KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) — Hour 1 Summary

Date: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin
Location: KS Bar & Grill, Lexington, KY
Episode Focus: Updates and lively debate on the state of UK football and basketball, reflections on team culture, fan engagement, and behind-the-scenes insights from basketball media day.

Episode Overview

This episode welcomes Matt Jones back to Lexington after several weeks away, and finds the KSR crew at KS Bar & Grill discussing recent UK football woes, the unexpectedly vibrant team culture of UK basketball under Mark Pope, and exciting changes in fan engagement from the athletic department. Listeners get a heartfelt—and at times comical—look at the personalities and issues shaping Kentucky sports right now.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Team Atmosphere (02:40–04:20)

• Matt returns after a 3.5 week absence to a rainy Lexington, observing the mix of fans from across Kentucky and Tennessee present at the bar.
• Anecdote about fans who attend UK–Tennessee games in separate cars due to nerves and split fandoms—UK fan can't watch when losing.
  • “That's devotion. Love conquers all.” — Matt Jones (04:15)
  • The crew jokes about divided license plates and game day superstitions.

2. UK Basketball Media Day: A New Era (04:20–07:14; 10:15–12:24; 22:49–32:04)

• Matt and Drew reflect on basketball media day, their tiredness, and the oddity of “media day with no basketball players” being available, leading to slap-happy moments.
• The personality of the team is highlighted: older, much more open and talkative than usual, with diverse off-court interests:
  • Interests listed: Chess, anime, poetry, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Spider-Man.
  • “That is not what you think of when you think of a basketball team… but that's unique.” — Matt Jones (05:02)
  • Ryan observes the maturity and likability of the group: “It’s just a different game these days… this group seems as fun as any we’ve had in a long time.” (05:42)
• Mark Pope’s recruiting strategy is discussed; his players display intellectual and quirky interests that break the athlete stereotype.

Standout Player Personalities (28:21–32:24)

• Jaylen Lowe: Huge Spider-Man fan, specifically Andrew Garfield’s version.

• Jaden Quaintance: Enjoys chess (mentions a specific move) and anime (“Death Note”).

• Cam Williams: Avid gamer, 2K champion among the team.

• Mohamed Diabate: Writes poetry, idolizes Maya Angelou (“the Poet” suggested as a nickname).

• Yellovich: Plays Yu-Gi-Oh! cards.

• Stories about Big Z and American food mishaps—Papa John’s every day for two weeks.

• “This is a team of dorks...I love dorks...but we have Yu-Gi-Oh!, anime, poetry, chess. This is a team...of athletic dorks.” — Matt Jones (34:22)

3. Football’s Downturn & Program Concerns (07:14–11:14; 13:18–16:58)

• The crew addresses Kentucky football's struggles, post-Georgia, noting the team’s SEC record:
  • “There's what, two and 14 in their last 16 SEC games? That's not good.” — Matt Jones (08:24–08:28)
  • Fans’ general mood is sadness about the program’s decline, not animosity.
  • Diminished hope for keeping the current staff unless “something dramatic” changes.
  • Discussion turns to Coach Stoops’ public withdrawal (no call-in show) and how this mirrors Calipari’s retreat in prior years.
  • “This is a terrible way to do it, Ryan.” — Matt Jones on Stoops isolating from the fan base (09:22)
  • “It’s like a breakup...not gonna work, but it’s sad.” — Matt Jones (14:04)

4. Fan Engagement: Basketball vs. Football (11:14–12:24; 16:58–17:26)

• Huge praise for basketball’s new free Fan Fest before Big Blue Madness, offering autographs and coach meet-and-greets—no NIL donation needed.
  • Drew: “Basketball team reads the room. They really get it...” (12:20)
  • “They deserve all the praise for this. I hope people go...if we’re going to say they need to do stuff like this, people need to go when they do it.” — Matt Jones (11:43)
• Comparison drawn to football’s avoidance of such open fan gestures amid apathy and poor results.

5. Coach Mark Pope’s Confidence—Roster & Outlook (22:49–27:43)

• Matt notes he could “read” Calipari’s real feelings on teams, and believes Pope, while less transparent, is “supremely confident” in this roster’s athleticism and versatility.
  • Pope clearly recruited with defensive needs and SEC athleticism in mind.
  • Media is shown team “shot charts” with high three-point percentages.
• Pro Day is promoted (Tuesday, 5:30 PM), with a promise of a real practice, a shift from earlier combine-style events.
• Discussion on the SEC adjustment last year: “He got to SEC play last year and was like, ‘Oh, my model isn’t really equipped for this.’”
• The crew is struck by how much more “physically mature” and athletic this year’s team looks compared to last.

