2025-03-05- KSR - Hour 2

Summary

Podcast Summary: KSR - Hour 2 | March 5, 2025

Podcast Information:

• Title: KSR
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
• Description: Matt Jones and the KSR crew bring you the latest in UK news and views Mon.-Fri. from 10 to noon.
• Episode: 2025-03-05- KSR - Hour 2
• Release Date: March 5, 2025

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1. UK Baseball Team Performance

The episode kicks off with Drew Franklin providing an update on the University of Kentucky's baseball team. The team showcased a dominant performance by defeating Eastern 16-0, marking an impressive season record of 11-1. However, an upcoming game against Monmouth was canceled due to anticipated bad weather. Ryan Lemond praises the team's offensive prowess, stating, "Well I went to the two games where they scored like a combined 30 something runs so in my eyes they're the best team to ever play baseball. [02:20]"

2. State of the Union Critique

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the hosts' critical views on recent State of the Union addresses. Drew Franklin expresses frustration over the increasingly political nature of the event, lamenting, "It's just... it's become like a political rally where the other side has to sit there and you all just end up yelling at each other. And I just think it's stupid. [04:58]" The hosts argue that the event has lost its original purpose of being a non-partisan showcase of the nation's status, instead turning into a platform for political theatrics and confrontations.

3. High School Basketball and Recruiting News

The conversation shifts to high school basketball, with a focus on standout coach Kevin Boyle from Monte Verde Academy. Drew Franklin highlights Boyle's success in developing players who advance to the NBA and major college programs. Stockton Mortgage Representative adds, "There is a seat open in, you know, here in Kentucky that maybe you might be interested in. Go make a run at Mitch McConnell's place? [07:35]" The team discusses the strategic advantage of Boyle relocating his program near Cincinnati, which could bolster Kentucky's recruitment efforts by attracting top talent from the region.

4. SEC Play Schedule and Coaching Insights

The hosts delve into the Southeastern Conference (SEC) play schedule, discussing potential impacts on Kentucky's chances in the playoffs. Drew Franklin mentions upcoming interviews with key figures like Mark Stoops, the head coach, anticipating questions from fans about team performance and future strategies. Ryan Lemond emphasizes the importance of Stoops' communication, stating, "He just did a press conference last week. So he's starting to get back in the flow and doing media interviews, which I think he really needs to do for spring ball starts here in a few weeks. [11:57]"

5. Listener Interactions and Coaching Discussions

Throughout the episode, the hosts engage with listeners through live calls, addressing topics such as assistant coaching changes and player performances. A notable discussion revolves around Alvin Brooks, a reputed recruiter, with Drew Franklin predicting his eventual departure: "Alvin Brooks will leave when he gets a good job. [20:13]" The conversation also touches on the integration of new players from the transfer portal and the potential impact on team dynamics.

6. Critique of Local Journalism and Herald Leader

Drew Franklin voices strong opinions about the Herald Leader's shift in journalistic quality, criticizing a recent headline: "At least we have Duke" in reference to Kentucky's basketball performance against LSU. He expresses concern over the decline of local journalism's integrity and its impact on the community: "It's fascinating to watch that times have changed so much. [27:15]" The hosts argue that local journalism plays a crucial role in holding government accountable and lament the newspaper's move away from genuine local coverage.

7. Coaching Strategies and Defensive Concerns

The discussion returns to coaching strategies, specifically focusing on Mark Pope's lineup decisions. Ryan Lemond critiques Pope's substitutions, questioning his adherence to analytics versus in-game situation awareness: "Sometimes you just gotta read the situation. [32:18]" Drew Franklin adds frustration over defensive weaknesses in certain lineups, suggesting that Pope may need to reconsider his strategies to enhance team defense: "He had that lineup of Perry, Brea, Noah Almanore and Garrison is the worst group of five we can play together because none of them can guard anybody. [33:36]"

8. Upcoming Events and Final Remarks

As the episode nears its end, the hosts promote upcoming events and initiatives, including the NCAA tournament and regional high school basketball tournaments. They also engage in light-hearted banter and humorous listener stories, maintaining an engaging and community-focused atmosphere. The episode concludes with enthusiasm for future broadcasts and appreciation for the live audience.

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Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Lemond [02:20]: "Well I went to the two games where they scored like a combined 30 something runs so in my eyes they're the best team to ever play baseball."

• Drew Franklin [04:58]: "It's just... it's become like a political rally where the other side has to sit there and you all just end up yelling at each other. And I just think it's stupid."

• Drew Franklin [07:35]: "You need a good five or a good point guard. And if one of those guys are available, you think you got to get that guy."

• Drew Franklin [20:13]: "Alvin Brooks will leave when he gets a good job."

• Drew Franklin [27:15]: "It's fascinating to watch that times have changed so much."

• Ryan Lemond [32:18]: "Sometimes you just gotta read the situation."

• Drew Franklin [33:36]: "He had that lineup of Perry, Brea, Noah Almanore and Garrison is the worst group of five we can play together because none of them can guard anybody."

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Conclusion: This episode of KSR - Hour 2 offers a comprehensive dive into University of Kentucky's sports landscape, critical perspectives on national political events, and insightful discussions on coaching strategies and local journalism. The hosts maintain an engaging dialogue with listeners, providing both expert analysis and relatable commentary, making it a valuable listen for those interested in UK sports and related topics.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

Nmlsconsumeraccess.Org welcome to hour two of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

[Drew Franklin]

Welcome back. It is our number two here Kentucky Sports Radio live at the KS Bar and Grill. It is Wings Day. Come on out and join us. Dollar Wings all day right here with us. Great crowd of folks here watching the Today let's give a couple updates on some little things. First of all, UK baseball team yesterday beat Eastern 16 to nothing which I think is pretty good. The game today they were supposed to play again today here in Lexington. That game has gotten canceled due to it's supposed to be bad weather here apparently in a little while. So that game got canceled. But the UK baseball team is now what like 11 and 1? So Drew, you've been seeing play a couple times. I mean they haven't played the hardest schedule but do you think they're good?

