Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Date: March 3, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon
Network: iHeartPodcasts & Sports Talk 790

Episode Overview

This lively hour of Kentucky Sports Radio dives into breaking UK athletics news, the current state of basketball and football recruiting, conference tournament “madness,” and the future of Kentucky’s athletic department leadership. The show features candid, good-natured banter, listener calls, and a major breaking story: the expected retirement of Mitch Barnhart as UK’s long-serving athletic director.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Clarifying the Minister’s UK Allegiance

• [03:05] Matt relays texts from listeners confirming that "the south minister" is a UK fan, not a UofL fan.
• [03:34] Drew: “It's a horrible accusation. That's like the worst.”
• Quick, lighthearted teasing about the disgrace of being mistaken for a Louisville fan.

2. Louisville Program Struggles

• [03:48] Matt discusses UofL falling out of the Top 25 and coach Kelsey’s poor record (“one win in two years over a Top 30 team and that was us”).
• [04:27] Drew: Notes Kelsey’s lack of results and visible discouragement comparing it to when he first arrived.

3. Basketball Recruiting – Tyron Stokes Update

• [05:04] Matt, Drew, & Ryan discuss reports that #1 recruit Tyron Stokes will take another visit to UK, reopening Kentucky’s chances after seemingly favoring Kansas.
• [05:33] Matt: “Pope sees the value in high school recruiting, which I like.”
• [05:59] Ryan: “He’s the number one player in the country. Absolutely... If he picks you, you want him.”
• [06:07] Matt: Addresses concerns about Stokes’ “attitude” but believes taking the risk for such talent is necessary.
• [06:31] Drew: “Kentucky’s kind of in desperation mode... you absolutely have to take him.”
• Roundtable agrees that landing Stokes is critical for perception and competitiveness.

4. SEC Women’s Tournament & Show Coverage

• [09:11] Matt & Drew: Kentucky women play at 11am, affecting KSR’s broadcast on local affiliates but available in full on streaming/podcast and a Somerset affiliate. Drew reminds listeners how to find the updated affiliate list.

5. The Evolving Role of Athletic Directors in Modern College Sports

Call from Chase: Questions on UK's approach to AD hiring and game day environment ([10:12])

• [10:44] Matt draws parallels between hiring for AI and for college sports: “You have to hire somebody who's eager to embrace that change.”
• [12:18] Ryan: “You can't be afraid to spend money to make money. You want to make your product good enough where they want to come and spend their money and watch your product.”
• [13:23] Drew: Praises new football coach Will Stein for embracing the current ‘rules of the game,’ setting the standard for other departments: “He even said exactly that...jump in and embrace it and love it, or you're not going to be able to succeed.”

6. Caller Segment Highlights

• [14:04] Dan: Shares a positive experience touring UK’s football facility and says Will Stein has re-energized the program.
  • [15:21] Matt: “His energetic level is going to be infectious.”
  • Light-hearted banter about Ryan’s wording ("energetic level is going to be infectious" [15:27]).
• [15:54] Jacob: Reiterates the urgency for an AD who understands modern college basketball and avoids “Mitch 2.0”.
  • [16:55] Matt: Agrees and says the AD must embrace the present, not cling to the past.

7. March “Madness Week” and Conference Tourney Mechanics

• [21:08] Matt: “Conference Tourney Madness week really starts today… I love the small tournaments.”
• The hosts debate tournament seeding formats and fairness ([22:16]-[23:34]).
  • Shannon: “A lot of weight [is] on the regular season because the bottom four have to win seven games in seven days…”
  • Ryan: Prefers formats that reward top seeds but roots for underdogs to make improbable runs.

8. Miami (OH), Bracketology, and DJ Chuck’s Blown Speaker

• [23:34] Matt, Ryan, Drew: Discuss Auburn coach Bruce Pearl’s strong stance against Miami (OH) as an at-large team.
  • [23:56] Matt: “I don't think he's wrong…if they're in the SEC, I think they go 2 and 16.”
• [25:13] Matt & Shannon: Recap Miami’s coach kicking and breaking a (halftime) DJ Chuck’s $3,000 speaker; the school agrees to pay for damages. Playful wordplay:
  • Shannon: “His speaker just got chucked.” [26:10]
  • Matt: Suggests DJ Chuck open for Shannon’s band, to more laughter.

9. Breaking News: Mitch Barnhart to Retire as UK Athletic Director

• [28:49] Matt breaks news (confirmed by ESPN's Pete Thamel):

  “Mitch Barnhart is expected to retire as soon as today, but likely this week. After 24 years as the athletic director… longest serving AD in the history of UK Athletics.”

• [31:35] Ryan: “It's a loss, man. You're right… that's a big chair to fill with what he did here at the University of Kentucky — but if he's not the kind of guy that wants to adapt to the changing college athletic world, maybe it is the right time.”

