Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Jan 13, 2026, Hour 1

Host: Matt Jones
Co-hosts/Crew: Shannon, Drew, Ryan Lemond (plus cameos from Ed Helms and Maria Hinojosa in promos)
Theme: Navigating Kentucky Basketball’s Challenges, Sports Media Integrity Debate, and Rivalry Banter with Vince Marrow

Episode Overview

This episode sees Matt Jones and the KSR crew tackling the tension of covering Kentucky basketball during a downturn, discussing the rules of sports journalism after a viral moment involving a Jacksonville reporter, and breaking down the team’s latest injury setback. Things lighten up with heated discussion about local sports rivalries, culminating in a surprise call-in from Vince Marrow, now coaching at Louisville, for some playful trash talk and candid reflections.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Broadcasting When the Team is Struggling

• Matt describes the particular challenge of hosting Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) when the Wildcats are underperforming.
• Hardest times to host? Early August (no news) and when basketball is in a slump.
• While losing brings more calls, Matt argues it doesn’t make for easier or better radio.

  "The goal of this show is to entertain... Most people listening don’t want to just hear people complain all the time." (05:36)

• The team debates how to stay lighthearted and fun even in tough times, referencing creative COVID-era promotions (discounts at KSBar equal to the team’s losing margin).

2. Debate: Integrity in Sports Journalism

• The crew digresses into a national debate about an incident where an older female reporter in Jacksonville offered sympathy and soup to Jaguars OC Liam Cohen during a post-game presser.
• Ryan Lemond argues this "compromises journalistic objectivity."

  "She lost all credibility. You’re supposed to be objective in that situation. And she was not..." (11:39)

• Matt disagrees, calling the objectivity argument "bogus," advocating for transparency in media bias:

  “No one is objective. No one is 100[%]... I’d much prefer a journalist tell me their opinion than act like they don’t have one.” (11:48)

• The moment is explored as multi-layered: transparency, gender, old-school versus new-school reporting, and audience expectations.
• Drew and others defend the reporter’s actions as adding humanity, especially in a press conference with little consequence.
• Shannon and Matt joke at Ryan’s expense, calling him out as heartless:

  "Just be mad at Ryan for not having a heart at this poor lady." (16:44)

3. Ask Anything Tuesday & Interacting with Listeners

• With an upcoming game, Matt shifts to "Ask Anything Tuesday" to diversify topics and break out of negativity.
• Listener messages poke fun at past promotions and the occasional negativity on the show.
• The crew revisit the COVID-era discount for losses, defending it as a necessary, morale-boosting measure during tough business times (21:08–22:33).

4. Kentucky Basketball Injury—Jalen Lowe Out for the Season

• Matt and Drew break the news that Jalen Lowe is out for the year due to injury.
• The injury allows Lowe to preserve a redshirt; the crew sees this as the right personal decision, despite the blow to the team's potential.

  “He tried to play. ...But hate to say—it's perfect timing. If you get him back for one more game ... he’d lose his redshirt." (23:35)

• The show discusses the team’s vulnerabilities: a thinned backcourt and pressure on younger players like Jasper Johnson, who might not be ready for the rigors of SEC play.

5. Media Objectivity & Personal Bias

• The media objectivity theme continues, as Matt questions whether Ryan is unbiased about Jasper Johnson:

  "It's better to know your opinion [is] because we know your history and then people can judge." (25:52)

• The crew agree that everyone brings bias and it's best to be honest about it.

6. Rivalry Banter: Vince Marrow vs. Pete Nocta

• Matt details an entertaining squabble between UK’s and UofL’s recruiting coordinators, Vince Marrow and Pete Nocta, over recruiting "ownership" in Ohio.
  • Pete retweets Vince’s old “I own Ohio” boast after UofL gets an Ohio State O-lineman.
  • Vince fires back, calling Pete “Little Pete” and boasting “I’ve been beating the crap out of him for 10 years… the streak will continue." (31:07)
• The crew relishes the “grown men trash talk,” with Matt noting how Vince’s social media presence is both an asset and liability:

  "As a friend, I’m like, Vince, tweet less. But as an entertainer, I want him to tweet more." (36:27)

7. Surprise Call-In: Vince Marrow

• Vince joins live, bringing humor and candor.
• Shares reflections on differences between UK and UofL, admits he genuinely got to know and appreciate people at both places.
• Denies that Kentucky has beaten him out for recruits at Louisville (“Not one…” 46:55), boasts about UofL’s portal rankings.
• Explains he tweets for entertainment and rivalry, not malice:

  “You guys make it more bigger now that I'm at Louisville. But when I was at Kentucky, I did the same thing.” (49:16)

• Matt teases about future UK-UofL games, Vince plays along, promising to own a loss if it happens.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On hosting sports talk during tough times:

"The hardest time to do this show is early August ... The second hardest time ... is when basketball is not doing well."
— Matt Jones, 04:51

On sports journalists and objectivity:

"No one is objective. No one is 100[%]. ... I would much prefer a journalist tell me what their opinion is, then [pretend] they don’t have one."
— Matt Jones, 11:48

On fans and media bias:

"If she is going to write a sympathetic column to Liam Cohen, wouldn’t it be better just [for her] to say it?"
— Matt Jones, 15:48

Vince Marrow vs. Pete Nocta:

"Little Pete finally getting some confidence. I’ve been beating the crap out of him for 10 years. The streak will continue."
— Vince Marrow (31:57)

Candid Vince Marrow:

"It's just like when you don't know people ... and you finally get to know who they are, you’re like, wow, you know what? These people are not really that bad."
— Vince Marrow, on moving from UK to UofL (44:20)

"I really be laughing, to be quite honest."
— Vince Marrow, on Twitter trash talk (49:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:40 — Show opens, weather banter, new KSBar winter menu
• 04:50 — Matt on hardest times to do KSR shows
• 06:22–07:44 — How to keep things light during losing seasons
• 09:01 — Debate over Jacksonville reporter’s “sympathetic” question to Liam Cohen
• 11:48 — Matt’s argument that objectivity in journalism is a myth
• 13:08 — Shannon on how hard it is to be dispassionate after tough losses
• 20:27 — Listener texts: Reviewing the COVID "losing = discount" special at KSBar
• 22:34 — Discussion of Jalen Lowe’s season-ending injury and implications
• 31:07–36:27 — Vince Marrow and Pete Nocta "rivalry" Twitter drama
• 42:23 — Vince Marrow surprise call-in; differences between UK and UofL, Twitter habits, and recruiting
• 49:22 — Vince and Matt swap playful predictions and reminisce on friendship

Listener Takeaways

• KSR’s philosophy: Even during losing years, the show values entertainment, authenticity, and humor over relentless negative analysis.
• Sports media evolution: Traditional journalism’s boundaries are blurring, with more open bias and humanity mixing into sports coverage.
• Rivalry is fun: Local sports rivalries—on-field and behind the scenes among coaches/recruiters—continue to be a source of entertainment and community, especially when stoked by personalities like Vince Marrow.
• Leadership and injuries matter: Jalen Lowe’s injury is a blow, and the team will need to adapt tactics and roles.
• Vince Marrow remains a charismatic character: Whether deadpanning to the KSR crew or trading online barbs, he knows how to keep Kentucky sports fun.

This summary covers the full content portion of KSR Hour 1 (Jan 13, 2026), omitting podcast promos, advertisements, and non-content intervals.