UNA Basketball Night @ Lost Pizza w/Benjamin Ray 01/05/26
93.9 The Score WYTK - January 5, 2026
https://www.939thescore.com/una-basketball-night-lost-pizza-w-benjamin-ray-01-05-26/

This transcript was generated automatically from the broadcast audio. Names and some words may be misspelt; the audio is the official record.

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It's time for UNA Basketball Night at Lost Pizza Company, featuring Coach Candy Whitaker and Coach Tony Pujol.
UNA Basketball Night is brought to you by Lost Pizza, Bank Independent, Burnley Spine and Sport, Renaissance Eye Care, The Carriage Wine and Market, Alabama Health Guidance, and Singing River Brewery.
Now live from Lost Pizza Company in historic downtown Florence, here's the voice of the UNA Lions, Benjamin Ray.
Good evening and hello, welcome down to Lost Pizza here in downtown Florence, Alabama.
Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel back with you for week two, episode two of UNA Basketball Night.
We're off and running in Atlantic Sun play and Mike, what was it the opening weekend?
In either program wanted, I think somebody told me today, we got ten more weekends of basketball left, so no need to panic yet.
There's still a lot of basketball to be played this season.
That's right, Ben.
There's 18 games and that's just two of them, so you got 16 to go.
You got eight weeks where you got to buckle in, learn some lessons from week one.
And how you play in January isn't necessarily how you're going to play in February or March, whether you're playing good or bad right now.
So, a lot of opportunity ahead for North Alabama to really get a couple back now and hopefully look forward to improving and getting some wins.
Both teams really kind of mirrored one another where they lost Thursday night openers in tight fashion.
The women down in Florida, Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast, the men at home against Stetson.
And then it kind of flipped.
The women were in Deland, Florida, taking on Stetson.
The men were at home taking on Florida Gulf Coast.
And those games kind of got away late, right?
Tight early on.
So, both teams will look to bounce back this week on the road.
Mike, let's talk about what's coming up.
The men, Kentucky swing.
Eastern Kentucky Thursday, Bellarmine on Saturday.
You talk about two of the most contrasting styles for travel partners probably in all of college basketball.
That's right.
I mean, if you've seen Bellarmine and the way they play, it's a lot different from the way EKU is going to play on Thursday.
And EKU is a team that's motivated.
They haven't won a lot of games in non-conference play.
And, of course, they dropped both of theirs.
Bellarmine also dropped theirs on the road for the men.
It's going to be a challenge playing teams that are motivated because they're back in their home gyms.
And, again, you're preparing for one team on Wednesday that's completely different from the team you're going to be preparing for on Friday.
So, that will be interesting to see how this team does in Kentucky.
Then the women open up for the first time at home in 2026 on Thursday.
Eastern Kentucky, 6 o'clock tip.
On Saturday, it's Bellarmine, a 1 o'clock tip?
1 or 2.
Let me look.
I hadn't looked that far ahead.
I should have looked.
Grant's confirmed.
Grant knows it all.
It is a 2 o'clock tip on Saturday.
But what you need to know, on Thursday, it's a wide out.
On Saturday, it's a gold rush.
Dress accordingly.
Wide on Thursday.
Gold on Saturday.
Cannot wait.
6 o'clock on Thursday night.
It's going to be a good one.
It's been a long time since we've seen this team at home.
I know they're ready.
It's been 6 on the road.
December 1st was the last time they were in CB&S Bank Arena.
These women are ready to show out in front of the home crowd.
And then, of course, Saturday, gold rush, 2 o'clock.
Wear gold.
I wore my gold hoodie today.
I'm going to wash it and have it ready for Saturday.
We're off and running here at UNA Basketball Night from Los Beats of Shoals.
Tonight, we've got a jam-packed lineup.
Next up, we'll hear from Candy Whitaker.
We've got Sophia Cipollati and Gabby Jackson in the house as well.
A little while later, Tony Pujol will be here.
We'll also hear from his sophomore breakout,
Starkon King and Kevin Dukovic.
Here we go.
We'll take our first time out.
Coming up next, we'll chat with North Alabama head coach Candy Whitaker.
This is UNA Basketball Night from Los Beats of Shoals on 93.9 The Score.
No matter the size of your team or your fan crew,
Los Beats has got you covered.
We're talking wings, salads, and the one and only Monster Pizza.
Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations.
Big plays deserve big flavor.
And nobody delivers like lost pizza.
Feed the team, fuel the fans.
Go big with lost pizza.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy.
Effective for osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain, and more.
We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area.
Helping with sleep, energy, recovery, pain, and inflammation.
Therapies coupled with dry kneeling can help with sugar point and muscular pain.
In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments, and more.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients.
Please visit us at burnleychiro.com.
Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance.
Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan or you are under 65 and exploring individual
health care options, Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs.
Our local agents make it simple, so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard or give
us a call at 256-648-5710.
Again, that's 256-648-5710.
Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal?
Yeah, this isn't that.
I didn't have to write a long essay or audition or make a half-court shot.
I just had to open a bank independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking,
and have a positive balance.
That's it.
A 20% scholarship to UNA.
When bank independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and
the future of our community.
Bank independent.
We're invested in your future.
Member FDIC.
Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date, scratched-up glasses?
This is Dr. Hamp Moore with Renaissance Eye Care.
Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam.
You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000 to see either Dr. Kathy Werner, Dr.
Lisa Campbell, or myself.
Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses.
We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall.
And roar lines.
Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun.
Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events?
Try our Golden Manor Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics.
Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere.
Don't miss out on the good times.
Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery.
Got wine?
Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly 1,000 different wines to suit any budget,
the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence.
In the mood to relax and wind down?
Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers,
all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie,
and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere.
Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market,
located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater.
Cheers!
Welcome back down to the Lost Feats of Shoals here in historic downtown Florence.
Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel, and we welcome in Head Coach Candy Wade,
a crew who talks some North Alabama women's basketball.
And, Coach, I know a tough road swing down to Florida,
dropped two to Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson.
And before we dive into those games, just your overall thoughts from the openers in ASUN play.
Yeah, I mean, you know, I think this league is, you know, competitive from top to bottom.
I think, you know, fairly wide open.
I think you're going to have a lot of people beat a lot of people.
And every opportunity is huge, and we've got to be ready to go.
We're quite a bit, you know, we have a lot of injuries right now,
and so our bench is limited, our depth is limited.
But we've got to have people, you know, compete and step up where we have deficiencies.
Coach Ben just talked about it being a road swing, but even before that, it was a road stretch.
I mean, six in a row to close a non-conference play and to start conference play,
you're finally back at home after over a month.
How does it feel to know that, hey, this week we're sleeping in our own beds and playing in our gym?
Oh, for sure.
We're happy to be home.
You know, it was a long stretch, and it's just how the schedule fell,
and you've got to play half of your non-con on the road.
And December is a great time to do that, but definitely have dealt with some adversity,
but happy to be home and be able to practice at home and stay and sleep in our own beds.
All those things matter.
You guys have been blowing and going everywhere.
Almost time to just pop home, grab some Swiss cheese.
The next thing you know, you're back on the road, and what was this opening road trip like?
No classes.
You get to go down to Florida.
I know sometimes it's good for teams to get away down to Florida.
No classes, and you really just kind of got to lock in together.
We did, you know, and we enjoy being together.
I think, you know, fly down to Fort Myers, you know, I thought competed hard, you know,
at Gulf Coast, just didn't score it enough, to be honest.
I mean, we did a great job on the defensive end for the most part,
but got to score the basketball, and then, you know, travel up to Stetson.
Pretty easy travel to get two games down.
Beautiful weather in Florida.
You know, Sophia's family came from Italy, which was awesome to see them,
and they got to see her play two games and, you know,
and continue to learn a lot about our team.
We've had our young kids have played a ton of minutes
and continue to battle and learn a lot and kind of grow up in real time.
Did they bring the Italian flag with them this time?
I don't know if they had an Italian flag, but they're very Italian.
They brought it last year.
They're very, very, very Italian, and her brother came, and he is very Italian.
Exactly what you expect from a young Italian man, but cute family, beautiful family,
super sweet and supportive.
Brought all the players' gifts from Italy.
You know, they try to come every year, but they wanted to go to Florida
to experience something different.
I think they're going to come back here to Florence here towards the end of the season.
I just remember last year seeing that flag hanging up on the banner there.
It was really cool to see.
And, by the way, shameless plug, if anybody gets the UNA magazines in their mailbox,
great story on Sophia that we wrote this fall.
I don't think she's read it yet, but we did that interview a while back,
and it was really good, so check your mailboxes for that.
So, really cool.
Coach, speaking of Sophia, you also got Gabby Jackson here today.
Those are two players just growing like a flower pot, you know,
just really developing and growing in their roles as young players.
Yeah, you know, Sophia, we have to remember, I have to remember,
because I expect so much from her now that she's really taken on this role
of scoring it for us, rebounding for us, doing so many things for us,
that she's really a freshman in so many ways, you know,
saw very limited action last year, and now we can't keep her on the floor.
