2025-12-19- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 1 – December 19, 2025

Podcast: KSR

Host: Matt Jones, with Drew, Mario, Shannon
Network: iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Episode Date: December 19, 2025
Focus: Kentucky sports, especially UK Volleyball’s NCAA championship push, UK basketball, and local flavor

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Episode Overview

This lively edition of KSR, hosted by Matt Jones and the KSR crew, captures the buzz surrounding the University of Kentucky's sports scene. The show opens on the morning of UK's December graduation in Lexington and dives heavily into the Kentucky volleyball team's thrilling victory that sent them to the NCAA championship. The hosts celebrate the excitement, analyze sports psychology, trace the ripple effects of roster-building, and sprinkle in their signature irreverent takes on Kentucky basketball, volleyball rules, local eateries, and more.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. UK Volleyball’s NCAA Championship Run ([03:04]–[14:26])

Intensity and Atmosphere:

• Last night's volleyball win "might be the most tense sport" Matt’s watched (World Series baseball & volleyball cited as comparable).
• [03:31] Matt describes pacing, bar energy, and watching at home:
  • “I did a rare pacing around my house…”
  • “I don’t know how a person’s supposed to have their heart work after watching that. I can’t imagine, like, being a family member.”

Dramatic Match Breakdown:

• Kentucky rallied after a rough first two sets.
• Packed house at KS Bar; Matt kicked Drew out after the team went down in the second set and Kentucky immediately turned the tide:
  • [06:03] “The moment we kick Drew out, we went from 20-18 to 24-20… magic.”

Player Highlights & Team Analysis:

• Eva Hudson lauded as “best athlete” & Matt’s favorite:
  • [07:59] “The Eva Hudson, she’s awesome. Is she the best? I mean, she’s my favorite athlete—so really, I wouldn’t want to fight her.” —Matt
• The Carr family’s unlikely ripple effect:
  • [08:12] “Are we winning the national championship in part because Andrew Carr came here to play basketball? … Then his sister Lizzie decides to come play volleyball… And then Eva Hudson’s like, well, if Lizzie’s coming, I’m coming too, baby.”
• Team resilience:
  • [10:30] “They are 8 and 1 after losing the first set, which is amazing.” —Matt

Fan Dynamics & Superstition:

• Drew’s “bad luck” at bar watch parties has become lore (forced to leave after a point deficit).
• [11:15] “But the moment it goes badly, Drew’s gotta leave…” —Matt

Rooting Against Kentucky:

• Nebraska fans dominated the Final Four crowd, rooting against UK out of disappointment.

SEC Volleyball Context:

• [10:15] “Kentucky’s the only SEC team to ever win a title… The volleyball’s been PAC 12 and Big Ten… We were the first SEC team to ever win it.” —Matt

2. Volleyball as a Sport: Learning & Lingo ([13:42]–[24:31])

Learning the Game:

• Hosts admit they’re new to deep volleyball, asking about rules, rotations, and “dumps” (not “pews” as they’d coined).
• [19:47] "'Pews' much better. Is it really called a dump?” —Drew & Matt

Rules Confusion & Observations:

• Intrigued by “pancake” plays, reaching over the net, foot fault nuances.
• [15:06] “When they spike it that hard, if it went off the girl's fingers — how could you know that? Before replay I would have just been yelling at the refs nonstop.”

Volleyball in the UK Sports Hierarchy:

• Matt has become a true fan; places volleyball at least fourth, maybe third, among UK sports experiences.

3. Community & Fan Culture ([22:41]–[25:03])

Volleyball’s Popularity Surge:

• Matt credits engagement ("Craig [Skinner] has done a great job of engaging with the fan base") and success.
• [22:46] On why Kentucky fans are so invested: “It's because we're good... And these girls and Craig have done a great job of engaging with the fan base.”

Personal Touches:

• Matt’s mom was up late, texting volleyball emojis, showing how far the excitement has spread.

4. Listener Interaction & Technical Difficulties ([07:20]–[25:51])

Phone System Issues:

• Shannon struggles to log in and access calls; Gus is called for help.
• “So you can’t answer the phone?” —Matt
• [16:29]“Can you see it? – No, it’s not.” —Shannon

Audience Participation:

• Attempted but foiled by tech; some jokes about accidental call routing to other shows.

5. Kentucky Basketball vs. St. John’s Preview ([25:56]–[35:14])

Anticipation vs. Anxiety:

• Hosts deeply excited for Saturday’s Kentucky-St. John’s matchup; concerns about physicality and defense.
• [26:20] “Very excited. 10 out of 10 excited… I do have some concerns. I'm a little worried.” —Drew

Breakdown of St. John’s:

• St. John’s has had a rough time against good teams; point guard and shooting are weak spots.

NCAA Résumé Stakes:

• [35:14] “Kentucky can't keep taking losses in the non conference… You need to win this and that'll help stack wins, building momentum.” —Drew

Team Chemistry:

• “The Journey” behind-the-scenes video highlighted; Jalen Lowe’s heartwarming moment:
  • [36:21] “He goes, I love you all. I really love you all. And it was like, it’s kind of beautiful.” —Matt

Coaching Tidbits:

• Mark Pope’s “almost-cursing” locker room speech adds color to the team’s atmosphere.

6. UK Basketball Uniforms and Game Day Details ([30:41]–[34:07])

Denim Uniform Debate:

• Rumors of Kentucky wearing their iconic denim uniforms; most agree it's better saved for Rupp Arena, not neutral-site Atlanta (“not the moment”).

Broadcasting Notes:

• Trio of Bill Raftery, Bruce Pearl, and Brad Nessler are calling the game (Pearl is a noted Kentucky fan).

7. Personal Anecdotes & Local Flavor ([46:09]–[49:36])

Matt’s Food Adventure (“Tuk Tuk” Saga):

• Matt tries to eat at a trendy Lexington spot but finds you need to order a week in advance/the place has closed — a humorous foray into restaurant logistics.
• [47:30] “I feel like this restaurant, you know why I'm here?... She goes, can I help you?... No, you have to have your orders in a week in advance.”

