Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Episode Date: February 2, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Shannon Dawson, Drew Franklin
Theme: UK Basketball Analysis, SEC Tournament Predictions, Sports Moments, and Offbeat Sports News

Episode Overview

Hour 2 of Kentucky Sports Radio focuses on the latest developments for University of Kentucky basketball, with in-depth discussion about the team’s recent win over Arkansas, analysis of SEC tournament prospects, a comedic take on sports mishaps (including a boxing toupee incident), and listener engagement about referees and sports broadcasting. Throughout, the tone stays light, conversational, and informed, true to the KSR tradition.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kentucky vs. Arkansas Game Analysis

Game Planning & Coaching Insights:

• Callers prompt discussion about Mark Pope's coaching strategy, specifically the delegation of game-planning to assistant coach Alvin Brooks, credited for devising an effective defensive scheme against Arkansas.
• Matt Jones ([04:41]):

  "Usually coaches will have two different coaches who do the game plan… they alternate... But when Roebuck was the coach, Cal had him do all the game plans."

• Drew Franklin ([05:33]):

  "Brooks has been doing the defense. And Pope gave him a shout out saying, that was the toughest scout they've had all year... so, yeah, credit to Brooks for getting it done.”

Performance Highlights:

• The team's strong defensive play, especially Ortega's work frustrating Arkansas star Acuff.
• Recognition that UK’s talent might not be higher than Arkansas’s at each position, yet the coaching and execution led to victory.
• Matt Jones ([05:51]):

  "From an X and O standpoint, I do think Mark Pope is better at it than Cal nowadays…”

2. SEC Record Predictions

Hosts’ Win-Loss Predictions:

• At halfway (6-3) in SEC play, the crew project varied finishes, citing the tough road schedule.
• Drew Franklin ([08:18]):

  "I’ll say they win the next two at home… still have losses in both Florida games, at A&M, and either Georgia or Vandy. They lose four more."

• Ryan Lemond: ([08:20]) "I think they go 5 and 4 these last nine games..."
• Shannon Dawson: ([08:40]) "11 and 7... but this team is just so unpredictable... just to be different, I’ll say 10 and 8.”
• Matt Jones: ([08:51]) "I'm going to say 10 and 8 just because the back end of the schedule is a lot harder..."

Schedule Toughness:

• UK faces a challenging close, playing top SEC teams on the road, which few—if any—are asked to do. ([09:19])

3. Cincinnati Reds Offseason Moves

• Matt Jones is excited about the Reds signing player Eugenio Suarez:

  "Seven letters, five syllables. My favorite name in sports. He played well for the Reds... now he’s back. He’s the power hitter in the lineup that we needed." ([09:55])

• Light-hearted confusion between players’ names (Ryan Friel vs. T.J. Friedl) adds humor and camaraderie.

  "It’s not his name. Not even close to his name." – Matt Jones ([10:39])

4. The Boxing Toupee Incident (Viral Sports Moment)

Story Summary:

• A boxer’s toupee flies off mid-fight at Madison Square Garden, dazzling social media and prompting a hilarious host segment.
• The boxer claims his hair loss was due to using ammonia-containing shampoo at his mom’s house, a story met with universal skepticism from the crew.
• Shannon Dawson ([13:02]):

  "I don’t think so. But I don’t believe this story... The fact that this guy’s toupee was flapping in the wind, punched in the face—I laughed for 15 minutes."

• The toupee is thrown into the crowd and passed around, with fans taking selfies—“maybe my favorite boxing match of all time.”
  – Drew Franklin ([13:46])

Hosts Suggest a Gimmick:

• The boxer should wear a different toupee for every match, making it a signature.

  "Every match different. And then you’ll know when he got hit hard because it’ll come off." – Matt Jones ([15:01])

5. Wild Booster Culture at Arkansas

• Callers and hosts comment on Arkansas boosters (Tysons, Waltons, and Marcia Martin, the inventor of the bath bomb) sitting courtside in luxury leather seats with bold fashion choices.

  "I could not believe they had leather seats on the front row of the arena... They are a saucy couple." – Matt Jones ([18:09])

• Discussion about Marcia Martin’s philanthropy:

  "She invented the bath bomb... donated $5 million to Arkansas athletics." – Matt Jones ([19:23])

6. Super Bowl Travel Plans

• The KSR team is prepping for a content-heavy Super Bowl trip to San Francisco.
• Drew Franklin:

  "Very, very excited... It’s gonna be a grind with these early morning shows, but we’re ready to do it... Team no sleep." ([21:11])

7. Referees and Fan Frustration (Doug Schaus)

• Multiple callers voice frustration about SEC ref Doug Schaus. Hosts explain that he’s assigned to Kentucky games because the SEC prefers their “highest rated officials” for marquee matchups.
• Matt Jones ([24:01]):

  "I think Doug Schaus is a prisoner of the moment... He’s pro camera, and he’s pro being involved in the hoopla..."

