2025-03-12- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

Podcast Summary: KSR - Hour 1 (March 12, 2025)

Introduction On March 12, 2025, the KSR crew, hosted by Matt Jones and featuring Drew Franklin and Shannon "The Dude" alongside Evan and Mario, delved into the excitement surrounding the SEC Tournament. Broadcasting from Bowling Green, Kentucky, the team provided in-depth analysis, personal anecdotes, and engaged with their audience through live texts, all while honoring significant moments and community members.

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1. SEC Tournament Anticipation and Analysis

Overview of the Tournament Week The KSR crew kicked off the episode with palpable excitement about the impending SEC Tournament. Drew Franklin emphasized the significance of the event, likening it to a personal milestone with deep family ties. He shared, “Last night. So for this is, if not my favorite week of the year, it's one of my favorite weeks.” ([06:00])

Path to Victory for Kentucky Shannon "The Dude" reflected on the team's journey, highlighting optimism for the current year compared to the previous one. The crew discussed Kentucky's challenging path, pointing out the formidable opponents they must face, including Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Auburn. Drew stated, “I think this will be the best tournament for the SEC, for Kentucky fans. Now we need to win games.” ([05:45])

Comparative Difficulty with NCAA Tournament Drew Franklin posed an intriguing question comparing the difficulty of the SEC Tournament to the NCAA Tournament, suggesting that the SEC's competitive landscape might make it equally or more challenging. He elaborated, “There's a decent argument that, that that is the case. And even if you were Alabama, you get a double buy.” ([09:03])

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2. Personal Reflections and Milestones

Anniversaries and Personal Milestones Drew shared personal milestones intertwined with the tournament's history, marking his 30th SEC Tournament attended and reflecting on his grandfather's 40-year anniversary of attending the event. This deepened the emotional connection to the tournament's legacy. He mentioned, “The SEC tournament has been one of my favorite things to do.” ([06:14])

Honoring Parker from Clayton & Croom The crew took a moment to honor Parker, a valued member of the Clayton & Croom family who is battling a rare form of cancer. Drew expressed heartfelt sentiments, “We are fighting for you.” ([03:20])

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3. Audience Interaction and Live Texts

Engaging with Listeners Throughout the episode, the hosts interacted with live text messages from listeners, addressing both skepticism and enthusiasm about the tournament. For instance, Drew read a text from a listener named Junior who was skeptical about Kentucky's chances:

Junior: "Man, I can't get excited about the SEC tournament. I can't see the Cats winning any game. Cal messed it up for me. Here's hoping I'm wrong." ([21:07])

Drew responded playfully, encouraging Junior to stay optimistic:

Drew: "Shut up, Junior." ([21:10])

Concerns Over Weather and Event Safety Another listener expressed worries about potential tornadoes affecting the tournament, referencing past events. Evan reassured, “The weather is going to be perfect down there.” ([21:20])

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4. Honoring Community Legends

Passing of Junior Bridgman A significant and emotional segment was dedicated to honoring the late Junior Bridgman, a legendary figure in Louisville's basketball history. Drew painted a vivid picture of Bridgman's legacy:

“Junior Bridgman is what you would hope your child becomes. He's a really great American success story who never forgot where he's from...” ([16:00])

Shannon acknowledged the loss, expressing regret at never meeting him:

“Absolutely. I regret I never got to meet him because all you hear is nothing but fantastic things about that man.” ([17:09])

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5. Technical Aspects and Behind-the-Scenes

Credentials and Show Logistics Shannon excitedly announced his first-time credentialing at the SEC Tournament, leading to humorous banter about headshots and credentials:

Drew: “If y'all gonna sit here, then you have to clap.” ([12:05])

They also discussed the logistics of the show, including pre-show timings and venue details, ensuring listeners were informed about upcoming events:

Drew: “So tomorrow we will do our show at 10 Roof. It is 9 o'clock Central.” ([14:02])

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6. Fan Base Discussions and Local Rivalries

Pulaski Southwestern Fan Base A contentious discussion emerged about the Pulaski Southwestern fan base, with numerous listeners criticizing their behavior. Drew likened them to the notorious Millwall fans in England, fostering a debate on fan conduct:

Drew: “They flipped him off and called him a di.” ([44:00])

The hosts debated the validity of these claims, suggesting a possible smear campaign and contemplating firsthand experiences to assess the situation.

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7. Sponsor Acknowledgments and Advertisements

Promotions and Sponsorships While the majority of the episode focused on content, there were interspersed advertisements and sponsor acknowledgments, including mentions of T-Mobile, Lowe's, Greenlight, Albertsons, Safeway, Comedy Off Broadway, and local businesses like Clayton & Croom. Notably, Drew took moments to promote sponsors, ensuring the show's financial support.

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8. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

As the episode drew towards its conclusion, the hosts reiterated their commitment to providing insightful and engaging sports coverage. Drew expressed optimism for the tournament's outcome while maintaining a celebratory tone:

Drew: “Yeah, so, so that's going to be our, our, our thing for the week.” ([14:43])

They encouraged listeners to remain supportive and engaged, regardless of the tournament's unpredictable nature.

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Conclusion The March 12, 2025, episode of KSR - Hour 1 offered a comprehensive look into the excitement and challenges of the SEC Tournament. Through heartfelt tributes, lively discussions, and interactive segments, Matt Jones and the KSR crew delivered a rich and engaging narrative for Kentucky sports enthusiasts. Their blend of personal anecdotes, audience engagement, and in-depth analysis ensured that both regular listeners and newcomers found value and entertainment in the broadcast.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

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[Drew Franklin]

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[Drew Franklin]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

It'S Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Spring is here, which means it's time to do some spring cleaning because a clean home is a happy home. Now through March 25th. Shop in store or online and get great savings on all your spring cleaning essentials like Windex glass cleaner, Lysol disinfectant, spray scrubbing bubbles, bathroom cleaner and Febreze fabric refresher. Hurry in before those deals are gone. Offer ends March 25. Promotions may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more detail. Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington welcomes Che.

