2025-04-24- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

Podcast Summary: KSR - Hour 1 Released on April 24, 2025

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Introduction

"Kentucky Sports Radio" (KSR), hosted by Matt Jones and the KSR crew from iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM), delivers the latest news and views from the UK sports landscape every weekday from 10 AM to noon. In the April 24, 2025 episode titled "KSR - Hour 1," the team delves into exciting announcements, conducts an insightful interview, and engages with listeners on pressing topics affecting Kentucky sports.

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Event Invitation: Barstool B BET Gala

The episode kicks off with Matt Jones sharing groundbreaking news: "KSR has been invited to the Barstool B BET Gala sponsored by DraftKings in Scottsdale, Arizona" (04:02). Described as Kentucky's version of the Met Gala, this black-tie event promises a night of glamour and sports networking. Matt expresses his excitement: "It's going to be like the Met Gala, but it's the BET Gala in Scottsdale, Arizona" (04:35).

However, the invitation comes with a twist. Only Matt, Brandon Garrison, Drew, and Mario are set to attend, leaving regular callers like Ryan Lemon and Shannon out of the trip. This announcement sparks a mix of emotions among the hosts, highlighting both the prestige of the invitation and the disappointment of selective attendance.

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Interview with Brandon Garrison

Brandon Garrison returns to the studio at 10:58 AM, bringing firsthand experience from the basketball court. The conversation delves into his decision to return to Kentucky Sports Radio, attributing his choice to the loyalty and strategic vision of Coach Mark Pope. Brandon states, "Coach Pup... his loyalty, his two-year plan that he talks about with me" (11:40).

Performance and Growth

Brandon reflects on his growth over the past season, particularly his enhanced shooting confidence. "Coach Pope helped me like gain a confidence... as long as I shoot, I got to hold my follow through" (12:47). This newfound assurance has translated into improved three-point shooting, making him a significant asset to the team.

Team Dynamics and Leadership

As the team gears up for the upcoming season, Brandon discusses the integration of new teammates and his role as a leader. "I gotta get that leader role... teaching the new guys how things run" (17:31). He emphasizes the importance of fostering a cohesive unit, especially with the addition of fresh talent.

Personal Insights

Brandon also shares personal anecdotes, including his experiences as a young father. "Being a dad... it matured me, helped me grow up faster" (21:43). Balancing parenthood with athletic commitments, he finds joy in spending time with his one-and-a-half-year-old son, Akari.

Kentucky Basketball Experience

When asked about Kentucky basketball, Brandon lauds the electrifying atmosphere and passionate fanbase. "Every game could be sold out and they're die-hard fans out here" (22:58). The relentless support fuels the team's drive to perform at their best, creating a formidable home-court advantage.

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Budget and Portal Discussion

Transitioning from individual performance to broader program strategies, the hosts engage in a critical analysis of Kentucky's rumored $20 million budget. The discussion centers on how these funds might be allocated across football, basketball, women's basketball, and baseball.

Allocation Debates

Matt Jones raises concerns about the validity of the $20 million figure, expressing skepticism: "I feel confident that it's not [20 million] than it is" (29:35). Stockton Mortgage Rep counters by emphasizing that budget size doesn't directly influence team success: "As long as we've got the money there and we can compete with other teams, it matters less how much we have to spend" (28:22).

Ryan Lemon adds another layer, suggesting that higher spending should correlate with higher expectations: "If you have one of the most expensive rosters, it should be one of the better rosters" (29:02).

Balancing Priorities

The conversation highlights the complexity of budget allocation within collegiate sports, especially in programs where multiple sports vie for resources. The team debates whether to prioritize football, maintaining traditional strengths in basketball, or evenly distribute funds to support all athletic departments effectively.

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Listener Engagement: Callers' Perspectives

Throughout the episode, listener interactions provide diverse viewpoints:

1. Draft Pick Disagreements: A caller criticizes Shannon's draft choices, particularly Devin Booker's selection. Matt Jones defends the strategy by highlighting the overall team strength: "If you look at everyone's teams and you said which one would be the best in the NBA, you would win" (35:32).

2. Budget Allocation Concerns: Another caller voices frustration over the proposed budget split, arguing that Kentucky should prioritize football: "For years, the program here and the fans have not wanted to give their football program as they have the basketball program" (41:49).

3. Vacation Plans with Toddlers: A lighter moment comes when a caller humorously describes his upcoming vacation: "Playing pickleball and Pigeon Forge with toddlers... think about that pickleball in Pigeon Forge with toddlers" (39:08).

These interactions underscore the passionate and diverse opinions within the KSR listener community, reflecting the multifaceted nature of collegiate sports fandom.

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Conclusion

The April 24, 2025 episode of "Kentucky Sports Radio" offers a dynamic mix of exciting news, in-depth interviews, and engaging listener discussions. From celebrating prestigious event invitations to dissecting budget allocations and player performances, KSR provides comprehensive coverage that resonates with UK sports enthusiasts. Host Matt Jones, along with his dedicated crew, ensures that listeners are well-informed and entertained, fostering a vibrant sports community.