[Ryan Lemond]

Well I went to the two games where they scored like a combined 30 something runs so in my eyes they're the best team to ever play baseball. But yeah, I'm still learning. The personnel, I mean outside of Berks and just a couple others, it is a brand new roster. But I, I think they have something we'll have to see when the competition picks up. I think they start SEC play next week at Georgia.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. So the game they, they start SEC play, they'll actually get a hard schedule this year because they did well last year. So he's going to get, he's going to get a test coming as he goes.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

A swept Hofstra this last weekend. They've got another three game series with Monmouth, I believe is who's coming in this weekend.

[Ryan Lemond]

Wofford.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Wofford.

[Drew Franklin]

Wofford.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yeah. So Terriers couple tune ups before they get into SEC play.

[Drew Franklin]

Ellie De La Cruz is hitting.478 in the minor leagues. Matt McClain is hitting.443. Are you ready to join the Reds machine?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

I am not. I will. I will take joy and ridicule you and you and the lady here in the Reds hat later in about a month.

[Drew Franklin]

Don't listen to him. It's the summer of Ellie. You can feel it in the air. Yesterday he had an opposite way triple. He never did that before. Like you just wait. Next thing you're not Ellie's going to be. Should we just call him the mvp? Maybe even the super bowl mvp?

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm still riding with the Braves. Shannon, we've got a new pitcher. He is Kenny Powers. I don't know if you all have seen him. He has a.

[Drew Franklin]

Nobody cares about that. We're talking about Ellie in the playoffs. This woman right here, she cares about Ellie. Thank you very both.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Both got your red.

[Drew Franklin]

Did any of you watch the State of the Union?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

I must.

[Drew Franklin]

Yelling and screaming and holding up signs. It was kind of an embarrassing display all the way around.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

What, what happened? Did some guy with a cane stand up and would they escort him out or something?

[Drew Franklin]

I mean for people like Mario's too young. When I was a kid, the State of the Union was supposed to be like a non political thing. Like it was literally the State of the Union. You got up to say what the State of the Union was and so they would always go, the State of the Union is strong. And everybody would. Yeah, well now it's. It's not that now whoever's president, it's a political speech. So it becomes a political rally. And then we started a few years ago with that one dude from South Carolina that yelled at Obama. Then last night this dude acted a Fool and yelled. It yelled at Trump. It's just. I, It's. It's become. It's become a joke. And I actually. I mean, it's in the Constitution that you have to do it. So they're going to keep doing it, but I actually think they should stop doing it because it's just. It's embarrassing. It's embarrassing. Like, it's become. It's become like a political rally where the other side has to sit there and you all just end up yelling at each other. And I just think it's stupid.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

These are the leaders of our country. They're getting together.

[Drew Franklin]

They're children.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

They're acting like second graders.

[Drew Franklin]

They are. Like, they are children. I mean, I'm a Democrat, but, like, what are you doing holding up signs like you're at a Brazilian steakhouse when you don't like stuff? Like, just shut up. And, you know, they got sons. Trump's up there talking about Biden. Biden's out. Like, you know, just these. This used to be. That used to be, like, a dignified thing. The Supreme Supreme Court should stop coming. They. It's just. It's stupid. It really annoys me because I, I used to really like that. Now I haven't watched one in years. But I did see the. Yeah, he kicked a guy out. He just got up and started yelling. Like, you can't just get up and start yelling during the thing. Like, this is not. This is not, you know, fancy farm. Like, it's. It's the United States. It's Congress in the Senate.

[Ryan Lemond]

I did not see the State of the Union. But what you just described sounds just like politics to me. That's the today.

[Drew Franklin]

But it is just crazy.

[Ryan Lemond]

People yelling at each other.

[Drew Franklin]

Supposed to be like. My mom used to always say, people need to rise to the occasion. Nobody rises to the occasion. Now everything is just an excuse to yell at each other. And I hate it. I do. I hate it. It's become a television show, and that's not what it's supposed to be like.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

But you're right. You know, we were younger. It came on. You had to watch it because all the networks carried it. But we were. At least it was some sort of respectful platform where they, you know, you got to find out what's going on with our country.

[Drew Franklin]

It has become. And I think if a lot of people are honest about this, they would agree. It has become to where, like, we're getting to the point that we hate each other more than we do other places. Like, we'd rather we'd rather score one on our fellow countrymen than, like, be uniform. It used to be what was the same. Politics stopped at the border. Like we were all on the same side after. And that's changed.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

That ain't happening.

[Drew Franklin]

I. I hate it. So last night, to me, was a symbol of that. But, yeah, that dude got up with a cane and just started shaking it like he was Mr. Burns screaming.

[Ryan Lemond]

Sounds like the circus that goes on every day, unfortunately.

[Drew Franklin]

And. And listen, I love older people, but, like, we gotta, like. I looked at the crowd. I mean, my goodness, like, we gotta get some younger people. I just saw the story. It's really sad, but, like, there was this congresswoman, and she was like, 84 and she passed away. So they appointed somebody to pick her seat. They pointed somebody like 82, and she just passed away, too. Did they not think that somebody who died in office maybe get somebody younger than 80 for the. For the replacement?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

I'm a little leery. If they're coming to me for that replacement, then they've.