• [32:00] Matt: Praises Barnhart as a loyal person who improved UK athletics “across the board.” Acknowledges Barnhart’s strengths (loyalty, people skills, successful hiring) and weaknesses (disliking dissent, quick temper).

• [34:17] Ryan: “Usually for athletic directors, that's your legacy. Who did you hire?... the rest of them [hires] have been home runs, grand slams… his ad tree: Scott Strickland, Greg Byrne, Dwayne Peavey, John Cohen, Rob Mullins.”

• [35:01] Matt: Discusses possible successors: “Eric Monday… Mark Hill… Do you bring back Dwayne Peavey… or do a nationwide search?... That to me will be the question that we figure out here over the next week or 10 days.”

• [35:01-36:24]: Conversation about the influential “AD tree” emanating from Lexington and speculation about how the presidential transition might impact the upcoming hire.

  Notable Quote:

  “You know, if you were going to give the pros, I think he is very good at managing people… a person who really stuck by his people. And you know, I think there's a lot to say about that.” – Matt Jones [32:00]

10. Miscellaneous Moments & Listener Banter

• Sherry [27:11, 27:30]: Calls to humorously question why Ryan is always taking his shirt off (“Why the nudity?”).
• Playful jokes about UK staff, hosting duties, and controlling Ryan’s antics (“He's beyond controlling at this point.” – Drew [28:29]).

11. Post-Retirement Analysis & Legacy Conversation

• Detailed debate over Barnhart’s big coaching hires (Calipari, Stoops) and controversial contracts ([42:26] Drew: “The Cal hire is weird for me with the credit to Mitch…”).
• Matt credits Barnhart for courage in key hires, shifting blame/responsibility as a mix of internal/external influences.

12. Revisiting the Minister & The Tuning Out Challenge

• Minister Scott calls in ([44:10]) to clarify he is indeed a UK fan and his “tune out the noise” challenge wasn’t an attack on KSR (“There's nothing about sports on there… we're not trying to be legalistic with it.” – Scott [45:04]).
• Matt and Scott have a friendly exchange about the intent and impact of the church’s “noise fast.”

13. Season Reflections & Game Predictions

• Multiple callers express excitement about the unpredictability of the current basketball season.
• Hosts make final game predictions for Kentucky at Texas A&M – all pick the Wildcats to win a tough, close contest.
  • Matt: “I'm going to take Kentucky 82-80… I say [Reed] Oweh… gets an AND-1 late that gives Kentucky the win.” [50:04]

Notable Quotes

• Matt Jones [10:44]: “You have to hire somebody who's eager to embrace that change… If you don't like college sports as it is, then you need to not be in it.”
• Drew Franklin [13:23]: “[Will Stein] showed up with two GMs… That's ready for what's next in the future.”
• Matt Jones [28:49]: “Mitch Barnhart is expected to retire as soon as today… after 24 years as the athletic director.”
• Ryan Lemond [31:35]: “It's a loss, man… but if he's not the kind of guy that wants to adapt… maybe it is the right time…”
• Scott (Minister) [44:10]: “I can abide being called a lot of things, but a Louisville fan… I have to clear my name on that one.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 03:05 — Clarifying minister’s UK fandom
• 05:04 — Tyron Stokes recruiting update
• 09:11 — SEC women's basketball tournament & broadcast notes
• 10:44 — Philosophy of new AD hiring in changing college sports landscape
• 13:23 — Will Stein’s positive impact on UK Football
• 21:08–22:53 — March “Madness Week”; conference tournament talk
• 23:34–26:00 — Miami (OH) resume, Bruce Pearl's comments, DJ Chuck speaker incident
• 28:49–36:24 — Breaking News: Mitch Barnhart’s expected retirement, legacy, and next steps
• 42:26–43:44 — Revisiting Calipari/Stoops contracts and legacy
• 44:10–45:15 — Minister Scott call-in & “noise fast” explanation
• 49:15–50:44 — Game predictions for Kentucky vs. Texas A&M

Memorable Moments

• The irreverent banter and recurring jokes about “gentlemen” and “nudity” with Ryan Lemond.
• The playful investigation and ultimate clearing of the minister’s UK allegiances.
• The bombshell, live announcement (and discussion) of Mitch Barnhart’s impending retirement.
• The DJ Chuck speaker incident—an under-the-radar but classic example of KSR’s penchant for quirky, local sports news.

Conclusion

This hour of KSR balanced breaking news, Big Blue Nation recruiting anxieties, and March basketball excitement. Above all, it marked the end of an era with the retirement of a transformative figure in UK athletics. The hosts reflected thoughtfully on the past while emphasizing the need for UK to hire a forward-thinking, adaptable athletic director—forging ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of college sports.