2026-03-12- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – March 12, 2026, Hour 1

Host: Matt Jones
Guests/Crew: Drew, Ryan, Shannon
Location: Live from Tin Roof, Nashville, TN (SEC Tournament)
Main Theme:
A lively, on-location discussion of Kentucky’s opening SEC Tournament win over LSU, previewing the upcoming game against Missouri, analyzing player performances, and discussing Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament prospects—along with signature KSR banter and listener call-ins.

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Episode Overview

This hour finds KSR live in Nashville with the crew recapping Kentucky’s first-round SEC Tournament win, breaking down key player performances (especially Brandon Garrison’s breakout game), dissecting the atmosphere at the tournament, and previewing the next opponent, Missouri. There’s spirited debate about Kentucky’s NCAA seeding hopes, player minutes, and the importance of landing a "go-to" star for next season. The team also shares memorable moments with fans, callers, and reflects on the broader state of elite college basketball.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Atmosphere and Setting at the SEC Tournament (02:57; 09:36)

• The show is live from Tin Roof on Broadway, Nashville, filled with Kentucky fans—even at 8:00 a.m.
• Matt marvels at Big Blue Nation’s turnout:
  "It's eight o' clock in the morning here in Nashville and they are still here getting ready for a big game." (03:00, Matt)
• Drew describes the difference between Rupp Arena and Nashville crowds:
  “It’s so different... The fans in Nashville, this is the best of Big Blue Nation.” (09:36, Matt)

Kentucky’s Win Over LSU: Detailed Breakdown

Brandon Garrison’s Breakout (04:30 – 06:00)

• Drew notes Garrison’s unusual energy coming into the game:
  “Brandon Garrison was bouncing off the walls.” (04:49, Drew)
• Garrison’s game shifts the outcome:
  “He had a chance to get a dunk to get double digits, missed it… Then my man comes out and hits the two biggest shots of the game.” (05:16, Matt)
• Ryan reflects:
  “That's been the tale of Brandon Garrison all season. Missed that dunk and then come back, hit back to back three pointers… He took it personal when you were throwing him shade on the radio show yesterday.” (05:50, Ryan)

The Game Flow & Other Key Players

• Kentucky’s defense “bad the whole time”; LSU brought energy and fight unexpectedly for a 16-seed (06:31, Matt; 06:57, Drew).
• OA hit the game’s biggest shot with a late pull-up jumper:
  “If anybody’s going to take those shots… I don’t mind when OA does.” (10:43, Matt)
• Aberdeen’s second-half contributions were crucial, especially his free throws:
  “Aberdeen I thought played really well, didn't score in the first half, but then in the second half was able to get some big buckets made free throw when he needed to down the stretch.” (11:05, Matt)

Discussion on Player Roles & Rotations

• Cam Williams’ return offered a brief spark; speculation on amount of minutes he and Trent Noah would play as the tournament progressed (23:06, Matt; 23:17, Drew).
• Debate about relying on main stars for heavy minutes and the reality of tournament fatigue: “The whole analytics, these guys can’t play a lot of minutes… I've always felt like that's kind of ridiculous… Is an 80% away better than whatever else we have? And the answer is almost certainly, yes.” (24:06, Matt)
• Diabate’s screening and defense praised, but his shot selection criticized:
  “Diabate is a terrible shooter, but he does some things that are really positive. He's a great screener, plays pretty good defense. He rebounds. I wish he wouldn't put his head down and just take it to the basket because that rarely works.” (46:52, Matt)

Tournament Implications, NCAA Seeding, and Looking Ahead (14:36 – 16:49)

• Kentucky-Missouri is declared the “biggest game,” potentially ensuring a coveted 6-seed with a win (14:36, Matt).
• Pathways discussed:
  If Kentucky wins, they likely face Iowa State or Nebraska, which are favorable matchups in accessible locations (15:02, Matt; 15:43, Drew).
• Drew on fan planning for a St. Louis trip:
  “Fans last night up and down Broadway… that St. Louis trip is easy and they're already planning it.” (15:43, Drew)
• Analysis of the importance of this year’s potential NCAA draw: “Kentucky’s got real potential to get a draw they can do something in if they can win today.” (16:17, Matt)

Caller Segments and Listener Banter (27:24, 34:38, 45:01)

• Highlights include school kids calling in from bathrooms or staying home to watch the game, prompting Matt to promise “excuse notes.”
• Conversation about technical fouls, officiating inconsistencies, and the questionable technical on Aberdeen (29:49 – 30:24)
• Matt jokes that this episode has “the youngest listener at 8 and the oldest at 84.”
• Humor: Ryan’s on-air slip results in bleeping, followed by ribbing from the crew:
  "What? You have been on the air for 30 years." (27:03, Matt)
  "That was Indiana was the poo." (27:09, Shannon)

Roster Building Philosophy and Staff Hire News (32:48 – 34:18)

• Reports of hiring Keegan Brown (from BYU, analytics-focused) to Mark Pope’s staff: “His basic theory is you don’t need top 30 guys. You need guys who play roles and fit into positions. Kind of what we've heard Mark Pope say for the last couple years.” (32:48, Matt)
• Drew and Shannon express skepticism, advocating for top-30 talent:
  “If you told me I could have top 30 guys or role players, I'm taking the top 30 guys all the time.” (33:28, Shannon)

The Need for a Star and Recruiting the Best (41:05 – 44:50)