6. Cultural Fit & Recruiting Philosophy (36:08–38:01)

• Caller Jackie shares that players are literally graded for positive energy and support of teammates in practice—a Pope and Coach Brooks policy, mirroring trends in the NBA.

• Pope’s willingness to walk away from recruits who don’t fit his cultural model is highlighted; creating “a Pope archetype of player.”

  • “So many kids will say I need 15 shots...sounds like Pope’s going to be the type that, if you’re not fitting into what he’s doing...he'll shake your hand and let the next coach come in and talk to you.” — Ryan Lemond (37:48)

7. Community & Lighter Moments (21:23–22:24; 32:24–35:14; 42:42–45:16)

• Jokes about plastic vs. paper straws at KS Bar and Matt’s “MAGA straw” stance.
• Debates about the best lasagna in Lexington, with informal rankings read live.
• Discussion about quirky off-the-court hobbies of the basketball team, with fond reminiscence about other past “dorky” UK players (e.g., Brandon Knight, Willie Cauley-Stein).

8. Upcoming Events & Basketball Optimism (38:01–39:17)

• Excitement as basketball season officially ramps up:
  • Pro Day (Tuesday, 5:30 PM, streaming)
  • Big Blue Madness (Saturday), plus all-day Fan Fest (free, Rupp Arena)
  • Blue-White Game and exhibition versus Purdue
• “Basketball is here...every Friday or Saturday from now until Christmas, there’s basketball.” — Matt Jones (38:53)

9. Listener Calls & Feedback (35:24–38:01; 45:25–49:54)

• Callers and text messages add humor and insight (advice on watching anime, best lasagna recommendations, reminders of past UK players with nerdy hobbies).
• Minor NHL talk/laughs on predictably poor hockey picks.
• Closing out with appreciation for youthful enthusiasm and a return to light, community-driven radio.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• “This is a team of dorks. I just want to be clear...we have Yu-Gi-Oh, anime, poetry, chess...athletic dorks.”
  — Matt Jones (34:22)

• “There's what, two and 14 in their last 16 SEC games? That's not good.”
  — Matt Jones (08:24)

• “I kind of feel like that's what this is. It's a relationship that...it's not gonna work, but it's sad.”
  — Matt Jones (14:04) on the fan/football program breakdown

• “Basketball team reads the room. They really get it.”
  — Drew Franklin (12:20)

• “You ask them a question and it’s five minutes before it’s time to ask another one. They're very, very fun to talk to.”
  — Ryan Lemond (04:51) on basketball’s new openness

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:40 — Show opens, fans at KS Bar, Matt’s return, rain banter
• 04:20–07:14 — Basketball media day: player personalities and maturity
• 07:14–11:14 — UK football recap, program malaise, coaching staff future
• 10:15–12:24 — Basketball fan fest free event, contrast with football
• 13:18–16:58 — Stoops parallels to Calipari’s recent years, fan disengagement
• 22:49–27:43 — Mark Pope’s team-building, confidence, Pro Day preview
• 28:21–32:24 — New players’ off-court interests, interviews, food stories
• 36:08–38:01 — Caller Jackie details “enthusiasm grading” and Pope’s recruiting fit
• 38:01–39:17 — UK basketball schedule rundown, basketball season excitement
• 42:42–45:16 — Listener banter: paper straws, favorite lasagna, quirky team culture

Tone and Style

The tone throughout is friendly, open, at times sentimental (especially in discussing football’s decline), and welcomes playful rambling and in-jokes. The hosts’ authenticity and casual camaraderie make this episode feel like an inviting community forum for Kentucky sports fans.

Conclusion

Hour 1 of KSR on October 7, 2025, provides an enlivening contrast between the declining football mood and the optimism surrounding new UK basketball coach Mark Pope’s approach. The basketball team’s quirky, intelligent cast and promising fan initiatives set a hopeful tone, while the candid assessment of football ensures the show remains grounded and relevant. For listeners, this episode offers laughs, poignant sports insight, and a sense that, at least in UK basketball, a genuinely new era has begun.