KSR Podcast Summary – Hour 1

Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Matt Jones (with Ryan Lemond, Mario, and Shannon)
Location: KS Bar & Grill
Main Theme:
An “Ask Anything Thursday,” focused on UK basketball roster debates, football program finances, fanbase sentiment, and upcoming schedules. Mix of lively discussion, UK nostalgia, and informed speculation.

Episode Overview

This vibrant hour combines lively fan interaction, behind-the-scenes UK athletics rumors, and bold predictions about basketball and football. The crew debates Kentucky’s basketball rotation, analyzes the high-profile contract status of UK football coach Mark Stoops, and contemplates the shifting SEC roadmap—all in a relaxed, good-humored KSR style. Listener calls add new layers, from volleyball accolades to questions about team culture.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kentucky Basketball: Who Will Get Left Out?

(03:43–09:47)

• Matt details an NBA scout's comparison of the team to “Noah’s Ark—you have two of everything,” meaning elite depth but not enough minutes for all.
• Main question: Of a loaded rotation (excluding clear reserves), which scholarship player gets the least minutes?
  • Mario: Cam Williams. “That 4 spot's kind of weird…[with] Trent Noah…Mo Diabatte… How do you spread the minutes between those three?” (05:10)
  • Ryan: Leans Jasper Johnson or Malachi Moreno due to guard depth, but “leaning towards Jasper…They are so loaded at guard.” (05:40)
  • Shannon: Malachi Moreno: “You’ve heard the least about [him]…Garrison’s going to eat up a lot of minutes at that position.” (07:28)
  • Matt notes that Jasper Johnson is likely among the team’s highest paid via NIL, underscoring the dilemma if he sees limited time.
• Scout's note: Cam Williams' floor/ceiling: a possible first-round draft pick if he hits threes, “a chance to not play at all if he's not hitting threes.” (08:33)
• “When I was watching him warm up, he did not miss.” — Matt (09:00)

2. UK Football: Stoops’ Contract and Buyout Drama

(10:13–15:58, 24:15–26:05, 31:04–35:04)

• The hosts dissect the national conversation about Mark Stoops’ $37M buyout if the program underperforms. Matt notes a “seller’s market” for top coaches.
• Is the money there?
  • Ryan: “Absolutely, they could get that money. They could buy him out if they need to.” (12:01)
  • Matt: “A lot of these people are [his] friends. Do you think his friends would buy him out?”
  • Ryan: “I think Stoops would be happy with it... you pay my buyout, I'm ready to walk away.” (12:43–12:56)
• Would Stoops “stick it out” to get every penny?
  • Both Matt & Ryan agree he would—"He was going to hold his guns, like, nope. We signed this deal…you owe me." (13:32)
• Fanbase Split:
  • If Stoops stays for money, would fan actions (billboards, boos) force change?
  • Matt: “I don’t want to have a situation where [coach and fans] have animosity…there’s nothing good that comes out of that.” (31:32)
  • Ryan: “We’re a fractured fan base. We’re on a separation.” (32:06)
  • But Matt argues most fans now agree on a change—less fracture than resignation.

3. Football Schedules: SEC Challenges & Outlook

(17:16–24:00, 22:48–24:00)

• 2026–2028 sees extreme schedule swings—years packed with top-tier opponents (Alabama, LSU, Georgia) and others with winnable games (Missouri, Ole Miss).
  • “So you have a chance once every two years to actually win some games.” — Matt (18:04)
  • 2027: “That is a schedule you could do something with. … If I was a new coach coming in … I’d be building to 2027.” (24:00)

4. Pro Day Impressions & Kentucky Talent

(18:39–20:22)

• Mario is most excited by Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno’s progression: “He probably stood out to me more than anybody because he’s so much better than I remember.” — Matt (18:55)
• Moreno’s high school dominance and improvement spark optimism: “He just started dominating, like, he hadn’t done that up to that point…but he finally…the light bulb went off.” — Ryan (19:12)

5. Volleyball and Other UK Sports Shoutouts

(21:00–21:24)

• Call-in praise for UK Women’s Volleyball, now with four top-10 wins; “another big win on the road at A&M.” — Matt (21:16)

6. Big Game Prioritization: Who Do You Want to Beat Most?

(28:02–30:47)

• Matt, Ryan, Mario, and Shannon debate the most satisfying wins for UK basketball (“rank these: St. John’s, Louisville, Arkansas”):
  • Matt: “Arkansas 1, Louisville 2, St. John’s 3.”
  • Shannon: “Louisville's always going to be No. 1…I don't care if they play the game in July.” (29:50)
  • Mario: Arkansas top—for revenge after last year’s loss at Rupp.

