2025-12-08- KSR - Hour 2

Summary

KSR Podcast – December 8, 2025, Hour 2

Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Shannon Dawson, Drew Franklin
Theme: UK Athletics’ Downturn, Media Criticism, New Coaching, Team Culture, and Pop Culture References

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) dives deep into the state of University of Kentucky (UK) athletics, particularly basketball and football. The crew debates coaching decisions, media responsibility, the fan culture around criticism and booing, big-picture issues with team construction, and the influence of college sports' Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era. Interwoven throughout are hilarious asides about The Godfather movies and how pop culture seeps into sports banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. UK Basketball Malaise & Team Construction

• Team Criticism: The hosts and listeners express deep concern with the current state of UK basketball, calling the team "poorly constructed" ([03:05]).
• Media's Role in Critiquing Coaches: Matt acknowledges the challenges media face in pressing coaches and ADs with tough questions, citing examples where reporters have faced backlash (e.g., Mitch Barnhart’s negative response to John Hale’s NIL query) ([03:39-04:12]).
• Historical Reflection: Matt reflects on Jerry Tipton's critical media approach, admitting he now values that perspective despite previously criticizing it.

  “In hindsight, I was wrong about that. We need... Jerry Tiptons.” (Matt Jones, [04:02])

2. Atmosphere & The Culture of Booing

• Debate on Booing: Callers and hosts discuss the legitimacy of fans booing coaches or teams, but agree that singling out players is crossing the line—especially when college athletes now make significant NIL money ([24:36-29:19]).

  “You can boo coaches and you can boo the team collectively. We don't boo individual players...” (Caller Luke, [28:40])

3. Media Access and Criticism Difficulties

• Pushback and Consequences: Repeated media criticisms of coaches often lead to exclusion and fan hostility; the hosts discuss the tension between honest coverage and maintaining access ([03:39-05:19]).
• Quote:

  “People always go, why don't you ask harder questions? But what you need to ask yourself is, when things are good and people ask hard questions, do you get angry at them?” (Matt Jones, [05:20])

4. UK Football Transition & Oregon's Impact

• Will Stein Scenario: The team discusses whether Will Stein (Oregon OC) staying in the playoff is good or bad for Kentucky football, considering staff cohesion, recruiting, and visibility ([07:30-10:27]).
  • Matt: “The best advertisement for coming and playing for Will Stein is Will Stein having success.” ([10:14])
  • Internal split: Ryan/Jones want Stein and Oregon to win and get more exposure for UK; Drew/Shannon prefer him to lose and focus on UK’s portal.

5. College Football Playoff & Notre Dame Backlash

• Indiana’s Remarkable Turnaround: Hosts call Indiana’s coaching turnaround “maybe the greatest coaching job of all time” ([11:16-12:33]).
• Notre Dame Critique: Harsh words for Notre Dame opting out of a bowl and benefitting from a lenient schedule:

  “If you want to make the playoff, Notre Dame, join a conference.” (Matt Jones, [12:46])

  • ND skipping a bowl: “That's the most Chicken-blank thing I've ever seen of a team to do.” (Matt Jones, [13:14])
• Expanding Playoffs: They discuss the merits and pitfalls of further expansion ([15:55-16:53]).

6. Academic Performance & Bowl Selection

• Surprise at Mississippi State Selection: Discussion about how Mississippi State edged Kentucky for a bowl invite based on academic performance leads to a comedic jab at Stoops’ academic priorities ([17:00-17:25]).

7. Caller Segment: Fan Experience & Perspective

• Nashville Anecdote: Drew details a bizarre, sobering experience at his hotel that mirrored the surreal mood after UK’s loss ([23:19]).
• Fan Emotion: Callers voice frustration, mixing humor (e.g., “more tense than two rams in heat at a tap dance recital,” [25:09]) with earnest pleas for more effort from both players and coaches.

8. Pop Culture: The Godfather Debate

• Hosts' Movie Gaps: Astoundment that Ryan and Shannon haven't seen The Godfather dominates a significant chunk, spawning memorable ribbing and a running bet (if they watch before Saturday, UK will beat Indiana; if not, superstition blames “Annabelle” the doll) ([26:10-39:38]).
  • Quote: “It's widely considered the greatest movie of all time... You will like it, I promise. This is your kind of thing.” (Matt Jones, [27:06])
• Iconic Quotes Used & Explained:
  • “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” ([35:26])
  • “He sleeps with the fishes.” ([48:32])
  • “Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.” ([48:35])
  • “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” ([49:07])
  • And more...

9. Return of Key Players & Fixing the Program

• Jaden Quaintance’s Return: Discussing whether his return can salvage the season. Drew is hopeful but skeptical about the overall trajectory ([31:37-32:54]).
• Coaching Philosophy: Caller and hosts agree Pope may be overly reliant on analytics, leading to criticism that he’s not coaching “with feel” ([35:19-36:29]).
• Team Culture: Drew and Matt believe a major problem is a group of players lacking both connection with each other and with Pope, leading to a “broken” team dynamic.

  “They just seem to really not like each other... if they lose to Indiana, it will get nasty around here.” (Drew Franklin, [50:33])

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On media challenge:

  “You get blackballed. Then you also end up getting a group of fans who get mad at you for asking anything.” (Matt Jones, [04:12])

• On team construction and media critique:

  “You need Jerry Tiptons. They can't all be Jerry Tipton then. It's too negative. But you need one or two...” (Matt Jones, [04:02])

• On booing:

  “I've always believed this. You can boo coaches and you can boo the team collectively. We don't boo individual players, though.” (Caller Luke, [28:40])

• On Oregon/Stein dilemma:

  “I'm quacking. I want him to win the title. I think it's good for us... We will never get that kind of advertisement. Players will sit there and say, look at that guy. I want to go play in that offense.” (Matt Jones, [09:12])

• On team disconnect:

  “They just seem to really not like each other. And even if he found the basketball answers ... I don't know how you get this group on the same page.” (Drew Franklin, [50:33])

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Segment Timestamps

• Show Start & Basketball Critique: [03:05]
• Media Criticism, Press Conferences, & Jerry Tipton: [03:36-05:19]
• Fan/Critic Debate on Booing: [24:36-29:19]
• Oregon/Stein/UK Playoff Impact: [07:30-10:27]
• Indiana & Notre Dame Playoff Discussion: [11:16-15:22]
• Bowl Snub, Academic Rankings: [17:00-17:25]
• Caller Stories & Hotel Incident: [23:19]
• The Godfather Movie Interlude: [26:10-39:38], [47:59-49:13]
• Team Issues, Fixing the Culture, Jaden Quaintance: [31:37-36:29], [50:11-51:24]
• Cultural References & Popcorn Calls: [48:32-49:46]

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Tone & Style

Authentic, raw, and humorous—with KSR’s trademark blend of sports debate, listener interaction, and pop culture banter. The hosts balance insightful critique with irreverence, using self-deprecating humor and candid observations.

