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Comedy Show Announcer
Comedy Up Broadway in Lexington welcomes Mike Armstrong March 27th through the 29th. Then it's the Lexington debut of Lori Kilmartin April 3rd through the 5th and catch rising comedy star Sam Tallente April 11th and 12th. Comedy Off Broadway opened in downtown Lexington in 1987 and they're still bringing the best and stand up comedy to the area 38 years later. Call 859-271-joke or visit comedyoffbroadway.com comedy off.
Matt Jones
This is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.
Ryan Lemon
Welcome everyone. It is Kentucky sports radio. Monday, March 31, my last day in Kentucky for the next few weeks and I'm here with the beautiful duo of Ryan Franklin, Ryan Lemon and Drew Franklin. Ryan Franklin, Drew Lemon sh the dude is in Louisville. Mario's here. We are here at the KS Bar and Grill. If you're in town, come say hello. 859-28022 is Clark's Puppet Shop phone line a vision auto glass text machine. 772-774-5254 in this edition sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. If you call TJ he'll make them pay. How you doing sir? We are after a long march run. Well at least of us traveling maybe decently long run for the team. We are back here in Lexington and Ryan, there's a ton of stuff to get to and in order to catch my first flight I have to leave at 11:30. So I'm gonna make sure we get to all as much of it as we can off the top. I guess we'll start. We have not been on the morning show since the lost Tennessee which was late Friday night. Now that it's you've had 48 hours, what are your thoughts?
Drew Franklin
Just you saying that was Friday night. It seems like it was two weeks ago. And that pregame show we did at ten roof seemed like that was two weeks ago. They didn't play well, you know, a great season kind of ended with a thud. The game didn't go nearly. Of all the scenarios I thought might happen, getting whooped like that was not one of the scenarios I thought might happen.
Ryan Lemon
Really?
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Ryan Lemon
See, I thought that was a scenario that could happen.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I didn't think that.
Ryan Lemon
I mean we just. The same thing that happened to us happened to them the next day, it happened to Michigan State the next day and happened to Alabama in, in the Elite Eight. Just these, you know, just teams kind of all those games were the same. A team jumped on them early and then they just could never catch up. And that's kind of how it was for us too, Drew.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, to beat Tennessee, you needed to make threes in the, in the two regular season wins, they hit 12 threes and both of those shooting 50%. So six threes in a game when what four of them were by Butler and then Colin Chandler throws in a prayer before halftime. That just wasn't nearly enough from outside to hang with Tennessee.
Ryan Lemon
If you tell me Brea oh way and car are going to combine for 1 3, we're in trouble. I mean, you know, we're in trouble at that point. I mean that, that, that's probably the game. And you know, most of it was Tennessee. Tennessee's defense was great and we just, honestly as I watch these games this weekend, all of these teams kind of had the same thing happen to them. Us, Michigan State yesterday, Tennessee, Alabama. You just, just at the beginning you fell behind and it just felt like you were always climbing a hill that you couldn't get over.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, Tennessee got that 9, 10, 11 point lead and we never could, you know, chip into it, could never cut it down. It go up to 15, then come back to nine or 10. It just always, just stayed that way for most of the game. And when you, you guys said like he only we hit 12 three pointers in the first two games. We only shot 15 three pointers. Tennessee took the three pointer away.
Ryan Lemon
Great game plan. Yeah, they basically said you're getting no threes. Duke did the same thing to Alabama. They're like, you're not getting threes so now try to beat us some other way. And we, we just didn't have the, you know, we just didn't, didn't have the game plan or the success in, in executing it. Now with that said, a lot of our conversation after the game was about the season as a whole and being positive about it. I become no less positive about the season than ever. There's you Know, and it seems like looking online, it's tough when you drew look right after the game because people get all angry, especially when it's on Friday night. They might be drunk and they're like, yeah. And then you get. But when everybody takes a step back and starts forming coherent sentences, feels like the fan base is still in a very good place. Do you agree with that?
Shannon The Dude
I think so too. And I was also. I expected to hurt a little more than I did. I think part of it was because it looked like it was over pretty quickly in that game. It didn't come down to like a crazy buzzer beater. We should have done this, should have done that. You just got beat. Also, just that loss, even though it was to Tennessee, the ones we've suffered the last few years were much worse. So getting over that first weekend hump, not, you know, lowering the bar for Kentucky basketball, but that one did sit a little easier than I thought it would. Although I hung around Saturday. The worst part was just that sea of orange and all of them were talking trash. I ended up leaving town Saturday night when we wanted to stay because I just couldn't be there anymore. Every restaurant just walking down the street. I was still wearing Kentucky gear. So they were very vocal on Saturday.
Ryan Lemon
They had a lot of people didn't help them on Sunday because they went and did the same thing. And we'll talk about those games. I still want to make fun of Tennessee even though they beat us. But, but, but, but we, but we lose. I think we all talked on the post game show. We were all on it. It was a good postgame show, but we all talked, gave the grade an A. These guys, I think are going to be remembered very positively, don't you?
Drew Franklin
Oh, these guys will be beloved. I mean, we, we fell in love with this group of guys, you know, overcoming the injuries. You know, they played their butts off. You know, they gave everything they had for this one year they were going to be here. They, they wore that Kentucky uniform proud. And I think we saw that and felt that.
Ryan Lemon
Which player you gonna. Not not which player will be the most, like the biggest one to miss from an impact. Just on a personal level, which one are you gonna miss the most? Like, who's gonna be the one you go, oh, I missed that guy.