[Drew Franklin]

I do think they're not going to come to you. Actually, when the.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

They say you said you. They need some younger people in con and in our government. There is.

[Drew Franklin]

You think you're one of them?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Well, there's a seat open in, you know, here in Kentucky that maybe you might be interested in. Go make a run at.

[Drew Franklin]

For what?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Mitch McConnell's place?

[Drew Franklin]

Shut up. Will you stop with that? Kevin Boyle. Do you know who Kevin Boyle is?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Seems like I know that name.

[Drew Franklin]

Anybody. Does anybody in here know who Kevin Boyle is? There's a good chance Kevin Boyle is the best high school basketball coach in the country. He coaches Monte Verde Academy, and he coached Cooper Flag. He coached Liam McNeil. He's put something like 45 dudes in the NBA or in college basketball at the power conferences in the last 14 years. His. He is very close with Mark Pope, even though they actually. I don't know if he sent him a player.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

They.

[Drew Franklin]

They are friends, his assistants. I think Alvin Brooks, one of our assistants, is like, in it with all those guys. Here's why I'm bringing it up. He's coached Monte verity Academy for 14 years in Florida. He is taking a new job at a new school just north of Cincinnati. Basically, he's trying to make the best prep school for basketball in America just north of Cincinnati. And apparently whoever's funding this school is putting all this money into it. Now that you can do nil. I think they're trying to make it like it's, you know, a College basketball team in high school. Why should you care about that? I can't imagine, Drew. It's bad for Kentucky basketball. If the best high school players in America are just going to be playing just an hour north of us in Cincinnati, I would think that would probably be pretty good. Easy to get them on campus. I think that's some pretty good news for Kentucky.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think that's great news. That's a place that just puts out, you know, big time recruits. Several big NBA names went to that school. So if you're going to tell me he's moving his operation to just across the river, that absolutely helps Kentucky get some of these guys.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, Florida is not terribly far, but. But if you can make it to where you just get in a car and you can come to rup, those dudes may be coming to a ton of our games. I mean, I think you're good. I, I can't. I just think having, you know, he had like four of the top 20 players in America last year. Having four of the top 20 players in america, you know, able to meet me at a Reds game, I think is probably a pretty good thing. Right.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

And if the coach already has a great relationship with Brooks and Pope and our coaching staff. Absolutely. His players will be down here for practices, games, big blue white games, everything. Pro day. They'll be down here all the time.

[Drew Franklin]

There was a moment last year where I thought the last assistant's got job at Kentucky might have gone to him. That ended up not. But there was a moment that I thought he might be the last assistant. So I think that's actually a small piece of news, but really good news.

[Ryan Lemond]

For, for Kentucky and I like this situation. Being better in assistant, him just packing up and being a little over an hour away.

[Drew Franklin]

Totally agree with you.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think we got Dakari from there. I'm trying to think of Kentucky players. For some reason that one pops in my head. But there's a lot of big names that have come through that system.

[Drew Franklin]

And then finally the sec basically they had these meetings. It looked like we were going to go to a non team schedule, non game. SEC schedule. Didn't happen. Greg Sankey basically said this. If they expand the playoff, we're going to nine games. If we don't expand the playoff, we're not.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Which would you prefer, just for Kentucky's sake? I prefer not to go to nine SEC games. I mean, but we have a better.

[Drew Franklin]

Chance to play off if they expand it.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yeah, I, I would probably even like Mark. He said after he played those 10 SEC games in a Covid year. He goes, my goodness, that was the roughest schedule I've ever seen in my Life. Hadn't played 10 SEC games, so I would vote for an 8.

[Drew Franklin]

By the way, people have asked me about having Mark Stoops on the show. I think we're going to have that next week before the SEC tournament. We were working to have it tomorrow, but then we got they can't do it here and we got Owen County High School coming tomorrow, and so I need to be here. So we've pushed off to. It'll probably be early next week. Part of it depends on when Kentucky ends up playing in the SEC tournament, but we'll probably drew be able to finally have the Mark Stoops interview. And I'm going to tell you when we have it. I look forward to talking to him. I haven't really spoken to him since the end of the year except for two minutes on the phone. But I do plan on sort of asking a lot of the questions that fans want asked. I give him credit for wanting to come on, but, you know, there's some stuff we have to ask, right?

[Ryan Lemond]

Absolutely. We wanted him a little sooner, but they had a busy offseason. I guess he's had his surgery. Yeah, had his ankle surgery. Been traveling. You know, it's full time with that job now. He just did a press conference last week. So he's starting to get back in the flow and doing media interviews, which I think he really needs to do for spring ball starts here in a few weeks.

[Drew Franklin]

How do you think if you were being Mark Stoops's PR head? Serious question, Ryan, what would you tell him to do between now and the start of the season? Like, is there anything he can do to get this fan base excited next year or is there nothing he can do? And everybody's gonna be like you when you were like, I don't know.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

There's some certain things he needs to say. For me, if you're talking about, you.

[Drew Franklin]

Know, let's say you were him. What would you tell him he needs to say?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

You need to own up to every bad thing that's happened and don't try to make excuses for it. You know, was last year was a bad year. You haven't won an SEC1 SEC football home game in two years. You got to own up to that.

[Drew Franklin]

And you can't say, I'm not trying to make an excuse, but. And then make an excuse 100. Which is one of the things. I love him, but that's One of the things he does. I'm not making an excuse followed by an excuse. So, like, that needs to not have. What else?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

And I want to hear him tell me that it's not going to happen again. You know, we're going to change, we're going to get better. I want to. He's good at that, too. He can make us believe, as a fan base, everything he says about what he's doing for the program, just don't make excuses why things didn't happen.