• Matt champions landing 5-star Tyron Stokes, citing the necessity of having at least one elite difference-maker:
  “You've got to have at least one dude who can go get it for you... Go look at the top teams in the country… every team that’s good this year has got one of those guys.” (41:27, Matt)
• On recruiting for optics:
  “The perception of you being able to get a number one player in the country is something Kentucky just doesn't have right now. They need that.” (42:49, Ryan)
• NBA stat: Kentucky leads with 10 current NBA players averaging 15+ points per game, making the case for continuing to recruit stars.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Garrison’s threes:
  “He had only made two threes all season, and he made two in 40 seconds. That changed the game.” (12:46, Matt)
• On Kentucky fans in Nashville:
  "The fans in Nashville, this is the best of Big Blue Nation." (09:36, Matt)
• On seating drama:
  "There are five of us, and they will only let two in the building. And we're not even allowed on the…" (21:58, Matt)
• On the need for a star:
  “We have not had one of those guys since what, Maxi. So you know what? It's time for us to go get one of those guys.” (44:07, Matt)
• On kids skipping school for the Cats:
  "Let your kids… I had probably 50 teachers write me after the post game show saying they let their classes watch the game yesterday.” (45:33, Matt)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:57] – Show starts live in Nashville, SEC Tournament setup
• [04:30] – Brandon Garrison’s breakout game recap
• [06:31] – LSU’s competitiveness, Kentucky defense struggles
• [09:36] – Fan atmosphere: Nashville vs. Rupp Arena
• [11:05] – Aberdeen’s contributions
• [14:36] – Importance of the Missouri game/NCAA seeding implications
• [23:06] – Cam Williams & bench roles
• [27:24] – Caller banter, Ryan’s on-air slip
• [29:49] – Technical fouls and officiating
• [32:48] – Keegan Brown staff hire and roster philosophy
• [41:05] – The Tyron Stokes discussion: need for a "go-to" player
• [44:07] – NBA stat: Kentucky’s pro scoring stars
• [45:01] – Kid callers and school traditions

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Tone & Language

The hour is classic KSR—lively, irreverent, passionate, with a dose of self-effacing Kentucky fandom. The hosts banter with each other, tease callers, sprinkle in stats, and encourage (sometimes poke fun at) their community of listeners. Plenty of lighthearted moments—mispronunciations, joking about party plans, and on-air mishaps—balance the detailed, insightful basketball analysis.

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For Kentucky fans, this episode delivers everything: game breakdowns, family-friendly chaos, candid takes on recruiting, and the sense of being part of a vibrant, passionate, occasionally rowdy Big Blue Nation.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Podcast Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl)]

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[Matt Jones]

What?

[Podcast Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl)]

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[Stephanie Young]

Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, I don't think that's true.

[Podcast Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl)]

I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Listen to the Secret World of Roald Dahl on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Clayton.

[Matt Jones]

I'm Clayton Eckerd. In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's the Bachelor.

[Stephanie Young]

But here's the thing. Bachelor fans hated him.

[Matt Jones]

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[Comedy Off Broadway Announcer]

from Netflix and Hulu Comedy. Off Broadway in Lexington welcomes Ashley Gavin. February 27th and 28th. Then from TV and the Movies, he's one of the kings of comedy. Catch D.L. hughley, March 6th through the 8th. And from the Nate Land podcast and the Grand Ole Opry, don't Miss Aaron Webber, March 12th through the 14th. For tickets to all Comedy Off Broadway shows, call 8592 or visit comedyoffbroadway.com Comedy Off Broadway.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome, everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio, Thursday, March 12th. I am Matt Jones here in Nashville, Tennessee at the SEC Tournament at Tin Roof, where once again a huge crowd has joined us, this time an hour earlier than usual to get ready for Thursday of the SEC tournament. It is Kentucky and Missouri. We are here on Broadway. And how about all these folks getting up this early in the morning to come out and join us? It's eight o' clock in the morning here in Nashville and they are still here getting ready for a big game. You can give shout out to Clark's Puppet Shop phone line 859-280-2287. A Vision Auto Glass text machine 772-774-5254 in this dish is sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. If you call TJ he'll make them pay. We are on our SEC tournament trip. You, Clayton and Crewman twice. Burnt. Burnt Tavern Brewing.

[Shannon]

Burnt Tavern Bourbon.

[Matt Jones]

Tavern Bourbon. I will get it sponsoring our trip. And guys, Kentucky started the SEC tournament with the win yesterday. How many of you, how many of you folks were at the game yesterday? All right, good. That's what I like to see, a lot of people here. I think there are a ton of people on the way as we speak. And if you are 859-280-2287, give us a shout. Drew, I watched you on TV sitting be, you know, sit right behind the camera acting like a big superstar. And you got to see the best Brandon Garrison game in the history of basketball.

[Drew]

It was incredible. I actually, I was Jerry Tipton yesterday. I was the first person to the tournament. They told me when I got there, you're 45 minutes early. Just stand outside and then you can come in. But I will say I saw the team come in and they were look kind of lazy, tired. We all were. But in the back of the line and I wrote this, Brandon Garrison was bouncing off the walls.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, really?

[Drew]

And I had a moment. I didn't know he was going to do that, but there was a little bit like, is it BG time? So it was he, he came in prepared when everybody else kind of limped into the first game, I think he

[Matt Jones]

saw bam out of bio score 83 points and said, now it's my turn to do the same thing. You know, yesterday on the show, I said that if he scored double digits in any game in the SEC tournament, I would ride a bull and giddy up.

[Drew]

Let.

[Matt Jones]

Well, we'll do it. Yeah, I just probably going to try to get as far in the tournament as I can before I do. But he did it. It was a classic Brandon Garrison thing. He had a chance to get a dunk to get double digits, missed it, then goes to the line for two free throws, makes the first, misses the second. And I thought, Ryan, all right, I'm good. He's not going to have to hit it. And then my man comes out and hits the two biggest shots of the game. They might end up being the two biggest shots of the tournament. Two threes to get to 15 and honestly turned the game around and got Kentucky that victory.

[Ryan]

That's been the tale of Brandon Garrison all season. Right. Missed that dunk and then come back, hit back to back three pointers. I mean, I think he, he took it personal when you were throwing him shade on the radio show yesterday.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, you, let's be honest, how many people really believe that the difference in that basketball game was going to be Brandon Garrison? But it was. I mean, he, you, you did who? I don't. Well, Mario was the one. Probably Mario's. If Mario's correct, then tonight's Jasper.

[Drew]

Yeah, here we go.

[Matt Jones]

He.

[Shannon]

He played out of his mind, though. We were talking yesterday on the show, you said, give me some random player that could be the most valuable player of this tournament for Kentucky. Maybe it's your guy. Bg the way he was playing yesterday, he was playing out of his mind.

[Matt Jones]

It was unbelievable. But most importantly, Kentucky got that win. I mean, that was, it was not. LSU played really, really well, especially in the first half. Kentucky's defense was bad the whole time. I actually thought Kentucky played offensively pretty well, especially when you consider that Chandler was not hit shots. I actually thought they did a pretty good job. But LSU stays in and then the one little dude we could not stop for about 35 minutes of the game.