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For KSR Fans & New Listeners

This episode is must-listen material for UK sports fans frustrated with the current direction of the teams, as well as those interested in the intersection of fan culture, media responsibility, and college athletics in the NIL era. The interplay of Kentucky sports news, honest media talk, and offbeat segments (from “Annabelle” ghosts to The Godfather) keeps the show light while still hitting hard at core issues.

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End of Summary – KSR December 8, 2025, Hour 2

Transcript

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[Shannon Dawson]

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[Matt Jones]

Welcome back. Hour number two, Kentucky Sports Radio, 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-774-5254. A lot of good comments on the text machine. One person writes, matt, you all can talk effort all you want. This team is poorly constructed. That is ultimately the problem. I don't disagree with you. It's poorly constructed. I think there's going to be a lot of questions as to why that happened. I think Mark Pope should be asked about it probably in the off season, though. Shannon, you can't look at Mark Pope and go, why does your team stink while they still have the rest of the game? You know what I mean?

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Right.

[Shannon Dawson]

Right. And nine games into the season, too. I mean.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. When it's over, though, he definitely should be asked questions about it. Which gets me to the second point of somebody saying, matt, why don't the media press harder on Pope and get him to talk more about his deficiencies? Well, I do think the media probably should ask a little bit harder questions, but that's also easier said than done. I mean, you got to remember, think about just what happened last week with Mitch Barnhart when John Hale asked him about Nil. You remember that, Ryan? What happened to John Hale? He got yelled at.

[Ryan Lemond]

Got very. Mitch got very defensive.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he got yelled at. So, like, people say they want the media to do that, but then, I mean, these people that they yell at them. And then when that happened, you then have people who take up for Mitch and get mad at you. Like, it's easy to say, go after these people. Just remember what happened to me for four years for questioning Cal. Like, you get, you get blackballed. Then you also end up getting a group of fans who get mad at you for asking anything. Heck, I'll even go back to many years ago when Jerry Tipton was here. He used to ask those kind of questions all the time. And many people. And you're listening to one of them. Me, I used to criticize him for it. And in hindsight, I was wrong about that. We need, you need Jerry Tiptons. They can't all be Jerry Tipton then. It's too negative. But you need one or two of them. But the problem is it's hard to be Jerry Tipton because when you're Jerry Tipton and you ask those Questions. People ride and get mad at you.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Yeah. You need. A guy's always said, you need to have a sharp pencil, like Tipton, Allen, Cutler, those guys that aren't one of those people. Questions. Yes.

[Matt Jones]

But that's a hard role to have because the fans get mad.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yep.

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[Matt Jones]

And sometimes. And so, like, it's when things are bad, people always go, why don't you ask harder questions? But what you need to ask yourself is, when things are good and people ask hard questions, do you get angry at them?

[Ryan Lemond]

Now? I did. I was gonna say that makes these.

[Matt Jones]

Reporters recoil a little bit, but go ahead. What were you gonna say?

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm sorry. I did like Jack Pilgrim asking Mark Pope about the DeMarcus Cousins tweet after the game. You know, I've seen it yet. I. You know, you gotta.

[Matt Jones]

And I thought his answer to that was good, where he said, like, DeMarcus has a right to say that. He's right.

[Shannon Dawson]

He said, I'm mad at the coach, too.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I actually thought that was a good answer by Mark on that. Drew, I think you have been certainly with Mitch Barnhart and now with Mark Pope and even Mark Stoops in the last year or so, you've been a really harsher critic.

Does that make. Do you find that difficult? Because, I mean, I know that leads to difficult interactions with people at UK, etc.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, yeah. And, you know, I have a lot of friends at UK athletics. I'm. I'm sure they don't love me here lately. It's. It's not a fun role to play, and. And I try not to play it, but, I mean, just overall, sure, we have volleyball that's exciting coming up this week, but overall, UK athletics has been in a down spot, especially with their two big moneymakers lately. And for me, it just got. It's gotten so bad. I couldn't just sit here and put on a smile and try to be the fun guy. I mean, this has been an embarrassing run by basketball, not just with Pope. Going back to the last few years of Cal, how that was all handled. Football, with the big dip, we're way behind in nil. Like, tell me something UK athletics is good at without saying the word volleyball.

[Matt Jones]

Mitch says we're not behind it.

[Shannon Dawson]

You've asked that question 19 different ways.

[Matt Jones]

Question 19 times. I would say this garbage, Drew. It's garbage.

[Drew Franklin]

I would say this to Mitch. If somebody asked me a question 19 times, I wouldn't get mad at them. I'd say, you know what?

[Matt Jones]

Maybe I'm not good at maybe I'm not answering it correctly. I totally agree with you. When you get asked the same thing 19 times, maybe there's something.

[Shannon Dawson]

You get 18 with Mitch, you don't get 19.

[Matt Jones]

The 19th is too much. I would say our women's basketball team is good and our women's volleyball team is.

[Drew Franklin]

We're women's school. That's great. Not downplaying any of that, but we need football and basketball to not be in the rush they're in and we need to figure out an aisle.

[Matt Jones]

Let's talk just a second about the playoff. Do we want Oregon to win a lot? And let me explain some timeline stuff. Oregon's going to beat James Madison in the first round of the playoffs. Then they're going to play Texas Tech. It's going to be on New Year's. If they beat Texas Tech, they're going to go to the semifinal. But the portal opens right after that game.

Would you rather will Stein win? Get to keep Oak coaching Oregon, which will also be a billboard for UK football, but he'll be preparing during portal season. Or would you rather him lose to Texas Tech and be able to focus on the portal specifically?

