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Shannon The Dude
This is Kentucky sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.
Matt Jones
Welcome everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. Tuesday, January 28th. I'm Matt Jones still here in New York getting ready to watch Cats and Falls. Coming up tonight, a game that is always exciting, but maybe a little less exciting. After the news of yesterday, you can give us a shot on the Clark's puppet shop phone line. That's 859-280-2287. A Vision Auto Glass text machine is 772-774-5254. Ryan and Drew are in studio in Lexington. Shannon is in Louisville. Ryan, I mean I don't like to start shows with bummer news, but it's. I don't know how you don't do it. It's Kentucky and Tennessee, the continuation of, you know, Kentucky's probably their second biggest rivalry in college basketball behind Louisville. I don't know what that guy that called the pre show Shannon saying Tennessee fans don't care about Kentucky. Like they.
Shannon The Dude
That guy, he admitted that it was a T shirt game every time Kentucky comes to play there.
Matt Jones
That's ridiculous. When I mean we do hate them more in football than they hate us because we there they've been better than us. But the idea that it's not true in reverse. They hate us in basketball more than we got a ton of people we play in basketball. That dude is just insane. All he's got to do is look at my mentions after a game and then see what Tennessee fans think. But tonight, Ryan, with the news that Lamont Butler will be out as he is hurt, will not play tonight makes this game this evening a little bit less exciting.
Caller
Yeah, you know you hope to go into arrivals home court needing a win coming off a two game losing streak. Be at full strength so you can have a chance to pull a win out there. But not having him, dude, that's, that's crucial. That's maybe the one guy they couldn't afford to lose for this game because.
Matt Jones
They got, I mean Drew, do you think we can win without him? Like if we're being completely honest? I mean, can we win without him?
Ryan Lemond
Yes, slim chance. But if Jackson Robinson is playing the way he did at Mississippi State and Kobe Braya will wake up. If Kentucky can just start throwing in some threes and have one of those games that they're capable of eventually then you have a chance. But it will take some special shooting from outside to score points against this team without having.
Matt Jones
So we agree that the chance to win is to go up there and just bomb threes. Right, Right. I mean, like Ryan, you. We got to take 30 plus threes tonight and hope they're failing is. I mean, that's really our one chance of winning this game. Correct.
Caller
That's it, man. You hit it. Because they are the number one defensive team in the country. They. They kept Auburn to in the 50s. Another good offensive team. So, yes, for Kentucky to win this game, they have to be able to shoot lights out. Somebody, two or three guys. Not just one guy. They need a couple guys to shoot lights out tonight.
Matt Jones
This stat is amazing. So Kentucky, Shannon is 04 when we've scored 69 points or less. Tennessee has only allowed 70 in one game this year. Wow.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah. And that does not, that does not play well into Kentucky's hands at all. You know, Kentucky wants the game in the 80s or 90s or above that even, you know, you play in the 60s or 70s. I don't like their chances.
Matt Jones
All right, so let's talk about the Lamont Butler. I mean, Drew, I don't know, you know, last night when that news came out, so, so, so people understand the rules in the SEC have changed a little bit. You have to. This is a gambling thing. In order to like preserve the sanctity of the game, you have to say who's going to play and who's not. And generally speaking, I finally had somebody tell me how they get the difference between out, probable, etc. Basically, if you have no plans of the guy dressing out and warming up with the team, you have to put it as out. And apparently the SEC has told teams privately, like that's how it is, period. And if we find out you knew he was out and then you didn't say it, find. So clearly they knew Lamont Butler was out. They have Andrew Carr as questionable, which means they still think he could play. So if Butler is out, presumably he's farther back from playing than Carr. Pope said just a couple days ago it seemed like Carr might miss some time. I mean, there were rumors flying last night from on text to me. I have no idea. So I don't want to say definitively but like how worried are you up for Butler the rest of this year? Do you think this is just a game? Like what do you think it is?
Ryan Lemond
Well, he seemed really banged up lately and hadn't been playing well for that. It's the fact that he's still been playing through it. I'm not as worried about long term. I've actually made up a positive scenario in My head that I'm just going to live in fantasy land where Pope has. Yeah. No, no. Everyone, please get on board with this. I've completely made it up. But. But Pope has said, look, it's at Tennessee, nine point underdog. We're banged up. I'm going to put these guys on ice and make sure we're healthy for Arkansas. So I've put that in my head. I have no idea if that's real, but I'm at least that maybe this is a Butler. You have everything hurt right now. Let's get you a week and see how you're doing. But it me it could be long term because, I mean, they have him as out. Not game time decision. Not probable. You didn't want to see out for a guy that has just played, been playing for you out.
Matt Jones
Which is what surprised me. The out. I mean, that says not playing. You know, I don't know. I mean, I'm not there. I intentionally. You know, I'm a little surprised Mark didn't do his radio show right now last night. Right. Like, he won't.
Ryan Lemond
Away games are on Wednesdays.
Matt Jones
Did they do, though the day before a game, press conference or. No, didn't do one.
Ryan Lemond
Yes. It was Ansley Almanor and Jackson Robinson, though.
Matt Jones
But no coach.
Ryan Lemond
No coach. They do the players on Monday and Pope on Thursday.
Matt Jones
Okay. All right. So there was no.
Ryan Lemond
We won't get any answers till pregame.
Matt Jones
Yeah. So there was no way for anybody to have to do it. So we probably won't know the answer until Pope does his. His interview with Tom Leach before the game. You know, I. I have no idea. I hope it's. I hope it's the scenario Drew says. But let's just say, Ryan, that Butler were out longer. I mean, he has a. He has a shoulder issue. It's like backs. You can rest if you have something in your shoulder that's tougher because it feels like that could be something torn. At which point then I wonder if you're playing. So that's what makes me. I'm going to be very hesitant until I hear what Mark says tonight, because there's a part of me that's very worried. Like, shoulder injuries are not usually something that just like immediately get better. And the fact he's been. I mean, I think he got hurt. When? During the Alabama game. Is that before that game? I mean, that's a while back. I don't know, Ryan. I. I'm probably a little more concerned than I was even on the car one.
