Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones and KSR crew (Drew Franklin, Ryan Lemond, Shannon the Dude, et al.)
Location: Don Franklin Auto, Radcliffe, Kentucky

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) blends the high-energy vibes of a live remote show from Radcliffe, Kentucky, with passionate commentary on recent Kentucky basketball and football news. The hour is highlighted by a surprise call-in and extended chat with former UK basketball player Ramon Harris, insightful memories from the hosts, and anticipation for Kentucky's big basketball matchup against Florida. The episode's tone is lively and humorous, with classic KSR banter, crowd interaction, and local color.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Live from Radcliffe – Setting the Scene

[01:02 – 03:40]

• The show is broadcast live from Don Franklin Auto in Radcliffe, Kentucky, with references to community figures and prior events, such as the hosts’ skydiving adventure with the mayor.
• Matt Jones notes the enthusiastic crowd:
  "Here with the raucous crowd in Radcliffe, Kentucky at Don Franklin..." [01:02]

2. Recurring KSR Humor & Behind-the-Scenes Moments

[03:44 – 04:35]

• The crew reminisces about a notorious past broadcast when Matt and Drew went skydiving, leaving Ryan and Shannon to awkwardly manage the show:
  "You saw what happens if we just give Ryan a microphone and give him no preparation." – Matt Jones [01:47]
• Descriptions of past technical issues:
  "No calls, no commercials, no stopping..." – Matt Jones [02:08]

3. Sports Talk: Nick Castellanos Incident

[03:49 – 06:34]

• The panel discusses MLB player Nick Castellanos being cut after reportedly drinking a beer in the dugout during a game.
• Banter on “old school” athlete behaviors—smoking in dugouts, Larry Bird allegedly drinking at halftime.
• Perspective on consequences and standards: "If this guy were the best player, they would have let it slide." – Shannon the Dude [06:29]

4. Kentucky High School Basketball Revenge Story

[06:34 – 08:21]

• Matt recounts the compelling story of a high school coach fired from Cooper High, moving to rival St. Henry, and beating his former team at the buzzer.
• Shared appreciation for sports drama: "There’s probably no more of a sweet way to win than a last second buzzer beater against your former team.” – Shannon the Dude [08:17]

5. Surprise Call-In: Former Wildcat Ramon Harris

[08:21 – 15:45]

• Main Highlight of the hour:
  Former UK player Ramon Harris calls in, leading to a warm, detailed conversation about his recruitment, time at UK, and coaches he played for.
• Memorable introductory exchange:
  Matt: "This is the Razor. My man, the Alaskan Assassin." [08:51]
  Ramon: "I’ve been trying to get in touch with y’all for two years." [09:01]
• Ramon discusses his surprise scholarship offer from Tubby Smith, his recruitment journey, and memorable UK moments.
• Ramon is one of the rare players to have played for Tubby Smith, Billy Gillespie, and John Calipari.
• Distinct coaching styles discussed:
  • "Tubby was more of a father figure... liked to teach." – Ramon Harris [12:34]
  • "Gillespie was more of a dog-eat-dog coach... there was no out of bounds.” [13:02]
  • "Cal ran practices like an NBA practice... NBA structured." [13:28]
• Insights into meeting John Wall:
  "You could tell he was fast and athletic, but he was real skinny... But also, yeah, John definitely [had it]." [14:38]
• On participating in a historic Kentucky celebration photo:
  "To be on the good side of it, I was excited, as you could tell." [15:24]

6. Reflection and Legacy of Ramon Harris

[15:46 – 18:10]

• The hosts reflect on Ramon’s unexpected significance to UK basketball and KSR. "He was one of the original members, like McGlore and Right Woo. Ramon, like, that was my group." – Matt Jones [15:53]
• Drew recounts a bar bet gone awry:
  "Today I'm gonna do a shot every time Ramon Harris scores... It was a career day for Ramon, early too. This is a bad idea." – Drew Franklin [16:07]

7. More Billy Gillespie Coaching Anecdotes

[18:10 – 20:15]

• The panel shares wild stories from the Billy Gillespie era:
  "They would take two players... and blow a whistle, whoever dove on the ground to get it first won." – Matt Jones [19:02] "Mike Pratt walked in and said, 'This isn’t going to work here.'” – Matt Jones [19:29]

8. Preparing for Kentucky vs. Florida

[25:09 – 30:44]