[Drew Franklin]

Durena March 6th through the 8th, then catch club favorite nephew Tommy March 13th through the 16th and don't miss Michael Palisack March 21st and 22nd. Comedy Off Broadway opened in downtown Lexington in 1987, and they're still bringing the best in stand up comedy to the area 38 years later. For tickets, call 859271, joke or visit comedyoff broadway.com comedyoff broadway welcome everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Wednesday, March 12, on the way to the SEC Tournament. It is SEC Tournament week. The games start here in just three hours. And we are here in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where you can give a shout on the Clark's Pump and Shop phone line 859-280-2287. A Vision Auto Glass text machine is 772-774-5254. In this edition, sponsored by the T.J. smith Law Office. You call T.J. he'll make them pay. We are here in Bowling Green, where the nice folks at the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative have allowed us to do the show here today. I got a full house. We got Ryan, we got Drew, we got Shannon. And our SEC tournament trip is sponsored by Clayton and Croom. You've heard me talk about Clayton and Croom over the years with their leather goods, but this is a special sponsorship that I want to quickly note at the beginning. Clayton and Crumbs been. They've been with us since they started the company. The. I think they met here in Bowling Green. Actually crummy. They were students at Western and their second employee was a guy named Parker. And this sponsorship is in honor of him. He's going through a battle with a rare form of cancer. 30 years old with a baby girl. And Clayton and Croom wanted to honor him by sponsoring this trip and to tell him that he is loved and to keep fighting. And that's what we're going to do. And just like the Cats are going to fight at the SEC tournament, we're saying to Parker, we're fighting for you. So go to Clayton and Croom. CRU M E.com if you use a code KSR, they have some discounts. We'll talk about it more later. But in honor of Parker, our SEC tournament trip, we're thinking about you and Ryan, excited to be on the road.

[Shannon the Dude]

First of all, the season flew by. I can't believe it's already March Madness in time for the postseason. But I just. I go back to. There's so much optimism and excitement about this year compared to where we were this time last year.

[Drew Franklin]

It's.

[Shannon the Dude]

It's a different look. We were going through the brackets. And I'm thinking last year I didn't think Kentucky would have much of a chance.

[Drew Franklin]

And you were right.

[Evan]

You're right.

[Drew Franklin]

You were right. But this year there's.

[Shannon the Dude]

There's so much excitement going into the tournament this year that everybody's got that optimism.

[Unknown]

I remember thinking they were going to make a run last year. I think I even picked them to win It. But then I remember Nashville that night after the loss. It was just utter shock. And I remember a lot of people saying, I'm not doing this again. I cannot come back.

[Drew Franklin]

That was the maddest in person crowd I ever remember at a UK basketball game. I don't think I've ever seen a crowd. And it was bad the next week in Pittsburgh, too, but it was worse here.

[Shannon the Dude]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

I think the fact that like, everybody was here and it was at night and everybody been drinking and like when we lost to Texas A and M, because that game was like never close. Like we were down most of the game. The. The crowd was just. They were just done. And it was almost like that was a moment where you go, okay, well, this ain't going to work. Take that to this year where I think we're going to have Shannon, one of the best crowds we've ever had in Nashville. It reminds me of in 2010 on Cal's first year, how like everybody just seemed to want to be there for that tournament. We're not necessarily as good as we were that year, but I do think you're going to have a similar crowd in Nashville.

[Evan]

I'm looking for Nashville to just be. I think that the level of excitement is probably going to be at a level that it hasn't been since COVID Maybe since 2019.

[Drew Franklin]

This is going to be the best tournament for the sec, for Kentucky fans. Now we need to win games.

[Evan]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

But for fans that probably you've had.

[Evan]

Since co. You know, just, just win one game. First of all, right? Let's just go day to day. Win that first game. If you do, it'd be the first win since 2022, which I can't even believe. That's a pretty amazing.

[Drew Franklin]

So, all right, let me give you. Let me give you some, some, some facts here that I thought of. All right. Last night. So for this is, if not my favorite week of the year, it's one of my favorite weeks. And it goes back my entire life. The SEC tournament has been one of my favorite things to do. So I want to give you some numbers that I just realized my grand. I started going the SEC tournament because my grandfather and his best friends would go. The first SEC tournament they went to was 1985, which is 40 years ago this weekend. I think one of the last members of that group passed away in the last year. And they went. 40 years ago was their anniversary. I went and counted it up. This is my 30th. Wow. SEC tournament. So their 40th. My 30th we started KSR the website 20 years ago this year. We started KSR the radio show 15 years ago this year, the 2015 team. This will be the one basketball part my opinion, maybe the best team of my lifetime. 10 years ago. And then it was here today, five years ago that the SEC tournament and NCAA tournament were canceled five years ago to this day. So a lot of anniversaries for me personally this year, 40th that this became something in our family's lives. 30th tournament for me. So Ryan, I'm very excited about this.

[Shannon the Dude]

You know, just you mentioning what happened here five years ago on this day just kind of blows my mind because.

[Drew Franklin]

It was today, five years ago they canceled the tournament today. The yesterday was the anniversary of of all the, you know, stuff happening the night before. But the official we were sitting in a conference room five years ago today with the athletic directors meeting in the room next to us deciding what they were going to do. And then while we were on the air, if you remember Ryan, they canceled the tournament.

[Shannon the Dude]

But didn't Shannon go steal a big bottle of hand sanitizer?

[Evan]

Just trying to protect you guys. I mean I didn't know what was going on.

[Drew Franklin]

It was a lot more than that. We always talk about that. There was a lot more crazy stuff than that. I mean the athletic directors were meeting next door. Mitch Barnhart was outside trying to figure out how to get the UK softball team home from Florida. They were stuck in Florida with no flights and they, he didn't know exactly how get them back. They were trying to decide what they were going to do with all, with, with everything. You remember the governor called in. That was when he kind of wanted to give a message to the state of hey, this is serious. I mean it was just a whole thing. And now five years later, Drew, I do think this is the most excited this fan base has been for an SEC tournament probably since then.

