2026-03-17- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

KSR Podcast Summary

Episode Date: March 17, 2026
Hour 1
Host: Matt Jones (from Bristol, CT)
Guests & Crew: Drew, Shannon, Ryan Lemond (Lexington & Louisville contributors)
Main Theme: Latest Kentucky Sports updates including local weather chaos, NCAA Tournament prep, Matt’s ESPN experience, nil rumors, transfer portal, and UK’s upcoming March Madness battles.

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Episode Overview

This hour of Kentucky Sports Radio blends the signature KSR banter with deep dives into Kentucky sports topics, March Madness preparations, and a candid recounting of Matt Jones’s national ESPN appearance. Discussion covers travel chaos due to weather, credential mix-ups for the NCAA tournament, viral NIL rumors, transfer portal speculation, and a few memorable stories from both hosts and listeners. True to KSR tradition, the hour is loaded with camaraderie, Kentucky pride, self-deprecating humor, and a mix of skepticism and hope about the Wildcats’ tournament prospects.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kentucky Icy Weather Wreaks Havoc

• [02:39–05:21]
  • Lexington was hit hard by black ice, causing a rough commute for the KSR team.
    • Drew: “It takes me 12, sometimes 13 minutes to get from my house to the show. This morning I left at 9am and I barely made it.” (03:28)
    • Matt: “I nearly slid off the road twice coming in. So it's bad.” (03:35)
  • Lexington police only responded to accidents with injuries due to volume.
  • Commentary on Mario’s absence due to fear of icy driving:
    • Matt: “Mario was like, ‘I don’t drive in ice. Can I stay home?’ ... Seems kind of diva staying at home, being scared of the ice.” (04:08, 04:37)
    • Shannon: “That really surprises me, especially after seeing all that manliness…you riding that bull the other day.” (04:16, 04:37)

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2. March Madness & KSR’s Press Credential Fiasco

• [05:33–07:44]
  • Sweet 16 in Kentucky begins tomorrow; NCAA Tournament upcoming.
  • Matt & Ryan missed the credential deadline for the St. Louis regional, leading to some anxious begging to the Missouri Valley Conference commissioner.
    • Matt: “If it doesn’t, then we might not even go to St. Louis. I mean, there’s no reason to go out there and not get to go to the game.” (06:28)
    • Drew: “Well, it’s one of the kindest conferences in, I feel, sports.” (07:01)
  • KSR reminisces about attending Missouri Valley’s “Arch Madness” tournaments; hopes for some conference-based goodwill.

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3. Matt Jones’ ESPN Bracket Experience—‘Hands on TV’

• [07:44–14:21]
  • Matt recounts filling in last-minute for Seth Greenberg on an ESPN College Basketball bracket digital segment:
    • “When you’re trying to rise in a company? The answer is always yes. Right.” (09:03)
  • Matt did the shoot in casual wear: “I had a hoodie and I had a Madisonville hat. And so Madisonville’s getting some national TV play and a jacket.” (09:27)
  • Segment required a single-camera, solo bracket explanation in just 12 minutes, with a close-up overhead camera on his hands.
    • Quote: “All I could think is, okay, what are people going to focus on on my hands?...Do you want these hands in HD on national television?” (11:23)
  • Matt made a Bill Self hairpiece joke, called Duke “the Evil Empire,” had Akron in the Sweet 16, and generally took a more entertaining, less hyper-analytical approach than his peers.
    • “You added personality, which might just be a way to go. It didn’t sound like you knew anything, but that’s all right.” (13:03)
    • Drew: “Analysis, especially on TV, filling out your bracket—it gets boring. Like, let’s have some fun. It’s March Madness.” (13:15)

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4. Awkward ESPN Green Room Moment

• [14:18–16:32]
  • Matt found himself chatting (unknowingly) with women’s bracketologist Charlie Creme, leading to an awkward debate over Kentucky’s NCAA women’s seeding:
    • Matt: “I was about to argue...and then I realized that’s the guy who does bracketology for the women’s bracket.” (16:01)

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5. Social Media Jokes & ESPN Segment Fallout

• [20:24–21:27]
  • Humorous recap of the “hot hands” contest between himself and Seth Greenberg; jokes not suitable for broadcast referenced.
  • Matt’s opening line on ESPN: “I’m Matt Jones. You should follow my bracket because Seth Greenberg missed his play.” (21:19)
  • Pride in repping hometown with his casual attire: “Madisonville, that hat you gave me a couple weeks ago is now on ESPN.” (21:35)

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6. Controversial NIL Rumor: “Kentucky Offered $7–$9 Million”

• [21:55–27:40]
  • Michigan’s Yaxel Lendenberg claimed UK offered $7–$9 million NIL, which he turned down for Michigan’s “family atmosphere.”
  • Matt and crew call BS:
    • Matt: “There’s no way that’s true. That’s completely false...I do think it is possible Kentucky offered slightly more...but not anywhere close to what he said.” (23:57)
    • Shannon: “I don’t know Yaxel, I’m sure he’s a nice young man, but liar, liar, pants on fire.” (24:32)
    • Drew: “If you turn down $6 million because you like the coach at another school, no agent is going to agree to that with all that money.” (25:39)
  • Matt: “Is there any kid…that you think would turn down $9 million for $3? ... No, there’s no…anybody with a brain is taking $9 million over $3.” (26:28, 26:34)

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7. Transfer Portal Speculation and Roster Predictions

• [33:33–36:46]
  • Caller asks how transfer portal players are ranked; Matt recommends checking On3 Sports, notes rankings are less definitive than in high school recruiting.
  • Wild speculation on how many current UK basketball players will return next season:
    • Matt: “I’m still kind of at 4 to 5. Where are you Drew?” (35:41)
    • Drew: “In my head, I’d say about five.” (35:43)
    • Shannon: “I’m dropping mine to three.” (35:45)
  • Discussion touches on the fluidity and uncertainty of modern rosters.