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Notable Quotes:

• "KSR has been invited to the Barstool B BET Gala sponsored by DraftKings in Scottsdale, Arizona" — Matt Jones (04:02)
• "Coach Pope helped me like gain a confidence... as long as I shoot, I got to hold my follow through" — Brandon Garrison (12:47)
• "Every game could be sold out and they're die-hard fans out here" — Brandon Garrison (22:58)
• "As long as we've got the money there and we can compete with other teams, it matters less how much we have to spend" — Stockton Mortgage Rep (28:22)
• "If you have one of the most expensive rosters, it should be one of the better rosters" — Ryan Lemon (29:02)

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Key Topics Covered:

• Invitation to Barstool B BET Gala
• Interview with Brandon Garrison on team performance and personal life
• Discussion on Kentucky's athletic budget and resource allocation
• Listener opinions on draft picks and budget priorities

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For more detailed discussions and updates, tune into "Kentucky Sports Radio" on iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM) every weekday from 10 AM to noon.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

Nmlsconsumeraccess.Org this is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

Welcome everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Thursday, April 24th. I Matt Jones here in studio in Lexington. You can give us a shout on actually hold off on calling until 10:30 because we're going to have a guest here and so I don't want you to have to hold that whole time. So just hold off. Ryan, I see you're on there. You could just wait. If you want to wait, you can, but otherwise, try back at 10:30 to a Vision Auto Glass text machine. Is 772-77-45254 in. This isn't sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. You call TJ. I'll make them pay. Ryan Lemon. It's Brandon Garrison time.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

VG day.

[Matt Jones]

It's VG time. By the way, that saying. I keep seeing it online. What am I missing? It's Brandon Garrison time. When. When. When did that. Is that a thing?

[Ryan Lemon]

Oh, it's. It's long been a thing. It's the kind of quote, like, it's Brandon Garrison time quoted by Brandon Garrison like he's calling his own.

[Matt Jones]

I know, but, like, did he say it one time?

[Ryan Lemon]

No, I think the Internet just ran with it. You know, Brandon sometimes when he's in, he, like, calls on them.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I'm going to shoot this and I'm going to punch you in the face. And I think that combination is endeared him to fans. Right.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

There's no doubt about it. And when he was all muscling up in the Oklahoma game, we're all like, behind him, like, yeah, you go, girl. Yeah, you go.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't say you go.

[Ryan Lemon]

No one said.

[Matt Jones]

I never said that. I don't think anybody went. Shannon, did you hear anybody say, you go, girl?

Only, right.

I didn't. I didn't hear anybody say that. But. But it is going to be exciting. He's going to come in here now. He's going to be in here in like five minutes or seven minutes or something. So we're going to take an early break so that we can have as much time with him.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yeah, that's cool.

[Matt Jones]

Leading into 10:30 as well. So this segment will be a segment. This segment will be a little shorter than it normally is. All right, so Billy is sitting in here too, because I have good news and bad news. Oh, okay. So let's start with Mario and Drew know this news. So let's start with Ryan. Would you like Shannon and Billy and Ryan do not. Would you like the good news or would you like the bad?

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

I want to start my day with good news.

[Matt Jones]

Good news.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Let's hear it. Good news. KSR has been invited to something that I don't even know what it is, but it is called the Barstool B BET Gala sponsored by DraftKings.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

In Scottsdale, Arizona. A black tie event.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Oh, wow.

[Matt Jones]

It's going to be like the Met Gala, but it's the BET Gala in Scottsdale, Arizona, in just 10 days.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Oh, wow.

[Matt Jones]

And KSR has been invited. That's the good news. Isn't that exciting? Yeah, absolutely exciting.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Ryan, I've never been to Scottsdale and heard everybody to one of the most beautiful places in the in the country.

[Matt Jones]

Would you like the bad news was the bad news. You're still not going to Scottdale.

[Ryan Lemon]

I cringed as soon as he started talking.

[Matt Jones]

Only Drew and only Drew and me and Mario are going.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

I got you.

[Ryan Lemon]

So I'm going to give you a hug.

[Matt Jones]

Ryan. Ryan. I could see on Shannon's face he kind of knew where this was going. Sorry, Ryan. Ryan. I think even Billy knew. You didn't seem to know where that was going.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

No, I just hit me on the. You know, last time I did a Draft Kings event with you guys though, my house caught on fire.

[Brandon Garrison]

So maybe it's a good thing.

[Matt Jones]

Guard that house.

It's a very good point. That is the glass. You'll still have a house. That's good. Yeah.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Don't get displaced for two months. I can live in my bed.

[Matt Jones]

So next. A week. A week from Monday.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So we're flying actually a week from Sunday. We just found out about this yesterday.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Wow.

[Matt Jones]

They're having this event. Do not know what it is. We're supposed to dress. It's black tie, but that doesn't mean a tuxedo necessarily. I think some of them are actually dressing goofy.

[Ryan Lemon]

Like, black tie encouraged, the invention encouraged.

[Matt Jones]

But like, I'm not dressing goofy. Like, I think they're dressing like, you know, like purple derby dumb and dumb kind of tuxes. I want to be safe. They were like, you can just be safe and dress up. But I don't really have any. I've got like business suit. So I'm going to have to figure something out.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

I would suspect since this is a DraftKings event, they'll have like a big name entertainer there.

[Matt Jones]

There are apparently it's like all the barstool personalities.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

If you say Darius Rucker, I'm going to hit you.

[Matt Jones]

Why would you hit me? I didn't decide who's going to.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

You already said I can't go to Scottsdale now.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't decide who could go. They decided who's going. Okay. But it's like athletes.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

And then apparently a lot of TikTok influencers.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

I don't know any of them.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they read me a name of Shannon. Like 20 of them.

Yeah.

Didn't know one. I knew one person on the list. It was like 18 women, two men. I knew one person.

You'll get to know him at this.

This is that girl from the. From the fight. Do you remember that? The girl that came out at the fight.

[Brandon Garrison]

What's her name?

[Matt Jones]

Sydney something. Yeah, Sydney something. Like that's the only one I even knew. They were like. They were like. And these people are coming. I didn't know who any of those people were. So. So. So Drew and Mario and I had to get our. Our flight yesterday. I'm trying to figure out what I'm gonna wear. I'm trying to figure out if. Is there a place in Lexington where you can like look like a million bucks or at least $430, but Billy, Ryan. Shannon. I didn't know how to tell you all, so I thought telling you on the air would be.

No, it's fine. Perfectly fine. With that.

