2025-10-10- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

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Kentucky Sports Radio – Hour 1 (October 10, 2025)

Podcast: Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR)
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond (probable), Shannon
Special Guest: UK Men’s Basketball Coach Mark Pope
Location: Live from Wild Eggs in Hamburg, Lexington

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Episode Overview

This episode centers around the anticipation for Big Blue Madness, UK basketball's annual kickoff event. The KSR crew broadcasts live from Wild Eggs in Hamburg, mixing UK basketball history, current excitement for the Mark Pope era, and anecdotes from both the hosts and listeners. The episode also features a much-anticipated interview with Coach Mark Pope, who shares insights on the upcoming season, the team's development, and details about the innovative (and free) UK Fan Fest event happening alongside Big Blue Madness.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Countdown to Big Blue Madness

• This is the last basketball-free Saturday until April—excitement is building for Big Blue Madness (07:12).
• The crew discusses rumors and potential surprises for the event. Matt hints at a crossover stunt from another sport making its way to basketball (07:47).

2. Mark Pope Interview (28:23–42:27)

• Mark Pope's Excitement:
  “I have loved this time of year for the last 35 years, ever since I got here to Kentucky…This is going to be really, really special. I can't wait for Big Blue, man.” (28:44)
• Team Development:
  • The new squad is more mobile, athletic, and competitive—Pope highlights their ability to utilize space, cover ground, and play with physicality (29:23).
  • High praise for Jalen Lowe as a potential breakout star (30:16) and for Trent Noah’s off-season transformation (31:05).
• Style of Play – What’s Different This Year?
  • More defensive pressure and versatility.
  • Increased speed and attack on offense: “I think our mobility really stands out…we have so many more players that can attack off the bounce downhill.” (32:25)
• Adapting to Change in College Basketball:
  Pope embraces the challenges and complexity of the modern era, positioning coaching as “the most fascinating, stimulating, energizing time ever.” He emphasizes the importance of mentorship despite the sport’s professionalization (33:55–35:57).
• Free UK Fan Fest:
  • Pope details the unprecedented free afternoon event, providing fans access to both men’s and women’s teams, interactive presentations, live X’s & O’s breakdowns, vendors, and unique activities (like UK tattoos).
  • Focus on inclusivity: “The only bad thing about Kentucky basketball is that Rupp only holds around 20,000 people…and so until we expand out Rupp to a hundred thousand, we’re going to take all the opportunities we can to see fans, interact with BBN. Like this is our family, man.” (38:08)
• Marrow Donor Registry:
  Pope calls attention to a booth for the National Marrow Donor Program at Fan Fest, encouraging young adults to register. He shares a moving story of a former staff member saving a life through donation (40:12–42:14).

3. Big Blue Madness History – Most Memorable Moments

• The crew reminisces on iconic Big Blue Madness moments:
  • The John Wall Dance: unanimous #1 (10:57)
  • Rick Pitino’s return in 2024: “I think just that moment of bringing Rick Pitino back…it was the perfect scenario with the former player Mark Pope now being head coach.” – Shannon (13:20)
  • Enes Kanter’s Undertaker entrance, various celebrity appearances (Drake), and the years of “Matthew Mitchell dancing.”
  • Patino and Tubby’s Harley moments—debate over which coach it was.
  • The time Bill Kitely popped out of a cake (12:02), Bill Kitely & Tubby emerging from a DeLorean (20:24), and other antics.
  • Unfortunate moments, like Jason Parker’s injury during introductions (20:35).
  • The mascot getting stuck rappelling from the ceiling (15:16).
  • The introduction of a light-up basketball floor (22:09).
• The evolution of the event—moving from wild stunts and celebrity cameos to a more reserved format, though with renewed production value anticipated under Pope.

4. Listener Memories & Fan Interactions

• Texts and calls from listeners prompt recollections of both legendary and infamous moments, injecting nostalgia and humor throughout.
• Fun moments—like the “Brooklyn Roughneck” dunk anticlimax, and the ongoing debate on whether the mascot or the coach drove the Harley.

5. Sister Jean Tribute Segment

• The passing of Loyola’s Sister Jean at 106 is noted (22:16).
• Shannon reveals a story about running a viral fake Sister Jean Twitter account during that NCAA run, fooling national media (23:35).
  “They read that on the Today Show. And Hoda Kotb goes, ‘that Sister Jean, she is just so witty.’ And I'm…laughing so hard, but rest in peace, Sister Jean. What an amazing life.” – Shannon (24:51)

6. UK vs. Indiana – The Rivalry Returns

• Reflection on the return of Indiana to the schedule and debate about which nonconference matchups hold meaning for different generations of fans (27:00).
• Matt Jones: “I'm the older generation where those Indiana-Kentucky games were the game every year, always sold out.”

7. Community and Access

• The crew lauds Pope and the athletic department for providing free access to Fan Fest and Big Blue Madness, emphasizing the rarity of such outreach in modern college sports (46:17).
• “You’re basically giving Kentucky fans a free day. I just think that's cool that they will still do this.” – Matt Jones (46:28)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fan Fest Accessibility:
  “I love that you guys are doing it for free. Free…doing something for free for the average fan, that means a lot to me, Mark.” (39:03)
• On Modern Coaching:
  “It’s the greatest time to be a coach. And our players need us as mentors more than they've ever needed coaches before because their lives are more complicated.” – Mark Pope (35:57)
• On Kentucky Basketball Community:
  “We're going to take all the opportunities we can to see fans, interact with BBN. Like this is our family, man. So this should be a family day.” – Mark Pope (38:08)
• On the “Brooklyn Roughneck” Dunk:
  “He told the entire crowd he had named a new dunk the Brooklyn Roughneck…the crowd went crazy…and all he did was run up into a one-handed dunk.” (21:30)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:47 | Show begins at Wild Eggs; preview of the day’s schedule | | 07:12 | Big Blue Madness preview and hints at surprises | | 10:23 | Ranking biggest moments in Big Blue Madness history | | 13:20 | Discussion: Is Pitino’s return the #2 all-time BBM moment? | | 20:24 | Listener texts: Harley debate, DeLorean entrance, and on-court injuries | | 22:16 | Remembering Sister Jean and Shannon’s viral Twitter prank | | 27:00 | Talking UK vs. Indiana – rivalry and generational meaning | | 28:23 | Interview with Coach Mark Pope (ends at 42:27) | | 40:12 | Pope’s callout for marrow donor registry participation at Fan Fest | | 46:17 | Hosts reflect on the rarity and significance of free fan events at UK | | 47:40 | Reflections on Coach Pope’s basketball acumen, X’s & O’s, and responsiveness to change |