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8. Lighthearted: “Where Are They Now?” March Madness Folk Heroes

• [29:21–30:28]
  • Doug Edert (St. Peter’s): Now a basketball trainer/coach.
  • Kevin Pittsnogle (West Virginia): West Virginia middle school principal.
  • Marshall Henderson (Ole Miss): Director of business development at Rhino Golf.
  • Banter about NCAA heroes finding surprisingly normal jobs post-stardom.

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9. Athlete Loyalty – Where’s the Love?

• [43:03–48:50]
  • Video surfaces of OKC Thunder players’ March Madness picks; Cason Wallace and (to a lesser degree) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander choose Arkansas over Kentucky.
    • Matt: “I think part of what we like as Kentucky fans is the feel that the players are part of us...But part of the devil’s bargain you make with Cal is you’re going to have success…but it’s about me, meaning the coach.” (44:57)
  • Drew and Shannon lament that UK alums sometimes lack visible loyalty, especially in the “one-and-done” era.
    • Drew: “When the Kentucky boy did it [picked Arkansas], you know, any player could do it.” (46:50)

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10. Other Notables & Quotes

• Matt laments the closeups on his hands for ESPN, worried about possible social media mockery.
  • “What are people going to focus on? On my hands?” (11:23)
• Recurring jokes about Bill Self’s hair, personality over analysis, and NCAA bracket upsets (Matt admitting he picked Akron to the Sweet 16).
• Commentary on NCAA regulations and weed possession news: “You must have some severe glaucoma if you need two pounds of weed on you at any moment.” (28:23, Drew)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:39 – Show intro, weather troubles, traffic chaos
• 05:40 – NCAA credential mix-up and trip down “Arch Madness” memory lane
• 07:44 – Matt tells his ESPN fill-in experience
• 14:18 – Awkward bracketology green room moment
• 21:55 – Discussion of false NIL rumors ($7–9 million claim)
• 29:21 – “Where Are They Now” segment
• 33:33 – Transfer portal/player ranking info
• 35:41 – Speculation: how many Cats return next season
• 43:03 – Player loyalty, Calipari’s program legacy, Arkansas picks
• 48:01 – Closing reflections on Calipari, fans, and player decisions

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Memorable Quotes

• “The answer is always yes, right?” (Matt, on saying yes to last-minute ESPN gigs; 09:03)
• “Do you want these hands in HD on national television?” (Matt, on TV hand close-ups; 11:23)
• “You added personality, which might just be a way to go. It didn’t sound like you knew anything, but that’s all right.” (ESPN staff to Matt; 13:03)
• “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” (Shannon, debunking Yaxel’s NIL claim; 24:32)
• “I don’t think we’re anywhere near the top 28 team in the country.” (Caller, on UK’s 7-seed status; 37:13)
• “Anybody with a brain is taking $9 million over $3.” (Matt, on NIL reality; 26:34)
• “Part of the devil’s bargain you make with Cal is… it’s about me, meaning the coach.” (Matt, on Calipari; 44:57)

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Tone and Language

• Friendly, humorous, candid, and occasionally self-deprecating.
• Quick banter and in-jokes among Matt, Drew, Shannon, and Ryan.
• Informative, skeptical—especially regarding NIL rumors and why players make (or embellish) their choices.
• Loyal but light-hearted criticism (e.g., of players' school choices, team physicality).

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Conclusion

Hour 1 of the March 17, 2026 KSR podcast takes listeners through the chaos of Kentucky mornings, March Madness tournament logistics, and the quirks and controversies of the college basketball ecosystem. The hosts, with trademark KSR camaraderie and humor, mix personal anecdotes (from icy commutes to ESPN’s HD hand close-ups) with deeper reflections on Kentucky basketball culture, NIL rumors, transfer portal frenzy, and the shifting sands of player loyalty. This hour is a lively, insightful prep for Wildcat fans heading into the best weeks of the year.

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Listen for:

• NCAA plans and credential drama (05:40)
• Matt’s ESPN debut and Kentucky pride (07:44)
• NIL debate and recruiting myth-busting (21:55)
• “Where are they now?” folk hero stories (29:21)
• Honest talk about transfers and UK’s future (33:33, 35:41)

Contact Segment:

• Callers join at [30:29] and [33:19] for lively questions about GM roles, the transfer portal, and Kentucky's roster predictions.

Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

This is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

Welcome everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. Tuesday, March 17th on St. Patrick's Day. And I'm Matt Jones here live still in freezing Bristol, Connecticut. You can give us sh the Clark's Puma chop phone line 859-280-2287. A Vision Auto Glass text machine is 772-774-5254 in this distance sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. If you call TJ, I'll make them pay. Ryan and Drew did make it in in Lexington. Shannon made it in in Louisville. Guys, I hear it's cold here, but sunny. I hear you guys had like traffic mageddon today. Both, all of you, right?

[Shannon]

Apparently black ice has taken over downtown Lexington and traffic was a nightmare. Drew got it a lot worse than I did coming from his side of town.

[Drew]

It takes me 12, sometimes 13 minutes to get from house to show. This morning I left at 9am and I barely made it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, took me an hour as well. I nearly slid off the road twice coming in. So it's bad.

So what's going on? So our car are cars wrecking or is it traffic or all of the above?

[Drew]

All of it.

[Shannon]

All the above.

[Drew]

Everything.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Okay, well, that's no good. What was it was this scene. Did people know this was coming?

[Drew]

No, no, no. We got like a light dusting of snow. I even looked out my window this morning in the street. Look fine. So I'm just doing my normal routine until phone starts blowing up with friends turning around and going home and my wife running late. And Billy sent us a message. So I ran out the door as early as I could.

[Matt Jones]

By the way, Mario is a complete chicken. Mario was like, I don't drive in ice. Can I stay home?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Diva?

[Shannon]

Really?

[Matt Jones]

I know. I didn't know we had a diva on. On the payroll. And I, you know, I'm not going to risk his. Risk his well being, Shannon. So I said, sure, you could stay home. But I thought, well, maybe it'll just be me and Shannon. Maybe nobody can get there. But then Ryan and Drew make it. Ryan and Mario. Seems kind of diva staying at home, being scared of the eyes.