Shannon, I think you're fine. I would assume you're talking about a cross country flight to Scottsdale.

I think that's two days. That's actually good news as far as I'm concerned.

Knew you wouldn't even want to go. Better news, I knew Shannon wouldn't care. I would feel like though. Billy, you and Ryan would like to go. Well, you said it was a who's who's going to be there and I'm not. I didn't say it was a who's who. I said it was. I said it was like it's peepers. They did say stars. I don't know why they want us to go. I really don't.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Made them a lot of money.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, but that TikTok dance. But I don't know why they want us to go to this. It's like a night of like. They're going to live stream it and people are betting. Hence the BET gala. But Scottsdale, have you ever been.

[Ryan Lemon]

Actually, you know, I'm pretty well traveled. But Scottsdale and TPC Scottsdale are number one on my bucket list.

[Matt Jones]

Which gets me. I wanted to tell you about this and this. Billy, I'm going to do this with you too. But not here. I'm going to. If you want Drew buy for us to play around at tbc.

[Brandon Garrison]

Scottsdale.

[Matt Jones]

Would you like to do that? Of course.

[Ryan Lemon]

I just said number one on my bucket list.

[Matt Jones]

We'll do that Sunday afternoon. I. I looked at it. There's Tea times. I feel like it would be a nice. Thank you. Let's do it.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah. Thank you. That'll be fun.

[Matt Jones]

When's your birthday?

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Dig it a little farther.

[Ryan Lemon]

June 12th.

[Matt Jones]

This will be like a birthday.

[Ryan Lemon]

Early 40th.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you. Billy, I. I know you're a golfer. I don't want you to feel like.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

I played golf last weekend.

[Matt Jones]

I don't want you. Hush. I don't want you to feel like you're not getting something. My jaw's on the floor right now. So. In June, you and I will play the Royal and ancient Tate's Creek.

[Ryan Lemon]

They just aerated their greens. You're good.

[Matt Jones]

The TPC at Lakeside. You and I will go play, and it'll be like it's the same thing. Okay.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

All right.

[Matt Jones]

I'll settle for that. Can Mario come? Because I'd love to get a couple shots of us playing, maybe make it. If Mario wants to come. Yeah, if Mario. If Mario. If Mario wants to come, that would be.

By the way, is Billy on the. The female mic? Because he sounds very feminine talking into that microphone.

Is that the. Is that the female mic over there? Okay, let's. Your mic is not as good. Brandon Garrison was going to be on that. Well, Ryan, you'll switch because we need to be. So I'm. He's here. Okay, so you go get him. Shannon, let's take an early break. Ryan, I'm sorry. You don't get to go to Scottsdale. It would have been nice. He would have been the oldest person at the event.

[Ryan Lemon]

He would have killed it with his $5 punt bets. DraftKings would have loved that.

[Matt Jones]

You would have been good at the punt bets. Except there's no pun. You could have been $5.

[Ryan Lemon]

Whatever.

[Matt Jones]

Single. Yeah, or something like that. All right, we will take a break. Brandon Garrison will join us. We'll be right back with KSI.

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[Matt Jones]

Here we. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio now joined in studio for the first time by our man UK returning player Brandon Garrison. How we doing, everybody? Yes, Brandon, how are you?

[Brandon Garrison]

I'm doing good.

[Matt Jones]

All right. You got to pull that microphone up so we can hear you there. Yes, go. You doing well?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yes, sir.

[Matt Jones]

Good it is. You know, online everybody says it's Brandon Garrison time. Are you ready now for Brandon Garrison.

[Brandon Garrison]

Time now for sure. Excited for this upcoming year, excited to return and ready for the fans to show love again.

[Matt Jones]

Look, Drew, look at that. Look at the. You got the chain. And I mean like he's going. Yeah. So Brandon, let's. We don't have a ton of time with. So I just want to go into it. Made the decision to come back. Talk to me about why you did that. And you know, nowadays people can go wherever they want. Major decision to come back here.

[Brandon Garrison]

No, for sure. I say start with coach Pup. You know, just his loyalty, his two year plan that he talks about with me and you know it's going to be my.

[Matt Jones]

What was his two year plan? Like he. So when he recruited you initially said a two year plan?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yes, sir. So when he first came out to my house for the visit, we talked about two year plan. Not like not rushing the process, I'll say, and just knowing who I'm be playing along with. Like he brought Amari in and told me to process it with him and how I'm gonna get better with him just in practice and overall.

[Matt Jones]

So you always considered this to be a two year process?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yes, ever since he recruited me, that's the first thing he had brought up to me.

[Matt Jones]

Gotcha. Well, that makes sense. Now you, you know, last year. Well, let's, let's talk about last year and then we'll go into this year. Last year, one of the revelations to me was that you could shoot like from outside. Like there was a period you were leading the team in 3 point percentage. Has that always been a part of your game? And I feel like you feel like you got the freedom to throw it up there.

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah. I say I always been able to shoot, but I feel like coach Pope helped me like gain a confidence, I'll say, and just getting rest up in practice and after practice, stuff like that. But you know, he told me just as long as I shoot, I got to hold my follow through and if it goes in or not, he's not tripping.

[Matt Jones]

A lot of times with big guys, especially big guys who've not been given that green light before, they do look timid about it. I never thought you looked timid about it. Is that something that like Mark Pope says, hey, if you're open fire, is that why you kind of have that confidence?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah. Not for sure. You know, he likes to get up a lot of three, so he allows a one through five to shoot, but he Says as long as you own your shot, then he lets you shoot it and have the free will to shoot the threes.

[Matt Jones]

He said at one of the postseason game, one of the NCAA tournament games, something like Brandon knows, like Brandon Garrison has the most confidence in himself, even if he shouldn't or something like that. What did you do? What did you think of that?