7. Fan Mail & Group Dynamics

(26:05–27:28)

• Mario gives rapid-fire assessments of each KSR member:
  • “Shannon’s…very blunt…Ryan Lemond…the goofiest…genuine…nicest one. Drew Franklin, funny guy, likes to party. Billy Rutledge, cool dude…Matt…doesn’t get enough credit as it is…he’s the glue.” (26:17–27:05)
  • “This is the best job in the world… I want to do content creation full time, and I’m doing it now.” — Mario (27:18)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Kentucky’s basketball rotation:
  • “This year's Kentucky basketball team is like Noah's Ark. We have two of everything.” — NBA Scout (quoted by Matt, 04:02)
  • “Cam Williams has a chance to, if he consistently hits threes, be a first round draft pick in the NBA draft… He also has a chance to not play at all if he's not hitting threes.” — Matt (08:33)
• On the Stoops buyout:
  • “Lexington… is a very rich town… You won't even know it, but there's enough money to… buy him out if they need to.” — Ryan (11:28, 12:01)
  • “He was going to hold his guns, like, nope. We signed this deal, we agreed to this deal. This is what you owe me.” — Ryan (13:32)
  • “Paying a football coach $37 million to go away is preposterous. I wouldn't do it on principle.” — Text machine, read by Matt (25:19)
• On scheduling and SEC challenges:
  • “I think we have Alabama, LSU and Georgia the same year. And then the next year we get…Missouri, Mississippi State, Ole Miss. So you have a chance once every two years to actually win some games.” — Matt (18:04)
• On fractured fanbase:
  • “[With Stoops] I don’t think we’re fractured…I think everybody wants a change.” — Matt (32:19)
• On group dynamic:
  • “Matt is the glue that holds it together… when he leaves, you really get to see how important he is.” — Mario (27:05)

Listener Calls & Rapidfire Questions

• Volleyball Achievement:
  • “Just wanted to say the [UK Women’s Volleyball] environment was amazing… another big win on the road at A&M yesterday.” — Michael (21:05–21:24)
• Basketball schedule scenarios & optimism/pessimism:
  • If Stoops beats either Texas/Tennessee and finishes with six wins: “I’m back.” — Matt & Ryan (33:14)
  • But if only Vandy and Louisville wins: “That is the worst. Worst case scenario.” — Ryan (34:25)

Special Segments & Announcements

• NIL Expert Panel:
  • Matt moderating a high-profile NIL discussion at UK:
    “If you’ve ever wondered where college sports is going, this is as good a group as you could get.” (36:57–38:04)
    Monday, 5:30pm, Singletary Center, UK.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Basketball minutes dilemma: 03:43–09:47
• Stoops buyout talk: 10:13–15:58, 24:15–26:05, 31:04–35:04
• Pro Day/Player development: 18:39–20:22
• New SEC schedule decoding: 17:16–24:00
• Fanbase sentiment on Stoops: 31:04–35:04
• Volleyball praise: 21:00–21:24
• Who do you want to beat most (basketball)? 28:02–30:47
• Mario on KSR crew: 26:05–27:28
• NIL panel announcement: 36:57–38:04

Tone and Language

The banter is fast, playful, and candid—colored by UK fandom, wry self-deprecation, and sharp insights into both the sport and community culture. Matt, Ryan, Shannon, and Mario maintain rapport with in-jokes and light-hearted teasing, balanced by earnest analysis for dedicated listeners.

This summary is designed to capture the heart and humor of the show, as well as the most vital conversations about UK’s athletic future.