8. Sports Calendar Extravaganza ([44:03]–[45:51])

Upcoming Sports Feast:

• Saturday promises “maybe the best, just sit and watch sports all day, game day, Drew, of, like, all time.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:31] Matt Jones on watching volleyball:
  “I don’t know how a person’s supposed to have their heart work after watching that. I can’t imagine, like, being a family member.”
• [06:03] Matt on superstitious fan behavior:
  “The moment we kick Drew out, we went from 20-18 to 24-20… magic.”
• [07:59] Matt gushes on Eva Hudson:
  “She’s my favorite athlete — so really, I wouldn’t want to fight her.”
• [10:30] Matt's stat of resilience:
  “They are 8 and 1 after losing the first set, which is amazing. Pretty amazing statistic.”
• [15:06] Matt on pre-replay volleyball:
  “Before replay I would have just been yelling at the refs nonstop... I can't imagine that sport pre-replay.”
• [19:47] Vocabulary confusion:
  “Pews. Much better. Is it really called a dump?” — Drew, “We were taking a lot of dumps last night and scoring points.” — Matt
• [22:46] Matt on volleyball’s popularity:
  "It's because we're good... And these girls and Craig have done a great job of engaging with the fan base."
• [36:21] Jalen Lowe’s team spirit:
  “He goes, I love you all. I really love you all. And it was like, it’s kind of beautiful.” — Matt
• [43:04] Matt highlighting Mark Pope’s passion:
  “He wanted to cut—He did… And then it's like, oh, yeah, I have a camera on.”
• [47:30] Matt’s food saga at Tuk Tuk:
  “Can I eat? And she was like, are you picking up an order? And I said, no. And she goes, this is—we only do pickup... No, you have to have your orders in a week in advance.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:04] – Volleyball win postgame reactions and recap
• [06:00] – The moment Drew is “kicked out” to boost luck
• [07:59] – Eva Hudson and team transfer chain discussion
• [10:15] – SEC volleyball history/context
• [13:42] – Technical calls, learning volleyball lingo (“pancake,” “dump”)
• [19:21] – Learning rotations, subbing, and appreciating the volleyball experience
• [22:41] – Volleyball’s rise in UK fan culture
• [25:56] – Kentucky vs. St. John’s basketball preview
• [30:41] – Uniform rumors and broadcast team
• [36:21] – Jalen Lowe’s “I love you all” moment
• [43:31] – Mark Pope’s fiery locker room address (almost curses)
• [44:03] – Huge Saturday sports schedule
• [46:09] – Matt’s Tuk Tuk restaurant experience

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Style & Tone

True to KSR, the episode is fast-paced, informal, and a mix of insightful analysis, humor, local culture, and jovial banter. The crew’s rapport and inside jokes (especially around sports superstitions and Drew’s perceived bad luck) create a lively, engaging environment for listeners.

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Conclusion

This hour of KSR captures the electric state of Kentucky sports fandom—with UK volleyball on the precipice of another national title, basketball facing a pivotal test, and a fanbase galvanized by both success and the community culture. The hosts’ blend of real insight, grassroots passion, self-deprecation, and local flavor make this a can’t-miss segment for fans—especially those who want more than just box scores.

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For the full scoop and laughs, tune in to the full episode!

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Commercial Announcer]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Promo Announcer]

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[Commercial Announcer]

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[Matt Jones]

From hit podcasts to late night TV, Comedy of Broadway in Lexington welcomes Joe List December 4th through the 6th. Then from her podcast disgraceful catch, Grace O', Malley, December 11th through the 13th and December 18th through the 20th from the FX comedy series English Teacher. Don't Miss Sean Patton. For tickets to all comedy off Broadway shows, call 859271, joke or visit comedyoffbroadway.com comedyoff broadway.

[Shannon]

This is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome everyone, Kentucky Sports Radio Friday, December 19th. I am Matt Jones here on a graduation day in Lexington, Kentucky, where University of Kentucky students who graduate in December are graduating. The first sessions going on right now. They are piled down downtown. And we are at the studio. Give us the Clark's Pump and shop phone line. 859-280-2287. Aviation Auto Glass text machine is 772-774-5254. In this edition, sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. You call TJ he'll make them pay. It is Don Franklin, Hyundai Somerset Virtual Takeover.

[Mario]

Yes. Right.

[Matt Jones]

You're not in Somerset because we thought we'd be on the road, but we are here, and that means on the fourth quarter, and you need options. 29 stores and over 6,000 vehicles across the Bluegrass. It's Don Franklin Auto. They're ready when you are, guys. Big weekend coming up. Kentucky plays St. John's on Saturday, but more importantly, we're headed to the NCAA championship game thanks to that volleyball win last night.

[Mario]

Nice.

[Matt Jones]

What a victory. So really, like, volleyball might be the most tense sport. World Series baseball and volleyball. I. I did a rare pacing around my house. You paced a paced. I had to have a meeting at 10:30 via phone. So I went to the bar and watched the first two sets into the third set, then I went home, had the meeting virtually, and then watched the end of the fourth and the start of the fifth or all the fifth. That's just. I don't know how a person's supposed to have their heart work after watching that. I can't imagine, like, being a family member. It's so tense, and everybody's spiking and they're digging and they're setting, and I am an expert by the end, and I'm like, set better, you know? And then Eva Hudson gets the great play at the end. Delay car, Drew. It was so exciting to get the win. And now they play Texas A and M for a title.

[Drew]

And it felt like there were some rallies in there that lasted like, five minutes. I mean, it was just back and forth, back and forth. Both sides were making unbelievable plays. And, you know, maybe it's common to just get your digs and get your hand down there and get off the floor. It amazes me how they're able to do that.

[Matt Jones]

That's the most impressive thing to me. The two things that just fascinate me about volleyball, A, every team has, like, not every team, but some teams have, like, one or two girls who can just hit the beep out of it. Like, they come in there and they're like, oh, my goodness, like a cannon. And the taller they are, it's like, whoa. And then the second thing is, how do they dig those? How do they even See it, you know, like, I mean, I am amazed by. By watching that. It's. It's actually so impressive.

[Mario]

They were two really, really good teams last night. And for the first couple games, Wisconsin had the best player on the floor. That Carter Booth, she was killing.

[Matt Jones]

I tried to get her suspended.

[Mario]

You did, because you would call your.

[Matt Jones]

The ncaa.

[Rob Gronkowski]

All right.

[Matt Jones]

And I said, ncaa. She should not be allowed to keep going because she was too good those first two sets. Well, first of all, we were terrible. The first.

[Mario]

First set, we were awful.

[Matt Jones]

You know, we had this huge packed house at the bar. All these people, and we can't do anything. Right at the beginning, right.

[Mario]

That walked first.

[Matt Jones]

They did. They look. They look nervous. But then started the second set played better. Wisconsin got up 20 to 18 in the second set. And I told Drew, you have to leave. We kicked him out.

[Drew]

We got to get out.

[Mario]

And it worked.

[Drew]

Six.

[Mario]

How about that?

[Matt Jones]

The moment we kick Drew out, we went from 20, 18 to 24. 20 magic easy. Ever win the second set and then go from there. So kicking Drew out made the.

[Mario]

Maybe it worked.

[Matt Jones]

Packed house at KS Bar.

[Mario]

Nice.

[Matt Jones]

Saw some harmonica guy. Played his song.

[Mario]

Saw your video clip.

[Matt Jones]

Now, a couple of things. I can't say a lot because I had to go for this meeting, so maybe everybody had meetings, but we did have some people, I think, give up halfway through the third. Who? Well, some people left halfway through the third. Well, was it when we lost the third? Maybe it was when we lost the third. I think people were like, oh, no. But then probably two thirds of the people stayed.

[Mario]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And for the ones that stayed, Mario shows it online like, it was excellent. And it was. And it's. It's cool to get that victory. And now you play a Texas A and M team that you've already beaten this year to win the whole thing.