[Brandon Garrison]

Oh, yeah, just, you know, he helped me build that confidence. And I feel like you just gotta have confidence when you're out there on the floor. Like, you can't overthink stuff. And if you do, then stuff not gonna go your way. I'll say. So just having a confidence on the floor will help you out.

[Matt Jones]

My favorite part of your game is that you are significantly better than I was at basketball. But you have that. Cause if that weren't the case, you wouldn't be in. But if you. But you have like, I don't want to say a temper, but you're not going to take any. Anything from anybody. So you had the situation. We saw you go at it with other players. We saw you go at it with the crowd. You seem to especially. Ls down against a little bit. You seem to especially. There's something about Oklahoma that seems to get under your skin a little bit. Talk to me about that.

[Brandon Garrison]

Oh, yeah. Like everybody seen. I just feel like, you know, me. Me being from there, going back home, you know, just excited to be there. Things got chippy, but I feel like it's just part of basketball. None just was intentionally done. But things got rowdy that game and we came out with the dub, so.

[Matt Jones]

That was just a part of basketball. I mean, they were. Omari Williams carried you back. Back to the bench. I mean, it was. You got into it, right?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, you know, just some words was, you know, my temper was up. Wasn't really thinking, do you have a temper? I'll say, like, just not just like a bad temper, I say, but like on the court, you know, it's just.

[Matt Jones]

You like to talk trash.

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, yeah, for sure.

[Matt Jones]

I like to. I love that you talk trash. What does that, like get you into the game to do that?

[Brandon Garrison]

I'll say it helps me like, get going, you know, it's just a part of the game. Like, I don't even notice. I do it sometimes. I always been a player.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So when you. When you played that game at Oklahoma, I mean, those two Oklahoma games were unbelievable. And of course Otega played there. I mean, did that. Was there just more juice in those games, both in the tournament and down there?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, like I said, just me being from there. Ortega used to play there. I feel like it just brung more juice. You know, Coach talked about it. He know how it was going to be. And I just feel like we all knew how the game was going to turn out and how the vibes and energy was going to be.

[Matt Jones]

When you look back at last season, what are going to be the things, you know, when you're 25, Pope always talks about when you have grandkids, you're going to talk about this. He says that all the time. What are going to be the things you remember most about last year's season?

[Brandon Garrison]

Oh, yeah. First, just the teammates I played with, how they taught me a lot of things, how we connected and just, you know, our first year going, making March Madness and going as deep as we did. So those are some of the myriads, some of the memories.

[Matt Jones]

What's your favorite game?

[Brandon Garrison]

I'll probably say the Oklahoma game at Oklahoma.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I think that's probably going to be everybody's all right. You got Colin Chandler, Trent Noah definitely coming back. Otega is probably comes back. We'll see what happens with the draft. But then you got all these new guys and we're having to learn who they are. What do you know about your teammates next year?

[Brandon Garrison]

Oh, yeah, I don't know them all. You know, go have to get used to them, reach out to them. It's tough, but coach was telling me some of them coming this weekend, so hopefully I can connect with them, you know, and just feel like they put together a group.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, it's deep. Like there's a lot of dudes. I mean, you just like you, but you, you know, had to battle last year with Amari. You're going to have. You got guys coming in next year. Dbate. We got the. What's our. What's our. What's our Croatian's name. You always see yellow. Yellow. Vich, are you. Are you excited for that competition?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah. Not for sure. That's just one of the things Coach Pope talked to me about, having more guys in practice to go against. You know, we didn't have that last year, so just having that this year, I feel like it'll make us all better.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, it's 1212 guys. It's a deep run. Do you. I mean, I'm sure as part of your decision making to come back, you sat down with, with Mark Pope. What did he say to you about this year's team and about what to expect?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, first he just brought up I gotta get that leader role, you know, and just the group of guys he bring in, you know, just teach them how things run around here, how the offense work, and just all the little things like that we sat down and talked about.

[Matt Jones]

You're going to be the old man now. Yeah. Like, it's. You and Otega are going to be like, as Mario would say, the uncs on the team. Right. Are you. Are you ready to embrace that role of, you know, you're going to be the grizzled veteran that talks about, hey, over here on campus, is this. Et cetera?

[Brandon Garrison]

Nah. Yeah, for sure. You know, just another role I got to step into, you know, since all the other guys is going. So I'm excited to step into the role.

[Matt Jones]

Do you. All right, so let's talk for a second about Mark Pope.

[Brandon Garrison]

Pope.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so when I see Mark Pope, I think he's. You. You tell me if these are all adjectives that are correct. He seems, like, really smart. Is he really smart?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, for sure. Just like yesterday, we had a little meeting, and he was just saying big words I didn't really understand.

[Matt Jones]

Do you remember one of those words?

[Brandon Garrison]

I really don't, like, know how to pronounce them.

[Matt Jones]

I say beautiful. Incredible. He says beautiful a lot. Do you ever go look at him and go, hey, man, not everything could be beautiful.

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, but it's just a part of him. I just kind of got used to it. And.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, so he also seems like a guy who has a basketball answer for everything. I mean, do you get that sense? Like, every situation, he's always got something new coming up?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, no, for sure. Just. I feel like just him being a coach and him playing basketball all his life is just a part of, you know, his nature.

[Matt Jones]

I love him, and we're close the same age, and so. And I can say this because I resemble it. He also seems like he's a little bit goofy and a little. I'll say dorky, but maybe a little bit. Is that. Is that. Is that fair to say?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, yeah. I say goofy, for sure. Just. I feel like that's just a part of him, too, and it just brings out his personality.

[Matt Jones]

Does it make you all laugh, like, when he does goofy stuff like that?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah. Or at least all the guys used to laugh and make jokes. I don't know if it should make him feel good or what, but.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, so is he the kind of guy you can give a hard time?

