KSR Podcast Summary

Episode: 11-21-25 KSR Hour 2
Date: November 21, 2025
Location: Parlor Pizza, Lexington
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Ryan Lemond, Shannon Dawson

Episode Overview

Hour 2 of Kentucky Sports Radio finds Matt Jones and the KSR crew broadcasting live from Parlor Pizza, discussing everything from Kentucky football’s late-season turnaround and basketball roster issues, to personal stories of being nearly scammed, high school football playoff matchups, and UK’s rapidly improving women’s basketball program. The show features the typical mix of casual banter, listener calls, and insightful debate on what’s next for UK sports in a season full of surprises.

Key Discussion Points

1. Parlor Pizza Banter and Approval Ratings

[03:06–04:13]

• Matt raves about the hot honey pepperoni pizza at Parlor Pizza, calling it potentially his favorite in Lexington.
• Drew Franklin enjoys the pizza, as does Shannon, with all hosts appreciating the hospitality.
• Matt playfully discusses Drew’s “approval rating” with listeners:

  “You have a pretty good approval rating, about 80%. 20% say you’re too negative, but that’s good. 80% for this show is a positive approval.” (Matt Jones, 04:14)

2. Scams and Swindles

[04:44–08:49]

• Matt cites a stat: 60% of Americans will be scammed out of at least $11,000 in their lifetime.
• Roundtable: Have the hosts been scammed?
  • Ryan hasn’t lost more than about $400, recounts near-miss phone scams and a timeshare story.
  • Drew says he ignores all spam and hardly answers his phone, making himself less susceptible.
  • Shannon jokes, “Unless they just took it out of my bank account and I didn’t know about it.”
  • Matt shares his own major investment loss, which involved someone who ended up in prison—but doesn’t classify it as a typical scam.
• The hosts stress protecting older folks, with AI and phishing scams being a growing problem.
  • Drew:

    “The most important thing you can do is look at the [domain] after the email... make sure it’s a real dot com.” (Drew Franklin, 08:01)

  • Matt:

    “The IRS will never ask you for something on the phone. They will do it in… They will never ask for a payment on the phone. So that’s always something.” (Matt Jones, 08:49)

3. High School Football Playoffs

[09:08–10:02, 19:33–20:56]

• Discussion on the upcoming high school football “Elite Eight” round:
  • Matches of interest: Boyle County vs. Cov Cath, Highlands vs. Corbin, Middlesboro vs. Pikeville.
  • Ryan admits he hasn’t kept up as closely this season.
• Later follow-up on matchups and joking about traveling to watch Middlesboro if they win.

4. Kentucky Basketball—Player Motivations & Struggles

[10:02–13:59]

• Caller “Donnie” argues that one of UK’s role players is “playing for the NBA, not Kentucky.”
• Matt pushes back, asking for evidence and cautioning against quick character judgments:

  “That’s where we agree. I think it’s probably just a little bit of pet peeve of mine that when guys start to play bad that we then start to assume it’s because of their character or it’s because of their selfishness. Maybe they’re just playing bad.” (Matt Jones, 11:38)

• The hosts agree the unnamed player (strongly implied to be a key returning starter) isn’t playing up to expectations or strengths, and his energy and confidence look off.
• Banter on haircuts, with Shannon quipping:

  “I need him to look like a basketball player, not a guy that’s going to do my taxes for me.” (Shannon Dawson, 13:11)

5. Kentucky Football—Late-Season Turnaround & Fan Attitudes

[13:59–17:32]

• What if UK football wins vs. Vanderbilt (potentially four straight, three in the SEC), despite fan and even host pessimism weeks prior?
• Matt calls out the show (except Shannon) for their recent “run Stoops off” sentiments if the losing streak had continued.
• Ryan:

  “If [Stoops] pulls this off, it’s his best coaching job since he’s been here... better than the 10-win seasons if he was able to pull this off.” (Ryan Lemond, 15:03)

• Drew credits the change to quarterback Cutter Bowley bringing energy and improvement.
• Shannon:

  “I don’t know if there’s anybody better than Mark Stoops when he’s been in these situations.” (Shannon Dawson, 17:16)

6. UK Football vs. Vanderbilt: Preview & Injury Concerns

[21:04–23:21]

• Game is sold out, unusual for UK at Vanderbilt.
• Vandy’s fans are energized; Kentucky is facing significant defensive injuries (five starters out).
  • Ryan reports Alex Afari is expected to play, which is significant for the defense.
• Potential high-scoring “shootout” discussed.
• Extended Diego Pavia (Vandy QB) discussion—hosts admit their prior admiration is wearing thin due to his personality becoming “a lot.”

