almost everything on the menu at Texas Roadhouse is made from scratch. And a full-time butcher cuts every steak by hand. Make sure to check out their$5 beverage menu available all day every day. Download the Texas Roadhouse mobile app or visit TexasRodhouse.com to place your order or join the waitlist.

SPEAKER_24 38:54

Go fall. Hey, this is Rick Barnes. The great John Wooden said, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. That's why I put such an instance on preparation. I get to the gym early before everyone else, so when they walk through the doors, I'm ready. Food City does the same thing. Long before the doors open, they're stocking produce, cutting certified Angus beef, and prepping ready-made meals. So when you walk into a Food City or the Food City's dinner, we're going to be prepared.

SPEAKER_09 40:25

And Taylander picks it up.

SPEAKER_10 40:27

That's your Uber Eats delivery of the game presented by Uber Eats. Download the Uber Eats app and use the code GOBIGORANGE to get$15 off all orders. Uber Eats, official on-demand delivery partner of the balls, let's eat. This segment of the Mike Keith Show is brought to you by First Horizon, official Bank of the Balls. And here's official linebacker of the balls, Jeremiah T. Lander. Welcome to the program. Thank you for having me, sir. All right, so let's talk about training first. Yes, sir. And the first part of training is Derek Owings and the new staff. Yes, sir. How did the training entering spring practice change from your previous years to this January, February, into March?

SPEAKER_06 41:13

Yeah. And the previous years, you know, uh Coach Smith, it was awesome. Uh coming into college ball and just learning about my body and how to physically train to get ready. Um, but with DO, it has been special. I like to say, and I've heard before, there's no substitution for enthusiasm. And Coach Dio is a living representation of that term. And a guy like me loves that to death. So having a coach come in there and bringing so much enthusiasm every day is just great for this whole entire program. Was the first week as tough a transition as what we had heard? Day one, he definitely set the tone on us and let us know that you're gonna have to be living right on and off the field, eating the right things, hydrating well enough, and he's huge on recovery as well. Um, so it's not just the grittiness um and running fast, hitting hard, it's also taking care of your body and learning how to do so.

SPEAKER_10 42:03

How are you eating differently?

SPEAKER_06 42:05

Yeah, I'm definitely eating different. Uh, no fried foods. Um, and I love my fried chicken, but I put it down uh senior year. Um, you're not gonna change if you keep doing the same thing. So um you got to switch it up and uh get different results.

SPEAKER_10 42:20

The speed training is an area where a lot of ball players are saying they've seen growth. I bet Jeremiah T Lander has too.

SPEAKER_06 42:29

Yes, sir. I have. And whenever I sat down and talked to him one-on-one, I told him that's one thing that I really want to work on this year, is just get as fast as I can. And in seven weeks, I saw my numbers rise and uh we're just getting started.

SPEAKER_10 42:42

Is that the thing you're most enthused about that you've been able to do so far in his program?

SPEAKER_06 42:47

Yeah, without a doubt. And you know, there's a lot of guys out there that might just believe in speed, but it's not just that. It's lifting heavy in the weight room that will translate to speed. And you know, I love lifting heavy, and I also love running fast. So uh those are two things that we're really working hard on, and we're not stopping now.

SPEAKER_10 43:03

Is your weight very different from where you were a year ago?

SPEAKER_06 43:06

Yeah, I try to stay in the 233 to 235 range, but I've definitely slimmed up and lowered my body fat percentage down a little bit. And uh that's been our biggest goal is to be the best looking 235 that I can.

SPEAKER_10 43:18

So let's talk about the defense. All right, your position coach stays the same in William Inge while Jim Knowles comes in as the defensive coordinator. Have you noticed a lot of change in how the defense is being coached with Coach Knowles, even though your position coach stays the same?

SPEAKER_06 43:36

Yeah, right. Having Coach Inge staying has been a huge thing for the linebacker room. And obviously, it's been a transition for everyone, even Coach Inge himself. And it's great having Coach Inge because he has a way of relaying the terms from last year to this year. So on paper, it's worded differently, but there's a lot of similarities. And Coach Inge has done a great job with the guys that are here now and have been here last year of kind of putting Together in a sense. And also having Amari coming from Penn State, knowing Coach Noel's terms and everything, he's been a great leader in that room to help us all out as well.

SPEAKER_10 44:09

Who are some of the young guys that you feel have stepped forward so far?

SPEAKER_06 44:12

Yeah, obviously, uh our mid-year enrollees, TJ White and Braden Rouse, man, have they been impressive. Um, and as leaders in the group, we take a big responsibility on them to make sure that they are getting it and truly understanding it. And uh it's been so much fun working with them. They're two great freshmen. And obviously, you know, Jordan Burns, Jaden Harmon, and Jaden Pilotti, they're awesome. And they're creeping up into a vet role and also helping the young guys out and letting us know how they feel about things, which have been great.

SPEAKER_10 44:42

In terms of what the responsibilities are for a Tennessee linebacker, are you being asked to do anything differently?

SPEAKER_06 44:48

We just want to be on the rise every single day. Uh, we need to know what the front is doing, what the back end is doing, and we got to know what our guy next to us is doing as well. Um, like I always love to say, is the quarterback on the defense, and we take a lot of pride and responsibility in that. Defensive line. What have you noticed about them so far? Man, well, with Coach Noel's scheme, it really frees them up uh and lets our athletes go win. Um, but you know, some transfers that we brought in, especially from Penn State, you know, we have Chaz and Gilly. Uh, they've done a phenomenal job of also, like I said, bringing their terms and teaching us a little bit and letting us know how they see things. Um, but yeah, they're fast and physical, and it's been fun up front. Uh, we got a lot of dogs up there, and you know, we're gonna go shoot our gap to help them out all the time, too.

SPEAKER_10 45:30

So the learning process of Coach Knoll's system, you mentioned having the coaches who had been with him helps, having the players who had been with him helping you guys. Is there a hardest part to grasping it? Is there something that it that really stands out in that area?

SPEAKER_06 45:48

Coach Knoll's defense allows the players to go make plays and go win. And sometimes you have to play off of that because a guy might get out of his gap to go make a play. And that's just football, though, at the end of the day. And I love what he's bringing to us to let our athletes go make plays.

SPEAKER_10 46:02

So everybody has to read.

SPEAKER_06 46:04

Without a doubt. Without a doubt, depending on what we call, of course, but we have a lot of go win calls. You know what I mean? Just go win. Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun playing this defense so far. Without a doubt. And I'm a football junkie, so learning a whole entire new defense has been so much fun for me. Uh that I like to say, and I've heard before, uh, playing football is like being in a fist fight while taking an algebra test at the same time. And what's better than that? Right.

SPEAKER_10 46:30

How has the offense reacted to what the defense has given them so far this spring?

SPEAKER_06 46:35

Yeah, it's been funny talking with GMAC and Faso just about the looks that we're giving them. And they give me tidbits too, like, man, that was a great look right here. And you know, in spring ball, it's Tennessee versus Tennessee. So after practice, sometimes GMAC will come and tell me, hey, we know the linebackers are blitzing because of so-and-so and whatnot. We say it back to them as well. Um, so Tennessee versus Tennessee right now, and we're all making each other better. Is it interesting watching the quarterbacks from the vantage point that you have? Oh, it definitely is. You know, we have a younger quarterback group. All three of the guys have really stepped up into leadership roles. And, you know, as a quarterback, you got to be that guy and you have to be loud and demanding. And it's awesome seeing all three of those guys just work and continue to be on the rise every single day.

SPEAKER_10 47:19

All right. What does this team have to get done through the rest of the spring moving towards that orange and white game on April the 11th?