Caller
I'm concerned And I'll tell you why. This is a tough kid. I mean, he, like you just said, he's been hurt since the A and M game. This is his last season of college basketball. He's playing a huge game against a team that was just the number one team in the country a couple weeks ago. He would go if the coaches would let him go. I think if you ask him, he probably would try to play. But we saw the Vandy game. There are a couple times where his left arm was just hanging down beside. It hurt so bad he couldn't even move it. So that's what worries me because if he could go even a little bit, I think he could talk him in that he would want to play.
Matt Jones
All right, so if I were to. So now the question is, what does Kentucky do? We saw against, in our last game we saw against Vandy. Honestly, I thought the moments where Kentucky's offense looked the best was when Jackson Robinson played point. To be quite frank with you, do you think that's what they do? Drew, is this, I mean, it's hard for me to see them starting Travis Perry on the road at the best defensive team in the country. Now Travis's defense is weak. If you saw the, I mean, if you saw the numbers that they released yesterday of plus minus defense, Travis's is really, really bad. But offensively, like, but that's, you know, Tennessee's not a great offensive team. Do you start Travis Perry or do you slide Jackson Robinson over and have him play like a scoring point guard?
Ryan Lemond
That's a tough one. When the Butler news came out last night, I typed and deleted a tweet that said, zakai Ziegler, get ready to learn Lion County. But I couldn't even smile with fake optimism because I'm very worried about that matchup.
Matt Jones
That's a terrible matchup.
Ryan Lemond
Butler has not played well offensive lately, but his on ball defense is pretty dang special and it is a significant drop defensively where you're going against a player that if I'm not mistaken, I think Zakai Ziggler played against Sean Wood and Travis Ford. I mean, this dude's played a lot of SEC basketball and you have a true freshman who when he's committed to Kentucky, probably didn't even expect to play much this season. You're now rolling out Knoxville where you're starting or not. He's gonna have to play a lot of minutes and that is a terrible matchup for Kentucky.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I, I, I'm with standing. Is that them or, or me? That was Got the disc.
Shannon The Dude
I think that was them. Yeah.
Matt Jones
Yeah. All right, so you guys in Lexington, the tech people, y'all got to fix them. There's no. I mean, we got to fix the Lexington feed because that's been an issue the last two days. Let me read you this, Shannon, about on, off defensive splits. I mean, this. This gives you a sense of what we're. What our concern is. This is for the year, how we do defensively when guys are in the game. All right. The best defender we have on the team by numbers with a plus 11.5. Not surprisingly, Lamont Butler, second best, Andrew Carr, which surprised me a little bit. But I. I can. I mean, he's, you know, he's had some good matchups. Amari Williams is third. That's 9.5. All right, let's go to the ones that are Negative. Brandon Garrison, minus 12. Kobe Bray a minus 15. Travis Perry, Shannon minus 26.5. Ouch. All right. We only have three players negative, period. But he is minus 26.5. Lamont Butler is plus 11.5. So that means every hundred possessions, teams score 38 more points on. On Travis Perry than Lamont Butler. That's. I mean, I love Travis Perry and offensively I think he gives him a lot, but that is a massive Shannon drop off. Massive.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah. Makes it hard to make the case for Travis Perry being out there and getting minutes when he's getting eaten up defensively. The other number that you gave me there with Kobe Bray, I mean, that's a guy that you have to have on the court, too, but he's gonna.
Matt Jones
Have to play that. Yeah. You're gonna be able to score. He's gonna be. And he's a minus 15.
Shannon The Dude
He's got to shoot more than five times. He only shot the ball five times against Vandy. He's got to shoot eight to 10 every night. They got to get him more shots.
Matt Jones
Yeah, it is. So it makes me nervous. So I'm going to. If I'm starting, I'm going to go. Robinson away. Brea Almanor, Williams, which Ryan. That's not the greatest lineup in the world, but I think that's the lineup you have to go with.
Caller
We may be forced to go with that lineup tonight. You know. Did you know you mentioned Zakai Ziggler, Travis Perry. That's a bad matchup for Travis. I think Zakai, Ziggler and Jackson Robinson. That's a bad max up for Jackson Robinson, too. I mean, I think that Ziggler may just be licking his chops, waiting to play this game tonight against who they throw out there on him.
Matt Jones
All right, Drew. C.J. moore, who was. Has been with the Kentucky team. He was there at the game Saturday. I think he's going to be there tonight. I think he's there with them through the, through the Arkansas game. He said on field of 68 last night that he thinks if you were to get Mark Pope to have truth serum to where he had to tell the truth. Right now, Kentucky's 3 and 3 in conference. He said he thought Mark Pope would today go into the postseason 9 and 9 and take it to finish 20 and 11 and probably be like a 6 or 7 seed. Would do you think that. Would you take it if you were Mark knowing that Lamont Butler is out and we don't know how he and Carr, how long they might be out?
Ryan Lemond
I mean, it sounds crazy to accept that record as Kentucky, but the, the analytics are predicting a lot more losses, not even counting the injury situation and just uncertainty around two starters who have been huge for you in your biggest wins. I think I would, I think I would take it. It's. It's really just. I mean, not knowing Butler, Carr, if you're going to see them again, I mean, I assume we will, but not knowing that. I mean, if you don' them, it's could be a lot worse than 9 and 9.
Matt Jones
I would take 9 and 9.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah, I think I would take it. I mean, they're so banged up. They're banged up in the schedule is just keeps getting difficult. The Ken Palm predictions have them losing, I think maybe even 8 more ahead just with the numbers.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I would take it.
Caller
I'd take it in a second. Yeah, I would too, man. So like I said, with the news about Butler and Carr and with. And not just a reflection of Kentucky reflection on how good teams are this year in the SEC. I'd take nine and nine and, and get 20 wins total.