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The KSR Tone: Light-hearted, Self-Deprecating, and Community-First

• All hosts bring a mix of humor, nostalgia, and affection for UK sports and Big Blue Nation.
• Frequent ribbing among hosts and poking fun at themselves and each other (“Am I stronger than Trent Noah?” banter at 48:53).
• Emphasis on Kentucky’s unique culture of fan inclusion and mutual support—especially important with Pope’s new era beginning.

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Summary

This episode gives both a nostalgic and forward-looking view of Kentucky basketball, combining fun recollections with genuine excitement for Mark Pope’s leadership. The Pope interview is a highlight—he’s candid, energetic, and deeply committed not just to on-court success but to making Kentucky basketball more accessible and inclusive for fans.

Listeners get:

• Historical context for Big Blue Madness
• Insider perspective on what to expect from this year’s team and event
• Direct connections between the program and the UK fan community
• An example of how sports media, when done right, is equal parts entertainment, community, and meaningful connection

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Recommended segments for new listeners:

• Mark Pope interview [28:23–42:27]
• Big Blue Madness memories [10:23–15:41, 20:13–22:09]
• Sister Jean viral Twitter prank [22:16–25:15]

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Transcript

[Matt Jones]

Hey, it's Bobby from the Bobby Bones Show.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I had an incredible time at this.

[Matt Jones]

Year'S iHeartRadio music festival and even got.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

The chance to hang out with Diplo and Bailey Zimmerman while I was there. How did Ashes come together?

[Matt Jones]

Diplo?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I pulled up real quick. He was about to leave on tour. You're about to jump in your tour bus and we had like three hours. It was really cool. He really just like randomly showed up to my house. I'm like, oh, hey Diplo, what are you doing? He's like, I have a song that.

[Shannon]

I want to show you. And I was like, okay.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You can listen to the full episode out now, wherever you get your podcast. And big shout out to my friends at Hyundai for making this possible. Had a blast cruising around festival weekend in the all new Palisade hybrid Limu Emu and Doug Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping.

[Shannon]

People customize their car insurance and save.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Cut the camera.

[Shannon]

They see us.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Shannon]

Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings vary underwritten by.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes mass Ah, come on.

[Mark Pope]

Why is this taking so long?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

This thing is ancient.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Whoa, this thing moves.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

From the Bob and Tom show and Tosh Zero Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington welcomes Greg Hahn October 2nd through the 4th and from Chelsea Lately and Comedy Central, catch John Capirullo October 10th and 11th. Then it's a clean comedy show featuring the hilarious Greg Warren. October 16th through the 18th. For tickets to all Comedy Off Broadway shows, call 859-271-joke or visit comedyoff broadway.com.

[Shannon]

This is Kentucky Sports Radio, presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Welcome, everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Friday, October 10th. This is the Friday before the last Saturday until April that there are no UK sporting events or no UK basketball or football games. We are here at Wild Eggs in Hamburg and you can give a shout on the Clark's Puppet Shop. Ph 859-280-2287. A Vision Auto Glass text machine is 772-774-5254. In this edition, sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office, you call TJ. He'll make them pay. We are here at Wild Eggs today. Mark Pope will join us by phone at 10:30. He's going to give us, I'm told we've got one segment and I have to be out at 10:45, so I'm going to apologize in advance if I cut him off at all because they, they are making me get him off at 10:45 and Shannon. But looking forward to have Mark Pope as we get ready for Big Blue Mad.

[Shannon]

He's a busy man so, you know, just to. He's got 13 minutes recruits here.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

And I was like. And they were like, we'll give you 15 minutes, but we have stuff. And I understand. I don't want to be unlike Billy. I don't want to be the one that ruins a recruit commitment as he did wearing khaki pants the other day.

[Matt Jones]

Why didn't Mark Pope just bring the recruits out here to Wild Egg to have breakfast, brunch and lunch with a bar and be able to settle their recruitment?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

They, I'm sure they thought about it. We are here at Wild Eggs and it is, of course a great place for breakfast. You are one of the endorsers. Give me the top. I. They always bring food out for us to sample. I'm looking for. Give me the top two or three things you eat here.

[Matt Jones]

Potato head casserole. Without a doubt, the best yellow submarines.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Those are the potato. Well, obviously, but they're like the hash browns with the cheese and all that on it.

[Matt Jones]

And if you get like a sandwich or something, you can ask for the tots as a side. It's kind of a secret on the menu.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

It's not a secret. You say that every time. And I think it's actually on the menu now.

[Shannon]

It's actually listed under sides yeah, it's a side.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You can add tots for 99 cents.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they are very, very good. You know, Brandon would just tell me the pumpkin pancakes, this is like the last weekend for it, so that's been a real popular item.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

They have strawberry pancakes.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

What do you. What else do you eat?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, me?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Yes. You're literally wearing the Wild Eggs shirt.

[Matt Jones]

The biscuits and gravy, and you can get sausage gravy on one biscuit and chorizo gravy on the other biscuit. That's fantastic.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Well, your son works here as well. He's walking around. He's actually inside doing. Doing work. You got to see him because he doesn't come home a lot while he's at school. Right.

[Matt Jones]

First time I've seen him in a couple months, so I just got to catch up a little bit. How you doing? Don't forget dad. You know, why don't you come see dad once in a while? Once you get dad a call, text dad, see how dad's doing.

[Mark Pope]

Yeah.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You were saying you're still very. You still very, like, lonely, right?

[Matt Jones]

I hate it. I mean, I just absolutely hate to walk in that house and it's. He's not. Nobody's there.

