Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 1

Episode Date: February 25, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Shannon Dawson
Station: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)

Overview

This episode of KSR delivers the latest Kentucky basketball analysis following a crucial win over South Carolina. The hosts break down the game, discuss individual player performances, and debate postseason prospects. They also feature playful banter on Kentucky counties' "fightability", address a viral broadcast moment, and reflect on Kentucky athletics and its place among blue-blood programs. The show stays true to its fast-paced, conversational tone, offering both insight and comic relief.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Matt Jones' Voice Woes

• [02:46–05:22]
  • Matt opens the show with a raspy voice, explaining he’s having vocal cord issues and expects to start steroid treatment to recover for a live show in Madisonville.
  • Humorous speculation about which vocal cord is malfunctioning and their supposed functions:
    • “I think my right one is working okay. My left one is weak. ...And the left one, I think does my high volume, like the high pitch. ...So the right one is working.” – Matt Jones [03:33]
  • Drew and Shannon poke fun at Matt’s “doofenshmirtz core” and compare his voice to a late-night radio host.

Kentucky vs. South Carolina Game Breakdown

• [05:48–16:14]
  • Kentucky wins 72-63, ending a losing streak in a gritty, unspectacular fashion.
  • Matt emphasizes the importance:
    • “The key thing...was to win. And we did that.” [06:03]
  • Analysis of key contributors and game dynamics:
    • Aberdeen and Diabate praised for stepping up offensively with Oway underperforming.
    • Chandler highlighted for clutch shooting at game-critical moments.
    • South Carolina’s lackluster performance is ridiculed, comparing their team to characters from "Teen Wolf".
      • “It looked like the team from Teen Wolf... the guy from the science fair.” – Matt Jones [09:17]
  • The abundance of Kentucky fans in South Carolina due to $4 tickets noted as significant [12:03].
  • Emphasis on rebounding dominance:
    • “They won the rebounding battle. 48 to 28. That's nuts.” – Shannon Dawson [12:59]

Player-by-Player Analysis

• [10:49–16:38]
  • Oway:
    • Not a good offensive game but strong defense (5 steals).
  • Aberdeen:
    • “He is my MVP of the SEC play...The reason we don’t stink is because of Aberdeen.” – Matt Jones [11:18]
    • Hit crucial threes, had zero turnovers.
  • Chandler:
    • Hit big shots at both the start and end.
  • Malachi:
    • Noted for rebounding strength (11 boards) despite lacking physicality.
  • Diabate:
    • Praised for toughness and rebounding.
    • “Diabate...brings a level of toughness that nobody else on the team has...” – Matt Jones [13:30]
    • Described as relentless but inefficient scorer on some attempts; creates second-chance opportunities.
  • Trent:
    • Deep shooting slump and apparent confidence issue:
      • “No made field goal since January...those shots last night made me cry.” – Matt Jones [15:40]
  • Garrison:
    • Frustration at missed opportunities but credited for a go-ahead basket.
  • Jasper:
    • Confidence and ball-handling struggles:
      • “He can’t dribble. They just take the ball from him...he’s getting to the point where it’s becoming unplayable.” – Matt Jones [16:54]
  • Discussion on shortening rotation for postseason; preference for 6–7 man lineup [31:07].

Fan and Social Media Interaction

• [23:54–24:59]
  • Listeners lament Kentucky players from in-state (Jasper, Trent) not producing in key moments; hosts empathize but prioritize performance.
  • Notable stat: The group of bench contributors (Noah, Jasper, Garrison) combined 1-for-11 from the field and 0-for-6 from three [17:23].
  • Calls and texts referenced throughout with fan sentiments and questions.

The Peter Burns Broadcast Moment

• [25:02–28:04]
  • Discussion of ESPN’s Peter Burns referencing Matt Jones multiple times during the game broadcast, leading to viral social media mentions:
    • “Aberdeen is hotter than Matt Jones watching the State of the Union.” – as relayed by Matt [25:14]
    • Hosts and fans find the references funny and remark on Kentucky’s passionate fanbase.
  • Shannon jokes about possible emerging “bromance” between Matt and Peter Burns.