[Drew]

And I'm feeling good because, as I said, they looked kind of tense in that match pretty early last night. But then something clicked there at the end. And when he got to the fifth set and they showed our huddle and Kentucky's team was, like, laughing and goofing off, you could tell there was, like a weight off their shoulders. And I feel like they got their nervous. The nerves out of the way, and they'll be ready to go on Sunday. I'm feeling good about it.

[Matt Jones]

I feel like we're definitely going to win.

[Drew]

They already had their scare, and they survived it. Now they will finish.

[Matt Jones]

First of all, Eva Hudson, best athlete. Shannon's Shannon, are you going to answer the phone? These.

[Shannon]

Okay. Here's the deal. I can't get logged in to see.

[Matt Jones]

The calls, so you can't see when it's right.

[Shannon]

So you're seeing callers that I can't even get that screen to open on my computer right now. So Gus is in here trying to help us get.

[Matt Jones]

So you can't answer the phone?

[Shannon]

I can't answer anything.

[Matt Jones]

All right, well, I see you folks trying to call.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Hopefully it'll work in a minute. Yeah. But what happened? What's different about today than other.

[Shannon]

I log in, and normally you just open it up and it's there. Today it's going, we need a password. And I'm going, I don't have a password.

[Matt Jones]

You all still don't know any past life.

[Shannon]

Gus does. I don't.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I just saw him. Is he not giving it to you?

[Shannon]

He's working on it.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. Well, anyway, the Eva Hudson, she's awesome. Is she the best? I mean, she's my favorite athlete, so really, I wouldn't want to fight her.

[Mario]

She came to UK because she was teammates with Lindsey Carr, Purdue.

[Matt Jones]

So. So let's go back. Andrew Carr comes here to play basketball.

[Mario]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Are we winning the national championship? In part, because Andrew Carr came here to play basketball. We all have a great day because he comes here to play basketball, and then his sister Lizzie.

[Mario]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Decides to come play volleyball. I don't know. I'm sure it had something to do with. It may not have been solely to do it. And then Eva Hudson's like, well, if Lizzie's coming, I'm coming too, baby. Coming to.

[Mario]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

And they're like two of our three best players.

[Mario]

We owe Andrew Carr a lot of gratitude for set sending those two girls our way because they were awesome.

[Matt Jones]

We could use him on the basketball team, too. He can make a shot.

[Drew]

You know, if we don't have Mark Pope, we don't have Andrew Carr and we don't have Mark Pope without losing to Oakland. So in some ways, losing to Oakland is going to lead to our volleyball.

[Matt Jones]

National team that made all the three. Jack Golke is this goalkeeper.

[Drew]

It is six degrees of UK volleyball.

[Matt Jones]

There's of Jack Go.

[Drew]

Hudson is so, like, she's incredible. And she's the only senior on this team. If they can finish the job with her and retain everybody, they're going to.

[Matt Jones]

She probably has another right.

[Drew]

Yeah, that's.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I mean, Covid, like, that went on for a while. May have. I think it's still happening. So I think she went to Juco. You have the PAVIA rule, measles. There's like things going on. Right. It's another year.

[Mario]

One of my friends was out there said the stadium was filled with people rooting against Kentucky because there were a lot of Nebraska fans there. They bought Final four tickets thinking they were going to be there.

[Matt Jones]

Well, why would they root against us? What beef do we have with Nebraska? Is this a Dane key beef?

[Mario]

I mean, I don't know what it is, but he said they were like all rooting against Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, Nebraska fans all came assuming it'd be Nebraska, but oh, no, my friend. No, no, no, no. That is. That's not what's happening.

[Mario]

We're going to all SEC final now.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So by the way, Kentucky's the only SEC team to ever win a title and now one of them will get. The SEC's really not been this. The volleyball's been PAC 12 back when that existed and Big Ten that. That have been the SEC. We were the first SEC team to ever win it.

[Mario]

Wow.

[Matt Jones]

So you know the SEC continuing it's now domination of every sport.

[Mario]

Well, it was exciting to watch it last night. There's this group of girls, they keep falling behind these big matches, but you can't give up on them because, man, they've got some heart coming back. Battle back.

[Matt Jones]

They are 8 and 1 after losing the first set, which is amazing. Pretty amazing statistic. Yeah.

[Drew]

How do you think about on Sunday I go pregame and leave after the first?

[Matt Jones]

Well, we got to talk about one point because the match is at 3:30. First of all, if you're not there Sunday to watch at the bar, then I don't know what's wrong with you because that was late at night last night and people were still rolling and like we didn't even get. Normally they're like kids. They have school. So like it was mostly. Oh, it was mostly like college kids and older folks. But this Sunday it'll be a heck of an atmosphere. Now you. I have to fly to New Orleans during the game. I'm going to have to try to get on the WI Fi and follow my flight is during the game. So you two are going to have to hold it down.

[Mario]

I'll definitely be.

[Matt Jones]

You're going to hold it down.

[Mario]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

But the moment it goes badly, Drew's got to leave. We got to send him home. I think you have to start the match because you have to be a little bit. But you have to start watching some of it because there'll be a moment. The crowd collectively will send you out.

[Drew]

Oh, Twitter. Last Night blew up when we lost the first set, people.

[Matt Jones]

It was like, 1918. And I said, if Wisconsin scores this point, get out of here. And they scored it. And he followed the orders.

[Mario]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

He walked out six straight points for Kentucky.

[Mario]

Amazing.

[Matt Jones]

It's amazing. You have to be in there until there's a moment that you have to leave.

[Drew]

If they go up one, oh, I'm out for sure.

[Matt Jones]

But even, like, you know, maybe even before. I'll let. I'll let the crowd. No, I mean, one point, Ryan. One little point to lead.

[Drew]

We can't play games. I mean, if we lose one point, I got to go. This is the national championship.

[Matt Jones]

You can do it. After one point, you got to realize.

[Drew]

People will actually get mad at me. There are some people that think this is. That's why I'm not messing around Sunday. I'm out early.

[Matt Jones]

Partially your fault.

[Drew]

My basketball record in there is even worse.

[Matt Jones]

Couple observations. Having watched both the games, three of the four coaches. Males who are bald in the final four.

[Mario]

Can we say something about the Wisconsin head coach?

[Matt Jones]

Every time he says, can I whisper it to Mario?

[Drew]

There's a male. He's talking about.

[Matt Jones]

Whisper to Mario. And Mario can decide whether or not we can say it. Okay. All right. This is on you. All right, it's on you.

[Mario]

He looked like a James Bond villain.

[Matt Jones]

Like, oh, of all the things you could have said that would be the least worrisome to me. I would have thought it would have been much worse. Okay.

[Mario]

Little scary. He kind of scared me.

[Matt Jones]

All right. I didn't. I didn't get that vibe from watching him. I. I got the vibe that. The woman in the first two sets, I didn't want her on the team.

[Mario]

Carter Booth.

[Matt Jones]

Carter Booth.

[Mario]

She was awesome.