[Unknown]

Yeah, unfortunately it has not been good since then. Shannon mentions the one win. We haven't even won a game in Nashville since before COVID would be to 10 seed Alabama. That was our last win in Bridgestone Arena. So Kentucky's do. And even though you're a six seed and really not expected to make much of a run, I agree that their Big Blue is going to be everywhere on Broadway just to be a part of what might happen.

[Drew Franklin]

So it, I think it is going to be a pretty, a pretty great week. Now Kentucky of course plays tomorrow night at 9:30. I still will use the eastern times even though we're going to be in the central time zone, but you know, tournament starts. Cal Perry's playing first game Today here at 1 o'clock against South Carolina. You know, I was on a podcast with like these guys in Boston. It's like gambling podcast a couple days ago and they asked me the question, is it harder to win this year the SEC tournament or the NCAA tournament? And that may seem like a stupid question in a lot of years, but I don't know. I mean, I, I don't know if it's a stupid question. I was sitting here and looking at it and I was thinking, okay, let's just say you're Kentucky. All right? Here are the four games you would have to win to win the SEC tournament. Beat a Georgia team that's going to be in the NCAA tournament. Beat Alabama, beat Florida, beat Auburn. There's a decent chance that when you look at A team Sweet 16 to national title game path, they won't play a harder group than that. There's a decent, you know, there's a decent argument that, that that is the case. And even if you were Alabama, you get a double buy. What if I told you to win the title with the double buy you had to beat Kentucky, Florida and Auburn. That's a pretty hard run. Whoever wins this, I do think will have the equivalent of an elite eight to title run just to win the SEC tournament.

[Shannon the Dude]

This may be the only year it ever happens, but it's definitely true. This year the SEC tournament is harder. You mentioned Kentucky's path. Those are three teams who were potential number one seeds for most of the year in Auburn, Florida and Alabama. That wouldn't run, would never happen in the NCAA tournament. Have to go through there to get to the championship.

[Unknown]

And if you just look at the odds, Kentucky's 8 to 1 to make the final 4 and 19 to 1 to win the SEC. So is that right? I almost more than double, you know, the probability there just shows you how crazy of a gauntlet they have in front of them. There's a lot of debating on which would you rather do? I'm go back and forth, you want.

[Drew Franklin]

To win, but go to the Final Four.

[Unknown]

But I mean a winning the SEC championship this year, whatever you think of how much it means in the big picture, that is a huge accomplishment.

[Drew Franklin]

I think it's, I do think it's a big deal. I mean it's interesting. The younger coaches in the league or at least the coaches that are on it, I heard, I saw Mark Pope, Bruce Pearl, Nate Oates and Todd golden, all say in the last two days, winning this SEC tournament is a huge deal for us. There's another coach on the other side who took the opposite view. But I do think this will be, you know, look, only one team's going to win the national championship. So if you're not going to do that, you might. I mean, this is like this. Auburn won it. Last year's first time they'd ever won it. There's one first time they won since, like, the 80s. They were into it. I think that we should be, too.

[Evan]

No matter what path you end up getting in the NCAA tournament, I think you've already. And I made this point last week. I don't think that you're going to be playing any tougher teams than what you've already played in the sec. So I think at this point, you're not afraid of anybody, regardless of what your situation is.

[Drew Franklin]

So we also have some other things on the line here. First of all, Shannon the dude has been credentialed for the first time ever at the sec. You're going to walk in now, listen, if y'all gonna sit here, then you have to clap.

[Evan]

Clap.

[Drew Franklin]

Here and get a free know. Sit and watch like it's a movie.

[Evan]

I've been denied for 10 straight years. Give it up for my credentials.

[Shannon the Dude]

Here we go.

[Drew Franklin]

But seriously, I mean, you're so, like, you're gonna walk in here this afternoon. I mean, this is like, going to be your. Your eyes gonna be big. They f. They've turned you down 10 straight years and then decided that this year you were good.

[Evan]

I expect to be sitting right next to Jay Billis. I want a headset so I can chime in on the broadcast.

[Drew Franklin]

I want to make. You need to get on camera now, Mario, first time he's ever applied, actually got credentials, so he got in one, so this will be his first time, too. So kind of a new era, Ryan, of them credentialing the new guard.

[Shannon the Dude]

I just want to see Shannon's credential because he apparently he submitted a headshot of him wearing his gold OVW jacket that's gonna be on his credential.

[Drew Franklin]

So the SEC tournament, for people that don't know they denied his headshot. Send in an OVW picture.

[Evan]

No, no, no, no. I sent it a picture of KSR with a headset on, and they said we need another headshot. So I sent them the OVW picture with the gold jacket. So we'll see if that one maybe gets approved.

[Drew Franklin]

I kind of doubt it. Will, I think you're gonna. You're probably gonna have to take one.

[Evan]

Am I gonna look like the Facebook profile? Before you add your profile, it's just like the outline of somebody's head.

[Drew Franklin]

But.

[Evan]

But who do you think got bumped? You know, if they approved me, somebody had to get bumped.

[Drew Franklin]

Good question. I don't. I used to never understand how you didn't get in because they. Everyone else on earth was. It seemed allowed in that way.

[Evan]

They were letting people off the streets.

[Drew Franklin]

They let me. I got credentialed for the SEC tournament before even UK would credential me for the games. Like it was. It was easier. So.

[Evan]

Well, what, what they always told me was you don't go to enough home games. But then there were other people like I don't know you. Like I went to.

[Drew Franklin]

The only game I went to was the Arkansas game this year. So.

[Evan]

Exactly.