[Shannon]

You can always come to Wild Eggs if you want to see him.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

But that's true. So you. You. You were saying, like, you don't. You. You go somewhere every night, like, you're not. You don't want to be at home at all.

[Matt Jones]

Poor yoga girl. I've been on at her house like, every night having dinner, watching tv because I don't want to be by myself in my house.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Are you worried you're gonna, like, suffocate her with. With your attention?

[Matt Jones]

Well, that's just tough. That's part of being my girlfriend.

[Shannon]

That's how you can find out if she really likes you or not. Just show up at her house every night with a sad puppy dog again.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You've been married many more times than me, but I. I don't know that, like, she's just gonna, like. It is. Is a good. Is a good tool for relationships.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I'm. I'm trying to, like, entice her. Like, I'm bringing dinner. I'm like, you know, you said she.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Was the one, though, that cooks.

[Matt Jones]

She cooks sometimes. But, like, I'll, like, I'll go panera last night to get dinner.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Oh, that's a big time spit.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yeah. You get her panera that I know she likes. Yeah. Okay, so I haven't talked to you about this, but I purposely try not to call Josiah and not, you know, let him do his own thing.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

That's smart. Especially since his first semester. Yeah.

[Shannon]

You could still act like he exists, though.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

But I think that's important. You don't want to overwhelm him with attention. I like that. How often are you calling?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I did really well for a long time, but this past week, I think I've called him every night. I have.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

That's. That's a lot.

[Matt Jones]

I know. I agree. And I just saw him today.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

Well, let's.

[Shannon]

Let's step back maybe like every other night to start.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Understand, like, this is his transition into, like, manhood. It's not your transition into life. Like, you need to give him some space. Let him, like, you're the dad, he's the son. You don't want him to have to be the dad, and you're the son, like, making sure you're okay.

[Matt Jones]

And apparently, I don't know how he's doing in the classroom, but in the ladies department.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Why do you keep saying that all the time? Very well, that's not. First of all, he's standing right over there.

[Shannon]

Proud dad moment, huh?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Yeah. Well, that. Now we see why you want him to go to college. You. This is why I cut you off. 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-774-5254. Big Blue Madness is tomorrow night. You know, I was told there'll be a surprise. I've actually kind of heard. I don't want to share it because I don't want to. I want to spoil it. But I've heard what it is, and here's my hint. Shannon. It's something I've been wanting to see, but from another sport, but they're bringing it to basketball.

[Matt Jones]

Interesting.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

And I'll just leave it at that. So. Something I've wanted to see done, and I wanted to see it done on another sport. And oddly, to me, they're doing it in basketball, which would seem to me to be harder than it would have been to do it football. So I'm excited to see what they do, and we'll see if it will see if it works.

[Shannon]

I'm going to guess that it's hockey, and it's tradition in hockey that they throw octopuses onto the floor. So I think that's what we're going to do tomorrow night at Big Boy Madness.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I don't know. Now, there. There are a lot. I think there's going to be a bunch of recruits Here. It'll be interesting to see. I know there had been a hope that they were going to try to get some. Some former players involved. We'll see. I mean, the NBA preseason's going on, so I don't know how many of those guys you can get here, but. But nevertheless, should be good. Are you. You know, I had gotten to the point where, if I'm being honest, I had not watched the Big Blue Madnesses towards the end of the Cal era. Watched it last year because it was the first one. Pope, obviously, we had the Rick Patino thing. Are you excited to watch this one this year?

[Matt Jones]

I am, because it kind of, you know, Pope gets it. You know, he was here part of the, you know, the mid-90s, when Patino and. And Midnight Madness was a big deal. He gets it. And so now I think it's going to get back to that level of where it's more of a production and excitement and going to be entertaining and not just boring. Run up and down the court, not even trying to play anything.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I hope they show it. I mean, again, like, I can't believe I keep saying this, but I hope they actually show the action. I know, like, Tom Hart's done, like, the last seven or eight. He's not doing this one. They're producing it locally. The guy that you met whose name you didn't remember. Noah. Noah. This will be his debut as. As the Kentucky sort of secondary basketball announcer, where he does those games that are on the computer. I think Georgia Amore is doing the women's one, which I think is kind of cool. Is. I think she'll be good at that, but that's a lot of pressure. The girl just graduated college, and I think she's doing the women's one. Right.

[Matt Jones]

You know, unfortunately, she got injured, so she's not able to play this year. So it's a perfect time to bring her in, get her a part, because she created a lot of excitement.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

She was really on this show when she was on it those couple times. So I think that's a really good opportunity for her. And I believe it's. I think it's Jack Givens and Noah and then I think maybe Noah and Georgia Amore.

[Shannon]

For the women, she's got a great personality to do it, so I think that she'll do great. Can I tell you, though, the thing that I'm looking forward to the most at Madness are the awkward dances. The guys that don't really want to be.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I don't think they do that anymore.

[Shannon]

They're not Going to do that.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I think that was a cow thing. I think now it's a different. I don't think they do that, that. That vibe.

[Shannon]

But they're still introducing the players one by one.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Introduce the players. But I think the.

[Shannon]

So with hope, they just stand there. Hi, everybody.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I mean what they did last year, they did something else last year.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they ran down the stairs like they did during when Patino was here.

[Shannon]

Lebot Butler coming out. And was it him that was rapping?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

He did rap. Yeah, that's right. He did rap last year. Which gets me to. We do this a lot for the various Big Blue Madnesses. But we were. We're going to talk biggest moments in the history of Big Blue Madness. Now I want to do. We used to just do the Cal era, but I'm gonna lean on you, old man here. I want to go through all the history of Big Blue Madness for a second and I want to say what are the biggest moments? All right. Objectively, number one has to be the Wall Dance, right?

[Matt Jones]

Has to be.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I think that. Would anybody dispute the John Wall Dance is the number 1 1? No, but let me give you some, some, some possibilities for the others and then we'll rank them. All right. I think Enos Cantor and the whole Undertaker entrance was a big one. Big one, right? I think last year with Rick Patino coming is a big one. Even though we don't look back at his time fondly. The Billy Gillespie bus, the. The curtain. They actually did those pretty well those years production. The Tubby Smith Batman and Robin ones. Right? Isn't that a big one?

