Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) — Hour 1
Date: November 13, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Ryan Lemond, Shannon the Dude
Location: Live at KS Bar and Grill
Special Guests: South Laurel High School KSR Club
Episode Overview
This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) is an "Ask Anything Thursday," where listeners are invited to call or text in questions on any topic. The crew is joined by students from South Laurel High School’s KSR Club, who managed a class field trip to KS Bar and Grill (“quite a coup,” per Matt Jones). The show weaves between fun trivia, reflection on Kentucky basketball’s recent loss to Louisville, roster analysis, and some personal and humorous moments around the hosts’ daily lives and upcoming ESPN commitments.
Main Themes and Purpose
- Listener Engagement: Classic “Ask Anything Thursday” encourages listener interaction—calls and texts drive the discussion.
- UK Basketball Post-Louisville Loss: In-depth discussion on Kentucky’s expectations and reaction to the recent Louisville game.
- Roster and Coaching Analysis: Scrutiny of Mark Pope’s team-building and roster decisions.
- Lighthearted Trivia and Banter: Multiple rounds of pop culture and UK sports trivia add fun and audience participation.
- Personal & Behind-the-Scenes: Hosts discuss habits, upcoming events, and Matt’s ESPN play-by-play adventure.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. South Laurel High School KSR Club's Visit
- Student Creativity: Matt and Ryan praise the students’ boldness for forming a KSR club and pulling off a field trip to a bar under the guise of school activity.
"You all pulled off quite a coup... I’m a huge fan of these kids just for their ability to…if nothing else, get out of school." — Matt (01:15)
- Host School Memories: Brief nostalgia about lame high school clubs versus the inventiveness of today’s students.
2. Matt’s Journalism Guest Lecture & Forgotten Book of Topics
- Professional Obligations: Matt discusses postponing a UK journalism class lecture for ESPN duties, mildly surprised at the online drama his rescheduling caused.
- Back to Basics: Matt forgot his treasured topic notebook, so the show is entirely “raw” and impromptu—suggests listeners supply topics or expect more trivia.
3. Pop Culture Trivia Segment
(04:45–10:12)
- Top-Selling All-Female Musical Groups
- Trivia stumps co-hosts, but Shannon aces with Spice Girls, TLC, Supremes, Destiny’s Child, and Pussycat Dolls.
- Brad Pitt’s Highest Grossing Movies:
- Tougher for the group, though the South Laurel students help with correct answers like Ocean’s 11, Seven, Troy. The number one answer—World War Z—surprises everyone.
4. UK Basketball: Analyzing the Louisville Loss and Season Outlook
(13:12–16:11)
- Mood Check: Ryan’s optimism dimmed “slightly”; Drew unmoved (“their potential is what it’s always been for me”).
- Perspective: All agree a true road loss to top-10 Louisville isn’t alarming but exposes shooting and lineup problems—especially an excess of bigs.
"I wish we could trade one of these bigs for a shooter…we've got too many big guys and we're getting another one." — Matt (14:43)
- Big-Man Logjam: They joke about “making a trade”; speculate who will see diminished minutes (leaning towards Garrison).
- Shooting Concerns: If key players don’t “lock in,” roster imbalance could haunt the season.
5. Fan Overreactions & “The Honeymoon Is Over?”
(16:58–18:48)
- Public Panic: Some fans already questioning Pope’s roster-building; hosts urge patience, given it’s an early nonconference game.
- Champions Classic Preview: Michigan State seen as a “should-win”—“time for us to win one of those games” after rough years.
6. Louisville Game Atmosphere and Fan Behavior
(18:48–21:05)
- Viral Video: Discussion of a UK fan kid harassed by Louisville students in their section; agree it was harsh but not entirely unpredictable.
“Louisville fans are meaner. I can't see the eruption zone doing that.” — Matt (19:44)
- Celebration Chatter: Drew teases Louisville for “celebrating like they won the national championship,” but Matt says, “I’m okay with it—they haven’t won in a long time.”
7. Listener Calls & Lineup Debates
(21:24–23:02)
- Best UK Basketball Lineup?
- Discussion around starters; consensus emerges for Low, Aberdeen, Away, Moreno, Diabate if “just playing our five best guys right now.”