You know, we've got to keep her on the floor.
We can't take her off.
So, you know, she's still learning and growing and getting better all the time,
but she's someone who wants coaching, wants feedback,
and wants to continue to get better.
Gabby played huge minutes for us in opening ASUN play,
and I think is someone who has potential to be a really great player for us.
But, you know, there's just so much to learn as a freshman,
and that they continue to show up.
Let's talk about the Florida Gulf Coast game just a little bit, Coach,
and obviously FGCU has been the cream of the crop
at the top of the Atlantic Sun, right?
Everybody's chasing them.
It's been a regime change, but until somebody knocks them off,
that's still who everybody is chasing right now.
You guys led them by two at the end of the first quarter.
You mentioned the defensive effort.
They finished that game shooting 36% from the field,
and I know it's a tough loss, but you still do have a lot of young players,
first-time players in the ASUN.
What can they take away from that?
Well, I think they had every opportunity to win that game.
You know, I think, you know, we had a poor fourth quarter,
just didn't finish around the rim, didn't make free throws,
didn't get to the line enough, but we're right there.
You know, you're right there with Gulf Coast,
who then goes and beats Central Arkansas, which surprised me a little bit.
I think Florida Gulf Coast is a team that is very athletic and physical
and plays really, really hard, but maybe not as talented as they've been in the past,
but obviously finding ways to win, and you're right there with them.
So, again, I think this league is going to be wide open.
I think there's a couple of teams, to me, that talent-wise are above everyone else,
but, you know, it's who shows up that day, who makes plays, who gets stops,
who's tough enough to come out with a win.
Yeah, and to hold that team to 51 points, to give yourself a chance to win in the fourth quarter,
notice you also won the turnover battle in that game,
and as you really watch the game flow there, you know, who stood out in that game to you?
Obviously, Allie had 13, but who else stood out?
God, it feels like a month ago.
Right, because you had one after that.
Yeah, that's right.
It's like raising children, coaching us.
The days are long, and the years are fast.
It really is very much like raising children, but, you know, I thought, you know,
I thought we just, I thought Allie made some great plays offensively,
but I just thought, you know, our margin error is small right now, right?
We're not deep.
We're struggling to score the basketball, so your margin error is very small defensively.
So even though we gave up 51, there was a ton of errors that we felt like, you know,
we caused a lot of offense for them at times.
We've just got to have people step up and make plays on the offensive end.
We've got to get to the foul line more.
You know, we've got to continue to fight and be aggressive and find ways to get there.
I thought Alyssa, before she went down, played extremely hard.
And Alyssa always does, but there was a difference about her, I thought, in that game.
Just a little bit more confidence that maybe she had been playing with, and, you know,
to see her go down was heartbreaking.
And even Gulf Coast, you know, we got texts from them later on, you know, how terrible they felt.
It was a little bit of an offensive foul, not major, nothing dirty, but just really unfortunate
because I thought she was really trying to get back to where we typically see Alyssa.
The Stetson game, Coach, a little bit closer in time, right?
You don't have to go back as far in the memory, right, for that one.
But just looking back at it, it felt almost like a seesaw kind of game from the team.
Yeah, I mean, I thought we started the game very, very poorly, which set the tone.
Our first quarter was not good.
And then from then on, I thought we played them pretty even.
And obviously in the score, I mean, the three quarters were fairly even.
It was the first quarter we, you know, grew a huge deficit.
It started at the tip.
We got beat to a loose ball.
We start the ball game with three turnovers from seniors that just didn't – were unnecessary.
And every possession is so important for us that we're executing,
giving ourselves the best shot offensively, and then got to do a better job.
It's about scout-specific at guarding in that first quarter.
I want to talk about Gabby's performance in that game,
and kind of a breakout game for her as a true freshman.
35 minutes, I believe that's the most she's played all season, scored 11.6 rebounds.
What was her impact in that game?
I just thought she was competing, you know, really hard.
And Gabby's someone who wants to make plays, has the courage to go make plays,
will get in there and rebound, you know, and just thought she did a lot of good things.
And for us, right, when we're in those situations,
letting a young player get those minutes and get that experience is huge.
And, you know, again, Gabby's someone I really believe in.
And I think she can be really good for us and a really great player at this level.
So, I think valuable minutes for her and hopefully some confidence leading into this next week.
All right, back home, Eastern Kentucky on Thursday.
Saturday, it's Bellarmine.
And we've already talked about just returning home.
But what's the difference in styles that you're going to see this weekend?
Well, Eastern Kentucky, I think, is the best A-Sun team I've seen in the two years I've been here.
I think they are really, really, really good, really talented.
They look like they're in a track race every single possession.
Their transition offense is fantastic.
One through five, they five out.
Everyone can shoot it.
Everyone can pass it.
Everyone can shoot it.
Their five player can play the point.
She brings it.
She initiates offense.
She breaks people down.
She shoots the three.
They went into the portal.
I think they only have three returners.
So, they were really good last year.
But their portal action and their portal recruiting has been tremendous in the pieces they've added.
They don't necessarily play a lot of kids.
But the ones they play are super talented and very aggressive and can score the ball really, really well.
So, that's kind of how they play.
Five out, difficult to guard, very positionless basketball.
And then Bellarmine is going to be a little bit more traditional as far as inside players, outside players.
So, two very different styles.
It seems like every time you and Apley is Bellarmine.
I'm jumping ahead a little bit.
It seems like it's always a close game.
Comes out of the buzzer.
You know, that'll be a great game.
And EKU as well.
Talk about the positionless basketball.
That's really interesting to me.
How do you prepare for that defensively, knowing that it's probably different from a lot of what you get to see?
Yeah, I mean, there's a couple of teams in this league.
Lipscomb last year that played five out.
You know, if you can sign a post player that can play like that on the perimeter but still enough size to guard inside, I think you are very difficult to guard.
They're hard to find.
You know, they signed a kid out of Colorado State that has come in and been really good for them at EKU that has provided that positionless play.
You know, so it's a tough matchup, and that's the goal, right, when you have a five player that can step out and do that.
So we've got to work on getting down and guarding.
You know, we teach that all year.
But it's a matter of being able to do it and to match with it.
I think a lot of teams probably think they probably have to go smaller because of the open floor concepts that EKU plays with.
And then, yeah, Bellarmine's always, you know, last year was a super close game, I think double overtime at their place.
And they graduated some key players but certainly have some nice pieces back and a style that, you know, if you don't show up, right, they can compete with anybody.
Coach, week at home, Thursday, 6 p.m., Saturday, 2 p.m., women back at home, Eastern Kentucky and Bellarmine.
Coach, we appreciate you breaking it down with us.
All right, who do you want to send over?
Who do you want to send down over there to come next?
Sophia.
We'll start with Sophia and then finish with Gabarella is what I call her.
All right, we'll do it.
Coming up next, Sophia Cipollati stops by.
Coach, thank you very much.
Best of luck this week.
Thank you.
That's you and a head coach, Candy Whitaker.
We'll be back after this with Sophia Cipollati from Lost Pizza Shoals, UNA Basketball, 903.9.
The score.
No matter the size of your team or your fan crew, Lost Pizza's got you covered.
We're talking wings, salads, and the one and only Monster Pizza.
Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations.
Big plays deserve big flavor, and nobody delivers like Lost Pizza.
Feed the team, fuel the fans.
Go big with Lost Pizza.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy, effective for osteoarthritis,
plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain, and more.
We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area, helping with
sleep, energy, recovery, pain, and inflammation.
Therapies coupled with dry kneeling can help with sugar point and muscular pain.
In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments, and more.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients.
Please visit us at burnleychiro.com.
Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance.
Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan, or you are under 65 and exploring individual
health care options, Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs.
Our local agents make it simple, so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard, or give
us a call at 256-648-5710.
Again, that's 256-648-5710.
Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal?
Yeah, this isn't that.
I didn't have to write a long essay, or audition, or make a half-court shot.
I just had to open a bank-independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking,
and have a positive balance.
That's it.
A 20% scholarship to UNA.
When bank-independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us, and
the future of our community.
Bank-independent, we're invested in your future.
Member FDIC.
Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date, scratched-up glasses?
This is Dr. Ham Moore with Renaissance Eye Care.
Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking, and schedule an eye exam.
You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000.
To see either Dr. Kathy Warner, Dr. Lisa Campbell, or myself.
Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses.
We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall.
And roar lines.
Join us at Singing River Brewery.
Your local hub for great beer and community fun.
Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events?
Try our Golden Mainer Leo's Roar.
And 50% goes to UNA Athletics.
Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere.
Don't miss out on the good times.
Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery.
Prohibition is over.
And the good times will flow once again at the Florence Wine Fest, February 20th and 21st.
Friday night sets its own with coupes, cocktails, and velvet smooth live music.