Shannon The Dude
I'm gonna miss a lot of them. I mean, Amari was my favorite going back to May when I had my first interview with him, before I'd even seen him touch a basketball. I, I just liked Amari from the beginning. That he panned out playing really well. But I'll be honest, that might have flipped a little towards Butler. Just how he played in that last game, the images of him and Pope with their arms around each other. What he said at the press conference, I'll miss a lot of them. But his leadership, even though, you know, he wasn't available a lot or some of the year, I mean, Butler was pretty special looking back even in that last game.
Ryan Lemon
Shannon, what about you? Which one are you going to miss?
Matt Jones
Kobe Bra, man. I mean, I've never seen a guy who could when he's hot is a better shooter than Kobe Bra and I think that he's going to be somebody they're going to miss next year.
Ryan Lemon
I think if they had stayed healthy all year, he would have had a shot to break the percentage three point record, he had to take ones that are not his normal thing once Robinson got hurt. What about you?
Drew Franklin
I always lean towards point guards anyway, so it's probably Butler. Just the fact the dude fought through the injuries. I mean, he was a wounded warrior most the second half of the season, gutted it out, wore that big old brace, had the monster game against Louisville. When he came back, had the monster game against Tennessee, two of our biggest rivals. So I'd definitely be Lamont Butler.
Ryan Lemon
Yeah, I mean, I would say I have an affinity for guys who have a lot of pressure on them and then. And then. So I probably will miss Jackson Robinson just because I, I do think he would. Is the difference in us making a run or not? Because he was the best thing we had close to a star, really on the team. And times it showed up, times it didn't. But I did like him quite a bit. But I will tell you, after the post game press conferences, I feel that way about all these guys. I mean, Kobe Bray is saying, you're going to have to pry this jersey off of me. Andrew Carr saying he doesn't want to take it off. You know, that's, that's. Listen, man, if you're going to write a script of what UK fans want to hear, Ryan, you would write that when you.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, because you've talked a lot about it. It's a different kind of one and done. It's not the one and done we're used to. These guys are at the end of their career, a lot of them. This will be the biggest game of their life. You know, they're going to play overseas professionally, but they won't play in a big monster arena or a big game like that probably ever again.
Ryan Lemon
So I think that was, you know, I think that was. That's. That's something I really will miss. Yeah, it's just that sort of thing. Now then you get to the Final Four. First of all, I mean, I'm not going to act like I'm some sort of genius, but I said all one seeds, the Final Four, because I thought they were all better. And I think they all showed themselves to be a lot better, honestly. You know, none of them really got a test except maybe Houston against Purdue. I mean, there was. They all just kind of exploded. I think you're going to have just from a talent perspective, one of the best Final Fours of all time. But it does feel like Drew, the four best teams made it. They were kind of definitively the four best teams. And now we'll see what happens.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, even Florida was on the ropes a little bit, but they had a good comeback, making some threes down the stretch to win that one. In my bracket, I had three ones in Alabama beating Duke. I think in hindsight, that was just me being a Duke hater. I had them losing in the second round, but Duke has just run through everyone, so it does make for a good Final Four with the matchups. You know, some people hate on it being all chalk and it's lame to pick one seeds, but this year they just seem to be much more pick one.
Ryan Lemon
See if it's first time since 85. When I went on ESPN, the Joe Fortinbaugh and my man Q. Myers, they were like, how are you going to pick all one seats? Because it's going to be what happens, like, if we. I pick wrong things. And. And it has now I feel like we've gotten a pretty good set of results for Kentucky fans. And what I mean by that is, you know, Arkansas lost the same round we did.
Drew Franklin
Yes.
Ryan Lemon
Right. Louisville lost in the first round. Tennessee does beat us, but then they don't make a Final Four. They remain probably the best program to not make a Final Four. The only thing left, I think, for Kentucky fans is can we get someone besides Duke to win? In a perfect world, I would want Houston to win. Houston has no effect on us. I mean, they. They haven't, you know, they haven't won one. Have they ever won? No, they won. Did they win one? I don't. I don't think they've won one.
Drew Franklin
I don't think they've ever won one.
Ryan Lemon
So, you know what? Give it to Houston, Auburn and Florida. I'd be okay with. So now it's just get Duke to lose. Do you agree with that?
Drew Franklin
Yeah. So Houston plays Duke. Right. And Florida plays Auburn.
Ryan Lemon
Correct. So you're going to get one SEC team in the final.
Drew Franklin
That's what I'm hoping for. I'm probably leaning sec.
Ryan Lemon
Well, you don't have to hope that's going to happen. One of those two teams is going.
Drew Franklin
To be in the final and that's what I'm. The team I'm cheering for. I don't. I would like to see Houston, but I'm probably going to pull for an SEC team.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, I've been a die hard Houston fan ever since Friday night. Kelvin Sampson's been knocking on the door for a while. You know, Kentucky knocked him out a few years ago. They've. They've been in the hunt just about every year. I think this year they finally get it behind them. I'd probably hate saying it out loud. Maybe want Bruce to get one ahead of Florida. But Duke is bottom.
Drew Franklin
Bottom.
Shannon The Dude
Bottom of what we want to see.
Ryan Lemon
Did you see the Houston tweet, Shannon to the guy? There was somebody, there was someone from Purdue that had written something like Kevin Sampson doesn't know how to coach or something during the game. And the Houston official, not the basketball account, the official university account retweeted it and said you forgot your L to the Purdue. Yeah, that's pretty good. I thought that was whoever ran that Houston account. To me, if you weren't form before Shannon, that might have been the reason to do.
Matt Jones
And what a dumb comment saying that he, he can't coach as he's in the final four now. I love the sa.