Matt Jones
Yeah. So I, I think I would too. And, and tonight is for me. This is for me tonight. I never would throw away a Tennessee game. Look, we have twice in the last five years gone down there where it looked like we had no chance and we've won. I think we won the COVID year in a game that nobody thought we had a chance to win. And then we won a couple years ago with C.J. frederick and Antonio Reeves games that we thought we had no chance. So I'm not giving up on it. The good thing about Tennessee being bad offensively is if you get hot, you can beat them. But for me. This is a game to kind of figure out what we have. Because, you know, without Lamont Butler, the season can look a lot different. 859-280-2287 would you take nine and nine? Yes or no in the text machine? 772-774-5254. Hopefully they'll get it fixed in Lexington. If not. Shannon, this may be like the other day when it was just me and you. We go do it. I hope you're ready for it.
Shannon The Dude
If that happens, we can do it.
Matt Jones
Bring Jay Williams on here. Let me argue him with mj. Mj, we'll be right back. Wasn't that delicious? So good.
Caller
Your bill, ladies.
Matt Jones
I got it. No, I got it. Seriously, I insist. I insisted first. Don't be silly. You don't be silly.
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Peter Schrager
Okay.
Matt Jones
Rock, paper, scissors for it. Rock, paper, scissors.
Drew Franklin
Shoot.
Matt Jones
No.
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Matt Jones
Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. Alright, so looks like most of you on the text machine would take nine and nine in a heartbeat. I agree. If you're, if you're nine and nine, I think you're probably six seed, five seed seven. Depends on how things go because you got so many quad one wins. I mean that's why those wins in the non conference will be so important. Seems like almost all of you would take it. One person writes. Matt. All right, that was a little negative in the first segment. Give me the positive case for how you make this work without Butler. Well, okay, you got to hit a lot of threes, right? You have to get Drew, I think Amari Williams has got to play like no, no, no negatives. Like he's got to play great Alma or I mean let's give Almanor his props. I mean Almanor has had in the last three or four games multiple games where he's made more than one. Three. He made, what do you make four in Nashville? Drew?
Caller
Yeah, four or five.
Matt Jones
He made four in Nashville. So I mean if he's doing that, if he can get you 12 points then you'll take that at that position. The problem for me is, okay, let's say Jackson Robinson. I disagree a little bit with Ryan on the defense. I think Robinson and away, you know, they're going to do as well as they can against Lanier and Ziegler. But then that means you're going to have to play Brea and Almanor at the same time. And at that point, Drew, I really worry about what happens to us at the 34 position with those two guys having to guard.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah. And Tennessee plays big down low. I think the 4 and 5 are like 610, 230. Not a great Matchup for Almanor or Brea. But I mean that, you know, on the other side, if you're running and gunning, those guys got to run with you. But adding to what Kentucky has to do to win, whether it's making threes or whatever, Jackson Robinson has to win the Robinson linear one on one battle. I know it's a team sport, but those two guys, I mean, if Robinson stayed in the NBA, there's a good chance. Linear is it Kentucky. I mean, he was kind of waiting to see what Robinson did. He was as high on Kentucky's portal board as anyone. They were very close. I think this is a game he's probably had circled on the calendar. And if he were to outplay Robinson, I don't think Kentucky has a chance. And he's averaging close.
Matt Jones
That's a really great point. Those were Kentucky. You could make a strong argument that Kentucky's biggest two targets in the portal, the two guys they wanted the most were Robinson and Lanier. They'd love to have had them both, but they were like, we got to get one. All right, so they got Robinson, Tennessee got Lanier. Like, this is your chance to go, okay, who made the right choice? Lanier's probably outplayed Robinson early in the year, but this would be a good chance for Robinson to get back. But you're right. I mean, for us to win, Ryan Robinson's got to have 20, right? He's got to have at least 20 for us to win. Bray is probably got to have. If you're saying what's Kentucky's path to victory? Robinson 20, Bray at least three threes, four threes. Almanor at least a couple. And then just hope things work out.
Caller
And if we're trying to be positive this segment, the last time Butler didn't play against Gonzaga, Kerr got hurt. They had to slide Jackson, Robinson over to the point guard. Had one of his best games. You know, he did great that game.
Matt Jones
Yeah, you're exactly right. That's actually. That is a real part. We did beat Gonzaga without Butler.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah, they had crease came, came back from down big. Well, they came back once. Chris went out too.
Caller
That's true. They were down.
Ryan Lemond
That's when Robinson just kind of stepped over.
Matt Jones
Maybe that's. Maybe this is what happened. Maybe this is the moment Robinson like hits another level.
Ryan Lemond
Let's with the three point shooting. With three point shooting, I think the best wins are Florida and Mississippi State. And Kobe Braya had seven threes against Florida and Robinson had seven threes against Mississippi State. It's Hard to ask a guy to make seven threes, but it's worked out pretty well. When they have hit that many, we.
Matt Jones
Need to ask somebody to do it. Hey.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah, right. Shoot them all.
Matt Jones
One of you make seven threes. We can't win this game playing the sort of get drive to the basket. You cannot drive to the basket against Tennessee. We're going to have to shoot threes and we're going to have to make them. Who's up first? Shannon?
Shannon The Dude
Bird.
Matt Jones
Bird. Go ahead, Bird.
Ryan Lemond
What's going on, guys?
Matt Jones
I got a two things. Number one, did you all see the fight and the early forfeit of Powell county vs Montgomery county basketball last night? All right, so get. Make your second point. I'm gonna have Ryan talk about that because he knows the facts. Go ahead. What's your second one? All right, the second point. I know Drew's gonna love this. Did y'all see that? Bill Belichick announced that they are ripping up turf at North Carolina and putting down grass. They're going back the way football should be played. Well, that's good. I appreciate the call. I'm for that. Most places are getting rid of turf now. They have that field. Turf, which is kind of in the middle. Ryan, tell me about what happened. You know, that was all anyone was talking about online. Powell County, Montgomery County. There were so many fights, a team quit.
