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Matt Jones
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Drew Franklin
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Ryan Lemond
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Drew Franklin
Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington welcomes Che Durena March 6th through the 8th. Then catch club favorite nephew Tommy March.
Ryan Lemond
13Th through the 16th and don't miss.
Drew Franklin
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 859-271-JOKE or visit comedyoffbroadway.com Comedy Off Broadway welcome everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Friday, March 14th here in Nashville, Kentucky.
Ryan Lemond
Tennessee.
Drew Franklin
Same thing.
Ryan Lemond
Welcome to Tennessee.
Shannon The Dude
Feels like Kentucky.
Drew Franklin
Nashville, Tennessee on day three of the SEC tournament. I was just on the air. Some of you may just heard me a few hours ago, but we're back here for ksr, sponsored by Clayton and Croom, who have brought us here to Nashville and ready to go. And you can give a shout on Clark's Pump and shop phone line 592-802287, a Vision Auto Glass text machine, 772-774-5254. In this edition, sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. You call TJ. He'll make them pay. The Cats win and absolutely thrilling. Put it in the archives. You'll put it in the memory banks and when remember it forever. Game in Nashville beating Oklahoma 85, 84. We're going to take your calls. I mean I think the easiest way to go to it is just talk about kind of what yesterday was like. Ryan, I mean got up in the morning. We did the show at Tin Roof. Packed house as always, both floors, you know, lines at 4 in the morning, then go from there. Kentucky fans all day up and down the street. And then you get to the actual game. Wild atmosphere, loud, you know, people we predicted drunk. I think that was a fair prediction when you walked into that game and Kentucky plays well but then collapses with two minutes to go, nearly suffers what would have been one of the worst losses that I can remember in A postseason game. But Otega away for the second time against Oklahoma. A buzzer beater and absolutely improbable. One left handed with him falling under the backboard makes it and just releases anarchy in the state, in the arena and in the city and then everywhere. Just an amazing night. Also an injury to Lamont Butler, which changes the calculus on everything going forward. And we'll talk about Lamont Butler. But just last night, I think when you're kind of remembering the evenings I said this on the post game show. When you're remembering the sort of evenings and moments of Kentucky basketball, certainly at the SEC tournament, this one's gonna go in the book.
Matt Jones
Yeah. One of the shows we've done recently, they all kind of run together right now. But you asked us some great moments. SEC tournament moments here in Nashville. Well, now this is maybe the top of the list. I mean it's a Disney movie. A new coach, point guards hurt, your best scores hurt. And this kid hits two game winners against his old team in one season. I mean it's. It's a Disney movie.
Drew Franklin
It's.
Matt Jones
It's probably the best buzzer beater I've seen live. The way it all played out.
Drew Franklin
Were you at the Wall Cousins one?
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
You like this one more?
Matt Jones
I think this because of the wood, just because they. He turned it over, made a couple bad decisions. We couldn't handle the press. And then all of a sudden, boom. He hits it left handed, falling out of bounds at the buzzer.
Shannon The Dude
I was there and I'm glad that panic only lasted five seconds because when Oklahoma went up one, everyone was just turning around looking at each other in disbelief. I felt like my soul left my body. It's like I couldn't believe that just happened. Even when they were cutting into it, Even when fears hit the three, you're thinking, alright, this is getting uncomfortable, but there's no way they're gonna lose. And then to go down one, I can't even put into words how that felt and how that building felt. Luckily that was short lived. And then it went to the complete opposite and flipped the switch and turned into absolute mayhem and celebration.
Drew Franklin
Because you went. Well, you were, you were there too.
Matt Jones
Yes.
Drew Franklin
So explain just to people at home, because I didn't go into the arena for that game. I kind of regret it now actually. But what was it like inside, just in terms of the energy before the game? Because it didn't get started till what, 1040 or 1048. And then what was it like after that shot?
Matt Jones
The energy during the. Before the game and during the game was as good as it gets. SEC tournament crowds are just different. But Drew can probably attest to this. When Lamont Butler went down the tunnel, it, like, it sucked the air out of the arena there for a little bit. It kind of. All that energy kind of disappeared. And then when he didn't come out to start the second half, you could tell that the environment had completely changed there for a while.
Shannon The Dude
I'll start at the beginning. I like RUP Arena. It could never get as crazy as it was in that 8o run to start the game. That place was rocking. A lot of it was because people were drunk. I was telling Johnny here, my favorite game was watching UK fans walk steps with their beers because they were spilling it, not even realizing it because they were looking forward. When they all got to their seat, I know they only had a little bit of beer left. I mean, everyone was just spilling stuff everywhere. But it got so loud in that opening run. And then, like Ryan said, it got quiet for a while. But then when they had the run that I thought was going to decide the game, it was like the OA three brea, three away and one Garrison dunk. It blew up again. And that was just. That's a home environment that, like. Yeah, just a different crowd.
Drew Franklin
Where'd you watch the game?
Ryan Lemond
First half, watched it at Tin Roof right there on Broadway. Then the second half, watched it from home. And I was kind of nodding off, you know, with two minutes left, thinking of, Kentucky's won this game, they're up about 12 points, it's over. And then it woke up, and all of a sudden they were down by one point going, what happened? That's an epic collapse.
Drew Franklin
No, it was, and it really was an epic collapse, but luckily it didn't.
Ryan Lemond
I mean, it doesn't matter now, but, I mean, you.
Drew Franklin
You could break down the last two minutes. And it was a, you know, what's what of horrible decision making. I mean, a couple of bad breaks. They gave the continuation to Fears. You know, they've started calling that this year. That was something that they did not call in college basketball. And they started doing it. I don't love the call, but it wasn't egregious for me. The mistakes really start when we're up seven with, like 40 seconds. They inbound the ball to Amari. Amari shouldn't even be in the game at that point, in my opinion. They inbound it to him, which doesn't make sense because he can't shoot free throws, like, so why is He. Why is he. But then they didn't put him in again. That turnover, that was a brutal turnover. I mean, just a brief. You. If you just take the foul there and make one free throw, you're fine. Gets it down to five. You know, they only did make one free throw, come down, hit a three, then two steals away with poor decisions on pass. He was kind of out of control. Card did get grabbed on that foul. If you look at it. I mean, he got absolutely grabbed, but the rest of them weren't. They just screwed up and then you got. They got the ball, they're down. One fears takes away. And it was a disaster. But one individual play, Ryan, and we won't remember most of it anyway.