Ryan Lemon
He's a great coach. He is. I mean this is a final four of guys, you know, Kelvin Samson, people, Houston fans. You can't even give people compliments anymore. I thought this was a compliment. I said Kelvin Sampson is one of the three best coaches in the country. He take. Which I agree. I do think now I think I would say Bill Self, Tom Izzo and him and then you know, maybe throw in Rick. Right. Like. But I, I do think though and well, I'm sorry, Danny Hurley. I meant Bill Self, Danny Hurley and him Izzo I'll put just a notch below because he hadn't, you know, it's not been as good the last few years. But I thought that was a con. And I said he wins with dudes you've never heard of. Which let's be real. Like who? I mean, L.J. crier. Okay.
Drew Franklin
There's only one.
Ryan Lemon
Maybe you've heard it.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Ryan Lemon
Who else?
Drew Franklin
Nobody. I Don't know.
Ryan Lemon
Well, all I got were people going, you'll know ball. You casual. You don't know ball. Shannon, we'll get that all the time.
Matt Jones
You know what?
Ryan Lemon
You're probably right.
Matt Jones
We don't know what. We own it.
Ryan Lemon
Who the seventh man for Houston is, I have no idea.
Drew Franklin
No idea.
Ryan Lemon
But here's what I know. They've had the Same dudes for 10 years, all of whom look like they could beat you into submission. And they're tough. And then one of them graduates, and then they just clone his twin and come out there and play again. And my point. This is a compliment. I never even know their players, but I know they're going to be good. And that's to. That's to Kelvin Sampson.
Drew Franklin
He's an outstanding coach. He had years ago made out of Oklahoma on one of the best runs we've, you know, seen in the last 25 years. He was doing the same thing in Indiana before he got in trouble. Now he's done the same thing in Houston. Everywhere he goes, the guy's a winner, so.
Ryan Lemon
But, yeah, I am a casual in. I mean, name me. Hey. Okay, Mario. You watch a ton of basketball. Give me someone from Houston's roster the last 10 years. Last 10 years. Just give me a Houston player. Besides Crier, I think they had a guy named, like, Snead.
Drew Franklin
Akeem. Elijah, one.
Ryan Lemon
Now, that was a long time Sheed. Now, name another one. How about you, sir? Let's all collectively put our head. Let's all these casuals put our heads together and name some Houston play.
Shannon The Dude
Traymond, Mark the Trap, transferred to the sec.
Ryan Lemon
Don't think that's a real person.
Drew Franklin
So Clyde the Glide, Drexler.
Ryan Lemon
Again, that's the 80s. But my point is that, you know. But that's a compliment to him. They don't know any of these people, and they're still in the final.
Drew Franklin
Like Drew said, they've been knocking on the door for several years, and I didn't know Purdue had him down there. And I thought, oh, no, he's going to collapse again. But he was able to find a way to win it, get to the Final Four.
Ryan Lemon
The only negative about them is you got to see Jim Nance. That's the only negative. He's. He's sitting there. He's the only person I know that went there.
Matt Jones
You don't like Jim Dance?
Shannon The Dude
What's wrong with Jim?
Ryan Lemon
It's fine. I just feel like I'm looking at an oil paint.
Matt Jones
You don't want his time. You don't Want Jim Nance's tie?
Ryan Lemon
I do. I do like Jim Nancy tied. Maybe he'll give me a pin again. 859-280-2287 we're gonna talk about UK has been busy in the portal. Sweet 16 has a UK player as a champion and then controversy in women's basketball. There's a lot to yab about. That's Next here on KSR. Welcome back Techie Sports Radio. How are you? A 592-802-2287 we have some breaking news. Shannon T. Dude running on Kurt Cresa has entered the transfer portal. He will be using his final year of eligibility and will go somewhere that is not Kentucky as he enters the transfer portal. For me, this is not surprising news at all. I like Kerr and I think he, he's a, he's a fun guy to have around. I don't know that it went great here. I think fans really love the, the kid but I think maybe things weren't glorious with him and, and, and uk. So I this is one of the things with Mark, like you're not going to hear anything negative, which is why I think he's going to be a beloved coach. But I can just tell you I don't think things went exactly the way they wanted them to. So. But I'm sure he will still get what do you call it when you leave a job and smile goes I'll write you a letter of recommendation. I'm sure he'll still get a letter of recommendation, but I, I think it's been known probably since January that he would not be back. Ryan.
Drew Franklin
And you know, he knows that Kentucky's going to bring in a point guard and Kerr himself can probably be on the open market.
Ryan Lemon
It's a mutual decision. Yeah, this is not, this is not, this is very much a mutual.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, he can go in the open market and find a team that also needs a point guard, make some money in the same process. So I don't think it's a shock to anybody he's leaving.
Ryan Lemon
What's is this is going to be his fourth or fifth school. West Virginia, Arizona and U.S. fourth, fourth.
Shannon The Dude
Fourth school, fifth year. Fourth school, maybe six year. I really enjoyed having him around and he even was a good teammate on the bench during game he was injured. I mean I was surprised how emotional he was after the loss Friday night after not playing as much and kind of knowing he was on his way out. But yeah, I think once he got injured, you know, things weren't working out well with maybe just being around Town, you know, Curry likes to have a good time. And even if he. The off the court stuff wasn't there, I just a numbers game. I don't know where you would have put him because you got to get a guard. You got Jasper coming in, another guard coming in.
Ryan Lemon
You guys probably have another one.
Shannon The Dude
And he's a guy playing another year of college basketball. He's going to want to start and make a lot of money, and it wasn't there for him here.
Ryan Lemon
Sometimes you can like somebody and just be like, I like you, just not here. And I think that that may have been it with Kirk.
Shannon The Dude
I think that fun personality was on at all times. And sometimes it's like, we need to be a little more.