[Ryan Lemond]

Ryan, I'm going to becoming a big Oregon Ducks fan. I want them to win. I want them to score a lot of points, and I want them. Every time they show him in the booth, they say, there's your new Kentucky head football coach right there. They just put 42 up on Texas Tech. I want him to thrive.

[Matt Jones]

So you want him to win? All right, Drew.

[Drew Franklin]

I want them to lose. 70 to 69 and we talk about how good his offense was.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm selfish. I want him to do well and I'll be rooting for him. But I don't get an Oregon hoodie if they win. I don't cheer for Oregon. I'll be happy for him, but I'm selfish and I need my cats having a good head start. So I hope he looks great with the offense. He's on TV a lot and. And then he gets to come home right away.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, I mean, we want what's best for Kentucky. We don't care about Oregon, so I would rather them lose and let them get to work right here with this job at Kentucky. We're team. No Ducks.

[Matt Jones]

Team. No doubt.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Wine of the day.

[Matt Jones]

I'm quacking all time. I want him to go. I want him to win the title. I think it's good for us. There will probably be some small negativity about him not being here during portal season. But I mean, the phone works. Right. So I think that's fine. He'll have his full staff in place. Chances are a lot of them do the recruitment anyway. I think the best advertisement for coming and playing Will. For Will Stein is Will Stein having success. And the more he wins. We can't. At Kentucky football wins. The last time we've played a game where Ryan. Where there'll be as many people watching as there will be the semifinals of the playoffs. Maybe never. Never. Right. So, like, we'll never get that kind of advertisement and players will sit there and say, look at that guy. I want to go play in that offense especially. I mean, they have a path where they could legitimately get to the championship game. So I'm going to be an Oregon fan. I'm going to. We're going to have Oregon watch parties at the bar. I'm. If I don't know anybody knows me at the University of Oregon. Send us gear. I'm quacking. And Ryan, you can quack with me. I don't know if Drew and Shannon will join us, but I'm. I'm for Oregon. I think it's the best thing that could happen to Kentucky football is them succeed.

[Ryan Lemond]

I agree. We definitely give a quack and we want the quack to keep quacking all day.

[Matt Jones]

Shannon, you had a good pun, and now he thinks he can do it. You know what I mean?

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

He. You gave. You encouraged him, which is not what we want to do.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

All right. Two quick things about the playoff. Indiana. All right. All right, Drew. I'm going to just go ahead and admit they're good. I didn't want to do it. For two years, I've not wanted to do it. But that was a heck of a win against Ohio State. Undefeated. I think you can make a strong argument that what that guy has done at Indiana is maybe the greatest coaching job of all time. Isn't it? Two in two years, change it from maybe the worst Power 5 program in history to the number one seed in the playoff. It's got. That's got to be the greatest coaching job of all time.

[Drew Franklin]

I can't think of what I could put ahead of it. Like this year, when you consider just beat number one Ohio State, you went to Oregon when they were number two, number three, whatever they were. Then all the other Big Ten rivalries you have, you handle business there. To run the table at iu, I thought would be insanity. I didn't think that'd ever be possible. And he did it so quickly. So I agree with you. I don't know what job you could say is better.

[Matt Jones]

It's the best in two years. And it also completely changes the table on what is possible at any school. I mean, you can't expect Ryan Wilstein to go do what Signetti did. I'm not expecting that. Signetti had been a head coach for 15 years with Steinheim, but now you can look at that and go, anything's possible, right? Anything is. If they can do it in Indiana, then why can't you do it anywhere?

[Ryan Lemond]

And to do it at Indiana, where nobody ever thought that would ever have any success in football ever. I mean, they have an overall losing record. Every coach has been a loser. Even Lee Corso was a loser there. And for him to come in and win, well, they've lost two games in the last two years is just amazing.

[Shannon Dawson]

They were 3 and 9 in 2023.

[Matt Jones]

That's amazing.

[Shannon Dawson]

Just two years.

[Matt Jones]

They've lost one game in two years. That's amazing.

[Ryan Lemond]

It's crazy.

[Matt Jones]

So you've got it like, or two games. They've lost two games in two years, if you count the bowl. So you got to give him a lot of credit. All right, so Notre Dame.

[Shannon Dawson]

Whining is whiners that ever won.

[Matt Jones]

That's the whiniest whining group I've ever seen. I've always disliked Notre Dame, but I'm done with Notre Dame, okay? Not going and playing in the bowl, that's taking your ball and going home. But the Notre Dame, if you want to make the playoff. Notre Dame, join a conference, okay? Join a conference. Your schedule's a joke. You played two good teams this year, and you lost to them both. They should have been out. Miami beat them head to head. Drew. They should have been out. Alabama, I don't. You know, I don't think Alabama's great, but you can't punish them for playing in a conference and playing in the championship game. I'm fine with Notre Dame being out and the fact that they skip the bowl. And that is the most Chicken blank thing I've ever seen of a team to do. I hate it. And next year, Go look at their schedule next year. They have the easiest schedule. You're on Notre Dame. And they don't play one good team next year. Not one. They're the worst. And Drew, I'm glad they got left out.

[Drew Franklin]

Don't. Did I hear during the selection thing yesterday that next year, if Notre Dame is just inside the top 12, they.

[Shannon Dawson]

Have a deal where they get to be.

[Matt Jones]

How ridiculous is that? And they're going to be in the top 12 because they don't play anybody. Go look at their schedule. They play Miami at home. And besides that, they don't play anyone that's even decent. They're like, they. I have never been anti Notre Dame, but I am now anti Notre Dame. And their coach, Shannon, he might be handsome, but who cares? Like, he's the worst. I cannot believe they refused to play in that bowl.

[Shannon Dawson]

Them refusing to play the NCAA should say, okay, you don't want to play in the postseason next year. You're banned from the playoffs next year.

[Matt Jones]

I agree. I'd support it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

Drew, they could have played byu. Those were two teams that both almost got in the playoff. That would have been a good game.

[Drew Franklin]

Could have been a great game. And I don't, I don't like that they did it. I wish they'd play, but this actually makes me worried that this is just going to start a trend where any team, oh, I didn't make the top 12. Well, all right, I'll try again next year. I'm not going to go play in the.