[Shannon]

You know, that really surprises me, especially after seeing all that manliness. He saw you riding that bull the other day.

[Matt Jones]

I thought, this is not on me. Look, I would have been the one person that's always. I would have been there.

He would have.

But I'm just saying. Yeah, I mean, y' all didn't ride the bull. I don't Want. I don't want to hear it, but I would say. But I was surprised that Mario backed out. Well, hopefully everybody is safe. I know I did see a thing that said the Lexington police were no longer taking calls Drew. For car accidents unless it involved an injury because they had too many. They said we cannot take calls for car accidents unless there's an injury, at least. Right. And I'm sure that'll change at some point, but that must mean that, you know, you know, it's like Bristol Motor Speedway or something, just wrecks everywhere.

[Drew]

I only saw one wreck on my way in. It wasn't too bad, but it was just a parking lot having to go so slow. I'm sure there are wrecks elsewhere, but it wasn't too bad as far as wrecks going my way in. Just way too much traffic and completely unexpected.

[Shannon]

I was kind of thankful this wasn't tomorrow because the Sweet 16 starts tomorrow. I could have been even worse with all that traffic coming in tomorrow.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So Sweet 16 starts tomorrow. We'll talk a little bit more about that. Obviously, the NCAA tournament is the Thursday we. Shannon, we made a mistake, me and Ryan, and we. I didn't look to see when the deadline for credentials was. I thought it would be longer than 5 o' clock yesterday. Oh. And I got on at 8 o' clock to try to fill it out, and it was closed. So I beg. I've begged to the Missouri Valley commissioner because that's who's putting on the St. Louis regional.

Yeah.

Missouri Valley commissioner, who I oddly know, but from having gone to the Missouri Valley Conference. I begged for forgiveness and we'll see if it happens, because if it doesn't, then we might not even go into St. Louis. I mean, there's no reason to go out there and not get to go to the game.

[Shannon]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

So. So we'll see. We're. We're planning on leaving for St. Louis tomorrow. Or Ryan, maybe we won't. I don't know. It's all in the hands of the Missouri Valley commissioner.

[Shannon]

Well, you know, you copy last night? I didn't. I never received a link either, so I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I got the link. I just assumed you had till longer than five o' clock the day after. I mean, I assumed you had at least a full day, but I guess you didn't, and that's on me. And so hopefully, you know, I don't know how kind people are, Drew, in the Missouri Valley, but I guess we'll figure that out.

[Drew]

Well, it's one of the kindest conferences in if I feel sports.

[Matt Jones]

Right.

[Drew]

Yeah. I think you all will be fine though. Want to have you there.

[Matt Jones]

Are any of our teams in the Missouri Valley from. Murray State's in the Missouri Valley.

[Shannon]

Murray State, yes, that's correct.

[Matt Jones]

So maybe some of our Murray State people can. Can help us. I'm at the mercy of the Valley. You know, I don't know. I met them at the. But Drew, you and I have been to the Missouri Valley Conference at least twice, right. Haven't we? I know I've been.

[Drew]

We've been to so many random things. I would.

[Matt Jones]

I'd bet anything that was arch madness.

[Drew]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Drew]

Yeah, that's where we were up really high in the hockey.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Right there.

[Drew]

Press rows like on the roof. Yeah. That was a fun trip. I mean, you're definitely in there now.

[Shannon]

Even Evansville, I think is in the Missouri Valley Conferences. We got two school. Two of our schools are there.

[Matt Jones]

Well, hopefully we can make it happen because they. I would like to go. I'm flying back to Louisville tonight to try to make the trip, but I guess we'll find out. Cool thing happened yesterday. All right. And this is. And, and I have to say, you know, there's been a long time rivalry on this show. Shannon, going back a while with Seth Greenberg.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Better have my money.

Yeah. He hosted this show once and was very adamant about getting his money, which I. Yeah. Which. Which I think I heart. Finally paid. But Seth, you know, Seth better have his money. That's one of the things we've learned. And it was literally like $30.

How much you promised him, but he was blowing me up.

It was very little. I mean, that was back in the early days. Right. So it wasn't much money at all. But he wanted it. And well, so last night I'm here in Bristol and I, I had stuff here until about 5 o' clock and then I was just going to come to the hotel and just hang out and I get a phone call at 6 o' clock that says Seth Greenberg cannot fly out of Nashville due to weather and he was supposed to do a digital hand bracket thing with us and now I can't. Can you fill in and do it? And Ryan, I'm like, what's, what's the lesson when you're trying to. To rise in a company? The answer is always yes. Right.

[Shannon]

Knocks. You take it.

[Matt Jones]

You just say yes.

[Shannon]

Yep.

[Matt Jones]

So I go, sure, what do I need to do? And they're like, you need to be here right now and you're going to have to, I guess, Jay Williams, Jeff Borzello, all these college basketball people had done it. Just show up. And I go, I haven't showered. I don't have the right. Just wear what you got on.

[Shannon]

What'd you have on?

[Matt Jones]

I had a hoodie and I had a Madisonville hat. And so Madisonville's getting some national TV play Shut up and a jacket. So I drive quickly over to espn, get through security, get in there and. And they're. They're doing this thing, which I think it's going to come out today, where they put one camera on me and then one camera above me, just on my hands. And they have me fill out a bracket and explain it. Okay. And they said, this will be on ESPN Digital and it'll run on ESPN News. So go for it. And, you know, they say, fill out the bracket. And then, Shannon, they say, do it in 12 minutes. Oh, okay. So you have to almost, in your mind, think about spacing out. 12 minutes. Yeah, right.

Pace yourself.

And, you know, it's just a monologue. You know, Drew, I don't like to host by myself. I don't really think that's entertaining. But you basically now have 12 minutes just to fill out your bracket. Now, those of you that know me, Drew, you know I don't have great handwriting. You've seen my handwriting.

Doctors handwriting, maybe serial killer handwriting.