Ryan Lemon
I will say this, and I think this is gonna apply to what we talk about in a little bit as well. With the women's basketball thing, I think it's very important for people sitting at home to not assume, you know, everything because, like, what you see during the game, right? So sometimes you'll see somebody like. I remember we had a game earlier this year where somebody was like, I don't like so and so's facial expressions. And I want to be like, the camera was on them for 25 seconds. Maybe you caught him on the bad 25 seconds. I think sometimes, you know, just because you. Just because you think you know some. There's a lot of time in these people's lives you don't know what's going on. And so I just think it's important. With Kerr, like, I think a lot of people want him to return because they like him and he's funny and they like him on the bench. But I think it was probably. It was probably best for both. And I hope he goes and crushes it somewhere else, you know, we heard. I got a text message back after he got hurt saying he'll be at St. John's next year. It's hard for me to see him playing for Rick, but if he does, then I'm gonna say that text message knew what they were talking.
Drew Franklin
He did kind of become, after he got hurt and the Gonzaga game, kind of the team cheerleader on the bench. When Otega hit the last second shot against Oklahoma, Kerr was the first guy that ran down to Florida.
Ryan Lemon
I think the players love him. Yeah, I think the players really liked him a lot.
Shannon The Dude
I remember him for injuring himself in that Gonzaga game and still running the length of the court. Block a shot with a bum leg.
Ryan Lemon
That was.
Shannon The Dude
I mean, that showed he did have a lot of heart. When he was playing, and he had.
Ryan Lemon
Some personality early on with some of our other players were maybe just kind of getting to feel it. All right, so let's talk about our portal. You know, if you, if you subscribe. First of all, if you go to Kentucky Sports Radio, you'll hear all the major commitments and meetings. If you go to KSR plus and you do that, we have a special. I think it's like a dollar right now or whatever you can. You can kind of get the, the scoop in the scuttlebutt. Let's go through. All right, so Donovan D, kid from New Mexico, Kentucky had out offered everybody and then UCLA matched it. He wanted to go there because it's closer to home. So Kentucky now looking a lot of different directions. They get the commitment from the kid from Tulane again. People online were like, you don't know anybody's name. You just know the kid from. I'm not learning people's name till they come. Why do I need to learn people's name if they're not going to be here? Right? So you got the Robert Morris kid and the Davidson kid. I think they're going to get one of those two guys. Maybe I'll be wrong, but I think they will. Those are two the Robert Morris kids hanging out in Spain. So I don't know if we're going to go there or not. Those are the bigs. They're now talking to the point guard at Georgia. What's his Name? Silas Demery Jr. Lonnie Silas Jr. Do you remember him from when we played?
Drew Franklin
I remember the name. The name tells me, but I don't remember what he did against us.
Ryan Lemon
That severe Wheeler pipeline from Georgia to Kentucky, it started then lsu, they have a night, a guy named what Victorious. Miller Victorious, which is a great name.
Shannon The Dude
Also the son of Silk the Shocker, one of my favorite rappers.
Ryan Lemon
Yeah, he's the. So Silk, the nephew of Master P. Make them say na na na na. He. They're talking to him. Then they've got the kid at Sam Houston State that shoots all the threes, right? Who else has come in and out of our lives?
Shannon The Dude
There's a new new one that popped up yesterday or maybe Saturday from UCF Big 12 score Keyshawn hall leading score.
Ryan Lemon
Now he's in case because He's a Big 12 leading scorer, scores a lot, but this would be his fourth school in four years. And some people are like, oh, that's a bad sign. You know, my view about that is if Mark thinks he can make it work, then I think he can make it. Yeah, but he was a Big 12 leading scorer. That's pretty good.
Shannon The Dude
There's a Zoom schedule today, so they're taking it seriously.
Ryan Lemon
Yes.
Drew Franklin
Pope is great about. We saw roster construction, getting the guys to fit the pieces, what he wants to do offensively, so he'll go out and get those guys to fit the pieces.
Ryan Lemon
Let's the Georgia point guard. There's a great story about him. What was his name again?
Shannon The Dude
Silas Demery.
Ryan Lemon
Silas Jr. Silas Demaries boy. Oh, old man Silas Demery's boy. Apparently, Mark Pope on Saturday called up Silas Demery, said, hey, Silas, what are you doing, man? And he was like, I'm just doing my thing with my Demery family. And he said, you got dinner plans? He's like, nah, just Saturday, we're hanging out. Mark said, see you then. And he just flew to Georgia and had dinner with him.
Drew Franklin
Really? That's kind of cool.
Ryan Lemon
Why are you surprised? This was on KSR Plus, I'm trying to be the.
Drew Franklin
The sidekick guy. Like you're telling me a new story.
Ryan Lemon
Oh, you already knew this?
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Ryan Lemon
Okay. Don't be fake. Just. Just if you know it.
Shannon The Dude
I thought you were breaking news to Ryan.
Matt Jones
I don't believe him. Ryan, I love you. I don't believe you knew that.
Ryan Lemon
Be honest. Did you know?
Drew Franklin
Yeah, I saw that.
Ryan Lemon
You saw it?
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Ryan Lemon
So, I mean, so why did you, like, go? What?
Drew Franklin
That's my job as the co host. Kind of prop up the lead guy.
Ryan Lemon
Okay. All right. So I'm gonna keep explaining it to you. So Ryan, he then goes to Georgia and shows up and has dinner with him.
Drew Franklin
That's pretty damn cool.
Ryan Lemon
I think it's cool, right? What are you doing for dinner? Nothing. We're coming from Kentucky.
Matt Jones
You like that, too? You just uninvited?
Ryan Lemon
Yeah. He wasn't even invited to dinner. He just came.
Drew Franklin
What if Lonnie Demery had a date Saturday night?
Ryan Lemon
Well, Lonnie would have. I don't know if Silas did, but what. What do you make of it?