Matt Jones
That's true. We could be sitting here today talking about an epic collapse. Thank goodness that didn't happen. But it just shows you how valuable Lamont Butler is of the team. Because if he's in the game, they don't have those late game turnovers like that. You know, he's running the ship. Did you think when. When kicked it away and then made the bad pass to car. He was trying to get fouled? He thought he's gonna get fouled. It's like he was just kind of.
Drew Franklin
I think they were out of control. Pope's gotta call time out there. He's got a timeout. I mean, Pope, they were really. The moment you see how scattered they are, they gotta call timeout because that. That they were. They were scattered. And you know, it is what it is. But it was. Look, we won the game, but that was. That was a master class in screw up. It's. There's nothing you're gonna do about it before tonight. But. But they do need to figure out, okay, if we don't have Butler. And by the way, does anybody think we're gonna have Butler?
Ryan Lemond
No. Have you heard Pope after the game? Yeah. Devastate. Using the word devastating. I don't think he uses that if he's just gonna be out for a game.
Drew Franklin
I agree with you. Now, the one counter to that is Jack Givens said Butler told him it was a different injury. And Given seemed to think that was positive. But, yeah, I'm with you. I don't see how Butler, the way Pope was talking, saying devastating is bad. I also would note. It wouldn't surprise me. We don't hear anything today, Drew, because you want to wait till after you get your NCAA tournament seed. But these new injury regulations, I don't know if they can even do that. So I don't know.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah. I was at Pope's press conference and even though he didn't come out and say anything very direct, the tone just didn't sound good. He said something along the lines of, I just hope this kid get gets to play another college basketball game. The, just the, the vibes around everything was saying did not look good. Butler coming out, not even having a jersey on under his warm up. Not that we would expect him to come back last night. It just didn't feel good around him and fans were panicking. I had people walking up to me like, what are you hearing? What are you hearing? I mean, everyone was just going around the arena trying to find any kind of information.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. And if you, you guys that didn't see the TV broadcast we did here, they also showed Butler talking to Kerr.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
And Kerr had a look on his face like, oh no. Like Butler was covering his mouth when he was talking to all the players. And they all look like, oh. And then they would just kind of.
Ryan Lemond
Like Kurt kind of put his head in his hand.
Drew Franklin
It did look good. But you know what? This is part of what's going to be fascinating about this group now. I mean, Colin Chandler's a starter now.
Matt Jones
He is.
Drew Franklin
Four weeks ago, he wasn't even playing. Four weeks ago he never got in the game. And he's going to be a starter now. And we're going to just have to roll how we roll. I mean, it is what it is. Next man up. I think, you know, there's very few expectations on the team tonight. And then we just go to the NCAA tournament and see. I want to tell two stories though from watching the game here. First of all, story one, I wasn't, I told this on the post game show. I wasn't going to tell it this morning, but you know what, I think it's funny. So I want to tell it this morning. You know, we were watching the TV broadcast. You all wouldn't have known the game. They didn't say anything about Butler. He goes out. They didn't even know he was out. They didn't say he was in the back. Like they didn't say one thing about him. And Tyler Thompson and tweeted that he was had been sent to the locker room. They did all this. So finally, with like a minute and a half left in the half, I'm like, why won't they say anything? So I just text Jimmy Dykes and I go, y'all might want to mention Butler being Butler is not in the game. And he gives me a thumbs up and then like 10 seconds later says it on the broadcast. Which, you know, I was like, yeah, produce the show. Produce the show. Which then led to all of my friends the rest of the night giving me text I needed to send Jimmy Dykes during the game, which I sent. None of those. And then on the post game show, first of all, the post game show, if you haven't heard, it was kind of a special show last night. Like the red moon was above us. We went upstairs, it was me, hubby and Brian. Mario came home and then went back out until 4 o'clock in the morning. But me and hubby and Brian are sitting up there and at the end of the show, you know, Shannon, sometimes you can have like these little emotional moments.
Ryan Lemond
Sure.
Drew Franklin
I'm sitting there looking, it's 3:30 in the morning. We opened up the phones at 2:30. Ryan packed phones. I mean we could have done it all night.
Matt Jones
Amazing.
Drew Franklin
Packed phones until 3:30 in the morning. Billy and I figured it was the latest postgame show we'd ever done. So we're sitting there about to finish the show. What a win over Ortega. You can still hear people like celebrating, right? Red moon up above. I'm sitting there with two of my lifelong friends and I go, you know what? This is just what a night this is. What's great about big Blue Nation under the red moon beat Ortega and how fitting. I'm sitting here with the guy that 20 years ago this year started KSR with me and my friend. Hubby just starts going and just starts giggling uncontrollably. Completely ruining the mood, like completely ruining the mood. And then it ends and you can hear that podcast, you can hear him laughing. And then that ends the show and we go to go to bed.
Ryan Lemond
So that's what you get for trying to be sentimental with your friends.
Drew Franklin
You cannot be sentimental with this group at all. Where do you think you said it might be the most exciting. Where do you think this ranks Last night in se. I mean, it's just the second round. We're not even in the quarterfinals. Boy, do you think it ranks True.
Shannon The Dude
I wasn't in the building losing my voice. I wasn't in the building for wall cousins. I feel like that one might have been a little more special when it happened, but I can't think of many last night because the range of emotions, it's like we got it taken from us and I think we all thought it was over just. They look so bad. Owe couldn't dribble in that last minute till the final Play for them to go make it. And the way he did it, when he turned the corner, we could see a little path and had a little hope. But then he was all contorted, turned the other way, had his left hand with his body going out of bounds. So I mean, I can't remember a better, better SEC tournament memory that I was in the building for. I'm with Ryan.
Drew Franklin
I don't think the guys here, a lot of them went to bed. I don't think you all heard this, but our friend Dwayne spoiled it for me. Told me the ending.
Ryan Lemond
Oh, is it on delay on tv?
Drew Franklin
Yeah, you did, you did look at me right before we in batting goes, don't worry, friend, it's going to be fine. Which then of course interpreted that because he was a minute and a half, minute and a half ahead of the game, which, you know, took away some of the anxiety, but also spoiled the win because he goes, don't worry, friend, it's going to be okay.
Shannon The Dude
I think some people are mad at me because I tweeted it. Being there live, you're much farther ahead of the tv. So a lot of people told me some thanks me. They're like, you helped my anxiety.
Ryan Lemond
That's their fault though. They should be on Twitter. Like if you're on Twitter, you don't YouTube. Don't be on Twitter.