Yeah, it's not serial killer handwriting. It's just not great penmanship. Yeah, but the camera is above me, only on my hands. And then it occurs to me, Drew, did I clip my fingernails right? Because this is a close up on your hands. Thankfully, the night before, I had clipped my fingernails. But I don't know if you all have ever looked. Just take a second and look at your hands. Okay, everybody just do this and think to yourself, do you want these hands in HD on national television? Because you start to see imperfections in your hands when you do that. And all I could think is, okay, what are people going to focus on? On my hands? I have. What is the thing? Because you know how the Internet is, Ryan. They'll focus on something. Right?

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I remember one time I did a video and they just kept saying, where's your left eyebrow? Because of the way the sun was. It was. Do you remember that? That was. I didn't.

I don't know if I remember that one.

Because the light shined in such a certain way that it looked like I only had half of a left eyebrow. Yeah, it did look like. I granted, it looked like it. Yeah. So I'm sitting there last night sort of, you know, looking at my hands and going, all right, well, we just have to do it. I start down the path, and I'm so used to Ryan doing this show and even Matt Myron on Sunday mornings that sometimes I don't think about what I said as I'm filling out the bracket. I made a Bill self hairpiece joke.

[Shannon]

Oh, my. On that go over.

[Matt Jones]

They kept it in.

[Shannon]

They kept it in.

[Matt Jones]

But I'm. I guess, because no one stopped me and said, okay, let's not do that. And I kind of just kept going throughout, sort of making snide comments about coaches along the way. And I guess they're going to keep it because at the end they were like, that's great. You did an awesome job. Exactly what we wanted. Thank you very much. So that apparently will come out this morning. And Ryan, national TV exposure for my hands, and hopefully they didn't look too awful on. On tv.

[Shannon]

It may work because everybody else is probably gonna be, like, real serious and real critical.

[Matt Jones]

They are serious.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Without question.

[Shannon]

So yours may actually work. Like, fit right in with what they're trying to pull off on this little broadcast.

[Matt Jones]

I think he meant this as a compliment, but it could have been a put down.

[Shannon]

Drew.

[Matt Jones]

I'm not sure. He said, well, everybody else had a lot of analysis. You added personality, which might just be a way to go. It didn't sound like you knew anything, but that's all right.

[Drew]

See, I take that as a compliment.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Drew]

Analysis, especially on tv, filling out your bracket. It gets boring. Like, let's have some fun. It's March Madness.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I don't.

[Drew]

You don't have to give me points per possession right now while you're filling out your bracket. So I would prefer because.

[Matt Jones]

Because I didn't think it through. Shannon. I think I have Akron to the sweet 16 in my bracket.

[SpinQuest Disclaimer Voice]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Which. Which might be a mistake. I do. I'm almost certain I put acronym to the sweet 16. I don't 100% remember what. What. Where I put everybody. I did pick Louisville to lose in the first round, and I called Duke the Evil Empire. So I felt like I got a chance to Shannon. To air all my grievances on national.

I like that you did that. You didn't go complete chalk. There's nothing more annoying than they go to these experts and they have their final four and it's all one seeds.

Well, mine's pretty chalk. I mean, I got mostly 1 seeds in the final four, but. But nevertheless, I will say it Was kind of exciting. It's the first time I've ever done anything on espn, Ryan, where they put me in a. You know, I was in the Sports center studio. Right. That's where they put me to do it, because that's where they take. Where they tape it. And they had just finished the women's bracketology show.

[Shannon]

And.

[Matt Jones]

Can I give you an embarrassing moment?

[Shannon]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

So I walk in there. They've just finished the women's bracketology show. There's like, three former women's players. And did you know there was a woman's. Joe Lenardi? Did you know that? Yes.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

His name's Charlie something. Do you know what it is? Charlie Cream started the G. Yeah.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Is that his name? I think it's Charlie Cream. So they're doing the show and I'm in there, and we have like, there. It takes them 20 minutes to change the set around to get to where they take the women's bracketology set off and put this set on. So we're all just kind of standing there and they're all talking about the women's tournament and. And Ryan, I feel like I want to fit in, but I don't know what to say because I don't know these people. Rebecca Lobo out there, she was not. I didn't recognize the women's. I've seen them on tv, but I didn't know who they were. Right. So I'm wanting to try to fit in because I don't, you know, I want to be friends with these people. So I just kind of bring up the Kentucky women's team, and I'm like, you know, Kentucky women. Yeah. What are you. Who do you all think is going to win when they play West Virginia? You know, Shannon, trying to relate. Right. Who. Who's going to win when we play West Virginia? Yeah. And I think two of them have picked Kentucky and one of them pick West Virginia. And then I said, yeah, I feel like Kenny's team really should have gotten. Gotten to. To host. They should have been the four seat. Now, Shannon, I don't really know if that's true or not.

Yeah. But that's what you felt in that moment.

But I. I thought I would say it in that moment.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And then the guy who looks at me and goes, well, no, you have to look at their wins versus losses versus West Virginia. You know, they lost once and for. And I was like, yeah, but. And I. I started. But to argue with him, and then I realized that's the guy who does bracketology for the women's bracket, like you

argue with Joe Leonardi.

It would be like me going, come on, Joe Leonardi, what do you know? You know, what do you know? And all of a sudden, somebody I could see, the producer was trying to help me, he goes, that's Charlie Cream. He runs the women's bracketology. And I went, you know what, never mind. I'm sure you're correct. My bad. I was about to argue. So K. Brooks, I tried to argue your case to Charlie Cream, I guess, but Drew, he probably did know more about it than I did.

[Drew]

It's all right. I like you putting up the fight. And he had Kentucky close just a few weeks ago and changed it so he can't act like it's a crazy sentiment that you would think.

[Matt Jones]

He said they were, West Virginia was probably the last team to get a home seed and we were the last team to not. So he said if we had, if they, if we had won one more game, we would be hosting them in Lexington. Instead, they're hosting us in West Virginia.

[Shannon]

So to me, your point is valid. You brought up a good point. If they were the last team to get a host and Kentucky was the next one in line, you brought up a good talking point.

