Kentucky Sports Radio: Hour 1 — October 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR), hosted by Matt Jones with Drew Franklin and Ryan Lemond, delivers a deep dive into the current state of University of Kentucky basketball, recaps the energy from UK’s Pro Day, and explores broader discussions around fan passion in Kentucky versus Louisville. The conversation brims with genuine excitement for the new basketball season under Coach Pope, provides key behind-the-scenes insights from practice, and peppers in the crew’s signature anecdotes and humor about life in Lexington and beyond.

Main Show Highlights

1. Celebrating Special Guests at KSBar [02:54–05:15]

• The show opens with Matt welcoming an enthusiastic live audience at KSBar, including two notable guests: Drew Franklin's dad (Franco) and a beloved longtime caller known as "KSR Bob," age 92.
• Memorable moment: Matt is surprised to meet Bob in person after years of phone-ins—“Bob, you’re 92, but you don’t look a day over 86. He looks great for 92, actually. And I like your little beanie too.” [04:48 – Matt Jones]

2. Weather Woes in Lexington [05:15–06:15]

• Lexington had record-setting rainfall, causing Ryan’s basement to flood for the first time in six years.
• The tone is light despite the weather challenges, segueing into improved moods as the sun returns.

3. Matt’s Safari Sleep and South Africa Stories [06:16–10:05]

• Matt shares his rejuvenation after a solid night’s sleep, crediting it to a break from his usual routine post-South Africa trip.
• Anecdotes from safari life, including early wakeups (“that’s when [the animals are] horniest… it’s just science” [07:08 – Matt Jones]) blend with ribbing about his independence and safari logistics.

4. Deep Dive: UK Pro Day & Basketball Roster Impressions [10:05–19:35; 22:11–27:56]

On-Court Observations

• Matt and Drew report from UK’s Pro Day—unmistakable giddiness for the team’s talent, athleticism, depth, and the “practice energy” reminiscent of early Calipari teams.
• Frustration over the TV broadcast: fans at home mostly saw commentators, not the action, missing out on the team's intensity and skill.

Standout Players & Takeaways

• Jalen Lowe: “He’s so fast… we haven’t had a dude this fast off the bounce since, well, Dillingham was like that… he’d be right behind [Fox, Dillingham, Wall].” [11:31 – Matt Jones]
• Trent Noah: Noticeably leaner and more athletic: “Just appearance, Trent Noah looks completely different… not like he’s skinny, but like fit.” [13:46 – Drew Franklin]
• Malachi Moreno: “Moreno is going to play. Didn’t you think? … He was just going up and dunking on people’s heads in a crowded paint last night." [14:18–14:37 – Matt & Drew]
• Colin Chandler: A high-energy sixth man with highlight-reel dunks.

Depth and Star Power

• “It’s not 2015 deep, because those were all pros…but you take that team out, this is the deepest team we’ve had…when your 12th man is yellow [Jelovcic], you’re deep.” [16:25–16:51 – Matt Jones]

Practice Culture

• Accountability: Matt describes unique punishments for mistakes, including running stadium steps and the “towel drag.” [16:53–17:34]
• Competitive Fire: “Pope said at media day sometimes we have to stop them from fighting each other because every practice they’re going to war.” [25:53–26:10 – Drew Franklin]
• Contrast to last year: “Such a contrast between the Pro Days of Cal…they were practicing…reminded me of when Calipari was here the first few years.” [12:23–12:57 – Matt Jones]

Concerns

• Shooting at the 4, especially Diabate’s range, is a question mark in Pope’s system.

5. Broadcast & Fan Access Gripes [12:57–13:25; 25:17–25:22]

• Ryan and Matt vent about TV coverage, wishing fans could see more of the practice: “I wish fans could see how good of a coach we have and how good his assistants are.” [13:15–13:25 – Matt Jones]

6. Kentucky vs. Louisville: Fan Passion & Attendance Talk [34:52–39:55]

• Louisville’s inability to sell out football and basketball games—even for UK–UofL clashes—sparks discussion about differences in fan culture.
• Matt’s diagnosis: “Kentucky athletics is a passion…Louisville fandom is a party…when the party’s not fun, you don’t go. When the passion’s there, you’re with it.” [37:27–37:52]
• Drew adds: Ongoing attendance issues and scandal fallout have left Louisville fanbase “broken.” [39:14]

7. South Africa Side Stories & Matt’s iPhone Fiasco [30:17–33:32]

• Matt recounts breaking his iPhone in South Africa, declining to buy one locally due to extreme prices, and a harrowing walk at night in Johannesburg (“all of a sudden…the lights off in the entire city and everybody goes home…”). [32:07–33:22]

8. Roster Chat: Where Would Travis Perry Fit? [42:34–43:57]

• A listener asks if Perry would play on this year’s UK squad. Matt and Ryan agree: likely a 12th man—not enough to crack the deep rotation.

9. Miscellaneous: Former Patriots’ Bill Belichick’s College Coaching Woes [44:19–46:46]

• The crew jokingly debates if Belichick is the “worst college football coach of all time,” after cancellation of a Hulu documentary and poor results at North Carolina.
• Drew quips: “We are learning there’s a completely different skill set…very obvious he’s going to need a little time to get acquainted.” [45:30–45:44]

10. Q&A and Listener Calls

• Ticket tips: UK–UofL basketball tickets still available; fans encouraged to buy up.
• Lighthearted banter about team improvement and fan engagement.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On team depth: “This is the deepest team we've had…when your 12th man is yellow, you’re deep.” – Matt Jones [16:25–16:51]
• On freshman Malachi Moreno: “He was just going up and dunking on people’s heads in a crowded paint last night.” – Drew Franklin [14:37]
• On fan passion: “Kentucky athletics is a passion…Louisville fandom is a party…when the party’s not fun, you don’t go.” – Matt Jones [37:27–37:52]
• On practice energy: “Such a contrast between the Pro Days of Cal…they were practicing…reminded me of when Calipari was here the first few years.” – Matt Jones [12:23–12:57]
• On KSR Bob’s visit: “Bob, you’re 92, but you don’t look a day over 86. He looks great for 92, actually. And I like your little beanie too.” – Matt Jones [04:48]
• On Louisville basketball attendance: “I pulled up Ticketmaster. There are plenty of upper-level seats available for the Kentucky game.” – Drew Franklin [36:05]
• On Matt’s resilience in South Africa: “You did take care of yourself…you’re here right now. You seem fine. You made it.” – Drew Franklin [31:59]

Key Segment Timestamps

• Special guests at KSBar: [02:54–05:15]
• Weather aftermath stories: [05:15–06:15]
• South Africa trip, sleep stories: [06:16–10:05]
• UK Pro Day in-depth breakdown: [10:05–19:35]
• Roster and practice discussion resumes: [22:11–27:56]
• Louisville fan attendance & culture: [34:52–39:55]
• Matt’s iPhone evidence: [30:17–33:32]
• Travis Perry roster fit Q&A: [42:34–43:57]
• Belichick college football segment: [44:19–46:46]

Final Takeaway

The KSR crew’s enthusiasm is infectious—especially regarding Kentucky basketball’s depth, athleticism, and the culture shift under Coach Pope. The hour is a whirlwind of behind-the-scenes insights, good-natured ribbing, local sports analysis, and playful concern about regional fandom in Kentucky. For UK fans, it’s an episode bursting with optimism and reason to look forward to the coming season.