[Ryan Lemond]

He's already kind of addressed that they let the culture sleep slip a little bit, but I'd almost need him to give me examples of what has changed that's going to keep it from happening again. Whether it be, if you're late for practice, this happens, or, you know, I don't know what made it lead to what it was, but I need to see some actual or hear some. Some things they're actively doing to make sure it's improving.

[Drew Franklin]

I think the more I talk to people about last year, and this includes people who are very strong Stoops loyalists, which, honestly, I think almost everyone that works at UK in the football department is a strong Stoops loyalist. But the more I heard about it, the more I think the culture just collapsed last year. It did. I think it had been slipping for a couple years. I think it collapsed last year. I think off the field. And I don't mean guys getting in trouble. I just mean, like, work ethic practice. This thing that he had built, that. That was really the strength of the program. He. They let last year, Ryan, collapse and they're going to have to build it back quick.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

And I want to hear him say that and admit that and tell me that there we're going to make changes. It doesn't matter if you're one of the star players or if you're a walk on, you're all going to get treated the exact same. You have to attend workout, you have to attend film sessions, you have to attend practice. Everything has to be in there.

[Drew Franklin]

One of the good things about the Portal and about being able to switch the entire staff or, excuse me, entire players, is if you had bad culture, it can get out, right? Like, if you. If you don't have the Portal, you can't necessarily even do that.

[Ryan Lemond]

And one thing I think he has already said that they're doing this year, in years past, when he said people would come in from the Portal, they didn't want them to come over and just be leaders. Even Will Levis stayed quiet for A while they wanted to keep the returning guys of the leaders in the this year he's pretty much said the guys in the portal so old I got married guys, they're coming in and I'm telling them this is your locker room. I'm sorry to the ones that were here last year but he's letting some of the new guys go ahead and lead right away.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

I love that.

[Drew Franklin]

DraftKings by the way, you know our friend here on KSR Barstool, Big Cat. He is 11 and oh in his picks in March, one of which was the Kentucky game last night he had the Kentucky LSU over and if you saw how bad LSU is playing at the beginning you would have thought there's no way there's an over. And then Trent Noah hit a layup with 20 seconds to go to hit the over to help him be 11 and oh, you can follow his picks or ours which have been okay but you can go to DraftKingsportsbook. Use a promo code KSR BET5 with $150 I think, I don't think. I think he's picking one tonight as well maybe to go 12 and oh so go to DraftKings. The crown is yours. If you have a gaming problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER 18 plus Kentucky only eligible resting supply new customers only bonus bits power 168 hours of free issuance. For additional terms responsible gaming resources see DKNG CO Audio. We'll take a break and be right back. It's Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio 859-280-2287 here at the KS Bar & Grill. Text machine is 772-774-5254 at KY Sports Radio Region the regional tournaments. Anything important happen? You're my high school basketball aficionado.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Well, I was kind of tied up with the Kentucky game last night but I know Frederick Douglass beat Madison Central. So now they play Lexington Catholic in the semifinals and Great Crossings going to play Brian Station.

[Drew Franklin]

I think Malachi Moreno, our future big man, I think he had a really good in the game last night. I saw ESPN recruits tweeted about his game. He had like 18 and 15 or something.

[Ryan Lemond]

They won by 30.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

He's really, I mean really been playing great this last month. Like he has stepped up his game. Double doubles all the time.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, no, he's, he's been, he's been excellent. One person writes Matt, I'd like each of you to pick outside of Auburn, Duke and Houston, the one team you would want to play the Least in the NCAA Tournament.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Well, we, you. We discussed this not long ago. I think we all picked.

[Drew Franklin]

Houston would be the one outside of Auburn, Duke and Houston.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Oh, I didn't catch that.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, you didn't catch the last thing I said. Outside of Auburn, Duke and Houston, what would be the team that you would want to play the least?

[Matt Jones]

St. John's right now for me.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Oh, that's a good one.

[Matt Jones]

I don't want to see Rick Patino on that team. New I think they are on a roll right now. They can't shoot the ball very well, but they're good defenders. I think that would be a real problem for us.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm okay with St. John's I feel like the teams we've played this year that their strength is defense. Drew, that's been our. We've actually done all right against those teams. I think we struggle with these teams that can score a lot. So I actually would want to stay away from in the NCAA tournament like Alabama because I just think it's going to be hard. I just don't know if we. I don't know the group that we have, we can just. I don't think we can score enough points. Whereas when we played at Tennessee, we've actually played Tennessee, to me is the team in the SEC most like St. John's and we've actually played them pretty well. What about you?

[Ryan Lemond]

I was actually leaning towards Florida even though we already beat them. They scored a ton of points and that was in Rupp Arena's best atmosphere of the season. So I think a rematch with that. I don't know if it'd go as well as for Kentucky, I think that's really. Well.

[Drew Franklin]

What about you?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

I would probably say Alabama just because their dudes are just better than our dudes. We played pretty well against them and still they beat us twice.

[Drew Franklin]

I think we played well against them twice and won neither time. Yeah, and they beat us both times in completely different ways. They beat us the first time on the board and kind of killing us inside. And then they beat us a second time on. On the outside. I just. Maybe we can beat Alabama, but I don't know. I think. I think that's going to be. We just got to hope that if we're going to beat them, they got to be ice cold.

[Ryan Lemond]

Win or lose. Playing Alabama again. I just can't watch Mark Sears play basketball. It wasn't just our game against Tennessee the other day. He just. He throws that head back and they blow the whistle every time. He's so Good at acting. Getting that kind of. Trey Flock. Trey Young. Just throw my body back.