Saturday afternoon, taste your way through an unforgettable wine experience.
Then Saturday night, the city comes alive with the Florence Wine Fest Free Block Party in Concert,
featuring Atlanta's great grand finale band.
Free block party tickets and full event details are at FlorenceWineFest.com.
Proudly presented by Visit the Shoals, with support from CB&S Bank, Clearview Cancer Institute,
and the Hotels of Florence.
Continuing the fun down here at Lost Pizza Shoals, Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel.
We're excited to welcome in the super sophomore sensation from Italy, Sofia Cipollati.
She's North Alabama's leading scorer and rebounder all in the season,
and she's our next guest here at UNA Basketball Night from Lost Pizza Shoals.
Sofia, we're so excited to have you.
First of all, how refreshing was it to see your family down in Florida this weekend?
It was amazing.
I could not wait to see them, so it was really nice seeing them after five months.
They had a nice vacation.
They'd been to the beach.
They'd been in Miami, and then they came to see both games.
So that was awesome, and I love for them to see me play, actually.
Now, did they bring you anything from Italy?
Any surprises or anything?
They brought me some food and some Christmas gifts.
Did you get any socks?
No, not really.
No socks?
What kind of food did they bring you?
Well, we have this dessert that we eat on Christmas, and it's called Pandoro.
It's similar to Panettone, if you know what it is.
And I just love it so bad.
But here, I cannot really find it, so my mom literally put it in the suitcase, and she bought it for me.
Nice.
And I remember last year when they came to Florence for that game, the Italian flag hanging there.
We were talking to Coach Whittaker about that.
I was wondering, did they do it again for the Florida trip?
I thought so.
I thought my dad would have done it, but I guess he didn't.
But maybe they're coming back in February here.
So it's going to do it again if it comes.
I was going to say, the weather might have been a little too cold.
I didn't know if they brought their floaties, maybe tried to swim a little bit at the beach.
But you also live pretty close to the beach in Italy.
Yeah.
No, they were so relaxed.
They've been to the beach.
They were literally so tanned, and I was very jealous.
I am very jealous.
But they had a great time, and I'm really happy for them.
Take us home to Italy.
Where is home, and what is so special about it?
So I'm actually from a really small town in the countryside.
It comes literally not even 1,000 people.
So for me, I don't know, you know it's nice because you get to know everybody there,
and everybody knows you.
And now that I'm here, whenever I go home, everybody's stopping me and saying,
oh, my God, we're so proud of you, and blah, blah, blah.
And I'm really grateful for that.
When we wrote that story back, I guess it was September, October, you came to the office.
We talked for a while about just being an international student, how great it was for you,
for Greta, to come now.
We got two Italians on the team, and she's here tonight supporting you.
39 international student athletes, and you're all very close and connected.
How important is that for you, being so far away from home,
but having kind of your new family here with all the international students on campus?
You said it right.
I think we have a great international company, whatever, and I love it.
I'm mentioning the tennis team since the coaches are here.
They're all internationals, and I love them.
I think just having somebody that thinks the way that you do is great, especially when you're so far from home.
So, like, hanging out with them, spending time with them, doing stuff together.
Even, like, talking about difficulties and, like, problems that we're facing, it's just nice, and you actually feel like you're being understudies.
I think that's everything.
That's great.
All right, now, so from talking about being home and everything you love there, we're talking about how I can't roll my R's to say the hometown that you're from.
What's been your welcome to Alabama moment?
What is something that has shocked you about, maybe not even just Alabama, the United States?
So, I've got to be honest, since the moment that I came here, I thought that everybody was just so nice.
Like, just going around, even, like, outside the campus, I was like, everybody was, like, saying hi to me.
I was like, oh, my God, that's so nice.
That doesn't happen in Italy, and I love that.
I want to talk about basketball a little bit and how it differs.
You play a lot of international basketball.
You represent your country doing so, and how does that brand of basketball that you play in the summer differ for what you're doing right now with UNA?
So, I think the main difference between the two ways of playing basketball is that back in Europe, the game, the pace is very slow.
Like, definitely slower than here, and you get to play by reading the defense and making the right decisions.
While here, it's just, like, running.
We run all the time.
In fact, I thought that was the main difference that I found when I first came here because I was like, okay, like, we're running a lot, and I'm not used to that.
But I kind of like it.
What was the biggest adjustment for you freshman to sophomore year?
I think I needed to put a lot of work in on the basketball side, but also, like, my body.
I needed to be in shape.
I needed to go to the training room and the weight room and actually work.
So, I think when I got in shape, I finally saw the results even on the court.
You know, it probably meant a lot to you hearing Coach Whitaker talk a second ago about how you're being trusted to do a lot of things.
Obviously, by necessity sometimes, but, you know, being able to be that person that can be trusted offensively, defensively to do a lot of things.
What does it mean to have that vote of confidence from your head coach?
It means a lot to me, especially, like, coming from last season where I didn't get to play a lot.
But it means a lot.
It's just nice knowing that you have your coaches' trust.
And, you know, when you step on the court, you just feel calm and relaxed because you know that they have trust in you and what you do.
Tell us about your recruitment to North Alabama.
How do you go from that small town in Italy to Florence, Alabama?
So, it actually started because I was playing for a team where a girl was, like, kind of working there.
And she actually plays basketball, like, pro basketball in Italy.
And she came here.
Like, she went to college in Georgia.
So, it happens that she knew Coach A, Sandra Epstein.
And so, we started talking.
And I don't know.
And then I talked with Coach Whitaker.
And my family talked to them.
And everything seemed nice.
So, I was like, okay.
I think that's for me.
Well, it's certain to me that you fit in with this team very well.
You fit in this program.
And you fit in this community.
I want to talk about your role with the team right now.
And just over the last few games, I'm looking at the amount of minutes you played.
Going back to Sanford, that overtime game, 43 minutes.
Played nearly the whole game.
38 minutes A&M.
And then the last two games, 37 in both of those.
You're playing a lot of minutes right now.
Do you ever get tired?
And how does that feel when you have to play that many minutes?
So, I actually really like that.
I got to be honest.
After I got injured and I was out for a moment, after I came back, I was like, you know,
I'm never going to give anything for granted again.
So, like, every minute that I'm playing, it's just like I'm really grateful for that.
So, whatever the minutes that I'm playing is, it's just fine to me.
And I'm grateful for that.
Well, Sophia, UNA fans can come watch you Thursday and Saturday.
How excited are you to be back?
You're home away from home inside of CBNS Bank Arena.
I'm so excited to finally play home.
I feel like playing in front of your people is just nice.
The energy and all of your friends just coming to support you.
So, you want to play great, you want to win, and it's just amazing to me.
We've enjoyed chatting with you.
Thanks for taking us to Italy, and thanks for you coming here to Florence, Alabama.
I know UNA fans love watching the super sophomore sensation, Sophia Cipollati.
Thank you so much, guys, for having me.
Hey, coming up next, true freshman Gabby Jackson swings by.
This is UNA Basketball Night from All's Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score.
No matter the size of your team or your fan crew, Lost Pizza's got you covered.
We're talking wings, salads, and the one and only Monster Pizza.
Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations.
Big plays deserve big flavor, and nobody delivers like Lost Pizza.
Feed the team, feel the fans.
Go big with Lost Pizza.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy,
effective for osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain, and more.
We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area,
helping with sleep, energy, recovery, pain, and inflammation.
Therapies coupled with dry kneeling can help with sugar point and muscular pain.
In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments, and more.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients.
Please visit us at burnleychiro.com.
Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance.
Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan,
or you are under 65 and exploring individual health care options,
Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs.
Our local agents make it simple,
so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard,
or give us a call at 256-648-5710.
Again, that's 256-648-5710.
Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal?
Yeah, this isn't that.
I didn't have to write a long essay or audition or make a half-court shot.
I just had to open a bank independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking,
and have a positive balance.
That's it.
A 20% scholarship to UNA.
When bank independent invests in students like me,
they're investing in all of us and the future of our community.
Bank independent.
We're invested in your future.
Member FDIC.
Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date, scratched-up glasses?
This is Dr. Ham Moore with Renaissance Eye Care.
Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam.
You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000 to see either Dr. Kathy Werner,
Dr. Lisa Campbell, or myself.
Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses.
We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall.
And roar lines.
Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun.
Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events?
Try our Golden Manor Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics.
Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere.
Don't miss out on the good times.
Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery.
Got wine?
Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly 1,000 different wines to suit any budget,
the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence.
In the mood to relax and wind down?
Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers,
all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie,
and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere.
Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market,
located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater.
Cheers!
Next up here from Las Beets of Shoals in downtown Florence on UNA Basketball Night,
we welcome in true freshman Gabby Jackson from Kansas City, Missouri.
Comes to North Alabama from Schwannee Mission Northwest High School.
Her first year here in Florence, Alabama.
First-time appearance, long-time listener, first-time caller.
We appreciate you stopping by, Gabby.