[Matt Jones]

Sounds like a basketball player from Maryland. And I was like, I don't. I want Carter Booth gone.

[Drew]

That's what I was worried. They had all the attitude and the.

[Matt Jones]

Energy that we were kind of lucky to win the second set. I still don't think we were playing that great. I don't really think we started playing well until the fourth. Fourth set, and then, you know, but we. We squeezed out that second one. And then I did think in the fourth and fifth, we were kind of rolling after that.

[Drew]

Yeah, we had our scare. We survived it. Let's just go sweep A and M on Sunday and get this second title.

[Mario]

What was the score when we played A and M? This.

[Matt Jones]

I don't remember. I don't know.

[Mario]

I learned something new last night. I heard him talk about. I didn't know what a pancake was in volleyball.

[Matt Jones]

So that's when you get your hand in between the floor and the ball, Right? Right.

[Mario]

Yeah. I'd never heard that before.

[Matt Jones]

I think I said this. I say something. I didn't realize you could reach over the net long.

[Mario]

You don't touch it, right?

[Matt Jones]

I don't think, I don't think I like that rule.

[Drew]

You want everybody stay in their space.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean I, it feels like to me that if you can reach over the net, that's way an incentive to have like an 8 foot tall person on the team and just dunk it down. Yeah, I just didn't know. I assumed you had to be straight above the net. I did not realize you could reach over the net. I also thought the one girl, she hurt our girl on purpose. She. Her, her foot went on our side.

[Mario]

I did see that.

[Matt Jones]

I thought that should have been two shots in the ball.

[Mario]

They didn't count it because they said it has to be her whole foot.

[Matt Jones]

What does that mean? It has to be your whole foot to be your whole foot. You can land on a toe and if the point is to keep you from turning your ankle, why does it matter if it's your whole foot?

[Mario]

You step on an out of bounds line in basketball, you barely feel like.

[Matt Jones]

There'S a lot of encroaching in other people's property. In this you can reach over the net, you can kick your heels, but oh, but God forbid you touch the net.

[Drew]

I'm with you. You can't. You shouldn't be crossing that line.

[Matt Jones]

There should be an invisible say this pre replay, they had to have gotten every call wrong.

[Mario]

Yeah, they did.

[Matt Jones]

You know when they spike it that hard, if it went off the girl's fingers. How could you know that? Before replay I would have just been yelling at the refs nonstop. There's no way they can know. Like when I'm watching in real time, if it goes long, I never have any idea who won the point until I see where the guy. You know what I mean? Because I don't know if it hit their fingers or not. When it hits the ground you can tell. But when it goes off their fingers or doesn't long. How do people know whether or not.

[Drew]

You would have been kicked out of every match? Arguing calls?

[Matt Jones]

I can't imagine that sport pre replay. Because you had to. People had to have like gotten it wrong all the time, right?

[Rob Gronkowski]

Oh yeah.

[Drew]

And is there my favorite thing they were doing last night? Is there a name for the move where you act like you're going to spike it but then you just give it the old little dupe.

[Matt Jones]

I like the dude.

[Drew]

We were calling it the sneak attack. I don't know what it is, but it worked.

[Matt Jones]

It worked three or four times.

[Drew]

Yeah, I think it might have been. I can't remember who did. Maybe it's o'. Brien. She did a.

[Matt Jones]

No, look, I love it.

[Drew]

Like, I'm over here.

[Mario]

Nope.

[Matt Jones]

I felt like there was more of that in that match than in the others I've watched. There was a lot more pews. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's a. I think it's a side and I think that's. We had some good. We had what? A key one in the fifth set. I was surprised. She tried to pew right there and. And then she did. 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-77-45254. Is your phone working now, Channing? Can you see it?

[Shannon]

No, it's not.

[Matt Jones]

All right, well, Tristan is on the phone. Who answered that?

[Shannon]

I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

Well, maybe Kevin is calling. Well, well, we'll see. We might have calls. Someone. Someone is answering this phone who is.

[Shannon]

Maybe Liam in the other studio over there. We'll see if we can troubleshoot your help.

[Matt Jones]

We'll take a break and be right back. Ksr.

[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 in Derrick's Arkansas, home of the outlaws and your 20 25T 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 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. But for season three in 2026, congratulations again to Derek's High School Outlaws.

[Commercial Announcer]

Ten athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract for $250,000.

[Matt Jones]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Commercial Announcer]

Someone will be eliminated. Pressure is coming down.

[Matt Jones]

Trainer games on Prime Video January 8th. Watch the trailer on trainergames.com Season 2.

[Promo Announcer]

Of Unrivaled Basketball is here and the talent is unreal. Paige Beckers, Nafiza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more are back to redefine the game. Unrivaled basketball season two, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, tips off January 5th on TNT, TruTV and HBO. Max.

[Commercial Announcer]

A new year is on the Horizon and your 2026 savings start here. Right now. You can access the Washington post for just $2 every four weeks. Head into the new year with six months of savings at this special intro rate. After that, it'll cost $12 every four weeks. Cancel anytime. You'll get unlimited access to trusted journalism that helps you understand the year ahead and the world around you. Now's the perfect time to subscribe because great habits and great savings start together. Go to washington post.com iheart that's washington post.com iheart and start your year informed with the Post.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back, techie sports radio. It is Don Franklin, Hyundai Somerset takeover day. Back roads to job sites. The Franklin truck league is built for mud, muscle and miles, just like me. More capability, more grit. Where legends are built at Don Franklin Auto. So apparently they're not called pews.

[Mario]

Pew.

[Matt Jones]

They're called dumps. So we were taking a lot of dumps last night and scoring points.

[Drew]

Pews. Much better.

[Matt Jones]

We're calling. Is it really called a dump?

[Drew]

According to a couple messages we received from ball knowers.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, come on. That's a horrible name. Katie had seven dumps.

[Mario]

Katie George listening right now. Probably want to use your line on the broadcast Sunday.

[Matt Jones]

You pew. I was gonna have. I was gonna. Because, you know, she also knows Will Stein. So I was gonna see if we could get her on today, but I don't have her number, so I don't know how to get.

[Mario]

She's listening. She'll call in.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe Katie Free. Feel free to call in, fellow Louisvillian. She's expert on all sports person of the year in Louisville with me one year.

[Mario]

Oh, was she?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, it was me, her and American Pharaoh. We talked.

[Drew]

Do you all not have a group chat?

[Shannon]

If you all that went in tacos to the horse.

[Mario]

It was.

[Matt Jones]

It was the three of us, one year. What a group. What a group. Yeah, I went to the party. The other two didn't come. I was like, I want to be the American Pharaoh.