Shannon The Dude
I like, the Jacob at KSR plus interviewed the family. They were like. We kind of didn't believe him when he was like, what are y'all doing for dinner? I'm gonna head that way. Like, is he being serious? And then, you know, Jet pops up a couple hours later.
Ryan Lemon
Shannon awesome or weird?
Matt Jones
Awesome.
Ryan Lemon
Awesome.
Matt Jones
But I don't come to my house uninvited.
Drew Franklin
Very awesome.
Ryan Lemon
Yes, he could come to my house. So I have a feeling Silas Dimmery sounds like. I mean, if they're gonna Go have dinner with him. They're very interested in.
Shannon The Dude
Yep. He's visiting St. John's today, though. Ah, Yukon tomorrow.
Ryan Lemon
Go away. I'll be right back. TJ Smith, personal injury attorney. Call tj. He'll make him pay.
Matt Jones
Now more of Kentucky sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.
Ryan Lemon
This could be our basketball team next year, Nana. Nah, nah. What do you think?
Drew Franklin
I like it. Go for it.
Ryan Lemon
Yes. 85928.
Drew Franklin
Mark Pope's gonna come out bopping his head to this.
Ryan Lemon
I think he was. Yes. And it'll be dorky, but it'll be awesome. Right? One person writes, matt, I love when people invite themselves to my house to eat food. I do that sometimes. No, I mean, I. I just say, like, oh, hubby, Jason, would you. You want. You want. You want company?
Drew Franklin
What are you having to eat tonight?
Ryan Lemon
Yeah, because, like, one of the things I've learned about people is it's. What's the word? What's the word I'm looking for? Where. Where you don't move and you just like, ah, I can't think. What's the word I'm looking for? Anyway, the biggest thing that keeps people from hanging out with their friends and doing stuff is that they just don't make plans. Like. Like nobody. Just, like they just. Nobody makes the initial call. So you make the initial call just to get people moving.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Ryan Lemon
Right. Because everybody's waiting for somebody to call them.
Drew Franklin
You're that guy.
Ryan Lemon
Yeah. Because I'm the single one of our. Of my friends. I'm the one trying to remind the married people that they have lives outside of their house that they can go and do. Right.
Shannon The Dude
So you can come eat at my house anytime.
Ryan Lemon
What's the word?
Shannon The Dude
I made buffalo chicken wraps where you.
Ryan Lemon
Talk about, like, it's. I want to say inerrancy, but inertia. Inertia is what keeps people from. You just stop and you just stay where you are.
Drew Franklin
So do you call hubby, say, hey, what are you eating? And then Jason, see what he's eating and pick the best one?
Ryan Lemon
No, I don't ask them to cook. I'll say, might be a Friday night. I'll be like, do you all have dinner plans? You want to go out? If they say, well, it's we. I'm like, well, if you want, like, I'll bring the food over. And they usually will say yes to that.
Drew Franklin
Oh, okay.
Ryan Lemon
Yeah. I don't ever ask people to cook for me. That would be a little. I don't think Mark Pope was like, hey, woman, cook for me, and I'm gonna come see your son. I'm sure they. They. They would have catered it.
Shannon The Dude
Probably went out to eat there. Yeah, but you can crash our house anytime.
Ryan Lemon
Do we get. Do we get credit? Do I. I get credit if Kirk re picks St. John's because we just had another person. Right. So you think it's going to be St. John?
Drew Franklin
You're the first person I heard say.
Ryan Lemon
That back in December. Long time. All right, so you sent something out last night that was like, what did you send out?
Shannon The Dude
Set the Internet on fire. My phone was blowing up about it.
Drew Franklin
I just tweeted out magoon and then the googly eyes. Googly eyes, googly eyes.
Ryan Lemon
See, you got to be careful with that because, like, people might have thought you were, like, magoon. What a handsome fellow. That's not what. That's not what you were doing. You think we're going to get the kid? He's from San Diego State.
Drew Franklin
San Diego state. Seven footer thin. He's only like 210. 250.
Ryan Lemon
10.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Matt Jones
When he went to, say, slender man over here.
Ryan Lemon
Seven feet tall, 2:10.
Drew Franklin
Yes. And I think when he first got there, he was 190. But, yeah, he's did a zoom call yesterday. Apparently went very, very well. I would just keep an eyeball on him. Magoon Guath.
Ryan Lemon
Now, you have been pretty money with your scoops, but then you had a scuttlebutt fall apart. So are we calling this a scoop or a scuttlebutt?
Drew Franklin
Oh, it's scoop that he met with him.
Ryan Lemon
Everybody knows that. But is it scoop that he's coming here?
Drew Franklin
Well, he hasn't pulled the trigger yet, but I would say. I would say chances are very, very.
Ryan Lemon
Very, very high stuff. And answer the question, is it scoop or is it scuttlebutt?
Drew Franklin
A scoop.
Shannon The Dude
Okay. KS board lit up about it last night, and I didn't have answers. I was like, the thing with scoop.
Ryan Lemon
Limit is you also said he likes women. One more school. Michigan.
Drew Franklin
Michigan today.
Shannon The Dude
Apparently, when he's still considering staying at.
Ryan Lemon
San Diego State, he's not staying.
Shannon The Dude
But I wrote on the board with scoop. Lemon, you don't know if he fell for a photoshopped image or if he had the Guath family over at his house for a pool party. I mean, we don't know. There's a w. Change of scoop Scoop here.
Ryan Lemon
Yeah, that's true. He could. He could either fall for anything or be making out with the mother, like any in any of the questions.
Shannon The Dude
But it Is rare for him to put himself out like on a transfer recruitment there. So it. It got a lot of attention. Your date had like 80,000 views on it.
Ryan Lemon
What?
Shannon The Dude
Yeah. Everyone. Everyone thinks you've got the scoop here.
Drew Franklin
Wow.