[Brandon Garrison]

Oh, yeah, yeah, for sure. You know, he can take it, you know, because he. He gives us a hard time. So I feel like this past year, we gave him a lot of hard times just in practice, you know, film, or just seeing him around, walking around.

[Matt Jones]

What team, you know, for us, like, Louisville, Tennessee, tend to be the teams that we rival with the most. Is there one team where you're like, I'm not going to say you hate them, but you're like, we've got to beat them besides Oklahoma, because obviously that was one.

[Brandon Garrison]

I probably say Louisville just because of big rivalry, you know, and how it always been around here. So I probably say, could you feel.

[Matt Jones]

That, like, when you played Louisville? I mean, we want that game more than anybody. For you, it's just another team. But could you feel that? Like, everybody's like, you got to win this game.

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, no, for sure. You know, just since I got here, that's the first team they talked about. Like, they. They wiped all the other teams. They just say, I got to be Louisville. And Tennessee was one of them. So just when we came up on that game, I just felt the energy, you know, the vibes and how much it meant to win for the fans.

[Matt Jones]

And next year, those might be 2 preseason top 5 teams because they're got a great line and you're going to play there. Do you have the L's down ready for the Yum Center? I mean, I know don't look at Deb over here. Just look at me. Like, do you have. Do you have the, like, L's down ready for when we go to the Yum Center?

[Brandon Garrison]

Oh, yeah. Not for sure. You know, it's always L's down. I say, so no matter where we at, I'm always having always L's down.

[Matt Jones]

All right. We always like to ask people who've been here, what's your favorite spot to eat at in Lexington?

[Brandon Garrison]

Like, just quick meal or, like, whatever.

[Matt Jones]

Like, whatever. If you. If I'm saying to you, we got. You got somebody coming in town, you're like, I'm gonna take you to two restaurants.

[Brandon Garrison]

Where are you going, Jeff? Ruby's for sure, and probably Malone's.

[Matt Jones]

So you. You like that? You like to dress up and get the steak thing right?

[Brandon Garrison]

I wouldn't say, like, I dress up to go there, but, like, I like their food is very.

[Matt Jones]

What about something quick? What about, like, I gotta go out. You. Where you going?

[Brandon Garrison]

Probably hit up Cane's or Chipotle for sure.

[Matt Jones]

So you're. You're kind of. You're a Check Cane's Chipotle guy. All right, I'll let Ryan Lemon ask one question. Go for It.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Ryan, I'm going to ask you off the court stuff. I'm. I've always said one of the greatest thrills in life is to be a dad. I'm the only dad here in the group. What's it like for you being a young dad, having to juggle college, juggle playing. And what's your favorite thing to do with your kid?

[Brandon Garrison]

Oh yeah, just me becoming a dad, I feel like it matured me, I'll say. Helped me grow up faster, you know. And just being around him, it's just always brings me joy. But favorite thing to do with him, I'll say, is probably took him to the park cause he likes to run around a lot. Like yesterday it was great weather here so we took him to the park. How old is he? One and a half.

[Matt Jones]

One and a half. What's his name?

[Brandon Garrison]

Akari.

[Matt Jones]

A Corey Akari. Akari?

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah, he was at the Oklahoma game when he broke out.

[Matt Jones]

That was a big part of it. That was a big part of it. Were you trying to like show out a little bit?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, now for sure. You know, when he's there, just I feel like I'm just playing for him so. Just doing it all for him. I'll say.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I have to tell you, I mean you were a ton of fun to watch this season. I think the thing that I like the most about is the joy that you play with and the excitement that you play with. I'm sure when you came here you heard. Tell me what you heard about Kentucky basketball. And now that you've experienced for a year, when someone asked Brandon Garrison, what is Kentucky basketball like, what would you say?

[Brandon Garrison]

Oh yeah, just what I, what I first heard was, you know, just a picture where all the games sold out. Kentucky fans go ask for pictures wherever you go, you know.

[Matt Jones]

Is that annoying because you can't hide because you're tall?

[Brandon Garrison]

I wouldn't say it's annoying but like sometimes it can get like, like. But what I'll tell like somebody who asked me. It's just like they show a lot of love, you know, every game could be sold out and they're die hard fans out here. So just take advantage of it and meet as many people as you can.

[Matt Jones]

You, I mean a lot of people don't realize, no offense to where you came from. There's a lot of schools that don't get the crowds. When you know that every time you run out there, that arena is going to be full. What's that like as a player?

[Brandon Garrison]

Oh, it's just special. I Feel like it just makes you want to get out there more, you know, and just excited for the game, you know, because I came from a crowd where it wasn't like that. And some games could, like, you know, you got to have your own energy. But I feel like just having the stands packed out, they bring energy for you. So you ready?

[Matt Jones]

Right?

[Brandon Garrison]

When you step out on the floor.

[Matt Jones]

You feel like, you know, one of the dudes you played against could be the number one pick. You feel like you could take Cooper flag, like if it's one on one, just, you know, you think, you think you got him if it happens because he might go first in the draft.

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, for sure. I say I could take one or more. I ain't gonna say I'm gonna lose anybody, but yeah, yeah, that's good.

[Matt Jones]

You know, we were in Seattle with that comeback against Gonzaga. That's my favorite win of the year. Kentucky fans packed Seattle, packed Atlanta for Duke. Go on the road. What's it like in all those environments to just see big blue nation everywhere?

[Brandon Garrison]

Yeah, no, for sure. Just seeing them out there because I didn't know, like they would travel all the way to Atlanta, Seattle and stuff, but just send them out there. I helped, I feel like they helped us get that dub out there both in Atlanta and Seattle, so.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it's great having you. Good luck on next year. I'm sure we'll talk to you again. Let me know where I can get that necklace because I, I gotta step up my, my, my fashion game. Brandon Garrison, thank you very much.