Drew Franklin
By the way, I do think this is the. For me, this is the third best. I think if you. In 92, when we, you know, we hadn't. We'd been. The program had collapsed. Right. And they come back to Birmingham and they win what I still think is the best tournament they've ever had. Although this one's going to compete with it. Then the wall Cousins.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
And the only reason those are is it both of them are in the finals. Right. Like we 92, I think we blew out Alabama in the final, but the crowd was insane. Wall Cousins. I would. I might put this third, though, Ryan, even for a second round game for what? For how it went.
Matt Jones
I think it is ranked pretty high because like you said, all the other variables, you lose Butler, you know, you've got a ragtag group out there. The guy that just made some horrible turnovers is the guy that hits the game winner against this team he just played for last year. I mean it just added all. Add all that up and that's what makes it so special.
Drew Franklin
One person writes, Matt, I lost it. When you looked at Mario after he came on the show when he said he was going out and you went where are you going, son? It's late. Well, it was late. He was leaving the house at 2:15 in the morning.
Ryan Lemond
What time did the bars shut down in Nashville?
Drew Franklin
He walked back.
Ryan Lemond
He said no, he was shutting them down.
Drew Franklin
4:00Am so. And he's up now. Give him a credit. All right, we'll take a break. 859-280-2287. We are going to do the postgame show tonight or pregame show tonight at 7pm at 10 Roof. I expect that to be a wild atmosphere.
Matt Jones
As crazy it was yesterday, it'll amp.
Drew Franklin
Up even more today, even crazier. And I would say this. Well, we'll talk more about this. Let's take a break. Be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Geico's motorcycle expertise gives me the coverage I need. Like 24.
Shannon The Dude
Seven claims.
Drew Franklin
I'm on cloud nine.
Matt Jones
Clouds are wholly unable to support the.
Drew Franklin
Weight of an adult human.
Matt Jones
What's happening?
Drew Franklin
Furthermore, clouds are not numbered.
Matt Jones
Even if you procured a jetpack and searched, you'd find no cloud number nine.
Drew Franklin
However, at that altitude, you'd likely befriend.
Matt Jones
A flock of migrating snow geese.
Drew Franklin
Geese who'd encourage you to leave your.
Matt Jones
24.7Geico motorcycle claims insurance behind as they.
Drew Franklin
Would take you in and even share.
Matt Jones
Their dinner of crickets and clovers with you. GEICO assumes no liability for any indigestion.
Drew Franklin
That may occur from a clover. Cricket dinner.
Matt Jones
GEICO expertise for your motorcycle.
Drew Franklin
Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio SEC tournament trip sponsored by Clayton and Croom. Go to clayton and croom crummy.com use code KSR. If you get more than a hundred dollars of leather goods, you'll get 25 off. I want to thank Clayton and Croom. Big shout out to Parker and shout out to all the people who've told me they're doing that in support. That's very, very cool of you. One of our, a Kentucky company and one of our longest partners. One person says, Matt, the away shot reminds me of the Chuck Hayes against LLSU in the SEC turn. That's a good one. That's a very similar. Very similar. There weren't as many. I don't think there were many, as many Kentucky fans at that game because I don't think people thought a lot about what was going to happen with that group. But that's a very good one.
Matt Jones
I'm trying to think, was that in Atlanta?
Drew Franklin
I think it was.
Matt Jones
I think it was in Atlanta.
Drew Franklin
It was in Atlanta. Yeah. I was at that game. I do remember that. That was a good One.
Matt Jones
It's just like I said, that the crowd. We've been starving for some success in the SEC tournament. Starving to win a game in this town in the SEC tournament. And it all happened so unlikely by the guy that turned it over a couple times right before he hit the game winner.
Drew Franklin
So. So today, you know, like, wouldn't you. If you were within driving distance, wouldn't you come today? Like, whether you can get in the arena or not, just to be in the. The atmosphere. I mean, I checked there's still hotels available and they're not crazy. I mean, you know, even if you don't. Like, there was a guy who called me who got up and who got up at 1am last night from Tuscaloosa, drove to Nashville and was driving back to Tuscaloosa during the post game show. Got. Got up at 1am to come to our show in the morning and then win. Like, I feel like tonight is going to be. Tonight's gonna be wild.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah. And I know people come here and don't go to the game and watch at bars, but I saw the videos that Ten Roof was posting. That place was packed on all three levels of Kentucky fans that presumably just drove down here to be in the atmosphere. So it's not just Bridgestone if you can't get in there. And you should try your best. But Broadway looked like it was just a huge party during the game too.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. Just being in a collective environment. I mean, KS Bar was rowdy. I mean, this is rowdy. Like, you get. I just. You don't want to sit and watch this one by yourself?
Ryan Lemond
No, with this one.
Drew Franklin
And we also have no pressure tonight. No. You think? I mean, I feel like there's no.
Ryan Lemond
Especially with. With Butler out. I mean, I think, you know, being a Friday night too. No. Nobody has to go to work tomorrow morning. So I think that this could be.
Drew Franklin
Even, I think, like, taken today.
Matt Jones
Amen.
Drew Franklin
I mean, Louisville hits a buzzer beater. Kentucky hits close to a buzzer beater.
Shannon The Dude
Arkansas lost on a buzzer like this.
Drew Franklin
Like, I think Beshear should have said. All right, y'all get the day off. You know what I mean? Everybody in the state, you just get this one off and we'll. We'll start again on Saturday.
Ryan Lemond
Probably one of the least productive work days around Kentucky in a long time. So people are showing up, nothing getting done.
Drew Franklin
Everybody's watching highlights, some. Some stuff. Other highlights. How about Mitch Barnhart and Brandon Garrison? With Mitch trying to keep Brandon Garrison after the game from getting a technical.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
Mitch like grabs, even puts his finger in his face. Like the kid made Mutombo like.
Matt Jones
Because that was the one worry. I was almost concerned when they put him in late in the game that, oh, no, you know, this could get ugly. Then I watched him at the handshake line. He's the one kind of wild card that was going on.
Drew Franklin
It was definitely a wild card like he was. But, dude, he gets out of control when he sees that Oklahoma shirt.
Shannon The Dude
I've mentioned it before. I went back and watched when he was Oklahoma State. He lost to them twice at the last second and both times they waved to him. So he's now gotten him back twice, but he ran straight to that bench to wave in their face.
