Kentucky Sports Radio — “KSR - Hour 2”
Date: January 16, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Ryan Lemond, Shannon Dawson
Location: Wild Eggs, off Tate’s Creek
Episode Overview
In this lively second hour of Kentucky Sports Radio, the crew gathers at Wild Eggs in Lexington to cover a smorgasbord of UK basketball analysis, quirky sports news, and local flavor. The main themes include updates on the Kentucky basketball roster (specifically Jaden Quaintance’s injury), creative sports formats, the launch of the Louisville Kings football team, fan calls, NFL playoffs, college football championship predictions, and debates over the merits (and grossness) of whole milk.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Kentucky Basketball Injury & Roster Update
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Jaden Quaintance Out:
Jeff Goodman reports that Jaden Quaintance won't play tomorrow; swelling in his knee persists. The crew discusses the time frame for concern and speculate on the likelihood of his long-term absence.- Matt Jones: “If he doesn't play by the Vandy game, then I'm gonna start to wonder if he's not gonna play.” (04:05)
- Ryan Lemond: "I'm not a doctor. But I feel like two and a half weeks is long enough for a knee to stop swelling." (04:35)
-
Shortened Rotation:
With injuries persisting, the group expects a tighter UK lineup:- OA and Aberdeen will play big minutes.
- Rotations likely to solidify as guys get more minutes due to necessity.
- Jasper Johnson’s limited minutes spark surprise and speculation.
2. Innovative Sports Concepts — One Point Tennis Slam
- Matt’s Recap of the Australian Open “One Point Slam”:
- Mix of top pros, female players, and amateurs.
- Single-point matches; sudden-death elimination.
- Notable upsets included world #1 losing to an amateur; an Australian amateur wins $1 million.
- Enthusiastic endorsement: “I thought the One Point Slam was one of the cooler things I've seen some of them do in sports.” (08:35)
- The crew riffs on what similar formats might look like in basketball: rapid-fire shooting contests, one-on-one possessions, and how wild upsets could transpire.
3. Louisville Kings Professional Football Team
- New Local Team:
Louisville’s pro football team (Louisville Kings) drafts UK stars Benny Snell and Lynn Bowden, which the crew sees as a savvy move to pull local fans.- Drew Franklin: “It caught my attention. Now, whether they end up on the field or not, I guess that's another debate.” (09:17)
- Shannon Dawson: “This is what they needed to do—get local guys that people love who can still do it but just can't make the league.” (09:32)
4. Fan Callers & Bench Depth
- Caller Randy:
Praises watching UK with family and wishes for a more stable, shorter lineup—a classic Basketball Benny take. - Rotation Logic:
UK’s injuries are, by necessity, driving a more consistent core group of players. Aberdeen’s emergence is especially highlighted.
5. Viral Plays & Iconic Game Moments
- The LSU Pass:
Detailed breakdown of the improbable Chandler-to-Moreno inbound pass that capped Kentucky’s huge comeback win at LSU. The crew compares it to Christian Laettner’s famous shot in terms of difficulty and drama.- Matt Jones: “It might be one of the two or three best ending shots in Kentucky history... I don't think we've ever had a one-pass, full-court like that.” (14:48)
6. Milk Debate — Comedy & Nostalgia
- Whole Milk Returns to School:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to bring whole milk back into schools is discussed humorously, segueing into Matt’s strong aversion to drinking milk.- Matt Jones: “I find milk the most disgusting thing in America. I cannot think of anything I would like to drink less.” (19:54)
- Drew and Ryan love milk, especially with dessert; Matt reluctantly tries a glass of 2% milk on air for the first time since high school (“Toot, toot” becomes a running gag about cow udders).
- Much laughter ensues, including Drew and Ryan chugging milk for effect.
7. NFL Playoff and College Football National Championship Picks
- Crew makes predictions for the upcoming NFL playoff games and the college football national championship:
- General consensus picks:
- Bills/Broncos split.
- Seahawks/49ers split.
- Patriots favored by most.
- Bears/Rams split, with Matt committing to paint his nails like Caleb Williams if the Bears make the Super Bowl.
- College Football: Most expect Indiana to win and make history, with speculation that their coach might leave for the NFL.
- General consensus picks:
8. Fan Questions About UK Basketball Minutes
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Trent Noah Minutes:
Caller Sue wonders why Noah isn’t mentioned or played more; Matt responds bluntly that he just “doesn’t play... and hasn't done a lot right” to date. -
Otega Oweh’s Place in UK History:
Discussion highlighting Oweh’s scoring pace—if sustained, he would finish near or above several iconic UK players in two-year point totals.- “Antonio Reeves is 45th all-time... I just don’t think people would ever put him in that category.” (43:59)
9. Game Predictions — Kentucky vs. Tennessee
- Most pick Tennessee to narrowly win, but Drew Franklin bucks the trend and picks Kentucky to win by 1 (73–72).
- Ryan Lemond: “We've won five of the last six down there so why can't they make another and get another win?” (45:20)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Quaintance’s swelling:
“Can we get a knee doctor? We had an ankle doctor. We needed a knee doctor.” — Ryan Lemond (03:25) -
On innovative sports formats:
“I thought the one point, the one point slam was one of the cooler things I've seen some of them do in sports.” — Matt Jones (08:35) -
On drafting local heroes:
“This is how you create a fan base though, right? You got to get them hooked right from the get go. Bring in some players that are familiar.” — Ryan Lemond (09:47) -
On milk aversion:
“I want you to think about where that... just think about where milk comes from. Toot, toot.” — Matt Jones (20:39 and 21:00, recurring joke) -
On scoring history:
“Antonio Reeves is 45th all time in UK score... I just don’t think people would ever put him in that category.” — Matt Jones (43:59)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:59: Show begins in earnest from Wild Eggs, crowd description
- 02:38 – 04:42: Jaden Quaintance's knee update and UK injury talk
- 04:49 – 08:48: One Point Slam tennis discussion and sports format innovation
- 08:48 – 10:17: Louisville Kings football team discussion, Snell & Bowden drafted
- 10:37 – 11:52: Caller Randy, rotation, and shortening UK’s lineup due to injuries
- 12:55 – 14:48: The memorable Chandler-to-Moreno play at LSU
- 18:49 – 21:00: Whole milk at schools and Matt’s milk aversion
- 21:19 – 22:58: Crew drinks milk on air, comedic reactions
- 25:04 – 25:49: Caller: Strategy critique and player engagement
- 27:57 – 32:46: NFL Playoff and CFB national championship predictions
- 34:14 – 35:18: Importance of the next four UK basketball games for tournament hopes
- 39:00 – 42:15: Otega Oweh’s scoring pace in UK basketball history
- 43:12 – 43:59: Only two-year UK players with more points than Oweh, Antonio Reeves’ place in UK history
- 44:36 – end: Score predictions for Tennessee game, pregame show details, and closing banter
Tone and Style
The episode features casual banter, frequent humor, and an engaging, conversational style. The KSR crew mixes serious sports analysis with heckling, ribbing, and self-deprecation, staying true to its “everyman” Kentucky sports radio appeal.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This hour provides a mix of critical Kentucky basketball injury updates, unique sports event recaps, fan engagement (both in-person and via calls), bold predictions, and characteristically hilarious digressions—including a must-hear milk chugging contest. Though UK’s prospects in the next stretch are scrutinized, optimism abounds for both the team’s future and central Kentucky sports culture.
Next episode: Tune in for post-game reactions after Kentucky–Tennessee, fan stories from the Alien Fest, and further roster news.