Gabby, you're the oldest of five siblings, right?
I am the oldest.
So, big sister, how are you enjoying your first year here in Florence, Alabama at UNA?
I'm enjoying it a lot.
It's definitely what I came for when I said I wanted to get a family feel and the welcoming,
and that's what I got, and I appreciate it so much.
Yeah, I understand Coach Whittaker's a Chiefs fan.
You're also a Chiefs fan.
What's that like for you, winning Super Bowls?
Yeah, I freaking love it.
Like, being a winner is big to me, and the Chiefs, a rough year, but the past three years
were really good for us, and every time we went over to their house, they always had football
on, so it was good.
Career-high 11 points against Stetson.
You had 13 rebounds or career-high this year against Tennessee State, averaging about five
points, nearly six rebounds per game.
How would you kind of evaluate your first year at the collegiate level so far?
It's definitely a process for me, just getting out there and getting out of my head, because
that's hard as a freshman, and I feel like I'm doing, I just need to keep trying harder
and giving my best effort when I get out there and get those minutes, and that's the best I
can do for my coach and my team.
Yeah, gradually just continuing to get more and more minutes, and now we're in conference
play.
The Stetson game, you played 35 minutes.
That's the most you've played all season, and being able to be trusted in that role, 11.6
rebounds, to play that many minutes as a true freshman, and to help your team, what does
it mean to you to know that you have the trust to play that much?
It means a lot.
I appreciate it so much, especially from her, because she is a businesswoman, and she wants
to win, and that's big on me, too, because I love winning, and we're in a little bit of a
slump, but I know we can get out of it, because we work hard.
What was your welcome to college basketball moment?
My welcome to college basketball.
I think just UT Martin getting out there.
I was a little like, whoa, but it was really cool when you just get out there and you start
going.
You feel like it's slowed down for you now?
Yeah, most definitely.
It slows down as you go.
So you alluded to UT Martin.
That was your first appearance, 16 minutes in that game.
The very next game, kind of a legendary moment.
You played against Fisk, 14 minutes there.
You got your first collegiate points.
You go to the free throw line.
The score is 65 to something.
We're winning.
There are a bunch of kids in attendance for elementary day.
You go to the free throw line.
You have a very important job to make two free throws so that the kids can get that special
number 67, and everybody can go crazy.
You hit both free throws, and then you were the most popular person on campus signing autographs
for everybody in attendance.
What was that moment like for you?
Yeah, after I was asked, like, was it pressuring?
And working with Coach A every day to get free throws, like, put them in, it just wasn't
as pressureful.
But getting that 6'7 was big, and I really, I was so excited to hear the joy.
It reminded me of my house, like, and the kids.
It just felt good.
Like, I was like, this is what it's supposed to feel like, and it's supposed to feel fun
and bring smiles to people.
So, it felt good, and to get a win.
Take us home to Kansas City, Missouri.
What is your favorite thing about being from Kansas City?
Kansas City, I love being a Chiefs fan.
Kansas City, it's a good place, honestly.
I just love my home.
I love my family.
I'm around them a lot.
Like, I'm not really a go-out type person, but I do love being home.
And my family's big, as y'all know.
So, it's just good being home, and I got to do that over and went to break and come back.
So, yeah, feel good.
What's the age range of the siblings?
My age range, so I'm 19, and then my sister is 12, and my brother is 11, and they're both
a year and a day apart.
And then it goes Elle, who is 8, Milani, who just turned 8, and then Savian, who is 5.
Wow.
Wow.
So, what has your role become on a holiday like Christmas when you're the older sister?
What are you doing to try to help give them a good experience?
Definitely brought home some gifts that I thought were great, and I just love spending
time with them and just leading them in the way, because they still had a little bit of
practices that I got to go and be a part of, and then just showing them, like, it's all
a process.
Like, it's not when you're young.
It's the bigger picture, like, and this is where it starts.
So, they all play sports, even the 5-year-old, and he's a freaking butt, but I love that
dude, so they're awesome, yeah.
All right, your path to North Alabama, what sold you on UNA?
What was the journey like?
What definitely sold me is the family vibe.
I'm big on family and feeling like you can, like, fit in with people, and everybody was
cool, even like Sophia said, like, people around here were just nice.
Like, people wave, they tell you their name, hey, how you doing?
Like, it's a very good feeling, and the coaches were great.
I mean, Coach Whitaker was awesome, and her husband was very welcoming, brought me and my
dad to their home, and it was awesome, and Coach A and Coach Petrie were great, too, so.
You've obviously got a lot of years to figure this out of college basketball ahead of you.
Obviously, you probably have your goals on the court, but as you go through your academic
career, get your degree, what's kind of your goal once you graduate college?
What do you want to do as a career?
Yes, I want to be a doctor.
I want to be an emergency room doctor.
I've always wanted to kind of help people.
My mom is an emergency room nurse, so she kind of led that path for me, and I just always
found it cool to learn about the body and stuff.
And I think about, we had Alyssa Clutter on, Emma Kate Tittle, they all have plans to pursue
some sort of a medical degree next, right?
What's it like for you, being the freshman, you want to follow that path, and they've done
that now, or they're still working towards it, but they kind of have those mentors on the
team.
Yeah, they're just really helpful.
They do tell you, like, it's going to be hard, but they're real with you, and they do
help you.
Like, there's things you can do, you know, apps you can use to help you out, get through
that path, and you can do it if you really put your mind towards it.
Yeah, in your first year of college, balancing academics, how has that been for you while
trying to, you know, play basketball and do all of that?
It's not easy.
Yeah, it's not.
I told my coach, I was like, this is not like high school.
And I was like, she was like, yeah, no, it's not.
And I was like, 100% correct.
And I did well.
Like, I passed, and I want to do better this year, well, this year, 2026, of getting a
little bit better grades of where I know I can.
All right, back home Thursday and Saturday.
It's been a long time.
Do you remember what it's like to play in the bank?
I know, we had practice today, and I was like, oh, this place.
So it's been a minute, but I'm excited.
How much have you enjoyed playing at home this year?
I love playing at home.
I feel like it's a good amount of people around us, and it's a good atmosphere.
Like, it's exciting, and it's a purple arena, and I love purple, and it's great.
I love playing at home.
Yeah.
Well, Gabby, we can't wait to see you back at home this Thursday, this Saturday.
I got to let everybody know, if you know Mike and I and Brian East, we like to play a
little word challenge sometimes during broadcast.
Gabby is tonight's winner, we challenged Coach Whitaker, we challenged Sophia.
They didn't get it in.
Gabby got her word in, so Gabby, congratulations.
You are the word challenge winner.
How does that feel to know that you're walking away as the word challenge champ?
It feels really good, actually.
I'm very competitive, and I got a win.
It's been a long time.
Congratulations.
We'll be rooting you in for a win on Thursday.
Yeah, I hope we get a dub Thursday and Saturday.
That's great.
That's Gabby Jackson, the true freshman from Kansas City.
Thanks for stopping by.
We'll take a timeout.
Tony Poole joins us next from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score.
No matter the size of your team or your fan crew, Lost Pizza's got you covered.
We're talking wings, salads, and the one and only Monster Pizza.
Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations.
Big plays deserve big flavor, and nobody delivers like Lost Pizza.
Feed the team, fuel the fans.
Go big with Lost Pizza.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy, effective for osteoarthritis,
plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain, and more.
We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area, helping with sleep, energy, recovery, pain, and inflammation.
Therapies coupled with dry needling can help with sugar point and muscular pain.
In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments, and more.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients.
Please visit us at burnleychiro.com.
Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance.
Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan or you are under 65 and exploring individual health care options,
Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs.
Our local agents make it simple, so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard
or give us a call at 256-648-5710.
Again, that's 256-648-5710.
Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal?
Yeah, this isn't that.
I didn't have to write a long essay or audition or make a half-court shot.
I just had to open a bank independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking, and have a positive balance.
That's it, a 20% scholarship to UNA.
When bank independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and the future of our community.
Bank independent, we're invested in your future.
Member FDIC.
Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date scratched-up glasses?
This is Dr. Ham Moore with Renaissance Eye Care.
Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam.
You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000 to see either Dr. Kathy Werner, Dr. Lisa Campbell, or myself.
Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses.
We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall.
And roar lines.
Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun.
Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events?
Try our Golden Mainer Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics.
Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere.
Don't miss out on the good times.
Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery.
Prohibition is over, and the good times will flow once again at the Florence Wine Fest, February 20th and 21st.
Friday night sets its own with coops, cocktails, and velvet smooth live music.
Saturday afternoon, taste your way through an unforgettable wine experience.
Then Saturday night, the city comes alive with the Florence Wine Fest Free Block Party in Concert,
featuring Atlanta's great grand finale band.
Free block party tickets and full event details are at FlorenceWineFest.com.
Proudly presented by Visit the Shoals, with support from CB&S Bank, Clearview Cancer Institute, and the Hotels of Florence.