Ryan Lemond
I'm proud of him, though. We didn't get our technical. We did over under half. Half a technical.
Drew Franklin
We were fortunate. You know, they. They basically let. This is what drives me crazy about rest. For about 36 minutes they just took the view we're letting them play. And then in the last three or four minutes, just whistle after whistle. I mean, but they let him go for a long time and I actually thought it kind of helped Kentucky a lot of the game.
Matt Jones
I think it did until Andrew Carr got the ball and they kind of mugged him and they ripped it away from him there. That's when I thought you swallowed the whistle, right?
Drew Franklin
Yeah. And he stayed. You could look at the video. It's. It's Oglesby. He's. He's standing right there. Right, right there. There's no way he couldn't have seen him get grabbed. I mean, I. There were, you know, the. Chandler not calling the foul when he started bleeding. That's bad. But that, that you can't let the car thing go because they just took. Grabbed him and took the ball from him. But it happens that we end up. We end up getting the win. So now you go tonight. I mean, we talked about, like, the atmosphere is going to be awesome. Do we have any chance of winning the game? I mean, by the way, this is the exact team we're going to. We took to Tuscaloosa, right? So we've been here before. Which is the exact team we took to Tuscaloosa and probably stayed with them 30 of the 40 minutes.
Matt Jones
Help me remember in the game at Tuscaloosa, who ran the point most of the game?
Drew Franklin
Perry. Perry. So now it's going to be Chandler. I mean, don't you think Chandler's. Is Chandler the starting point guard now?
Ryan Lemond
I think he's deserving at this point, the way he's played.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I think he's. He. He's just a better option because he doesn't kill you even if he doesn't score, he doesn't kill you on defense the way Perry does, you know.
Matt Jones
Yeah. That'd be a tough matchup if Travis is trying to guard Mark Sears.
Drew Franklin
Tough matchup. Yes. Chandler won't be able to stop him, but I think he can do more with him. Right.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah. And I genuinely would. Would think Kentucky could win this game, would win this game if Butler were healthy. I still think they'll be in it, but just the way they had the crowd support behind them, the way they pulled that off in the end, I would have taken it against Alabama, but it's going to be tough without Butler out there.
Drew Franklin
So in the NCAA tournament, let's say he doesn't play. I think it also makes it to where we're still going to have expectations to win that first game. But then it's kind of like, well, whatever happens, happens. Would you agree with that?
Ryan Lemond
Yeah. At this point, just, just you got to take it one game at a time. I think if you win that first game and you lose, there's no shame in that knowing that you have three guards not available due to injury. So I think you got at least when your first one, then after that you're playing with house money.
Matt Jones
Get the win. Let Mark Pope get his first NCAA tournament win and then let's just see how it plays out in the second round.
Drew Franklin
Yes. And it'll make it to where our trip in the first and second round, we need to really enjoy. Just in case it goes. In case it doesn't go to the next one. It was up first.
Matt Jones
Richard is up first.
Drew Franklin
Richard. Go ahead, Richard.
Matt Jones
Well, I was so proud of those guys last night. They gutted that one out.
Drew Franklin
And whether we win any more games.
Matt Jones
Or not the rest of the season.
Drew Franklin
I've really enjoyed this team. And I hope the ones you can.
Matt Jones
Come back do come back and we'll be. We'll build around them and be loaded next year. That's all I got for you fellas.
Drew Franklin
Well, I appreciate the call. I do think that they, you know, owe coming back will be of the best players we've had come back in years. I mean, when will. Who will be? I guess Antonio Reeves came back, but I don't think fans he hadn't shown what he ended up becoming yet. Right. I mean, this will. If away comes back, this will be one of the biggest dudes to return in a Long time, don't you think? I mean, it's, is it go back to like the twins?
Shannon The Dude
Twins. Oscar.
Drew Franklin
Oscar. Okay. Oscar. Yeah, Oscar's a, Oscar would be first. So, like, when you think of big returners in the last few years, Terrence Jones, the twins, Willie, Willie twice. But he was hurt. He didn't really have a chance.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
Oscar. Yeah. Reeves and him, that's probably the group.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah. And I think he could be a face of college basketball. Kentucky's probably selling him on that, certainly in the league. And I think he'll be a big piece. I think they'll go get potentially four starters to build around him.
Drew Franklin
And he's the guy I want to be. I want him to be really good in March. I don't want to be too good. Shannon.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah, yeah.
Drew Franklin
You know, I don't want to get him. I don't want to go get him drafted in the second round or anything.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah, it could, it could, could very well happen.
Drew Franklin
859-280-2287. We will take a break and be right back here on the Clayton and Groom trip to the SEC tournaments. Ksr welcome back Techie Sports Radio here in Nashville. Remember, tonight at 7 Eastern, we are going to do a pregame show 6 Central in Nashville on Broadway at Tin Roof. You need to come by. They are Kentucky branded set up. They are selling. People ask me about KSR merchandise. They get those really nice KSR Nike hoodies that are hard to find. They're here right now. They got this hat. Sweet. Which is the Kentucky backwards. You know, the, if you watch, look at them in a mirror hat.
Ryan Lemond
So is that like you're supposed to go take the picture. I don't know what a mirror.
Drew Franklin
And then it's when people ask me to take a selfie, this will make it look like I'm wearing a Kentucky hat.
Shannon The Dude
It's upside down, though, so you'd have to turn upside down.
Drew Franklin
I do also turn up. You've never taken a picture of me. I stand on my head.
Shannon The Dude
Okay.
Drew Franklin
You know, you've never asked me for one. I would.
Shannon The Dude
Next break.
Drew Franklin
We'll try.
Shannon The Dude
We'll see.
Drew Franklin
I would do it for you, too. 859-280-2287. One person writes. Matt, I listened last night. I think Mario's the new Drew going out. You said you're the new Ryan and Ryan is the new who? Oscar Combs.
Matt Jones
Fair.
Ryan Lemond
Combs Fair.
Matt Jones
I, I, I will say this. You know, Josiah and I stayed the end of the game and then after they won, nobody wanted to leave and they brought out Ortega and Mark Pope to the SEC network table. And the crowd just migrated over there, and we just surrounded. I was part of it. I just. Nobody wanted to leave.
Drew Franklin
They showed that on tv. Like, everybody walked in that direction, and.
Matt Jones
They were doing the away, away, away, away chant during the broadcast. So it was really. It was a kind of a special moment.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, that was. That was really. You know, I've said this for a while. The Shannon, the environment here, it's. It's. It's even less the games. It's when it's good. It's almost like a UK basketball festival.