[Matt Jones]

That was Patino, I think, wasn't it? When Walter McCarty was. And Tony Duck were Batman and Robin.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Is that. What is that. Is that right?

[Matt Jones]

I think that's right.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Okay, fair enough. That one. What other ones stick out to you? Those are the ones that come to my mind immediately. Drake, I mean we. It's hard to talk about Drake now, age well, but the old Drake playing and doing warm ups and all that was big at the time. What else?

[Matt Jones]

Bill Kitely popped out of a cake one time.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Was it his birthday? Why did they do that?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. I don't know what that was all about. But I remember that was a big deal.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

What else?

[Matt Jones]

You know, for several years I thought the highlight was a Matthew Mitchell dance. When he came out and did a.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Dance, you know what was his first one of those? Shannon was huge. I mean they were always good. But his first one kind of shocked everybody. People didn't Know he could do that.

[Shannon]

It was so good. And then it kind of put pressure, I felt like, on coach Mitchell to come out and try to top what he did the previous year, the next year, every year. We expected that.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

No doubt it did after a while. Can you think of any more? You know, used to do them at midnight. Yeah, yeah, right. And that was a whole nother thing.

[Matt Jones]

Patino ride a Harley out one year. Somebody wrote a Harley out one year.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I think you're right. But there's one. What? I feel like there's one from Tubby we're missing. Is there one from Tubby?

[Shannon]

Was Tubby not the one?

[Mark Pope]

Yeah.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You know what? I thought that was Right. Tubby was on the Harley. All right, so just with the ones we've said, wall one is number two. I think the contenders are either Matthew Mitchell dancing, Enos Cantor, or last year with Patino. Which one do you. Which one do you think would be number two?

[Shannon]

As much as I love coach Mitchell dancing, and that was something we look forward to every year. I think just that moment of bringing Rick Patino back, we knew at some point it was going to happen, but it was the perfect scenario with the former player Mark Pope now being the head coach and bringing Rick Patino back and Patino actually getting cheered. I. I almost, like, I kind of.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Leaked out that he was going to be there. So there was, like, a buzz in the crowd, like, this is gonna happen. Like, you.

[Mark Pope]

You.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You kind of knew. And I think that actually oddly made it more exciting because people were just like, when's he coming out? When's he coming out? When's he coming out? So I kind of agree with you. I. I think Patino is, too, because.

[Matt Jones]

He was carrying the trophy, too. He walks out. He's carrying the 96 championship trophy.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I would say number three is probably. Even though he didn't play a game in his cancer. I mean, I think when Ennis Cantor came in and you had that dong and, like, and then there he was, and he had kind of been this mysterious figure that you didn't really know much about. So I actually would put that Number three. What about you?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I like that one. I'm sure Drew would probably. Didn't Archie Goodwin do a dance one time? And that was Drew, one of Drew's favorite ones.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

He really liked it because it was. It was. I don't think it was very good. I think it's why Drew liked it.

[Matt Jones]

But you're, like, back in. You know, in the Patino era, there was always, like, a Gimmick or something. And it UK just got away from that. The last.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Well, it all became after a while, sh. And it became Cal per speeches.

[Shannon]

Right.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You know, he always would give the sort of address to the nation and then he would get on and tell us how we needed to assume our team stunk like that. That was kind of what he.

[Shannon]

It was like a sermon from Caliperi. Then he would drop the mic and say let's ball.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

He did do that. Now that was good. The year he did that one year he just dropped the mic and did that. That was actually good.

[Shannon]

Yep. So I think number four for me would probably the years with Matthew Mitchell and probably the first one being number four.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I like that. I think that's good. And then. Yeah, I'm. I remember at the time did someone maybe. Did someone repel from the ceiling back.

[Matt Jones]

In the old days, the mascot and he got stuck halfway, coming down halfway and he kind of got panicked a little bit.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

He got stuck.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he was. He was like halfway down and kind of got stuck there for a minute. Nobody knew it but like he was. They said he was panicking inside his costume because he got stuck. Finally got it loose, made it down to the floor.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Really.

[Shannon]

That could have been disaster.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Well, I at least need to give him number five, whoever that is. Halfway on the floor.

[Matt Jones]

You and I were part of a video for a Matthew Mitchell dance one time to the studio and shot a video and played it on the Jumbotron and then Matthew came out.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Oh, that's right.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you were.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Exactly. So we were part of a big.

[Matt Jones]

We were part of a big.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Before you got his band with your Katina Powell statement. 859-280-2287. It's Big Blue Madness tomorrow UK Fan Fest. We're going to talk about that potentially a massive weekend in UK recruiting with potentially the number one player in America deciding. Although no one knows for sure. And Mark Pope will join us at 10:30. We are here at Wild Eggs in Hamburg. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

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[Shannon]

Catch the red eye or take the.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

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[Mark Pope]

Ah, come on. Why is this taking so long?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

This thing is ancient.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Whoa, this thing moves.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Lenovo.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Welcome back. It is Kentucky sports Radio here at Wild Eggs. We are in, pal. Right now. We are at Hamburg. They have one in Palomar. They have one right there next to Tate's Creek. It's as local as local can be. Pumpkin pie, pancakes apron, apple caramel, mimosas. Oh, that sounds like something.

[Matt Jones]

Try those.

[Shannon]

Billy already has, unfortunately, the apple caramel. He's got eight mimosa. Oh, yeah.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Well, there you go. And they're known for creations like Calamity Katie's Border Benedict. Wow, that's a lot of words. Calamity Katie. 859-280-2287. Text machine is full of memories, but there's a big argument about whether or not it was Patino or Tubby on the Harley. Half the people say it was Patino, half the people say it was Tubby. We found a picture of Patino on it.

[Matt Jones]

Yep.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Tubby was on the Harley at Texas Tech and he crashed.

[Shannon]

I don't remember that.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I don't remember it either. Did you know that?

[Shannon]

I feel like this is our own version of the Mandela effect.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

That's right. One person writes, what about Bill Kitely and Tubby getting out of the DeLorean in 2003?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I forgot about that one. But I remember that also come out in the DeLorean.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Another person writes, what about Jason Parker tearing his ACL in the back, getting ready for introduction.