[Drew Franklin]

Can we give a shout to the officials last night for having a game that went an hour and 45 minutes and not calling any foul like that was the best flowing game we've had in forever. Didn't. And I don't know. I don't think I knew any of the three officials, which is probably a good thing.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Congratulations to them. And thankfully they called that foul with.2 seconds on the clock to set up that great moment we had last night with the walk on. They could have let that go. Nope. We're going to call it.

[Drew Franklin]

That was the quickest. Game was over in an hour and 40 minutes. That's the quickest game we've had all year.

[Ryan Lemond]

Oh, loved it. Halftime. I was tweeting out the stats. The best stat was 0 monitor reviews to the first half. I did. They might have had one. They stayed away from the first half.

[Drew Franklin]

Neither team even gotten the bonus. So, you know, let him play.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Let him play. Lot up and down the court there for a long time.

[Drew Franklin]

Who's up next? Shannon?

[Matt Jones]

Jamie.

[Drew Franklin]

Jamie. Go ahead, Jamie.

[F]

Hey. I've seen a lot of rumors about Alvin Brooks leaving. Yeah, I was just kind of wanting to get your opinion on that.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, he'll leave. Alvin Brooks will leave when he gets a good job. I mean, I. He's going to be. He is one of the better recruiters in the country. You know, any good assistant coach, this the first time they get a chance to get a really good job, they're going to go. So Alvin Brooks will leave. Here's what I'm happy about. Mark Pope will go find somebody like Alvin Brooks to replace Alvin Brooks. I don't think he's. I think one of the things that happened with Cal is he just would hire his friends that had failed at other jobs and then bring them here. I don't think Mark Pope's going to do that. I think Mark Pope's going to go get the young up and coming assistants. Mark Fox is his kind of career guy. I don't think you're going to have to worry about what I worried about with Cal, which was that staff of old dudes that just have failed everywhere else.

[F]

As a. From the 13th region. Can you tell me where McKee is?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, McKee is in Jackson County. What are you talking about?

[F]

Wow. Wow. Oh, yeah. Thanks, man.

[Drew Franklin]

Appreciate the call. How am I not gonna know McKee? We had a woman here from Jackson county just a day or two.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yes, we did.

[Drew Franklin]

That was Here.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Got one of the best little hole in the wall restaurants in southeastern Kentucky. You got to walk up to the window in order. They don't have a drive through. They don't have tables and chairs. You walk up to the window and get your food.

[Drew Franklin]

Is that right?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yes. And they have the best chicken sandwiches ever.

[Drew Franklin]

What. What is. What place is that?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

It's in McKee. It's in a little, like, strip mall.

[Drew Franklin]

In a strip Mall in McKee?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Well, I guess that's what they call it. There's, like, two couple buildings together, and then you walk up to it.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, okay. I don't remember that. I remember being at the place where Rand Paul was at the same time, but that was a different restaurant. Who's up next?

[Matt Jones]

Carter.

[Drew Franklin]

Carter. Go ahead, Carter.

[Ryan Lemond]

Hey, what's up, Matt? First time.

[Drew Franklin]

Who? What's up?

[Ryan Lemond]

I was gonna see if you would rather have Nate, Amen or a very good transfer.

[Drew Franklin]

Great question. Appreciate the call, Drew. Would you rather have top four, top five in America, Nate. Amen. Join the team next year, or would you rather have one of the three best dudes in the Portal?

[Ryan Lemond]

That's a very good question. Because Eileen wanting the experience, but also Pope making a big splash with a top five recruit who is considering Arkansas, Tennessee, Duke, and Louisville. That would make me very happy too. I think I'm gonna lean Amen in this one scenario because I've heard the people that follow closely say in other years, he could be the number one. Overall, I think he might be that top tier that we've said for many years was lacking at the end of Calzaire. I think he might be in that group. So in this one, I'll go Amit. Usually experience, I would take first.

[Drew Franklin]

So there are years I would pick a Nate Amen. But if I assume we bring all three freshmen back, which maybe they don't, but I'm gonna assume they do. And we already have three freshmen committed, so this would be seven guys that are sophomores or under. If you promise me I get one of the best dudes in the Portal, I think this year, Ryan, I'm taking a dude in the Portal. If you promise me now. If, like, it's up in the air, then I don't then know. But if you promise me I could get one of the top two or three dudes in the Portal, I think I would take that.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

I think the way you look at the roster, the way it is coming in, you need a good five or a good point guard. And if one of those guys are available, you think you got to get that guy. I would probably vote the transfer portal guy.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, because if you, if you bring in Nate Amit, that means your starters next year, you're certainly going to start away Ament and Jasper Johnson. And the question is, is that three of the five of a national championship or final four team? Maybe. But you better make sure you have enough to go get those two studs in the portal. So I think I'd rather get the portal. But if we get him, I ain't gonna complain. No, I mean, I'm still good because he will be the best recruit Mark Pope's ever gotten. We'll take a break and be right back. KSR T.J. smith, personal injury attorney. Call T.J. he'll make him pay.

[Matt Jones]

Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.

[Drew Franklin]

Welcome back Kentucky Sports Radio here live at the KS Bar and 592-802287. Wings day all day. And tonight, Dollar Wings. We got trivia tonight, Mario. Right. Not me, but another fine gentleman or woman doing it. And then tomorrow we'll be back here again with there'll be, I guess a high school here.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Mario. When we sent him to Owen county to find something to do, he ended up making a big bunch of friends. So there you go.

[Ryan Lemond]

Typical Mario. Send him off on a little assignment and he makes friends with everyone, invites him to come back with him.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

I love the fact that schools, they start taking a field TR trip. Let's go to KS Bar and watch the show. I love that.