[Matt Jones]

Whatever teams in the conference is. The conferences make too much money from these bowl games. So the conferences are going to make it prohibitive that they can't do this. They'll find them so much they can't do it. Iowa State and Kansas State didn't do it, but they're in unique situations. They both, both teams either don't have a coach or don't have a roster because of what happened. I think they should play, too, but it's a little different. It would be like if Kentucky had made a bowl game, we wouldn't even really have a coach. So it would be very difficult. But, Ryan, Notre Dame's is the weakest, I think. What? And the reason they can get away with it's because they're not in the conference. The conferences wouldn't let their teams do this.

[Ryan Lemond]

So despite the Notre Dame snub, were you okay with the other 12 team? James Madison fine with it. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, look, James Madison's going to lose, Shannon. But what would you rather see Oregon play James Madison and beat him by 40 or Oregon play Duke and beat him by 40?

[Shannon Dawson]

Oregon play Vanderbilt and beat him.

[Matt Jones]

I'm okay with having a James Madison. Like, they're going to get beat, but it's a cool story if you're going to let those teams be in D1, Shannon, you got to give them a chance to make it.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, I guess. So, but, you know, yeah, you're right. They're just going to get destroyed in the first round. But I mean, here's the bigger thing. They're going to have to expand the football playoffs. You know, they are now because of teams like Vandy and these teams that didn't get in.

[Matt Jones]

Well, this year the football playoffs being expanded would be good because Vandy's good, Texas is good, Notre Dame's good. But Drew, there have been years where if you expanded it, the teams you would have let him would have been bad.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, this year's unique. The snubs, even Notre Dame have, have an argument of why they shouldn't be in and you can't let everybody in. But this one seems wild. You know, there's the Alabama controversy. Everybody's arguing over. This was. Of all the ways this could play out. The committee must have really hated this one because it was tough filling that last spot for them.

[Matt Jones]

But if I remember correctly, like, was it last year? Like, people didn't even think there were good enough teams to get in. So I, I listen, I'm for as many. I want them to expand it, Ryan, because I want to make it one day. So make it as big as you can for Kentucky to make it. That's my view.

[Ryan Lemond]

So here's my question. How did Mississippi State edge out Kentucky in the academic performance to get that bowl game?

[Matt Jones]

It's a good question. Our academic performance must not be very good. I heard we were pretty high to the list. I'd heard we were pretty high in that ranking. And then Appalachian State and Mississippi State had better academic performance.

[Ryan Lemond]

How did Mississippi State.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, I never. Mark Stoops was never big on the school part of it.

[Shannon Dawson]

He wasn't making them do their homework on the sideline.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I know, I'm not, I'm not saying he didn't care about school. I just don't think that was his. Is pain, stiffness or a numbing sensation preventing you from enjoying watching your favorite teams compete? Listen how Court physical therapy can help. Over 30 years, court has been Kentucky's go to physical therapy group to help athletes, fans and average joes. Go to court.com that's k o r t dot com. Get an appointment today. No reason to be in pain. Call Court. All right, we will take your calls when we return. Kentucky Sports Radio.

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Limu emu and Doug. Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Caller]

Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Matt Jones]

Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty. Liberty Savings. Very underrated by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts 859-280-2287. Text machine. 772-774-5254. All right. I promised we would get the phones. I know people got things to say, so let's go ahead and do that. Who's up first?

[Shannon Dawson]

Paducah Stu.

[Matt Jones]

Paducah Stu. Go ahead. Paducah Stu.

[Caller]

Hey, man. Thoughts and prayers, you and your family.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you.

[Caller]

Me and my wife went down to the game, and that game was very laughable. It was pretty pathetic. I don't know what they're doing on offense, but it is hard to watch.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it's brutal. I mean, again, what is the change you're going to make that's going to be better? Like, I think low. I mean, people look low. Played, what, 14 minutes? 16 minutes?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, 14 minutes.

[Matt Jones]

And by the time he got in, it was, what, 11? Nothing. So, I mean, there were people sending me things like, oh, lo didn't end up as. I mean.

Low is not. I'm not. Who knows if low will be a solution, but I don't think yet. Drew, he's the problem. Would you.

[Drew Franklin]

No, I don't think you could pinpoint any one person as the problem when the entire team looks like the problem.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I think that's the best way to say it. Anything else, Stu?

[Caller]

No, sir.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the call. Drew, give me something positive. Was it awesome before the game down there?

[Drew Franklin]

There was a shooting at my hotel as I was checking in that should have been.

[Matt Jones]

Well, that's not awesome.

[Drew Franklin]

I pulled up to the valet, give the valet my keys. I go inside, drop my suitcase. I'm not upstairs 10 minutes. And when I come back out, I just walk into the crime scene. The valet had been shot, like, minutes.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Wow.

[Drew Franklin]

I missed the valet shooting, maybe even by seconds. So I had that going for me, that was. That was an interesting way to start Friday. Straight from that into the game where there wasn't. Yeah. So, yeah, it was a weird trip. I did have fun. Lots of friends there.

[Rob Gronkowski]

Really.

[Drew Franklin]

The post game scene on Broadway was kind of weird. Like, there were some fans that were angry. There were some that were almost just laughing it off. Like, this is so embarrassing. We can't even process it. I mean, you have bands, like, singing sad songs to Kentucky fans and people giving out free beer because they feel bad for Kentucky fans. It was. It was supposed to be a celebration, or maybe if you didn't believe in the team would win to be a celebration. It just wasn't supposed to be that. It was like just a weird scene of people trying to process what had happened just before them.

[Matt Jones]

Shannon would have liked the free beer. I feel, like, enjoyed that.

[Shannon Dawson]

I would have jumped in on the part.

[Matt Jones]

Who's up next?

[Shannon Dawson]

Let's go to Randall.

[Matt Jones]

Randall. How are you, Randall?

[Caller]

I'm doing good. Yes, I would boo because these guys are getting paid, you know, to currently pay play. And, you know, like, with them getting paid, I mean, you know, you gotta. Sorry if I don't have a little sympathy for this much money as they're making more than I'm gonna make in eight, ten years probably. But, you know, I think that that Mark Pope and the coaching staff looks more intense than two rams. And he had a tap dance recital at the moment. And I mean, with the. Don't laugh, it ain't funny.

[Matt Jones]

Hang on, just hang on. More heat than two. Or, excuse me, more tense than two rams in heat at a what? Dance recital.

[Caller]

Tap dance recital.