[Drew]

When you're playing the 16 seed, a lot of times they just want to go home. They want to transfer their coaches getting fired. They're like, please let this season end. And I walked into Bridgestone hoping we'd see that version of lsu, but that was not the case. They came in with some, some passion and tried to play for McMahon and you know, Kentucky was scoring, but they Couldn't get stops credit to lsu. They, they brought the fight.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I got to give the people here a big credit. You got. That was a big crowd for Kentucky yesterday for one Wednesday at one o'. Clock. I mean I, I actually was. We weren't even here yet. We stopped and, and, and one of my friends were at the game, showed a picture. I mean it was not full, but there was a, a big Kentucky contingent that I was told. Six LSU fans in the crowd.

[Drew]

I think that's an exaggeration. Like I said, I was the first, first person in the building. I don't remember seeing one.

[Matt Jones]

Well, there were two old guys. They kept showing on tv. Okay. So I know they were there, but I think that might have been it. There were not many.

[Shannon]

Yeah, I mean good crowd though for a Wednesday. Probably the most people that have ever been there for the opening game of the SEC tournament today. What do you think the crowd's going to be like, do you think? I mean, I think a whole lot more obviously.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I actually think so. So when the. Yesterday during our pregame show, if you remember, I looked at cheapest tickets and they were $8 today I just looked this morning it was $46. So I think that means a lot more. And then you, you know, you've got going on here at the same session Kentucky playing and then Tennessee. Auburn.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Is the second game. I'm going to assume there's a lot of Tennessee fans. Auburn sometimes travels decently. Well, I would suggest, Ryan, that today will actually. Tonight I think you'll be able to get in easy. But today I actually think will be a decent ticket.

[Ryan]

Yeah, I think this ticket for the afternoon session may be hard to get A lot of fans that had already planned on coming down last night. Now they're coming down at a perfect time to see two good games this afternoon.

[Matt Jones]

I mean I'll look right here. Now I'm. Because Mario and I have have credentials where we can't even get on the floor.

[Shannon]

Sure, go ahead and brag about it. We can't even get in the door. You can't get on the floor. We can't get in the door.

[Matt Jones]

The SEC tournament has now taken. Well first Drew is sitting right behind the camera.

[Drew]

Yeah, it turns out when you're the first one there, they'll let you sit

[Matt Jones]

anywhere and then you two are not even allowed in. So I'm just looking right now it's well 39. So there are tickets available. They're all up top. So I'm gonna probably actually sit with

[Shannon]

the fans today, you probably have a lot better time doing that too then you know, press row sometimes not all that it's cracked up to be. You know, the time has been credentialed.

[Drew]

I gotta brag on the crowd. I go to every home game and rup's been great this year. If you were at the Florida game, I know we didn't win, but that was Rup's fastball Rupp doesn't hold a candle to. It's so different. It is so different.

[Matt Jones]

I right here, the fans in Nashville, this is the best of Big Blue Nation.

[Ryan]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

I mean and that's, that's nothing against, that's nothing against Rupp Arena. But the, the, you get so loud. I mean they asked a couple of players yesterday, they asked Colin Chandler I think in the post game, what's it like with the crowd and he sort of smiled and said don't tell anybody but this crowd's louder than what we have at home. And Ryan, I think that's completely correct.

[Ryan]

Well, we talked about that. It's a different crowd. These folks that don't gonna make it through up arena, save their money, plan their vacation to come down here and celebrate with the Cats every year we're long overdue for a celebration in this town.

[Matt Jones]

So this is, I, I, I think tonight is a big day. But before we do that, let's go back to, to yesterday and just talk about individual players. OA did his regular 20 to 20, you know, 28 point games. Big thing for me about away he hit the most important shot of the game. It's 80, we're up by 5, there's a minute and a half left. Were having trouble scoring. LSU has come back from 12 to 5 and he hits that long two which you know I hate those shots but if anybody's going to take them, Drew, I don't mind when OA does. He made a big one yesterday.

[Drew]

Didn't love it in the moment but of course when you hit that pull up jumper like that, LSU was kind of sagging off, you know, he's going right, he's driving to the lane. They wanted him to take that shot and he pulled up and he looked right at Mark Pope and kind of gave a celebration kind of a bang there. So that was a, a huge dagger for O way and just another great game by him. Aberdeen, they're just the consistency.

[Matt Jones]

Aberdeen I thought played really well, didn't score in the first half, but then in the second half was able to get some big buckets made free Throws when he needed to down the stretch. And then, I mean, you. You have to talk about Brandon Garrison. 18 points, but. But. But not just 18 points. Played 27 minutes for me. Didn't do anything too stupid most of the game, which makes me very happy.

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Threw a great pass towards the end of the game. And I played decent defense, you know. Right. Not only was that his best game, I'm not going to say can he do it all the time? Because he can't. But I will say that was the most consistent game he's had since he's been at Kentucky, and they needed it.

[Ryan]

You know, Malachi got in foul trouble

[Matt Jones]

early, so he struggled.

[Ryan]

He did struggle, but BG knew. Yeah. I mean, he's gonna get a lot of minutes. Comes in and immediately had a couple of those hook shots in the lane to start off with. I got him going.

[Matt Jones]

See those hook shots, Shannon? I mean, that was like old school. He reminded me of those hook shots of a Jamal McGlore.

[Drew]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Like with his back to the basket, just kind of putting a little touch. He made three of those during the game.

[Shannon]

I'll take that. But you know what that means that he hit 13 yesterday. That means he's gonna come out and take at least two or three today in trouble.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, definitely take. When he made the first one, when he was lining up for the second one, Mario was like just screaming BG at the top of his lungs. And I did not want him to take it. And then he drained.

[Drew]

Came across on the broadcast. But in the moment, there was a unison.

[Matt Jones]

No.

[Drew]

Yeah. Even a play. I can't remember who it was, but someone in the post game even brought it up. They said. One of the players said, we heard everyone yell no. And Brandon went to shoot. And then we all went. It was the. No, no, no, no. Yes. We all did it together.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, when he made his first one, folks, it was a one point game with seven minutes to go. I mean, the idea, hey, dude, it's a one point game with seven minutes to go. He had only made Ryan two threes all season, and he made two in 40 seconds. That changed the game.

[Ryan]

We knew as soon as he hit that first one, next time he gets the ball, it's going up somewhere. No matter where he is, he's going to shoot. He's just. I got that mentality. He was on a heat check yesterday. Of course he's going to shoot it yesterday.