SPEAKER_06 47:27

There's two different types of teams. One is a team and one is a tribe. And right now, with all the new transfers, I think we have 30 new players. I'm not exactly sure. Six, 46 new players. So right now we're working to be a team, but the goal is to become a tribe. And that's everyone has the same culture. Everyone bleeds the same, breathes the same, one heartbeat. Um, so our goal is to become a tribe, not a team. How long do you think that'll take? As long as it needs to take, because we're not going to rush this process, like you said, 40 something new guys. Um, so me as a leader, I'm trying my hardest to teach the guys the culture and also know what their culture is and have a great mesh point in between. Um, so as long as it needs to take, but we would love for it to be on the rise by the spring game.

SPEAKER_10 48:09

For you going into next season, what are the personal goals for Jeremiah T. Lander in 2026?

SPEAKER_06 48:15

Yeah, well, first of all, is to make others better around me. I believe that's why I'm here is to influence others and lead the place better than I found it. So, starting point, that is my goal. Second off, I want to have a great year, lead this defense to success. We didn't always get what we wanted last year, and I'm not gonna go out that way my senior year. So just do my job at the best of my ability and also bring others along, and that will lead our defense to having a great, successful year. What is it gonna mean to the defense to have Ariane Carter back when he gets through his injury rehab? Yeah, it means everything. It means everything to me as well. You know, me and Ariane came in together, and our biggest thing, like I said before, is we're gonna leave this place better than we found it, especially the linebacker room. And every day we're leading that group to leave it better than we found it. And the fact that I get to strap it up with him one more time, because I didn't think I was gonna be able to, means the world to me. And uh it's gonna mean the world to this team as well. Are you trying to help him? Without a doubt, but you know, AC, he's a vet, so he's been there, done that, and he's still the same exact guy off the field right now. Unfortunately, he can't be out there practicing with us, but on the sideline, he's coaching people up in the meetings, he's being a leader, and AC is great. Are you keeping up with what's going on with the basketball team? Yes, sir. I am.

SPEAKER_10 49:28

So when they play Friday night, 10-10, you're gonna be watching.

SPEAKER_06 49:32

I'll be watching. Yeah, I'll be in my bed, but I'll be watching. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_10 49:36

Baseball, softball, do you keep up with what goes on with those teams as well?

SPEAKER_06 49:40

Yeah, I've been watching some baseball. Me and my dad, uh, we after uh the Saturday practice, we watched the baseball game at a walk-ons, actually. And it was the lefty came in, bases were loaded, no apps. Effet zone. And he he did his thing. So it was fun just watching that with him. And I love watching baseball. What do you do outside of football right now? Yeah, so right now it's a really busy time. Like my dad came up, so we were able to actually have a pool day together. Uh, we watched the film before that, of course. Um, and then baseball season, basketball season, so it's a great time. I love watching those games, but I also would love to hit the golf range. Uh, my golf game isn't great right now, but we're working to get it better and been spending a lot of time in the players' lounge, whether that's playing ping pong or bowling or whatnot. Yeah, what about this bowling? Yeah, no, I love bowling. Nice. Oh, it's awesome. It's awesome. I'm a big bowler myself. Okay, so what's the what's the best game you've ever rolled? 230-ish. I don't remember the exact score, but I hit a 230. Who else is a good bowler on the team? You know, we got a couple good bowlers. Jeremiah Heard is pretty dang good. Jesse Perry isn't bad. Uh, Tevis Metcalf, he can play any game in the players' lounge. He is as competitive as it gets, but I also love me some ping pong, too. So we've been getting pretty competitive in there. So who's good in ping pong? Tevis Metcalf is up there. Um, Jackson Ross. Okay. You don't even want to play him. He is that country's like 38 years old. I don't know what it is, but he's pretty dang good. I was actually shocked with how much talent we have in the ping pong room. So it's been it's been awesome. How's school going? I graduate in the fall. You're gonna get out in three and a half. Three and a half, yes, sir. That's awesome. Yes, sir. What's the major communication with a business minor? Oh, that's great. Yes, sir. So when football's over, what do you think you want to do? Yeah, I would love to stay in the football world. You know, my dad was a coach and he inspires me a lot with that. And like I said earlier, my biggest thing is I just want to have influence and impact people. Um, so when the playing days are over, when my when my wheels run off, I would love to be a coach and find a way to impact others.

SPEAKER_10 51:41

Number 22, linebacker Jeremiah T. Lander with us on the mic. Keith Show, delivered by Uber Eats. Thanks so much for joining us.

SPEAKER_11 51:48

Catch up on today's show, Anytime. Presented by Uber Eats.com search mic team. We are the ball network. The weekend's coming. Time to get ready for big art. The voice of the fall. Mike Keith is here with your weekend scouting report, delivered by Uber Eats.

SPEAKER_10 52:28

So glad to have you with us on the Mike Keith show, delivered by Uber Eats on game day. You don't want to miss a single play. Uber Eats brings your favorite food right to your door. Wings, pizza, burgers, whatever you're craving, it's just a tap away. Download the Uber Eats app and use the code GOBIGORANGE to get$15 off all orders. Uber Eats, official on-demand delivery partner of the balls. Let's eat. So glad you're getting ready for the sweet 16 with us on the Mike Keith show. Got a lot coming up in this hour, in this segment in particular. Sarah Detweiler, host of the Everything Orange podcast, which is taking a week off, is here as always. And she is gearing up, I think, for the Firehouse Sub's hot take. Let's see if that's right. I do believe, I do believe she's gearing up for it. Oh, you've got a sub, you've got a meatball sub right in front of you.

SPEAKER_01 53:23

Look at that. Look at that.

SPEAKER_10 53:25

Nice.

SPEAKER_01 53:25

It's perfect.

SPEAKER_10 53:26

She's gearing up for the 1010 Eastern Time start tomorrow night as the balls take on the Cyclones of Iowa State. Very good basketball team. Also here, gearing up for the Firehouse Subs hot take, which will come later in this segment, is none other than Mr. 865, Dr. Andy Brock. Doctor, good to have you with us. It's good to be here. Now, um, you had a topic that you wanted to bring up. I'm going to let you do that, but I need to mention this segment of the show brought to you by Clayton Homes, Oakwood Homes, and Love Homes of Tennessee, helping families across the state find their dream homes. What did you want to bring up in this segment of the program? Uh we're we're glad you've come prepared with your own topics.

SPEAKER_07 54:12

I think uh some of the discourse around March Madness this last week was uh NIL and how it has affected the field. We did not see a mid-major reach the second weekend this year. The only double-digit seed that reached the second weekend this year is Texas, who is a uh pretty high earning revenue school. So it's hard to say that they're a Cinderella. Do you feel like that NIL has affected this? And that is the reason.

SPEAKER_10 54:39

Yes. But I think what's really interesting about it, that's a great point. Um I think what has affected it in that way that is kind of lost, is there's some non-football schools who actually have more of an NIL advantage. And that's the reason, in large part, I mean, Texas certainly, they got all kinds of money. You look at the listings of schools who have the heaviest NIL, they're there. So it clearly affects it. But I also think the other part of it, too, is you've got some of those schools that basically their NIL is basketball. Yeah. Because they're non-football schools. Now they're a football, they're a football school, but they certainly choose to spend money on men's and women's basketball. Yes. And I mean, if you saw what Yukon did to Syracuse on Monday night, tough.

SPEAKER_26 55:35

Brutal.

SPEAKER_10 55:36

Yeah. I mean, that's just I mean, I was watching, it was 33 to 8 at the end of the first quarter and then 65 to 12 at halftime. By the way, do you guys follow Paul Pabst on X? I do not. Okay. No, him from the Dan Patrick show? No. He's he's great. So um he put up a he put up a do you still you don't call it a tweet? What do you call it? An X? I do. He put up an X.

SPEAKER_25 56:05

Whatever, yeah.

