KSR – Hour 1: January 7, 2026

Overview

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR), hosted by Matt Jones with regulars Ryan Lemond and Shannon Dawson, comes to listeners live from KS Bar and Grill on game day as Kentucky prepares to face Missouri in men's basketball. The show blends banter about regional treats (notably, "sissy cakes" and Will Stein’s mom’s orange juice cake), Kentucky basketball analysis and fan expectations, discussions on program communications styles, and a substantial update on Kentucky football's transfer portal progress. The conversation veers from comedic food drama and Seinfeld references to pointed critique of players, coaches, and motivational tactics, reflecting the signature candid, witty, and occasionally self-deprecating KSR tone.

Show Highlights

1. Food Banter: Sissy Cakes & (Un)Shared Treats

• [00:35–05:22]
  • Sissy Cakes, particularly orange juice and blueberry cakes by Will Stein's mother, are sampled and reviewed.
  • Discussion turns to Ryan and his family eating most of a batch, leaving only piecemeal remains for Matt—a longstanding running gag.
  • Quote: “He and his family ate all of them. And he did bring in the box to taunt me to show me where there were blueberry cakes… It generally looks like he just took his hands and stuck them in.” – Matt Jones [03:34]
  • Humorous comparison is made to the “muffin tops” Seinfeld episode, with Ryan characterized as the person who’d just eat the bottoms.
  • The hosts hope eventually to offer these cakes at KS Bar.

2. ESPN Photo Saga & Listener Engagement

• [05:22–08:01]
  • Matt discusses posting new ESPN promo photos, poking fun at skepticism over whether they’re AI, as he appeared unusually formal.
  • Quote: “If you don’t dress up every day, when you do, people think you must be computer generated.” – Matt Jones [05:53]
  • The KSR crew’s social media interactions inspire a middle schooler to recreate Matt's photo for laughs—a moment of listener connection.
  • The crew shares playful rivalry over which photo best serves their radio identity: “You’re trying to win listeners to your radio show.” – Shannon Dawson [06:40]

3. Local Louisville Food Finds

• [08:01–09:06]
  • Matt shares his latest discovery: Moondog, a Vietnamese restaurant in Butchertown, Louisville.
  • Praises handmade noodles, notes hipstery vibe and packed crowd.

4. Kentucky vs. Missouri Game Preview & Historical Comparison

• [09:06–14:51]
  • Matt ranks this Kentucky basketball team among John Calipari-era squads, arguing they’re better than some past underachievers but face serious home-court pressure.
  • Missouri’s season is examined—terrible loss at Illinois, never won a true road game this year.
  • Importance stressed: “If you’re gonna be anything, you got to win this game… We are now a 13 and a half point favorite. That strikes me as high.” – Matt Jones [11:47]
  • Missouri’s improved lineup since recovering key starters is flagged as critical context (from Leach Report interview).
  • Panel admits nervousness, would bet Missouri to cover but expect Kentucky to win.

5. Diabate’s Blunt Assessment: Preparation Blame

• [14:51–19:38]
  • Panel teases next segment: Diabate’s post-Alabama comments about poor game preparation, sparking debate over whether blame lies with players or coaches.
  • Quote: “He clearly said we did not do prepare for this game the way we should have… he acknowledged we were not ready for this game. We better be ready for this one tonight.” – Matt Jones [13:45]

Key Analysis & Quotes

• Quote: “I feel like the game could have been a lot better if we’d made more of an emphasis on the scout, the way they played… I feel like we could have emphasized that more… We should have taken it more seriously.” – Diabate as read by Matt Jones [17:29]
• Consensus: Panel reads Diabate’s critique as being primarily about the players, though acknowledges some fans see it as directed at coaches.
• Notably, Diabate advocates for a lineup change: “He did say, I kind of hope they start Low and Quaint.” – Matt Jones [19:04]
• Quote: “If he’s saying that, he’s not the only one that feels that. I’m telling you in that locker room.” – Shannon Dawson [19:18]

6. Mark Pope’s Motivational Style: Guru or Cringy?

• [19:38–24:14]
  • Hosts debate Coach Mark Pope’s communication style, which leans heavily on motivational, almost self-help style speaking.
  • Fans and hosts express skepticism about its resonance with 18–22-year-olds.
  • Quote: “If you as middle aged guys don’t understand what Mark Pope is talking about, what do you think the 18 to 22 year old kids think?” – Matt (paraphrasing a fan comment) [21:14]
  • Matt admits aversion to self-help culture: “On a personal level… I really hate self help gurus and self help. I find it cringy. And I love Mark Pope and I don’t want to find Mark Pope to be cringy, but it’s a little cringy, that stuff.” [21:41]
  • Panel agrees that “beautiful” and “delightful” talk doesn’t fit locker-room reality.