[Drew]

He's heat check it today.

[Ryan]

Y' all get ready.

[Spreaker Announcer]

We're getting.

[Matt Jones]

We're getting Several, yeah. Do you think Colin Chandler walked at the end?

[Drew]

Oh, 100% walk.

[Shannon]

Absolutely, he walked.

[Matt Jones]

I feel like they got about five or six walks in that game. Both teams that just, I guess they've just stopped calling that. But they just switch pivot foots back and forth and they wouldn't call it.

[Drew]

I had my guard up a little bit. Not to be negative, but remember last year they almost botched that Oklahoma game in like unbelievable fashion. And I kind of had worrying about that there. They finished the job, but there was a moment where that 5, 6, 7 point lead didn't feel that comfortable until the very end.

[Matt Jones]

So they get the victory and now today play Missouri. Missouri, of course, beat us at Rupp Arena. I think the difference, I mean, if we win that Missouri game. Just to show you how things have changed. Changed. If we win that Missouri game, we were a 6 seed in the SEC tournament. Instead we're a non seed. I think if we win the Missouri game, we're probably guaranteed a 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. This is a big one for Kentucky today. I think if you win today, if you go look at what's happened in the rest of the country, all the bubble teams have lost, all the teams around us have not done well. If you win today, you can get that six seed. If not locked up. I think very close to locked up. I would argue, Ryan, this is the biggest game of the tournament for Kentucky, Florida. It would be great if they won, but this is the one that's the biggest.

[Ryan]

Yeah, because you laid it out yesterday. There's a big difference. If you're a 6 seed or a 7 seed in the NCAA tournament, you want that 60 for your competition. But man, we played Missouri in January. The one thing I remember during the broadcast, Jack Givens saying, just fight. These guys are not. They need to fight. We didn't have a lot of effort that game, so we owe them today.

[Shannon]

We had Jalen Lowe in that game. Let's remember that. Don't have them now. We did have Cam Williams. We got him back. Colin Chandler only played five minutes in that game against Missouri. He's going to be huge.

[Matt Jones]

It was, it was really. That was the last game. He really didn't play a lot. It flipped right after that. I would note, if you win today and you're a six seed, I don't see they're not going to pair us with Alabama as our three. And I bet they don't pair us with Gonzaga because we played them. So that means, Drew, you're going to get Iowa State or Nebraska, who are both teams that if you ask me today, give me a top seed you'd like to be paired against. I would choose Iowa State or Nebraska. That if you look at it, Ron and I were looking, that game would either in be St. Louis or Oklahoma City, both places Kentucky fans can go. This really is it. If you want to make a surprise run to the second weekend, this is

[Drew]

the game to win today and St. Louis specifically. A lot of fans last night up and down Broadway, you know, get a lot of western Kentucky here. That St. Louis trip is easy and they're already planning it. So please give us St. Louis between Iowa State, Nebraska. You know, we're all guessing what it could be. I'd love to see Nebraska. Iowa State scares me a little bit. I'd like some Nebraska ball, but specifically St. Louis. I think we would have a good turnout with a lot of people that were even here this week.

[Matt Jones]

But you got to play somebody. If you're telling me that I can play Iowa state instead of UConn or Houston, I'm taking Iowa State.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And then you can play them in St. Louis where we could have all those fans. I mean, I. Kentucky's got. After all the problems this year, Kentucky's got real potential to get a draw they can do something in if they can win today. 859-280-2287. We are at tin Roof at this show. Over the years, we've had people get engaged. We've seen 50th anniversaries. We got. Our youngest person is 8 years old. Our oldest is 84. We will take a break and be right back from Nashville. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

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[Podcast Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl)]

You know Roald Dahl, the writer who thought up Willy Wonka, Matilda and the bfg. But did you know he was also a spy?

[Stephanie Young]

Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been.

[Podcast Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl)]

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[Ryan]

What?

[Podcast Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl)]

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[Matt Jones]

Okay, I don't think that's true.

[Podcast Narrator (Secret World of Roald Dahl)]

I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Did you know Dahl got cozy with the Roosevelts, played poker with Harry Truman, and had a long affair with a congresswoman? And then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock before writing a hit James Bond film. How did the Secret Agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever? And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids? The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to the Secret World of Roald Dahl on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Jones]

I'm Clayton eckerd, and in 2022, I was the lead of ABC's the Bachelor.

[Stephanie Young]

Unfortunately, it didn' go according to plan. He became the first Bachelor to ever have his final rose rejected. The Internet turned on him.

[Matt Jones]

If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.

[Stephanie Young]

But what happened to Clayton? After the show made even bigger headlines. It began as a one night stand and ended in a courtroom with Clayton at the center of a very strange paternity scandal.

[Matt Jones]

The media is here. This case has gone viral. The dating contract.

[Stephanie Young]

Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you.

[Matt Jones]

Please.

[Drew]

Search warrant.

[Matt Jones]

This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

[Stephanie Young]

I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. This season, an epic battle of he said, she said and the search for accountability in a sea of lies.

[Matt Jones]

I have done nothing except get pregnant by the Bachelor.

[Stephanie Young]

Listen to Love trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Jones]

Next Monday, our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards are happening live at south by Southwest. This is the biggest night in podcasting. We'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry. And the winner is. Creativity, knowledge and passion will all be on full display.

[Drew]

Thank you so much, iheartradio.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you to all the other nominees. You guys are awesome. Watch live next Monday at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific. [e-mail] or the Veeps app. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here live in Nashville at Tin roof top section. Absolutely packed, getting ready for Katz and Missouri today. Can Mark Pope and Bill opposite Bill Gates. That would be a different game. Dennis Gates today for Missouri. Matt Ryan, Shannon and Drew, great crowd here this morning. One person writes, Matt, I don't want to play Iowa State because they do what we don't do. But my question is, honestly, who do you want to play? We got to play somebody.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, pick a. Pick a team that's a two or three seed you want to play. I mean, we can't. We don't get to choose. And let's play Oklahoma in the next round. We got to play somebody good.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Shannon]

If you want to play weak teams, you got to be the number one seed of the bracket.

[Matt Jones]

Exactly right. So we. And we didn't do that. So I don. Know, I mean, Nebraska, I'm with Drew. Nebraska would be the best matchup against. Against us. But, like, I don't want to see us play Houston. I think we would really struggle against a team like Houston. We would really struggle against team like Yukon. But you give US those Big 12 teams that are not as physical as Houston, I'll give us a chance.

