KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) – Hour 1

Date: December 12, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon Dawson, Jerry Tipton
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

Episode Overview

This episode, recorded during a wintry Kentucky morning at KS Bar & Grill, centers on Kentucky basketball’s state of affairs ahead of the pivotal UK vs. Indiana men’s basketball game. The KSR crew examines whether UK risks "becoming Indiana"—a program once elite, now mostly irrelevant on the national stage. Beyond basketball, the hosts preview the newly released 2025 Kentucky football schedule, discuss local snow-day culture, and dig into issues of recruiting, NIL, and sports media ethics. Humor, nostalgia, and honest concern combine, creating an episode reflective of the show’s unique blend of fandom and accountability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Winter Weather & Local Culture

[03:34–07:28]

• Snow day stories kick off the show, with many Kentucky counties (including Fayette, Louisville, and Morehead) out of school.
• The crew jokes about local weather personalities and their snow forecasts, highlighting playful rivalries between Louisville and Lexington meteorologists.
  • Memorable quote:
    “The weathermen war over snow totals is great because you got Mark Weinberg there in Louisville. You know, he's the sassiest of all of them.”
    — Ryan Lemond, 05:00

Kentucky vs. Indiana: More Than a Rivalry Game

[07:28–14:18]

• Discussion pivots to the upcoming Kentucky vs. Indiana basketball matchup, described as potentially program-defining.
• Drew Franklin and Matt Jones express real worry: A loss to Indiana might cement perceptions that UK is on a downward path similar to Indiana’s long-term decline.
  • Memorable quote:
    "Are we getting to this Carolina phase or are we getting close to the Indiana phase? To lose to Indiana—I think, Ryan, would make those questions that Mark [Story] asked feel a little stronger."
    — Matt Jones, 09:20
• The discussion references journalist Mark Story’s article (Lexington Herald-Leader) questioning if UK is sliding into irrelevance, much as Indiana did two decades ago.
• Team’s recent disappointments (UNC loss, missed recruits) deepen fan anxiety.
  • Drew Franklin, 10:31:
    "We're two years away from people saying Kentucky has one title in 30 years. It's already been a decade since we've been to the Final Four."
• Ryan suggests the COVID era marked a ‘break point’ after which the program—and the world—felt permanently changed.

Recruiting & NIL Frustrations

[14:18–18:06, 32:48–34:22]

• The hosts dissect Kentucky basketball’s inability to close on top recruits, with discussion centering on the stories of Lamar Wilkerson, Donovan Dent, and Caleb Wilson.
• Key Issue: Recruits reportedly offer verbals to UK, only to flip late due to more lucrative NIL deals elsewhere (specifically Indiana).
  • Quote:
    “If Lamar Wilkinson, I don't know what we offered him. Let's say we offered him two and Indiana came and said two and a half. I mean, your question is not does he dare two and a half or zero? It's...are you willing to do 500,000 more dollars?”
    — Matt Jones, 15:21
• Ryan is frustrated, asking, “Why aren’t we sweetening?” — suggesting UK’s collectives are getting outmaneuvered.
• Drew estimates Kentucky missed out on three top commits this way, threatening future recruiting classes.

Panic Over Tournament Prospects

[13:14–14:18]

• The crew discusses UK's increasingly tenuous resume, worried a loss to Indiana could put even an NCAA tournament berth in peril.
  • “At some point you have to have some quality wins.” — Drew Franklin, 13:14

Football Schedule Preview & Hype

[23:39–28:37]

• Kentucky’s 2025 football schedule is released; the hosts analyze the highlights, challenges, and potential moments for the new coach Will Stein.
• Excitement about hosting Alabama early:
  • Quote:
    "That’s going to be an awesome environment… we probably get crushed, but… it will be under the lights. It’ll be national. We might have Herbie and Fowler for that game."
    — Matt Jones, 24:01
• Humor about predicting success—“11 and 1”—with Drew egging it on:
  • "If we beat Louisville, I mean, we’re going to. Right?"
    — Ryan Lemond, 28:54
• Conversation about schedule structure (home vs. away, top-heavy challenges at the start, bowl hopes at the end).