[Drew Franklin]

I think it's great. It's an education moment. The Herald Leader, if you ever wondered if the Herald Leader I've become convinced the Herald Leader like it's owned now by a national corporation. And I've become 100% convinced. And this is not a blast on the writers there because we have a former KSR writer that writes there. Ben Roberts does a good job for basketball. Janet Patton, Austin Horn, like I like all those people, they're doing the best they can. But the owners are no longer in Kentucky and the owners have no connection to Kentucky. Here's how I know this. Kentucky plays basketball last night, plays lsu, it's senior night. And this is the tweet that comes out. I look, I see right before I go to bed lexing Harold Leader in a mostly forgettable ACC men's basketball season on Tobacco Road. At least we've had Duke. You are the Lexington newspaper using the phrase at least we have Duke.

[Ryan Lemond]

If I'm John Clay or Mark Storey or Someone, I'm calling them up, being like, what are we doing?

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, wait, they deleted it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Oh, they deleted call.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Somebody must have really complained.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, they should have deleted it.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

How in the world do you write, at least we have Duke. They did. They had not deleted it this morning, so they deleted it today. Well, it's about time. I mean, I can't anybody. I'm sure it's just a kid or even an AI or algorithm doing it, but you have to have some sense that you are in Lexington, Kentucky, saying, at least we have Duke. Like, I'd say half the subscribers to the Herald for some reason, sports were part of it. And you're gonna say, at least we have Duke. Like, are you crazy?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

The newspaper industry is a dying industry anyway. And now you're just pushing more people away with stuff like that happening.

[Ryan Lemond]

I was a subscriber for a long time. Even when I was had passwords and other accounts I could have used. I still paid my money every month. But it got so expensive in the quality. Not the writers here, but, like, you get on and it's some story about something in SEATTLE or, these five fruits will make you lose 40 pounds today.

[Drew Franklin]

I do wonder what those fruits are, though, Shannon. That'll make you lose lose £40.

[Ryan Lemond]

It's mostly spam.

[Matt Jones]

I'm afraid to click that stuff. I thought maybe we were just turning into, like, Duke fans here in Kentucky, you know, yesterday we were picking our favorite Duke players, and then you had that headline. So I don't know.

[Drew Franklin]

I will say this. What's. What's interesting to me, and I don't root for their downfall. I actually think it's really important for there to be local journalism, like, who's going to cover when the city government is corrupt or the state. You need someone to cover that. So I don't want to see them go away. But I will note this. When I started ksr, there were things we used to do to get traffic and attention that the Herald Leader not only would mock me about, they would use it as an argument to why I shouldn't get credentialed. On the phone with the editors, he would say, this proves you're not a journalist. And he would cite things. And now they do. Every single one of them. Every single one of them. We used to have this thing where, like, stories like Five Fruits that'll make you, you know, get rid of 30 pounds. We used to have those on our site. And I remember the editor going, see, you're not a journalist if you take that stuff and now that's on their site. And guess what? It's not even on our site anymore. Like we've become more professional and they've become less professional and I do it. It's just fascinating to watch that times have changed so much.

[Ryan Lemond]

Even just little things. Like on the blog we would just post the transcript of a press conference and I don't think people like that now. They do it. Everybody does it. They've become a sports everything they used.

[Drew Franklin]

To criticize us for. Except fans of the day, they do the exact same thing now, which is fascinating to me. Who's next?

[Matt Jones]

Mike.

[Drew Franklin]

Mike. Go ahead, Mike.

[G]

Yeah, I was gonna. You asked the question earlier why we think Mark Hope loses these games. He shouldn't. And win some, but he shouldn't. And I think it goes back to what we've been talking about for weeks. When they over perform, they do really well and when they don't, you know, they lose. And I just wanted to ask you, do you think that he's too stubborn to change it? I mean, because you know my grips with Cal.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I don't, I don't get the sense with Mark Pope that he is stubborn, do you all. I mean, I, I, I don't, I think he is wedded to the numbers, but I don't think he's stubborn. I think if the numbers told him to change like with John Calipari, it wouldn't have mattered what the numbers said. He believed one thing and that's what he was going to do with Mark Pope.

[G]

Well, I think it's, I'm sorry.

[Drew Franklin]

No, go ahead.

[G]

I think, you know, we're talking about Alabama. I think in Lexington we beat Alabama. If you don't have seven minutes of freshman Garden Sears. And that's for two reasons. One, he's just not physically able yet. Two, he doesn't get the respect of the referees.

[Drew Franklin]

No, he doesn't. And I appreciate the call. Do you think, do you think Pope with the lineups, is that going to be an issue? Because I did get, I did feel better about the fact in the second half he did not line change at any point in that second half until the very end. He had good guys in the whole time.

[Ryan Lemond]

That first line change I still wonder about. But you know, going back to early in SEC play, we were wondering why he was playing a lot of the guys. He was so many minutes and pretty much all of them have played a lot better, including Colin Chandler last night. If, if some of the end of the bench makes plays in Nashville in the NCAA tournament. We can look to when we question his lineups against Texas or name the team and say that, you know, he trusted getting those guys minutes, even if it was a little detrimental at the time to get him to be better at the end of the year.

[Drew Franklin]

But I don't mind that they have minutes. I don't want them to all play together. I don't think it's too much to ask. Like, you don't. I don't care for. Like, let's use last night's example. You start with the starters, you get up, I think six or eight. Then he takes Bray out and puts Noah in. So it's the starters and Noah. And you know what, that worked pretty well, but it was the moment then he took all the starters out and put in the reserves when things collapsed. I don't mind one or two. You gotta sub some, but you don't have to put them all in at once.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Like you said. I'm sure he's got analytics and that's what he does. He bases, I think everything he does on the numbers and analytics and analytics he believes tells him, I need to give these guys some rest so I get quality minutes late in the game.