Caller
I just happened to be there. So I.
Matt Jones
Wait a minute. You went to the game?
Caller
Yeah, I was there. I was in the crowd.
Matt Jones
I had no idea about this. How did you end up going to a Powell County Montgomery county game?
Caller
Well, one of my good friends is from Powell County. His son in law coaches Montgomery County. So he invited Josiah and I over to come watch his son in law coach against his old school.
Matt Jones
So we went like Carmen San Diego, like you go to a Powell County Montgomery county game, do you expect to see Ryan Lemon walk in?
Shannon The Dude
I mean, probably so. He's in so many random places, it doesn't surprise me.
Matt Jones
All right, so you. I didn't know you were at the game. Right. So what happened?
Caller
I walk in and we got there at the start of the second quarter because traffic was a nightmare in Lexington last night. And they're in a 20 minute delay because there had just been a fight on the floor. And you could see the video where a Montgomery county player pushes some Powell county players. He gets ejected, but the whole Powell county bench. The whole bench left the bench and ran on the floor during all this. So not only did the Montgomery county kid get kicked out for pushing the Whole Powell county bench got kicked out of the game. So Powell County's down to like five players and one bent. They had six guys. That was it.
Matt Jones
All right.
Caller
They play for about four or five more minutes and then with a minute left in the first half, a Powell county player pushes a Montgomery county player. He gets kicked out. And when he got kicked out, the whole Powell county team, they just picked up their stuff, walked off the floor. Minute left till halftime, forfeited the game. I've never ever seen that happen before.
Matt Jones
So hang on, that. So Powell county at that point could have kept going. They had five dudes, correct?
Caller
Yes.
Matt Jones
Why didn't they play? The sixth guy on the bench was Shannon. Was he like me? And they didn't want to put him in under any circumstances. Why didn't they put him?
Shannon The Dude
We're not putting feathers in. I don't care.
Matt Jones
Feathers. Why didn't they play him?
Caller
I think there was more of a protest walking off the floor. They were, they were, I think in a protest about how the thing, how the game was going.
Matt Jones
Let me ask you a question. I'm not trying to be cynical. Were they losing at the time?
Caller
They were down by about 20, 20 or 25 points and what, even halftime?
Matt Jones
So they were pro. So they were protesting down 20 at halftime.
Caller
That's the way I kind of feel it went. Yeah, they were upset because it was.
Matt Jones
Really physical, like a protest. Drew, when you're losing by 20 and then you protest. Right. What's the protest? They were the ones that left the bench, right?
Caller
Yeah. And now I'm sure the KHSA is going to come down on them. You can't just walk off the floor in the middle of a game without some sort of sanctions, probation, something.
Matt Jones
Now wait a minute. You were a guest of the Powell county coach. Why did you let him do this?
Caller
Well, my buddies from Powell county, but his son in law coaches Montgomery County. So I'm sitting behind the Montgomery county meeting.
Matt Jones
Okay. Right. Drew, do you think we're getting the unbiased view here since his son in law.
Ryan Lemond
A little bit of a lean here.
Matt Jones
It feels like this was an anti Powell county lean in the way you told the story.
Caller
Nothing but facts.
Ryan Lemond
I just tweeted the video. If anyone wants to see it.
Matt Jones
We'll see. If there's a different story, let me know. We'll be right back. Ksr, TJ Smith, personal injury attorney. Call tj. He'll make him pay.
Shannon The Dude
Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.
Matt Jones
Welcome back, techie. Sports, radio, aviation, auto, glass, text machine. 772-774-5254. One person writes, Matt, last time we went to Knoxville, Dalton Connect had 40 and we still won. I'm very confident. I like it. I mean, it's good. I. We have won twice down there in five years when I thought we had no chance of winning. So I'm not dismissing our chances. The other thing is, Drew, if we, if you, if you go back and look at those two years we beat them down there, it's because we hit a ton of threes, right? We got. We got really hot and we hit a ton of threes. And we have a team that can do that. We've. I know I've said this a thousand times, but if you go look at Mark Pope at Butler, they would go win games they shouldn't win and then lose games they shouldn't lose because of shooting threes. So, like, if you're going to pull an upset, Drew, this is the kind of team you can do it with because you can get hot and just bang a bunch of threes.
Caller
Yep.
Ryan Lemond
And it's not just the last five years. Literally, the last two times we've been there, Kentucky was an 11 and a half point underdog and a nine and a half point underdog and won both times.
Caller
Wow.
Ryan Lemond
So maybe we like being a big underdog, nine and a half point underdog right now. Last year when Connect had 40, Reed shepherd and Antonio Reeves had 27 each and shepherd hit seven three. So it was one of those games where. Have fun, Dalton Connect. We're still doing all right over here. They scored close to 100 something, if I'm not mistaken.
Matt Jones
Yeah. One person writes, Matt, what about Trent Noah? You haven't mentioned him. This could be a big game for him. Well, maybe. I mean, I worry about Noah's defense, but then again, you know, Tennessee's not a great offensive team, so. Yeah, why not? I mean, all these guys are going to get a chance tonight. Ryan, everybody on the roster. I mean, Colin Chandler is probably going to get a few minutes. Just. You don't have a choice. Right. These guys are going to have to play. So, like, you take Noah, Perry and Chandler, they're probably all going to get in at some point, and then if one of them plays well, maybe it gives them a chance to get rolling.
Advertiser
Yeah.
Caller
You got to think, even. Even if Andrew Carr plays, he's not going to be 100%. He can't play a lot of minutes. So I think Trent Noah does get on the floor again. And, you know, at least he's the one guy who brought a lot of effort down at Vanderbilt.
Matt Jones
He did.
Caller
Stuck his nose in there on a rebound and loose ball and fought for a couple balls. And that's what earned him a lot more playing time.
