KSR – Hour 1

Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Matt Jones, with Drew Franklin, Ryan Lemond, Shannon
iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

Episode Overview

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio opens with the KSR crew battling harsh winter weather in Kentucky before launching into spirited discussions about Louisville's icy conditions, regional basketball matchups (especially Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt), fan travel prospects, and quirky tales from their own snowed-in lives. Between shoveling etiquette, SEC basketball analysis, frost quakes, and the viral Louisville Police Department’s social media antics, the show balances sports talk with local color and good-natured banter.

Kentucky’s Winter Woes: Getting Out & About

Timestamps: 02:44–08:22

• Weather Update: It’s “absurdly cold” and snowy across Kentucky. The hosts discuss the struggles of getting out of their neighborhoods due to icy hills, with Drew and Ryan joking that their cars may not make it home.

  • Matt Jones: “It is absurdly cold here in Louisville, Lexington, all over the bluegrass.” (02:45)

• Neighborhood Shovel Saga:

  • Matt recounts borrowing a neighbor’s shovel without permission since he had no shovel of his own and couldn't get his car out.
    • Matt Jones: “If there is a shovel on a porch during a snowstorm, it's fair game. I'm not taking it. I'm borrowing it.” (05:27)
  • Amusingly, the neighbor catches him in the act but seems fine with it, simply replying, “I’m aware.”
    • Matt Jones: “I said, hey, borrowed your shovel. And he goes, I'm aware. Which I thought was a funny answer.” (06:59)
  • The conversation turns to what’s acceptable to borrow from neighbors during snow emergencies, drawing jokes about borrowing cars and snowblowers.

• Lesson Learned: Shoveling is hard work, with Matt relenting, “I'm changing my position from yesterday. Ryan, you should not shovel. You will end up with a heart attack.” (06:31)

Basketball Talk: Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt & SEC Notes

Timestamps: 08:22–16:53

• Game Preview – Kentucky at Vanderbilt:

  • The hosts discuss the impacts of winter storms on team travel and fan attendance, noting Vandy’s power outage issues.
  • Drew Franklin points out Vanderbilt is only a 6.5-point favorite and sees reasons for cautious optimism: “They've found a way to win five... I'm starting to feel something heading into Nashville here.” (11:05)
  • Matt Jones tempers expectations: “We could have lost a lot of these games. Should have lost the LSU game.” (12:19)

• Matchup Dynamics:

  • Kentucky’s defensive performance is praised—second-best in the SEC.
  • The game’s “magic number” is discussed: UK needs to keep Vandy under 80 points to have a real chance.
    • Matt Jones: "I'm not sure this team, absent getting really hot...can go in thinking you're going to score in the 80s. I think what's more important for Kentucky is how well they play defense." (09:41)

• Fan Attendance: Bad roads are expected to shrink Big Blue’s usual road contingent in Nashville, with Vandy students likely to make Memorial Gym “more rowdy.”

Local Flavor: Fern Creek Hospitality & Tipping Etiquette

Timestamps: 15:03–17:44

• Matt in Fern Creek: Matt recounts being anonymously treated to dinner multiple times in Fern Creek and muses on tipping etiquette when your meal is covered:
  • Matt Jones: “I end up tipping about what I was going to pay for the dinner. And I feel like that... waitresses know that and they're trying to get people to pay for it because then they get a bigger tip.” (16:27)

Borrowing Without Permission: Debate Continues

Timestamps: 20:54–22:23

• Ethics of “Borrowing”:
  • Matt’s concept is dubbed “borrowing without permission.” The crew jokes about where the line is—he’d never borrow someone’s gas-powered snowblower, but shovels are fair game.
    • Matt Jones: “Me using his shovel... doesn't put him out any. But if I use something of his that has gas, then I'm costing him money. So I would not use [that].” (21:57)

UK Alumni in the NBA: Omari Williams' Success

Timestamps: 22:23–23:53

• Omari Williams Making Waves:
  • Omari is shining for the Celtics while the top two bigs are injured; the crew admits surprise and pride in his success.
    • Matt Jones: “I love it. I’m really happy for him. I did not think with his inability to shoot from the outside... that you could play him in the NBA, but I mean the Celtics are one of the best coached teams.” (23:29)