[Drew Franklin]

So well but. So that'll be fun. Now tomorrow we will do our show at 10 Roof. It is 9 o'clock Central. Shannon's pre show will be at 8 o'clock Central. There will open. I think they're opening the doors at seven. Is that right?

[Unknown]

Seven o'clock.

[Drew Franklin]

They're going to open it at seven. So we hope to see you all at Tin Roof. It should be the start of a long fun day in Nashville where I think blue will be. Will be everywhere.

[Unknown]

That's my favorite show of the year with ksr. This is my favorite week of the year with Kentucky basketball. I'm just hoping we make it a little longer into the weekend because it's, it's been a real gut punch the last couple years getting so excited to only turn around and come straight back home.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. So, so that, that's going to be our, our, our thing for the week. I do want to before we go to break here because I want this to be a fun exciting show. But I do think we need to note the passing of Louisville's Junior Bridgman before we go to break. For people who don't know, Junior Bridgman is one of the more amazing stories really ever in sports. And he, he, he went to University of Louisville. One of their best players of all time. Was really on their first really great team in the 70s. Played in the NBA for 10 years. Eight years from Milwaukee Bucks. Back then his average salary was $275,000. He became literally a billionaire after, after playing basketball he owned something like 500 Wendy's we were reading today owned 125 Chili's. He owned like he Basically started a restaurant conglomerate. But. But more importantly, he was like the beacon of the city of Louisville. He helped the city. He was a big part of the Muhammad Ali center coming in. In many ways, he was the soul of Louisville basketball as a program, as a player, as a member of the board, as a donor, but also as an amazing success story. I saw Charles Barkley say one time, I looked at the who are the richest basketball players of all time? And it was Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Junior Bridgman. And I didn't even know who Junior Bridgman was. Well, that's a testament to his success, but it's also a testament he was a pillar of the Louisville community, like, gave back for generations. And he passed away yesterday. Louisville is our rival, but also as a human being and a member of the, you know, a citizen of the state of Kentucky, Junior Bridgman is what you would hope your child becomes. He's a really great American success story who never forgot where he's from, who always gave back and who everyone around him said was a very humble, successful man. So I want to pass on my prayers to the Junior Bridgman family, and I hope all Kentucky fans will do the same. I mean, it's almost as if the he's almost the equivalent of if, you know, Dan Issel and Joe Kraft were the same person. That's kind of what it, what it is for Louisville. So God bless him and his family. And I know you guys join me in saying we wish them nothing but the best.

[Shannon the Dude]

Absolutely. I regret I never got to meet him because all you hear is nothing but fantastic things about that man. Went from nothing to a billionaire. And it just what a great ambassador for the university and for the city.

[Drew Franklin]

And a lot of people I'm really close to were very good friends with him. Craig Greenberg, Mayor, Louisville. Larry Benz, who I one of our owners of OVW Perrin, is very close with him as well that you've heard on this show. So prayers out to Junior Bridgman and everybody who's a Louisville basketball fan on his passing. We're going to take a break and come back here in Bowling Green. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

[Matt Jones]

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[Drew Franklin]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Drew Franklin]

Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here on the road to the SEC Tournament in Bowling Green, Kentucky at the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative. Thanks for letting us be here in Bowling Green. We got up very early to to get out of here. We left Lexington just a little bit after seven in the Morning, but now ready to go. And then. And getting to get. Getting to Nashville today. I will say, Drew, I got to get some excitement from some of our. Some of. Some of our texters. 7 7, 2, 7, 7, 4, 5, 2, 5 4. Maybe a little depressing to start. Can I read you the first two texts. Texts I read. This is, like, one of the most exciting days of the year. Let me. Let me read you the first two texts I saw. One was from a guy named Junior. Man, I can't get excited about the SEC tournament. I can't see the Cats winning any game. Cal messed it up for me. Here's hoping I'm wrong. Shut up, Junior. What do you mean Cal's gone?

[Unknown]

Yeah, he's on another team.

[Drew Franklin]

Like, what do you mean, kid? And then this one. This one. You don't want to talk about a Debbie Downer. Shannon, Matt, let's play. Pray there's not a repeat of the tornado game during the tournament in 2008. I always worry about the weather.

[Evan]

What does that have to do with anything? The weather is going to be perfect down there.

[Drew Franklin]

How many times do you think the we. How many times do you think a tornado is going to hit the SEC tournament? It happened once in history. And do you. Do you.

[Evan]

How does that not even come to your mind?

[Drew Franklin]

Do you really go outside of your house and go, well, we don't have a tornado today. The day we're at the sec. I mean, those are the two most Debbie Downer quotes I've ever heard. So I need the text machine to have some uplift. 772-774-5254.

[Unknown]

I don't want to back that texture, but Saturday's weather is supposed to be terrible.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, why did you say.

[Evan]

What?

[Drew Franklin]

Why are you backing the text?

[Unknown]

No, I'm not saying we're going to recreate Georgia.

[Drew Franklin]

No, no.

[Unknown]

But the weather is supposed to be horrible on Saturday for today. We all want to be on.

[Drew Franklin]

Else you want to note. Is it supposed to.

[Unknown]

I'm still excited. You have to turn on me. I'm just noting the weather on Saturday is supposed to be horrible. I'm not saying it's the Georgia Dome all over again.

[Drew Franklin]

That's exactly right. Let's see if we win on Thursday first before we start worrying about the weather on Saturday.

[Shannon the Dude]

I can say I hope we're there playing. Still playing on Saturday. That'd be a good. Good achievement for me in my book, maybe.

[Drew Franklin]

It was Drew that texted, it's gonna.

[Evan]

Be a great week. All right, everybody be positive. It's gonna be.

[Unknown]

I'm excited. But I can note that the weather's bad. Everybody calm down.

