KSR Podcast Episode Summary: April 17, 2025 – Hour 2
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM), the second hour of the April 17, 2025, episode of KSR delved deep into the latest developments in Kentucky sports, featured an exclusive interview with former Kentucky basketball star DeAndre Liggins, and navigated the humorous yet challenging preparations of host Ryan Lemon as he gears up to speak with a group of engineers. Below is a detailed overview of the episode’s key segments.
1. Welcome and Introduction to Hour Two
The episode kicked off promptly at [02:56], with Shannon The Dude announcing the commencement of hour two, setting the stage for continued sports discussions. Matt Jones took over as the primary host, reuniting listeners with the familiar KSR trio: Ryan Lemon, Drew Franklin, and Shannon The Dude.
2. Exclusive Interview with DeAndre Liggins
[04:07] Ryan Lemon warmly welcomed DeAndre Liggins, a former Kentucky Wildcats player, who joined the show to discuss his ongoing career and his involvement with the TBT tournament.
Career Highlights and Current Endeavors: DeAndre shared insights into his professional journey, mentioning his recent stints overseas in Saudi Arabia and Iraq before returning home. He expressed excitement about rejoining the local basketball scene, stating:
"I'm just happy to be able to come back and let the fans see my face again." — [04:49] DeAndre Liggins
Impact of Personal Loss: He touched upon personal challenges, including the passing of his grandmother, which affected his participation in last year's tournament:
"I wanted to play last year, but my grandma was sick and unfortunately she passed away last summer." — [05:16] DeAndre Liggins
Role in the TBT Tournament: DeAndre discussed the competitiveness of the TBT tournament and his role within the team, emphasizing his commitment to defense and teamwork:
"It's a very competitive tournament and I'm a competitive person. So I look forward to playing and competing for sure." — [06:10] DeAndre Liggins
3. Transition in Kentucky Basketball Coaching
The conversation shifted to the evolution of Kentucky basketball, particularly the transition from Coach Billy Gillespie to John Calipari and subsequently to Mark Pope.
From Gillespie to Calipari: DeAndre reflected on the coaching changes, highlighting the infusion of talent brought in by Calipari:
"Coach Cal is a household name. So he was successful at Memphis. He was a great coach. For him coming to Kentucky, it just overpowered everything." — [09:19] DeAndre Liggins
Adapting to New Roles: He elaborated on finding his place within the team during transitions:
"I had to find a role, like what was I going to do on the court to play minutes. And that was playing defense, doing whatever it takes to get on coach Kyle Goodside as far as being showcased and playing minutes." — [09:27] DeAndre Liggins
Evaluation of Mark Pope’s Tenure: DeAndre provided his perspective on Coach Mark Pope’s impact, praising his ability to build a cohesive team through the transfer portal:
"Mark Pope... very guys who know they roll. Not so much a lot of talent, but guys who know they roll great. ... it's a great continuation for what Coach Kyle left off." — [10:24] DeAndre Liggins
4. Ryan Lemon’s Upcoming Engineering Presentation
A humorous and relatable segment unfolded as Ryan Lemon shared his apprehensions about an upcoming speaking engagement with engineers.
Preparation Challenges: Ryan discussed his lack of preparation and the co-hosts' playful attempts to help him craft jokes suitable for an engineering audience:
"It's gonna be very uncomfortable." — [20:32] Ryan Lemon
Co-Hosts’ Guidance: Drew Franklin and Shannon The Dude offered tongue-in-cheek advice, including jokes generated by ChatGPT, to help Ryan break the ice:
"If anyone here wants to build a robot version of Matt Jones that doesn't interrupt people or dominate the mic, I will fund the Kickstarter myself." — [29:44] Drew Franklin (reading Ryan’s joke)
Ryan’s Strategy: Ryan considered leveraging self-deprecating humor and his perceived mismatch with the audience to create an engaging presentation:
"I am in a room with a bunch of smart people and obviously I don't belong there. So I can kind of play off that." — [24:25] Ryan Lemon
5. Betting Picks and Sports Predictions
The trio engaged in lively discussions about recent sports performances and offered their betting picks, particularly focusing on baseball and basketball.
Baseball Bets: Ryan recommended betting against the Atlanta Braves, citing their recent performance:
"The safest bet on DraftKings right now is to bet your Atlanta Braves to lose." — [44:02] Ryan Lemon
Draft Picks: They touched upon upcoming NFL drafts and local athletes, including speculation about Deon Walker’s draft prospects:
"He'll be the highest corner ever picked from Kentucky and he'll hit there." — [46:17] Ryan Lemon
6. Community Engagement and Listener Interaction
Throughout the episode, Ryan, Drew, and Shannon interacted with listeners via phone calls, addressing questions, sharing anecdotes, and maintaining an engaging and personable rapport.
Listener Calls: Listeners like Dave and Glenn brought unique topics, from engineering humor to commentary on local sports officiating:
"Mark Sears who gets every call." — [25:58] Drew Franklin
Gene Mitchell’s Musical Performance: A memorable moment featured Gene Mitchell performing a crooning segment, adding a musical flair to the show:
"What a crooner." — [32:25] Shannon The Dude
7. Upcoming Events and Show Promotions
The hosts promoted upcoming local events, including the Tyler Childers pre-party and the return of the KSR bowling league, encouraging listener participation and community involvement.
Bowling League Details: Drew Franklin provided information about the KSR bowling league:
"It starts April 23rd at South and Lanes every Wednesday night at 7:00 as the ad says." — [27:46] Drew Franklin
8. Closing Remarks and Final Advertisements
As the episode neared its end, the hosts wrapped up with final advertisements and announcements, ensuring listeners were informed about sponsor offerings and community resources.
Kentucky Chamber’s Flood Relief Efforts: Shannon highlighted the Kentucky Chamber’s ongoing flood relief initiatives:
"Individuals and families can find information on disaster assistance programs... by visiting Kychamber.com/2025StormRelief." — [40:16] Shannon The Dude
Conclusion
The April 17, 2025, Hour 2 episode of KSR provided a blend of insightful sports analysis, engaging interviews, and lighthearted banter. The exclusive conversation with DeAndre Liggins offered a nostalgic look back at Kentucky basketball while previewing future tournaments. Concurrently, Ryan Lemon’s comedic struggles with preparing a talk for engineers added a relatable and humorous dimension to the show. Throughout, the KSR crew maintained their signature blend of professionalism and camaraderie, ensuring listeners stayed informed and entertained.
For more updates and episodes, tune into KSR on iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM) from Monday to Friday, 10 AM to noon.