Weather Oddities: "Frost Quakes" Hit Kentucky

Timestamps: 24:06–29:47

• Frost Quake?: Listeners and hosts discuss odd house-shaking booms from the cold, newly dubbed “frost quakes.”
  • Ryan Lemond: “I thought somebody was in my house and something fell...It like shook the house.” (24:16)
  • Matt is skeptical but later reads the definition: freezing water in soil expands, cracking to produce loud noises and mild shaking.
  • Matt Jones: “I have never heard this term before in my life...But now in 24 hours I've heard everyone say it.” (24:34)

Louisville PD Twitter Goes Viral

Timestamps: 30:00–32:19

• LMPD Social Media Sensation:
  • Louisville’s police Twitter account gains tens of thousands of new followers for its candid, sarcastic snowstorm updates:
    • Shannon: “Should the department social media remain balanced or stay unhinged? I am voting right now... 97% say unhinged.” (32:03)
  • The team debates whether their apology was sincere or tongue-in-cheek.
    • Matt Jones: “I'm sure it actually probably, you know, at a time where the, you know, not all publicity that law enforcement's getting is positive, this makes them seem like they have a funny... good sense of humor.” (31:32)

Around the SEC & Beyond: Other Game Notes

Timestamps: 33:13–35:48

• Louisville’s Slide: UL basketball suffers another blowout loss; fans' frustrations mount, with comparisons to Kentucky's own basketball trajectory (“Random Little Things” podcast joke).
• Arizona’s Rise: Matt predicts Arizona as his current pick for the national championship.

Listener Calls – Basketball, Random Facts, and Party Ideas

Timestamps: 36:48–50:53

• Basketball Analysis: Listeners debate Kentucky’s physicality in the paint, with hosts agreeing UK’s bigs have been out-muscled frequently.
  • Drew Franklin: “Yellow Bitch twice in the first few minutes. Just had the ball ripped out of his hand...Malik Dio was pushing Malachi Marino wherever he wanted.” (39:22)
• Ryan Lemon “Beat Cal Perry” Bar Party: Ryan is surprised by an announcement that an event will be held in his honor at the bar, tasked with thinking of appropriate party features.
• Comedic Call-in: Suggests tasing Ryan if Kentucky loses, prompting group laughter.
  • Ryan Lemond (deadpan): “I think we need to appreciate this man's call and have him never call back again.” (49:50)

Memorable Quotes/Moments

• On borrowing etiquette:
  Matt Jones (06:31): “I'm changing my position from yesterday. Ryan, you should not shovel. You will end up with a heart attack.”
• On Kentucky basketball:
  Drew Franklin (11:05): “They've found a way to win five... that's not just getting by here lately. I really think they're finding a way to win.”
• On frost quakes:
  Matt Jones (28:44): “So when water gets in the soil... the ground rapidly freezes... which will cause the frozen water to expand and crack and pop, which can lead to a loud noise and minor ground shaking. That is a frostquake.”
• On LMPD's viral tweets:
  Shannon (32:03): “Should the department social media remain balanced or stay unhinged? I am voting right now... 97% say unhinged.”

Notable Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|------------| | Snowed-In Neighborhood Shovel Saga | 02:44-08:22| | Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Game Preview | 08:22-16:53| | Restaurant Kindness & Tipping | 15:03-17:44| | The Ethics of Borrowing (Shovel Debate) | 20:54-22:23| | Omari Williams in the NBA | 22:23-23:53| | “Frost Quakes” Explained & Discussed | 24:06-29:47| | Louisville PD’s Social Media Buzz | 30:00-32:19| | Listener Calls (Paint Issues, Party Ideas) | 36:48-50:53|

Closing Takeaways

This KSR episode blends in-depth Kentucky basketball talk (with hope and healthy skepticism), the lighter side of regional living through snowstorm antics, and inside-the-state info (from “frost quakes” to social media surprises). The hosts’ camaraderie shines as they riff on topics both athletic and neighborly, capturing the show’s trademark mix of sports and small-town Kentucky culture.

Advisory: Skip to around 02:44 or 20:54 for best non-commercial content.