[Mario]

Didn't make it to the party.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think anybody took it there. 859-280-2287 people writing in. Some folks watched one of their first volleyball games last night. One person writes. Matt, I remember your caller saying this. I still don't understand the rotations. Can any of your listeners explain? I don't either. I don't understand when people go in and out. When I was in school you had to rotate out and you had to wait your turn and then you rotated back in. Now it seems like it's just willy nilly. And my argument would be it feels like they sub a lot. If you can just do whatever. Why don't you pick your. Leave your best girls in. I guess so they don't get tired. But I don't know. I don't understand the subbing at all. I don't understand the serving. I don't understand who get when it's whose turn to serve. Like if it's your turn to serve, why don't they just take that person out if they're. That one girl tripped over the floor for Wisconsin.

[Mario]

Did.

[Matt Jones]

What happened there?

[Drew]

I don't know. She tripped over an invisible road.

[Matt Jones]

The floor just jumped up and got her. I didn't understand but I don't. So I don't understand that really.

[Drew]

I'm not that far into my. My knowledge. I just now learned about dumps. I'm trying everyone. I've enjoyed, really enjoyed it, but I just don't know the sport well.

[Matt Jones]

So when they won the national championship last time, I watched like the last three matches but we were at the bar and I was kind of just having fun. I didn't pay deep, deep attention to it. I have watched more volleyball this year than my entire life combined. I really enjoy it. I think it's a really good sport. It has now moved for me on my Kentucky sports experience to at least fourth and it's challenging for third. I mean it's, it's women's basketball and it are competing now. Although I do like our women's basketball team a lot. But I love how fast paced it is. Yeah, I love how happy everyone is. I love that they seem like they're fun young women on there and they're really, really good and they're good. And there's a. You can feel the athleticism because these girls jump so high in the air. So yeah, I love it. I am a fan. I'd like. I wish I could go to Kansas City. Honestly. I think it would be fun to be there.

[Mario]

Do you think our fan base. 1. Maybe one little reason. They're getting so excited about it because of the apathy from football and basketball.

[Matt Jones]

It's because we're good. I mean, at the end of the day, we want to be good.

[Mario]

Right?

[Matt Jones]

Right. So, like, everybody got on the College World Series run. We want to be good. We're. We're Kentucky. We is the best. Like, we want to be good. And I think the fact that we're good and then these girls and Craig have done a great job of engaging with the fan base. Everything we've complained about UK athletics with marketing, they're doing it right. You know what I mean? Like, they're doing it right, and it's good lessons for these other sports and what they're doing.

[Drew]

Yeah. It's been so fun to. To watch the excitement. Heck, be a part of the excitement. I've been becoming more and more. More of a fan with each match. Went to more this year than I've ever been to before. And, you know, Craig's such a great guy, too. And it's been here so for so long. It's just so easy to root for this team.

[Matt Jones]

Apparently, Eva's already signed a pro contract, so she can't come back.

[Drew]

She just got to get her a ring.

[Matt Jones]

We do. We do need to get a ring.

[Drew]

I don't know how they hit it so hard. When I was in, like, we'd play at church.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Drew]

You know, I'd get a little bruise right there, and I need to take breaks.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. When I played Transylvania B league volleyball, you were not allowed to, like, oh, like, do this. Yeah. We can't show it, but you're not allowed to, like, take the two of your hands and, like, boo. But it seems like they do that there.

[Shannon]

Blocking over the net. Over the top of the.

[Matt Jones]

No, not the blocking, but, like, imagine instead of spiking on the third one, they just go. And like, there was a moment last.

[Drew]

Night, I think, that someone from Wisconsin held the ball and did, like, a finger roll.

[Matt Jones]

I was like, I don't think you could do that. You weren't allowed to do that. They used to. Russ Rigby told me I couldn't do that in Transylvania intramural.

[Drew]

Who knows where your career would have gone.

[Matt Jones]

I could have been a contender.

[Drew]

I'm with you, though.

[Matt Jones]

There.

[Drew]

It seems like they held on. I don't know how you describe it, but they held onto the ball.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know what that. I don't know what that's called. 8, 5, 9, moing. My mom. This is how you know a sporting event is hit. My mom stayed up.

[Mario]

Wow.

[Matt Jones]

Remember, my parents eat dinner at 4:30, so a 9 o' clock start is late for them. Larry was in bed, but my mom was sending me volleyball emojis into the night.

[Mario]

Nice.

[Matt Jones]

Let me show you our text. This is her last night. You need to see all. Look at these. Look at the emojis. Volleyball celebratory party thing.

[Rob Gronkowski]

Volleyball.

[Matt Jones]

Volleyball celebratory party. She stayed till the last minute.

[Mario]

Well, it's exciting, it's fun. And you. They start making this comeback. You couldn't quit watching. You had to watch it throughout.

[Matt Jones]

Let's go to Tristan. Go ahead, Tristan. Whenever you're ready, Tristan. All right. I don't think that time has come. Kevin. Go ahead, Kevin. You can hang up on Tristan now. So that we have. There we go. Kevin. Go ahead, Kevin. Hello? Yes. All right.

[Shannon]

This isn't going to work. It doesn't sound like.

[Matt Jones]

So they can't hear me.

[Shannon]

Doesn't seem like it.

[Matt Jones]

Well, the one good thing is that we're still having the technological issues.

[Shannon]

Yeah, we're consistent.

[Matt Jones]

We're consistently. Folks will try to get it to work and hang on.

[Mario]

That day, the calls went to the Leland Conway show. During our show, we got their call. Lines got messed up.

[Matt Jones]

People were like, matt, Barack Obama works for Ira. I was like, what? All right, Kentucky, St. John's that. That happens on Saturday, 12:30. Excited about the game. You and I were talking about this last night. You think we're going to win?

[Drew]

Let me answer the part about being excited first.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Drew]

Very excited. 10 out of 10 excited. I was downstairs before the show getting coffee and talking about it. People in line. I'm fired up. I do have some concerns. I'm a little worried. I'll admit.

[Matt Jones]

They're worried. By the way, I was on a podcast with them. They're worried. They don't think. They don't.

[Drew]

Their defense has been awesome, like the last three or four games.

[Matt Jones]

They can't shoot and don't have point.

[Drew]

Guard and they've shot a little better the last couple games. They've kind of hit another level here recently. I worry about us getting in the half court in a physical game with them, even though they play with some pace. I just worry about their defense and their toughness. And I worry that Mark Pope has some kind of complex with patino where there's an intimidation factor there too.

[Matt Jones]

But what if Jaden Quaint comes out? First of all, is he playing yes.

[Drew]

Or no without having any Actual knowledge. I think he's playing.

[Mario]

I think he's getting a couple minutes. Yep.

[Matt Jones]

I've heard that UK kind of want him to start against Bellarmine and Jaden Quaint has been like, I want to play in this game. And that maybe that's one nice.

[Drew]

Put him out there.

[Matt Jones]

So let's get him out there.

[Mario]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

I feel, I don't know what I feel, but I think we can win. I don't think this is like, not a possibility. We'll take a break. Be right back.

[Promo Announcer]

TJ Smith, personal injury attorney. Call tj.

[Commercial Announcer]

He'll make him pay.