Ryan Lemon
Everybody's like, he doesn't say much of worth, but when he does, it's really.
Matt Jones
153,000 views this morning.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, just the googly eyes. I just think he looks good.
Ryan Lemon
Here we go.
Shannon The Dude
I do like magoong while I hope we get him. He was the defensive player of the year and the freshman of the year. He can step out and shoot the three a little bit. Play the four, the five.
Ryan Lemon
Yeah. I mean, here's the way I'm judging this recruiting. You know, this happened last year in the portal. We have so many like Charlie Doomsday people who are like, we don't get a guy, go, Mark Pope can't close. Like, look, this is what this is now. What this is now is really managing money. You have a set amount of money and you have to build the pieces to the money that you have. And the problem for us judging it is we don't know how much money they have, although I do think they have quite a bit. And we don't know what the other people have. Really.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Ryan Lemon
And we don't know what the other people need. And because of that, you can't just judge it in like a straight. He sold them on it or not. There's a financial component and because unlike the in major league sports, we don't know the money. We will starting next year, but we don't. Right now you're just kind of left like, well, we're gonna get some of these guys and then we're not. I don't think it really says a lot about. Think about Kobe, Braya. He picked us over Kansas, Duke, blah, blah. Well, some of that I'm sure is he like Mark Pope. But some of his. We probably gave him more money than Kansas and Duke did. So I mean, that's kind of what we don't know.
Drew Franklin
And like I said earlier, he's so good about just picking the guys that fit his program. I think he went out in a short amount of time and picked the perfect guys to fit what he wants to do offensively this year. He'll do the same thing this year. He knows who he's got coming back. He'll go out and get fill in the holes with a big guy, a point guard, a shooter.
Ryan Lemon
One person writes, matt, what was it like for your mom and Larry to go to the game I think they really liked was a lot, though. Like, it was, it was a lot. I mean, I don't know the last time you've taken an 87 year old around NCAA championship arena. There's a lot happening. I don't think you realize just when you go all the motion that's everywhere. Then you throw in taking them to tin Roof where it was like they were the Beatles. People just taking their, like, it was, it was a lot. And then the walk, for those of you on the walk who came over and like would help my dad off a curb or something, like, it was very, very nice. But we walked. I thought it was right around the block and it was like a mile. And you know, there's just so many people. Then you get in the arena and there's people just everywhere and they're all running around. And then, you know, when my parents sit down, I go up there and everybody's talking to. It's, it's. I think it was, I think they loved it. But I also think Ryan maybe was a little overwhelming for them. You know, I think we all got.
Drew Franklin
A kick of you telling the story of you guys walking over, people coming up with their arm around Larry, getting a selfie with Larry.
Ryan Lemon
I mean, people are taking selfies of Larry. I guarantee you, no one's ever taken a selfie of Larry. Like, I don't think Larry necessarily knows what a selfie is. And because he still has like a touchdown phone.
Drew Franklin
You said he was moving fast with a cane. He was booking it.
Ryan Lemon
I think he felt like he had to move really fast. And we were like, my mom and I just kept going. It's okay, we can slow down. But I think he wanted to keep up with the hustle and the bustle. And then we ended up on by behind that TV shot. Really neat. Like, that'll be a picture I'll, I'll, I'll keep of us walking into the arena. And so. But you do have to take moments, Drew, to appreciate that because, like, I don't know how many times I'll get to do something like that again. Like to sit at the tournament with my parents and watch the game and have. It was just, it was, it was nice, but it's, but that's a, that's a big place and there's a lot going on, getting in and out.
Shannon The Dude
Well, I got to Tinroof first, knowing they weren't far behind. And I was even telling people now when they get here, let's create a path at a table Reserve nerved. But when Larry got there, 30 minutes for our show and there's just the house DJ blasting clubbing music right by Larry's ear. I'm thinking it's one thing when we're.
Ryan Lemon
Going on, but before we start, you know, Shannon, the DJs like.
Matt Jones
And like, I saw Larry bobbing his head.
Ryan Lemon
Well, the first thing he did was take his hearing aids. He took both his hearing aids out because it was pretty loud.
Matt Jones
Very loud.
Ryan Lemon
But your wife, apparently Abby was very sweet to my parents. My mom probably said nine or ten times like, Abby is the sweetest. And there was a little bit of like, are you gonna get married? Like, is there ever gonna be an Abby, like in your, in your life? But she was very nice.
Shannon The Dude
She was very excited to help him get in, hang with him while we were yapping. She's a great teammate.
Ryan Lemon
Sweet 16 Malachi Moreno and Great Crossing win the title. A lot of upsets on the, on the way. The final was Bowling Green and, and, and Great Crossing, which surprised a lot of people. Moco, Montgomery county got to the semifinals, but Mal, was he named mvp. Malcolm Reno was named mvp. So another of these guys going and playing in the Sweet 16, winning the title and then coming to Kentucky, he joins that list. It's only like, you know, eight or 10 people he joins at this, that list.
Drew Franklin
I went to the championship game Saturday night and he just dominated. And they said he was just as good in the semifinal game against Moco. I think he saved his best basketball for here at the end of the season and show everybody why he's a five star and why he's Mr. Basketball and why he's come to Kentucky and he's just going to get better and better.
Ryan Lemon
Won the state championship. Think about this. Played in the semifinals at 1:30 on Saturday. Then they do that thing where they play the finals at night. I don't ever understand why they do that, but they play the finals at night. He then must have gotten on a plane. He did because he was then at the McDonald's All American practice on Sunday and he was named one of the standouts of the All American practice after just having won the state tournament the night before.