[Matt Jones]

I've never heard that. Is that a phrase or did you just come up with that?

[Caller]

I just. It's just country slang. I don't know. But, I mean, he needs to get these guys in the gym and work on those grandma arms. And I hope when he goes down there to Atlanta, Rick Patino, the Godfather grabs old, you know, Pope and shakes him and says, act like a man. After that loss, you know, I mean.

[Matt Jones]

That'S all that's true. You want that Godfather moment where he smacks him. He goes, act like my man. Yes, that's right.

[Caller]

Yeah. Yeah. And Merry Christmas, fellas.

[Matt Jones]

Merry Christmas. I like that. It's a good scene. What is it? The singer from Vegas comes into town and he's crying about his career. Remember that scene? And he smacks him and go act like a man. Has anybody seen the Godfather? Am I the only one that.

[Drew Franklin]

Definitely. Yeah, I've Seen it. Isn't that the one that we've. Ryan's not seen, or am I dreaming.

[Ryan Lemond]

That I have not seen it?

[Matt Jones]

That is. That is insane to me that you haven't seen the Godfather. Yeah. How you. First of all, you're old.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm very old.

[Matt Jones]

How can. How have you not seen it?

[Ryan Lemond]

Not seen it? Never. I've seen bits, Shannon. Have you seen it in the whole thing?

[Shannon Dawson]

No.

[Matt Jones]

Are you kidding me?

[Shannon Dawson]

No, I've never seen it.

[Matt Jones]

Neither of you have seen the Godfather.

[Shannon Dawson]

Ryan, let you and I go watch it together.

[Matt Jones]

In all seriousness, you. It's. It's widely considered the greatest movie of all time. And it's also unlike a lot of old movies. You can still watch it. You know, they'll say, like, citizen Kane's the greatest movie, and then you start to watch it and you just fall asleep. This is still good. Will you to watch it, please? Yes, as a favor to me.

[Shannon Dawson]

The only Godfather I've been to is a different Godfather.

[Matt Jones]

I understand. You know that one I know you know about.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, I know that one.

[Matt Jones]

Ryan, will you. What? You would like it, Ryan. Like, it's your kind of movie. It's like a guy's movie.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, Yoga girl's trying to educate me and watch all these old movies, so.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe this is not old movie. This is. I'm telling. This is not Singing in the Rain, okay? You will like it, I promise. This is not. This is your kind of thing.

[Shannon Dawson]

Is it like four hours long or is it.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it's like three and. Okay, Godfather 1's three and Godfather 2 three. But they're both good, I promise you.

[Shannon Dawson]

I watched the highlights.

[Matt Jones]

There's no highlights.

[Shannon Dawson]

The YouTube version of it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Meltdown.

[Matt Jones]

Drew, back me up on this. Like, this is legitimately really good.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I mean, I love mafia type stuff anyway, but. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Do you like mafia movies? Do you like mafia movies, Ryan?

[Ryan Lemond]

I don't know if I've seen hardly any Mafia.

[Matt Jones]

You mean you haven't seen them? Have you seen Goodfellas?

[Ryan Lemond]

I think I saw that. That's one. Danny DeVito. Not Danny DeVito. Joe Pesci.

[Matt Jones]

Danny DeVito. No, Joe. Yes, Joe Pesci is in it. Have you seen that?

[Ryan Lemond]

I've seen that one, yeah.

[Matt Jones]

What about Casino?

[Ryan Lemond]

No.

[Drew Franklin]

Great one.

[Matt Jones]

Scarface?

[Ryan Lemond]

No, not Scarface.

[Matt Jones]

What do you watch?

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, last night you'll go, maybe watch White Christmas with Bing Crosby.

[Shannon Dawson]

I wish I would have been over for that.

[Matt Jones]

You should. The three of you need to get together and watch White Christmas instead of the Godfather. That's beautiful.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Who's next?

[Drew Franklin]

YouTube?

[Caller]

Luke.

[Matt Jones]

Luke, go ahead. Luke who? How do I get these two as my co host? Luke, go ahead, guys.

[Caller]

I don't know what I'm more disappointed in, the basketball team or the fact that Rotten and Shannon haven't seen the damn Godfather. Are you kidding me? I mean, my goodness. That's disgraceful. That's like a. That's like a. That should be like almost a capital punishment. Anyways, back to what I really wanted to say, the booing. I'll say this. The money has not changed my opinion on this. I've always believed this. You can boo coaches and you can boo the team collectively. We don't boo individual players, though. Like when we booed BJ Boston or small portion of our fans did. That pissed me off. But I fully not only accept, I embrace booing entire teams and coaches.

[Matt Jones]

I actually agree with that. I agree with that. I appreciate the call. I agree. I would. I don't think you single out a guy. I'm gonna boo these two for not having seen the Godfather, though. Unbelievable. Be right back. Hey, TJ Smith, personal injury attorney. Call tj. He'll make him pay.

[Shannon Dawson]

Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.

[Matt Jones]

So this is the famous scene, Shannon, right? You've never seen this?

[Shannon Dawson]

No.

[Matt Jones]

Nope.

Okay, so this is the wedding thing. He sings right here.

And he's like this. How would you describe him? Kind of a chubby guy. And he's like. He's dancing, right?

[Shannon Dawson]

Yes. Old man, giant suit on this.

[Matt Jones]

The wedding. The wedding scene. I'm not just saying this part, but it's like 30 minutes they're having the wedding. And then inside, the Godfather's meeting with all these various people. Johnny Ola. And then Michael returns home from the war. Like, it's the greatest scene in. In movies and the fact that you haven't seen it. And Ryan, here's the thing. I know you would like it. It's not like one of these things that's, like, nerdy that I'm telling you to watch. And you wouldn't like. You will love it.

[Ryan Lemond]

How about if over Christmas break I make that my homework? I'll watch it.

[Matt Jones]

But you act like he says, Christmas break, Drew. Like he does something besides.

[Drew Franklin]

Announces.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, Christmas break for you is just the same as now. You'll actually be working during Christmas break.

[Ryan Lemond]

Now we have a couple days off for Christmas and New Year's, so I can take some of that time off and watch.

[Matt Jones]

What do you truly got? He's done in 25 minutes.

[Drew Franklin]

That's the afternoon nap. You can't nap and watch a movie.