• The upcoming Kentucky-Florida basketball game is previewed, including discussion of the SEC standings and the significance of a possible Kentucky win.
• "If we win tomorrow, we're in first place in the SEC... that's kind of remarkable.” – Matt Jones [29:52]
• Drew Franklin:
  "If a team wins nine out of ten in the SEC... you're a good team." [30:03]

9. Roster & Tactical Analysis

[31:07 – 34:32]

• Callers join to discuss the current team’s rotation, notably the impact of player Diabate.
• Insight on his role: "He is perfect for... we need a defensive stop, put Diabate in. He's perfect for that. But when you play him on offense, the offense struggles because he cannot shoot at the 4." – Matt Jones [32:29]
  • Drew notes: "Diabate has been awesome since going to the bench and getting the role he had at Alabama last year." [33:31]

10. Kentucky Football Updates

[35:23 – 37:37]

• Will Stein, new football coach, holds a meet-and-greet for former players in an effort to build camaraderie and program connection.
• Season ticket pricing changes and K Fund donation logistics discussed.
  • "More and more people are not going to the game. So why not have a little–you register early, get a little discount." – Ryan Lemond [37:10]

11. Community Calls and Show Antics

[21:10 – 24:28; 27:51 – 39:05]

• Valentine’s Day cameos, local shout-outs, and more crowd interaction.
• Playful banter about crowd noise and the lively Radcliffe audience.

12. Game Picks & Predictions

[40:45 – end]

• The panel gives predictions for major NCAA basketball games including Kansas–Iowa State, Texas Tech–Arizona, Auburn–Arkansas, and, of course, Kentucky–Florida.
• Consensus: Kentucky likely to lose a close one, but Ryan Lemond picks Kentucky to win at the buzzer.
  • "Cats win at the buzzer. 74, 73. Otega Oy hits the game winner and kills the Gators tomorrow." – Ryan Lemond [42:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On live show chaos:
  "You saw what happens if we just give Ryan a microphone and give him no preparation." – Matt Jones [01:47]

• On Nick Castellanos:
  "If this guy were the best player, they would have let it slide." – Shannon the Dude, on baseball clubhouse culture [06:29]

• Ramon Harris’ story:
  "Tubby's son was there with another school. He called Tubby and said, hey, I got a guy I think you would like… Next thing, my mom's blowing my phone up, saying Kentucky wants to offer you a scholarship." – Ramon Harris [10:16–11:42]

• On coaching eras:
  "Tubby was more of a father figure type. ... Gillespie was more of a dog eat dog coach... Cal ran practices like an NBA practice." – Ramon Harris [12:34; paraphrased 13:28]

• On KSR legacy picks:
  "He was one of the original [Matt Jones] all-star team of dudes I kind of like more than I should." – Matt Jones [15:53]

• On Billy Gillespie’s drills:
  "They would take two players and put them like 20ft apart, ball in the center, blow the whistle... athletes diving head first into each other." – Matt Jones [19:02]

• On Kentucky’s team turnaround:
  "If we win tomorrow, we're in first place in the SEC ... that's kind of remarkable." – Matt Jones [29:52]

• Game prediction optimism:
  "Cats win at the buzzer. 74, 73. Otega Oy hits the game winner and kills the Gators tomorrow." – Ryan Lemond [42:17]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:02] – Live from Radcliffe: energetic crowd, skydiving mayor story
• [03:49] – Nick Castellanos beer incident and sports culture chat
• [06:34] – High school coach revenge, buzzer-beater story
• [08:21] – Ramon Harris calls in, extended UK basketball reminiscence
• [12:34] – Harris describes coaching styles (Tubby, Billy G., Calipari)
• [16:07] – Fond/funny memories of Ramon Harris’ UK career
• [18:10] – Gillespie “dive drills” and Billy G. coaching oddities
• [29:52] – How a win vs. Florida could put Kentucky in first place SEC
• [32:29] – Roster analysis: Diabate’s role and team chemistry shift
• [35:23] – UK football: Will Stein’s meet-and-greet for former players
• [40:45] – Rapid-fire college hoops picks and Kentucky–Florida predictions

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode is quintessential KSR—fast-paced, familial, and vibrant, anchored by sports talk with local flavor and a blend of inside jokes, audience participation, and candid storytelling. The extended, candid conversation with Ramon Harris offers rare insights into Kentucky basketball’s transition through three coaching regimes and multiple program watersheds. The show’s atmosphere remains optimistic for both basketball and football, despite clear-eyed analysis of Kentucky’s challenges.

For Kentucky fans or sports radio listeners, this hour is both a nostalgia trip and a lively preview of what’s to come for Big Blue Nation.