[Brandon Garrison]

Appreciate the time.

[Matt Jones]

We'll take a break, be right back. This is ksr. TJ Smith, personal injury attorney. Call tj. He'll make him pay.

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

Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. Nice job by Brandon Garrison. Thank you for to him for coming on. I thought he did a great job, Brian.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

I actually thought he killed it. I, I, it's so much better when you get these guys off the court and he doesn't have to be Superstar Brandon, he's B.G. brandon. You don't get to know him as a guy and I thought he did a great job.

[Matt Jones]

It's hard, you know, it's hard to lot some of these guys like it's not the easiest to get him to talk, but I thought he opened up and did really well and so now ready for year two. I think I love that he just plays with his temper just out, you know, I think that's the only time I See, the UK people get nervous when you talk about that. Like, that's what I love about him. Like, that's what he does, you know?

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah, Deb over in the corner, we're talking about the L's down in Oklahoma and all that. I could see her get a little red. You know, their media trained to not say that. And let's be honest, a lot of these don't go well. The guys don't like to talk. He was great, even off the air, very friendly, thinking us on his way.

[Matt Jones]

Talking about places to eat with Mario.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah, great, great personality.

[Matt Jones]

Always knows places. Places I don't know exist. Like, he's talking about some Jamaican place that like. Like, how do you know all these places? Like I did, you know, I. You just. There's like a. Like he. There's like a. He just has a way of knowing all this stuff in the moment. You said it. He knew it. Brandon knew it too. Just unbelievable. One person writes, you can open up the phones, 859280, 2287. Shannon will open it up. One person writes, matt, I think they would have invited Billy if he was nicer to people and Ryan if he was more consistent.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Well, maybe fair. I. My heart did break more for Billy than me. When you said you're going to play at TPC Sawgrass, I could just see the Scottsdale.

[Matt Jones]

Those are different. Yeah, we played at TBC Sawgrass at the Gator Bowl.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yeah, that's right. You guys.

[Matt Jones]

Did you play?

[Ryan Lemon]

No, I did not. I did not get to go to the Gator Bowl.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so. So, yeah, we've played a couple of those. But I don't worry, I'll play with Billy at some point.

[Ryan Lemon]

Billy plays Valhalla just regularly, so he gets to see some good golf courses.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Didn't we do. We did a show there, didn't we, at TPC Sawgrass that morning? That we did.

[Matt Jones]

That was where. Because Mark Stoops and them were playing. Mitch played golf there, I think as well. So. Yeah. 859-280-2287. Let's talk for a second since Brandon was here about this whole portal situation. Okay, so the portal rankings, they're kind of all over the place for Kentucky. We've seen people rank Kentucky going into next year as high as like, number three. ESPN has his number two. John Rothstein has us at like 13. And then there's still a lot of chatter about this $20 million number. I think I'm going to end up on an island of people of saying that the 20 million is not correct, but I still feel confident on my island. Okay. Jeff Goodman came out yesterday, said he thinks it's 17 to 20. Now, I will note 17 is not 20, but he's like, it could be up to 22. I'm very much still, it's significantly less than that. But that gets me to a bigger question, which is do you care how much it is? Meaning, like if it's 17, 12, 22, does it matter to you? Does it factor in at all how you consider expectations or the team or anything like that?

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Doesn't factor for me. One ounce, Nothing. I mean, as long as we've got the money there and we can compete with other teams and we got to buy somebody, Absolutely. I don't care how much we got to spend.

[Matt Jones]

Does it change though, what you expect of the team in the season?

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

No. Maybe I'm weird that way, but no.

[Matt Jones]

What about you?

[Ryan Lemon]

I don't care. I mean, if they were the 25th ranked team with money, people would be critical of a walking Kentucky. Afford better players, aren't you, Kentucky? Where's your money? So I think it's better to be spending the most than not. But I will say it raises my bar a little bit for expectations. Like if you are spending the most, not. Not really big, but like there is like, okay, but that's weird because you're.

[Matt Jones]

Always the guy that's like, it's not my money.

[Ryan Lemon]

Well, and I'm not saying they got to win the title, but I mean like last year, whenever they finished in the SEC, you need to be in contention in the SEC. If you spent $20 million now again, when the games start, I will not think about nil again. But I do think going into the year, if you have one of the most expensive rosters, it should be one of the better rosters.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I understand what you're saying. I think it's very important. Like there's going to come a time here very soon where we're going to know what the schools are paying these guys.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Sure.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Because it's going to be publicly released records as part of the Rev share, but we don't know yet. So right now we have no real idea. I think there, as I said, I think this money, it's all agents saying the money. I had an agent contact me yesterday and say it is $20 million. And I said to them, I love you, but of course you're gonna say that. And I said, well. And he was like, I. I'm just telling you it is. And I said, okay. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I feel more confident that it's not than it is. But I do wonder if it's going to matter to people. People. Yeah, because like think about Mark Stoops. People always bring up what he makes. Right?

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

That's a.

[Matt Jones]

They did the same thing with Cal. Like, we're going to pay you $10 million. And, and that was money coming officially from the school. This is money coming from club in club blue and donors. I just wonder if you're going to put a burden on the team by saying it's a quote unquote $20 million team.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Okay, I got to ask you a question because this was asking me yesterday I thought was a great question. I'm just going to use Jaden Quatin's as an example.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

What if they've promised him 1.5 for two years? So it's three years and that factors into the $20 million total. Are we thinking that's plausible?

[Matt Jones]

Okay, that's a very good point. Maybe people are saying 20 million but they're taking an overall multiple year thing. Maybe that's what they did with Malachi Moreno. Yes, maybe that's what they did. I don't know if Jasper Johnson would definitely agree to two years when he could go to the draft. But yeah, maybe that's where the high.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

$20 million coming from.