[Matt Jones]

True story. I was there that day.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Talk about that. That was a huge deal. Jason Parker was going to be, like, our second best player that was on that Tayshawn team. And then he tore his ACL and introductions.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, they were doing, like, a little, you know, huddle before they went out. And I go jumping up and down, you know, hey, and boom. Tommy blew his knee out. So when he. When he got introduced, he's walking out with a limp, and you could tell he's upset.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

And he was. He was good.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he was good.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Like, he. He was good. You remember the. Like, he played, like, three games the year before, and then he got hurt.

[Matt Jones]

Yep.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

And then he came back the next year and got hurt. So we really never got to see him play.

[Matt Jones]

It's a shame. He's one of those dead guys needs to do over, because I think he's.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Definitely a guy that you look back and you go, if he had played, might have been a different.

[Shannon]

I know we've Got a lot of great depth on this roster, but I hope that nobody tears an ACL. Trying to stretch tonight. Everybody take it easy at Big Blue.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Man writes. My least favorite moment was Andre Riddick got on the mic and told the entire crowd he had named a new dunk. It was going to be called the Brooklyn Roughneck. The crowd went crazy, started clapping their hands and all he did was run up into a one handed dunk.

[Matt Jones]

Quite the build up. Wow.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I didn't know that was true.

[Shannon]

That's a great story if it is.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I kind of like that story.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Hey, everybody, I got a new dunk.

[Shannon]

Something you've never seen before. A one handed dunk.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

The Brooklyn Roughneck.

[Matt Jones]

I thought of something that really every.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Time someone gets a one handed dunk this year and I'm calling it the Brooklyn.

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

There you go.

[Shannon]

We have a name for it.

[Matt Jones]

The day that the had the floor that lit up.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Yeah, that was a big. That was great.

[Matt Jones]

That was one of the coolest things in the last 10 years, I think at the.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

All right. I feel like we have to note today the passing at 106 years old of Sister Jean. Loyola's Sister Jean passed away last night just before midnight. 106 years old. I mean, first of all, is she the most famous nun in America? She what? How many nuns in the history of America have been more famous than Sister G. Nobody.

[Shannon]

She's the best. She's none. But there's none better.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You were waiting on that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, better.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

106 years old. Sort of captivated the country on that run with Loyola. Kept going to the games.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, she did.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

She kept going to the games. 106. Long time to live. Of course, for this show we all remember because during the hype and people forget how huge that was. I mean, she was everywhere. It wasn't just in sports. She was on the Today show. She was on like the Tonight Show. She was everywhere during that whole thing. Then Sister Jean created a Twitter account that got massive. I mean, it was mentioned on tmz, it was mentioned on the Today show. It was Sister Jean's Twitter account. And it turns out it was run by Shannon, the dude who had created. Tell the story of how you created that.

[Shannon]

Well, we were in Atlanta and for.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Like the first round of the first.

[Shannon]

Round of the NCAA tournament. And we were doing the pregame show and. And Drew said, I can't wait for Loyola to lose so I can see Sister Jean's tears. You know, just. He was hating on Sister Jean.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

They had already won their first game in A big upset.

[Mark Pope]

Yeah.

[Shannon]

He was already tired of her.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

He was already. And he had just gotten there.

[Shannon]

So then I had just created this fake Twitter account just to. To after Kentucky lost to Kansas State. I put the crying Jordan face on Drew's face.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Yes.

[Shannon]

As Sister Jean. And somehow people thought that was real. Somehow that just got retweeted and retweeted. And all of a sudden, this Twitter account was born. And next thing I know, I've got, like, 10, 000 followers in a day, and I'm going, well, maybe I should tweet something else. And it just kept getting more leverage.

[Mark Pope]

Yeah.

[Shannon]

And I had people, you know, reputable news sources actually retweeting this, which gave it more credence as being a leg.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Tell anybody?

[Shannon]

No.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Till what? Like after the Final Four? I mean, you told us, I think right before the Final Four, but for like a week, you kept it to yourself.

[Shannon]

That's right. I didn't say anything. My favorite part was watching the Today Show, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Copy, and they're quoting my.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

My tweet as if it was Sister G. Yeah.

[Shannon]

And, you know, I said in the tweet, people have asked me what I've given up for Lent. My answer is simple losing. And they read that on the Today Show. And Hoda Copy goes, that Sister Jean, she is just so witty. And I'm sitting, about to spit up the coffee that I was sipping on because I was laughing so hard, but rest in peace, Sister Gene. What an amazing life. You know, she just released a book a couple of years ago at 104. That's pretty amazing.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I mean, what. First of all, 106. Just living that long is amazing. But then also, I mean, what year was that? Was that 2018?

[Shannon]

18. Yeah.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

So you're talking about she was 99.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

And going to the games and being that big of a presence.

[Shannon]

What, you know, you can imagine, you know, living a relatively quiet life, would think is a nun. Probably not.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Probably not. Out at the club.

[Shannon]

And then at 99, you become this almost household name across America. It's pretty crazy.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

But where does she rank like in the most famous fans? During a college basketball tournament for us, we had Ashley Judd for a number of years, going to games, and they would show her all the time. Can you think of people during tournament runs that were more famous fans of a team?

[Matt Jones]

Didn't Julia Louise Dreyfus, her son played for Northwestern. I think she was.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

She did, but they only won, like, one or two games. I'm trying to think of A team that went like a long way that had a person. I mean, Ashley Judd could be the answer. Yeah, she would be at all those games.

[Shannon]

Yeah. I don't know. Nobody else really comes to mind on the basketball side, I think, you know, like on the football side, Matthew McConaughey with Texas, obviously. But in basketball during the tournament, I don't think anybody really comes to mind.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Yeah, I mean, most of the ones I can think of are people who played there, like Charles Barkley with Auburn when they, when they've, when they've made runs. But Sister Jean and famous fans. Bill Murray, when his son is one of the coaches.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, that's a good one. He goes to the game.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

They will show them.