[Drew Franklin]

But they don't have to play together. Yeah, you don't have to play all those guys. It also doesn't like if. Think about the Alabama game. Travis Perry had some good minutes when it was the starters and Travis Perry. It puts Perry in a much better situation if he's out there with away and, and, you know, Carr and Williams than if he has to play with the reserves. Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. And sometimes I wonder if he's too stubborn to his plan in the analytics when sometimes you just gotta read the situation. Like there's been times the starters have started absolutely on fire, let him go, and he still made the switch. You gotta realize you're up 16 to 2 and the other team's terrified right now. Let those guys keep putting their foot on the gas. And then he's made subs and we've seen let lead go away or maybe not caught. And Tom Allison times things like that early enough, we see a lot where.

[Drew Franklin]

We go on a run, other teams coach calls timeout, and then we completely change our lineup.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yep.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, part of what I would argue is you just got a timeout, they just got some rest play.

[Ryan Lemond]

And they're doing really well.

[Drew Franklin]

Right. And they're doing really well. Like, it's that when that other team called, if I'm a coach playing coaching against Pope and there's a lineup I don't like I call timeout just so he put somebody else in.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Maybe I'm misremembering this because I haven't slept and I've blanked out the Arkansas game. But didn't the starters go up big on Arkansas? And the moment he made that line change is when the tide turned. That was one of the worst examples.

[Drew Franklin]

Of it this season, without question. Yeah. So you're right. So to answer your question, sir, I don't, I don't think Mark Pope is stubborn, but I do hope when we get these games, I just, I cannot. That lineup he had last night, and this is no offense to any of the kids because all these kids can play well separately, but if you drew up the worst lineup we could put on the floor together, he had that in at the that that lineup of Perry, Brea, Noah Almanore and Garrison is the worst group of five we can play together because none of them can guard anybody.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

That's right. It's a bad defensive team out there right now.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean they literally. And then the got five guys on the bench, Butler away, Chandler, Carr and Mari are our five best defenders. And he had them all on the bench at the same time.

[Ryan Lemond]

That group, especially Butler, Oy Amari should never be sitting at the same time. The three of them completely agree.

[Drew Franklin]

You can raise a glass to the Cats with Club Blue, the official Nil fundraising partner of the University of Kentucky. They've partnered with Bespoken Spirits to craft a special bourbon line for Nil initiatives. You can find these bold blue and white bottles at Liquor Barn, Kroger, Justin's House, Publix Bourbon and more. Stay tuned for an ultra premium third bottle on the way. You can learn more at clubbluenil.com about the official Club Blue bourbon. It's clubbluenil.com we'll take a break. Be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. 859-280-2287. Text Machine 772-774-5254. A couple of you've are the podcast Drew and I do fade this. We're going to bring it back for the NCAA tournament and the maybe even the conference tournaments. So we'll, we'll do that starting maybe tomorrow. We might do one tomorrow. If not, we'll definitely do one for the NCAA brackets. So that'll be fun. Drew and I haven't done one since the end of college football season.

[Ryan Lemond]

I remember doing one at the NCAA tournament last year. That was a Lot of fun. We were watching teams practice. I think maybe NC State was practicing.

[Drew Franklin]

That's right. And the band was. It was loud music.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Hopefully we'll do that again.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

A lot of people ask about that. So it's the long awaited return of the Fade.

[Drew Franklin]

This podcast, you were saying John Caliperi law went nuts last night.

[Ryan Lemond]

He almost cost his team. They were up 11, 12 ish. Pretty much we're looking good. Had the game locked up and then he got teed up. Not the ideal time to do it. Probably seven minutes left. Vandy made three free throws to kind of cut into it. But then I think right away DJ Wagner bailed him out with a long three. But even, you know, neighbors and some of the Arkansas accounts I see online, they weren't happy with the timing of that technical. He snapped. I think Big Z was even holding him back a little bit.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, they won last night without a do. So that's, that's like three straight games he's missed.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Is he coming back?

[Drew Franklin]

Well, I mean, you know how it is with Cal injuries. You have absolutely no idea because Cal has not seen him so there'd be no way to know.

[Ryan Lemond]

He actually said I haven't spoken to him today was his answer.

[Drew Franklin]

He did not.

[Ryan Lemond]

That was not last night. That was who they played the last game. That was his answer a couple days ago. But man, he's play the hits. That was a big win for them last night.

[Drew Franklin]

Speaking of the Harold, let's bring two conversations together. Mitch speaking of the Herald Leader and Mitch Barnhart and Mark Stoops. Mitch Barnhart did an interview with the Herald Leader in which he said he was asked about the problems for UK football and he said it was a one year blip. I feel like we're going to hear that, that phrase a lot. I actually think that's a pretty bad phrase to use because it's not a one year blip. We've only won one SEC home game in the last two years. We've lost a Vandy twice in a row. We had a losing record the year before. It's not a one year blip. I think that's downplaying fans concerns and I think that's not a good PR strategy at this point.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yeah, we remember two years ago they kind of saved that season because they beat Louisville. They hadn't beat Louisville. We, I think we had been really upset over the way the last two years have gone.

[Ryan Lemond]

Don't tell the season ticket holders. It's a one year blip. The home games have been A lot more than a year. Blip.