SPEAKER_10 56:06

It was an exercise. Exercise. Anyway. Um laughed, no response. Anyway, that was good. Sarah sort of responded quietly with a muffled giggle. Um what he said that I thought was great is he did the quotations and everything. He says, Coach, what are you gonna what adjustments are you gonna make at the half? As if it was the half it was the person who was forced to interview the Syracuse coach down 53 at the half. Boy, it was a lot funnier when I read it. Anyway, um, any other topics anyone would like to bring up?

SPEAKER_07 56:48

On that note, I feel like the uh the in-between break coach interviews during March Madness were they're they're already, it's a different feel, but it they were wild this year. I think we had a lot of really good quotables this week.

SPEAKER_10 57:00

Well, the basketball coaches give more than the football coaches do, yes, for sure.

SPEAKER_26 57:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 57:06

I mean, the football coach, the the sort of the perfunctory football coach interview at halftime. I mean, if you get something out of that deeply, you are the exception and not the rule. And for the and I've done it, I've done those interviews. Have either of you done those interviews?

SPEAKER_26 57:26

No, not for football.

SPEAKER_10 57:28

Or for any at any football level? Have you had a chance to depict? It it's awful. Because what do you I mean, the only time I think there's something meaningful in it is when there's been a significant injury and you can say something to the effect of coach, how did because they're not gonna tell you the player's out for the game, you know? If they've brought 72 medical personnel in and, you know, they've had lights and sirens, and the game's been delayed for two hours, he might be doubtful to return, you know, but they're not gonna tell you. But what you can say is you could say Joe Smith being out of the lineup, how has that affected what you were doing offensively? Okay, maybe you get something out of that. Generally, no. The basketball coaches, however, oh my goodness, they'll say anything. It was it was crazy, right?

SPEAKER_07 58:28

Very crazy. I think it's uh I don't I don't know if it's just the nature of postseason college basketball and how crazy it is, and then maybe with NIL being a factor, their their players are maybe it's just a different it feels different because I don't know if it was this way 10 years ago or not.

SPEAKER_25 58:45

I love Villanova's head coach saying that he was gonna fire his whole staff.

SPEAKER_10 58:49

He's done that before, though. That's not a new line. It's not it's a running, it's a running bit. It's uh no, he's done that one before. Kevin Willard. Gosh, I got it. Yeah, he's uh he's used that joke.

SPEAKER_07 59:00

Prairie View AM's coach basically asking for prayers in his interview when dealing with Florida and losing by 50 points.

SPEAKER_10 59:08

Well, it's a great opportunity for a lot of people to get exposure for their program. And I think the I think the the situation in basketball is they realize they have a national stage and they're totally taking advantage of it. And even some of the bigger coaches, first of all, I think the people doing the interviews are just for the most part just outstanding. They, I mean, that whole the crews have been really good. And uh for us to have Steve Lapis and Andrew Catalan and Evan Washburn, and I think we've got them again this weekend. Okay, I mean that's an exceptional crew. Great crew. That's a that's a I mean, they are really fantastic. Steve Lapis is great, and Andrew Catalan is one of the most underrated play-by-play guys. He's pretty fired up because he's headed to the Masters next. So that's amazing. He does the NFL, he does the NCAA tournament. Now he's going to the Masters time of year. Oh, yeah. Whenever Nance can't be there, he's you know, oh gosh. And he's a great guy.

SPEAKER_26 1:00:18

Wait, can I ask real quick, Mike? Sure, did you make a bracket? And how's it do you didn't make a bracket?

SPEAKER_10 1:00:23

I don't make a bracket.

SPEAKER_26 1:00:24

You don't make a bracket?

SPEAKER_10 1:00:25

I don't make a bracket. Used to make a bracket. I used to run the whole bracket thing at the radio station back when everybody like pitched in a dollar. And I'm sure that was and apparently that was vastly illegal, but in the two worlds I've been in lately, um you are encouraged not to, you know, get involved in any sort of pool. You can't. And so I just don't even bother to make a bracket.

SPEAKER_26 1:00:49

All right.

SPEAKER_10 1:00:50

Did you make a bracket?

SPEAKER_26 1:00:51

I did, yes.

SPEAKER_10 1:00:51

How are you doing?

SPEAKER_26 1:00:52

I'm in the 90% category for my men's bracket. So I'm doing pretty good. Nice. I'm leading a couple groups.

SPEAKER_07 1:00:58

Andy. I'm I'm doing pretty good as well. I think it's uh it's a little easier because of what we were talking about. There's not as many, as much chaos. Florida losing is chaos. What's your best pick so far? My best pick was high point over Wisconsin. I didn't pick that one. Nice. It's a good high point team. They almost they almost beat Arkansas. Yep. All right.

SPEAKER_10 1:01:20

Do you have a best pick, Sarah?

SPEAKER_26 1:01:22

Yes, it was the first game. It was the eight-nine game.

SPEAKER_07 1:01:25

I can't remember Ohio State TCU?

SPEAKER_26 1:01:27

Yes, I picked TCU, right? They won, yes.

SPEAKER_07 1:01:29

They did.

SPEAKER_26 1:01:29

Yeah, I picked that.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:30

Can you say an eight-nine?

SPEAKER_07 1:01:31

It's almost a pickup.

SPEAKER_26 1:01:33

I think so. Okay.

SPEAKER_07 1:01:34

I think winning the first one is always just feels good.

SPEAKER_26 1:01:38

Yeah. And it was the first one of the tournament.

SPEAKER_10 1:01:40

Well, I don't want to move off this too quickly because I know it's fascinating, folks. But it's time for the Firehouse Subs hot take. Firehouse, enjoy hot subs all across Big Orange Country. So Allie Campbell is going to step in uh to make sure that we have uh the Firehouse Subs. What would you call that? It's not a banner, it's a poster, cardboard. What do you call that? It looks like a sub. Okay, so she's got that's the Italian, which is fantastic. The new chicken and cheddar rancher has arrived at Firehouse Subs, and let me tell you, it's outstanding. It's packed with grilled chicken breasts, crispy bacon, melted cheddar, and creamy buttermilk ranch. And here's the best part it's here to stay as a permanent menu item. Order in the Firehouse Subs app or get it delivered today only at Firehouse Subs. All right, so because Allie is behind Sarah right now, um, Allie, a fine senior from Atlanta GA. Glad she's here. Um, we'll let Sarah go first.

SPEAKER_26 1:02:45

I'm like torn on what I should talk about because we were saying before we started the show today, like the difference between jinxing and manifesting.

SPEAKER_10 1:02:55

And you're not gonna jinx the balls here, are you? Don't do that.

SPEAKER_26 1:03:00

So without doing that, I will just let that one lie. But you know what I'm gonna say. So I'll take it with softball instead, because they did drop the series to Florida on the road over the weekend.

SPEAKER_10 1:03:12

It was still played well.

SPEAKER_26 1:03:14

They and that's gonna be my hot take, essentially, is yes, it was a top five matchup. It was on the road. We haven't lost a road series since 2023. But I I think that it wasn't as dramatic of a loss as maybe it could have been. And I think that a little bit of adversity for this team now is much more the time to figure it out than going all the way to the end of the regular season or into the postseason trying to, you know, face it and battle through it then. So I don't I don't necessarily have like a strong feeling about like was great.

SPEAKER_10 1:03:51

I think your point is dead on. I think that's a great hot take because I mean it was three really good games, and okay, you know, that's that's baseball, that's softball, that's that type of sport. And if we'd played them up here, I mean they're number five in the country, you know. At that point, they were. So yeah, it's a good hot take. Let's see. Uh Allie, you're gonna have to move because Allie, nice run. I I like that. Okay, you don't have to do that. You just hold it. I mean, you can you can do that if you want to. Andy Brock, uh Andy Brock with his hot take brought to you by Firehouse Subs.