[Matt Jones]

John Cougar Mellon camp used to go to all the IU games.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Well, that was so long ago that nobody, nobody would remember. Have they been in the tournament in the last 30 years?

[Matt Jones]

Remember being in tournament?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Yeah. By the way, they're supposed to be good this year. Are you, you're excited about those two teams playing again, are you?

[Matt Jones]

I am. You know, I'm the older generation where those Indiana Kentucky game was. The game every year always sold out.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Do you think fans are gonna care, I mean like if that get that game this year against Indiana? Let's see what the equivalent is. If. Do you think fans will care more that it's Indiana than let's say if it was Houston, like if the schedule was Kentucky, Houston, would that be any less exciting than Kentucky, Indiana? Maybe it'd be more exciting. Houston might be top five.

[Mark Pope]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

A lot of people think Houston is one of the top two teams that might win the title. So maybe the younger generation would probably want to see a Houston team. But then the older generation, like, man, those Indiana games, those, those were the best. We got to go with that.

[Shannon]

Yeah, I mean playing Houston would probably actually be the better game. But just for me, you know, growing up watching the rivalry throughout the 90s, I kind of like that it's back.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Well, I'll continue to argue Indiana is a no win game for us because we are expected to beat them. And we've already seen go back to the Christian Watford game how what they do if they beat us, they, they make popcorn boxes of it. And I'm not sure that it really matters all that much to us. 859-280-2287. When we come back, Mark Pope will join us on the phone to get you ready for Big Blue Madness. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

[Matt Jones]

T.J. smith, personal injury attorney.

[Shannon]

Call T.J. he'll make him pay. Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Welcome back Tucky Sports Radio here live at Wild Eggs in Hamburg. We are now joined on the phone by UK basketball coach Mark Pope. Mark, day before Big Blue Madness, and we have a huge crowd out here in Hamburger. Kentucky fans in blue getting ready for tomorrow night. How excited does that make you, man?

[Mark Pope]

Listen, I have loved this time of year for the last 35 years, ever since I got here to Kentucky. You know, there's a little chill in the air. I love this time of year when you wake up and there's a tiny chill in the air. It's time, guys. This is going to be really, really special. I can't wait for Big Blue, man.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

So I was at pro day and it was my first time getting to see your, your, your group. And the thing that stuck out to me is just how athletic they are, how explosive they are. It just seems like a group you can do so much with. Am I right about that?

[Mark Pope]

Yeah. I think this is a really, you know, one of the things that we want to do is we want to get more mobile. So. And that comes out in all the words you said and in other ways also. So I think this team has a chance to kind of really utilize all the space on the court. I think they, you know, I think we have guys that are really athletic that can cover ground both offensively and defensively, that have some physicality to them. I think it's good and just have, I'm telling you, I'll talk about this all year long, but, man, the competitive spirit of this group, with that, with their ability to get around the court, is going to make this group special.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I said during, I've said this all summer, I'm buying all the Jalen Lowe stock. Like anybody that wants to sell any from his time at Pitt, whatever, he took bad shots. I'm buying all of it because I think this kid's gonna be a star. Tell me I'm right about that.

[Mark Pope]

Yeah, I think he's, I think he has the potential to grow into a great leader. Actually. He is cat quick. He is as good as anybody I've ever coached at. Be able to get wherever he wants to on the court whenever he wants to get there. He's, he's, he's got the potential to be an elite level playmaker. He's, he's, he's really got a high IQ and how he kind of understands the game and he tries to attack the game and he's he's learning that fast. I think, you know, for us to be what we want to be, he's gonna have to be a star, and I think he's ready to do it.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

One of the things that struck me excited and seen him in a while was Trent Noah. He looked stronger than me. To me, he looked like he's gotten in, he's lost some weight. He looks leaner. Am I right about that? And what have you seen from him this off season?

[Mark Pope]

Well, am I right about the fact that he's stronger than, you know, that.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

He'S stronger than he was last year? I'm sure he was stronger than me last year, too.

[Mark Pope]

No, no, I. I think, listen, Trent Noah is crushing it so far in camp. He's right near, you know, he's just under. You know, he's in the mid-60s in live, five on five, shooting the three. He's making great decisions on the floor. He is. He is. He. You know, it's fun year, too, because guys just, you know, they. They walk in the gym already understanding what's trying to be accomplished, how to do it, and so they get to start. Riff off of it, like, they really get to start to play the game instead of just doing the game. And he's certainly doing that. He's. He's been. He's been absolutely outstanding so far in camp for sure.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I had a fan asked me, and I think it's a good question. If you were to. Everybody enjoyed that team last year, how much they gave to the group, how what great kids they were, went to sweet 16. But if you were to say to fans, what's the biggest difference in how they'll see you play, what you'll do with this group versus what you did last year, how would you answer that?

[Mark Pope]

I think. I think. I think this group has, you know, on the defensive end, I think we have the ability to make more adjustments. I think we have the ability to exert more pressure. You know, I think we have the ability to be more disruptive. You know, we kind of felt like we were going to be able to do that beginning of last year also. We just, you know, we just. With the. With the changes in roster composition through the season, that became more difficult. I think we have that in spades this year. I think we really. On the defensive end, I think we have, you know, we have a chance to exert to make teams uncomfortable. On the offensive end, I think our mobility really stands out to me. We were a good cutting team last year, but I think we're going to be great. We have so many more players that can attack off the bounce downhill. I think that the pace of our game has a chance to really take a step forward this year.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Let me ask you a bigger picture college basketball question. Everything's changed so much, and a lot of coaches who were legendary have decided to step away in the last few years. And I've kind of been of the opinion, like, like, you got to embrace what's new. Even if it's not what people want it to be, it's what it is. So you got to embrace it. I feel like you've done that. I feel like you kind of have an old school soul, but you're really embracing the way college basketball is going to be. Would you agree with that characterization?