[Shannon Dawson]

What is he going out to eat by himself, by the way? Like, when is this happening?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. Things have kept coming up. We're going to do it. I'm not getting. And so I just had. The thing is, I have to be able to monitor this, Shannon, and I'm really not in a position where I can monitor it right now.

[Shannon Dawson]

Don't let him get away with it.

[Matt Jones]

I'm not. This is not. I'm. He's doing it, and I may make him sit there and watch the Godfather while he's doing.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah, it's a long lunch. Three hours.

[Matt Jones]

All right. So, Jason. So they said Jaden Quaint is going to come back. Drew A. Do you think that happens? They say Matt Norlander said he thought by the St. John's game. Do you think that happens? And if so, does it matter?

[Drew Franklin]

I still think it happens. I've not one time had any shade and sharp thoughts about him. I expect him to play when he's able. I think he needs to show the NBA that he's recovered from his injury. So part of it, I think he needs to do it for the future. And, you know, I still think he's. He's a good kid and wants to help the team. I don't know how big of a help he can be at this point if the guys are still just not making the extra pass and moping up and down the court. But maybe he can bring energy and the rest will look around and see him doing it. Because when he's playing at a high level and giving it all, I mean, he is a game changer, especially defensively where he's one of those elite shot blockers.

[Matt Jones]

Those are the two things. I think I just hit it that I think he can bring Ryan. I think he can protect the rim and block shots so that we don't give up as many layups and that we can, like, get better rebounding and then energy. I don't see that guy. Not like. I don't see that guy lollygag. Like, he's. He's not. I'm not going to be worried about his effort. So I think those two things are important now. They don't sort of. They don't deal with some of our major issues about shooting and ball handling, but I do think he would bring those two things immediately.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, definitely would. Would help bringing that effort, energy, toughness. So if you get him back and you get the Abate back, and all of a sudden you've got a couple tough guys down there, won't be bullying us around like Gonzaga did the whole game.

[Matt Jones]

But I still don't know if we have guys who can make shots.

[Ryan Lemond]

Nope. And I don't know how you fix that.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know how you fix that either. I do not know how Mark Pope, a coach who literally built his entire brand, his entire coaching philosophy around shooting, how did he go recruit a team that can't shoot? I just. I don't know how that happened. Especially when the first team he brought in here at everyone could shoot. Like that was the point is everyone can shoot. And then the next year he was like, okay, how about no one shoots.

[Shannon Dawson]

The great in practice? At least that's what we hear. But that doesn't mean anything.

[Matt Jones]

What do you think about that? He said it was one of the greatest shooting teams he's ever seen. Drew, at practice, how do we. How do we process that, having watched them?

[Drew Franklin]

I really don't know. I mean, part of it, I worry, you know, everything we kind of joke. But everything is perfect and extraordinary and special. I hope he wasn't doing that about the three point shooting, but, you know, anytime you try to get a little bit of criticism, it's like, well, this is going to be special. This is. You know, and maybe the three point shooting was that way too.

[Shannon Dawson]

It was ugly. It wasn't beautiful, it was yellow.

[Matt Jones]

I just wonder, do you think he actually. Do you think that those guys.

[Ryan Lemond]

Do.

[Matt Jones]

Shoot well in practice and they just can't shoot in the game or, like, he's not delusional? Like, I. I don't know. Here's the other thing. We don't really see these guys except the. Once or twice a year they open up. So part of it is we have to rely to some extent on what the coaches say. And Drew, I think in the future, like next year, whatever he says, I just. I'm gonna probably be skeptical, aren't you?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

That Ferrari comment got a lot of people excited. And then that just keeps coming up about. I mean, we're getting all the memes of the actual cars. He meant he has, you know, 1984 pintos, stuff like that. But I mean, he generated that excitement and these expectations. There was national championship talk, Ferrari talk, and now it's like, can you just win a game against a team that has a pulse? And then we'll figure out what kind of car you've got and everything else.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. All right, who's next?

[Shannon Dawson]

Mark Anthony.

[Matt Jones]

Mark. Anthony, go ahead.

[Caller]

Good morning, Matthew Round. Drew, Shannon. Matt. Your dad is in my mind.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you.

[Caller]

If you leave the gun, bring the cannoli. And thank you.

[Matt Jones]

There you go. Another Godfather line.

[Caller]

Oh, I love it. Anyway, I think coach Pope is drowning in his own analytics. I believe he's just putting way too much stock in it. He won't do a post game show that he doesn't quote you some analytic statistic or another that we don't understand. He's got to explain it. I think he's depending too much on it. I'm kind of like Drew, coach, analytics are great, running in the background, but I don't want to see you refer to analytics at all. In game. At halftime, give them a minute. After the game, go crazy with your analytics. But during the game, quote Drew, use your eyes. Coach. Coach your team. And I think it'll make a bigger Jaden quaintance if it comes back, and I assume he will at some point, but he's not in game shape. Yeah, if he gives you 10 minutes, it's going to be good. And he's not played with these dudes a minute. And so I don't know what he's going to do, so.

[Matt Jones]

No, I think that's a fair point.

[Odoo Advertiser]

We'll see.

[Matt Jones]

Can't be worse.

[Caller]

Coaching coach.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the call. The anger on the text machine about you all not seeing Godfather is even more than I have.

[Ryan Lemond]

I got.

[Shannon Dawson]

That sounds like a them problem, not a me.

[Matt Jones]

There are also like a million cultural references from it. Do you. Do you not ever get those? Like take. Leave the gun, take the canoli, like he just said.

[Shannon Dawson]

Never heard that before. I heard it five seconds ago with the other guy, but not before that.

[Drew Franklin]

Okay, make an offer you can't refuse.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, what about that one? He made an offer he can't refuse.

[Shannon Dawson]

You mean that came from the Godfather? Nobody ever said that before the Godfather.

[Matt Jones]

Actually, the Godfather. Well, I mean, every word has been said before at some point. I mean, people use the number six, seven, at some point, but then it becomes a thing.

I just. Here's the thing. Here's what you have to understand. Movies. I don't like old movies past, like pre. Like 1968. I think old movies like black and white outside of a couple like the wizard of Oz. You said White Christmas, whatever, Wonderful life. If you try to watch old movies, in my opinion, most of them don't hold up. It's like trying to watch My Three Sons or something. Father knows best. It's just too long ago.