Ryan Lemond
Oh, yeah, right.
Drew Franklin
And especially when we play this late game because you get all day for, like, with this festival atmosphere, and then you have a game.
Ryan Lemond
You know, there's a great picture of the fans going into the arena last night, and you don't see anything except for blue. I mean, this. This fan base completely takes over Nashville. And, you know, again, people coming down here just to be a part of it, just to watch the games, don't even have tickets. But if you're a Kentucky fan, this is the greatest place to be all year.
Drew Franklin
One person writes. Jack Given said before the game, Butler got a new shoulder brace that wasn't as bulky and let him move better. Do we think that might be why he tweaked the shoulder? Who knows? I mean, who knows? I. Hindsight's 20 20. I mean, you know, you got. Let me say this. You got to give Robinson and Butler both credit. They both had an injury. They both came back to try to play with the injury, and they both re injured their injury and when it probably would have been easy for both of them to sit out. I think that shows, honestly, Drew a lot of guts from both guys.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, Butler especially. Maybe this is even to a fault, but he doesn't have a lower speed, lower gear. Like, there's no. I'm gonna be a little softer. Protect his shoulder. He's still running through screens and diving for balls. And that might be the reason he's gonna be out now. But, I mean, the guy just full of heart and cannot take any plays off.
Drew Franklin
Didn't Robinson get hurt in the Oklahoma game, too? Is that now? We lost both of them.
Shannon The Dude
You know what? Damn it. Oklahoma. Now that's why Brandon Garrison hates him so much.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I think we lost them both.
Ryan Lemond
If you had the option, though, would you not set out Butler today to have him for the NCAA tournament? Right. Sure.
Drew Franklin
That were the option for the NCAA tournament. You sent him out. If there's Any chance? I personally think, just if you listen to Pope, he's not going to be back. But, but yes, I mean, I, I listen. I want to win today, but now the idea that you're going to beat Alabama, Florida, back to. Back to back is fairly unlikely. So if you have any chance, Ryan, of playing Butler, you would sit him out.
Matt Jones
Just sit him out and hope he can get him ready by next week. This time next week.
Drew Franklin
What did you think about the non. You know, the Chandler, Noah, Perry, Almanor, Garrison, the bench. What did you think about.
Matt Jones
Well, we, we. I noticed that in that stretch where they went up by 12, you know, Pope just ran with those four guys, Chandler away, Brea and Carr, and then rotated Garrison and Amari and he just. Travis, I don't think played one minute in the second half. Noah played a little bit.
Drew Franklin
I thought Noah played well. Noah had. At one point, he had six rebounds early in the. Yeah, yeah. I, you know, Garrison scares me every time he gets the ball, but he did have a couple. That dunk. He threw that guy on the floor, by the way. On that dunk. Oh, yeah. I mean, he just threw him on the floor. That was one. That was a good no call for.
Shannon The Dude
Us about where he's running full speed and just runs through it.
Drew Franklin
What was on that inbounds play or whatever. He just. They just threw the guy to the ground. He didn't call it. He got a wide open dog. We took it.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, I've got mixed emotions about him because I loved watching him do all that after the game. But also at the same time, if that's going to be a big piece of next year's team, they got a dial him back a little bit because he's a little bit of a ticking time bomb with getting a technical foul or something going south.
Drew Franklin
Colin Chandler, though, I'm in.
Matt Jones
Yeah, I am, too.
Drew Franklin
I mean, he missed some shots last night, but he's not scared. He played. He looks like he fits in.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
And he was, as the turkey hunter said yesterday, he was terrified four weeks ago and now he looks completely comfortable.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah, I mean, he plays with a lot of heart and, you know, you talk about a guy that's come off the bench that I had no expectations to where he is now.
Drew Franklin
He was the 12th man a month ago and now he's a starting point. It really is amazing.
Matt Jones
Well, to his credit, you know, he earned some minutes just by playing good defense and then he got a little confidence in his offensive game and now Pope has confidence in him. So that's why he's playing more minutes.
Drew Franklin
Who's up next?
Matt Jones
Corey is up there.
Drew Franklin
Corey. Go ahead, Corey. Oh, boys. Last night everybody wanted to rule the.
Shannon The Dude
World, but it was only tears for Jeremiah Fears. Ortega saw familiar faces from worn out.
Drew Franklin
Places, but he sent BBN head over.
Shannon The Dude
Heels with a great game winner.
Drew Franklin
Listen, whatever happens tonight, happens tonight.
Shannon The Dude
I think, I think Chandler gets us 15.
Drew Franklin
He's the MVP. If he can give us good minutes, we win.
Shannon The Dude
Let's see what happens. I do feel comfortable in the bracketology that we make it to the sweet 16 even without Butler.
Drew Franklin
Let's give him 10 days of rest and see what happens. Way to go, Cats. Appreciate it. I think all those, you know, good, good, good realizations. I think Bray, you know, Bray hit four threes. That's huge for us.
Matt Jones
Huge.
Drew Franklin
But we, otherwise we missed a lot of threes open. I mean, we had open looks last night. Jeremiah fears was at 1.1 for 10 from 3 and playing terribly. And then he got crazy hot Drew to end the game.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, Kentucky was kind of hot early when they jumped out to the big lead. They cooled off a little bit. I think that's why Perry's minutes have been dwindling a little bit. It's a combination of Chandler stepping up and Perry hadn't been hitting open shots. When he get Andrew Carr, I think he made one. He's getting a little bit quicker. Quicker trigger out there like we want to see. But some of the guys still hesitate shooting them too.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, Perry and Perry and Noah, they both. I mean, ultimately they got to make their shots if they're going to be, I mean, especially Perry, like he had, I think two threes and neither one of them was close.
Matt Jones
They were good looks too.
Drew Franklin
You got it. If he's going to be in Shannon, he's got to go in.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah. And my concern today is, you know, if Kentucky can hold Alabama to, you know, maybe in the 80s, I don't know that Kentucky with this lineup can, can score in the 90s. And that's, I think that's a concern.
Drew Franklin
And that's the problem against Alabama is it's almost impossible to hold them under. You can't hold them under 80.
Ryan Lemond
Right.
Drew Franklin
Maybe you could hold them under 90.
Ryan Lemond
If they can. I feel good about the game, but if they, you know, if it gets into the 90s, I just don't think.