[Drew Franklin]

I think that the worst thing you can do in. When you are in a role of having customers, whatever it is, the worst thing you can do is say to the customer that they're feeling is wrong. Like, you can point out facts, but you can't say it's wrong. So let's say somebody comes in here and they're not pleased about their food. Let's say they eat and they go, you know, I don't feel like the food was. I can't look at you and go, yeah, the food was good. Yeah, it was like, you're wrong. It was good. You, you, you don't understand that food was really good. Like, they don't think it's good. So the question is, how do you make that better? Do you talk about, well, we'll try to do better the next time, or whatever? You can't just tell them it's not good. I think Mitch Barnhart and Mark Stoops and John Calipari before, that their way of dealing with it's not good is to go, you're wrong. And you can't do that.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

No.

[Drew Franklin]

Like, people feel the way they feel now, you can try to convince them and say, well, maybe think about it like this, but if you just look at somebody and go, you're wrong, it's not gonna work.

[Ryan Lemond]

Right?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yeah, it's the.

[Drew Franklin]

The.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yeah, but I hear from my kids, you know, you did the. Yeah, but I cleaned my bedroom yesterday. You can't do the. Yeah, but it's all about how you make excuses for things that have gone wrong.

[Drew Franklin]

And if UK is going to raise the ticket prices, which they are, because they have one last game, but the same price, and UK is going to ask people to donate to all the various things they ask, they have to understand that they cannot downplay the legitimate concerns. Cal tried to do that for years. How'd that work out for him? Now counter that to Mark Pope, who, when we lose, goes, this is not acceptable. I think that's what. I think that's what they need to do for the football.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Especially with the football fans, because they are already very upset with the ticket situation. So then to just kind of dismiss their concerns about the home record the last two or three years, I don't think that's a good move by Mitch. That's just gonna, I would think, anger them even more.

[Drew Franklin]

I would agree with what Nick Rouse just said on the KSR website. They should do one of those Men in Black things and put them on the Brain and say. Don't say the word one year. Don't say the phrase one year. Blip again, because I've heard that a lot. Get that out of your vocabulary. By the way, it was 64 degrees 30 minutes ago and they say it's going to be 15 degrees tonight.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Oh, yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Goodness.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Yeah. The baseball game, I know at first pitch was supposed to be 40, but by the end of the game, supposed to be down to like. Yeah, in the twenties.

[Drew Franklin]

This. The Kentucky weather continues to be absurd. Who's up next? Barb, by the way, if you're going to the SEC tournament, supposed to be in the 70s all week in Nashville next week, so that should be pretty good. Barb, go ahead.

[H]

Hey, first time caller.

[Drew Franklin]

Who are.

[H]

I wanted. You were speaking about Gene Hackman and the dogs. I want to tell you a short story. Okay, I will real quick. We had a farm. A World War II prisoner of war veteran came back. He lived in this little cabin on the woods. In the woods. He liked to hunt. Some people went back there to talk with him about honey, and they smelled an awful smell. They went in. He was dead. He had three dogs. The dogs had actually eaten him. So maybe that's how the dogs got dog's lips.

[Drew Franklin]

That's quite a theory. What do you think about that, Shannon, as a theory for the Gene?

[Matt Jones]

I think they would see bites all over his body and know that the dogs bit him.

[H]

So he was. He was eaten.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm talking about Gene.

[Matt Jones]

I'm talking about old Gene Hackman. Not.

[Drew Franklin]

Not.

[Matt Jones]

Not this guy. Gene Hackman.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Wow. Well, that's cool.

[H]

We called ems. My husband had to help get him on the Bernie structure to get him out. The ems. The EMS workers were throwing up.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, okay.

[Matt Jones]

What a scene.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Wow.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, you know, I've got a crowd here for lunch. I don't know if I'm gonna repeat that to them, Barb, because they're. They're eating right now, but that's. It's quite a story. Okay, well, thank you for listening, Barb. I appreciate it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Happy Wednesday.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, Happy Wednesday day from Bar.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

What a gross, disgusting story coming from a sweet grandma.

[Drew Franklin]

She's trying. She's just talking about what could have happened.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

That was disgusting.

[Drew Franklin]

I bought Ryan. You're supposed to be the person that. That. That the ladies like. She was when you don't open your.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Mouth and nice and kind.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. Okay, well, these people looking at me right here didn't get to hear any of that, Drew. So they don't really know what. What we're reacting to.

[Matt Jones]

But enjoy your food for their own good.

[Drew Franklin]

That's probably. That's probably for their own good. All right. Any chance we beat Missouri next week?

[Ryan Lemond]

Absolutely. Think it's gonna be a good game. I mean, I don't think they'll be favored by more than three or four points. I think Kentucky will be in it. They very well could win.

[Drew Franklin]

I think we're gonna win.

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

And Tom Hart's calling the game, right? That's he's alma mater. He's calling the game. We're gonna be rolling in there, Big blue.

[Drew Franklin]

We're gonna win. It's noon, so which means it's 11am for them. They're going to be asleep. They're not even going to know what hit them. We're going to come in and we're winning that game at Missouri and starting what I think will be a fun march.

[Ryan Lemond]

Be a great way to wrap up this season, get a better seat in Nashville, get a big win on the road against a team that's ranked. Let's do it.

[Drew Franklin]

Hey, thank you folks very much for coming out here today. Great crowd here. We really appreciate it. Court physical therapy is kort.com if you need one to feel better, not be in pain, go to Court Physical therapy. Your insurance probably will Even cover it. Kort.com 70 locations around the state. One of the best places to work in the state of Kentucky. It's court.comk o r t.com Tomorrow we will be here at KS Bar. Friday we will be at Cornbread Hemp out on in the. What was the name of it?

[Stockton Mortgage Representative]

Chef Avenue.

[Drew Franklin]

Chef Avenue. And you are welcome. And they're giving away so all the various drips and treats and samples. So it should be a good show. Thank you all very much. It's Wednesday. All day and night. This has been Kentucky Sports Radio.