Shannon The Dude
Kind of an exhausting run for him. But I mean, they played so well. They pretty much ran through the sweet. And I just think it's cool. You know, Last year, Sweet 16 Championship had two future Wildcats in it. Now next year's roster is going to have another state champ on it. Hopefully the other two stick around. You have three kids on UK's roster who are in the last two championship games of the state tournament. That's, that's pretty unique for a Kentucky roster these days.
Ryan Lemon
Yeah. So very cool. And I think a lot of the staff was at that game on Saturday night. The ones that didn't go have dinner with what's his head.
Drew Franklin
I didn't see him. I'm sitting on press row eating my free Chick Fil? A.
Ryan Lemon
Sitting on press row acting like you were a superstar.
Shannon The Dude
Getting a magoon scoop.
Ryan Lemon
Yeah, getting your magoon soup. The finals are here for college basketball. And this is the last time to bet on the college basketball season. The final four live betting, exclusive content, promos and parlays. DraftKings, the ultimate basketball destination. Use my promo code KSR to get $150 in bonus bets. When you bet just $5, it's only at DraftKings. The crown is yours. Call 1-800-gamer if you have a gaming problem. 18 plus Kentucky only LGBT supply new customers only bonus picks about 168 hours issuance additional terms responsible gaming resources DKNG Co audio. We'll take a break. Be right back. Talk a little about what's been burning up the Internet. This is KSR. Yes, the selfie patrol there in Indianapolis. 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-774-5254. All right, so let's talk for just a second about the other big story the weekend which was on the the women's side. Cassidy Rowe, who's from eastern Kentucky, where in eastern Kentucky?
Drew Franklin
Shelby Valley High School.
Ryan Lemon
Shelby Valley High School came to, came to uk, played here for a few years and then she posted that she was no longer going to be playing basketball at Kentucky. She actually was no longer going to play basketball at all even though she has a year of eligibility. She was going to go, I think to physical therapy school or something. And then reports started coming out from various people that cover the women's team that Kenny Brooks did not offer like sort of suggested to her she needed to transfer and that wouldn't have a scholarship for this year. There are some people very upset online, I think in part because they might have known her when she was in high school. Her dad is a prominent coach. Some media members very upset. Seem like some fans very upset as well. Ryan, I'm curious. We have not talked about this. I'm curious as to what your take.
Drew Franklin
I can see Coach Brooks point. He wants to get the best players possible to try to win a championship. They now have 15 scholarships. Cassidy Rowe is going to be a senior. She's the one girl that stayed during the coaching transition and kind of held everything together. She gave everything she had to this program for three years. And now you're telling her your senior year that you don't have a spot for when you've got 15 spots on that bench. I. I can see her coach Brooks point, but I think the perception of it is horrible.
Ryan Lemon
True.
Shannon The Dude
Kind of agree. I mean, she committed UK earlier in her high school career, committed to Matthew Mitchell, had a couple bad injuries, still made it to uk. She seems like she's been nothing but a great teammate. There's clips that are going around now. She's the first one off the bench to, you know, congratulate or whatever's going on in the game. She hops right up and wants to be a part of it. You know, if he has seven transfers ready to go to take all those spots, I guess I get it. But I still think you got to look at the circumstances on this one and if you knew it was going to happen, let her know before she could at least have a senior day as a junior. It just seems like someone that's been a pretty good glue around that program lately and nothing but a good teammate shouldn't be pushed out the door like that, having all the Kentucky connections and everything else.
Ryan Lemon
Well, I think it's important to note Kenny Brooks hasn't said anything. So we don't know. I mean, we only know what. What Cassidy said and she didn't throw him under the bus. I mean, I think a lot of the reports are from outside people, and I'm sure those reports are true. I'm not questioning them. But we haven't heard anything from Kenny one way or the other. So here's the thing. I think it's. I want to try to figure out why people are so, so frustrated by this, because I do want to narrow into why I think people are frustrated. First of all, this happens all the time.
Drew Franklin
It does.
Ryan Lemon
This happens all the time. Kenny Brooks is not the first coach to do this. Take any coach that you love that has ever coached here, and they have asked people to love league, all of them. Cal did it. Tubby did it. Tino did it. Rich. Rich Brooks did it. Mark Stoops has done it. Matthew Mitchell did it.
Shannon The Dude
Minion.
Ryan Lemon
Minion did it a ton. So I. Any. So it can't be that people are mad that he asked someone to transfer. That's happened with everybody. So that. Let's start with that. Second, you know, it can't be that she stuck around, because that's happened with everybody. Right. I think what bothers people at its core, would you agree, Ryan, is that she's from Kentucky. Is that. I mean, it's odd to me how much this has worked people up. And I think it's got to be the fact that she's from Kentucky and not. Would you agree with that?
Drew Franklin
And not just from Kentucky. She's from the mountains. She's virgin Shelby Valley.
Ryan Lemon
Okay. And so do you. So is that why you think people are upset?
Drew Franklin
I think that's a huge part of it.
Ryan Lemon
Okay. So the question then becomes like, I get it, but would we feel this way all the time if. Are we going to take. Because you're. You're going to have to be careful. John Caliperi used to say privately that the reason he was hesitant to take people from Kentucky is once you take them, you're adding the baggage of all the fan expectations of the state, that there's kind of a. Once you take a kid from Kentucky, they better be good because the fans will expect you to play them and you'll hear about it all the time. And I think that's a big reason why he didn't take kids from Kentucky play.
Drew Franklin
Some truth to that.
Ryan Lemon
So I do think it's worth noting that, like, if you want these people, these coaches to take kids from Kentucky, you have to be judged on the same standards. Now, do I think Cassidy Rowe can play, should play? I have no idea. I didn't watch it enough to say, so I can't say I'm with you a little bit. There's 15 scholarships. It feels like there'd be one for her. But we also have to say, if we say that because someone's from Kentucky, it's a different standard. It's going to make people less likely to get people from Kentucky. That's probably true, Right?