[Drew]

That's why in November, December, when Kentucky wasn't doing well, you know, people are saying they'll turn it around, but at some point you got to protect your path in the NCAA tournament because you do have to play these good teams when you're a 7, 8C, whatever they're gonna be.

[Matt Jones]

One person writes, Matt, I got a question for Drew. It seems like he's really starting to come around on Mitch Barnhart and really liking him a lot. Am I correct about that?

[Drew]

No comment. I'm in a good mood. We beat lsu. Let's. Let's stay with the objective. Let's be optimistic.

[Shannon]

That's enough. Enough, Matt. Enough.

[Drew]

I have no comment.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, listen, not complaining, but this is, you know, this. There will be. There's no other show that could get anyone to come out to anything. There are five of us, and they will only let two in the building. And we're not even allowed on the

[Shannon]

court because we're all a bunch of knuckleheads. You know that, right?

[Matt Jones]

That's why it really is unbelievable.

[Drew]

I hate to do the silence and no comment on radio because you have to comment, but I'm. I'm not in a good place in that relationship. I'll Just say that I'm happy that Kentucky's doing well, but in that conversation, I am not in a good spot.

[Matt Jones]

One person writes, matt, Cam Williams, how much will he be playing today and in the rest of the tournament? You know, he hit a big, he had a big shot yesterday. I thought that was good. I think the biggest thing for Cam is you got to sit there and think, okay, what were the minutes that were going to Trent, Noah, they're now going to go to Cam. And then I think when he is healthier, maybe by next week, Ryan may, maybe he takes some of those Chandler minutes or allows Aberdeen and away to rest. But let's remind her, OA played 39 minutes last night. Aberdeen played 37 minutes last night. And ultimately that's probably what we have to do.

[Ryan]

You know, Trent didn't even get off the bench 0 minutes. But I think Cam provided a little spark when he came in. You mentioned he's three. Just the fact to have him out there as a threat helps spread the defense out. You know what I mean?

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Drew]

I think with Cam coming back, you know, Trent played zero minutes yesterday and there's, you know, you worry about him taking a spot. I don't know how Cam's foot will respond. Today might be a Trent day because as good as cam was in 17 minutes, he hit the big three is good to see him. You know, he can't just throw away those. The bench is still going to have to play Trent, Jasper, they're going to have to have moments.

[Matt Jones]

It's worth noting they did say Tom Leach and Jack Givens on the pregame show yesterday that this may be one of those things where Cam can play one day and then not play the next day. So this might be a game where Shannon, he doesn't even get in and then they try to get him to play the next day against Florida.

[Shannon]

Yep. It would be nice to get them out there for eight to 10 minutes, if that's possible today, just to have a three point shooting threat out there. I just wonder, you know, we've made so much about fatigue. How's this team going to respond today after, you know, playing yesterday.

[Matt Jones]

Also, I will say the whole analytics, these guys can't play a lot of minutes. When it really came down to it, Ryan, they played away 39 minutes and Aberdeen 37 minutes. And that's knowing we might have two, three, four, whatever games coming left. I, I have to say I've always felt like that's kind of a ridiculous. Again, remember the question is not whether or not OA will be a little worse at 80%. Clearly he will. The question is, is an 80% away better than whatever else we have? And the answer is almost certainly, Ryan. Yes.

[Ryan]

It's that time of year, man. You got to win the game. You got to play your best guys on the court, win the game no matter what. You worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow, but you got to win the game. Drive in advance.

[Matt Jones]

Let's talk about a couple other things that happened in this tournament. You had Texas lose in the first round to Ole Miss. They are probably going to make the tournament, but that hurts them. And Auburn, more importantly, Auburn wins yesterday. And Indiana lost for the eighth straight time to Northwestern. I want you to think about that. Indiana basketball lost for the eighth straight time to Northwestern, and yesterday they had to win to make the tournament. They are almost certainly out after losing for the eighth straight time to Northwestern. The coach's kid is on the team, Drew, and they asked him what they thought about the game, and he goes, well, it's just sad that we'll, you know, probably never get to wear this Indiana uniform again. And the announcer was like, well, you're on the bubble. You could still get in. And he goes, oh, yeah, I mean, I guess we could get in the NCAA tournament.

[Shannon]

There's also the nit, you know, which

[Matt Jones]

apparently they're clearly skipping. Yeah, but I mean, if you were like, they are first team out under Lenardi. And he was already like, well, we're not getting in.

[Drew]

And, you know, with Kentucky being on a little bit of a downslide recently, those comparisons pop up, but we're still not in that conversation whatsoever. I mean, they are in such a bad spot. You and I have been to Indiana game. Well, it was Nebraska where they. It was the last home game of the season. I mean, that. That program has fallen so far.

[Matt Jones]

I think I saw a stat. Indiana has missed the tournament something like seven of the last nine years or something like that. Ryan. So again, when people say where we're going to become Indiana, they have made the tournament twice in the last nine years.

[Ryan]

Yeah. least we're making the tournament. You know, you might not know this, but I grew up in Indiana. I've heard that I'm gonna be a point guard for Bob Knight when I was a little guy.

[Drew]

You want to be Calber Chaney, right?

[Ryan]

And I was going to be Calber Chaney. Anything. Indiana basketball. I was all about it when I was a little kid. They were the dump that.

[Shannon]

Dump that.

[Drew]

Rick, Rick, what the hell is wrong with you?

[Shannon]

You got it okay,

[Ryan]

Rick dumped it. Mulligan.

[Shannon]

Let's try that again.

[Drew]

They were.

[Matt Jones]

What did we. Ma', am, did I not have a conversation with him yesterday?

[Ryan]

Clearly, it worked.

[Matt Jones]

What? You have been on the air for 30 years.

[Ryan]

Sorry. I got a little worked up there. I apologize to everybody. That was.

[Shannon]

That was Indiana was the poo.

[Ryan]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Just. Just. We'll go to the phones. I love him so much.

[Shannon]

You not remember?

[Ryan]

I do.

[Shannon]

You forget you got a microphone?

[Drew]

He's filling it in here.

[Matt Jones]

You can't take him anywhere.

[Caller]

All right, who.

[Matt Jones]

Who's up first? Got Cam up first. Cam. Go ahead, Cam. What is wrong with you?