Here we go.
We welcome in North Alabama head coach Tony Pujol down here at UNA Basketball Night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score.
We're Benjamin Ray, Mikey Ezekiel, and Tony Pujol back for week two, episode two.
And coach, I know a tough open to A-Sun play.
Two losses to Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast.
But the best news of all, we still got, what did you say, Mike?
16 more games to play?
Yeah, we've got 16 more games to play, but my hat's off to Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast.
The way they came in and played here on the road.
You know, Donnie Jones does an unbelievable job at Stetson.
His team was definitely prepared.
And they played with just, we had them down 13, and they just never quit.
They kept battling.
So my hat's off to them.
You know, I thought our guys did a really decent job of, you know, just kind of staying within what we're trying to do.
But, you know, again, had a 13-point lead and just didn't close the game.
And it's something that, you know, we have been talking to our players about, talking to, you know, our staff about,
that it's an area that we have been dealing with since the beginning of the year,
and that we've got to continue to work on closing those gaps, right?
So, for me, right now, our focus is to continue to coach our guys,
continue to show them the things that really gives them, allows them to have success on the court,
and at the same time, show them the things that we've got to definitely get better at,
so we can shorten, you know, just close those gaps.
Yeah, I think a big lesson, Coach, that we learned last year, we're learning this year,
and I'm sure you've learned over eight years, is that there's no easy weeks in the A-Sun.
There's no give-me games, and this week included, go to EKU and then Bellarmine.
Those are two teams that can win on any given day, and, I mean, that league, this league is just so competitive.
Yeah, it is, and you've got to be prepared every week, right?
You know, that's the one thing about this league, is that it's going to constantly challenge you,
and you can't ask for two different types of style of play, right?
EKU plays a up-tempo, you know, 40 minutes of whatever they call their game,
and then you've got Bellarmine, who's a ball control, you're going to have to guard them for 30 seconds,
you know, you're going to have to, and you can't let up because they're just so patient and so efficient on the offensive end.
Road trip to Kentucky.
Coach, let's talk about some of these games just a little bit, starting with Stetson,
and you kind of already touched on this, but such a wave of a game, a slow start for your team.
Came back, took a one-point lead, built up that 13-point advantage, then Stetson came crawling back,
but then, despite that momentum Stetson had, your team still had a couple of shots at the end of the ball game.
So, the wave of emotions of this game, how does this team kind of learn from that?
Yeah, I think it's like I was telling you.
I think for us, what's most important right now is when we're playing in a game,
there's going to be games, they're going to make runs just like we make runs, right?
You don't get a 13-point lead without making a run.
So, we made runs, but their team stuck with it, right?
So, now, when teams do that to us, our guys have to have the maturity to continue to play the game
and not get out of character, right?
And I think that's what happens to our guys at times is that they just, they, and again, it's not a bad thing, right?
Because they're trying to make something happen, but what happens is we get away from what we're trying to do
and they're trying to create something on their own.
So, my thing is I think this is something that's good because for us, we always utilize film to show them.
We put it in front of them, you know?
That's one thing that we're always going to do is we're going to be completely transparent with our guys.
This is what we see, okay?
And if we can correct this, it could change aspects of games.
So, that's going to be our deal.
You know, we're going to continue to kind of squirrel in all those little, you know, plays that we know
are going to improve the opportunity for our guys to play, right, to have success on the court.
And then we're going to also throw in there all the things that are shortcomings that we have to just make sure
that we're cutting out of what we're doing so that we don't have lulls.
Yeah, you definitely don't want those lulls, you know, snailing around a little bit.
Coach, going back to Stetson a little bit, and we'll kind of dive ahead into the FGCU game as well.
I want to highlight a couple of individuals that will be on the show tonight coming to COVID sheets.
But Darkon King, kind of a breakout weekend for him in some ways.
You know, the 11 rebound game at Stetson had a couple big three-pointers in the FGCU game.
Now that he's kind of emerging as the sixth man, how does that help this team moving forward into A-7 play?
Yeah, I think, you know, let me be honest with you.
Darkon last year as a freshman really showed a lot to our team and what he can potentially do.
What set him back was a little bit of a knee injury that kind of kept him out of the rotation for a little bit.
But by the time the end of the year rolled around, he was playing quality minutes for our team last year.
So I'm glad to see that he's continuing to work at his game and continue to build his craft because obviously this team needs him to do that, right?
And I can tell you this, if he continues to rebound the ball like he's doing, if he continues to share the basketball and value it,
and if he continues to stretch the defense with the way he shot the three ball against Florida Gulf Coast, it's hard for me to keep him off the floor.
So I expect him to be playing a whole lot more, for sure.
And, Coach, he's a classic example.
You just look at what this program's had the last three, four, five, I guess all eight years you've been here.
He's been in the program.
He's been balled in.
I don't want to say he waited his turn, but he's earned this, right?
Like he worked really hard to get to this point.
Darkon, of course.
Yeah, I mean, absolutely.
I mean, that's the one thing you can count on with him.
First of all, he comes from a lineage of basketball players in his family, right?
You have Stacey King, his uncle, his dad played at Kansas State, played overseas for a little bit.
So Stacey King obviously played at Oklahoma and later on with the Chicago Bulls.
So he's got those folks around him, especially his dad, from a basketball standpoint in what it takes to play at this level.
And he's one guy I don't ever have to worry about getting in the gym.
He gets in the gym.
And that's an area with him that I know if he keeps doing what he's doing, his trajectory is obviously going to be going up.
Coach, moving on to FGCU and looking back at that game on Saturday, one of those games where I got behind a little bit early
and then really worked back into it with an impressive stretch there at the midway point and just got away there towards the end.
What did you see in that game and what's some lessons you can take away for next week?
Yeah, I think like anything else, right?
Well, you know, FGCU obviously considered one of the top favorite teams in our league.
You know, Coach Chambers does a great job with that team.
He's been there for a few years now and he's put together a really good – he's assembled a really good team, right?
So for us, I thought – I knew it was going to be a challenge.
Obviously, you know, had some guys playing some minutes that were normally would be given to others.
But, you know, they came in and I thought for the first 35 minutes of the game, I was really impressed.
Even with the challenges that they had, I was really impressed with the way our guys competed, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
You know, to hold a team like that to 33 and a half and then, you know, to come in within – I want to say it was four with nine minutes to go and we were down, I think, six with about five – between 5.40 or something like that on the clock.
You know, it told me a lot about our guys' resiliency, right, to just keep playing.
But, again, like anything else, like I told you about the lead that we had against Stetson, I thought the last four and a half minutes we left stuff on the table.
And, again, this is an area that our team has to understand that we have to – we have to definitely get a hold of that.
We have to correct those errors and we have to make sure that we're learning with every game that we play.
On the road, Kentucky, Bellarmine, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, Bellarmine on Saturday, Coach.
And I know it's tough having the losses to open up, but sometimes is it nice to kind of get away on the road where you can escape the noise
and kind of come together as a llama herd almost?
Yeah, I mean, listen, the noise is the noise, right?
We're not – we embrace the noise.
We know the people that are working every day in our organization, right?
And we know the time that they put in.
Sometimes the results don't match that.
And our thing is we understand that every game is going to be a valuable lesson for our team.
And the thing that I always tell our guys is we've got to have a no-quit mentality and we've got to learn after every lesson.
And if you can do that consistently, just have a no-quit mentality and keep learning, you're going to be hard to stop.
And I think our guys right now, what they've got to do is they've got to focus their attention right now on Eastern Kentucky.
But more importantly, it's their attention tomorrow when we go to practice and get ready for Eastern Kentucky on Thursday.
Coach, obviously the focus all on EKU right now, but Ben and I talked about this earlier.
Kind of a tough stretch here where you're playing two teams on the road with very contrasting styles.
You've got the up-tempo EKU.
As a coaching staffer, you, Coach Smith, what do you guys have to do to kind of shift from one style like that to the other
in such a short amount of time?
Yeah, I wish they would have changed the games for us.
I wish we would have been playing Bellarmine on Thursday in EKU because EKU is for all, you know,
to prepare for that type of offense that Bellarmine runs, it's a totally different style of defensive preparation for us.
So not that it's more complex, it's just different.
And whenever you do that, I always like the more, their offense, I always kind of like to give our guys a couple of days to see it.
But with this scenario being EKU first, what we'll do is we'll probably, right after the EKU game,
prepare our guys that evening after the game, after we kind of flush that game and prepare them that evening
and that next early morning on what to expect for Bellarmine.
But for right now, our focus is strictly EKU.
We're going to be locking in on them because obviously, you know, Coach A.W. Hamilton over there does a phenomenal job.
You know, they've been knocking on the door.
They won the regular season championship a couple of years ago.
You know, it's a great, it's a storied organization.
And they present plenty of challenges for us this upcoming Thursday.
And we're running out of time in this segment, Coach, but a great connection.