SPEAKER_07 1:04:30

Yep, um, not to look ahead or anything. Um, Iowa State, obviously, uh an incredible team, um, is going to be an absolute battle um with the style that both teams play. However, since this is a hot take, if Tennessee were to advance in the tournament and play on Sunday, my hot take is I would prefer Tennessee play Alabama in that game. I know it's a little scary when you when you often say you want to play a rival and there's a bit it was that way with Kentucky when you got matched up with Kentucky last year in the Sweet 16, it was like, this is terrifying. Because uh the thought of not winning that game is almost scarier than just not winning at all in any round. So my hot take is that we should want to play Alabama because you've played them two years, and I feel like you've played them well in both games. You went on the road, and in a home game that you should have didn't win, but you should have won, and we're in pretty good standing for most of that game. That's a that's a good hot take.

SPEAKER_10 1:05:26

That game, uh, if Tennessee were to advance, the two Sunday games are 215 Eastern and 505 Eastern. More than likely, the guess from experts who are a lot smarter than I am would be that Tennessee would play the early game. Because the games in Washington, D.C. certainly feature some big name teams. Yep. And they would probably want that game to drift into primetime to help with the primetime ratings, especially with the big markets. Allie, great job on the on the cardboard, the banner. I can't think of what you call it. It's not like a sign. Cardboard cutout. All right. Any other topics we need to hit before we get moving toward Kibbs Corner? Did you have anything else you wanted to talk to me about?

SPEAKER_26 1:06:19

I don't think so. All right. I think we covered a lot of things.

SPEAKER_10 1:06:22

Well, let's just jump. Evan Blanco's Buy. Evan Blanco Buy for Kibb's Corner. That's up next, delivered by Uber Eats the Mike Keith Show with you. Mike Keith on the Vol Network.

SPEAKER_22 1:06:36

Sponsored by UT Medical Center, the official healthcare provider of the Vols and all of all nations. Fox Moving and Storage, serving Middle and East Tennessee with experienced, trained, professional movers. By Food City, the official supermarket and tailgating headquarters of the Vols. Firehouse dubs, home of the hottest dubs in Big Orange Country. And by First Horizon Bank, Big Bank Hustle, Small Bank Hustle.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:04

Ball Naked, if you're looking for quality performance apparel, look no further than Turtleston, founded by UT alumni out of Bristol, Tennessee. Turtleston designs clothes and accessories that fit your lifestyle. From the office to the country club or the Tennessee Volunteers Tailgate. Turtleston has the apparel that looks as good as it feels. Ask for Turtleston wherever you buy your volunteer gear. Or visit Turtleston.com to learn more. Turtleston is a proud sponsor of the Vol Network. Go Vols!

SPEAKER_10 1:07:33

For a limited time, Firehouse Stubbs is serving up the French dip stuff. Piled high with premium roast beef, caramelized onions, and melty provolone on a freshly toasted garlic butter roll. Served with warm, savory auge ou for dipping. Big portions, no shortcuts, just crave-worthy stubs made to truly satisfy. And at Firehouse Stubbs, every bite makes an impact. A portion of every purchase helps to provide life-saving equipment to first responders. Download the Firehouse Stubbs app, skip the line, stack the flavor, and support your local heroes.

SPEAKER_24 1:08:04

Every team knows great basketball starts with the fundamentals. At Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee, they do too. Trusted coverage, local agents who know you by name, and service that's there when you need it most. For Auto, home, and life, you're here to protect what makes Tennessee life so special. Because when you have a strong foundation, you can focus on the road ahead. Solid fundamentals, trusted coverage, Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee. Tennessee Insurance or Tennessee Life. Get a free quote at FBITN.com.

SPEAKER_10 1:08:33

Whether you're cheering on the vaults at Food City Center, watching at your favorite sports bar, or hosting a watch party, you need a beer that will cool you down. Choose Coors Light for a beer as cold as the Rockies. It's cold laggered for a lighter, fresher taste, cold filtered for a brighter appearance, and cold packaged for peak freshness. This basketball season, reach for the beer that supports the big orange. Choose chill. Mountain Cold Refreshment, Coors Light. Proud sponsor of the Tennessee Volunteers. Celebrate responsibly. 21 means 21.

SPEAKER_11 1:09:27

With Mike Keith.

SPEAKER_10 1:09:30

This text of the Mike Keith Show is presented by Certifaters of East Tennessee, proud supporters of the Balls. Kibb's Corner is presented by Cal Hooves. Nine area locations in Knoxville. A taste of Tennessee, Cal Hooves. Kiv's Corner is a show within a show, and it's all about Ross Kivitt, Tennessee assistant baseball coach, recruiting coordinator. It is his show. He lines up the guest, he does the interviews. I merely tell him when he has to go to break. Ross, welcome back. Congratulations on a winning weekend over Missouri.

SPEAKER_15 1:10:13

Thank you. A big part of the reason why is because of our next guest. If you don't mind, I'll introduce a left-handed pitcher from Boston, Massachusetts, out just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. He comes to us after three years at the University of Virginia. So he's a transfer student athlete. Our Sunday starter, who had a great, great, great game this past Sunday against Missouri, Evan Blanco. Yeah, you can go. Well, everyone's clapping home. Yeah, I appreciate you having it. They're eating Calhouns and clapping in between bites because they're having. But Evan, welcome to the corner. My first question is a hard-hitting one. You grew up playing what I consider the hardest sport to play ice hockey. How does ice hockey help with your approach to pitching?

SPEAKER_14 1:11:03

I think that my experience with hockey, just because you need to make split split-second decisions, like it makes the game of baseball feel that much slower. Like I grew up playing hockey for nearly eight years, and the decisions that you need to make in that game are incredibly fast compared to like thinking about a pitch or like what play is coming next.

SPEAKER_15 1:11:22

So you're saying the 20-second clock doesn't speed you up quite like uh how might some of your freshman teammates?

SPEAKER_14 1:11:29

No. I I mean I do have a pitch clock violation this year, but I mean, which is kind of inexcusable.

SPEAKER_15 1:11:35

If you're not trying, then you know, everyone's got one under their belt. What about the competitiveness, the toughness part? Because that's one thing I really appreciate about Evan is he's always grabbing the ball, knocking on wood. He he's available and he's not a he doesn't give in. You pitched in a monsoon in Georgia and had one of your better outings. And I just think maybe the dropping the mitts at an early age has helped you be competitive on the mound.

SPEAKER_14 1:12:00

I think so. I mean, there are there are instances in hockey where you're always like, whether it's battling in the corners, like you kind of need to fight for yourself and fight for your team. And that's something that's kind of instilled in me based off of my experiences that I've had before college baseball. So that hockey is definitely a big part of that.

SPEAKER_15 1:12:15

I have one more before you go, Coach. Go right ahead. When you're going through the process, because it's a little different than a guy that's been one year out of school or even two. You've spent three years, you had success. Your coach does leave, so I'm sure that's a point of it. But you're going into the portal. What are you kind of looking for for your last year?

SPEAKER_14 1:12:33

Yeah, I was looking for a place that was already established. Um, I wanted to go win at a place like Tennessee that already had a winning culture. And the culture from where I was coming from is a little bit different than here. Like you guys treat us like professionals, you guys treat us like we're the real deal, like we're players, like where we want to go. And I felt like that was something that would be super beneficial for my development, but also what a team, like a winning, a winning team would you know benefit from?

SPEAKER_15 1:13:00

Question one a coach Keith, onto my last question. Keep going, it's your show. How has the relationship with you and Coach Reynolds kind of sparked or or rejuvenated what we've saw out of you, your freshman year, and parts of even your sophomore and junior season that you're showing consistently now? Is it a communication thing? Is it just kind of how he preps your your weekly schedule? Is it maybe the weight room with Keegan? What's kind of re-jumped what we already knew was in there?

SPEAKER_14 1:13:29

Yeah, I kind of think it's like a holistic approach to everything. Like whether it's communicating with Ren, like in between innings, him saying, like, hey, that fastball needs to be here, opposed to me just putting it over the plate for a strike. Um, you know, kind of realizing like what my mistakes are and kind of trying to fine-tune the little things. We work on mechanics basically every single day, I think uh trying to make like consistent changes to my fastball. So I think consistent communication with him is super important, but also the key, and he's the real deal. And like that's a dude that came from a big league club. Like he has all the experience in the world and he has worked with the best. And if you want to be the best, then you gotta be around those type of people.

