KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) – Hour 2

Date: August 28, 2025
Host: Matt Jones
Co-hosts: Drew Franklin, Ryan Lemond, Shannon Dawson
Location: KS Bar and Grill

Overview

This hour of Kentucky Sports Radio centers on UK basketball and football—specifically, a lively and detailed discussion about which UK basketball players since the Pitino era deserve their jersey in Rupp Arena’s hallowed rafters (retired numbers), plus calls from listeners about football optimism, ticket prices, and some fun personal moments for Matt Jones’s birthday. The hour brings KSR’s signature blend of sports insight, friendly ribbing, and heartfelt community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Should Have Their Jersey Retired Next at UK? (Rafters Debate)

• Initiated by Matt Jones (01:47): Who, from the Pitino era onward, should next have their jersey retired in the Rupp Arena rafters—and in what order?

  • Criteria Considered: Achievements while at UK, not necessarily NBA careers.

• Matt’s Order (Deservingness, Not Chronology):

  1. Anthony Davis
  2. Keith Bogans
  3. John Wall
  4. Tayshaun Prince
  5. Oscar Tshiebwe (as National Player of the Year; more debate here)
  • Next candidates: Willie Cauley-Stein, Antoine Walker
  • After that, Jones "probably stops."

    "Those four are definite...I'll hear a case for Oscar...after that, I'm probably stopping."
    — Matt Jones (02:59)

• Consensus Among Hosts:

  • Drew Franklin and Ryan Lemond agree on the top four; both highlight the excellence of the 1996 team.
  • Drew Franklin: "Those top four, Prince, Bogans, Wall, Anthony Davis—I think they're locks." (04:00)
  • Debate over 2015 and 1998 championship teams—unlikely any player from those will be honored, though Willie Cauley-Stein for 2015 is possible.
  • Matt Jones: "That team was 38-1 and we might never have one person in the rafters from that team." (04:14)
  • Jeff Shepherd (MVP of '98), Wayne Turner (two rings) are mentioned, but seem less compelling for rafters.

• Arguments on Criteria:

  • Whether the Hall of Fame “plus X years” rule is too restrictive and outdated.

    "Change the damn rule. Who cares? You need to get some names up there that deserve it."
    — Ryan Lemond (06:44)

  • The “four-year player” requirement for eligibility is debated and criticized as irrelevant in the one-and-done era.

    "That's got to be changed. Or it just becomes a joke."
    — Matt Jones (08:30)

• Notable Exclusions/Controversial Picks:

  • Rex Chapman: Great player but weaker case than Davis, Wall, Prince, Bogans.
  • Rajon Rondo: Great NBA career but only a "very good" UK player; not enough for retiring his jersey.

    "He became a superstar after he went to the NBA."
    — Drew Franklin (15:39)

  • Jody Meeks and Chuck Hayes: Recognized but seen as farther down the list.
  • Aaron Harrison: Not up for rafters, but "if they finished the job" (won the title), his clutch shots would have made it a tougher discussion.

• Memorable Moment/Quote:

  "Do it while people who loved and watched these guys are here to celebrate them...don’t wait till they’re 80. Put them up there and let them enjoy it."
  — Matt Jones (07:02)

  "We’re never gonna have a four-year player that’s that spectacular. Those go to the league."
  — Ryan Lemond (17:16)

2. UK Football Preview and Optimism

• Caller Jacob (12:43) believes the football schedule will test UK’s "resilience," highlighting the importance of early wins, especially against Ole Miss.

  "If they win the Ole Miss game, heck yeah, my expectations change."
  — Matt Jones (13:27)

• Hype around center Jager Burton's physical transformation ("6’5”, 325 lbs, 9% body fat") and team confidence against Toledo.
• General optimism for a strong bowl-worthy season if early hurdles are cleared.

3. Ticket Prices for Purdue Exhibition Game

• Caller Patricia (19:11) asks about the sky-high ticket prices ($472 for nosebleeds) for the UK vs. Purdue exhibition.
• Hosts explain this is inevitable given it’s the first matchup of the season and features the No. 1 ranked team—plus added rivalry and storyline elements with previous transfer portal drama.