[Drew Franklin]

I looked at the supposed to be bad on Saturday. All right. Yet last night the tournament added UNC Wilmington, Robert Morris. Yes. Making Bobby Moe our first round game. That would be kind of interesting. St. Francis of Pennsylvania, which you probably didn't even know was a school. And then Gonzaga won in what I thought was the worst basketball game I've ever seen in my Life. Final score 54 to 49 and. And Gonzaga and St. Mary's combined. Ryan to go 1 for 29 from three point land. It's the worst shooting three point game in the history of any conference tournament in college basketball.

[Shannon the Dude]

I actually tried to watch some of.

[Drew Franklin]

That and they're both NCAA tournament teams that played it.

[Shannon the Dude]

I watched it and I saw Gonzaga was ahead like my five. I thought, well, that'd be going to be a good win for them. And then I just could not watch it anymore. It was awful.

[Drew Franklin]

It was. Honestly, we talk about how exciting and good these SEC games have been this year. Think of the exact opposite. It was the worst basketball game I've ever seen. And those are two good teams.

[Shannon the Dude]

In theory.

[Unknown]

I had it on kind of his background noise. I was packing. But I would look up and even the announcers were kind of talking about what a horrible product it was for two teams that and also this time of year those teams usually put on an entertaining game in that conference that was not much fun to watch. Last night.

[Evan]

You could take the five of us. We could go one for 29. I am confident we could get one out of 29.

[Drew Franklin]

Out of 29. Who do you think Ryan is the most important player for Kentucky to succeed over the next few days?

[Shannon the Dude]

Well, I think we've seen Ortega kind of take over. He's got to be that guy. Without Jackson Robinson, you need somebody you can go depend on. It's going to go get you 16, 18, 20 points a game. And I think so. Ortega is that guy. He's got to do that.

[Drew Franklin]

It's a boring answer, Drew, but I know it's probably one you agree with. A lot of Kentucky success this year has been does Kobe Bray hit shot? Kobe Bray hit shots. We're good. If he doesn't hit shots, we're usually not.

[Unknown]

You'll have to have both of them. But I'm not going with either one of those for my answer, I'm going Lamont Butler, there's a chance in your first game you got Oklahoma with fears in the backcourt who carved you up down there, even though he still won that game, you could advance, have Mark Sears again. I know we're going to need defense there, so I think they're going to make a run. Butler's defense on some of the best guards in the conference will be the difference maker.

[Drew Franklin]

I actually like that, that call because with Fears and Sears back to back, you know, we did not have Butler when we played Sears last. We did have him, but only like 14 minutes when we played against Fears. So I actually think that's a pretty.

[Unknown]

Walter Clayton after that. If you beat Alabama, it's a long run of great point guards in the win.

[Evan]

Then I'll throw in a Mari Williams as well, who I think has been very impressive in the second half of the season. So if he's able to have a good game, I think Kentucky has a chance to roll it.

[Drew Franklin]

They just picked every starter except the dude who's played the best the last two games, Andrew Carr. I mean, he. He's been probably our best player in these last two games.

[Shannon the Dude]

And if, if they end up playing Alabama, he's going to be key because.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, he got rocked. Yes.

[Shannon the Dude]

He wasn't healthy and got rocked. He's got to show up and play good in that.

[Drew Franklin]

He got rocked the first time and then he was barely moving in the second one. So it'd be interesting to see how he does when he's at full speed, because that, that you go watch that first game, we actually outplayed them. It's just Grant Nelson had a crazy.

[Unknown]

Game, 24 and 11, if I'm not mistaken.

[Drew Franklin]

That's exactly right. Who's up first? John. Joseph. Joseph. Go ahead, Joseph.

[Evan]

Hey, Matt Benton's football season as I talked to you.

[Drew Franklin]

But anyway, I just want to ask you, how do you think we'll do a nasty? You think we win two, three games there? And how do you think we're doing the NCAA tournament? All right, thank you, Joseph. Well, I'll say the same thing that I said when the show started, which is, I think Kentucky. Listen, they could lose this first game. They could make it to the finals. I mean, you play Oklahoma or Georgia. We lost to Georgia. We beat Oklahoma by one point. We play Alabama. I think we can win. We play Florida. We've already beaten them. Auburn be tougher, but who knows? They could even lose. I mean, but so, like, I have no idea. It's the first SEC tournament ever that I would say you could win any of the four games. You could lose any of them.

[Evan]

I feel very confident winning Thursday. Keep in mind, you play because you played Georgia and Oklahoma on the road and this game tomorrow was going to be basically a home game, though. It's, it's what I'm saying.

[Drew Franklin]

It will be a home game. The good thing is you look at the bracket. Let's just see what the bracket would be tomorrow night. Mississippi State, Missouri, let's say Georgia or Oklahoma and Kentucky. Those teams don't bring fan bases. So that that arena tomorrow night is going to be 80 to 90% Kentucky fans, if not more, because those teams don't bring fan bases. So it's going to be wild in there.

[Shannon the Dude]

It'd be a home field court advantage.

[Drew Franklin]

It'd be a home field court advantage. We'll take a break. Right back, Kentucky Sports Radio. A lot of people are riding in with their own reasons to be excited or having a hard time being excited about the tournament.

[Evan]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

One person writes, matt, I can't get excited about the SEC tournament. The Greek island of Santorini had an earthquake. I can't watch the game. I'm sorry about that.

[Evan]

Best wishes for those people.

[Drew Franklin]

But yes, Santorini is a very luxurious island. You know, it's like, it's where all the people go on their honeymoons. You know, like they have the, is that the one that has the blue, the blue house?

[Unknown]

Blue and white?

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, it's like a very, it's like an Instagram place. You, you should go there. Right.

[Shannon the Dude]

So it's the next location for White Lotus, maybe, something like that.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah. It's probably a little too, like, it's probably a little too touristy. Like they tried to go somewhere a little off the beaten path, but yeah.

[Evan]

Does it cost more than Nashville? Because Nashville is absolutely.

[Drew Franklin]

Probably.