[Matt Jones]

But I didn't, but I didn't have a way. I argued Kentucky should get it, but I had zero facts to back myself up. I was just trying to prepare. Yeah, he was much more prepared. I just, you could have just made

[Drew]

another Bill self hairpiece joke to him and just kept riding that wave.

[Matt Jones]

That's really all I could bring to the table. But it was cool. And do me a favor, when it comes out today, if you see it, watch it because hopefully it'll get enough views to where it doesn't look as pale in comparison to the other to the stars who got to do it. So when it comes out, I'll link it and I hope you all will check it out and look at my hands. 859-280-2287. We're going to talk about UK's draw. A player says Kentucky offered $9 million to him. Come on. And more. That's next here on Kentucky Sports Radio.

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Matt Jones]

Welcome back, Ty Sports Radio. One person writes Matt, I am gonna now be watching Seth Greenberg's hands this week to see who has the better. Yours are his. Drew, I hope it's me. If Seth Gravenberg has hotter hands than me, that's I'm in trouble.

[Drew]

Oh, the jokes I want to make right now.

[Matt Jones]

No, I mean there's some good ones. You saw the one from our friend Hubby, that's a great joke. I wish I. I wish I could say them on the radio, but I can't.

[Drew]

But good honor for you.

[Matt Jones]

Stand in. You had to at the beginning. Ryan, go, I'm Matt Jones, and you should follow my bracket because. Right. And I looked at the other ones and Jeff Borzello was like, I'm Jeff Borzello. You should follow my bracket because I picked all the Final Four last year. Right. Okay. So here's what. I didn't know what to say, so I said, I'm Matt Jones. You should follow my bracket because Seth Greenberg missed his play.

You can't tell somebody who can't tell they called you.

Well, I mean, that was the only reason I was on it, so I felt like that was.

[Shannon]

You know, I'm getting just kind of a big kick of the fact that this is your big moment. You give me on the Sports center set and you got a hoodie and a Madisonville had on baseball hat on.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't have a choice. They did. I literally. I didn't have anything else, and they didn't have time for me to shower. So Madisonville, that hat you gave me a couple weeks ago is now on espn. And this is. If this is my big break, Shannon, it would be awesome because Seth Greenberg missed his play. That would be. Yeah, that would be.

You've been feuding with.

Feuding with him forever. Yeah. And then that would be what it is. All right. Yaxel Landenberg, who of course went to Michigan, they are a one seed in the tournament. He. He did an interview with a Michigan beat writer in which he said that Kentucky offered him. His quote was seven to nine million dollars to come to Lexington, but he turned it down because he wanted the family atmosphere and the coach at Michigan and Susie put that out there. You know, it's inevitable that people see that and then create a narrative based on what they believe. So Michigan fans narrative is, see, things are so great here. People will take significantly less money to come to Michigan. Some people who really dislike Pope are like, see, Pope can't even recruit when he has this amount of money, etc. Etc. My reaction, Ryan, is pretty simple. There's no way that's true. That's completely false. I think no, fairly well what Yaxel was offered, it wasn't even close to the bottom of that amount of money. And I do think it is possible that Kentucky offered slightly more money than Michigan, but not anywhere close to what he said. Now Michigan. So I tweet that out. Michigan fans Say, well, why would he make it up? Well, of course there are many reasons he would make it up. First of all, it makes him look good. I took less money because I'm a team player. It makes Michigan look good, his team. This place is so great. You come here even without less money. And third, it's a good narrative going into the tournament. Even though Michigan may have the highest paid roster in the country, it's either them or us. It makes them look like a bunch of plucky underdogs who didn't take money but came for the love of the game. All of it's nonsense, but I don't believe it's true. Say whatever you want about UK recruiting. If Kentucky no. 1 offers 7 to 9 million dollars, who's. Who would offer that? Because you know what the player would say, drew, I'll take nine, right?

[Drew]

Seven or nine, which is.

[Matt Jones]

That's a $2 million, two million dollar range. People don't do that. But secondly, Ryan, if they had offered that, he'd have taken it. No one's going to Michigan for 4 million when they could have nine at Kentucky. That's ridiculous.

[Shannon]

I don't know Yaxel, I'm sure he's a nice young man, but liar, liar, pants on fire. I agree with you. There's no way that was the case. That Kentucky probably made him a really good offer. And like you said, he tried to just make himself look better by saying, I turned it all, the money down, all the glow, all the, the cash, because I wanted to play at Michigan, be a Wolverine.

[Matt Jones]

I just, I don't believe that.

[Shannon]

I don't believe it.

[Matt Jones]

I remember when it happened and I was in some conversations where I kind of had a sense of what was going on. I think Michigan ended up paying 4.2, 4.3, something like that. And I heard that Kentucky maybe got up to 4.4. But Kentucky also knew that if they paid Yaxel that they would probably end up having to pay Away. That or close. So because you couldn't have him being the highest paid player when away was returning. So I think they stopped at that point. There are some people will tell you Kentucky ended up offering less. I don't know for sure, but I can tell you that whether it's 4, 4.2, 4.4, 9. Drew, it ain't 7 and it certainly ain't 9.

[Drew]

I don't believe that either. Let's say it's 9 because you know if they offer you 7 to 9, you're going to focus on the 9. He said Michigan paid a third of that. So I can believe you take a little bit of a pay cut. But your agent would say what are we doing? If you turn down $6 million because you like the coach at another school, no agent is going to agree to that with all that money. He's talking about his career on down the road. That 6 million right there is a pretty good chunk to start your career. So I don't believe for one second that the gap is wide as he says it is. Maybe Kentucky offered a little more and he preferred Michigan. But $79 million in Michigan paying a third of that. I do not believe that at all.

[Matt Jones]

Is there any 24 year old kid because he's older than most people in college basketball. 23, 24. Is there any kid, Shannon, that you think would turn down 9 million for 3?

No, there's no, I don't care what your age is. Anybody with a brain is taking 9 million over 3.

I mean, would you take a couple hundred thousand less to be in a place you love? Maybe. Would you take, I mean there's a lot of scenarios I could see but there is no scenario where there are two major programs and one offers you $6 million more. Three versus nine, Ryan, and you take the three. It's just not happening.