SPEAKER_10 1:14:06

As the game three starter, how do you watch games one and two in the series? Good one.

SPEAKER_14 1:14:12

Yeah, that is a good question. And I'm a journalist. Yeah, this guy's trained professional. You know, the two guys that we have going before me, and even the relievers, like we all have different stuff, and especially me. So um the things that I kind of look for are like who's swinging the first pitches, like, is this guy a small ball guy? Is he running? Um, stuff like that. Because I know that Tegan and Landon, they have incredible stuff, and it's a little bit different than mine. So I can't really judge like if they're just blowing guys away with the heater, like that might not be my game, but that's their game.

SPEAKER_15 1:14:43

Finesse is still cool. It is. It's finesse, he's throwing 93 miles per hour at Georgia, Mike. It's not like 86. No offense to anyone that throws.

SPEAKER_08 1:14:51

I mean the whole thing is all good, all good.

SPEAKER_10 1:14:54

Get him out. Right. That's all it comes down to. Exactly.

SPEAKER_14 1:14:58

Yeah, and that's all I'm trying to do, whether it's you know, by a first pitch pop-out or strikeout, like I'm just trying to collect outs as quick as possible.

SPEAKER_10 1:15:05

From your standpoint, when you go seven and two thirds and you have five strikeouts, that means you're moving the ball around, giving the guys behind you a chance to play in that Missouri game that you just won. Was that your best performance of the year in terms of not just the stuff, but what your approach was and how you handled Missouri?

SPEAKER_14 1:15:26

I think it absolutely was. And like my game plan going into it was I knew that they were gonna give me swings early in the count. So as long as I was over the plate and hitting my spots, I knew that I would find success, especially with the guys that we have behind me. Like I trust Manny made a few great plays, uh, Garrett out in center. So those types of dudes like playing behind me, I'm super grateful for. So I think that it's just a com uh combination of everything.

SPEAKER_15 1:15:51

People ask me this all the time. When when you say I'm trying to get swings early, you had 14 fly baller pop-up outs. When guys are swinging and they're you know, they're missing up, do you adjust your stuff, or do you feel like okay, now I know my stuff's on because they're clipping it, they're not getting it square? Because usually in games you'll see now you gave up the solo jack, which was a bomb. But hey, whatever. Solo homers, they don't beat you. The max shares are approached. But when when you're kind of attacking, do you feel like your heater is on because they're getting the ball in the air, or would you like to obviously you did it yesterday, but would is that an adjustment?

SPEAKER_14 1:16:30

Yeah, I think for me specifically, but also every pitcher, if your heater is in the zone consistently, you're hitting your spots, like you're gonna find success at some point. I mean, they might get a few hits, but if you are consistently hitting your spots with your fastball, it makes your breaking stuff better. Um, and like I said, like just early outs, that's the key to the deal.

SPEAKER_15 1:16:48

How about having a full house at 1 p.m. on a Sunday? People coming from church and juicing up the stadium. Does the vibe, is it a little bit different than maybe uh not not particular with Virginia, but maybe the difference in SEC and ACC that all three games are packed to the fullest, especially in Knoxville?

SPEAKER_14 1:17:07

Yeah, from what I've seen so far, like the atmosphere's I mean, even in Georgia too, like just in these two weekends, like the atmosphere, like the the fans are super engaged, like they understand the game of baseball. Um, and it does make a big difference when that stadium's full. Like, we we definitely do feed off of that energy. So, you know, the more the merrier.

SPEAKER_10 1:17:24

Need to get a break, and then we're back with Evan Blanco, Ross Kibbitt, Kibb's Corner, presented by Cal Hoons. We've got more of the corner after this. You might be our first left-hander.

SPEAKER_17 1:17:36

When getting the job done right is job one, you need construction equipment that's built right, from compact track loaders to the world's number one selling compact excavator. The Kubota construction lineup features durable Kubota engines, more comfort, and the versatility to do it all and do it right. Visit your local Kubota dealer today. Go to KubotaUSA.com for full disclaimer.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:59

Visit RJV Kubota locally in Knoxville or Nashville. RJV Kubota, a proud supporter of the Valls.

SPEAKER_24 1:18:07

Hey Vall Nation, it's Coach Barnes. Here to remind you why Pilot is the official travel partner of Tennessee Athletics. Every season is a journey. Loading on what's in the rear view while keeping your eyes on the road ahead. The folks at Pilot know all about that. They're out here to help you make the most of every mile. Just like things were always better in that Tennessee orange, every journey's better with a stop at Pilot. See you out here.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:39

It's eight-day ball fans, and you don't want to miss a single play. Uber Eats brings your favorite food right to your door. Wings, pizza, burgers, whatever you're craving, it's just a tap away. Download the Uber Eats app and use code GOBIGR to get$15 off all orders. Uber Eats, proud sponsor of the fall. Let's eat.

SPEAKER_27 1:19:06

A farm, a family and a tradition of premium fresh sausage that's lasted almost a century, using only the freshest ingredients and finest cuts of meat for flavor that is locked in instantly. Each bite of Swaggedeese Farm sausage transports you back to a warm, cozy southern kitchen, leaving you satisfied and ready to take on the date. Swaggete's Farm, quite possibly the best-tasting sausage in America, now available at your local retailers.

SPEAKER_11 1:19:59

Mike Keith delivered by Uber Eats.

SPEAKER_10 1:20:02

Gibbs Corner continues with Tennessee assistant baseball coach Ross Kivitt, his special guest left-hand pitcher Evan Blanco, winner of the Sunday game over Missouri with an outstanding performance. You were asked after the game what you thought things would be like for you watching Tennessee play Virginia in basketball, considering that you spent three years at Virginia and now you're at Tennessee. You gave kind of an interesting answer. Uh-oh. Well, so so here's what I'm more Rick Barnes fans on this. Yeah, we're Rick Barnes fans. Understood. That's cool. But as you I'm assuming you watched the game. I did. Okay. As you watched the game, was it different than you thought it would be watching your old school play against your new school?

SPEAKER_14 1:20:50

It was a little different. Um, you know, the the Virginia style of play that I'm used to is like slow basketball, like very a defensive approach. It's a little bit different this year now that I don't follow them. Like I'm I do follow Tennessee basketball like this year. I don't follow Virginia basketball. I don't follow Virginia anything. So I'll try and see.

SPEAKER_15 1:21:09

Nice go volve.

SPEAKER_14 1:21:11

But um, yeah, it was a little bit different, and especially because it was a school that I used to root for, and now that like this is the school that I bleed orange for. It was definitely a cool moment once we uh once we got that win.

SPEAKER_10 1:21:22

But you don't know anybody on their team. I know a couple kids, but not guys who play because they don't they all transfer. Yeah, they don't play, yeah. They don't play anyone who was even there last year. Of course, their season's over now, but that's a different story. Right. Shout out Rick.

SPEAKER_15 1:21:37

Shout out Balls. It's a shout-out show, dude. Yeah, shout out Bishop Boswell. If you asked Henry Ford, you could call him out here. If you asked Henry Ford the same question, is he uh is he on board? Remember, he's from Charlottesville, Virginia. So it's a different story. He's like the real thing.

SPEAKER_14 1:21:55

He's like he's a he's definitely a who's basketball fan. I as much as that pains me to say that dude.

SPEAKER_15 1:22:02

Well, he got a mean text from me last night. Yeah, I said, good season, it's over.

SPEAKER_14 1:22:06

Yeah, wow, shout out Rick. Shout out Rick, shout out Bishop Boswell.