[Evan]

Although I'm out, I can't afford it.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, probably a little bit. 859280, 2287. One person writes, Matt, you, you said that game last night was awful and it was. But St. Francis beat Central Connecticut State 46, 43 in that championship of a tournament. Those are two really bad games for championship week.

[Unknown]

Otherwise, March has been pretty exciting. Those two were a couple duds, but I've enjoyed watching some of the conference tournaments in the lead up to this. Before we get dialed in on the.

[Drew Franklin]

Main one, another person writes, matt, let's all say a prayer. Excuse me. One person writes, let's say a prayer for Matt. He thinks 7:00 is early. Most of us are already up. Then you think most people are already.

[Evan]

Up at 7, probably. So anybody's got a job, parents that.

[Shannon the Dude]

Have Kids getting ready for school.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, people have kids. Yeah. Well, not. Not everybody that has a job gets up at 7.

[Evan]

No, those who work on, like, third shift don't get up at 7. They're going to bed at 7.

[Drew Franklin]

Everybody else knows about work at 9 who might sleep till 7. I grant you, I sleep later, but I stay up later than people. Ryan. I don't go to bed, though. Like one dude.

[Shannon the Dude]

And still, we've talked about this before. You don't set an alarm clock, but somehow you wake up every day. That the right time for you to get ready to go to the radio show.

[Drew Franklin]

There's a story that Drew I knew Ryan would like, which I thought I had to. To bring up. This is one of those. Maybe we ought to mute his microphone.

[Unknown]

Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

But nevertheless is.

[Unknown]

Especially with Meemaw here, we don't.

[Drew Franklin]

There are new Major League Baseball hats. So have you seen these hats?

[Shannon the Dude]

Oh, yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

So they have that you were part of the reason one team sold out. They. They're new hats, and they take the normal team logo, but then they take the main letter for a team for each team and just stick them in the middle. So, like, it'll say, like, Cincinnati spelled out, but then with a C right in the middle. And it covers up a few of the letters, Right? So they do that for every team. So for instance, Philadelphia says, like, Phillies, but then has a P right in the middle, etc. Well, they made a little bit of a mistake, at least when. When talking about two teams, the Tech, Texas Rangers, and the Anaheim Angels. First of all, Anaheim, it says a N, and then the G is covered up by an A and it says els. You can do the spelling there. But thankfully there is an E significantly worse. But then Texas spells out T E X A S, but the T covers up the X. And you probably think, well, that's okay. Who cares? But you might not be bilingual, because if you're Spanish, if you speak Spanish, T e T a S has a meaning. And I'll let you all Google it. I won't say what it is, but just Google what T E T a S is in Spanish. And because of that, Hispanic people, they sold out within moments. You can't even get one. Major League Baseball has actually now apologized and said, we didn't mean to put that on a hat. That will become a very expensive hat. Did they not have one person that spoke Spanish, Drew on the staff, or maybe did Tatus? I think I can say that it's what was on the hat. Josiah speaks Spanish clearly. Maybe A mistake.

[Unknown]

You know, normally I say that someone should be in the room just as an outsider, to raise their hand and be like, what are we doing? We have to think about the reaction to this. But this one, I think it was intentional. I think they saw it and realized, oh, this is going to sell out.

[Drew Franklin]

But, you know, there's a lot of people now who criticize the idea of diversity in the workplace. This is why you need it. It's for things like this. So somebody could go, maybe not.

[Evan]

You're the Angels. You could have slid the A over maybe one way or another. I don't know if you saw the Oakland A's, but their spells ass. His A's and then the Athletic, the other S with the Athletics.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah.

[Evan]

So they didn't do themselves any favor either. Yeah, I'm with you. Like somebody should look at that and go, maybe you shouldn't do.

[Drew Franklin]

Maybe we don't put that on these.

[Unknown]

When I first saw these, I just saw the graphics on Twitter. I didn't. I thought they're like photoshopped. Like this would be funny. Then I saw it's an actual mlb.com get it at the M store. I couldn't believe it.

[Drew Franklin]

And they could have put like, like instead of Texas Rangers. It would have worked.

[Evan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Unknown]

Cuz they did Angels and they did a lot of the, you know, the mascots.

[Drew Franklin]

Texas right there. So now I know what I'm getting Ryan for Christmas and you. And, and you would be very happy.

[Shannon the Dude]

The whole point is to what, sell product? They knew what they were doing. The Texas and the Rangers is the perfect example. They made it that way. Try to sell more on purpose. I think somebody figured it out like, oh, we're going to sell a lot of these. Let's push.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, they sold them out within like five minutes. There you go. They were. They were gone. Who's up first? Jake in Florida. Jake, how are you? Jake?

[Unknown]

Good morning, gentlemen.

[Evan]

How's it going?

[Drew Franklin]

Doing good. So shout out to my pops, Jeff. I'm flying in Cincinnati and then we're.

[Evan]

Just in Nashville on Friday.

[Drew Franklin]

Hopefully the Cats can make it.

[Evan]

My buddy had a surgery, so he's on some crazy drugs right now and.

[Drew Franklin]

He thinks he's a fortune teller. And his prediction is that Kobe Bray.

[Matt Jones]

Is going to have a Carson Edwards.

[Drew Franklin]

Experience in this tournament.

[Evan]

Wanted to know your thoughts on that.

[Drew Franklin]

I hope, I hope he plays well. I mean, Kobe Bray, look, he's. He hit a bunch of shots against Missouri. It's kind of been Drew in these last few games. He'll get like 1/2 where he gets hot. You know, against Florida is really the only time this year he's had two halves and he finished with seven. But he had three threes against Missouri in the first half. Kind of kept them going when they otherwise weren't playing great. If you told me I could get three to four threes from Bray a game, I'd probably take it if you gave it to me right now, because when we said 0 or 1, that's when we've lost. So I'd like to see brag. If he gets three or four game, I'll take it.