8. Grammy Awards Recap

• Quick rundown of major Grammy winners:
  • Bad Bunny: Album of the Year
  • Kendrick Lamar: Record of the Year
  • Billie Eilish: Song of the Year
  • Tyler Childers: Country Song of the Year
  • Zach Top: Traditional Country Album of the Year
• “My two guys won Grammy, so that’s exciting, right?" – Matt Jones ([27:05])

9. Hockey Goalie Fight

• The team reacts to an NHL goalie fight during a Tampa Bay/Boston game:

  "I love when goalies fight because there’s no reason for them to fight. They don’t even interact with each other.” – Matt Jones ([28:40])

• The fight protocol is explained for newbies: if a goalie fights, the other must as well.

10. Ranking Mark Pope’s Biggest Wins as UK Coach

• Matt Jones’s Top 5:
  1. Duke win (“maybe Kentucky’s back, the new coach can work”) ([36:48])
  2. Illinois (NCAA tournament, advancing to second weekend)
  3. Arkansas (current win; statement vs. Calipari)
  4. Tennessee (road upsets, particularly with depleted rosters)
  5. Gonzaga (road comeback)
• Drew Franklin adds: Florida win in Rupp, Louisville win with Lamont Butler’s 33 points.

11. Media Critique: Seth Greenberg and ESPN’s GameDay

• Matt Jones:

  “He says stuff like that so that no matter what, he can act like he was right. If we don’t succeed, then he says, oh, your fan expectations are too high.” ([40:05])

• Drew Franklin:

  “He’s ruined Saturday mornings... I don’t even turn on game day anymore...”

• The crew slam Greenberg for lecturing UK fans and for dragging down the ESPN basketball broadcast’s entertainment value.

12. Final Sports Updates & Betting Picks

• Short discussion about Kansas vs. Texas Tech NCAA basketball game. Picks split between the hosts, with attention on environment and player readiness.
• MLB media rights update: Reds games moving to MLB TV, anticipated to improve TV availability for local fans ([44:18]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Defensive Strategy:
  “Coaches will have two different coaches who do the game plan... they'll alternate between them.” – Matt Jones ([04:41])
• On Arkansas Victory:
  “We still won the game, which I think is a big testament to how they played.” – Matt Jones ([05:51])
• On the Boxing Toupee:
  “I laughed for 15 straight minutes yesterday when I saw that.” – Shannon Dawson ([13:02])
• On Marcia Martin (Arkansas booster):
  “She invented the bath bomb. She is. Donated $5 million to Arkansas athletics.” – Matt Jones ([19:23])
• On Seth Greenberg:
  “He says stuff… so that no matter what, he can act like he was right.” – Matt Jones ([40:05])
• On the Goalie Fight:
  “They have no reason to talk to each other. But I guess one goalie kind of got into it with one of the players and… goalies don’t fight players. Goalies fight other goalies.” – Matt Jones ([29:10])

Important Timestamps

• 03:14 — Start of Hour 2 main content
• 04:11 — Caller asks about coaching game-planning (Alvin Brooks)
• 06:39 — Hosts begin SEC record predictions
• 09:52 — Discussion of Reds’ new signing (Suarez)
• 12:04 — Boxing toupee incident
• 16:15 — Discussion of Arkansas's court-side boosters
• 19:20 — Discovery about Marcia Martin, inventor of the bath bomb
• 24:01 — Discussion of SEC officiating and Doug Schaus
• 27:05 — Grammy winner rundown
• 28:39 — Goalie fight recapped
• 36:48 — Ranking Mark Pope's top five wins
• 40:05 — Seth Greenberg critique
• 44:18 — MLB Red’s broadcast rights move to MLB TV

Conclusion

Hour 2 blends sharp UK basketball analysis, colorful sports news, and fan-driven commentary with the wit and community engagement that defines KSR. Whether recapping wins, dissecting coaching strategies, or riffing about toupees and hockey fights, the crew retains a tone that’s passionate, irreverent, and always Kentucky-centric.