[Shannon]

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

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back. All right, folks, on the phone, we're going to have to reset the computer at the end of the hour so you can hang up and call back to start second hour. I'd love to get you on, but apparently that's what's happening. So I have to reset the computer. If we turn it, if we reset it right now, then we lose the podcast. So we're going to have to do it at the end of the hour. So those of you calling, I'm sorry, I'll have to get to you after that. You can buy with backup every qualifying part backed by a five year warranty at Don Franklin, quality installed, peace of mind included. Mile after mile, I just got my thing, Ryan. 2:30 on Monday is my meeting with the Western Kentucky head coaches. Along with the TV broadcast, I get to meet my guy, Ian Fitzsimmons. What up, coach? I'm looking forward to it. And then I meet Southern Miss that night.

[Mario]

Do you have like some questions lined up? Get some info ready to go?

[Matt Jones]

Ask him. What's there to ask him? The only thing I have to say, Shannon, I found out that the Southern Miss Punters. 30. Oh, and a freshman.

[Shannon]

Wow, that's incredible. He's got a lot of experience.

[Matt Jones]

30 years old and a freshman.

[Shannon]

How does that even go?

[Matt Jones]

In a long way with that factoid.

[Mario]

Yeah, that gets you through at least the first quarter.

[Shannon]

What if there's no punts, though? That would be your luck. You're just talking about a punter who's not even on the field.

[Matt Jones]

I'm like, I'm telling you, I got a big fact coming.

[Drew]

It's 1st and 10 and you just started talking about the punter.

[Shannon]

4, 4th and 20, we're going for it.

[Matt Jones]

What are you doing? I have a fact. He's the oldest player in college football and he's a freshman. It's Got four more years. Three more years.

[Drew]

Don't give away all your info now.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I'm just giving some for the bride sneak peek.

[Drew]

Okay.

[Mario]

Of punters.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. He's Australian, 30 years old.

[Drew]

Max should be your first caller onto the.

[Matt Jones]

One person says, Matt, you can substitute in one person appear a game, but the libero can come in and out whenever. There you go.

[Mario]

Yeah, because I don't understand either. Like, Kentucky subs in that Brazilist girl to serve. Like, she just bring her in for a serve. So she's kind of like, we got help.

[Matt Jones]

They. They serve. They would serve it out quite a bit, which I was thankful for.

[Drew]

Yeah, they made some. Some costly mistakes and Kentucky took advantage. Like, looking at the stats, you would just think Wisconsin one.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they would say things like, Kentucky was 0.409 in the fifth set. And I was like, wow. Yeah, you're a volleyball expert. Up with my numbers. Wow. Good. That's what we need.

[Drew]

Do you keep your own stats like older people do in baseball with your own book? Are you sitting there writing down.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know what you're supposed to. Supposed to do.

[Drew]

I do know your expertise.

[Matt Jones]

Every time they get ready to spike, I hold my breath. Right. Because it feels like, you know, it feels like that's the tense moment. Because. And then once if we dig it, then I'm like, all right, we got this. And then I go. And then if they dig it, I'm mad at them. That's the thing, is it just you're back and forth and you roller coaster. It really is a roller coaster. Okay. There's some rumors that we're gonna wear denim Saturday.

[Mario]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Do you like? I mean, we. We've talked about we want them to wear denim for a game, but considering that we lost four games, like, is this the game to do it? Or would you say why don't we hang on and for another moment? Because it's such a big moment. Do you think it gets lost at 12:30 in Atlanta on a Saturday?

[Mario]

I would prefer them do it at Rupp arena. For sure.

[Matt Jones]

Me too.

[Mario]

You know, but the fact that is Patino on the other sideline, and he's the one that brought out the denim uniform to start with. I can see him maybe doing it, but I hope they kind of hold off and do it at a big event at rup.

[Drew]

Yeah, I know. There's the patino connection now. It doesn't really feel like the time. I'd be pretty surprised if they broke him out.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, you don't think they're going to.

[Drew]

I mean, I could be wrong, but. No, I don't think they would.

[Matt Jones]

I think they would have for sure if we were rolling. But I kind of wonder if you do this again, it's 12:30 on a Saturday. How are we not the second game in this.

[Drew]

It's a great question.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, objectively, North Carolina, Ohio State, I mean, that's not as big a game as Kentucky St. John's with Patino, is it? I'm really. I don't. I don't think we've ever played in the first game in this thing. I think we've played in the second game, like, every single year. And yet I don't understand why we're playing in the first game. To me, isn't that arena going to be empty after this game? I mean, what percentage of the arena is going to be Kentucky fans?

[Mario]

80.

[Drew]

It could be the case. They just want people in there for the second game. I know in the past when we've been second, like when we played North Carolina and Atlanta was at Cows last year, we're at the bar with North Carolina fans laughing at the broadcast of the first game because there's not a seat.

[Matt Jones]

Well, Ohio, so maybe they're trying to.

[Drew]

Flip it and get them in there.

[Matt Jones]

And ucla, well, you say he's not in anymore, right? So Ohio State's gonna have nobody there. North Carolina will have some people. I mean, Kentucky and North Carolina, you think St. John's has people?

[Mario]

Very few.

[Matt Jones]

Very few. So I. Drew may be right. Maybe they're just like, we need someone in the arena for the beginning.

[Drew]

It was bad in Atlanta three years ago. They were, like, laughing with Carolina fans.

[Matt Jones]

Kentucky and Carolina play was the same way in Vegas, though, when ucla, like it was when it's Kentucky Carolina, that's going to be the whole crowd. So I don't know. I'm just surprised this game's at 12:30.

[Drew]

I mean, we got football and maybe they're just trying to get the early time slot on tv. Well, I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

CBS is showing basketball all night, so they're showing like, it's like us, then North Carolina, then Houston, Arkansas, then Duke, Texas Tech in primetime. Like, they're. They're showing college basketball from noon on all day.

[Mario]

You think they probably put the Kentucky game first. Hope people tune in and don't tune away.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I know in the NCAA tournament, they try to put the biggest games at noon and 8, so have people there at the end. So maybe that's what it is. I don't know, but I'm a little disappointed. It's so early. I wish we did have some time to build. Do you think we'll have a good crowd there?

[Drew]

I think so. I've seen a few people on Facebook and stuff start to put tickets up for sale. You know, I hope that's not a sign of what the fan base feels because it hadn't been a great start to the year, but Atlanta is always a fun trip. It's easy for a lot of the fans to make. Of course, the Rick reunion, I think it'll be a good crowd. But for everyone at home, you know, have you seen who the crew is? We got. We got Bruce.

[Matt Jones]

Bruce Pearl's calling the game.

[Mario]

Yeah, that's right.

[Drew]

With Bill. With Bill Raftery and then Nestler. So it's a three pack with Bruce.

[Matt Jones]

Bruce Pearl and I mean, that's a good. We've. We've been very fortunate on our announcers and just like, just like Charles Barkley. Bruce Pearl loves Kentucky. I mean, he. And he speaks about it as someone who loves Kentucky.