8. Pope’s Post-loss Press Conference Style
(24:11–25:42)
- Host Critique: Some listeners find Pope’s post-loss pressers defensive and abrupt; hosts stress they want a coach who “hurts when we lose.”
"I want him to be that way. I don't want to be the coach sits there… He's gonna go home and see my dog… I want him to care." — Ryan (25:19–25:42)
9. Trivia: Obituaries for Movie Characters
(26:20–28:14)
- Fun Bit: How would you headline Rocky Balboa’s or Forrest Gump’s obituaries? Hilarity ensues (“Yo, Jesus, I’m coming to see you” draws groans).
10. Detailed Louisville Game Xs and Os
(29:19–33:41)
- Breakdown of Missed Opportunities:
- Richard’s call highlights UK missing open forwards as Louisville overplayed the strong side. Hosts agree, pointing to a lost run after a key Jalen Lowe three-pointer.
- Opposing Player Analysis: Praise (and jokes) about UofL’s “old” big man Wiz Khalifa’s dad (actual last name Khalifa) who was surprisingly effective.
11. Football: Upcoming Game, Bowl Assignment, and More
(34:43–40:32)
- Matt’s ESPN Play-by-Play Debut: Matt reveals he and Myron Medcalf were picked to call the New Orleans Bowl (Old Dominion vs. Kennesaw State projected). None have play-by-play experience—“I've never done play by play in my life.”
- Saturday’s Football Game: Kentucky vs. Tennessee Tech—hosts insist “there’s no excuse to lose,” with Drew saying, “Fire everyone if they lose Saturday” (39:40).
- Past Scares: Anecdotes about UK’s close calls against FCS teams (Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay).
12. Loose Ends and Fun Sidebars
- Dating Jokes: Listeners text in to “keep an eye” on South Laurel students dating their daughters—Matt runs with it for laughs as the crowd giggles.
- Restaurant Recommendations: Matt recommends KS Bar’s potato kegs (“if your budget allows a starter”—37:20).
- Theo Vaughn, Barstool, and One-Dollar Bills: Commentary on a viral video of Diego Pavia with a massive stack of $1 bills, musing on its weirdness.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the South Laurel KSR Club:
“Creating a club to go to another town to sit at a bar, that was popped in my brain.”
— Drew (01:38) - On trivia performance:
“I’m impressed. Shannon got all five of the top five [female groups].”
— Matt (07:25) - On losing to Louisville:
“Maybe just a little. I still have really high expectations, but…maybe just a little.”
— Ryan, when asked if expectations dropped (13:12) - On Mark Pope’s postgame mood:
"He talks. Those post game press conferences when we lose are over in, like, seconds."
— Matt (25:06) - On ESPN play-by-play nerves:
"I've never done play by play in my life and I have to do play by play for an ESPN game."
— Matt (35:33)
Key Timestamps
- 04:45 — Start of top-selling female groups trivia
- 08:02 — Brad Pitt movie trivia
- 10:12 — Kentucky basketball pre-Louisville loss trivia
- 13:12 — In-depth discussion on expectations post-Louisville
- 16:58 — Fans question Mark Pope; honeymoon phase discussed
- 18:48 — Viral Louisville student section incident
- 21:24 — Listener call: Best starting lineup for UK
- 24:11 — Critique on Pope’s “losing” postgame routines
- 26:20 — Movie character obituary headlines (Rocky, Forrest Gump)
- 29:19 — Listener breakdown: Louisville game Xs and Os; stretch where UK lost momentum
- 34:43 — Matt’s ESPN bowl game assignment story
- 38:24 — Football talk: Upcoming Kentucky vs. Tennessee Tech
Tone and Style
The show is lively, humorous, and conversational—full of self-deprecation, banter, and genuine Kentucky sports passion. The interplay between Matt, Drew, Ryan, and Shannon is engaging and accessible, balancing serious analysis with lighthearted, occasionally mischievous asides.
Summary for New Listeners
You’ll come away from this episode with a nuanced understanding of Kentucky basketball’s state post-Louisville loss, a fun side of the KSR team, and the comedic chaos of a truly interactive sports talk show. It’s a quintessential KSR hour—sports, smarts, and plenty of Kentucky character.