[Matt Jones]

You know what, that's very plausible. I don't know. I just know that what they are paying for this year's team I do not believe is that amount of money. I do believe though, they're going to have either the highest or the second or highest. It's going to be us or BYU that spends the most money.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

And I think, you know, you ask us if it matters to us and.

[Matt Jones]

BYU spending most of their money on one kid.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

You said you asked if it matters to us. I think it matters to most fans to know that we're among the top in the sec. We don't want to be buried by the true.

[Matt Jones]

Like, I think if we didn't spend the money, people would go, well, are we going cheap? Do we not care?

[Ryan Lemon]

Let's be honest. The people talking about this, the national people, the Goodman's, they don't really know what to do because some of them are trying to be critical of not having money. But if we didn't have the money, they'd say Kentucky's going to fall behind. I think they're all confused on how to handle this.

[Matt Jones]

I think you're right. I think you're Right. I also. We heard Pope can't recruit.

[Ryan Lemon]

He's whiffing with. And now it's. He has too many people. Kentucky spent too much money. Well, which. Which is it?

[Matt Jones]

Now, I don't know if this is true. I think we're going to find out in the coming days. But I heard the SEC was going to go in together and say, okay, of this $22 million, you can share. We all, as, as a conference, agree to do 70% football, 15% basketball, 10% women's sport. Like, whatever. I don't know what the numbers were.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And that the goal was we're all going to do the same thing. I've heard that fell. Fell apart. And now every school gets to decide.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Wow.

[Matt Jones]

So here's my question as Kentucky fans. If you're in charge, what do you decide? Are you. Okay, here's the decision. Let's say it's $20 million. Let's just make it a round number. You can spend, in theory, all 20 million on football. You could spend 17 on football, 3 on basketball. You could spend 10 on basketball and spend more than anyone in the league. But Also, remember, like, St. John's could spend all 20 of theirs on basketball because they don't even have a football team. What are you going to do if you're Mitch Barnhart, what are you doing? What are you spending the money on?

[Ryan Lemon]

This is where I think Kentucky's in a bad spot, because every other SEC team is football first. And fans won't have an issue with just loading up on football because that's the way they've been for a century, up until fairly recently. Like Alabama, I think, will take a little dip in basketball because they'll want football to still reign supreme. But we've been basketball first for so long. You just can't throw football aside because they need so much money. They raise so much money. You can't just let football die.

[Matt Jones]

And then you have baseball, which a lot of these women's basketball really care about. Women's basketball, like Kentucky, we want to be good at everything. So what do we do? I don't know the answer to that question. I really don't know what they can do that will please everyone.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

And knowing Mitch Barnhart the way we do, he's so emphatic about improving all of the sports, not just one. He will disperse it to what he thinks is as. Even as possible. I believe he won't.

[Matt Jones]

You can't lose.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Basketball cannot. Not.

[Matt Jones]

You cannot. And I don't know what they're going to do what? If we find out Louisville spending 40% of theirs on basketball and we're spending.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

15, a lot of people be mad about that.

[Ryan Lemon]

Be right.

[Matt Jones]

You'll be right. So I think it's. I think it is going to be a very tough decision coming. Italian Stallion. Go ahead. One time. Go ahead. Hua.

[Caller]

Hey.

[I]

I'm a longtime postgame show listener, but I really enjoyed Yalls topic yesterday about the all time cow players draft. Me and my buddies did a draft of our own after listening to Yalls and I wanted to call in and express my gripe that I had with Shannon taking Devin Booker fifth overall. I would argue that Devin Booker is not a top five shooting guard of the calera. I think you go Murray Monk Definitive 1 and 2, the Ryan Lamb 3. And then I take Reeves and Dillingham over him and I'll hang up and listen to y'all.

[Matt Jones]

What do you think? I actually, I. There were two picks that I severely questioned. One was Booker.

Yeah.

And honestly, the other one was Teague. Both of them were your picks.

Well, part of that was first of all, that I wasn't prepared because I didn't know we were doing this. The second part was I don't think I heard you when you said it's how they performed at Kentucky. So I'm just taking just best players overall as how I perceive them.

I think if you look at everyone's teams and you said which one would be the best in the NBA you would win. Yeah. Because you had the best. Because you had Towns, Booker and sga.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And I was just. I was just thinking big picture overall, best players in the Cal era.

I think if you took so a guy. Did you see a guy computer simulated our team?

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

No, I didn't see it.

[Matt Jones]

I got computer simulated artist.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Really?

[Matt Jones]

And mine won.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

But I went 2 and 1. Shannon went 2 and 1. But I beat Shannon. Drew went 1 and 2 and you went 1 and 2. But the games were all close.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Like we. They actually had us all being pretty close.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Well, I know I got a lot of flack online about my team, but I'm thinking I got the national defensive player of the year guarding your big guys. Everybody thought I didn't have a good big guy. I got the best power forward. I got one of the top three point guards, one of the top three shooting guards.

[Matt Jones]

Your team kind of stunned.

[Ryan Lemon]

I'm a 14 and a half point favorite against your team.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, we covered if this was real. It's me and Drew playing for the national title. It's Basically my athletes versus his tough guys and shooters and it's a battle. Shannon wins the third place game and you cry.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

No.

[Matt Jones]

Stop overpaying for sunglasses and check out Shady Ray. Shady Ray is an independent American owned company started right here in Kentucky. Premium polarized shades. Running, fishing, biking, golfing, it's all at Shady Rays. They have the best protection program in the industry. And premium polarized shades for you. Go check it out. It's shady rays.com available also in the new UK blue and white [e-mail] we'll take a break. Barry backs KSR. Welcome back, Tucky Sports Radio. Biggest snubs yesterday. Nerlands was our biggest snub.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

No doubt.