Drew Franklin
It'S hard to just add up 90 points with this roster that's going to be on the floor now.
Matt Jones
Yeah, Shannon brings up a good point. You got to outscore them and now you're down. Maybe another big offensive cog. While we're throwing this around, I do want to mention Ansley Elemer didn't play a lot of minutes, but he hit two buckets that were kind of crucial, big buckets when he hit him.
Drew Franklin
And he got a rebound right. You know, he doesn't fill up a lot of the other parts of the score sheet usually, but he got a rebound.
Shannon The Dude
And talking about Noah, I was a little far away from what I will see it. Did he get popped, too?
Drew Franklin
His was not intentional. He just kind of ran, like. Ran into his shoulder or something.
Matt Jones
Okay.
Shannon The Dude
So he kept checking his hand. You know, like when you're seeing if you're.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, he was, like, running. Threw a pick or something, and he.
Shannon The Dude
He.
Drew Franklin
Okay, he hit, but he did. He. He got popped in the face, too. Who's up next?
Matt Jones
Alan is up next.
Drew Franklin
Alan. Go ahead, Alan. Good morning, gentlemen.
Matt Jones
It was so satisfying to actually be able to write Kentucky down in my SEC bracket. It's been a while since I've been able to do that. So, yes, extremely satisfying to do that. And on a second note, I just want to make sure Mark Pope gets his flowers. We may not win another game this year due to Butler or whatever, but we're on our fourth point guard. He lost the only player that's played.
Drew Franklin
Before him in the past. He only had one player when he.
Matt Jones
Got here in Travis. He had no staff. He's had injuries all year long.
Drew Franklin
I have.
Matt Jones
I have no doubt this is the guy for us in the future. And, you know, I hope BBN understands if we crap out at the rest of the year because of injuries, he's still the guy. Thanks, guys.
Drew Franklin
Go, Cat. I agree with you. I mean, I didn't think about it like that, Drew, that it's our fourth point guard. I mean, if you assume Colin Chandler is the point guard. Actually, it's our point of point guard. Yeah, because, I mean, Jackson Robinson was playing point.
Matt Jones
Yes, he was.
Drew Franklin
We've lost Butler, Kerr, Jackson Perry has gotten past. So it is now our fifth point guard on the season.
Shannon The Dude
And I've seen people online, and maybe it's not many, but they're like, this is Kentucky. Injuries aren't an excuse. Okay, I'll hear you a little bit. But at some point, when you run out of all of your ball handlers, you have to take that into consideration.
Drew Franklin
I mean, our injur not gonna be an excuse for Duke if they lose. Cooper, flag for the year. I mean, they're not winning the national title. Without Cooper Flagg, Like. Like, you take Anthony Davis from the 2012 team, We Ain't winning. You know, I mean, like, injuries are part of it. They just are.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, we hate it. It's happening, and we hate having to kind of change our expectations going into March. But you also have to be real. And, like, being down your, what, your fifth option on the depth chart as a point guard is pretty nuts.
Matt Jones
Yeah. And we. Like we said earlier, you see how valuable Butler is to this team by how they kind of collapsed there at the end of the game.
Drew Franklin
They've lost two of them.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
I mean, Butler and Robinson are. Well, again, it's weird to say who's the most important player because the five starters and Kobe Bray have all kind of been similar, but they're. They might be the most important, too, and you've lost them both.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah.
Ryan Lemond
Mark Pope's done a great job of doing more with less. I mean, you take anybody's three guards away from them and see how they do, I don't care who it is.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I think. I think that's a great point. No matter what, three of their top four guards are gone. You do that to any team, it's gonna hurt.
Ryan Lemond
See what happens to them. Yeah.
Drew Franklin
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Matt Jones
Part of your group.
Drew Franklin
It's part of my. That was my present to him. He will be one of these next two days wearing a Conway Twitty shirt.
Matt Jones
Well, Drew had on a Loretta Lynn T shirt yesterday.
Drew Franklin
Exactly. They could have made some Mississippi, Louisiana woman. Mississippi man. Magic.
Ryan Lemond
Who brought you the shirt with your character, changing the battery and a fire alarm?
Drew Franklin
Somebody. Somebody brought me that, and it was in my car. And that is. It maybe got a little dirty. Yeah, but that's okay. A little mold on it. Just a little black mold. It happens. We'll take a break. Be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. 859280. 2287. Sponsored Clayton & Croom Text Machine is 772-7745254. One person writes, Matt, you got to talk about the SEC Network music choices. It feels like it's a 1992 Jock Jams. They go to break. You all couldn't hear this. It's like they only played for paid music for the CNC Music factory cd. Yeah, they played like gonna make you sweat. They played.
Ryan Lemond
Y'all read for this.
Drew Franklin
Y'all ready for this. It was only CNC Music factory all night. And I said, what did they. Is that the only CD Finesse Williams is that.
Ryan Lemond
I mean, look, I had jock jams. I loved volume one and volume two were both bangers.
Drew Franklin
So the only one they didn't play was things that make you go tonight's game maybe. Which is what I would have said about why they didn't call it foul on the Andrew Carr. Another person writes, Matt, why didn't they review the Colin Chandler elbow? I don't know. Partially because I guess they didn't call foul. I mean, so there was, there was nothing to review. I mean, that gave Tyler Eulis vibes with the blood running down his face.
Matt Jones
Pope got hot about that too. Man, he was running. He was in that ref's ear for a long time about that.
Drew Franklin
It was definitely a foul. When they showed the reply.
Ryan Lemond
I don't get how they didn't call that a foul. How did they think that that happened? You see blood running down a guy's face.
Drew Franklin
Well, there was.
Ryan Lemond
Did you think it was incidental Condo?
Drew Franklin
I don't understand. How did they think that one guy went flying into the stands when Brandon Garrett and it didn't. I mean, I, I, you know, you got to be careful not to reward flops, but if a dude's bleeding, he didn't do it to himself.
Ryan Lemond
You know, he's not out there just blading like Rick Flair probably made it to tv.
Shannon The Dude
I know Ryan heard it. There was a beautiful ref you suck chant. I mean, everyone in unison. It was all in key. It was great. I know the refs didn't love that, but I was worried about them if Kentucky didn't win that game because that fan base was very upset about.
Drew Franklin
Is it, is it Ryan? The best day in SEC tournament history yesterday. When you consider the buzzer beater of the Ole Miss game. Double overtime. Texas, Texas A and M, Missouri, Mississippi State. Yeah, it was okay. But then will the Kentucky game.
