Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon the Dude, Steven Peak (KSR)
Location: KS Bar and Grill, Lexington, KY

Episode Overview

This hour of Kentucky Sports Radio features an in-depth and candid discussion among the KSR crew about the Kentucky Wildcats' tough basketball loss to North Carolina (67-64). With fans and media reeling from the performance, the hosts offer analysis, vent frustrations, debate future outlooks, and take calls from listeners processing the ongoing struggles. The crew also touches on Kentucky football’s new offensive coordinator, Will Stein (with personal insights from Steven Peak), and ends with a search for positives amid the disappointment.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Kentucky Basketball: Breaking Down the North Carolina Loss

Performance Issues and Shooting Woes

• The Cats suffered an extended scoring drought of nearly 10 minutes, going 2-for-16 from the field to close, with multiple hosts describing the effort as "horrible" and "just a bad performance." (03:36–04:45)
• Steven Peak: "We are shooting 27% from three against teams with a pulse. It was our fear going into the season – we didn’t sign the shooters we went after." (05:57)
• Colin Chandler—described as the current best three-point shooter—went 0-2 from three. (06:15)
• Drew Franklin: “It feels like 2022–2023 again… the standard over the last 11 years is that we could be really good, but we’re never really great.” (06:17–07:11)

Bright Spots and Player Development

• Rookie big man Malachi Marino stood out as the team’s most consistent presence on the floor, rebounding and making clutch free throws. (07:12–08:11)
• Calls for more minutes for Yellowvitch after he displayed strong defensive efforts, despite some miscues in practice. Drew: “Put him in the damn game… at least he can guard.” (08:17–08:22)
• Injuries (Jalen Lowe, JQ, Modi Abate) heavily impacting the team’s potential and on-court chemistry, with current roster construction questioned by several hosts. (09:21–11:27)

Offensive Style and Identity Crisis

• Steven Peak points out a deviation from Mark Pope’s promised up-tempo, spaced-out style: “This is not the offense I was sold… what I’ve been seeing is not it.” (09:23)
• Lost offensive motion and ball movement compared to last year; there’s a sense that returning players have regressed, not developed ("second-year jumps" have not materialized). (11:27–11:50; 22:05–22:41)

Re-evaluating Expectations and Fan Mood

• Jack Pilgrim (via Twitter): "This is a season from hell for Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats. Just an inexcusable product no matter the injury situation. Bad basketball team.” (17:59–18:26)
• Hosts admit their own expectations have dropped, wondering if it’s time for fans and the program to reset—hoping for baby steps, such as competing to reach Saturday in the SEC tournament. (19:31–21:53)
• Bart Torvik’s projection: 19-12 season record, 6-seed in NCAA—a “nightmare scenario” vs. traditional UK standards. (20:39–21:10)
• Drew Franklin on preseason optimism: “If you open my DraftKings account and go to open bets, there’s Kentucky to win the national championship sitting right there. I got to look at it every day…” (19:45–20:21)

Injuries and Lineup Strategy

• Unprecedented injury stretch: "13 injuries in 13 months of the Mark Pope era… I’m losing my mind over it.” – Steven Peak (25:44–25:53)
• Callers and hosts debate use of short bench and fatigue vs. other teams who also play limited rotations.

Calls for Leadership

• Listeners and hosts both long for a on-court leader to demand the ball and step up during adversity. Jack Givens and others suggest Otega should be that guy. (31:29–33:14)
• Issues with missed extra passes and lack of on-court chemistry highlighted as contributing to the offensive stagnation. (34:00–34:20)
• Drew: “I think [Pope]’s more scared than I am… like we’re in Braveheart and he’s in the back of the line. Wait, you’re the coach.” (22:41–22:48)
• Comparison to Calipari-era offense, but now "without the lottery picks." (33:53–33:57)

Kentucky Football: Will Stein Hire and Personal Connection

Will Stein, New Offensive Coordinator

• Steven Peak—who played with Will Stein as a teenager—shares insight on his friend’s leadership style:
  • “Wherever that dude goes, he wins… he’s a competitor and a winner… fully believe he’s going to take Kentucky football to a good place.” (13:45–14:18)
  • “You’re going to get that [fiery emotion], and you’re getting somebody very intelligent that’s going to be able to break down stuff for us in post game. So maybe we’ll learn some stuff.” (14:27–14:50)
• Discussion on the youth movement in coaching, comparing Stein’s age (36) to legendary hires like Boeheim, Pitino, and Krzyzewski, and the advantages of energetic, competitive young coaches. (47:53–48:36)