[Shannon]

It's not changing money for the, his, his, his, his entire family. I, I got to think of this. Maybe he was trying to total up. Well, he said they were gimme a car. They said they're going to give me a country club.

[Matt Jones]

That's a heck of a car. I don't know.

[Shannon]

Maybe he was adding all this up and he came up in his head it's somewhere between 7 and 9 million. I get free McDonald's for all year while I'm there. I don't know what he was trying to add up.

[Matt Jones]

I don't believe it. And I'm not going to be like, I'm not saying, okay, he's lying but I don't believe it happened.

[Shannon]

He.

[Matt Jones]

I think there's an exaggeration aspect. We all, sometimes people tend to embellish things to look good and Michigan offered more than they asked. When it comes to money, the players and most everyone is lying because the incentive is to do it. And I just think that's important. We'll take a break. Be right back.

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Call T.J. he'll make him pay.

[Matt Jones]

Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.

Welcome back Techie Sports Radio. A5-92-8202 87 Text Machine 772-7745254. You were, by the way, Aiden Hallway, the Alabama player that got pulled over with the weed. Turns out it was 2.1 pounds of weed, not 1 pound.

[Shannon]

My good.

[Matt Jones]

So twice as many Drew. That would be, according to Shannon's math, 2000 pots. And so it's gonna be hard to say that was for individual possession, right?

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Drew]

I mean, you must have some severe glaucoma if you need two pounds of weed on you at any moment. I don't know the Holloway or his life, but if you have 2 million on you, you're probably sharing or 2 pounds on you, you probably have. Are sharing that with other people maybe for.

[Matt Jones]

So he's out of the NCAA tournament? Yeah, Alabama was. Is playing, I think Hofstra. And then who are they scheduled to play in the second round? Who's their five seed? I don't have the bracket.

[Drew]

I have Hofstra beating them, so I didn't need them going very far in my bracket.

[Matt Jones]

Well, whoever it was, I certainly will take the five seed now to the sweet sixteen without their. Without their leading score.

[Drew]

Was it byu?

[Matt Jones]

Six? Well, somebody.

[Drew]

Excuse me, it's Texas Tech. Final answers.

[Matt Jones]

Well, see, I have Texas Tech losing in the first round because they play Northern Iowa.

[Drew]

I have 12 verse 13 in that.

[Matt Jones]

In that weekend. Well, that may end up happening. Shannon, you said there was a thread of former March Madness he heroes and what they're doing now.

I thought this was interesting. Okay, college sports only, of course. We remember Doug Eder, St. Peters.

What's he doing?

He is now a basketball trainer and coach.

So he's not even playing basketball? No, because he only played against us a few years ago. He's already out of basketball. He's not even playing overseas?

[Drew]

Nope.

[Matt Jones]

He's a trainer and a coach.

That's even more ridiculous.

How about Kevin Pittsnoggle from West Virginia? We all.

Let me guess, he's selling tractors.

[Shannon]

Close.

[Matt Jones]

No, he's a West Virginia middle school principal.

Oh, actually, I had heard that. That also makes sense, though. I bet he also coaches, like assistant coach on the football team too. That's. That's got to be Pittsnock. All right, who else?

Let me give you one more here. Marshall Henderson, of course, from Ole Miss. He is now the director of business development at Rhino Golf.

Wow.

[Shannon]

Play golf all day?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Did you see business development? That's gotta be. Yeah, that's gotta be. He's just a sales guy, right? He goes, Ryan and Goes to golf shops and plays golf with somebody and tries to sell him something. Right. That's gotta be that.

Yeah, I'll get through it. If I find any more that are interesting, I'll let you know as we

go throughout the show.

[Caller Paul]

All right.

[Matt Jones]

859-280-2287. Who's up first?

Let's go to Will.

Will, go ahead. Will.

[Caller Paul]

Hey, Matt, with all the conversation about the GM stuff in the NBA and NFL, the pecking order is the order. Then the gm, then the coach, then the player personnel guys mixed in there somewhere. What are your thoughts on

[Caller Morris]

hierarchy?

[Caller Paul]

You know, in the.

[Matt Jones]

Fascinating question. Fascinating question. I think you make a very good point. And Drew, I had this conversation with somebody that I think may have been a candidate at one time for the job and I appreciate the call. In the NBA, the GM works for the owner, which in college sports would mean the GM works for the ad. But in college basketball, what is happening is the AD works for the coach. So really the coach has final say. That's different than in pro sports. And I think there are some people who would be otherwise interested in these jobs who don't like the idea of the coach ultimately telling them, hey, you're going to do what I say. What do you think? Do you think the person who picks the players, should it be like the NBA where the person who picks the players picks them separately from the coach? Or do you like in college basketball, the coach should still ultimately pick his players?

[Drew]

It's tough. If you have a really good gym, I say let them do it. Because, you know, in pro sports the GM can span multiple coaches and if you have a good one that can carry your franchise a little bit. But it is odd how in, in college the head coach is doing all the interviewing. I guess I lean giving the coach more of the power. But if you, if we hired like a Tayshawn Prince or someone that's a true gm, I would say sign him to forever and the coaches can change underneath him. But if Pope were to just go out and get somebody coach with it as an assistant, I don't think you would give them that responsibility long term. Beyond Pope.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, Ryan, clearly the coach is going to be in charge if the coach is the one doing the interviews. Right. But it is interesting that in college that's completely different from the way the professional team set them up. And maybe that makes sense. The players aren't there as long, I guess, but it is, it is a completely flip of the power structure from the professional level and it Is, you

[Shannon]

know, like Drew said, in college basketball, the head coach is the face of your program. That's the guy that goes into the living rooms. That's the guy that talks to moms and dads. You need that GM for the balancing of the budget and, you know, roster development, but you still need your coach. Got to be the face of the program to get out there and make it happen.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Coaches, I think, are much more central to who decides to go to college than they are in the NBA. I don't think a lot of players make their decisions on which franchise they're going to based on the coach. In college they do. So it probably does make sense for the GM to be under the coach, even on the college level. Who's next?