[Unknown]

Yeah. Throwing out Missouri because he played well there. If you looked at his splits before that game, he was horrible on the road and great at home. I'm wondering going into Nashville, is it RUP arena specifically or having home fans with him? Because he could treat Nashville like a home game and shoot well, but whether he shoots well or not, he's also stepped up defensively. Rebounding. He's been driving a little more than he was before. He's become a more well rounded player as the season's going on.

[Drew Franklin]

When this crowd is good in Nashville, which it hasn't necessarily been, it actually wasn't bad last year. We just never were in the game. But when it's been good, good like the 10 years prior to Covid, this is a better home court advantage than Rupp. I've always believed that at the SEC tournament when it's good because it's the. It's a loud crowd, it's people who, who have decided I'm going to take the time to come down there and, and Ryan, like I think about the 2010 game against Tennessee, the Wall year. That's one of the loudest crowds I've ever been to. Associated with the UK game, the Mississippi State game that year where Cousins gets the put back, I mean that was wild. I think about the A and M game that one year, the Tyler Ulis year, where it was during that comeback we came back in the second half and I don't know that I've ever been in an arena as loud as that. When it is loud at the SEC tournament, it's the best of the Kentucky crowd.

[Shannon the Dude]

You're right. The SEC tournament crowd is just different. These are people that often take their vacation, you know, save up and all year for this one week and they're starving, starving to have success, success here since they haven't had a win in this town since 2019.

[Drew Franklin]

And then you throw in the game being at 9:30 and people having a chance to party all day. I just think it could be really rowdy in there.

[Evan]

As long as they can make it into the arena, as long as they can stumble to their seat, it is going to be the best atmosphere that it can be down there.

[Drew Franklin]

Now there's one or two people that gave and I gave may have to help me get into the arena from our group considering how how late it's.

[Evan]

Going to pace yourself.

[Drew Franklin]

That's right. You know who I'm talking about. He's driving down here right now. 859-280-2287 Court Physical Therapy if you're in pain, call court k o r t.com 70 locations around the state. There's a couple here in the Bowling Green area, Bunch in Louisville, Lakeston, all over the place. They will get you out of pain and most insurance companies will pay for the treatment. Go to court.com It's a new year. Make a new you with Court physical therapy. That's kort.com we'll take a break. Be right back here in Bowling Green on the way to Nashville. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

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[Drew Franklin]

Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio 859-280-2287 our SEC tournament trip sponsored by Clayton & Croom. Go ClaytonAndCrum.com ClaytonAndCrume.com use a promo code KSR25 off your purchase. 25 off your purchase. If you buy a hundred dollars or more. We all have gifts. We have bags, we belts. All kinds of stuff from Clayton and Croom. Great leather goods. Go check them out and thank them for their support. Here one person writes in the text machine. Matt, 95% of Americans are up before 7am you're the one that's ridiculous. I don't believe that. All right, how many people in this room are up before 7am Raise your hand. Man. All right, so about half of this room. So 50. I'll accept 50. Not accepted. 95.

[Evan]

I'm at work by 7am what are you talking about? You're not even waking up.

[Drew Franklin]

Listen, I have a lot of respect for people who do it. Like people who work the night shift, people who work factory jobs. They have to get there at 5, 6am Like I have a ton of respect. You guys are working harder than I ever could. With that said, I ain't getting up at 7am Like I've already thought about this. If ESPN offered me the national morning show. Can't do it.

[Evan]

Oh, come on. Yeah, you.

[Drew Franklin]

No, I'm not. Do you know what time I've. You've, I've done that show. You have to get up at like 4:30 every morning. I'm not adjusting my life at this point in my life. I'm not getting up at 4:30 in the morning. If it had been 10 years ago, yeah, maybe. But if they would liked me enough to give me the morning show, I'd say give me the afternoon show. I'm not getting up at 4:30 in the morning. Morning.

[Shannon the Dude]

I respect these people that get up at 4:30 and go work out for an hour or two before they even go to work.

[Drew Franklin]

Who does that?

[Shannon the Dude]

But I think they're a little crazy.

[Drew Franklin]

Who are those people?

[Evan]

I used to do that.

[Unknown]

I've done them before too.

[Evan]

Yeah, I used to get up like 5:30.

[Drew Franklin]

First thing you do is get up and exercise.

[Evan]

Yep.

[Unknown]

I used to go that title boxing three times a week, 6am class.

[Drew Franklin]

That sounds awful.

[Unknown]

One thing I noticed this morning, I. I'm usually up by seven, but not out of my house. On my way to Mario's to meet him at 6:30, I saw a bunch of school buses with kids. I didn't know kids were on buses that early. Maybe I'm just out of touch. But way too early for going to school.

[Drew Franklin]

That's part of why some people want to get rid of whatever. I can't remember which is which. Daylight saving times, the other. But like it leads to kids going to school in the dark.

[Unknown]

Right. It was pitch black outside. I didn't know it was started that early.

[Drew Franklin]

The amount of text messages that I got yesterday about Pulaski Southwest. So. Okay, look, let me just say to the youth people that. That have any connection to Pulaski Southwestern, this ain't me talk, all right? I don't know you all. You've probably been to our show at Mr. Gaddy's. I'm sure you're wonderful people. But the amount of people from all over the state who have said unequivocally that the meanest and craziest fans are Pulaski Southwestern is unbelievable to me. Me, I probably had 50 text messages. Unless there's a concerted campaign, unless Elon has decided to go after Pulaski Southwestern, there has to be something to it. I mean, the amount of messages I got. And then I put that video on Twitter last night, and then that got a whole new round of people talking about Southwestern. What is happening at Southwestern? That's not that far from here. What's going on?

[Shannon the Dude]

Yeah, the video didn't help their argument much, did it, last night. But I've never heard that. But boy, we've got enough messages to kind of support it. That. That's kind of a general consensus.

[Evan]

We need to go by there and see if these people are really that mean. I don't believe it. I think that we're on some sort of smear campaign.