Matt Jones
Travis Perry is the thing, though, because Butler's out. So Travis Perry, like, do I think he can guard Lanier or Ziegler? No. But do I think he may have to go out there and play? Yes. And so you know what, Travis? This is what I would say. Let's not think about what you can't do. Let's think about what you can. When you get that ball and it's open, shoot it. Travis Perry, Jackson, Robinson, Kobe, Braya, Almanor. If the four of you get the ball and have an open three. If I don't see it go up, Shannon, I'm running to Knoxville, to you. The four of them should shoot every single time they get it and away. If you ever get your confidence back, I'll put you on that list, too. It feels like he's not confident in his jumper, but those four guys, Robinson, Brea, Almond, or Perry, I don't care. What? I don't want to see you pump. Faking. Shannon, shoot the ball when you're open.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, I mean, we were talking before the season started. 35 to 43 point attempts. It's been closer to 25, you know, 26 outshot.
Matt Jones
The other team has taken more threes than us in four of our six sec games. That can't happen. We're the three point shooting team. Especially tonight, if you're open fire. If you miss it, you miss it. But that get. We're not going to beat Tennessee going off the dribble. We're only going to beat them shooting threes. And those four dudes should not pass up any. Any open three the entire game. Last question, Shannon, I'll go to you with this one. One person writes, matt, I'm up for a promotion at a police department. They said I need to sell myself. How would you guys recommend someone sell themselves in a job promotion interview?
Shannon The Dude
Sell yourself? Like I'm.
Matt Jones
How would you sell yourself?
Shannon The Dude
I'm the hardest working person on the planet.
Matt Jones
That's what you would say. I like that.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah.
Matt Jones
Yes. Yeah. I would say if you don't believe it about yourself, then nobody else is going to believe it. Right? So you should sit there and say, what are the things I'm good at? And now let me say it with confidence. Don't worry about, like, sell yourself, but also Say I like every. This is a big thing, Shannon. Say you work well with others because everybody wants you to be able to work well.
Ryan Lemond
That's true.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah. I'd be able to get along with everybody. Unless you work in a place like this where there's nobody here, it doesn't really matter.
Matt Jones
You don't have to work well with everybody. Who's up next?
Shannon The Dude
Richard?
Matt Jones
Richard, I think at a police department, though, you are going to have to work with police.
Shannon The Dude
Absolutely.
Matt Jones
In police. I think you are. Go ahead, Richard.
Caller
Well, I think our boys have a shot. If car can give us 20 minutes and the rest of them shoot a bunch of trees and hit, say 35%.
Matt Jones
Of them, we might.
Caller
We got a shot at winning this. One other thing we talking about yesterday and I couldn't. Couldn't get my phone to work. Right. Y'all were talking about the, the fourth down play in, in the afc. I mean, yeah, AFC championship game was with. There has been six plays, six games like that in the last three years. And Kansas City. Get your break on every one of them.
Matt Jones
Yeah, don't give. I, I'm just not listening to all these Kansas City conspiracy theorists. I saw this stat and here's what I would say to you, Richard. You're right. I mean, have there been calls? There was that sliding call. And I'm not saying there haven't been calls, but I'd also say this. I did look up this stat. In the last 11. In the last seven years, Kansas City's had 11 playoff games that came down to a final drive by Kansas City where they needed to score. In those 11 games, Kansas City scored seven touchdowns and four field goals. And Richard, how many flags have they thrown on those drives? Very few. Zero. Zero. So at the end of the day. At the end of the day, they got to. I appreciate the call. Game was tied. Philadelphia, or excuse me. Buffalo got the ball. Kansas City got the ball. Kansas City scored. Buffalo did. There you go. Like, it's just, you know, it's like us, we had some problems against Vandy, but then we were up seven with. With six minutes ago. We got a win. You got to win when you get to that point. We didn't. Neither did Buffalo. That's the way. Who's next?
Shannon The Dude
Propane man.
Matt Jones
Propane man. Go ahead. Yes. Baffles. Yes, sir. People are calling in about local drama.
Caller
When we have two of the biggest.
Matt Jones
Games coming up this week.
Caller
And that's.
Matt Jones
I feel like that's what we should be focusing on. But other than that, first of all, local Drama is local. Drama is great. You're telling me that you don't care about what happened to Powell county and Montgomery County? That was a fight. Ryan Lemon was in attendance, and he is biased and he comes. You don't think that's interesting? It is to a point. But other than that, I'm focused on this Tennessee game. Bray is going to come in. He's gonna have a career career night. Eight threes.
Caller
We're gonna win by five.
Matt Jones
And to the last caller on the.
Caller
Pre show, he sounds like a guy that swallows.
Matt Jones
Thank you. All right, well, I'm really glad you. You did. That guy comes in all holier than thou and then he says that like, Stop it. How many threes Drew we got to hit tonight to win?
Ryan Lemond
Oh, boy. Tennessee doesn't score a lot of points. I think I said they needed 13 to beat Alabama. They had 11, lost by five. I was pretty spot on with that. I'm going to say 14. Getting crazy.
Matt Jones
14. That would be 42 points. I think we'd win with. I think we'd win with 14. I like that number. I think that's a good number. I think we need more than we would against other teams because against Alabama, we were still able to get layups, and so we're not. Ryan, you're not getting any layups tonight. Like, there's no uncontact. We don't do well in contested layups anyway. And Tennessee's probably the best team in the country at protecting the rim and, like, stopping you from getting points at the basket.
Caller
Yeah. This game is going to be in the 60s, maybe in the 50s. So Kentucky has to find a way. If it's the way the three point shot goes down. Yeah, what's that?
Matt Jones
It's in the 50s. We're losing. Like, we ain't winning. Like, we. We got to get to 70, and we might have to get to 75. I mean, 50s. Ryan, we're not winning, right?
Caller
No. I'd say even in the 60s, we're gonna have a hard time winning. They just got to find a way to get hot and outscore them because Tennessee.