You and A.W. go all the way back to, he was playing in high school in, what, 1998?
You were coaching against him, right?
Yeah, Scott County.
He played at Scott County High School in Kentucky.
And he looks, that guy has an age.
That's exactly how he looked when he played in high school.
He had no hair.
You know, he shaved his head.
And he was a heck of a baller now.
If you followed his career in high school, and I think he ended up going,
I think he signed with a power five, a power four, and then he went to Marshall
and had an unbelievable career at Marshall.
But, man, he's one of my favorite coaches in this league.
He's a close friend of mine.
So we're, I'm excited to see him here on Thursday.
And fun things always happen when UNA and EKU get in the gym together.
Oh, no doubt about it.
Best of luck on the road in Kentucky, Coach.
I appreciate it.
Thank you.
We'll take a time out.
We got Darkon King and Kevin Dukovicic in the house.
During this break, we'll find out who wants to go next.
We'll be back after this.
This is UNA Basketball Night from All's Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score.
No matter the size of your team or your fan crew, Lost Pizza's got you covered.
We're talking wings, salads, and the one and only Monster Pizza.
Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations.
Big plays deserve big flavor, and nobody delivers like Lost Pizza.
Feed the team, feel the fans.
Go big with Lost Pizza.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy.
Effective for osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain, and more.
We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area.
Helping with sleep, energy, recovery, pain, and inflammation.
Therapies coupled with dry knee length can help with sugar point and muscular pain.
In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments, and more.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients.
Please visit us at burnleychiro.com.
Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance.
Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan or you are under 65 and exploring individual
health care options, Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs.
Our local agents make it simple, so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard or give
us a call at 256-648-5710.
Again, that's 256-648-5710.
Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal?
Yeah, this isn't that.
I didn't have to write a long essay or audition or make a half-court shot.
I just had to open a bank independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking,
and have a positive balance.
That's it.
A 20% scholarship to UNA.
When bank independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and
the future of our community.
Bank independent.
We're invested in your future.
Member FDIC.
Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date, scratched-up glasses?
This is Dr. Hamp Moore with Renaissance Eye Care.
Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam.
You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000 to see either Dr. Kathy Werner, Dr. Lisa Campbell, or myself.
Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses.
We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall.
And roar lines.
Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun.
Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events?
Try our Golden Manor Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics.
Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere.
Don't miss out on the good times.
Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery.
Got wine?
Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine
and an unmatched selection of nearly 1,000 different wines to suit any budget,
the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination
in the heart of downtown Florence.
In the mood to relax and wine down?
Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers,
all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie
and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere.
Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey
at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street
on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater.
Cheers!
WITK Rogersville-Athens to cater the Shoals.
Sports Radio 93.9 The Score.
Valley Broadcasting Corporation.
Oh, man, we're halfway, over halfway there here at UNA Basketball Night
from Los Pizza Shoals.
Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel.
And next up, we welcome in a sophomore, Darkon King.
They call him cool.
He's taking over the steering wheel here, driving the bus here on UNA Basketball Night.
Darkon, you had a big weekend this week.
You're number two at the University of North Alabama.
How can you just sum up how your sophomore year's been going?
Yes, sir.
You know, sophomore year, it started off smooth so far, getting into the rotation,
really getting a feel for it this year.
Last year, missed a lot due to injury, and really a bigger role this year
and a different change.
And I feel like it's coming along together nicely, fitting in with my teammates
as the usage goes up, production goes up, and my teammates trusting me
and finding me in the right spots have been real help.
Cool to hear Coach come up here and talk about your development,
especially in the last two games, what you've been able to do,
how you're viewed in your role just as an emerging player
that could really impact the game and change things for us.
How does it feel to have that vote of confidence after going through last year,
making it to the point you're at now?
Yeah, it means a lot, man.
You know, all glory to God being able to bounce back from that situation
and having just an excellent group around me and a support cast from our coaches
to our trainers, to my teammates, to the fan base.
It means so much when it comes to just giving you that extra push
and that little bit of confidence you need coming back from an injury,
getting back into the groove of things.
And, yeah, it's helped a lot.
I know freshman year you come in, you want to make a big impact, right?
And it's a team with a lot of expectations, a lot of veterans in front of you.
You have the little setback.
You've got to work your way back.
What was that like for you, being a part of that team
and having to work so hard to kind of get back into the rotation
while coming back from the injuries?
Yeah, sir.
So, you know, we had a lot of – we had an excellent group last year,
a lot of older guys, a lot of veterans.
And with the setback coming in, had a really strong summer,
had a little bump in the road with a knee incident.
But those guys really just showing me the ropes even when I'm out,
just really seeing the game of basketball from a college perspective
rather than a high school, from preparation to just the way they carried
themselves, it just showed me a lot.
You know, I know one thing that's going to be more important to you
and the rest of the team is just team performance and supporting each other.
But I want to highlight just the couple games you had,
the 11 rebounds in that Stetson game,
and then really giving us a chance there in the second half,
back-to-back three-pointers, really big moment in that FGCU game.
Just knowing that you are capable of putting us in that position
and making those three-pointers, getting us in that game like you did.
I mean, how do you take that and hopefully build on that
as we start getting in the win column again?
Yes, sir.
I'm just staying ready for when my number's called, you know,
controlling the controllables, coming in every day, being prepared.
Like our coaching staff preaches, every day is a new sheet of paper,
and it's about what you put on it for that day.
Yesterday is behind us.
Today is where we have the present.
So just working hard, being prepared for those moments,
and ready when my number's called.
Let's talk about Darkon King a little more.
Nickname, cool.
Yes, sir.
Where's that come from?
And it's a very fitting nickname.
Yeah, it might sound crazy, actually, but when I was born,
you know, when the doctors take all the babies
and they put them next to each other, and I forgot the word,
but everybody's crying, and I wasn't crying.
Like in a nursery.
Yeah, in a nursery.
And my dad, he genuinely thought, he asked the doctor,
like, is there something wrong with him?
Why is he not crying?
He's not crying.
The doctor said, you've got a good baby.
So I got the name cool from there.
That's great.
Yeah, that's awesome.
And you're cool with a K, right?
Yes, sir.
Yeah, that's awesome.
That's very good.
We talked a little bit off air about, you know,
obviously your dad played at Kansas State,
and you have a lot of connections in basketball.
You also said you have some siblings.
You've got one playing in high school right now.
What's it like coming from a basketball family,
having that, you know, kind of passed down from your dad,
knowing what he's done, and kind of passing that on to you,
and now you've got a younger brother also kind of in that role.
You know, man, just with that comes,
the ball being put in your hands early.
So really my whole life I've grown up around the game,
from my dad's side of the family to my mom played basketball.
But really just my pops, he put the ball in my head.
He didn't force it on me, but he just showed me,
and I grew a love for it, and he just helped nourish
and grow that love for the game.
What's it like growing up with a dad
who had a highly decorated college career,
and an uncle who got to play in the NBA
with one of the greatest of all time, right,
with the Chicago Bulls?
I mean, what's that like growing up in that kind of legacy?
You know, it's excellent.
You have so many different angles of basketball
to get knowledge from and just pick their brain.
And you have my pops who went to Kansas State,
played at a high level,
my uncle who played with the Bulls,
really just calling them
and seeing how they view my performances
and things I can grow on.
That's helped a lot.
Yeah, and now you get to build your own legacy
and add to the King legacy,
your chapter of it.
Obviously, you get to be on the show with us tonight.
Your roommate's here as well.
Talk about what it's like having Kevin on the team
and living with him
and having him be close to you.
You know, man, Kevin, we came in together
from two totally different parts of the world,
one from Canada and one from Dallas, Texas.
And we've been roommates since we got here.
And that's my brother.
We grew.
Yeah, that's like my brother.
We've been here since day one together.
And it's been excellent just seeing our growth
from our freshman year to where we are now,
the huge leap we've taken,
and to see where it can go
and us grow as leaders within the season.
I feel like it should be special.
Seeing you two really break out as sophomores,
it excites everybody.
It excites Mike and I as we sit back and watch.
We've always felt like you two were next in line, right?
Do you feel like as freshmen to sophomore,
you guys have kind of embraced that?
Like, hey, we're going to be the next ones
to take this program forward?
Yes, sir.
Of course.
You know, last year seeing that we just had to wait our turn.
The guys in front of us, they've been,
they've paid their dues,
and they set an excellent example
and an excellent culture for us to step in and follow suit.
So we just sat back last year
and seeing, like, the do's and the don'ts
and what helps you excel
when it comes to college basketball in the ASUN.
And I feel like we've done an excellent job so far
of the growth and the steps we've taken
coming into the sophomore year.
Yeah, and two games down in ASUN play,
a lot of basketball left in the windshield
as you look out and see.
What are you going to do to kind of stay focused?
What's the message after these two tough games
and how do you turn these into wins now?
You know, we've had a rough start
to the beginning of the conference,
but, like, we preach every day,
jobs got to get done.
