KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) – Hour 2

Date: December 30, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Lemond & Drew Franklin
Special Guest: Wukosh Orbzutt (“Woo”) – former UK Basketball Center
Location: KS Bar & Grill, Lexington, KY

Episode Overview

This hour of KSR features a lively in-person reunion with fan favorite and former Kentucky basketball center Wukosh Orbzutt (“Woo”). The hosts catch up with Woo about life after UK, his family, and his evolving role in the Bluegrass community. Discussion touches on Kentucky athletics—football and basketball, coaching transitions, the rise of volleyball in the state, and even some uniquely Kentucky anecdotes. The hosts take several calls from nostalgic and engaged listeners, peppering the show with personal stories and light-hearted banter.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Catching Up with Woo: Life, Family, and Career

• Woo shares updates about his life post-basketball:
  • His 12-year-old daughter is already six feet tall and excelling at volleyball, participating in the booming youth club sports circuit.
  • He still lives in Shelby County and works in oil and gas management and sales, referencing the show “Landman.”
  • Despite a busy life, Woo keeps close ties with the “BBN” (Big Blue Nation), regularly tailgating and attending games.
• [05:15] Woo: “Yes, we all get busy with our lives, we run separate directions, but I'm extremely proud of you guys and what you guys have achieved…and finally stepped up from those cheap headphones.” (joking about KSR production values)

Volleyball Growth in Kentucky

• Drew and Ryan note the incredible rise of youth volleyball in Kentucky, with both UK and Louisville having top national programs.
• Woo highlights how club sports have “changed the demographic of sports in this country,” with more kids specializing earlier and the entire scene becoming more competitive.

UK Football: Coaching Transition and Stoops Era Reflection

• Discussion of excitement around the new football coach and the revived energy among fans.
• Woo reflects on what led to the end of the Mark Stoops era, with keen insight into the unique pressures of coaching in Kentucky.
  • [09:11] Woo: “Change is good. I like that the fans and the BBN is getting excited about football again…and we have something to look forward to—hopefully we play that fast-paced offense…”
  • [09:42] Woo: “You have to be extremely confident in what you do when you coach in any sport in Kentucky and BBN…there’s tremendous pressure…and for a lot of coaches, change comes sooner than later.”

On-Court and Locker Room Dynamics during Coaching Changes

• Woo gives a rare glimpse inside a locker room undergoing a coaching change, referencing his own experience in the transition from Tubby Smith.
  • [10:36] Woo: “You can just change it by coaches’ demeanor, the coaching staff, everything else involving the goals—that the end is near, the plane is circling the runway…”
  • Expectations at Kentucky: “Our administration and fan base is not satisfied with losing two games in a row, or for example, one game…”

Observations on Modern College Basketball

• Woo ponders the impact of NIL, transfer rules, and the rapid shift of the college game:
  • [12:34] Woo: “One thing does not change: the whole country enjoys Kentucky basketball losing. Watch the ESPN and the other networks—they all talk about the struggles… A little bit of adversity and the guys, new guys… We don’t have upperclassmen anymore, right?”
  • He draws parallels to European club basketball, suggesting the college route may become less standard for elite players in coming years.
  • On academics: players don’t connect as deeply to the university with such high transfer rates.

Former Players vs. “Visitors” in the Transfer Era

• A running joke develops about categorizing former UK players as “alumni” (those who stayed) versus “visitors” (one-year stay via transfer).
  • [14:40] Woo: “What needs to happen going forward is alumni versus ‘I just played here’—yeah, and you are—I visited here.”

Listener Calls and Community Memories

• [21:14] Lex: Reminisces about seeing Woo and Shagari Alleyne in the UK cafeteria.
• [26:14] Chi Woo: Asks Woo about culture shock coming from Poland. Woo credits basketball as a common denominator that made assimilation easier, and shares that his daughter learns about Poland from TikTok.
  • [27:25] Woo: “The common denominator arriving in the United States, especially in Kentucky, was basketball, so camaraderie just started right away…”

Kentucky Institutions: Tally Ho and Student Life

• Tally Ho, a legendary campus eatery, is closing—a moment of nostalgia for all.
• Woo and Drew recall sneaking in meals and late hours while dodging team dietary restrictions.
  • [22:58] Woo: “Many times. Pancakes, I think, were my favorite, and the 'Ho Burger.' … If you went to UK, you went to Tally Ho at some point…”