7. Louisville Football Injury Situation & Rivalry Implications

[25:10–27:18]

• Louisville likely to play Kentucky with a backup QB and depleted running backs.
• Drew posits Louisville may be the “quitting” team Saturday if they enter on a losing streak, which would’ve seemed impossible weeks ago.

8. UK Women’s Basketball—Historic Recruiting Win

[35:19–37:21]

• UK women ink the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history (No. 4 in the country).
• Drew notes Coach Kenny Brooks’ focus on adding size—making UK poised to be SEC’s No. 2 team after powerhouse South Carolina.
• Big showdown with Louisville Saturday at 2 p.m., televised on The CW.

9. Pro and College Sports Sidelights, Beer Talk & Tournament Scheduling

[28:13–34:31]

• Discussion of beer preferences—Shannon prefers Coors Light, Drew dislikes Miller Lite, Matt is baffled by beer’s appeal compared to Diet Coke.
• Breakdown of the Troy vs. USC triple-overtime basketball stunner, with sympathy for mid-majors’ scheduling challenges in the NIL era.
• On UK men’s basketball, the hosts mostly prefer Kentucky not play in a big Thanksgiving tournament this year, given recent struggles; expect Coach Pope’s scheduling strategy to become clear next season.

10. Caller on UK Point Guard Options

[45:01–47:41]

• Caller asks about options for adding another guard from Europe or G League following injuries.
• Matt explains eligibility rules are murky; ideally, Jalen Low’s health status would be clarified by December to allow for replacement options if needed.
• On Jasper Johnson as a potential solution at point guard:

  “He’s really good but I also think he’s got to be better on defense and we’ve got to see him be able to really facilitate and share.” (Matt Jones, 47:12)

11. Weekend Predictions & Fun

[47:48–48:38]

• Football predictions for Kentucky vs. Vandy:
  • Shannon: Vandy wins, 27-21.
  • Drew: Vandy wins, 34-31.
  • Matt: Kentucky wins, 35-28.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fan overreaction and Stoops’ job security:

  “Pretty much everybody, if we’re honest... I did a poll at Whiskey Thief, and two people held up their hand that they still wanted him to be the coach. Two. So it would be... a pretty miraculous turnaround if they’re able to win Saturday.” — Matt Jones, 16:11

• On scams and skepticism:

  “I get like three voicemails a day from spam... There could be real concerns, people trying to reach me, and I ignore them.” — Drew Franklin, 06:08

• Caller critique on basketball player’s focus:

  “He’s not doing what he needs to do for this Kentucky basketball team. He’s not a jump shooter, but he shoots jump shots... chances are you’re not going to get one.” — Caller, 11:22

• On NCAA soccer heartbreak:

  “It was in the goalie’s hands. Like, it could not have been more in his chest. And... it was literally like he was holding a baby, and it went right off his chest and then squirted to the side and went in. It was an absurd goal.” — Matt Jones, 38:26

Segment Timestamps

• Parlor Pizza & Approval Banter: [03:06–04:13]
• Scam Stories & Stats: [04:44–08:49]
• High School Football Playoff Talk: [09:08–10:02], [19:33–20:56]
• UK Basketball—Motivation vs. Results: [10:02–13:59]
• UK Football's Turnaround & Fan Reaction: [13:59–17:32]
• UK vs. Vandy Football Preview: [21:04–23:21]
• Louisville Football Injuries: [25:10–27:18]
• UK Women’s Basketball Recruiting: [35:19–37:21]
• Beer Preferences & Basketball Scheduling: [28:13–34:31]
• Point Guard & Roster Discussion: [45:01–47:41]
• Predictions for UK vs. Vandy: [47:48–48:38]

Conclusion

This fast-paced second hour at Parlor Pizza showcases the KSR crew’s comfort mixing big-picture analysis (UK football’s wild season arc, basketball’s developmental dilemmas) with Kentucky-centric culture (high school football playoffs, local pizza, and friendly digs about beer choices). The hour highlights both UK athletic optimism (especially for the women’s basketball future) and the realistic skepticism of a fanbase unafraid to question its heroes—but just as quick to celebrate a revival.