[Caller]

It's Cam from London, Ohio.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, there's a child right there. Go ahead, Cam.

[Shannon]

Role model here.

[Caller]

All right. It's Cam from Lebanon. I'm calling from my school's bathroom.

[Matt Jones]

Wait a minute. You're in the bathroom at your school?

[Caller]

Yeah, I wanted to call in really bad. Oh, I forgot. My school's bathroom.

[Matt Jones]

I forgot to write that kid his note.

[Shannon]

Oh, no, no. What a villain.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, well, hopefully he still got off school. I forgot he wrote me after and said my mom is still requiring the note. Even though you forgot to write it?

[Drew]

This is the note. You speaking it? This is it.

[Caller]

All right. Well, my fun fact is it's illegal to drive with an uncaged bear in your car in Missouri.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I'm glad you skipped class for that, Cam. I appreciate it. And what class were you supposed to be in?

[Caller]

Supposed to be in math.

[Matt Jones]

Christian math?

[Caller]

No, just like algebra.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, okay. Algebra.

[Shannon]

You're a religion on math now. I appreciate things have changed.

[Matt Jones]

859-280-2287. We will come back. Hopefully Ryan will not curse in the middle of the show again and get us beeped. We will take a break and be right back here at Tin Roof on the road with Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. 859-280-2287. People are reminding me that you don't have to give the note until you go back to school. So I got time to write that. Yeah, I got time to write that today when you. You miss and you come the next day with the note. So we will write that today. He's. He's gonna call, I think, in a little while, so that's good. I want him to be able to. To skip. One person writes. Matt, what did we think of the calls yesterday? The technical on Aberdeen week? That technical was weak, and it could. That could have been a big play in the game, too. He ends up missing one of the two free throws. And then they didn't score. So it didn't. It didn't really matter. But then the same thing. The. The flagrant called on. On. On Diabate could have been big. And then even though it was against us, I thought the flagrant on the dunk on Moreno. You duck on a guy's face and then you get the. The flagrant. Refs were a little trigger happy maybe.

[Drew]

Well, sitting where I was yesterday, you know, I'm not normally there. I could see the action up close. And the Aberdeen technical was a joke because the McKinnon guy for LSU seconds before that was cussing like Ryan over here to the ref. And I'm like, how can he say the F bomb? And then Aberdeen just sticks out his tongue and you're teeing him.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, the announcers kept saying on television, Ryan, oh, he did it once and they told him to stop. And then he did it again. But then they showed the video and he didn't do it again. He did do it one time, but then I don't. The technical was like 5 seconds later. I thought that was a bogus call.

[Ryan]

And of all people on the team, Aberdeen is probably the quietest guy on the team to kind of never kind of keeps to himself. All he did was stick his tongue out. The guy. I mean, why is that any kind of worth. Worthwhile of a technical?

[Matt Jones]

We have had three straight games of Colin Chandler missing shots. If Kentucky's going to make any kind of run, that does have to change, right?

[Drew]

I mean, we all know how hot he got. Well, he became part of the scouting report and he has to find other ways to score because they've cut that off. We need him to drive a little bit, get some. Some buckets in the lane. We love him as a three point shooter, but other teams have sniffed that out and have completely cut it off.

[Matt Jones]

He. He had that wide open three Shannon. That would have put the game away.

[Drew]

Y.

[Matt Jones]

He was wide open in the corner. Then he missed it. Then the next time down, Diabate took what I would argue is the worst shot in the history of organized basketball.

[Drew]

That was like seven feet past the rim. I had the perfect angle. It had. I mean, it almost landed in the crowd.

[Matt Jones]

He. It was like when you play golf on. On. You know, and they'll just show the thing hook. That was. And the thing was there was no one close to him. No one. And he. That was the worst shot. I. I mean it. That might be the worst shot I've ever seen someone take it's definitely a contention.

[Shannon]

I can't think of any others that were worse than that. But to your point on Colin Chandler, if he can just play some sort of a version of how he played against Vanderbilt where he just couldn't miss.

[Matt Jones]

But what worries me, what worries me is now he's missing Shannon. Open shot. Yeah, wide open.

[Shannon]

I think he's getting in his head for some reason. He's got the yip. It seems like he does.

[Matt Jones]

It does seem like he has the yips. And that's gotta. I mean, he. He hit one early.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So I thought he was. He had gotten it back, but just hasn't. Before I go to the phones, Kentucky is now hired. A report say hired. Keegan Brown worked for Mark Pope at BYU to be one of his player personnel people. I went last night before I went to sleep and I was scrolling through Keegan Brown's Twitter and read his Twitter because he's been tweeting for two years about how he thinks college basketball teams should build their roster. I encourage you, if you want to see what Kentucky's roster may look like, go read it. He goes into detail, but his basic theory is you don't need top 30 guys. You need guys who play roles and fit into positions. Kind of what we've heard Mark Pope say for the last couple years. You know, I don't know the guy, so he may be great for the job, but I think if we were hoping that they go get these superstars, it doesn't seem to be this guy's philosophy.

[Ryan]

Seems to be the M.O. of Coach Pope, like you said. So is this guy a quote unquote, going to be our GM ish guy?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know, but if he is, it would make, you know, people say Mark Pope's probably going to hire somebody he knows and who thinks like he does. That's probably what this guy seems like.

[Drew]

I remember him very well from when Pope first got hired. I was shocked that he wasn't an assistant coach. He's got all the Utah ties, the analytics. I think he's a really good assistant coach. I hope he's not our negotiator. He's very valuable, but we need someone with the shoe deals, the agents that knows that landscape. I think Keegan Brown is a big asset, but I. I worry what they're actually having to do.

[Shannon]

I don't know what the analytics say, but if you told me I could have top 30 guys or role players, I'm taking the top 30 guys all the time. I feel like we Got role players on the team right now. I feel like that's what this roster is built of. It's just role players.

[Matt Jones]

I agree. I will say this. I did. He works for the Milwaukee Bucks. Drew and I, we both know someone that works for the Milwaukee Bucks. I called

[Drew]

one of our good friends,

[Matt Jones]

I called that guy yesterday, said, tell me. And he said, look, this Keegan Brown is one of the smartest people that I know. So he did say that. So I like that.

[Ryan]

I remember.

