Kentucky Sports Radio — 2025-10-31 — Hour 1

Podcast: KSR
Date: October 31, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond (Coach Ditka), Shannon, Drew Franklin
Location: Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., near Frankfort, KY
Theme: Kentucky Basketball Exhibition Loss, Halloween Fun, Upcoming Football Showdown

OVERVIEW

This special Halloween episode mixes live remote fun from Whiskey Thief Distilling with a packed house of diehard Kentucky fans. The crew, dressed in costumes, swings between lighthearted Halloween banter and a deep postmortem of Kentucky basketball’s disappointing exhibition loss to Georgetown. Fans get candid opinions on basketball woes, football prospects, and some good ol’ Kentucky Halloween antics.

Halloween at Whiskey Thief

Costume Highlights:

• Matt is “Ellie De la Cruz” (but laments his lack of gold chains and eye black) [02:14].
• Shannon is a referee, ready to “throw out” rowdy fans [02:39].
• Drew is a “Draft King” complete with crown [02:47].
• Ryan is all-in as “Coach Ditka,” mustache and Bill Mack’s sweater included [03:06].
  • Matt: “You literally have not gone out of character… The slick back hair look is a good one for you.” [02:51]
• Best audience costume: two women as Nerds Gummy Clusters, Matt’s favorite candy [03:37].

Halloween Antics:

• Matt and Mario plan “man on the street” interviews for top costumes in Lexington [04:25].
• Ryan plans to terrify trick-or-treaters in a demon costume:
  • “Anywhere from a newborn to about 30.” [05:34]
  • Matt: “Why do you want to dress as a demon?”
  • Ryan: “I get a big kick out of it. I like to see ‘em run off screaming and crying.” [05:25]

Kentucky Basketball: Georgetown Loss Postmortem

Setting the Scene

• Kentucky loses home exhibition to Georgetown (maintains an 0-3 historical record against them) [06:40].
• Matt blunt: “It was a bad game from start to finish.” [06:40]
• Georgetown dominated both ends; Kentucky was “out-physicaled,” couldn’t make shots or defend [06:40–07:20].

Key Issues

• Shooting Woes:

  • Free throws missed by reliable shooters (Cam Williams, Noah, Chandler) [07:20].
  • Team went 2-15 on open threes from expected shooters (Noah, Chandler, Williams) [10:11].
    • Drew: “I think we need to calm down on the Trent Noah can’t miss conversations… he hasn’t been knocking it down.” [09:38]

• Defensive/Physicality Problems:

  • Team looked “listless,” lacked energy & toughness, reminiscent of last year’s Ohio State game [08:19].
  • Could not guard the ball, particularly with Chandler at point in absence of Low & Aberdeen [11:47].

• Point Guard Play:

  • Matt: “Colin Chandler is not, at this point in his career, a point guard … you cannot beat good teams… if Noah, Chandler and Cam Williams go 2 of 15 with open threes, that’s going to be tough.” [10:11]
  • Drew: “He had five turnovers and just looked like it was in his head.” [15:03]

Are Fans Overreacting?

• Online reaction “crazy,” but show hosts urge patience:
  • “It’s not the team we’re going to watch all year. Once Low and Aberdeen are back … that should help.” — Drew [18:58]
  • Ryan: “We gotta just hold off judgment ‘til we get our full roster back.” [20:54]
• Silver lining history:
  • Drew notes previous UK teams lost preseason games then had special years (e.g. ’96 National Champs, ’03 undefeated SEC, 31-game streak in Bahamas after an exhibition loss) [24:20].

Specific Player Concerns

• Cam Williams:

  • Matt: “He’s a three-and-D guy that’s not making threes or playing defense.” [19:24]
  • Drew: “He looks like the moment’s too big for him.” [20:04]

• Chandler:

  • Drew: “We are running a special on the Colin Chandler fan club… referral codes, check us out.” (jokingly) [15:21]

Mark Pope’s Perspective & Injury Updates

• Pope: “We’re not a great collection of individual talent, but we are a great team.” [41:51]
  • Some fans online react negatively—“We spent $22 million!”
• Both Low and Aberdeen are “close,” with possible returns the following week [14:28].