Tournament Seeding and Postseason Outlook

• [31:31–33:46]
  • Kentucky is expected to make the NCAA tournament regardless of final games.
  • Hosts prefer a 6, 7, 10, or 11 seed—want to avoid 8–9 seeds to escape top-ranked opponents early.
    • “I just want us to be a 6, 7 or 10, 11 seed. I don't want us to be an 89 because we ain't beating these one seats, right?” – Matt Jones [33:04]
  • Advocated for using the final games for building momentum and seeding advantage.
  • Emphasis on pride and avenging an embarrassing loss to Vanderbilt in the upcoming game.

Kentucky’s Place Among Basketball Blue Bloods

• [41:23–43:24]
  • Discussion sparked by Indiana’s recent struggles and comparisons.
  • Matt rebukes the idea that Kentucky basketball is “becoming Indiana,” noting the Hoosiers’ decades-long decline:
    • “Indiana hasn't made the final four since 1996. They're not just bad, they're really bad.” – Matt Jones [42:16]
  • Kentucky, despite frustrations, is reaffirmed as a premier program.
  • Short tangent regarding Tayshaun Prince as a potential “GM” for Kentucky, praised for his NBA front office experience.

Fan Interaction: Kentucky Counties “Fightability”

• [45:17–48:34]
  • Humorous speculation: “If you had to fight a county, which one?”
  • Consensus emerges that “suburb counties” (Oldham and Jessamine) would be the easiest; avoid Eastern and Western Kentucky entirely.
    • “I don’t fight people from Clay County or Union County.” – Matt Jones [45:54]
  • Plenty of laughs and local references.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Aberdeen is my MVP of SEC play...The reason we don’t stink is because of Aberdeen.”
  – Matt Jones [11:18]

• “It looked like the team from Teen Wolf...The guy from the science fair.”
  – Matt Jones [09:17]

• On Peter Burns’ viral line:
  “Aberdeen is hotter than Matt Jones watching the State of the Union.”
  – Matt Jones quoting Peter Burns [25:14]

• “No made field goal since January...those shots last night made me cry.”
  – Matt Jones on Trent’s slump [15:40]

• “I just want us to be a 6, 7 or 10, 11 seed. I don't want us to be an 89 because we ain't beating these one seats, right?”
  – Matt Jones [33:04]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:46] – Show begins in earnest, Matt’s voice issues
• [05:48] – UK vs. South Carolina, game analysis
• [10:49] – Player-by-player discussion
• [12:59] – Rebounding dominance
• [15:40] – Discussing Trent’s shooting woes
• [23:54] – Listener questions on playing Kentucky natives
• [25:14] – Peter Burns/State of the Union moment
• [31:07] – Shortening postseason rotation
• [33:04] – On optimal tournament seeding
• [42:16] – Dismissing "becoming Indiana"
• [45:17] – The "fight a Kentucky county" debate

Additional Fun Bits

• Inside Jokes:
  • “Doofenshmirtz core” for faulty vocal cord [04:00]
  • “Handing Garrison minutes to some yellow bitches” (Yellowvic subbing in for Garrison) [24:45]
• Pop Culture:
  • “Teen Wolf” analogies [09:17, 13:09]
  • “Lifehouse” song detour and burning CDs [22:02]
• Listener Engagement:
  • Several texts/calls worked into the show, keeping a lively community feel.

Conclusion

Hour 1 is classic KSR: thorough Kentucky basketball analysis, playful and sometimes self-deprecating banter, fan interaction, and topical asides that keep hardcore fans and casual listeners equally entertained. The big takeaways: Kentucky is back on track for March, certain key players need to step up, and KSR is as much about the community and comedy as it is basketball.