Morris.

Morris. Go ahead, Morris.

[Caller Morris]

Yeah, I got a comment and a question. I'm over here in Henderson and I already got my tickets for Friday. Western Kentucky is going to be well represented. It's closer to us, to St. Louis and is Lexington. So I think.

[iHeart Advertising Representative]

Good.

[Caller Morris]

I'm glad to hear that showing there. My question is already seeing so many portal announcements, like the kid from Belmont and so many others. And every time you read about these players, it seems like they're the greatest ones that have ever played in their conference MVPs. Is there any kind of resource that's already out there, whether it's a KSR board or ESPN board? It's like the high school where it goes ahead and ranks these announcements as they get put out there. Ranks players and kind of where they are.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So on three sports, and I don't know when they'll start it, but they'll have a ranking system. I think ESPN does it too, where they rank the guys based on how they think they're worth. Now, I think in the transfer portal system, I found those rankings are a lot less scientific because unlike in high school, where all the players are playing against each other and you can kind of see who's best, it's harder in the transfer portal. So if you look at it, I think they give you a ballpark, but I don't know that number one and number 20 have quite the gap. But with that said, they will exist. Now, the question of who is Kentucky recruiting? I don't think we're going to know that. Honestly, sir, until Kentucky loses. Whenever Kentucky loses, I think you'll start to hear bits of news about who they're reaching out to. It's natural right now that if a player comes out, you go, oh, I want him. Oh, I want him. But really, we don't even know who Kentucky's interested in. So I would say to you on three will have a ranking system. I would use that as a resource. But you really won't know who Kentucky's interested in until whenever they lose. And hopefully that's three weeks down the road.

[Caller Morris]

And in the spirit of unrealistic ranges, I think we'll bring back either one to eight players from this year's team.

[Matt Jones]

One day is probably right. You. We did this a few weeks ago on who we thought was going to come back. Where are. You know, where are you now on it? I'm still. I don't. Let's not. Since it's tournament week, let's not say names because I want to get completely pumped to win these games. I'm still kind of at 4 to 5. Where are you drew in terms of numbers?

[Drew]

In my head, I'd say about five.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Shannon]

Ryan, I'm dropping mine to three.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, Shannon.

[Shannon]

No, I just, just that's.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We're.

[Shannon]

We're making our predictions. I'm dropping my.

[Matt Jones]

I know how to read him now. He's not been on. He's not been on his A game on the scoop here, like, but sometimes he had. Yeah, that's exactly right. He. Ryan's the kind of guy talked to their home inspector. He talked to the termite guy. Yeah.

[Drew]

Low recently said he's planning to come back. When we were speculating before, there was no comment from anyone on Lowe's. Yeah, I kind of add him to my list. He did say that someone got it in a locker room and it wasn't like an official I'm coming back. But some of their comments in the SEC were leading towards that's what he would want to be the plan. But I mean, anything can happen when the portal opens if he goes out and find two. Awesome.

[Matt Jones]

That was during the SEC tournament.

[Drew]

Yeah, late last week. It was. I'm trying to get the exact. It wasn't like, hey, I'll be back. But it was kind of leaning that way.

[Matt Jones]

All right. I didn't. I didn't know that. Who's next?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Pickleball.

[Matt Jones]

Paul.

Paul, Go ahead.

[Caller Paul]

What's up? Matt Jones.

[Matt Jones]

What's going on?

[Caller Paul]

Found out, did you? Do you ever find out? Yesterday I read what the tax stamp is. I do have a basketball.

[Matt Jones]

I did read that. Yeah. If you're going to use it for medicinal use, you have to have a stamp. And I guess that at least in Alabama. Yeah.

[Caller Paul]

It's basically a business license.

[Caller Morris]

Basically getting.

[Caller Paul]

For not paying taxes on Selling dope.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, things on.

[Caller Paul]

On the basketball team, I know they look at things differently, but I had a bet we wouldn't be a 7 seed. Because in my opinion, a 7 seed means you're a top 28 team in the country. And be honest with you, I'm a Cat fan, but I don't think we're anywhere near the top 28 team in the country. And I've complained for years now and I listen to Ryan Lemon say it so many times or not about grown ass men. And you're actually talking about the Iowa State matchup before it came out, like they didn't have grown ass men. I still say that.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't have grown. You. You made that phrase up. I said they're a team that if Kentucky plays their best, they have a shot with. I didn't. I never use the phrase grown ass man. They do. They're big.

[Caller Paul]

Ryan keeps using it.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think he said Iowa State didn't have it either, but. Okay.

[Caller Paul]

My biggest problem with the basketball team, not just last year or this year, even in the Cal area, I just, you know. Yeah, we might not shoot it. Well, we might, but our lack of physicality is, is our bigs will get the ball two feet from the goal and they won't even think about shooting. And until we change the narrative at University of Kentucky and start getting, as Ryan says, and I agree, some grown ass man example. I think Cal has a great team. I think Arkansas, well, they're not Florida, but I think you'll see Arkansas the tournament for that one reason. I think they'll get pushed and shoved around when. When it matters because I just don't think they're full of strong, strong players.

[Matt Jones]

Well, here we go. I appreciate the call. Do we need more? I think this year's team could use a guy like that. I think they probably thought physically that's what quaintance could be if he was healthy. But that didn't end up happening. If you're. If you want to spring clean your wellness routine, our friends at cornbread are offering buy one get one 50% off everything they have, including the sleep support with code B1G1. Shannon. B1G1 at checkout. Got it. B1 Seltzer's Sleep Gummies, all that B1G1 buy one get one free 50% or buy one get one 50% off statewide or sitewide. Go to cornbread hemp.com B1G1. It's cornbread hemp grown for the good life. Jim. Higdon. Who started Cornbread Hemp. His wife went to Santa Clara, Ryan, so they're having a little rivalry about this.

[Shannon]

Now we know two people went to Santa Clara.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, she went to Santa Clara. That's right. We'll take a break. Be right back.