[Mario]

I know a lot of people didn't. They thought that Dick Vital and Charles Brocket didn't talk enough about the game. I don't care.

[Matt Jones]

These guys will talk about the game.

[Mario]

They will talk about.

[Matt Jones]

Rafferty and Pearl will talk about the game. All right, so for people who don't know about St. John's they struggled this year against good teams. They're one in three against good teams. Auburn beat them by a lot. Alabama played them in what was a great game. I watched it. They lost to Iowa State by one. They've struggled with their point guard. They struggled with their shooting. Now it was right. They've played a little better in the last couple of games, but the competition wasn't that great. I think in many ways this is a big game for them. I was on the podcast with the St. John's guys and they were like, we have to get a win because the Big east doesn't give us many opportunities to get big wins. They kind of. He was saying this is one of the biggest games of the year for St. John's do you feel it's like that for us?

[Drew]

Yeah. Kentucky can't keep taking losses in the non conference. I mean, beating in Indiana was great, but they have to build up this resume if they want to actually make a tournament run. Just keep losing these meaningful games and expect to have a seed that'll give you any kind of path in March. So you need to win this and that'll Help stack and wins, building momentum. I really feel like they've turned a corner, at least just having fun and having some chemistry out there the last couple of games. We need to keep that moving on into SEC play.

[Matt Jones]

Did you see the video of the. The Journey video thing they do? You know, that's the behind the scenes of UK games. Yeah, they haven't put any out this year because we haven't beaten anybody good. I mean, I'm. I'm serious. They. That this is, like, the first big one that I've seen. Well, they put one out for Indiana. It's actually very good, and it will give you some encouragement if you think this team hates each other. Jalen Lowe is on the bench, and what I think is the best part of the video, and it's at a timeout, and he has this look. It's like a look you see in a Hallmark movie when a woman is looking at a man she's falling for who's low looking at but his teammates.

[Drew]

Oh, he's falling for them in that moment.

[Matt Jones]

And he goes, I love you all. I really love you all. And it was like, it's kind of beautiful.

[Mario]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Did you see it?

[Drew]

I don't remember that part.

[Matt Jones]

Like, it's. It's like one of those Hallmark movies where someone, like, comes from the big city and they come back to the small town and they fall in love with their high school crush. And they're sitting there and it's Christmas time, and she looks at him and. And she's like, he's the one. I've been trying to with these finance bros, but my love was always here. That's the look Jalen Lowe is giving to the team. Wow. Have you all not seen this?

[Drew]

I watched the Journey. I don't remember that exact part.

[Matt Jones]

Am I wrong, Mario? It's on Twitter. He's just looking at me. He's like, I love you guys. I love you guys.

[Drew]

It's beautiful.

[Mario]

It's very, very beautiful.

[Drew]

So is that a turning point?

[Matt Jones]

Talking to people that are looking at me like I'm from the moon? I'm glad you're here, Mario. Okay, listen, I remember the part where I'm gonna do this read, okay? And we're gonna take a break, and you all need to have seen this, so I don't feel like I'm such an idiot about this. It was a very. Mario, was it not a touching moment? It was touching up a little bit.

[Drew]

Where Pope almost cusses in that video.

[Matt Jones]

It was a title. If you're a Bourbon lover and a UK fan. Grab a bottle of Club Blue Bourbon.

[Drew]

Okay, just had volume there.

[Matt Jones]

White Label and Blue Label were gold medals at the Ascot Awards and they're great. You're supporting athletes. It's Club Blue Bourbon. They make a great Christmas present. Bespoke and Spirits makes Club Blue Bourbon and a point a part of your your purchase goes to nil. It's Club Blue Bourbon. Bespoken spirits be spoken spirits.com and you can make your own barrel for a club wedding anniversary or birthday. It's Bespoken Spirits. Why does Bob and Jamestown keep calling? He was talking to you. He's called for 30 straight minutes.

[Shannon]

He looks at you the way Jalen Lowe looks at the team and says, I love you.

[Matt Jones]

But he understands we can't even answer the phone and that is not stopping him from calling.

[Shannon]

You can't stop Bob in Jamestown. You can only hope to contain him.

[Matt Jones]

We'll take a break and be right back. Mario's found the clip. This ksr.

[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 2020 5T 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 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.

[Commercial Announcer]

10 athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract worth $250,000.

[Matt Jones]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Commercial Announcer]

Someone will be eliminated. Pressure is coming down.

[Matt Jones]

Trainer games on Prime Video January 8th. Watch the trailer on trainergames.com Season 2.

[Promo Announcer]

Of Unrivaled Basketball is here and the talent is unreal. The best women's players on the planet are running it back with even bigger moments and bigger stakes. Don't miss as Paige Beckers, Nafiza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more take the court and redefine the game. This isn't your regular season. This is unrivaled, where the pace is faster, the energy is higher and every athlete shines unrivaled. Basketball Season 2, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, tips off January 5 on TNT, TruTV and HBO.

[Commercial Announcer]

Max, a new year is on the Horizon and your 2026 savings start here right now. You can access the Washington post for just $2 every four weeks. Head into the new year with six months of savings at the special intro rate. After that, it'll cost $12 every four weeks. Cancel anytime. You'll get unlimited access to trusted journalism that helps you understand the year ahead and the world around you. Now's the perfect time to subscribe because great habits and great savings start together. Go to washingtonpost.com iheart that's washingtonpost.com iheart and start your year informed with the Post.

[Matt Jones]

You got me. Although this is the Bob Seeger version, right?

[Shannon]

I thought that's the version you liked.

[Matt Jones]

I do. I like the one with the choir the most. You know, I'm talking about like more.

[Shannon]

Traditional version of it.

[Matt Jones]

There's one with a choir. I like this one, don't get me wrong.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And this is the last show. Well, I'll be. I'll be on Monday, but so we can. We can try to find that one for that one, too. But yes, this is my favorite Christmas carol. It's this. And do they know it's Christmas? Which is not really a Christmas.

[Shannon]

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

[Promo Announcer]

You.

[Shannon]

You like the. The Band Aid song?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yeah.

[Shannon]

Dude, that's the worst Christmas song ever made.

[Matt Jones]

You're the worst Christmas. I. I like it.

[Shannon]

Song is horrible.

[Matt Jones]

What are you talking about? I thought we always made fun of that movie. That line, I think is stupid where he goes, thank God it's them instead of you. Yeah, but just in general, I kind of like it. This is my favorite. Little Drummer Boy to me is like what Christmas is about. Like. Well, I mean, I do this every year. I don't have to give my read on it again. But I do like it. It's Don Franklin Hyundai Somerset Takeover Day. You can get up to $6,000 off Hyundai Sonatas in Somerset or 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz models. Up to $3,500 off at Don Franklin Somerset. All right, I'm going to play you. This is. This is the moment I was Talking about. Hang on now. You need to see. You need to see the way he looks at the team, too. But Liam Keating. What? See, this is why I can't get anything to work. But he says, I love you, bro. Right?