7. Motivational Coaches in Sports: Does It Ever Work?

• [24:33–25:38]
  • The crew struggles to name successful modern college coaches who lean heavily into motivational/guru language.
  • Briefly reference Calipari and John Wooden, but note Pope’s style is unique in the current era.
  • Matt shares a story about a former coworker using daily inspirational mirror quotes: “Cheesiest thing I’d ever heard.” [25:48]

8. Callers: Coaching Styles & Stats

• [26:40–29:35]
  • Caller “Ed” insists “nice guys” don’t win at elite college level.
  • Ed also flags Nate Oats’ claim that Kentucky’s assist stats don’t hold up against strong teams, revealing a concerning lack of ball movement.
  • Quote: “If we give up 90, we’re not gonna beat anybody… this team is not gonna win 94 to 93 against somebody good.” – Matt Jones [29:22]

9. Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Surge

• [30:06–35:44]
  • Major update: Kentucky has landed multiple SEC-experienced transfers including:
    • Two Florida defensive backs (most recently Jordan Castle)
    • Alabama offensive lineman
    • LSU defensive tackle
    • Oklahoma running back
    • Tennessee O-lineman (ranked #19 nationally)
    • Local Purdue nose tackle “Chops” (Jamarion Harkless)
  • Kentucky’s transfer class ranks as high as #6, is projected to finish top 15 nationally—a huge jump for a former bottom-tier P5 team.
  • Quote: “We should be dancing for number 19!… We were one of the worst Power 5 teams in the country last year.” – Matt Jones [32:05]
  • Matt details Will Stein’s portal/NIL philosophy: pay big for “studs”, use budget discipline for others, moving on if value doesn’t match.
  • Comparison to Mark Stoops’ prior buy-to-keep, sometimes-overpay approach.

10. More on Transfer Realities & Final Thoughts

• [38:04–39:54]
  • The new staff won’t always honor unsustainable NIL agreements made prior to their hiring.
  • Andy Staples: Indiana and Kentucky dubbed portal “winners.”
  • Nick Mingione cited as an example of a Kentucky coach with a “guru” style succeeding—if he has the right personnel buy-in.

11. Auburn-Texas A&M Wild Finish Recap

• [40:03–44:50]
  • Detailed, blow-by-blow breakdown of Auburn’s buzzer-beater mess: missed free throws, clock operator errors (home cooking), wild finish, refs’ rulings, double celebration, and post-game chaos.
  • Quote: “The best part… Bucky can’t even hear the interview. They are screaming expletives. And Bucky just has to go ‘Yeah, I gotta go, guys’.” – Matt Jones [43:45]
  • Final take: Panel speculates refs perhaps intentionally waved off the final shot to compensate for Auburn’s illegitimate extra chance.

Notable Quotes (With Timestamps)

• On the “sissy cakes” debacle:
  “He and his family ate all of them. And he did bring in the box to taunt me to show me where there were blueberry cakes… It generally looks like he just took his hands and stuck them in.” – Matt Jones [03:34]

• On ESPN promo photo confusion:
  “If you don’t dress up every day, when you do, people think you must be computer generated.” – Matt Jones [05:53]

• On Kentucky as double-digit favorites:
  “If you’re gonna be anything, you got to win this game… We are now a 13 and a half point favorite. That strikes me as high.” – Matt Jones [11:47]

• On Diabate’s candid comments:
  “He clearly said we did not do prepare for this game the way we should have… he acknowledged we were not ready for this game. We better be ready for this one tonight.” – Matt Jones [13:45]
  “If he’s saying that, he’s not the only one that feels that. I’m telling you in that locker room.” – Shannon Dawson [19:18]

• On Mark Pope’s motivational style:
  “On a personal level… I really hate self help gurus and self help. I find it cringy. And I love Mark Pope and I don’t want to find Mark Pope to be cringy, but it’s a little cringy, that stuff.” – Matt Jones [21:41]

• On transfer portal expectations:
  “We should be dancing for number 19!… We were one of the worst Power 5 teams in the country last year.” – Matt Jones [32:05]

• On NIL and roster management:
  “They are essentially looking at every player and assigning a value. This is what we think this player is worth in today’s world. And if they don’t want to sign for close to this value, then we can’t do it.” – Matt Jones [35:19]

Important Timestamps

• 00:35–05:22: Sissy cakes saga, Seinfeld reference
• 05:22–08:01: ESPN photos and social media engagement
• 08:01–09:06: Moondog restaurant review
• 09:06–14:51: Missouri preview, expectations, UK historic comparisons
• 14:51–19:38: Diabate’s comments, panel interpretation, implications for team
• 19:38–24:15: Mark Pope’s motivational style, generational disconnect
• 24:33–25:38: Motivational coach comparisons in college sports
• 26:40–29:35: Caller “Ed,” coaching toughness, passing/assists issue
• 30:06–35:44: Kentucky football transfer portal surge, NIL strategy
• 38:04–39:54: Portal agreements, Indiana as a successful portal team, baseball buy-in analogy
• 40:03–44:50: Auburn-Texas A&M ending, officiating drama, post-game chaos

Final Thoughts

This episode captures KSR’s unique blend of humor, hyper-local color, passionate team analysis, and unvarnished debate—especially around player mentality, program communication styles, and the ever-evolving NIL/transfer portal landscape. The show’s authenticity, directness, and frank appraisal of coaches, players, and even its own middle-aged perspective make it a must-listen for Kentucky fans seeking honest conversation with plenty of laughs.