[Mark Pope]

I, I, I love coaching right now. I, I think it's probably the most challenging, fascinating, stimulating, you know, energizing time to ever coach the game of college basketball or it's, you know, our responsibilities as a staff have broadened. So every time you add a new slice of what you need to do as a coach, the job gets more interesting. Right. It's complicated and it's, and it can be, it can probably be exhausting at times, but it is, I think it's the greatest time to be a coach. It is just unbelievable. And the thing is this, Matt. I can't remember if we've talked about this. I've talked about this a couple times, but I'll be super transparent. There was a time this spring.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

We lost him there. Oh, he was just, he was about thinking like he was going to tell a great story right there.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Okay. Oh, there you are. Sorry I lost you. Go ahead. You said there was a time this spring and then you disappeared. Go ahead.

[Mark Pope]

Oh, sorry about it. So there was, there was, there was a time this spring where I felt like, you know, this is more of a, it's more of a professional tenor now in college basketball. There's so many of the rules have led us to be in that space. And so there was a point where I was like, I'm going to start treating these guys like pros. I'm going to be more like an NBA coach. I spent a lot of time in the league, and I have a very good vibe for that. And then the first time we met with our whole team and I got to see my guys and how eager and how hungry and how still young people that they are, it changed my whole view. And I feel like it's not only the best time to coach college Basketball. But our players need us as mentors more than they've ever needed coaches before because their lives are more complicated. Their lives have got better, but they've got way more complicated. And these are still incredible young people that are chasing their dreams, that are trying to grow into the young to the men that they want to be someday. And, and so it is like I'm saying, for all those reasons, I think this is the best time ever to be a coach.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I'm very excited about what you guys are doing tomorrow. When I heard, I only heard about it Monday, but when I heard you were doing this fan fest tomorrow from 12 to 4:30 at the convention center free of charge for people to come meet, listen to you, meet you, meet the basketball players. Same for Kenny Brooks and his young women. I thought that's what I've been waiting to see Kentucky basketball do for quite some time. Talk to me about that process and for people out there listening, what is the event going to be?

[Mark Pope]

Well, it's going to be fun. It's going to be everything. There's some things I'm not allowed to say because they're going to be surprises which I think are, be so awesome.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Oh, I like that. I like surprises.

[Mark Pope]

It'll definitely be with, with, you know, the team will be there to meet people, sign autographs, do some presentations. I'll get to be on, on stage I think with, with Cameron Mills and, and do some Q and A and do a. We're gonna do a straight, I think we're trying to do a straight X's and O's breakdown and sign some autographs. There's gonna be all kind of booze and food there. We have everything from food to vendors to I guess there's even some, some, some tattoo specialists that are coming to, to do some tattoos for people that lose their minds and want to go, wow, tattoos.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I love it. All right.

[Mark Pope]

It's going to be, it's gonna be epic. And the whole thinking behind it is, is the, the only bad thing about Kentucky basketball is that right only holds around 20,000 people. And so those, those tickets were gone in 29 minutes. It just doesn't seem fair. And so until we, until we expand out rep to a hundred thousand, we're going to take all the opportunities we can to, to, to see fans interact with bbn. Like this is our family man. So this should be a family day. It should be a family day where families get to come together. It should be a family day in terms of, of us as a staff and our Players, MBBN being together, it's really important us. And, and so I'm telling you, I'm so excited about this. Kroger has jumped on as our, is our key sponsor for this. They've been unbelievable partners, so they're gonna have some specialists up there. Our marketing team here at University Kentucky is done an unbelievable job preparing this. If you get a chance, man, come early, be there. You know, I think it's 12 to 4:30. I think I'm, I think I'm jumping on stage right at the beginning. It's going to be a great event. And, and we just want to come, like, hug it out, man. Just, just give everybody some love and celebrate this real inaugural first day ceremonial day of our season.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I love, though, I, I, that's. It's. First of all, starts at 12. Mark goes on right after it starts, Then Kenny Brooks, then the women's players, then the men's players. I love that you guys are doing it for free. Free. I mean, I understand the money push and everything now, and I get it, and it's a big part of it, but still, doing something for free for the average fan, that, that means a lot to me, Mark. So I appreciate you all doing that. Last question, because I know you got recruiting stuff. Should people expect some kind of surprise at Big Blue Madness that night?

[Mark Pope]

Yep, we are. We are down to the wire working on a couple special things. We'll see if it can actually happen. And wherever we end up, it's going to be. It's. Come on. It's Big Blue Madness. There's nothing like it. It's going to be great. It's going to be. It's going to be so fun. So I'm so excited to see everybody there and for us to share this experience together.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Well, I heard what one of them is. I hope you pull that off. That would be awesome. Mark, thank you very much for taking. Thank you for taking the time. I know you're very busy today, and we'll see you tomorrow.

[Mark Pope]

Hey, Matt, you got. Can I steal one more minute?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Of course.

[Mark Pope]

Okay, so among the other things at the meet and greet tomorrow is going to be, there's going to be a booth for the National Marrow donor registry. So Leanne and I are. This is really important to us. Kentucky is the number one state in terms of incidence and mortality from cancer. And this is like, this is, this is a mission of us and the Markey Cancer Institute and everybody else in this state. Like, we got to make some progress. So there's this incredible program where if you come and just get swabbed, it's just a five second swab, painless, not invasive of your cheek. You can get on a registry where at some point if there is somebody that needs a stem cell or bone marrow donation, you'll be on the registry and you actually can go help. It really is only people from 18 to 35, so there's an age group that works. But Leanne and I have been doing this for the last several years. We actually had a manager that worked for us before that actually had a cheek swab, got a call a year later and then was able to go make a donation that ended up saving a girl's life, a young girl. And so, so this like together in the state of Kentucky, we kind of need each other to take every shot we can at getting out of first place in terms of incidents and mortality. And this is one of the ways we can do it. So everybody coming to Fanfest tomorrow, if you have a chance and you're in the right age group to stop by this booth, Leanne and the girls are going to be there helping with that. But it's just one of them of the many, many steps that we can take as a state to help each other and to help with our health. So just, just thanks for letting me put in that pitch. It's really important to me. It's really important to Leanne. I think it's really important.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, of course, 12 to 4:30 tomorrow. If I was in the age group, I'd do it. But 18 to 35 year olds, there's some of them here. Make sure you all go. Mark, good luck with the season. We will see you tomorrow night.