SPEAKER_15 1:22:11

I kind of got a fun one too, not to change the subject too much, but being left-handed, do you get offended? Because you you're a smart cat and you're not as goofy as most lefties, like an Appenzeller or maybe I don't know, Tracy. Yeah, Tracy's goofy. Do you get do you get offended? Taylor Tracy. Taylor Tracy. He's throwing on some Tuesday. Yeah, sure. Lane doesn't really count. He's more of a hitter. Do you get offended when people go, oh, he's left-handed?

SPEAKER_14 1:22:33

Some people might you know consider jealousy. Other people might think that that you know we're we're weird. Are you jealous that he's left-handed? We're a commodity. I'm jealous he's tall. I don't know about that. Taller. He's taller.

SPEAKER_15 1:22:48

He's taller compared to 12-year-old. Yeah. That was an indirect. You're 12 years old, Bill.

SPEAKER_14 1:22:54

No, no, no, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_15 1:22:56

I eat too much Calhouns. Everyone thinks I'm I'm short, but I'm really 6'2. Are you actually? I'm just round. That's the problem.

SPEAKER_10 1:23:02

We gotta check his ID. I don't know if he's 6'2. Well, that one of the players for Virginia on Sunday night was listed, Malik Thomas. He was listed at 6'5. And Chris Lofton and I are sitting there going, 6'5? In what universe? This guy's lucky to be 6'10. I mean, some of the lies about height are some of the greatest things. So they need the ABS. Yeah.

SPEAKER_15 1:23:24

Like Bregman, he's listed at like three inches shorter than he was last year for the major leagues now. Okay. Measuring it to like the millimeter.

SPEAKER_14 1:23:30

So yeah, like Bregman is like three inches shorter than he was last year.

SPEAKER_10 1:23:34

Well, see, I had Bregman in a regional when he was at LSU, and he was listed as something. I'm like, no, he yeah. He's five. He's a good player, great player.

SPEAKER_15 1:23:46

Tell Coach Keith who you get uh some people misconstrue you with all the time, especially in Boston.

SPEAKER_14 1:23:51

This guy calls me Bregman all the time. Nice.

SPEAKER_15 1:23:53

I'm not the only one walking around the city when you were with your cupcake.

SPEAKER_14 1:23:58

They called you out for they thought you were Bregman, especially without the mustache.

SPEAKER_15 1:24:01

I was gonna get to the mustache. What is it with mustache? And left handers, left handers and mustaches. He's competing with Kirby actually. I'm not coming.

SPEAKER_14 1:24:10

Hey, that that guy, that mustache is a staple in Knoxville. I'm not I'm not competing with him. Kirby Connell.

SPEAKER_15 1:24:16

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_14 1:24:17

What's trained?

SPEAKER_15 1:24:18

Kirby's like seal. They know who Kirby is because of the stash. Right. But you're trying.

SPEAKER_14 1:24:23

Yours is a little more Luigi. It is. Some people are drawing some comparisons to Mario. I wouldn't I wouldn't say I'm in the same category as Kirby, but I'm I'm definitely I'm trying. Go back to the left-handers.

SPEAKER_10 1:24:35

No, because I'm just I'm dying to know this. Why is it so many left-hand pitchers are just wacky human beings? Because it's true. I don't know.

SPEAKER_14 1:24:45

Isn't there something like they use the right side of the brain? Like it's a different but it is a thing. It is, yeah. The weirdos that I've seen in on a baseball team, they're all lefty.

SPEAKER_15 1:24:56

They are always.

SPEAKER_14 1:24:57

That's no disrespect. That's just the way it is.

SPEAKER_15 1:24:59

But they're always a hot commodity, too, because we're always looking for them and recruiting.

SPEAKER_10 1:25:03

The only one that I know who wasn't was Todd Hillton.

SPEAKER_15 1:25:06

He was but he was more of a hitter. He's a hitter. He's more of a hitter. Did he pitch here too? Yeah. He did. His number's on the wall. You need to Google that. He's a man of the world.

SPEAKER_10 1:25:14

What they used to do with him was the great. You'll love this story. I tell this story once in a while. So he closed for Tennessee. So Dave Serrano. Shout out Dave Serrano. One of the greatest. Dave Johnson University's doing a great job, Dave. Shout out. Dave's great. So Dave was a pitching coach. He would start walking out to the mound, and somebody from the dugout would throw Helton a ball. And Matt Whitley, the shortstop, would get down in the catcher's stance. Because Helton was first base. Because Helton played first base. And so Helton would start throwing to Whitley. Low slot, too. Yeah. 94 probably. No, firmer than that? 74. I mean, that was what was so great about Ty. And he had like, oh, he's his changeup was like 42 miles an hour. It was beautiful. Anyway, the other team would get so mad. Oh, they would be furious.

SPEAKER_27 1:26:09

You can't let him do that. You can't let him.

SPEAKER_10 1:26:12

Oh, because of the warm-up pitches? Yeah. Oh. Oh, yeah, yeah. And Dave's walk to the mound took like 25 minutes. Yeah. I mean, he's like, tying his shoes. Oh, yeah. He got a little cough. You know. And so he would he would take forever and he'd stand there and talk. Home plate umpire would have to come out and throw him out.

SPEAKER_15 1:26:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_10 1:26:31

And so just as he got to the top step of the dugout to go back in, here came Rod Delmonico. Shout out, D. Coach D. Yeah, hi. Hi Rod, baby. Going into the UT Athletics Hall of Fame, by the way. Yes, he is. Well deserved. So congratulations. So D would then come out and you know he would go fast because then they'd get tied. Todd would throw eight pitches, he'd be ready to go, and the other team he was in their head. Right. Yeah. Which is kind of one of those great baseball things where strategy. Yeah. Because I mean, when you know you've got a guy, when you know that guy's sitting up there, he has no idea what you're doing. How do you avoid getting too cued in those moments?

SPEAKER_14 1:27:14

It all comes down to throwing strikes. Like people like you can have all the stuff in the world, but if you don't throw strikes, then you're not gonna find success. So I mean, if if a guy's guessing at the plate, then you know if you put over the plate, then he's gonna have a hard time to hit it.

SPEAKER_15 1:27:29

You've had some adversity throughout your four years. Your freshman year was outstanding, a little bit slower the next two, and now you like I've said earlier, you're kind of rejuvenated. Is there anything particular mindset wise, or maybe that you did this summer or in your in your fall, which was probably your least normal fall of four years, I would imagine. Is there anything that kind of clicked when you got onto Rocky Top?

SPEAKER_14 1:27:54

Yeah, I'd say that um definitely last year I kind of put some unnecessary pressure on. Myself and I kind of got away from enjoying the game for what it was. And now that I'm here, like I absolutely love the game of baseball again. Like I I'm excited to show up to the field every day. Like I want to be out there every day. Like I want the ball every day. So I'm just playing the key the game like I'm 12 years old again.

SPEAKER_15 1:28:18

Not to try to pigeonhole you into one team drafting you or signing you. Are you excited about the socks? Do you think they can make a run?

SPEAKER_14 1:28:27

I don't know. I mean, the pitching staff's great. So I'm excited to see those ones.

SPEAKER_15 1:28:30

Who's your favorite pitcher on the pitching staff?

SPEAKER_14 1:28:32

Garrett Crochet. Shout out Garrett Crochet, BFL. Garrett Crochet. There's only one answer. BFL.

SPEAKER_15 1:28:37

Big and bald, but beautiful, baby. We love you, Garrett. Thanks for the suits. State and Liberty, he purchased suits for everybody for our charter flights. Nice. Yeah, they're really nice. They're custom made. I got around the Calhoun's body. I'm gonna have to go one time a week instead of two. There you go. Very generous to the program. We are appreciative of him. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_10 1:28:59

What does it mean to have a guy from your program on your favorite team? And oh, by the way, he's a left-hand pitcher.