Matt Jones
It'd be hard to argue against it because it was. Every game was exciting Even Mississippi State, Missouri was close for most of the game, but those other three games, it was like, perfect setup for the SEC network. Yesterday, the game for as boring as.
Ryan Lemond
The first day, kind of was. The second day yesterday more than made up for that.
Drew Franklin
It's. And today could be. I mean, today you've got everybody's good try. I mean, Texas probably the only team that's not great, but they got maybe the best player in the league as an NBA talent, at least with Trey Johnson. So it should be a good day.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah. And I could tell you coming over here from Broadway, I already saw Auburn shirts all up and down the side. It's already started again for the noon teams. They're already out getting ready. So it's gonna be another wild one.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. I mean, I actually think because Auburn and Tennessee are in the early game, they're gonna have a. That's gonna be a tough ticket.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
Tonight, you know, Alabama will have a good crowd, but once again, I think Kentucky can get a lot of people in there if they want, because Alabama will have a good crowd, but I think the second and third best crowd will probably be Auburn and Tennessee, and they'll be done.
Matt Jones
So is it one of the rare times where, as they say, Florida wins, The Florida fans will be rooting for Kentucky tonight to beat Alabama? Usually if I were the opposite.
Drew Franklin
Yeah. If I were them, I would. I mean, we. You know, you're. If you're rooting for the underdog. I mean, Tennessee fans will be rooting for Ole Miss.
Matt Jones
Right.
Drew Franklin
If Auburn wins, they're going to be rooting for Texas.
Ryan Lemond
I mean, that's what's going to be a hot ticket. I'm just trying to decide if I should actually go to the game. Okay. Well, I have a spot to sit.
Shannon The Dude
I didn't have one. So you're not.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Ryan Lemond
So where do you go? That's my question.
Shannon The Dude
Overflow area.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Ryan Lemond
That's why I thought we were. We got kicked out of there.
Drew Franklin
I don't know. I don't know if I'll go or not. I think I heard you say, Shannon, going. The media experience is overrated here. It used to be awesome.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
You were on the floor. Yeah. And then now. I mean, it's like everything else. They sold a lot of those seats. I mean, I'm not complaining, but it's.
Ryan Lemond
Just the best part about it was the food. Honestly, for me, they had skirt steak, mashed potatoes, green beans.
Drew Franklin
The best part of being cheesecake. The best part of being at the SEC tournament as a media Member is the atmosphere. It's literally the. And I mean, the atmosphere even outside, just like going up and down. Yeah.
Ryan Lemond
I mean, it's great when you're not debating where you should be sitting with the security guards. But how was your people asking?
Drew Franklin
I mean, we were there for some of it. How was your Alice Blue guy?
Ryan Lemond
Oh, it was great. I think it was the best show we played probably ever with those four guys.
Drew Franklin
Four hours straight.
Ryan Lemond
Four hours straight. Did not have a break, didn't do any repeats, and it was. It was great. I want to thank everybody who came out, including you guys. Really appreciate you taking the time to be there. And it was.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, people were rocking out, all ages. I saw a woman that I thought was going to flash you, and she was. She was almost my mom's age.
Ryan Lemond
Like the lady in the high school game.
Drew Franklin
You get.
Shannon The Dude
You.
Drew Franklin
You get it. It was. Maybe it was the woman from the Southwestern game. I don't know. Who's up next?
Shannon The Dude
Hunter is up next.
Drew Franklin
Hunter. Hey, Hunter. What's up?
Shannon The Dude
Hey. I got a quick question or more just like your. All thoughts on it?
Drew Franklin
So I had a friend who stayed up till halftime but then went to bed at halftime. How much of a sin do you think that is? That's a huge sin. How do you. I mean, if you're going to take the time to stay up for the first half, how are you not going to watch the second half? I mean, I could even understand go to bed with two minutes to go because you think it's over or something like that. But if you can't stay up for the second half. I don't know. That one I don't understand.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, he's a big KSR fan, so I kind of wanted to shame him on here.
Drew Franklin
And then my final thought was, what's his name? Just his first name. What's his first name? So I can make Mason. Nathan, don't be a wimp, Mace. And then tell Mason not to be a wimp either. Both of you all need to not be a wimp.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah.
Shannon The Dude
For real.
Matt Jones
But.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah.
Drew Franklin
I've never seen Chandler talk to a.
Shannon The Dude
Ref until he started bleeding. That's when I was like, there's something.
Drew Franklin
Wrong with this rep. If Chandler talked to him. Yeah.
Shannon The Dude
Thank you.
Drew Franklin
I appreciate the call. Listen, man, I mean, if this team's going to do anything from here on, Chandler's going to have to be a big part of it. I mean, he's going to have to. Ryan, he's got to play well. I mean, he's going to have to take even another step.
Matt Jones
And if he's going to be the point guard, you know, now he's got Mark Sears next week. I mean tomorrow I could have Clayton, you know, he's got some major defensive assignments coming up.
Drew Franklin
Not worried about the defense part. I mean. Well, I mean he's not. He's going to be a step down from Lamont, but I actually think he's probably a step up from Perry defensively. I just want to see can he, you know, can he give. Is it crazy to say he could give what Lamont gives offensively. He won't give what he gives defensively, but can he give what he gives offensively? Close.
Shannon The Dude
I mean Lamont can get to the rim a little better. Although he wasn't. He hadn't been finishing well since he's.
Drew Franklin
In well, he had a big basket basket last night. They were on a little run the first half and he just went and went right to the basket and scored.
Shannon The Dude
On some of the only guys on Lamont. No way are the two that can only two that can do that. So I don't think match that. But I think he's still as much. I like Perry. I think it is a bit of an upgrade from Perry. What he was.
Drew Franklin
Can we talk about Port Porter Moser? Is that the Oklahoma.
Matt Jones
Yes.
Drew Franklin
We talk about his suit.
Ryan Lemond
Yeah, it was something.
Drew Franklin
What was. He looked. Somebody told me he looked like the manager at a C level casino asking if you wanted to go to the buffet.
Shannon The Dude
Somebody told me he looks like a mayor. A villain mayor in a fictional city and like a superhero.
Drew Franklin
He was wearing like five different colors on the top. I thought he looked ridiculous.
Matt Jones
And he's Toby Keith autographed shoes on again. Two games in a row.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, my man can shop at a better maybe what can after this year? I don't know if he's going to get fired, but he's. He could get a bake. He could get a better look. Can he.