Drew Franklin
I guess. What if Coach Pope told Trent or Travis, you don't have a scholarship next year, we want you to.
Ryan Lemon
People would be furious.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, same thing.
Ryan Lemon
So. But then if I'm Mark Pope and this kid two years down the road and I'm not sure, but I'd like to give him a chance. Do you then go, I don't want that pushback again, you know? I mean, Kenny told a lot of people to leave last year. He told her to come back if she wanted to. Well, I don't think everybody got so mad when he told the other people to leave. It's just, I. I get it. I understand why people are Upset. And my inclination is to be pro Eastern Kentucky. And if it were me as coach, I'd leave her on the table team be like, It's, I got 15 scholarships, but I also think we got to be consistent. And now if we set the precedent of if you recruited for a kid from Kentucky, they have to stay all four years no matter what, you're probably going to get fewer people recruited from Kentucky.
Shannon The Dude
Yeah, I think the big thing is just there's so many open spots. People are like, is there not just any way to keep her? You know, if they were down to just two or three roster spots that were open, they need to open another one to go the portal. You probably sit with it a little better. But the fact that she's been, feels like she's been a part of that program for eight years. I think she committed in like eighth grade or as a freshman. Just adding to it. Everybody's known about her and it just makes you wonder, are you really going to go out and get that many people that there wasn't a spot for? But maybe he is. You know, it's his job to win basketball games and have the best roster he can.
Drew Franklin
I think her backstory too, people fell in love with it because she blew her knee out like as a sophomore, twice, rehabbed, got back. Then her senior year, she blows out the other knee, rehabbed, got back, made the roster, Kentucky honored her scholarship, she came to uk. Like I said, she's just kind of the, the off the court leader. Just kind of the glue that holds everybody.
Ryan Lemon
Well, she's the off the court leader to the fans. I mean, George Amore was the leader of the team.
Drew Franklin
Yeah.
Ryan Lemon
Okay. So like we fans had the connection, but George Amore was the leader of the team. Listen, I, I've never, I don't even know if I've ever met, met this young woman.
Drew Franklin
We met her when we did the show at Shelby Valley that day.
Ryan Lemon
Oh, okay. Okay, you're right, you're right about that. I've met her dad, I think once or twice. She seems like a wonderful person. I, I don't, I, I don't know at all. But I would also say like, you know, this is also the business we're in now. Like part of the, part of the thing about giving players money and giving them the ability to transfer is this, this is the other side, which is if it's a business, it's a business the other way too. It's a free agent, it's a free agency. And that, that I can see why that would bother people. But if you're people like me who think these players should get paid, who think Georgia Amore and Claire Strack and these people should get. I think Cassie had some nil deals. Right. I think then this is the opposite of it, which is they're going to say, well, it's a business, so I hate it for. But I also think we don't know everything, so I'm hesitant to condemn it, if that makes sense.
Drew Franklin
Yeah, it does.
Ryan Lemon
We'll take a break, come back hour number two, Sksr.
Episode: 2025-03-31
Release Date: March 31, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Lemon, Drew Franklin, Shannon "The Dude" Franklin
Presented by: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
The episode kicks off with a detailed discussion about Kentucky's disappointing loss to Tennessee. Hosts dissect the factors that led to the defeat, emphasizing the ineffective shooting from beyond the arc.
The team struggled to match Tennessee's defensive prowess, particularly in limiting three-point opportunities. Ryan Lemon (03:09) highlights, "If you tell me Brea… Oh way and car are going to combine for 13, we're in trouble."
Despite the loss, the hosts maintain a positive outlook on the season. They acknowledge the challenges but recognize the dedication and heart exhibited by the team.
The conversation underscores the resilience of the team and the strong connection with the fan base, even in the face of setbacks.
Moving to the broader landscape of college basketball, the hosts discuss the Final Four, noting that all one seeds have made it, which speaks volumes about their performance throughout the season.
They express optimism about the quality of the Final Four, labeling it one of the best in history due to the high caliber of the teams involved.
The hosts take a moment to honor standout players who have significantly impacted the season, discussing who they will miss the most.
The conversation highlights the dedication and leadership of players like Kobe Bra and Lamont Butler, who have been pivotal to Kentucky's journey.
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the transfer of Cassidy Rowe from Kentucky's women's basketball team, sparking controversy among fans and media.
The hosts debate the implications of this transfer, weighing Coach Brooks's strategic decisions against fan loyalty and player commitment. Drew Franklin (36:31) states, "She gave everything she had to this program for three years." The sentiment reflects a mix of understanding and frustration over the situation.
The discussion shifts to Kentucky's recruitment efforts, highlighting potential new talent entering the program.
Notable recruits mentioned include Magoon from San Diego State and Silas Demery Jr. from Georgia. The hosts analyze the prospects and potential impact these players could have on the team, emphasizing the strategic approach Coach Pope employs in assembling his roster.
Adding a personal touch, Ryan Lemon shares his experience taking his parents to the Final Four, illustrating the emotional and logistical challenges involved.
The anecdote underscores the blend of excitement and chaos that accompanies major sporting events, highlighting the personal connections fans have with their teams.
The hosts engage in playful banter, discussing interactions with listeners and humorous exchanges about uninvited dinner guests, reflecting the community-focused nature of the show.
This segment showcases the camaraderie among the hosts and their rapport with the audience, enhancing the show's relatable and engaging atmosphere.
Notable Quotes:
This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the Kentucky Sports Radio – Hour 1 episode, providing an insightful overview of game analyses, season reflections, Final Four discussions, controversies, recruitment updates, and personal stories. Whether you're a dedicated fan or new to Kentucky sports, this episode offers valuable perspectives and engaging conversations.