[Matt Jones]

But Oscar went in the last round. Right. So like Oscar going the last round. We just have had so many good bigs. Nerwyn's the biggest snub. Nick Richards was a big snub. Yeah. Casey Wallace didn't even come up. Yeah, Case and Wallace was really good. Ty. Ty was really good here. Didn't even come up.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Didn't even come up.

[Matt Jones]

Didn't even enter my mind.

[Ryan Lemon]

Rob Dillingham.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, we mentioned him as a snub, but like, he didn't come up.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Didn't even come up. We mentioned Keldon Johnson after the draft. He didn't come up during the draft.

[Matt Jones]

And even dudes like Nate Sestina never entered our mind.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

You know, so it's just interesting. I'm interested to see what people would think. Here's what I'd like you to do. 772-774-5254. I want you to, on the text machine, write me and say you have 100%. Forget about the amount of money. 100%. What percent are you given to football? Basketball, women's basketball, baseball. That's going to be the four that get the money.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

What are you giving each percentage. If you're the ad, I'd like to see what people say. No, here's the. The SEC had proposed 70 football, 15 basketball, 10 women's bass or sue me. Yeah. 10 women's basketball, 5 baseball. That's what they had proposed. What would you do if you were in charge?

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

I mean, we. You got to give most of it to football. I would probably, maybe.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I want to see what they say.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

All right, well, and then we'll. We'll go through it. Ryan, Go ahead. Ryan. Matt, I just wanted to tell you I'm about to embark on what would.

[Caller]

Probably be your nightmare vacation.

[Matt Jones]

What is that? I'm gonna be Playing pickleball and Pigeon Forge. Yeah, I don't want to. That's, that's honestly there's a clip and I. I want you to find and make sure there's no cuss words. But it's Judy Gemstone talking about children. Okay, See if you can find that. Make sure there's no cuss. And I got. And I got my two toddlers in the car for the next see. Okay. Think about that pickleball in Pigeon Forge with toddlers. Go ahead and put me in the grave now. That would be awful. I got like. The only thing worse would be if you're going to Myrtle Beach, Matt, you don't. You don't want to return to serve. Clean up a little vomit and then play a little mini golf or. No. Or go to the outlets. No, thank you. God bless you sir. I wish you the best. I appreciate the call. I want you to hear that because this is how I feel. Feel. I almost did one of those videos where people like just use their mouth and they like just act like they're saying it. Sink to this when he finds it because that's how I feel. Go ahead Bob.

[J]

Good morning. On your trip to Scottsdale. It'll be a great trip. You see Camelback Mountain and Dizzy Dean was his home when he was probably.

[Matt Jones]

Will not see Dizzy Dean's home. But I am excited to go. You know Bob, they say the most beautiful people in the country country are in Scottsdale and now we're going to be there to fit in.

[J]

Well, we played the World Series seniors back in the late 80s. We were there at Scottsdale and they just opened the Phoenician. Three 18 hole golf courses. Take your golf clubs and there's a story with the Phoenician but I'm sure you don't want to hear it.

[Matt Jones]

That's okay, Bob. It's good to hear from you. I hope you're doing well. I haven't heard from you in a while. You doing good?

[J]

Well, I'm going to turn 92 this year.

[Matt Jones]

Nice rock star. Bob, if I you I'm halfway there. So I hope I can meet you one day.

[J]

All right, well you go have to hurry because I'm going to turn in for another 90.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you very much, Bob. I like Bob. 92 still going and calls regularly talks about Dizzy Dean. Yeah, I like the name Dizzy Day. Are you have that Shannon?

No, I can't find it.

You can't find Judy Gemstone talking about children.

[Stockton Mortgage Rep]

I don't know if Judy Jimstone ever said Anything where she didn't cuss, did she?

[Matt Jones]

I don't think she cusses in this.

You can find it. Send it to me and I'll play it.

All right, I will. Dennis in Richmond. Go ahead, Dennis.

[Caller]

Football fan. Then you have to donate 70% like SEC says if you're going to stay competitive. Actually, my call was about complaining about this budget for the basketball this year. This is a problem with Kentucky football. For years, this the program here and the fans have not wanted to give their football program as they have the basketball program. So there's no way, if Mark Pope does not win a national championship this, this upcoming season with being number one with the budget, then he should be ripped.

[Matt Jones]

Well, let me ask you, a fan, can you rip? All right, hang on. Who had the biggest budget last year in basketball? You don't know. And you don't know who had the second biggest budget and you don't know who had the third biggest budget and you don't know who had the fourth biggest budget. My point is not to say you should know or not know. My point is to say when the game start, nobody remembers any of that. That the answers to my questions, by the way, like, the biggest budgets last year were like Kansas State, Arkansas had one of the biggest budgets and none of those, Indiana, none of those teams even contended for a title. So I don't think just having the biggest, biggest budget, sir, is going to like guarantee anything in college basketball.

[Caller]

But you know, how, how can anyone get on here? How can any fan rip Mark, Mark Stoops when, when I know his budget wasn't number one in, in the SEC for football.

[Ryan Lemon]

So how can you not rip him?

[Matt Jones]

Hang on, hang on. I love Mark Stoops and I'm not ripping him. But don't you think we had a bigger budget than V.

[Caller]

I agree, yes. He should have beat Vandy.

[Matt Jones]

So when people criticize him for beating, for losing the Vandy or losing by 30 to Louisville or losing by 30 to South Carolina, those are reasonable criticisms, right? Like I agree with you, you can't expect Mark Stoops to be Alabama, Georgia, et cetera. But you can expect them to beat Vandy.

[Caller]

Yeah, I agree, but I mean, but 70. If SEC, if they're proposing 70% of football, then Kentucky has to do 70% football if you even want to stay competitive.

[Matt Jones]

That's a fair point. If you agree, let me know. We'll take a break. Be right backs KSR.