SPEAKER_14 1:29:06

It's it's amazing. I mean, especially the stories that I've heard from him when or about him when he was here, knowing that like he dealt with adversity basically his whole time here. Yeah. And then he trusted the course and trusted his coaching staff, and then eventually blossomed into the stub that he is today.

SPEAKER_15 1:29:22

Yeah, he throws 118 miles an hour.

SPEAKER_10 1:29:24

Yeah, I think that's pretty good.

SPEAKER_15 1:29:26

It's crazy with his left arm, but he's not normal. You're such an interesting guy, and you're really smart and you have a lot of feel. What's something that you want to do after you're done pitching?

SPEAKER_14 1:29:36

I don't know. I always see myself in the sports world, like whether it's you know, coaching or you know, being a voice somewhere or working in the business side of things, but I definitely love the game of baseball and want to be around it as much as well.

SPEAKER_15 1:29:48

Yeah, you have a fun personality. He's fun to come to the yard and and and shoot the ish with, especially if it's about sports. He's really good at it. You kind of give me like uh a McAfee minion vibe.

SPEAKER_14 1:29:59

Like you can I'm a huge McAfee guy, so that I take a look at Pat McAfee.

SPEAKER_15 1:30:04

Yeah, ish, unless you come on Kippscore, then shout out Pat anything about Knoxville that you want to get out there that you didn't expect or that you might have expected, you're like, this is amazing. This is why I would live here after I was done pitching.

SPEAKER_14 1:30:17

After I'm done pitching, I would absolutely come back to Knoxville. But this this place, I mean, on my when I came here this summer on my official visit, I was here for no more than what 20 hours. And so I was limited to what I could see. But uh yeah, the city of Knoxville is amazing, especially like it's a lot bigger than I thought it was, to where like you could go out to like Farragut or like me and my friends golf like 40 minutes away, and people are so welcoming in the community. And I think that's the biggest part about this place is the community. Like, I never expected everyone around this place to kind of revolve around the University of Tennessee because it wasn't really like that anywhere else that I experienced. So for this community to be as bought in into Tennessee as they are, it's it's definitely special.

SPEAKER_15 1:30:57

My last one is a fun one about golf. This group loves the golf, it's starting to really heat up here in Knoxville. The weather's been beautiful. I know that you guys like to go out on Mondays specifically. What's your best round? What course are you looking forward to playing over the next 10 weeks? And who maybe it's your a guy that you like to go out with, or who's maybe the best stick on the team?

SPEAKER_14 1:31:19

I haven't gone out with him, but I've heard that Cam Appenzeller is he's the real deal when it comes to golf. And I hate to say it, he gets a lot of credit. Do you play left-handed? I do. I'm uh I'm very good with my irons. I like to play the slice with my driver. So I'm I'm aimed like way into the woods, and it'll find its way into the fairway. He's good with his irons, though, so I guess it doesn't matter. I'm that much of a golfer.

SPEAKER_15 1:31:41

Are you? Not anymore. What was your best go? Me? I'm asking the question. Yeah, but it is Kip's quarter.

SPEAKER_10 1:31:49

I I was not a very good golfer.

SPEAKER_15 1:31:51

You were under 20 handicapped.

SPEAKER_07 1:31:54

No.

SPEAKER_10 1:31:54

Come on. Well, maybe a little bit. Yeah, at one point, at one point in my life, I was yeah, I was better, but then it kind of all children kind of took it all away because you just don't have time. What's your handicap?

SPEAKER_14 1:32:05

I don't know what my handicap is, but my best round ever was an 84. So I'm okay. Uh I'm honest. I'm not the best golfer, but I like to get out there. I'm a big vibes guy. Yeah. Me and Brady Frederick, we like to play a lot. We're usually in the same cart, so we both we both play for vibes.

SPEAKER_15 1:32:20

And he's self-proclaimed good golfer.

SPEAKER_14 1:32:22

He's totally he likes to say he is. Oh we we definitely we definitely pick each other up. So if I hit a bad shot, usually it's a good one. So it kind of works out.

SPEAKER_15 1:32:30

But total pro move, not throwing his bunny under the bus. Shout out Brady.

SPEAKER_10 1:32:35

All right, talk to us about this weekend.

SPEAKER_15 1:32:36

Yeah, I'm excited. Uh, Vanderbilt's a tough club in state rival. I think one thing about Vanderbilt is that their run game, the way that they play small ball, but they also have the ability, especially with some right-handers, to leave the yard. Pitching wise, they've been a little bit down, but they have enough in there. They always will, as long as Tim Corb is the head coach and Scott Brown's, you know, leading that staff. So it's a really tough matchup, but it's every team's good in the SEC. Um, it's fun to go down there and play in Nashville. It's usually all orange. Um, but uh my question to you with that, how is attacking a team that likes to move the ball a little bit more rather than sitting slug? How does that affect your strategy on it?

SPEAKER_14 1:33:17

It really doesn't affect it at all, especially because I mean, if they're gonna play small ball, if they're gonna run a lot, like we got a guy like Levi behind the dish on the days that I pitch. We got guys up the middle like Manny and whoever's playing second that day. But um I have all the trust in those guys to make the plays behind me and you know make sure that we control the running games well.

SPEAKER_15 1:33:36

How exhausting is an SEC weekend? I I thought about this driving in today is like it doesn't matter who you play on a weekend, you are just exhausted, which is why you see some teams get clipped on Tuesdays. How how is your first two weekends in this league different than maybe what an ACC schedule is?

SPEAKER_14 1:33:54

It is different, and like there's no there's no easy games, there's no layups in this league, and that is something that you know was kind of new for me coming into this league. Um, you know, a team like Mizzou, like they were a very talented club, like every game was really close up until I mean Sunday was close up until one of the last innings, but um, you know, that's just something that you know we need to be mentally prepared for, and especially, you know, by the time Sunday rolls around. I know the guys that play all three games, like they're mentally exhausted, also physically exhausted. So just staying in the fight is super important.

SPEAKER_15 1:34:24

How about staying locked in? Like being able to take punches throughout, but also having to stay locked in though, your scouting report and the strategy from Ren for seven and two-thirdings, two-thirds of an inning this past week. And when it's monsoon raining in Georgia, Vandy's gonna be a club that puts a lot of pressure on you. How what is maybe your routine in between innings?

SPEAKER_14 1:34:47

Try to keep things simple. And I mean, I have a ton of time in between innings compared to hockey, like we talked about earlier. Line change hoc hockey's prepared me for this 40 second shifts. Yeah, you gotta be in and out of there. But you know, with with with uh in between innings, I like to keep uh keep my heartbeat down, you know, really control uh control my breathing, but also just kind of staying present in the game and watching my guys do their thing at the plate. I feel like that keeps me centered and just keeps me kind of relaxed.

SPEAKER_15 1:35:12

It's for the boys. Glad to have them. It's a good thing. Glad to have them. Glad you're here. Yeah, thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_10 1:35:18

It's really great to have a chance to talk with you and um kind of hear your story. Evan Blanco. Evan Blanco.

SPEAKER_14 1:35:25

Good Kibb's corner. That was good. It was, that was great. Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_10 1:35:29

Lot of shout-outs on this Kip Corner. Lot of shout-outs. I'm sure we'll see more of that coming up. Your weekend scouting report with Mike Keith.

SPEAKER_22 1:35:38

Sponsored by First Horizon Bank, big bank solutions, small bank spirit, the official bank of the vault. Pilot, official travel stop of the vault. See you out here. Swaggerty farm sausage, quite possibly the best tasting sausage in America. By the tennis D5, doing the My All campaign today.

SPEAKER_16 1:35:59

I will give my all.com.

SPEAKER_24 1:36:38

Across the state of Tennessee, you will find towns big and small, all with that big orange passion. Just like you see a First Horizon, serving communities big and small, offering big bank products with small bank passion. When the best of big meets the best of small, you get it all. That's First Horizon. Proudly serving Tennesseans for over 160 years. It's no wonder First Horizon is the official bank of Tennessee Athletics.