[Drew Franklin]

Soccer team in England. That's like Division 2 or 3. Like they're not in the top division. They're. They're called Millwall. Okay. And they are basically known. Their whole reason they're known is that their fans are hooligans. Like, that's the whole thing. Like, if you say Millwall, everybody's like, yeah, they're fans. Is Drew Pulaski Southwestern? The Millwall of Kentucky, Based on reactions.

[Unknown]

To that video, like, I heard from a bunch of people, too. Had some people from that area, like, please don't call it Pulaski Southwestern. We don't want Pulaski associated.

[Drew Franklin]

They want you to just call it Southwestern so that you. You don't even make Pulaski County.

[Unknown]

You know, I hate to crown someone as maybe one of the worst fan bases in the state when I've never been there, but there's a lot of, as Matt said, a lot of messages out there about how bad it is, and that's just. That's how it goes.

[Evan]

I. I don't know, man. Again, do you think we need to.

[Drew Franklin]

Go to a game?

[Evan]

I think we need to go. We need to go. I mean, we're. We're making these people sound like they're the Philadelphia Eagles fans. I think they're worse of high school basketball.

[Drew Franklin]

Kentucky booed Santa Claus. They flipped him off and called him a di.

[Evan]

Gave him a stunner.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I think that's what they did.

[Unknown]

I saw a screenshot last night. I think it was a reply to your video of the ref's face when she was acting like that. I didn't see that in the original video, but the ref is just appalled by what's going on in the crowd.

[Drew Franklin]

Escorted. They escorted the woman out. They also escorted a coach out. Yeah, the police had to escort a coach out. That doesn't happen a lot.

[Shannon the Dude]

And after we step. Somebody told us that was his mother in law at the coach.

[Evan]

The coaches, I think they're the most exciting fan base in Kentucky, not the meanest.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm not the one saying that. That. I'm just saying if you were to take a poll in the state, if you go by the text machine, that would be what Middlesboro would never.

[Unknown]

Madisonville would never. I don't know about Owell.

[Drew Franklin]

Politest fans in Middlesboro. They'll take you down to Shades and the Cracker Barrel. It will be wonderful. Chain rock.

[Shannon the Dude]

Oh, who doesn't love a good chain rock?

[Drew Franklin]

Who's up next? Corey. Corey, how are you? Corey?

[Evan]

Hey, what's going on, guys? I'm actually, I'm delivering. Well, selling country boy and Bowling green today, so on your way out, you see the country boy truck, give me a wave. But we will needed you guys. I needed you guys to settle a debate with a buddy of mine that we're having. And the winner of the debate, well, the loser of the debate has to buy Big Blue Madness tickets for this up the next year for the win.

[Drew Franklin]

Blue Madness tickets are free. So that's not my. But it's. But either way, go ahead.

[Evan]

Third party tickets rather. But anyway, so his side of the argument is we've seen peak Pope, it's not going to get any better because we have so much experience so on so forth. Whereas my side of the argument says we have five of these guys coming back, we have probably going to get some transfers and then we have the recruiting class that are the dogs that we were missing this year.

[Drew Franklin]

So he's insane. Your friend is insane. And you're gonna win. I mean you're gonna win the tickets. The idea. Appreciate the call. That we've seen peak Pope this year and it'll only be worse is ludicrous. I mean, first of all, I think there's a decent chance that this is the worst talent in the broad perspective that Pope will have. Now I'm not. I don't think it's gonna be a worse team necessarily because I think he's gotten a lot out of of these guys. But if he was able to get all these players, Drew having not coached here at all in four weeks, imagine what he can do otherwise. I expect us to do even better in the Portal this year than we did last year. Freshman. He still needs to go get an elite recruit not from Kentucky. We need to wait and see if he can do that. I don't know why he can't, but we need to see it. But I think we'll do just as well in the Portal this year, if not better than last year. So I think it's ludicrous to say that. I mean, you're trying to tell me you think the best team Mark Pope will have here is a 10 loss team? I just don't believe that.

[Unknown]

No, I think his friends been drinking some of that country boy he's passing around Bowling Green right now. How can you say he's peaked? He hadn't even had a full year here to do anything. This, this time a year ago, Pope was building his next class for BYU and getting ready for tournament for the Big 12 tournament with no idea he'd be coaching Kentucky. Then he threw this together on the fly. If you want to say it after next season. Maybe when he's had a full year and, you know, fair circumstances to have a season, then maybe you can have that opinion. But I think it's crazy to say that this early in Pope's time at Kentucky.

[Evan]

He put this team together in two weeks. He's dealt with injuries throughout the season and in the best conference that we've ever seen in our lifetime. I think he's done a hell of a job.

[Drew Franklin]

The injuries part of it is huge. Best SEC ever, and he had injuries the whole time. I mean, Alabama has a chance to be a one seed. They have five conference losses. We have eight. Like we have three. More than a team that could be a one seed in the turn.

[Shannon the Dude]

You would think that it was probably harder this year because nobody had nothing to base it on. Now he can go out in the transfer portal next year and look what we did. I think it'd be an easier sell from here on out.

[Drew Franklin]

I had a national college basketball writer talk about Pope with me about a week ago, and he said I still need to be proved. It needs to be proven to me that he can go get a top 10 recruit not from Kentucky. Fair enough, he said. But I think Pope has arguably the best story to sell in the portal of anybody. He took a bunch of dudes, almost none of which were even ranked at the top of the transfer class, and he took them to the top. That's another thing we don't think about. A lot of these guys were ranked like 35th in the portal. 40th. Like, we didn't even really get a top 10 portal guy. And yet we're still going to be a three seed in the NCAA tournament. I think it's ridiculous to say that's the best he can do.

[Unknown]

He went and got Oklahoma's sixth man and made him one of the best players in the conference. Imagine him going out and getting another team's best player.

[Drew Franklin]

Exactly right. I think that's a great point. We will take a break, come back our number two here in Bowling Green. This is ksr.

[Matt Jones]

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