Listener Call-ins, Food, and Travel Bucket Lists

[31:52–33:51, 37:01–40:00]

• Callers ask about UK basketball’s leadership, food recs (“Poly Eyes Pizza” in Princeton, KY), and share support for the hosts.
• Talk of writing a Kentucky restaurant guide book.
• Crew reveals dream travel destinations—Italy, Australia, London, Japan, Hawaii.
  • Quote:
    "I would argue if you've not gone outside of, like, Canada, US, Mexico, Italy is as good a place as you're gonna find for a combination of beach, historic, wine, beautiful."
    — Matt Jones, 37:59

Media Ethics, Anonymous Sources & NIL Transparency

[44:50–51:44]

• Matt Jones addresses comments from Herald-Leader writer Cameron Drummond, who expressed skepticism about KSR’s NIL/JMI reporting due to reliance on anonymous sources and possible “misinformation.”
• Matt and Drew defend their reporting, criticize the lack of proactive journalism from the Herald-Leader, and challenge UK’s ongoing silence.
  • Notable Quote:
    "The idea that one journalist would look at another and say, you got to be careful about anonymous sources. Come on, dude, give me a break."
    — Matt Jones, 47:13
• Drew emphasizes that the KSR investigation started months ago and wasn’t timed to sabotage the program, but rather to seek answers where there were none.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Snow Rivalry & Meteorologists:
  “The weathermen war over snow totals is great.”
  — Ryan Lemond, 05:00
• Nervous About Indiana Game:
  "I'm pretty nervous about this one and have been for a few days."
  — Drew Franklin, 07:53
• UK’s Risk of Becoming Indiana:
  "Are we getting to this Carolina phase or are we Getting close to the Indiana phase?"
  — Matt Jones, 09:20
• Impact of COVID on the Program:
  "I sort of wonder if in the history of America there's going to be...breaking points of society...and then I think Covid is going to be the next one."
  — Ryan Lemond, 10:59
• NIL Losing Out on Top Players:
  “Donovan Dent told him he was coming...Caleb Wilson, Donovan Dent and Lamar Wilkerson told them they were coming. And then they didn't come.”
  — Ryan Lemond, 16:40
• Media Ethics Challenge:
  “It is the blatant hypocrisy for a kid to get on there...and say there's a lot of misinformation out there, then where is your article explaining what the actual deal is? ...You are the newspaper.”
  — Matt Jones, 48:19
• Matt on Anonymous Sources:
  “The Herald literally broke the story that put Kentucky on probation through anonymous sources.”
  — Matt Jones, 47:13
• Basketball’s Fragile Tournament Resume:
  "I'm worried with Saturday...Even if they click and figure it out...I really start worrying about making the tournament.”
  — Drew Franklin, 13:14
• Football Schedule Hype:
  "[Alabama at home] will be awesome...we might have Herbstreit and Fowler for that game."
  — Matt Jones, 24:01

Conclusion

This episode is a snapshot of a fanbase at a crossroads—anxious about basketball tradition, hungry for answers on recruiting and NIL shortcomings, and bracing for a football season with new faces and daunting challenges. The KSR crew balances honesty and humor, loyalty and skepticism, local flavor and national awareness—making this hour a lively, essential listen for anyone invested in Kentucky sports.

Key Segments by Timestamp

• Snow Day Fun & Local Weather Rivalry: [03:34–07:28]
• Kentucky-Indiana: A Pivotal Basketball Game: [07:28–14:18]
• Recruiting & NIL Woes: [14:18–18:06, 32:48–34:22]
• Football Schedule Release & Reactions: [23:39–28:37]
• Listener Calls, Food & Travel Lists: [31:52–40:00]
• Media Critique, NIL, Transparency: [44:50–51:44]