Family, Heritage, and Passing on Traditions

• Woo admits he hasn’t visited Poland since 2011, but wants his daughter to do a semester there one day. She’s more familiar with his roots thanks to social media.
  • [25:21] Woo: “She finds it on TikTok…She wants to visit, but right now, it’s tournament after tournament…”

Current Events & Lighthearted Moments

Viral Bulldog Fan Video [32:04]

• Discussion of the viral video where a grade-school Georgia fan refuses to sing “Rocky Top” in Tennessee, rewarded by Georgia with Sugar Bowl tickets.
  • [33:02] Woo: “This is like a scene from a movie—almost like a Napoleon Dynamite reverse theme. … Great job parents…”

Contest Fiascos: NFL Field Goals and UK Half-Court Shots [34:16 – 37:19]

• The New York Jets initially cancel, then allow, a contest winner to attempt a $100,000 field goal (ultimately missed).
  • [36:04] Drew: “Were you really afraid of someone making a 30- and a 40-yarder for $100,000 in memory of her father? At worst, you have a very cool moment…”
• Several half-court shot winners in Rupp Arena discussed; speculation about the selection process.

Athlete Home Burglaries [37:22+]

• Recent trend of pro athletes getting burglarized while on the road, including Titans’ Jeff Simmons and former UK star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
  • [39:32] Woo: “What do you do when things happen to…your house or your family isn’t there, and someone breaks in?”

Personal Stories: Jukeboxes, Family Connections, and UK Community

• Woo describes restoring a 1955 Seaburg jukebox, obtaining authentic UK blue and white paint from a Louisville business owner who is also Will Stein’s uncle (new UK football assistant).
• The show’s phones light up with good-natured callers from around the state and beyond, including a listener making a cross-country drive after visiting a grandchild in North Dakota.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Woo on coaching pressure at UK:
  “You have to have an ego to be able to coach at this level – and probably be borderline psychopathic to sustain that type of beating day in and day out from the fans and you guys [the media].” — Woo [11:32]

• Woo, tongue-in-cheek about academic priorities:
  “I never missed a class because if you do, you have an automatic 5am workout.” — Woo [29:32]

• On how Kentucky basketball alumni should be categorized in the transfer age:
  “Alumni versus ‘I just played here’…I visited here.” — Woo [14:40]

• On changing times in college basketball:
  “We just have a second category—secondary citizens!” — Woo [15:04] (joking about one-year transfers)

• Drew on Woo’s legendary campus presence:
  “When I’m walking into Kroger Field for a football game…there’s a seven-footer sticking out. I know Woo’s still tailgates and is a big part of BBN, even though we haven’t had him on the air lately.” [07:52]

• Woo on Tally Ho:
  “Pancakes, I think, were my favorite…The ‘Ho Burger’ is what they call it. … I would just go out on Wednesday night, the whole night, and try to do my best on Thursday to skip most of my classes and just take that 5am workout on Friday morning.” [22:58-23:48]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:58] Woo joins the broadcast in person at KS Bar
• [06:04] Volleyball and youth sports landscape
• [09:11] New UK football coach & reflections on Mark Stoops’ era
• [10:36] Locker room dynamics during a coaching change
• [12:34] Impact of NIL, transfers, and new basketball culture
• [14:40] Discussing “alumni” versus “visitor” former players
• [21:14] Nostalgia calls—cafeteria memories, run-ins on campus
• [22:58] Tally Ho memories and campus food culture
• [25:14] Maintaining family heritage, TikTok’s role in learning about Poland
• [30:34] Youth volleyball's rapid rise in Kentucky
• [32:04] Viral story: Young Georgia fan refusing to sing “Rocky Top”
• [34:16] NFL kicking contest fiasco and UK half-court shots
• [37:22] Athlete burglary ring and security concerns

Final Thoughts & Closing

This hour is a joyful celebration of Kentucky sports, community, nostalgia, and friendship. Whether sharing memories of campus life, discussing changes in college athletics, or connecting with the BBN through light-hearted stories, the hosts and Woo embody the “family” spirit that defines UK fandom.

Woo on future visits and resolutions:
“Anytime, you know, I’m easy to reach, you just let me know and we make it happen…2026 is coming up, Happy New Year everybody!” — [51:44-51:57]

For More:

• Contact or listen: 10am-noon, Mon-Fri, or KSBarandGrill.com
• Next Episode: Guest JP Blevins and “Best of 2025” segment for New Year’s Eve.

Summary curated and attributed from real-time segment dialogue. For full show details, visit Kentucky Sports Radio’s archive or listen live.