Callers, Listener Reactions, and Memorable Moments

Fan Frustration and Resetting Standards

• Multiple callers echo “season from hell,” express frustration with Mark Pope, and fear the program is "slipping into Indiana territory." (26:33–27:02)
• Uncertainty about future player eligibility (Quaintance, injuries), recruiting, and whether the “honeymoon” is over for Pope. (27:27–27:43)

Listener Calls for Strategy Adjustments

• Specific critiques about offensive sets, use of challenges/analytics, and calls for different player combinations during scoring droughts. (23:58–24:32; 29:23–30:28)
• Reflection on accountability and work ethic: consistent belief that players are putting in gym time, with the problem more about execution and chemistry than effort. (36:39–38:30)

Levity and Community

• Steven Peak’s storytelling about reconnecting with Will Stein at Rupp brings smiles and nostalgia. (12:15–13:08)
• The hosts promise positivity to close the show, as Ryan requests each to identify something encouraging for fans to hold onto (see quotes below). (44:12–44:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Steven Peak (on roster construction/regression):
  "The standard over the last eleven years is that we could be really good, but we’re never really great. And I’m getting kind of tired of that." (06:17)
• Drew Franklin (on expectations):
  "Now I’m like, can we just… can we beat a team? And then we’ll go from there… which is just crazy to say in December." (20:22)
• Ryan Lemond (on injuries):
  "How is this happening? How am I still reliving Kentucky basketball seasons with all these injuries?… Thirteen injuries in thirteen months of the Mark Pope era. I’m losing my mind." (25:44)
• Caller Chris (on direction):
  "We’re quickly slipping into Indiana territory, in my opinion, as a program. And it’s just disgusting." (26:33)
• Steven Peak (on Will Stein):
  "[Will is] such a good guy… he’s a competitor and a winner. Wherever that dude goes, he wins." (13:45)
• Shannon The Dude (on optimism):
  "They didn’t score a point in 10 minutes and still only lost by three. Defense was decent. Volleyball going to win the title. There you go." (49:04)
• Drew Franklin (forced positivity):
  "We’re going to Nashville. Western Kentucky’s going to show up. Good crowd. We’ll beat Gonzaga. We’re beating Gonzaga." (48:52)

Important Timestamps

• 03:36 – Show begins: Reaction to Kentucky’s loss to UNC, shooting struggles
• 05:57 – Deep dive into the Cats’ shooting woes and regression concerns
• 07:12 – Malachi Marino’s emergence and importance
• 09:21–11:27 – Offensive stagnation, lack of Mark Pope system, injuries, bench depth
• 17:59–18:50 – Jack Pilgrim’s viral “season from hell” tweet & hosts processing reality
• 20:39–22:41 – Panic about season projections, transparency about plummeting expectations
• 24:00–25:53 – Callers ask about in-game strategy and injuries
• 26:33–27:43 – Discussion of Pope’s honeymoon period possibly ending
• 29:23–30:34 – Fans question the use of challenges and in-game decision-making
• 31:29–34:20 – Leadership void, importance of on-court chemistry, passing up open shots
• 38:30–39:43 – Lighter moments: UK volleyball, women’s basketball, and lighthearted banter
• 47:53–48:36 – Will Stein’s age/youth, comparison to historical great coaches
• 48:52–49:04 – Forced optimistic closing statements from the hosts

Tone and Delivery

The KSR crew delivers their post-game anxieties, frustrations, and hopes with trademark self-deprecating humor and relatable candor. While the mood is somber and honest about on-court shortcomings, the hosts remain connected to fan sentiment, encouraging baby steps, small victories, and community spirit ("eat your feelings away" at KS Bar, support volleyball/women’s basketball).

Summary Takeaways

• Kentucky’s basketball team faces an identity crisis, injury woes, and regressing under high expectations in Coach Pope’s early tenure.
• Fans and hosts alike are frustrated but not without hope—calls for leadership, a return to basics, and realistic expectations dominate.
• Will Stein’s hiring as football OC is regarded as a positive spark, with personal vignettes building excitement for the program’s future.
• Despite basketball disappointment, the KSR family maintains its community connection and humor, closing the show looking for any reason to smile—however small.