Ryan Lemond
I'll tell you one thing, I think we need to pull a Powell County. If they bank into three, the moment they bank into three, Mark Pope needs to take his team and get on the bus because there's something going on with that crap. And if it happens again tonight, just leave. I don't care if it's the first half.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I'm fine pulling the Powell County. Is that what we're Going to call it now, Shannon, when you forfeit the.
Shannon The Dude
Powell county bunch of quitters. I think all Powell county or quitters.
Matt Jones
How about Ryan Lemon being there? I still can't get over like it like you.
Caller
I walked in and it was just.
Matt Jones
This, why were you there? Like, it's like he's a reporter at heart.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah.
Caller
Yeah.
Matt Jones
This is funny.
Caller
The referees at one point, I've got to tell you this, went back to the locker room and brought out the rule book when they were trying to figure out what to do after the Powell county players left the bench. And we're going through the little bitty KHSA rule book to figure it out.
Shannon The Dude
It's pretty obvious, like when the other team completely leaves the building that they have.
Matt Jones
I feel like I could have. I didn't need the rule book to say if the other team leaves. The one team that didn't leave wins.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, pretty obvious. I would think.
Matt Jones
I like they had to get a rule book. Is it not online? It's like my atlas. They have a hard copy they keep in a bad copy back there. Yeah. There are only three weeks left to help God's Pantry Food bank to get their goal of a million meals by Valentine's Day. Listen, every time I say this, I asked more of you to do it. More of you do. Godspantry.org KSR you can donate any amount, but I Suggest Pope's number. 4141. If you do $41, that's 246 meals. $41. 246 meals. Show the love to the 1 in 6 Kentuckians who are food insecure. God's pantry.org KSR folks, 10 of America's 25 most food insecure counties are in Kentucky. I mean, that's serious stuff. 10 of the 25 in the nation that have the most problem feeding are in Kentucky. This money goes to Kentucky. God's pantry.org KSR $41. If you can't do 41, do 5, do 10. But help your fellow Kentuckian with God's Pantry. We'll take a break. Be right back. Ksr wasn't that delicious? So good.
Caller
Your bill, ladies.
Matt Jones
I got it. No, I got it. Seriously, I insist. I insisted first. Don't be silly. You'll not be silly.
Advertiser
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Peter Schrager
Okay.
Matt Jones
Rock, paper, scissors for it. Rock, paper, scissors.
Drew Franklin
Shoot.
Matt Jones
No.
Advertiser
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Peter Schrager
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Drew Franklin
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway this new year. Make sure you take some time to take care of yourself and your family. Stock up on your favorite personal care Items now through January 28th and earn four times the points to use towards discounts on groceries or fuel. Shop in store, online or in the app for items like Pantene Shampoo, Old Spice Body Wash, Pampers, Swaddlers, Diapers, Venus Razors and Crest Complete toothpaste and earn four times points on your purchase. Offer ends January 28th. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.
Matt Jones
Hey guys, this is Matt Jones. Drew Franklin from the Fade this podcast. We got a great episode coming up, picks in all the sports. Football, basketball, we do them all. But here's a preview of this week's episode.
Ryan Lemond
I've seen people in the gambling community kind of make jokes about Fade this and we just goof off and don't even talk about the games. Bring your records and set them on this table right now. All you out there that are spend two hours talking about the games and we'll in the last seven years and night games, they've come in and haven't scored 20 points and you get too detailed. Bring your records right here to fade this. We'll we'll talk about books and cooking and Kevin Costner and still make more money betting on sports than you will.
Matt Jones
And this episode was brought to you in partnership with DraftKings. To hear more, listen and subscribe to Fade this on iheartradio or wherever you listen to podcasts. What are the commercials they run in Louisville?
Shannon The Dude
Shel it was about bladder control. P Happens.
Matt Jones
She started the commercial by saying P Happens. Yeah, and I thought that had to be code for something, but she meant what she said.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, she said it happens in bed. It happens in your car.
Matt Jones
She said it happens in the car just driving down the road. Does that happen?
Shannon The Dude
You never tinkled while you were driving down the road?
Matt Jones
Not just down the road. Like I'm not just driving down the road Listening to the Priest show. Just like, here we go. I mean, I.
Shannon The Dude
That makes people happy. Pre show makes people happy.
Matt Jones
To my bosses at iHeart, I'm like, we gotta work on the ad sales in Louisville. Yeah, because, like, in Lexington, we're sold out. On the network, we're sold out. But in Louisville, I don't know what happens. But they don't always sell the inventory, so they end up filling the rest of it. Which is crazy because our ratings in Louisville. More people listen in Louisville than even in Lexus.
Shannon The Dude
I heard they were looking for an endorser for people that pee their pants. Would you like?
Matt Jones
I mean, it's all. He happens. And it's like, for those of you listening in Louisville, you always hear p happens. You hear, I'm not a lawyer. You hear Trump watches. And I'm like, shannon, what is happening in Louisville? That. That's the commercials that run all the time.
Shannon The Dude
I. I don't know. You act like I picked the commercials. I just play what's in the log. I don't know what's going to come up next.
Matt Jones
By the way, I did during the break, I donated yet again to God's pantry, the $41. GodSpantry.org KSR it literally took 45 seconds. So I did it during the break. I try to do it every break after I read one. Drew, you said you did a donation in honor of someone besides Mark Pope.
Ryan Lemond
Yes, I felt I gave 50. That's one for every time we've played Ziegler. I'm hoping it'll give us a little magic before tonight. And as soon as I did it, it hit me. I should have done 54 for Jody Meeks. So before tip off, I might throw another 54 in there for some good vibes.
Matt Jones
Yeah, $50 for every time we played Ziegler. He has been there a long time. And, you know, they don't have the same Croatian or Serbian. They used to have Ryan, but they have a new one. You remember they had that one dude for years. He left and now they got another one. And I think this one's better than the other one.
Caller
Was IC sick or something like that? I'm not pronouncing exactly right, but yeah, he's just a big, big butt post player that's going to push Amari around.