Yesterday's behind us.
Today is the present.
So coming in every day, working hard,
and just really trusting each other
and knowing that we focus on the next thing at hand.
Like, we know we dropped the ball,
but EKU's next,
and that's where we put most of our focus,
really just growing and trying to take steps forward.
Because you don't want to be the best team in January.
Going to be the best team in March.
Back to your game specifically,
we've seen the rebounding,
we've seen the scoring.
How would you describe your game to somebody?
Who would you compare it to?
If I would describe my game to somebody,
I would say inside-out score
and really just going to do what I need to do
to help the team win, really.
And you're pretty comfortable playing with your back
to the basket, it looks like?
Yes, sir.
Does that come from kind of the old school,
from your father and uncle?
Yes, sir.
Growing up, my father always wanted to make sure
I was a match-up problem.
If I have somebody small,
I have the back-to-the-basket game
to be able to use my size,
and I also have the step-out jumper
to be able to stretch the floor.
You know, one thing,
I didn't really notice it
until just thinking about it recently,
but you had four steals in that Stetson game.
Did you realize you had that many steals?
I actually didn't until the end of the game.
Yeah, really just active hands,
and one thing we preach,
deflections and being on our rope
and our white line and our side defense,
that helped a lot with that.
Set up our next guest, Kevin Dukovicic.
What do we need to know about Kev?
Kevin Dukovic, man,
real dependable guy,
day in, day out.
He's going to bring energy.
He's going to lead,
and one of the best guards in the A-zone.
And last thing for you,
where's your championship ring at right now?
Sitting on my dresser,
propped up right next to my game system.
What was that like,
that night of champions getting that ring?
Man, no feeling like it in the world,
nothing I've ever experienced before.
Let's go get another one, right?
Let's do it.
Darkon King, thank you so much for swinging by.
Y'all have a pleasure.
We'll take a time out when we come back.
Kevin Dukovicic is up next.
This is UNA Basketball Night
from Lost Pizza Shoals.
No matter the size of your team
or your fan crew,
Lost Pizza's got you covered.
We're talking wings, salads,
and the one and only Monster Pizza.
Perfect for team dinners,
watch parties,
or post-game celebrations.
Big plays deserve big flavor,
and nobody delivers like Lost Pizza.
Feed the team,
fuel the fans.
Go big with Lost Pizza.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic
is now offering soft wave therapy,
effective for osteoarthritis,
plantar fasciitis,
knee pain,
foot ulcers,
shoulder pain,
and more.
We also offer the only
Theralight 360 red light therapy beds
in the Shoals area,
helping with sleep,
energy,
recovery,
pain,
and inflammation.
Therapies coupled with dry kneeling
can help with sugar point
and muscular pain.
In addition,
we also offer genetic testing,
deep tissue laser,
adjustments,
and more.
Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic
is now open Saturdays
to better serve our patients.
Please visit us at
burnleychiro.com.
Hi, this is Ike Fowler
with Alabama Health Guidance.
Whether you are looking
for a Medicare health plan
or you are under 65
and exploring individual
health care options,
Alabama Health Guidance
can help you find the plan
that fits your needs.
Our local agents
make it simple,
so stop by our office
at 885 Florence Boulevard
or give us a call
at 256-648-5710.
Again, that's
256-648-5710.
Have you ever seen
those halftime scholarships
where you have to nail
a 40-yard field goal?
Yeah, this isn't that.
I didn't have to write
a long essay
or audition
or make a half-court shot.
I just had to open
a bank independent account,
use my debit card,
sign up for online banking,
and have a positive balance.
That's it.
A 20% scholarship to UNA.
When bank independent
invests in students like me,
they're investing in all of us
and the future of our community.
Bank independent.
We're invested in your future.
Member FDIC.
Hey guys,
how long have you been
wearing those out-of-date,
scratched-up glasses?
This is Dr. Ham Moore
with Renaissance Eye Care.
Go ahead and do
as the woman in your life
has been asking
and schedule an eye exam.
You can go to
renaissanceeyecare.com
or call
767-5000
to see either
Dr. Kathy Werner,
Dr. Lisa Campbell,
or myself.
Everyone knows
it's time to evaluate
the health of your eyes
and get a new pair of glasses.
We can make sure
you won't miss
any of the action
this fall.
And roar lines.
Join us at
Singing River Brewery,
your local hub
for great beer
and community fun.
Ready to serve
delicious drinks
and host amazing events?
Try our Golden Mainer
Leo's Roar
and 50% goes to
UNA Athletics.
Support your local
business and college
community while enjoying
a fantastic atmosphere.
Don't miss out
on the good times.
Come sip,
socialize,
and savor the taste
of Singing River Brewery.
Prohibition is over
and the good times
will flow once again
at the Florence Wine Fest
February 20th and 21st.
Friday night sets its own
with coops, cocktails,
and velvet smooth live music.
Saturday afternoon,
taste your way
through an unforgettable
wine experience.
Then Saturday night,
the city comes alive
with the Florence Wine Fest
free block party
and concert
featuring Atlanta's
great grand finale band.
Free block party tickets
and full event details
are at
FlorenceWineFest.com
proudly presented
by Visit the Shoals
with support from
CB&S Bank,
Clearview Cancer Institute,
and the Hotels of Florence.
Got a little
international flavor here.
We had Sofia Cipollati
from Italy.
Next up,
from Montreal,
Quebec, Canada,
Kevin Dukovicic
joins us.
Second year here
at the University
of North Alabama,
one of the top scorers
in the Atlantic Sun
and on this UNA basketball team.
Kev, year number two,
man, we're excited
to have you on.
What's the jump
been like for you
from your freshman
to sophomore season?
The jump has been crazy.
Just coming from
fresh out of high school,
just trying to learn
every day,
just trying to get better,
learn from the older guys,
the Jucaris,
the DJ,
the Tay Fields,
Will Susie,
all those guys
just taught me so much
throughout the year
last year.
So, like you said,
it's just the next man
up for this year
just took everything
they gave me,
all the tools,
all the advice,
and just ran with it.
You know, Kev,
really good moment
walking back
with Coach Pujol
after an interview
at the Clemson game
and you'd had
a really good game
that night
and he said,
Kevin's going to be a guy.
And we'd already
kind of talked about that,
but that was kind of
a turning point,
you know,
for me,
like,
wow,
Kevin's really
coming into his own
right now.
And how special
has it been for you
to have that November
stretch like you did
and to now know
that the keys
have kind of been
given to you
after those guys
you just talked about?
It's a great feeling.
Like,
my coach is
putting trust in me.
That just means a lot.
Like,
I know my coach
is trusting me,
so,
like,
I got to go out there
and put in the work
and help my team win
every time I get a chance to.
Freshman to sophomore year,
you mentioned
you backed up
some of the greats,
Jakari Lane,
Daniel Ortiz,
really had to wait
your turn.
How challenging was that
and what did you learn
from that?
I was challenging
for sure.
My coaches know,
like,
it was hard for sure
to wait my turn,
being patient,
trusting the process.
It was all worth it.
What I took away
from that
is really just
waiting your turn
and everybody
and everybody
had to pay
their dues
and it all worked
out at the end.
You had to pay
a lot of dues
over your life
and you kind of
told us a little bit
about your story
about being in Canada,
just working up the ranks
in basketball,
doing that
and your career.
You talked about
one challenge
that you had
was the English
language.
It wasn't your
first language,
right?
It was French.
Yes, sir.
I'm going to try
something.
Ales,
North Alabama.
Yeah.
Close.
Yeah,
it's close enough.
Trying a little French.
What was it like
for you to learn
a whole other language
and to come here?
It was definitely hard.
My mom really
helped me a lot
with it,
watching movies
in English,
listening to music,
just staying up
extra,
just trying to
learn English
because I knew
I wanted to
come to the United
States to play
the game.
So it was going
to have to happen
at some point.
So it was tough
for sure.
Speaking of Mama,
she surprised you
earlier this year
at a game.
So if you don't know,
Kevin's in America.
It's been a while
since you've been home.
She drove 24 hours,
right,
to get here.
For you,
you come down the stairs
from your apartment,
don't know she's
in the country,
don't know she's
waiting for you
outside your apartment.
What was it like
when you saw Mom
that morning
before you went to class?
It was unreal.
Just seeing her,
I was confused,
happy,
just had all
the emotions.
And that was
the rings for morning
night.
She came,
she came,
drove all the way
down to see
that event,
see me play,
and it just meant
a lot for her
to just do all
that for me.
The part that
blew me away
was when we met
your mom.
She said she
didn't fly,
it wasn't an easy
travel.
She drove,
and I mean,
pretty much non-stop
to get here.
I mean,
that's got to mean
a lot to you
to know that she
did all of that
just to see her boy
play basketball.
For sure.
You grew up in Canada,
and you got some
fun things.
You also played
football in high school.
I did.