[Drew Franklin]

You should have heard these two during the break. I don't think you could hear them. They were just reciting White Christmas, their favorite scenes. They're laughing.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Are you like this.

[Drew Franklin]

This bromance.

[Matt Jones]

Is that what you two do when you go to Florida, is you just sit around and watch White Christmas and.

[Shannon Dawson]

Like, if it's on.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't.

[Ryan Lemond]

I Love Lucy's sisters.

[Drew Franklin]

They were singing that together.

[Ryan Lemond]

Sisters.

[Matt Jones]

You know, maybe they should be replaced by Billy.

[Drew Franklin]

Why?

[Shannon Dawson]

So you could break everything in the studio?

[Matt Jones]

Speaking of breaking lamps, do you. Shannon, a lot of people are saying we did start playing bad when Annabelle came.

[Shannon Dawson]

I'm telling you, you know, when you met. You made.

[Ryan Lemond]

You made fun of Annabelle. Annabelle.

[Shannon Dawson]

You openly.

[Matt Jones]

Why is it not Annabelle coming? Why is it less and me than it is Annabelle showing up?

[Shannon Dawson]

Well, I think we could have just let her go, but then you had to, like, pile on and say, stupid doll. And when that happened, we had a guy that got hurt, and the team started sucking, and it's. It's your fault, really. I mean, we blame you anyway, so.

[Matt Jones]

I think it's that. The fact that you all haven't seen the Godfather, if you had, I think it would be fine.

[Shannon Dawson]

I'll tell you what. I'll go watch the Godfather, and we'll see if they can beat Indiana Saturday.

[Matt Jones]

Okay? How about this?

[Caller]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

It's Godfather 1 and 2. I actually think 2 is better than 1, but 2. Forget about 2.

[Shannon Dawson]

Pick one.

[Matt Jones]

One.

[Shannon Dawson]

Pick your favorite.

[Matt Jones]

You need to watch this first. Won't make as much sense. Ryan, can you watch Godfather 1 before Saturday so we can beat Indiana?

[Ryan Lemond]

I will absolutely watch it before Saturday.

[Matt Jones]

All right. And if you all both watch it and then we lose to Indiana, I will concede that it's Annabelle that caused. Okay, all right. All right.

[Shannon Dawson]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So you both have to watch the Godfather in its entirety before Saturday.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Got it. Yeah. Godfather one, Godfather one, two. You get to. You'll want to watch two after you watch one. Oh, I'm sure you're gonna. You're both gonna like it. I'm telling. All right, shut up. Who's next?

[Shannon Dawson]

Martin.

[Matt Jones]

Martin. Go ahead, Martin.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt, can you hear me? You're driving right now. All right. Sending you prayers to your family. And then I kind of wanted to go back your comments on Notre Dame. I'm Roman Catholic. I've always hated Notre Dame, primarily because I have a lot of Catholic friends, and they all root for Notre Dame just because they're supposedly Catholic, so. Couldn't agree with you more there. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I don't. I've never understood that either. Like, because you're Catholic, you have to be for Notre Dame. There are a ton of Christian schools. I don't have to root for them, right? I mean, like, that's ridiculous. But go ahead.

[Caller]

I can understand it. And then two things about the basketball team. I'll reiterate what most of the guys have already said regarding booing. I'm all for booing a team and a coach, especially now that they're getting paid the money that they do. You know, you have guys working nine to five out in the eastern coal mines who don't make near as much as that money. And we're not going to feel sorry for these guys just because they start feeling sorry for themselves on the sidelines or can't get along. You're making money. You get to play for a D1 school. Just try your butt off and die for loose balls. I mean, if I see OA look at another loose ball as it goes past, I'm going to throw something at my TV and then the other thing and I'll hang up. Mark Pope, I feel like, is overthinking how to motivate these guys. Like when you hear him say, turn a switch on, check their emotions and all these different things, I'm like, dude, they're 18 year old young men. You know, I played rugby when I was 18. Sometimes you just need to run sprints and have a coach yell at you. That's the perfect age for a young man to be molded into a warrior. And he's not doing that with these players. I see him on the sideline clapping his hands, going, come on, guys. Come on, guys. Yell at these guys. I mean, these guys are getting paid.

[Matt Jones]

Well, sometimes you just, sometimes people just don't connect. I remember. I appreciate the call. Years ago, Drew, you may remember Patrick Patterson visited Duke and you remember his quote after his visit. You remember what his quote was. He said, I just wasn't feeling those guys right. And the point of it was like he just kind of thought they were dorks.

Sometimes people just don't connect. And part of me wonders, Ryan, did Mark Pope pick a group of guys he just doesn't connect with?

[Ryan Lemond]

I think you can make that argument. You know, most staffs do have, you know, a bad cop, good cop. You know, Cal used to yell at him, and then Kenny Payne used to pat him on the back and pick him back up. I don't know if this staff has that guy that can get in their face and try to motivate them that way.

[Matt Jones]

Last year those dudes were older, they were kind of dorky themselves and maybe it worked. I don't know. This group, it just doesn't seem like when po itcher, they just don't seem to connect. Clayton and Croom was founded on a simple idea. All leather goods should last a lifetime. They make everything from bags, belts, wallets and more. The best part? They're doing it right here in Kentucky. Check them out clayton and croom.com@c r u m e.com or visit their flagship store in Louisville on Shelby Street, 216 South Shelby street in Nulu. Quality leather goods built to last. Perfect for Christmas. Clayton and croom.com I'm looking forward to you all actually watching this movie. Will you actually say it though? If you like it, Ryan, and don't act like you.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, yeah, I will. Definitely.

[Matt Jones]

We'll be right back. KSR hello.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

Hello. I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast smart talks with IBM. I recently sat down with IBM's chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, and I asked him, how can companies use AI to its fullest potential to create smarter business? My one advice to them, pick areas you can scale. Don't pick the shiny little toys on the side. For example, if anybody has more than 10% of what they had for customer service 10 years ago, they're already five years behind it. If anybody is not using AI to make their developers who write software 30% more productive today with the goal of being 70% more productive.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Wow.

[Malcolm Gladwell]

So we are not asking our clients to be the first experiment on it. We say you can leverage what we did. We are happy to bring out all our learnings, including what needs to change in the process. Because the biggest change is not technology. It's getting people to accept that there's a different way to do things. To listen to the full conversation, visit IBM.com smarttalks.