  "It’s going to be a crazy environment...there was some buzz Kentucky was trying to get [Purdue’s star player]."
  — Ryan Lemond (21:22)

4. Listener & Community Moments

• Birthday Surprises for Matt Jones:
  • Caller Miles (09:49), a young fan, calls in to sing "Happy Birthday" to Matt—touching moment leading to reminiscing about community.

    "How sweet is that?"
    — Matt Jones (10:21)

  • Matt receives a vintage Dan Issel Kentucky Colonels card from a fan in-person.
  • Brief reflection: “Dan Issel looked 40 at 24 and still looks 40.” (11:56)
• The Return of "The Truth":
  • Notorious caller “The Truth” (31:43) phones in—first time in two years—for a birthday greeting, classic KSR banter about Indiana/Hoosiers, some surprise political commentary, and college football picks.
  • Memorable for nostalgia and the unpredictability of old KSR calls:

    "Wait a minute, Truth. Hang on. You’re a Trump fan?"
    — Matt Jones (34:44)

5. Other Notable Segments

• Burning Man Discussion:
  Matt tries to explain the music/art festival to the crew, who have little interest. Jokes about dirt, sun, and lack of showers.

  • “It looks like the most miserable place on Earth.” (25:31)
  • "I'll do just about anything once. Interpret that however you'd like."
    — Ryan Lemond (26:14)

• Football Picks Round Table:
  Quick-fire picks for opening night college football (27:06–29:52), full of banter.

  • Kentucky connections: Kale Crowdus at Wisconsin, Dane Key (now Nebraska captain).
  • “Danky. Not only starts, now he’s a captain. Scores his first Nebraska touchdown.”
    — Drew Franklin (30:07)

• Food Talk at KS Bar:
  High praise for new menu additions, especially "smashed burgers" and tater kegs. (23:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt Jones on Retirement Timing:

  "Wouldn’t it be awesome, now that he’s retiring, bring John Wall in this year? It would be a great time...get it in the rafters." (07:30)

• Ryan Lemond on Changing Rules:

  "Change the damn rule. Who cares? You need to get some names up there that deserve it. It’s been too long." (06:44)

• Birthday Song from Miles:

  "Happy birthday dear Matt Jones, happy birthday to you." (10:22)

• On Rondo & NBA Success:

  "The reason you put Rondo in is for what happened afterwards. And that’s not the reason...you would put him in."
  — Matt Jones (15:48)

• Nostalgia for Callers/Audience:

  "It’s like hearing from a ghost... There are people like The Truth, sometimes I sit and think, I hope he’s still doing well or still alive. Makes...a nice birthday gift to hear from The Truth."
  — Matt Jones (34:52)

Important Timestamps

• 01:47–11:00 — Extended conversation on “rafters” and rules for UK jersey retirement.
• 12:43–14:46 — Caller Jacob with UK football preview and “end of Summer of Elly.”
• 19:11–23:05 — Caller Patricia on high Purdue game ticket prices; deep dive on why and fan demand.
• 25:31–27:06 — Burning Man Festival banter and festival camping talk.
• 27:06–31:07 — Hosts give their college football picks for opening night.
• 31:43–35:11 — "The Truth" returns for classic birthday call and Indiana/UK banter.

Tone & Language

Stays consistently conversational, humorous, and occasionally irreverent—a blend typical of Kentucky Sports Radio. The crew lovingly pokes at each other, the UK fanbase, and longtime KSR traditions (like legendary callers), keeping the show inviting and personal for fans of UK sports and KSR’s community.

Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• A full rundown of which UK players are leading candidates for future jersey retirement and the rationale behind each pick.
• Updates on UK football optimism, schedule discussion, and fans’ anticipation.
• Inside look at community ties and callbacks to KSR legends.
• Executive summary of general tone and humorous asides—Burning Man, personal milestones, and food recs at KS Bar.

Listeners walk away with a comprehensive understanding of current UK sports debates, a sense of the Q&A rhythms of the community, and plenty of entertainment and wit characteristic of KSR.