Matt Jones
It was going to be Shannon. As soon as he said big, I was holding my breath. Please, Ryan, whatever's next, make it. But then I. It's always. But every time he does it, it's always. It's always But. All right, so we got to talk for just a second about Liam Cohen. You know, I like. I like Liam, but he's making it tough. You're not a fan, right? Like, you're not.
Shannon The Dude
Oh, no, I don't trust this guy.
Matt Jones
All right, so you know the NFL, like, the NFL fan base. Sports fan base as a world as a whole, doesn't really know Liam Cohen like we did at Kentucky. Right? Like, they may have heard of him as. Who is the guy that's done a pretty good job with Tampa Bay, but now he's a Jacksonville coach. First thing they hear about him is the whole, didn't tell his. His head coach he was going, like. So they're already thinking he's a little shady, little weird. And then he does this press conference yesterday, and I don't know, man. You know, they always talk about winning the press conference, but, Shannon, there might be some times that you definitively lose the press conference, right?
Shannon The Dude
I think this was the case for him.
Matt Jones
I. It. You don't think people can ruin their first impression in four seconds, but maybe you can, because for people who don't know in Jacksonville, that's located in Duvall county, and, you know, they do this thing where they go, Duval, right? That's what they do.
Caller
Yes.
Matt Jones
Is he making a. Back me up on. That's what they do. That's what they. That's what they do, right?
Caller
Yeah.
Matt Jones
Well, Liam Cohen tried to do that, and I don't know that it went exactly perfect. Go ahead, Duvall. Now he does it. He raises. How would you describe his facial expression when he does it, Shannon? He raises his eyebrows. And what would you say that's.
Shannon The Dude
He looks like a complete goober to me.
Matt Jones
Play it one more time, Duvall. Now, everyone has made fun of him, people. But, you know, Barstool retweeted it and just wrote Owen 17 it is. There's a whole group of people around the country that all they know about Liam Cohen is this.
Shannon The Dude
And I would be like, this is our guy. This guy.
Matt Jones
You didn't play it again. I thought you played again. There you go. Drew, I know you like Liam Cohen. What do you make of the fact that he's now, like, everyone in the country's making fun of him?
Ryan Lemond
When I saw this yesterday, and it's. It's more than just the Duvall. It's. He was kind of awkward all day. I even told a few people I didn't know Liam very well, but I was around him enough when he was here, you know, doing interviews, just Seeing about. I didn't realize he was so corny. Like, he seems almost like a character from the office.
Matt Jones
That.
Ryan Lemond
In that Duvall. Like, if you. It's your first day on the job, you're getting fired. He did it like he's in the back row at church to someone next to him that's excited about the Jags game. Like, he's trying to keep his voice down and not. Not do it too loud at the press conference.
Caller
That's what I was gonna say. He sounded like he was at the library. And, you know, he's. He's not a rah rah guy to begin with. He's trying to fake it, be a rah rah guy, but, like, he's in the back of the library. He didn't even say it right. You know, the emphasis is on the wrong part of it.
Matt Jones
Like, he said it like a psycho. He said it like a psycho killer is what he said it like. He said it like he's trying to. This is what I think it sounds like. He's at church or to movie theater, and he's trying to Shannon. Whisper to his girl.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah.
Matt Jones
In a really awkward way. And then he does this Duvall. I mean, I just. It, like, runs up my back the way he does it.
Caller
He doesn't need to ever do it ever again.
Matt Jones
He never needs to do it again ever.
Caller
No.
Matt Jones
And now the last coach to get mocked this much at their opening press conference was Nick Sirianni with the Eagles. And he's been to two Super Bowls, Drew. So now, you know, maybe they don't. Maybe it works out for Liam, but I'm not sure. He could have been cringier. I love what you said about the office. He does seem a little bit like Kevin or something from the office. Like, it's it. I don't think it could have gone worse, Drew, for Liam, yesterday, could it?
Ryan Lemond
Did you see the clip of him walking into the building? And he's not doing anything wrong. He's just smiling. It's his first time as a head coach, so, I mean, whatever. But it was very uncomfortable just to what? It's like he didn't know who to talk to or whose hands to shake. Jacksonville didn't really help out. They're just staring at him, but he's like, hey, I like your belt. My wife has that belt. I was like, oh, this is weird.
Matt Jones
So awkward in these videos. And, you know, I don't remember him, Ryan, being really awkward here, but it almost feels like when he crossed the state line in Florida. The cringe just went up a huge group of notches.
Caller
Yeah, I always got the impression he was kind of a little nerdy guy. Like I said, not real charismatic. Not a rah rah guy whatsoever. Just really, really good at what he does.
Ryan Lemond
What about planting roots though? He ran that one back too.
Caller
Plant roots in Jacksonville.
Matt Jones
All right, well, we will take a break. We'll take your calls. More on Kentucky Tennessee right after this on ksr. Duvall.
Advertiser
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Drew Franklin
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway this new year, make sure you take some time to take care of yourself and your family. Stock up on your favorite personal care Items now through January 28th and earn four times the points to use towards discounts on groceries or fuel. Shop in store online or in the app for items like Pantene Shampoo, Old Spice Body Wash, Campers, Swaddlers, diapers, Venus Razors and Crest Complete toothpaste and earn four times points on your purchase offer ends January 28th. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.
Matt Jones
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Podcast Summary: KSR - Hour 1 | January 28, 2025
Introduction
In the January 28, 2025 episode of KSR, hosted by Matt Jones alongside Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, and Shannon "The Dude" The Dude, the crew delves deep into the latest developments in University of Kentucky (UK) sports, with a particular focus on the upcoming basketball game against Tennessee. The episode offers insightful analysis, listener interactions, and discussions on broader sports-related events within Kentucky.
Injury Updates and Team Implications
The episode opens with Matt Jones addressing recent injury news that has significant implications for Kentucky's upcoming basketball game against Tennessee. Lamont Butler is confirmed to be out due to a shoulder injury, a development that has stirred concern among fans.