[Matt Jones]

Foreign.

[Rob Gronkowski]

This is Rob Gronkowski from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and jules. For the second season in a row, I partnered with T Mobile's Friday night 5G lights powering up hometown football across America. This year, T mobile invested over $4 million in prizes to help schools take their Friday nights to the next level. The votes are in. And now it's time to crown our $1 million grand prize winner. Congratulations to Derrick's high school and Derrick's Arkansas, home of the Outlaws and your 2025 T mobile Friday night 5G lights champion. The Outlaws and their community rallied to help them score a game changing home field upgrade, a Gronk Fitness weight room makeover, an epic 2026 tailgate party and a VIP trip to to the SEC championship game. To every school that competed, posted and rallied your communities. Thank you and to T Mobile for making it all possible. This season may be over, but the story isn't. Stay tuned for season three in 2026. Congratulations again to Derek's high school Outlaws.

[Odoo Advertiser]

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[Matt Jones]

Game Oo and Doug here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Caller]

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

[Matt Jones]

Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Very underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Excludes Massachusetts.

If you're a bourbon lover and a Godfather fan, grab a bottle of Club Blue Bourbon. Their White label and Blue label won gold medals at the Ascot Awards and their signature recipe, Club Blue Bourbon is available at retail shops across the state. I'm dancing around my room right now online at bespokenspirits.com bespokenspirits.Com the makers of Club Blue Bourbon. They also do private labels, barrel picks and more@bespoken spirits.com Bespoken spirits.com this is why I love you, Shannon. You and I, we didn't even talk about this. You know, I was reading that ad you Thought it was good. Keep the music playing.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's right.

[Odoo Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Godfather, what is. The moment you started, I thought, I hope he keeps his plan. And I didn't even have to tell you, just knew.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's right. Well, that's what happens when you've been working together for the fact that you knew that.

[Matt Jones]

That's like, only. You're the only person that would have known to keep doing that.

[Ryan Lemond]

That.

[Shannon Dawson]

I just thought, you better keep me around then.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so. All right. So people are noting these pop culture references. Do you, Shannon. Excuse me, Ryan. Have you ever heard he sleeps with the fishes? Right? Luca Bras with the fishes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Godfather.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. You know that one?

[Ryan Lemond]

I've heard that also.

[Matt Jones]

Godfather.

[Ryan Lemond]

Godfather.

[Matt Jones]

You ever heard, like, a group of siblings? The one that's the stupidest, they'll call him Fredo.

[Ryan Lemond]

No, no.

[Matt Jones]

I think Trump calls one of the Cuomo Duke kids Fredo.

No, I do. I think he does.

[Shannon Dawson]

Well, get your other references. And I understand your references, too, without seeing the movie. Sleeps with the fishes. Yeah, he's dead. He's floating in the water.

[Matt Jones]

Think of any others, Drew, Keep your.

[Drew Franklin]

Friends close and your enemies closer.

[Matt Jones]

Godfather, too.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's. Yeah.

[Shannon Dawson]

Like, everything that we know came from the Godfather.

[Matt Jones]

Pretty much everything. Nothing didn't come from the God, your.

[Shannon Dawson]

Brother'S keeper, that came from the Godfather.

[Matt Jones]

Well, that was more the Bible.

[Shannon Dawson]

That's the Godfather.

[Matt Jones]

Who's next?

[Shannon Dawson]

Adam.

[Matt Jones]

Adam. Go ahead, Adam.

[Caller]

Matt, The. A man that can never spend time with his family can never be called a true.

[Matt Jones]

That's exactly right. Can never be a true man. That's exactly right. Also the. Go. Godfather.

[Caller]

Yeah, Going to, you know, just. Mark Pope reference and Godfather. He might need to be hitting the mattresses already.

We gotta figure something out.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, let me. I mean, do you. Do you all have confidence? Well, first of all, I ask you on the phone, do you have confidence Pope can turn it around?

[Caller]

Yes, because we've seen them do it. But good Grace, I mean, that Gonzaga game, that's the worst. I mean, you gotta go back to Billy Clyde to see a performance like.

[Matt Jones]

That that just really.

Ripped out. We were bad during the COVID year, but I don't know if we quit. Maybe we did. I can't remember. I appreciate the call, Drew. Do you think he can turn it around?

[Drew Franklin]

No, not. Not this year, at least. They just. They seem to really not like each other. And even if he found the basketball answers like he did in some of those big wins, Last year where he made in game adjustments. Even if he started putting the piece together from a basketball standpoint, I don't know how you get this group on the same page, especially if this just keeps spiraling. I mean, if they lose to Indiana on Saturday, well, there's. God, it will get nasty around here.

[Matt Jones]

Ryan, you. I mean, you've worked with people you didn't like over the years. You just have to get over it, don't you?

[Ryan Lemond]

Usually you find, you know, the common goal, you rally around the common goal, and that's to play good basketball and win games. This team just seems to be, like, broken, and I don't know if it can be. They'll have some games they play really well and they may have a big win, but they just seem to be broken. And when you have a gutless performance like we had on Friday, that's hard to recover from.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, I've worked with people. I didn't like Shannon, but. But you know, when it. I mean, they said Mike and Mike hated each other, right?

[Ryan Lemond]

But they made it work.

[Matt Jones]

But every morning they came on and they made it work. They got. I mean, gotta do better than this. I don't care. I don't care what happened between them. I really don't. Whatever it is, it can't be like this.

[Ryan Lemond]

So what do you do? If you're Mark Pope, what do you do right now?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. I think. I think the best advice I've heard is go back to the basics. Like, just take a step back and whatever is your most basic basketball knowledge, go back to that. And then I also agree with the person that said, forget your notions of who should play. Go out there and play the five guys given the most effort, whoever that is.

[Ryan Lemond]

And he seemed to do that in the second half, and he left those five guys out there.

[Matt Jones]

And I think I would learn from. Even though the second half didn't go great, it went better in the first half, right? Just play the guys who were giving you effort and then go from there. Stop trying to play everybody. They don't like it, then that's the way it goes. Thank you, folks very much for tuning in. We will be back tomorrow. Tough day, but big week ahead. We'll see you later. This has been Kentucky Sports radio. Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line, but first.

There, the last one.

Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes.

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