And you guys played
Canadian Football League
rules, right,
up in Canada?
Tell us about football
and the role it played
in your early life.
It was fun.
It was fun,
like,
coming into high school.
I was just playing
for fun,
playing quarterback,
receiver,
safety,
just trying every
position I could try,
just having fun.
What was your
best position?
My best position,
I would say,
safety,
because I just like
to run through guys.
Like the hit.
Yeah.
Like the contact.
So then why did you
ultimately choose
basketball over football
at the end of the day?
Honestly,
I was just better at it.
I was just football.
It was fun,
but I wasn't the best
at it,
to be honest.
But basketball
was just really
more my thing.
You know,
playing quarterback,
very mental.
You know,
mentally,
you know,
you have to be so involved.
You got to know
where everybody is.
Almost like being
a point guard.
Yeah.
Do you see that
kind of translate
sometimes being a quarterback
to basketball?
For sure.
I feel like those
two positions,
the closest,
like they both
got to kind of control
what's going on
on the field,
court,
and everybody
be the voice
on the court
and be the leaders
on the court.
We see the shooting
from you,
but what stands out
to me is the shiftiness,
right,
with the basketball,
the spin moves
as you get inside.
Where does some
of that creativity
come from?
Just watching basketball,
just growing up,
always watching.
I was looking
to learn,
looking to learn
new moves,
try different stuff out.
I felt just
trying new stuff.
I just came up
with different moves
and just trying it,
honestly.
Who are some
of your favorites
to try to mimic
out there?
I would say
one of them,
one play I used
to watch growing up
would be
Sharif Cooper.
Yeah,
that's really
the main one
I used to watch
as a kid
growing up.
It's really fun
to watch you
drive the lane.
Something I really
enjoy though
is your defense
and the last
four games.
Let's see,
you have
eight steals
over the last
four games
and you're good
for at least
one steal
every game,
maybe two or three.
How important
is defense
to you
as part of your game?
We all preach
defense.
Defense is one
thing.
We all put
our effort in.
We all,
defense is just
our identity,
I would say.
Just keeping a man
in front of you,
just having pride
to not get beat.
That's just
what we do.
Let me ask you
a couple questions.
I got to ask
Darkhan,
first and foremost,
where's your
championship ring
at right now?
The same spot
on my dresser.
And what was that?
I know your mom
was here for it too,
but when you got
presented that ring,
what was the feeling?
Unreal.
Just like a dream
come true.
Like some of the
old guys,
Will Susie came back
to grab his ring,
like just having
some old guys
with us.
Just some old
memories came back.
It was just
great moments.
And then tell us
about Darkhan
over there.
What's it like?
Not only rooming
with him,
but playing with him
and being a part
of this program.
It's great.
Like he said,
we came in
as freshmen together,
been grown,
like grown in college
together,
experienced new things.
It's just great.
He's a great young man.
Just great seeing him
grow up every day
and getting better
on the court.
It's got to feel good
standing over there
where he is now,
hearing him say
those same things
about you,
having that mutual
respect has to feel
really good.
Yes, sir, for sure.
It's my brother,
like he said.
And then Cannon
Jefferson,
some of the other
guards on this team.
How much have you
enjoyed playing
with them as well?
I enjoy playing
with him.
It's my brother too.
We always talk
off the court.
I go in his apartment.
He come to our
apartment just kicking
it, watching basketball,
playing the game,
whatever.
But we all close
and we all enjoy
spending time
with each other.
And then when you
got a big like
Cornelius Williams,
Dante Bacchus,
who really finishes
inside,
how much confidence
does it give you
knowing you've got
two of the best
post players in the league?
For sure.
All the confidence
in the world,
I feel like every time
the ball goes to them,
it's going in.
So,
really can't complain.
We asked Cannon this
last week on the show.
You know,
he's a junior now,
so it's a different
role for him.
He was the young guy
at one point.
Now he's kind of
the veteran.
It's almost a little
bit like that for you too.
You were a true
freshman last year,
first year of basketball.
You're just trying
to get adjusted.
Now it's almost like,
hey, I'm a full-time
starter now and you're
a sophomore,
but you've also got
guys under you
like Braylon Patton
and some others,
Cortez,
that you're trying
to bring along too
that are a year
behind you.
So,
how have you adjusted
to that new
leadership role
that you have
as one of the guys
that have been here?
Yeah,
definitely just making
sure they stay ready.
They make the most
out of every opportunity
they get ready,
they stay ready,
they put the work
in and practice.
But they're both
great freshmen.
I see a lot of myself
in them,
so it's just great
watching them grow up.
And like you said,
it's early in the season,
so there's a lot of room
to grow still.
So,
I'm just excited
and I'm looking
forward to seeing
what they do
in the future.
I have a couple
of things for you
before we wrap up
here tonight.
I didn't think
to ask Darkon this,
but we like to talk
about journeys
and we touched
on yours just a little bit.
Ultimately,
why did you choose
UNA?
The coaching staff,
that was the main
reason why I chose
UNA.
Coach TP always
been truthful,
always been honest
with me,
and that was the main
reason why I chose
UNA.
One of my favorite
things to watch
this program do
after a game,
win or lose,
you guys shake
the hands of the
other team,
you go around
the entire gym,
you're shaking hands,
greeting everybody,
thanking them for
coming to the game,
and usually it's a
sellout crowd,
it's thousands
of people there.
What does it mean
to you to know
that the community
is so bought in
that they want
to talk to you
no matter what
happens in the game,
they just want
to be there for you,
congratulate you,
be there for you,
and support you?
It feels great,
knowing that the
community is behind
us regardless,
no matter the
outcome,
it's just a great
feeling.
We always going
to shake hands
of the fans
that come out
and support,
that's just what
we do after we
shake hands
of the other
team,
we just go
around,
make a circle
around the
gym,
and just thank
everybody for
coming out,
showing support,
that's just the
least we could
do.
Kev,
what's it
going to take
for this team
to go on the
road and kind
of reverse the
results from this
last weekend?
Yes, sir,
I'm looking forward
to getting on
the road.
Last week was
rough,
but like Darkon
said,
we watch film,
we're going to
reflect on it,
but that's in the
past,
not all,
our main focus
right now is
EKU and just
making sure we
get that job
done.
Hey,
who's the life
of the team
on the road?
Who keeps it
loose and fun
when you guys
are in the hotel
rooms trying
to kill time?
I'd have to
say Braylon,
Braylon's funny.
The freshman
Braylon pal?
He always got
jokes.
Or Israel,
they both get
jokes,
they all joke
around,
but it's always
fun on the road,
everybody just
joke around,
stay together,
so it's always
fun.
I know you
guys are
looking forward
to it.
Well,
Kev,
we appreciate
you stopping
by.
Thank you,
guys.
Good luck
this weekend.
That's going
to do it for
this week's
episode.
And Micah,
as we wrap
up,
the men
are on the
road in
Kentucky,
two big wins
against Eastern
Kentucky and
Bellarmine.
That's right,
and like
Coach said,
two teams
with contrasting
styles.
It's going to
be a challenge
in that road
stretch,
but starting
with EKU,
all the eggs
in that basket
right now,
huge game.
It's always
fun to watch
those two
teams play.
It's never
a dull
moment.
And then
Bellarmine on
Saturday,
of course,
big road swing
here for the
men.
And then the
women will
be on the
road,
Sophia,
Greta,
and Gabby.
They'll be
leading the
line.
I'm sorry,
they're at
home.
I was looking
earlier and
trying to
rattle them
off as I'm
talking.
They'll be
at home
Thursday.
It's the
white out.
Saturday,
it's the
gold rush
where your
white clothing
on Thursday.
The gold
rush,
gold gear
on Saturday.
One thing's
for sure,
Mike,
UNA has
one of the
best home
court
advantages.
No doubt
about it.
The fans
just come
out in
droves.
They support
A-Sun,
probably one
of the best
in mid-major
basketball.
We look
forward to
seeing you
there.
White out
Thursday,
6 o'clock.
Gold out
Saturday,
2?
2 is what
we settled
on.
We're gold.
You'd think
we'd have
it down
by now,
but we
always have
to look.
It's been
a long
day.
We'll be
here every
Monday night
from here
on out
the rest
of this
season.
We'll
start at
7 o'clock
each and
every week.
Thanks to
everybody
that came
out.
Bring
some
friends.
We'll
be
back
with
you
next
week
right
here
at
Lost
Pizza
Shoals
UNA
Basketball
Night
for
Mike
Ezekiel.
I'm
Benjamin
Ray
for
Blair
back
at
the
station.
I'm
Benjamin
Ray
saying
Roar
Lions.
You've
been
listening to
UNA
Basketball
Night
at
Lost
Pizza
Company
featuring
Coach
Candy
Whitaker
and
Coach
Tony
Pujol.
UNA
Basketball
Night
has
been
brought
to
you
and
Singing
River
Brewery.
Thanks
for
listening
and
Roar
Lions!