[Drew]

That's what I was alluding to. When Pope got hired, there was a story written about him that I was like, can we please get this guy? Because from the, you know, basketball analytics side, I think he's a genius. But, you know, GMs, honestly, I kind of want someone that's a little sleazy.

[Ryan]

We are.

[Drew]

Let's get in there. We're talking about money, not basketball analytics.

[Matt Jones]

The smart one. And now we just need to sleazy one, and then we can. We can come together. But this I. This guy with the Bucks who I know was like. Like, in terms of intelligence, you're not going to find anybody smarter than this guy. So that's that. That, to me, is good. Who's up next? Joey is next. Joey. Go ahead, Joey.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. Man, I'm pumped up about this tournament. It's March. We're ready. Let's go, Cats. But yesterday, I think the best thing that could have happened, happened. Brandon Garrison had a big game, and when he's playing like that, guys, we are tough to beat. And that's all I got to say.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, we did only win by five, but we are tough to beat. The good thing about him is he gives. He gives a toughness that maybe Moreno and Yellow Vich don't have. I still wish. I appreciate the call. I still wish Drew, they would split Garrison and Diabate up. I'd like Garrison to play maybe with. With Yellowch and Diabate with Moreno, because you do lose the shooting unless he goes and makes two threes.

[Drew]

Right? And thank you for giving me the opportunity to brag about my guy. Yellow Vich.

[Matt Jones]

You called it.

[Drew]

You said he didn't love him sitting down when he was 3 for 3 from the field. But we did get the Diabate yellow Vich combo I've wanted since November. I still want more minutes from him. He starts yesterday. He was fanta. I mean, defensively had some lapses, but at least scoring. And then we just didn't see much of him. But I did like the combination of. Of Diabate playing With Yellow Bitch. Obviously Garrison having the game he did that took some of his minutes. But moving forward, I still want more Jelly tone.

[Matt Jones]

One person writes, Matt Ryan has seemed like he's been worked up more recently. Is something going on that makes him cuss and talk about his underwear as much?

[Ryan]

I'm just kind of frustrated, like the fan base, I think the way that this season has gone and when, you know, you see him play so well against Vanderbilt, then two days later when I guess fatigue sets in, you can't wait do anything at Texas A and M. It's just been such an up and down, frustrating season. I'm ready to have a celebration. Kind of feel good again about where Kentucky basketball, man, it's supposed to be a celebration, not a disappointment. Every game well, but.

[Matt Jones]

Well, we got one. We got one yesterday and hopefully that continues. Who's up next? Taylor is up there. Taylor. Go ahead, Taylor.

[Caller]

Yeah, Matt. Just watching the game yesterday, I felt like there were maybe five minutes in the first half there were a lot of fun and then got stressful and then second half started off stressful and then we had that run where Garrison made his threes and it just looked like we played with that energy for another five minutes and I was like, finally, it's going to be fun. And of course ended stressful. If we could just put those five fun minutes together for a whole game, it'd be the Vandy game every single time.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it would, but we're not. I don't know that we're good enough to do that for all 40 minutes. One of the things that was good yesterday, Kentucky did not allow runs. You know, that's been something that's crushed us over the course of. We allow these 11, 0 runs, 120 runs, 130 runs. We did not allow a run like that. And Drew, I think that was a big part of why we were so successful.

[Drew]

Yeah, credit to lsu. They stayed in the fight but never really put together those runs. Kentucky's given up a lot and there was a moment yesterday where LSU did have some momentum and Pope was quick to a timeout, which we've been critical about in the past, and he made sure to shut that down real quick. So, you know, they'd go a little 5o stretch here and there, but never really threatened once we had the big cushion in the second half.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the call. Where would you say, for those of you that are out here in the crowd, where would you say Big Blue missed on Broadway? Is it. Is it where it's been? Because it's the first time I've been down here since we got here. Is it going to be like that today? What do we think? You think there was one? Yeah, well, one guy saying yes worries me a little bit. I will say there were a lot of people there yesterday but it hasn't felt like the takeover that it does most.

[Drew]

Well, 10 minutes before the game yesterday I was very worried. If anybody in here was there yesterday, you agree. But they were almost like they were just pulling into town and parking and getting the arena. So I don't know how last night was. There was rain. I went to bed at like 8pm didn't go on Broadway at yeah, wink, wink. But I think it'll be much better today. I think people literally just drove straight in to tip off.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it's for people who aren't here. It's cold this morning, it's rainy. But that's all supposed to change this afternoon and then you get to Friday and Saturday and it's supposed to be very nice weather. So if we can just get to that point Shannon where we are playing there, I think you'll see a lot more of it.

[Shannon]

You know, usually our fan base doesn't even come down here until Friday because we're to not going used to play until Friday. So playing on a Wednesday throws things

[Matt Jones]

off a little bit.

[Shannon]

But I think they'll still show up for the game today.

[Ryan]

I think so many people, yeah just made their plans, bought their tickets but their hotel room starting last night while their tickets starting today. I think probably we'll see a huge turnout today for the game.

[Matt Jones]

You need to the tickets are available. We just bought my group here eight together for $47. So if you want to, if you want to go there, there. Selection Sunday is about picking your championship team. But when it comes to your skin, the Kentucky Skin Cancer center is the one you want in your cult in your corner. Their dermatology experts help with skin cancer detection, prevention and more. 99 cure rate. If you find it early, go to Kentucky Skin Cancer center and protect yourself. It's Kentuckyskincancercenter.com there's nothing like an excitement of a bar packed and a skin cancer ad. We'll take a break and be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here live at Tin Roof. Great crowd going all the way to the back. We are sponsored by Burt Tavern Brewing. I'm gonna get this right once on this trip. Burt Tavern Bourbon. You've said you have a case of that, right?

[Shannon]

I do. If you guys want to party? Come on over to the hotel room. I've got.

[Matt Jones]

You have a case here with you.

[Shannon]

I've got a bottle. Okay, go through that. Maybe I'll bring it out here.

[Matt Jones]

Shannon wants you to come to his hotel room tonight.

[Shannon]

Everyone, for you guys, you three.

[Drew]

What a coincidence. I'm partying there.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, let's go. Clayton and Croom as well, where they have a belt bar where you can make your. Make your belt and, and, and be able to take one that's, you know, belts.

[Drew]

Yeah, we're gonna, we're gonna bring out the belts on Missouri. And then there we go.