Shannon The Dude
Did he get dressed in the dark? Is he colorblind like that? That wasn't it.
Drew Franklin
The jacket was like red, the tie was purple and shirt was black and it was just. It was a really strange look. We will take a break, come back hour number two. This is.
Matt Jones
It's tax season and by now I know we're all a bit tired of numbers but here's an important one you need to hear. $16.5 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud last year. Here's another 20%. That's the overall increase in identity theft related to tax fraud in 2024 alone. But it's not all grim news. Here's a good number. 100 million. That's how many data points Lifelock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's US based restoration specialists will fix it, backed by another good number, the million dollar protection plan. In fact, restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't face identity theft and financial losses alone. There's strength in numbers with Lifelock Identity Theft Protection for tax season and beyond. Join now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40% off. Terms apply.
Podcast Title: KSR
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Episode Release Date: March 14, 2025
Episode Title: KSR - Hour 1
The primary focus of this episode centers around the intense SEC tournament matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Oklahoma Sooners. The game, held in Nashville, Tennessee, concluded with a dramatic buzzer-beater by Oklahoma, leading to a narrow victory over Kentucky with a final score of 85-84.
Notable Quote:
Matt Jones [01:10]: "The Cats win and absolutely thrilling. Put it in the archives. You'll put it in the memory banks and remember it forever."
The hosts discuss the vibrant atmosphere leading up to the game. They recount attending a packed show at Tin Roof, highlighting the fervent Kentucky fan presence in Nashville. The anticipation was heightened by predictions of a wild and possibly tipsy crowd, setting the stage for a memorable encounter.
Notable Quote:
Ryan Lemond [02:00]: "We did the show at Tin Roof. Packed house as always, both floors, you know, lines at 4 in the morning."
The conversation delves into the game's progression, emphasizing Kentucky's strong performance initially. However, as the game neared its conclusion, Kentucky experienced a significant collapse, culminating in Oklahoma's improbable buzzer-beater.
Notable Quotes:
Drew Franklin [02:30]: "When you walked into that game and Kentucky plays well but then collapses with two minutes to go."
Shannon The Dude [04:35]: "It was like I couldn't believe that just happened... It turned into absolute mayhem and celebration."
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the injuries sustained during the game, particularly Lamont Butler's injury. The absence of Butler profoundly affected Kentucky's gameplay, leading to late-game turnovers and altered team dynamics.
Notable Quotes:
Matt Jones [05:19]: "It just shows you how valuable Lamont Butler is to the team."
Ryan Lemond [08:27]: "No, have you heard Pope after the game? Yeah. Devastated."
Coach Mark Pope's decisions are scrutinized, especially his reliance on a depleted roster due to injuries. The hosts commend his ability to manage the team under adverse conditions but express concern over the sustainability of such strategies in upcoming games.
Notable Quotes:
Drew Franklin [07:59]: "They were scattered... But they do need to figure out, okay, if we don't have Butler."
Shannon The Dude [33:34]: "Being down your fifth option on the depth chart as a point guard is pretty nuts."
With multiple point guards sidelined, Colin Chandler has stepped into the starting role, showcasing significant improvement and leadership on the court. His performance has been pivotal in maintaining Kentucky's competitiveness despite the team's challenges.
Notable Quotes:
Drew Franklin [09:56]: "Four weeks ago, he wasn't even playing. Now he's a starter."
Matt Jones [29:55]: "He earned some minutes just by playing good defense and then got confidence in his offensive game."
Looking ahead, the hosts discuss Kentucky's prospects in the NCAA tournament. They acknowledge the uncertainties due to current injuries but remain cautiously optimistic about the team's ability to advance, emphasizing the need to focus on one game at a time.
Notable Quotes:
Ryan Lemond [21:51]: "Just take it one game at a time... There's no shame in that knowing that you have three guards not available due to injury."
Matt Jones [22:21]: "Come back and we'll build around them and be loaded next year."
The overwhelming support from Kentucky fans is highlighted, with Nashville becoming a hub of Blue Nation energy. The sense of community and shared passion among fans contributes to an electrifying environment during the games.
Notable Quote:
Drew Franklin [25:34]: "The Shannon, the environment here, it's even less the games. It's when it's good. It's almost like a UK basketball festival."
Amidst the game analysis, the hosts share personal stories and humorous moments from their experiences, adding a relatable and entertaining layer to the discussion. These anecdotes provide insight into the camaraderie and dynamics within the KSR team.
Notable Quotes:
Drew Franklin [11:47]: "Billy and I figured it was the latest postgame show we'd ever done... my friend just starts giggling uncontrollably."
Shannon The Dude [41:11]: "He's a big KSR fan, so I kind of wanted to shame him on here."
The episode concludes with reflections on the team's resilience in the face of adversity and the essential role of key players like Colin Chandler. The hosts express hope for future successes and the potential return of injured players, emphasizing the importance of building a strong foundation for upcoming seasons.
Notable Quotes:
Drew Franklin [23:40]: "He could get a better look. Can he... He could get a bake. He could get a better look."
Matt Jones [34:04]: "We've lost two of them. I mean, Butler and Robinson are... You might be the most important, too, and you've lost them both."
Dramatic Game Outcome: The Kentucky vs. Oklahoma game was a nail-biter, ending with a last-second buzzer-beater that shifted the outcome dramatically in Oklahoma's favor.
Injuries Impacting Team Performance: Lamont Butler's injury was a critical turning point, highlighting his importance to the team and affecting Kentucky's performance in crucial moments.
Emergence of New Leadership: Colin Chandler has risen as a key player, stepping into the starting point guard role and demonstrating significant improvement and leadership.
Coaching Challenges: Coach Mark Pope faces the challenge of managing a team with multiple injuries, relying on strategic decisions and the resilience of remaining players.
Fan Engagement: Kentucky's passionate fan base creates an intense and supportive atmosphere, both in Nashville and among listeners of the podcast.
Future Prospects: While uncertainties remain due to player injuries, there is cautious optimism about Kentucky's ability to compete in the NCAA tournament and build for future seasons.
This detailed summary encapsulates the essence of the KSR podcast episode, providing a comprehensive overview of the discussions, insights, and perspectives shared by the hosts. For listeners seeking in-depth analysis and a vivid recounting of the Kentucky Wildcats' recent SEC tournament experience, this episode offers valuable content and engaging narratives.