Look Ahead: Football vs. Auburn — Job-on-the-Line Game

• Matt bluntly calls it a “loser leaves town football game” (Stoops vs. Hugh Freeze):
  • Matt: “Mark Stoops and Hugh Freeze, the loser… is not going to be the coach next year.” [21:18]
• If Kentucky loses:
  • “The decision is basically made at that point… there will be meetings that start Sunday or Monday that will begin the process of how do we let this thing end.” [21:17]
• Crowd poll: about 15% think UK will win [23:14].

Football Injuries:

• 10 scholarship players out, “including everyone whose last name is Smith.” [26:56]
• Uncertainty over personnel, including key RB McGowan (probable for Auburn) [27:18].

Fan Debate: Is It Ever OK to Root Against Your Own Team?

• Caller: Admits he’ll secretly root for Auburn for sake of a coaching change [34:20].
• Drew: “I can’t look at Cutter Bowley in the face and say, ‘Good luck this year’… and then say I hope they lose to Auburn. There’s no reward for stinking.” [36:07]
• Shannon: “No scenario you ever pull against your own team.” [36:10]

Rapid-fire Notable Quotes & Moments

• Matt, joking about dressing up for Halloween on the street:
  “I’m not gonna wander around people’s neighborhoods.” [04:55]

• Drew on exhibition losses:
  “All three [prior UK exhibition losses in 40 years] went on to do something special.” [24:55]

• Shannon, calling out Ryan’s Halloween tactics:
  “There’s signs of a psychopath.” [17:59]

• Matt on city vibe before the game:
  “The whole city… felt depressing yesterday. It just felt like the whole city, team included, just was not awake yesterday.” [20:22]

• Matt on streaming/YT TV blackout news:
  “If you don’t fix it, 50% of this crowd with YouTube TV is not going to have the UK game tomorrow.” [31:47]

Kentucky Halloween & Listener Interactions

• Costume predictions: many “Mark Stoops with a cigarette” expected [38:49], plus one “nurse doing mouth-to-mouth on a stuffed raccoon” [39:16].
• Bashir as Mr. Rogers — hosts debate “taking off your shoes” in Kentucky homes [39:31–41:01].
• “Colin Chandler Fan Club” signups continue tongue-in-cheek [41:20].

TIMESTAMP GUIDE TO KEY SEGMENTS

| Topic | Start | Notable Quotes/Points | |-------|-------|---------------------| | Halloween Costume Banter | 01:05–05:23 | “The accessories matter.” — Matt [02:30] | | Kentucky vs. Georgetown Recap | 05:40 | “It was a bad game from start to finish.” — Matt [06:40] | | Shooting/Point Guard Concerns | 06:54 | “We couldn’t hit a three pointer in the second half.” [08:01] | | Team Listlessness, Energy | 12:08 | “It looked like they didn’t want to be out there.” — Matt [12:08] | | Is this a turning point/exhibition history? | 13:20, 24:20 | “All three went on to do something special.” — Drew [24:55] | | Injuries & Roster Updates | 14:28, 26:35 | “Pope says they’re both close…” [14:28] | | Cam Williams, Player Critiques | 19:24–20:22 | “He’s a three-and-D guy not making threes or playing defense.” [19:24] | | Football Pre-Auburn, Stakes | 21:09 | “Loser leaves town.” — Matt [21:18] | | Justification for Rooting Against UK | 35:01 | “I can’t root against them.” — Drew [36:07] | | YouTube TV/ESPN Streaming Blackout | 31:47 | “If you don’t fix it… not going to have the UK game.” — Matt [31:47] | | Best Kentucky Halloween Costume | 38:30 | Mark Stoops/cigarette, raccoon CPR [38:49–39:21] |

CONCLUSION

Despite a tough night for Kentucky basketball and low citywide energy, the KSR crew keeps things lively—and honest—about both sports and life in the Bluegrass. With humor and candor, they urge fans: Don't panic (yet), enjoy the Halloween fun, and gear up for a high-stakes football weekend.