[Matt Jones]

Much better. 859-280-2287. There's some chatter online that Kentucky might have the highest bid now for Tyron Stokes, the number one player in the country. And you know, there that Bill Self may retire at Kansas. You know, this has been a drama that's gone back and forth and back and forth. Number one player in America. Does anyone want to make the case that we don't want him?

[Shannon]

No, no.

[Drew]

I mean, in November, maybe. We're at, we're at the point. Please just get a player, certainly the number one player.

[Shannon]

If you want it to be negative, you can look at what Peterson's doing at Kansas and him kind of determining when he's going to play and when he's not going to. But I think you still take that player if you have the opportunity to. And Pope needs to get somebody.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it might be the case that Kansas isn't as excited to have him because of Darren Peterson. But here's my view about it. We've gone two years with these kind of role player type things. Some success. You gotta have one of these guys. In my opinion, you gotta have at least one dude who can go get it for you. You know, just look at the top teams in the country. Cameron Boozer gonna be the third pick. Yaxel at Michigan, probably the best. The best senior in the country. Arizona's got two potential lottery picks as their freshman class. Connecticut's got a lottery pick. You know, Florida's got maybe one of the best returning players in the country. You just have to have one of those guys, Ryan, and we have not. And because our roster doesn't have one, we're not going to have one return. So we either got to go get a Yaxel in the portal or we got to get a freshman. I don't know who the portal guy is. If we got a chance at that freshman, Ryan, we got to get them. Go look at the top five teams in the country. Houston's the sixth best team. They've got a top 10 pick on their team. Like basically every team that's good this year has got one of those guys. And we need to go get one of those guys.

[Ryan]

Here's the reason why you want Tyron Stokes. I'm going to tell you about it.

[Matt Jones]

It you're going to tell me about.

[Drew]

Everybody calm down.

[Matt Jones]

Ryan is going to tell you about it. Go for it.

[Ryan]

There's stories out there that maybe he's not coachable, maybe he's hard to deal with in the locker room, but if you get the number one player in the country that wants to come play from you and you get him, you can tell that to all the guys in the portal. All those other freshmen. Come play with this guy. Look how good we're going to be. The perception of you be able to get a number one player in the country is something Kentucky just doesn't have right now. They need that.

[Matt Jones]

I was looking. There was a stat that came out yesterday and you know, sometimes we got a little tired. Drew of the one and done, etc. But here's the stat that is an amazing stat in the NBA right now. Players that average 15 points or more this season, okay, 50. And where'd they go to College. Of the players in the NBA that average 15 points or more, only five colleges have produced more than two that are currently in the NBA. Only five. Three of those colleges have three guys who average 15 or more. Duke has six guys that average 15 or more. Kentucky has 10 guys in the NBA right now who average 15 or more. Now I'm not saying we have to have one of those guys now, but we have not had one of those guys since what Maxi. So you know what? It's time for us to go get one of those guys.

[Drew]

And yeah, maybe there's some red flags. Ryan used the word not coachable. You know what else is not coachable? 0 people that are going to be on your team next year. So let's not be picky. And I do think there is a point to showing future recruits that we can take care of a star. I think that's very important.

[Matt Jones]

People have made the point and I think it's a valid one. You don't necessarily have to have a top 10 recruit to win. I agree with that. But I will tell you, this is the most packed year of college basketball talent I can remember. The top six teams all have guys that are either going to be first team all American or top 10 picks. To me, that says you better have one of those guys. And right now, how many of those guys do we have next year?

[Ryan]

0.

[Drew]

0, approximately.

[Matt Jones]

So if you can get one, we need to get it. Who's up?

[Drew]

Kentucky guy. Yeah, just important for the optics.

[Matt Jones]

Who's up next? Jackson is up next. Jackson, go ahead. Jackson.

[Caller]

Hey, I wanted to call and give you an update from yesterday. While I was sweeping and getting ready to mop, my mom did let me stay home. But she said if I don't get a school excuse, she's going to be real mad at you.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, well, I don't want your mom to be mad at me, Jackson, so I will. Where's Mario? Mario, let's write it. Let's. Let's draft an excuse. I've got your. I've got your mom's email. You sent it to me. Jackson will get it, and we'll make it happen. Okay?

[Caller]

Appreciate it, Matt. All right.

[Matt Jones]

And he's at home today. That's worth a round of applause. Let your kids say I was shocked. Not shocked, but, Shannon. I had probably 50 teachers write me after the post game show saying they let their classes watch the game yesterday.

[Shannon]

You know, that was one of the coolest memories I have being in elementary school is when it would be, you know, a 12 o' clock game and the teacher would roll in the old, you know, TV on the box and you'd sit there and watch the games and it's, you know, it's good memories that you have.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. What are you gonna learn in school today? Nothing.

[Drew]

I skipped a lot of class. I highly recommend it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. He failed English 101 twice and he's still writing for a living. Who's up next?

[Ryan]

Bobby is next.

[Matt Jones]

Bobby. Go ahead, Bobby.

[Caller]

Hi, guys. Just a couple quick comments. Pope said on the post game that he gave Garrison the green light. And that kind of worries me because if you look back, every time he has a big scoring game, his efficiency goes down because he tries to force it a little bit. But I am happy for him. I've not always been. He's not always my favorite player. But, you know, if he can keep doing this and I'll be real happy, then the next thing is on the floppy action that we run. If you notice Diabate, if he's the main screener, someone always gets open and I just worry, like, what are we teaching them that these other guys can't screen like him?

[Matt Jones]

Well, the other guys aren't. The other guys aren't quite as strong as Diabate. I do think Drew Diabate is a terrible shooter, but he does some things that are really positive. He's a great screener, plays pretty good defense. He rebounds. I wish he wouldn't put his head down and just take it to the basket because that rarely works. But the other stuff, he actually does a good job.

[Drew]

If you keep him in his lane as just a defensive guy, go get the ball, don't shoot corner threes. He is awesome for your team, but you don't want him kind of getting in his feeling himself a little bit and trying to do too much.

[Matt Jones]

And I would also say he has produced, in my opinion, the best individual player content I've seen in a long time, his TikTok videos where he shows you a day in his life during Ramadan and with the team. If you want to know what these guys do when they're not on the court, they're the best videos I've seen of him, showing just how they live their lives, et cetera. I think it's really good stuff on TikTok. We will take a break, come back. Our number two here at Tin Roof. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.