SPEAKER_02 1:37:06

Fans, make your tailgate party legendary with game day food from Texas Roadhouse, where you'll find hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, ice cold beer, and all the fresh baked bread and peanuts you can eat. Almost everything on the menu at Texas Roadhouse is made from scratch, and a full-time butcher cuts every steak by hand. Make sure to check out their$5 beverage menu available all day every day. Download the Texas Roadhouse mobile app or visit TexasRodhouse.com to place your order or join the wait list. Go fall!

SPEAKER_00 1:37:37

What's better than a Tennessee Falls game day? A big orange game day with Truly Heart's Delster. From backyards to box seats, Truly Heart's Delster's winning blend of refreshing flavor and endless varieties will take your game to the next level. At only 100 calories and 22 different flavors, including fan favorites like wild berry and strawberry lemonade. There's something for everyone. No one is just one flavor. Live truly. Find it near you at TrulleyHeartstelster.com. Truly Heartstalster Beverage Company, Boston Mass. Please drink responsibly.

SPEAKER_10 1:38:33

The Mike Keith show continues. We're delivered by Uber Eats in this segment. Brought to you by UT Medical, the official health care provider of the balls. Got to do a couple things here. And I always love this when Sarah and Andy get a chance to take a swing, jump right in. Quinn for the win. I love Quinn for the win. Highlighting a great moment of performance in Tennessee athletics this week. Brought to you by Quinn Appliance, your home for the best selection of GE appliances. Visit their showroom in Alcoa or at Quinnappliance.com. GE Appliances built for America. Sarah Detweiler, do you have for us a Quinn for the win?

SPEAKER_26 1:39:15

I was pretty locked into women's tennis after having Layla on the podcast last week. And over the weekend, they went down to Texas. Tennessee is ranked 18th, then Texas is ranked number seven. They went down to Texas and got the win over the Longhorns and are number one player for the team.

SPEAKER_10 1:39:34

I'm gonna say it. She beat the number one player in the country. She sure did. Say it.

SPEAKER_26 1:39:38

She beat the number one player ITA ranking nationally in the country.

SPEAKER_10 1:39:42

Awesome.

SPEAKER_26 1:39:43

Pretty insane.

SPEAKER_10 1:39:44

Yeah, tell us about her.

SPEAKER_26 1:39:45

Katrina Scott, yeah, she's a top 300 player in the world. And she came and joined us with the program this season, and she's been an absolutely unbelievable addition. And talking to Layla, too, like the girls have been able to learn so much about what a pro does, how a pro trains. And then in turn, she's been able to learn a little bit about the college tennis culture and the sisterhood as well. So it's been a benefit for both sides, but Katrina Scott has been absolutely crushing it for our team. And with her addition, you know, being on court one, it bumps everyone down a court two. So we've got like really heavy hitters on these top courts, and we've been able to heavy hitters.

SPEAKER_10 1:40:22

You get in a pun every week.

SPEAKER_26 1:40:24

And it's not even intentional.

SPEAKER_10 1:40:26

You do a dad joke. You are a punny gal indeed. All right, Quinn for the win, Andy Brock.

SPEAKER_07 1:40:32

Yep. I'm gonna go with Tennessee baseball and their ability to get the weekend series win over Missouri, specifically Evan Blanco, who went seven and two thirds and only allowed one earned run in the rubber match. And for Tennessee, it was their first SEC home Sunday win since this time last year against Florida. Sunday's last year a bit of a struggle. Oh, yeah. But having Evan Blanco feels like it's a real good stability, just an experienced starter to have for these rubber matches.

SPEAKER_10 1:40:58

Good quint for the win there, brought to you by Quint Appliance, your home for the best selection of GE appliances. Visit their showroom at Alcoa or at Quintappliance.com. GE Appliances built for America. The heavy lift presented by Planet Fitness. Planet Fitness Black Card, only$24.99 a month. We're all strong on this planet. Join today, Seam Home Club, for details. Bring a friend anytime and recover in the black card spa. Sarah Detweiler, give me your Planet Fitness heavy lift.

SPEAKER_26 1:41:31

Well, a personal heavy lift for me is the 1010 tip-off on Friday Eastern time. Trying to stay awake for not even just the tip-off, but the entirety of it. Might be a little bit of a heavy lift for me, but I'll make sure to get a cup of coffee. We'll be locked and loaded. And if it's a good game, I'll be juiced up enough, hopefully, to stay awake for the whole thing.

SPEAKER_10 1:41:52

All right. Andy Brock, your Planet Fitness heavy lift, please.

SPEAKER_07 1:41:56

I'm gonna stay with Tennessee baseball. I think the next two weeks is going to be a heavy lift for Tennessee because I think of the expectations. You go to Vanderbilt and then you host LSU. Two teams that are typically top of the SEC who are off to two and four starts in the SEC. And with you being Tennessee three and three, I think one, the mental pressure of playing those three, obviously it's going to be high energy when you when you have those rivalry games. But how important it will be to sort of solidify yourself as a top SEC team these next two weeks.

SPEAKER_10 1:42:29

To me, let's see if you disagree with this.

SPEAKER_07 1:42:31

Baseball is the sport where there's the most panic by what you do or I think yes, because if you're not putting across runs, it's easy to get concerned. And and runs are harder to come than say points in basketball. It's a bit more glaring, maybe.

SPEAKER_26 1:42:50

Yeah, it's also interesting because of how many games they play in a season to be um a bit reactive to what they're seeing early on when it's like out of all the sports, they have the most amount of games and time to be able to make a run when it's important and play your best at the end. So it is interesting.

SPEAKER_10 1:43:08

I mean, what was it a couple years ago? The balls started five and ten, ended up 15 and 15, and ended up. In 2023, yeah, three years ago.

SPEAKER_07 1:43:17

They were swept at Missouri to start the year. Yeah, that was not good in the in the frigid cold tundra. And then they uh swept Texas AM the next week to be three and three, and it's very reminiscent of this team. A very young team, you had sophomores, Christian Moore and Blake Burke, who were struggling as sophomores, but then obviously they're incredible talents, they got so much better as the year went. It's a very similar team. A lot of young guys who are everyday guys for the first time. Stats are very similar from that year. It's very reminiscent.

SPEAKER_10 1:43:45

And very rarely do you go through a year in baseball where you start off the year saying Bob Smith is the leadoff hitter and Jim Williams is the ninth place hitter, and everyone in between stays exactly the same. I mean, sometimes when you've got a veteran team, you do that, but you're always experimenting. You always have an injury or two that's a big deal. You got you got the guy you think is gonna be your closer, and oh, by the way, he's not. And so then you figure out we've got a guy who's a starting pitcher who's not doing very well, and now he becomes the closer. I I mean it just even it is that game where you can't you can't overreact in baseball because it just takes time. Um, and the great thing about the SEC is if you finish close to 500 in SEC play, you're getting in a regional. So you don't have to be 21 and nine. You'd like to be. You know, you'd like to win the conference, but if you're you know 13 and 17, you're probably getting in a regional. And then you have a chance to make a run at that point. And that's um what the SEC means overall in terms of its importance to the quote-unquote NCAA tournament of baseball, which of course would be regional, super regionals, and then the College World Series. Glad to have you with us on the Mike Keith Show. We are delivered, as always, by Uber Eats. And also want to mention if you're looking for a place to get away, when you visit Pigeon Forge, the whole family can play. With hundreds of attractions set in the Great Smoky Mountains, your crowd will go wild too. Join the fun and plan your trip at mypigeonforge.com.

SPEAKER_11 1:45:40

Mike Keith talks big orange sports right here every week.

SPEAKER_22 1:45:44

Getting you ready for game day. Presented by Uber Eats.

SPEAKER_11 1:45:48

Download the show at utsports.com. We are the Ball Network.