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

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.

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.”

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.”

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

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.

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.

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