[Mark Pope]

Thanks guys.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

All right, there you go. Mark Pope. We'll take a break. Be right back. The csksr.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

When you own your own business, you own every decision.

[Shannon]

Catch the red eye or take the.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

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[Mark Pope]

Ah come on. Why is this taking so long?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

This thing is ancient.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Whoa, this thing moves.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here live at Wild Eggs. Wild Eggs has house made cinnamon rolls. They got breakfast. They got signature creations including the Kelsey Kentucky Hot Brown Mexico City's what do you city? What would you say Chilaquiles all here at Cornbread Hemp. This segment is sponsored no, they're Wild eggs. This segment is sponsored by Cornbread Hemp. Cornbread Hemp use my promo code KSR and off because it is harvest season. You got seltzers, you got gummies, you got everything you need to rest and relax. A Kentucky based company. It is cornbread hemp and cornbread hemp.com also sponsors of KS Bar. We appreciate that Mark Pope. I hope he gets I I know what they're trying to do I'm not sure they're going to be able to do it, but I hope they do. And I like I'm going to say again, I know I said this yesterday. I'm so glad they're doing this thing tomorrow afternoon soon. I've been. And I'm not the only one people saying, do something, Ryan, that does not require money to go. And they went and did it and they did it on a busy day and they did it with both teams. I think that's awesome.

[Matt Jones]

It's fantastic. The fan base deserves this, man. After what we've been through the last couple years. But with Cal, we need this. That feel good feeling we got again.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You take a shot at Cal.

[Matt Jones]

I just think it was. We all got the point where we.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I'm not saying. I'm just saying, like, I don't know how many schools, Shannon, are doing free things things anymore. I mean like that people are just. It's all based on how do we generate revenue. We got to generate revenue and to take the time on a big day to do something that will generate no revenue. And also, honestly, Big Blue Madness doesn't generate any revenue either. Yeah, I mean, you're basically giving Kentucky fans a free day. I just think that's cool that they will still do this.

[Shannon]

Sand fest sounds like it's going to be awesome. You get to hear from Pope, you get to see them break down the X's nose and you can get a neck tattoo while you're doing that.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

And let me say on the exit note, you're gonna get a new.

[Shannon]

That is a very lovable thing though, getting tattoos. It feels like something Louisville would do.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Say this if you get a tattoo tomorrow, a UK based tattoo while you're.

[Shannon]

At the thing, I want to see it.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I need you to send me a picture so I can post. Yeah. My guess is Mark will like take a picture with you. I'm not promising that, but I'm gonna guess, you know, he said he's gonna do the X and O thing. If you've never seen Mark like X and O a basketball situation, he speaks, you know, he's like a scientist talking about physics. I mean, he. He will. You'll sit there and go, whoa. I think that would actually part of me. I may walk over my. From my house just to see that tomorrow.

[Matt Jones]

It's a different language these coaches speak these days with analytics and breaking things down.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

But he's particularly good at it. I think his mind is just analytic. And he said one thing that I thought was really interesting. He said with every new addition that they change. In college basketball. Basketball. I think you have to be creative and smart to adapt to it. And you know what? He's right. And I was sitting there thinking, I'm really glad, Shannon. We have a smart coach.

[Shannon]

Yes.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

No, I mean it. Like every single new rule requires, okay, how do we navigate this? And I think having somebody really smart. You know, people say that about John Shire at Duke, that everything happens, the new rules, that he looks at it. He meets with his staff and says, okay, how do we exploit this to our benefit? It. I think Mark Pope probably does the same.

[Shannon]

He's a very smart man. So meticulous in his game prep, his. In game plays, that he draws up as well. You know, he said a lot of things. The one thing he didn't say.

[Matt Jones]

Beautiful.

[Shannon]

I didn't hear one. Beautiful. That entire interview, I didn't hear one.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Amazing.

[Shannon]

I know, right? Who is this guy?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

No. Amazing.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. That's the first time he's ever talked about Trent Noah. Not called him beautiful ever.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I like how he thought I was saying that I was stronger than tr.

[Shannon]

I think you did.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You did say that. No, I did.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you did.

[Shannon]

You say, I think.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

What did I say?

[Shannon]

You said, is it true that.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Is it true that I'm stronger than you? Yeah. Why are you shaking your head? I did not say, is it true that I'm stronger than true, Noah.

[Mark Pope]

Yeah. Yeah, you could be.

[Shannon]

We could put you to that. Could be a great event for madness. Matt Jones vs. Trent Noah in a weightlifting contest. I'd pay money to see that.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Would you?

[Commercial/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Yes. Did I really say, am I strong? It's okay, though.

[Matt Jones]

It was a live interview. People sometimes get their words confused.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I hear Mario, take up for me. Stop. Stop going hunting for deer and take up for me for a second.

[Matt Jones]

Mario smells really good today too, by the way.

[Shannon]

Smells like wild eggs.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Why do you have to say it like that?

[Mark Pope]

He does.

[Matt Jones]

He smells wonderful.

[Shannon]

You were just sniffing him. Joe Biden, what are you doing?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

592-80-2287. We're gonna take a break. Be right back. It's Kentucky sports Radio.

[Matt Jones]

Hey, it's Bobby from the Bobby Bone Show.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I had an incredible time at this.

[Matt Jones]

Year'S iHeartRadio music festival and even got.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

The chance to hang out with Diplo and Bailey Zimmerman while I was there. How did Ashes come together?

[Matt Jones]

Diplo?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

I pulled up real quick. He was about to leave on tour. You're about to jump in your tour bus, and we had, like, three hours. It was really cool. He literally just like randomly showed up to my house.

[Mark Pope]

I'm like, oh hey Diplo, what are you doing?

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

He's like, I have a song did.

[Shannon]

I want to show you? And I was like, okay.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

You can listen to the full episode out now, wherever you get your podcast. And big shout out to my friends at Hyundai for making this possible. Had a blast cruising around festival weekend in the allnew Palisade Hybrid.

[Mark Pope]

Ah, come on.

[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

Whoa, this thing moves.

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

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[Commercial/Ad Voice]

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[Kentucky Sports Radio Host (possibly Ryan Lemond)]

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