[Drew]

That's very sweet. I can see why we can put our concerns to bed if they're. We're talking about loving each other during the game.

[Matt Jones]

Then you also have this, which is Mark Pope in the locker room during the Indiana game. He nearly curses. We are allowing no frustration in this game. You're not giving it to us. You got to go take it. Let's try that again. We are allowing no frustration in this game. You're not giving it to us. You got to go take it. He wanted to cut.

[Mario]

He did.

[Matt Jones]

And then it's like, oh, yeah, I have a camera on.

[Mario]

Gotta be careful.

[Matt Jones]

I can't cuss.

[Drew]

We almost got Dark Pope there for a minute.

[Matt Jones]

We did almost get Dark Pope.

[Drew]

You gotta.

[Matt Jones]

We gotta. We can, we can. We can bleep that. You know, he did not want it to happen. Saturday, by the way, is an amazing sports day.

[Mario]

It's awesome.

[Matt Jones]

Cbs, like I said, four straight college basketball games and involving Kentucky, Carolina, Houston and Cal.

[Mario]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And then Duke. Like, you can't ask for a better roster of teams. Right. Then the NFL has two games.

[Drew]

Big one for you.

[Matt Jones]

Big Bears packers game Saturday night. That's basically my. For the division.

[Mario]

Yep.

[Shannon]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

And then the College Football Playoff.

[Mario]

Three. Three games on Saturday.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, so, like, Saturday is maybe the best. Just sit and watch sports all day. Game day. Drew of, like, all time, right?

[Drew]

Yeah. And selfishly, I'm kind of excited that Kentucky's up first. Yeah. We're trying to get that out of the way and relax with our win the rest of the night. Watching football or whatever.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So our pregame show will start at 10.

[Mario]

10.

[Matt Jones]

You could come watch the game at the bar. We opened at 11, but the game starts at 12:30. But the pregame show will be at 10. My post game show will be. Excuse me. Be. After that.

[Mario]

I'm really excited about it. And then I realized I've got to do two Frederick Douglass girls basketball games Saturday night.

[Matt Jones]

You have to do what?

[Mario]

Pa. 2 Frederick Douglass girls basketball games Saturday night.

[Matt Jones]

You are Paderick Douglas girls JV basketball game.

[Mario]

No, it's a varsity doubleheader.

[Shannon]

I forgot it's varsity. Put some respect on it.

[Mario]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Just out of here. Why are you doing this?

[Mario]

They called and ask, like. Yeah, I'm not.

[Drew]

You can't say no.

[Matt Jones]

Why can't you? I mean, it's Saturday night and, like, which is the football game that Oregon Packers Saturday night.

[Mario]

It was the college game.

[Matt Jones]

And that's like Oregon James Madison.

[Mario]

That's the late game.

[Matt Jones]

That's a late game because it's going up against the NFL. So they put the worst. Why are you doing that?

[Mario]

You know, they needed somebody to do the pa. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I thought you're not even calling the game. You're literally, like, checking in.

[Mario]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Smith, huh?

[Mario]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Why are you doing that?

[Mario]

He coach called me. So what are you doing Saturday night?

[Matt Jones]

Who's their normal PA guy?

[Mario]

I don't know.

[Drew]

Maybe he's off to watch you. I'm not doing this playoff football today.

[Matt Jones]

Can I use just this platform to complain about something just for a second?

[Drew]

Absolutely.

[Matt Jones]

That's why we have a show.

[Drew]

You have the floor.

[Matt Jones]

So I've decided that in 2026, I wanted to span my food horizons.

[Mario]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I tend to eat at, like, the same six, eight places, right? KS Bar, like Chipotle, the. The salad bar at Whole Foods. So I've been reading, right? Where are the places in Lexington that, you know are not fancy but that people say have good food? So I kept hearing people say, you need to go eat at Tuk Tuk. Oh, yeah, Tuk Tuk, the snack shop.

[Drew]

I think it's called Tuck Tuck Snack Shop.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, it's called Tuck Tuck. It's right next to Jason's Deli out on Nicholasville Road.

[Mario]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

All right. So I decide last night before the volleyball game, I'm gonna go eat at Tuk Tuk. Look, on my phone, Tuck tuck opens at 5:00'. Clock. Perfect. I'll be there when it opens. I'll pull my parrots and walk in. And when they open the door, get there. It's nice little shop, open up. Tuck Tuck. It's just two people staring at me. One guy's on his computer and a very nice woman just looking at me. She goes, can I help you? And now I feel Shannon, like, thrown.

[Shannon]

Off guard what's happening here?

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I feel like this restaurant. You know why I'm here?

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And she goes, I was like, can I eat? And she was like, are you picking up an order? And I said, no. And she goes, this is. We only do pickup. So they don't even. You can't even sit down. I said, oh, well, can I order something from now? And she goes, no, you have to have your orders in a week in advance.

[Mario]

No.

[Shannon]

Well, you could have put your order in for next Week.

[Matt Jones]

A week in advance? No, no, Shannon. They put their orders online at, like, noon on Sunday, and by an hour later, all the week is full.

[Shannon]

It's that man that's popular.

[Matt Jones]

Who in the world thinks what they want to eat a week in advance and orders it online?

[Drew]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they closed, like, last month because I follow them on Instagram, and maybe she's just serving special orders.

[Matt Jones]

She said they keep doing it.

[Drew]

They definitely closed in November.

[Matt Jones]

Restaurant open last night.

[Drew]

That's what I'm saying. Maybe she gets special orders and is still fulfilling them while she has. I don't know. I'm just. I knew how this story was gonna.

[Matt Jones]

End because it's not normal that you call in your food a week in advance. Like next Saturday. I'm gonna want whatever.

[Drew]

That's a new system they have.

[Matt Jones]

They.

[Drew]

They closed their doors in November.

[Mario]

I don't know yet what I want for lunch today.

[Matt Jones]

How in the world would people know?

[Drew]

I only know that because I follow.

[Matt Jones]

A week from now. I have no idea.

[Drew]

Like Rod said, I don't know what I want for lunch.

[Matt Jones]

In an hour and a half fathom ordering your food for next Thursday.

[Shannon]

No, but I guess you. If you don't want it that day, you just put it in the fridge and heat it up when you are ready for it. That's what you would have to do.

[Matt Jones]

So you're telling me this restaurant doesn't even. I didn't.

[Drew]

Yeah, I just pulled up their post.

[Matt Jones]

I was there last night.

[Drew]

There's their announcement that they're.

[Promo Announcer]

Then why.

[Matt Jones]

What are they out there?

[Mario]

That's why they were giving you that look when you walked in, like, what are you doing here?

[Matt Jones]

But there was food sitting everywhere that people were picking up.

[Drew]

So just helped yourself.

[Mario]

Fulfilling.

[Matt Jones]

This place is even more mysterious to me. It's closed, but it's open. But you have to order a month in advance.

[Drew]

It's like a secret society now.

[Matt Jones]

This is why I just eat Chipotle. It's. It's open. They don't make a call.

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[Matt Jones]

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