Matt Jones [04:09]:
"With the news that Lamont Butler will be out as he is hurt, will not play tonight makes this game this evening a little bit less exciting."
A caller emphasizes Butler's importance to the team:
Caller [04:23]:
"That's maybe the one guy they couldn't afford to lose for this game."
Potential to Win Without Key Players
Ryan Lemond discusses the slim chances of Kentucky winning without Butler but highlights the potential of players like Jackson Robinson and Kobe Braya to step up.
Ryan Lemond [04:35]:
"If Kentucky can just start throwing in some threes and have one of those games that they're capable of, then you have a chance."
Strategic Focus on Three-Point Shooting
The crew agrees that Kentucky's best chance lies in aggressive three-point shooting, given Tennessee's formidable defense.
Matt Jones [04:55]:
"We agree that the chance to win is to go up there and just bomb threes."
Defensive Performance Metrics
Shannon The Dude introduces key defensive statistics, highlighting the disparity in defensive performance when different players are on the court.
Shannon The Dude [05:26]:
"So Kentucky, Shannon is 04 when we've scored 69 points or less. Tennessee has only allowed 70 in one game this year."
Matt elaborates on the negative defensive splits for players like Travis Perry, underscoring the challenges Kentucky faces defensively.
Matt Jones [12:01]:
"The best defender we have on the team by numbers with a plus 11.5. Not surprisingly, Lamont Butler, second best, Andrew Carr... But Travis Perry is a minus 26.5. Ouch."
Game Strategy and Player Performance Expectations
The discussion shifts to game strategy, where Matt and Ryan debate the necessity of certain players stepping into pivotal roles to compensate for Butler's absence.
Matt Jones [30:01]:
"Travis Perry, Jackson Robinson, Kobe Braya, Almanor... If the four of you get the ball and have an open three, if I don't see it go up, Shannon, I'm running to Knoxville, to you."
Historical Context and Underdog Victories
Ryan reminisces about past Kentucky victories against Tennessee when they were significant underdogs, providing hope for an upset in the current matchup.
Ryan Lemond [28:43]:
"Last year when Connect had 40, Reed Shepherd and Antonio Reeves had 27 each and Shepherd hit seven threes. It was one of those games where... They scored close to 100 something, if I'm not mistaken."
Description of the Incident
A notable segment of the episode covers a dramatic incident in a high school basketball game between Powell County and Montgomery County. A caller recounts witnessing a fight that led to a forfeit.
Caller [24:29]:
"There were so many fights, a team quit... Powell County's down to like five players and one bench. They had six guys. They played for about four or five more minutes and then with a minute left in the first half, a Powell County player pushes a Montgomery County player... They just picked up their stuff, walked off the floor, and forfeited the game."
Implications and Reactions
Matt questions the reasoning behind Powell County's decision not to continue the game despite having players remaining.
Matt Jones [26:06]:
"Why didn't they play? They had five dudes, correct?"
Shannon The Dude humorously attributes it to avoiding playing injured players:
Shannon The Dude [26:13]:
"We're not putting feathers in. I don't care."
Matt ties the incident back to broader concerns about sportsmanship and league regulations.
Call for Donations
Matt Jones underscores the importance of supporting local community initiatives by promoting God's Pantry Food Bank, aiming to reach a goal of one million meals by Valentine's Day.
Matt Jones [37:56]:
"There are only three weeks left to help God's Pantry Food Bank to get their goal of a million meals by Valentine's Day. Every time I say this, I ask more of you to do it. More of you do."
He provides actionable details for listeners to contribute:
Matt Jones [37:56]:
"Godspantry.org KSR you can donate any amount, but I Suggest Pope's number. 4141. If you do $41, that's 246 meals."
Awkward Press Conference Moments
The episode shifts focus to Liam Cohen, the newly appointed Jacksonville coach, whose recent press conference has garnered attention for its awkward execution.
Matt Jones [44:22]:
"The NFL fan base... doesn't really know Liam Cohen like we did at Kentucky. First thing they hear about him is the whole, didn't tell his... He does this press conference yesterday, and... he was trying to keep his voice down and not do it too loud."
Shannon The Dude shares her candid impressions of Cohen's demeanor:
Shannon The Dude [45:07]:
"He looks like a complete goober to me."
Ryan Lemond adds to the critique, comparing Cohen's behavior to characters from popular media:
Ryan Lemond [47:12]:
"He seems almost like a character from the office."
The crew humorously reflects on the potential long-term impact of Cohen's press conference on his reputation.
Matt Jones [47:43]:
"He never needs to do it again ever."
Throughout the episode, listeners engage with the hosts by sharing their opinions and concerns about the discussed topics. The majority advocate for Kentucky accepting a challenging season record to rebuild and focus on future games.
Caller [16:03]:
"I'd take it in a second. Yeah, I would too, man."
Additionally, the hosts encourage listeners to participate in community support initiatives and share their thoughts on game strategies, fostering a sense of community engagement.
The January 28, 2025 episode of KSR provides a comprehensive analysis of UK basketball's current challenges, strategies for the imminent game against Tennessee, and broader sports-related events within Kentucky. Through insightful discussions, listener interactions, and community-focused segments, Matt Jones and the KSR crew deliver a rich and engaging podcast experience for both dedicated fans and casual listeners alike.
Notable Quotes:
Matt Jones [04:09]:
"With the news that Lamont Butler will be out as he is hurt, will not play tonight makes this game this evening a little bit less exciting."
Ryan Lemond [04:35]:
"If Kentucky can just start throwing in some threes and have one of those games that they're capable of, then you have a chance."
Shannon The Dude [05:26]:
"So Kentucky, Shannon is 04 when we've scored 69 points or less. Tennessee has only allowed 70 in one game this year."
Caller [16:03]:
"I'd take it in a second. Yeah, I would too, man."
Shannon The Dude [45:07]:
"He looks like a complete goober to me."
Timestamp Highlights:
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the KSR episode, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of the topics covered, even if they haven't tuned in to the show.