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Celsius body armor or Aida Silk, Capri Sun, Bavarian Meats and Charmin. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

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[Matt Jones]

All right. It looks like we, we might be able to get into the game, Ryan.

[Shannon]

My hopes are the last time we went to St. Louis, I ended up with a poop tooth.

[Caller Morris]

That's right.

[Matt Jones]

What happened now? Oh, that's right. Your tooth broke during the game.

[Shannon]

Fried ravioli during the game. And half my tooth broke off.

[Drew]

I can still remember Ryan turning and looking at me and smiling and asking if his tooth was okay, and it was not okay.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't realize that. Okay, good.

[Shannon]

That was the Wichita State game. We went over there for.

[Drew]

Think we're eating with Jerry Tipton.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Well, that looks like they just wrote me. The Missouri Valley people. They seem nice, Drew, which is good. I'm glad to hear that. I liked, I like, I like them. I'm in on the Missouri Valley.

[Drew]

Told you. The kindest conference in athletics. Not surprised they already got back to you before the show.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. 859-280-22-287. One person writes on text machine. Matt, did you see the Oklahoma City Thunder video where they're asking all the players who they're picking in March Madness? All the players basically picked the place they went to college, except Shea and Cason. I did see that. So Shay Gilgis Alexander says Arkansas or Kentucky, but he said Arkansas first, and then Case and Wallace says Arkansas. Yeah, it broke my heart a little bit. Not gonna lie. I, I, you know, I think part of what we like as Kentucky fans is the feel that the players are part of us. I think for the most part, that has always happened. Part of the deal, though, with Caliperi, you're, you're, you're doing a devil's bargain when you have it. And, and, and we used to talk about this when he was here because Cal is very upfront about we people come here. He always talks about the name on the back of the jersey, and I believe he means that sincerely. But part of what he also says is they come here for me. Remember when he went to Arkansas, he said, nothing's changing. The train just moved to a different place. Part of the devil's bargain you make with Cal is you're going to have success, especially in his early days, but it's about me, meaning the coach and last this, and that's why he has tremendous success. And you, and you get to feel that. And you feel part of it. But then when he leaves, the same thing has happened at every school. He's left, he's left. And they don't feel the affection for him because he leaves. And when he left UMass and when he left Memphis, they don't invite him back. Remember, I mean, they had that huge controversy when Memphis thought about inviting him back and their fans revolted.

[Shannon]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

That's just kind of how it goes with Cal. You are. You're making a bargain where you're going to get success in the short term. But long term, it's about Cal and it's about his relationship with the players. So the good thing is, over the years, we've seen a lot of guys ranging from John Wall to Anthony Davis to DeMarcus cousins to Willie Collinstein. All these people feel that connection with. With uk, but then there's going to be guys who, for whatever reason, that connection is Cal first, UK second, or in case of Wallace's place. He just said Cal. I think if you ask them, do you feel love for your alma mater? They would all say yes. But Ryan, that's, you know, that is what you sign up for with Cal. You sign up for. It is ultimately going to be about how. And the university will be second. And you kind of know that going in.

[Shannon]

I.

[Matt Jones]

It hurts.

[Shannon]

Like you said, it kind of hurts to hear these guys say that when they leave and come back, they feel the love. And I think they. That grow. So maybe Shea and Casey just need to make a couple trips back to Lexington and feel that love again. Especially Case. In Case was here for, you know, one bad year. Shea won an SEC tournament title, made a good run in the NCAA tournament.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, Drew, I. I was bummed to see it. I don't blame those guys. I think that's part of how they sell them. But I will. I'll admit I was bummed to see it. Especially about Case and. Cause Shay said them both. But Case and saying Arkansas only. But again, he was just walking by. I don't hold it against him, but it is a little bit of a bummer.

[Drew]

It is Shea saying both. I was fine with that. Shay's done plenty for Kentucky since he's been gone. And I'm sure if he had to pick between the two schools, he wouldn't think twice about picking Kentucky. I just wish Case would have included us in his mention.

[Matt Jones]

Please mention our name, Case.

[Drew]

And I hate to bring this up because it's been beaten to death, but when. When Reed wore the Arkansas, that kind of told us you know, any player could do it when the Kentucky boy did it. So it's kind of just had the expectation that these guys might be saying it when given the opportunity. But there have been others. Willie on our show was like, hell, no, I'm not liking Arkansas. I'm Kentucky through and through. You know, Darius has said that there have been a few who won't entertain the idea of being a Razorback fan.

[Matt Jones]

And it might be partially. Shannon, which years we were really good and which years we weren't, right? Because. Because the experience here sometimes is based a little bit on how our fans are. You know, Hunter Dickinson. Did you all see the Hunter Dickinson interview?

[Drew]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Hunter Dickinson did an interview with yesterday where he's talking about Kansas. He was basically like, a lot of my teammates and I were like, let's just end this season. This isn't fun. Our fans are mean. So Hunter Dickinson probably feels no love for Kansas, but it's because his team struggled. So, you know, that might be part of it. It's a lot easier to get along with the fan, Shannon, when you're winning than when you're not winning.

Oh, of course. Yeah. You hear that criticism when you're having a bad season. It's interesting to see where does the loyalty lie. Is it with the coach or is it with the university?

I will say, ultimately, remember, this is a long game. Okay. I don't know, Ryan, how. How much longer you think John Cal Perry is going to coach? Three years? Four years? Two? Five? Who knows?

[Shannon]

I would have thought it was less, but he seems to be re. Energized again now at Arkansas, so. Yeah, but if.

[Matt Jones]

Let's say if he loses. What if he loses to Hawaii? He might not be as energized. Right?

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

But my point is, one of these days he won't be coaching Arkansas and Shay and Case and got a long career and a long life. And Drew, when that happens in 10 years, you know what their answer is going to be? It's going to be Kentucky. So, I mean, these dudes aren't becoming lifelong Arkansas fans. But. But I'm not going to. I'm not going to lie. It does. It does stink.

[Shannon]

Especially remember he wasn't casing close to Tyler U. Lewis. Maybe that's another reason he's pulling for Arkansas.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. That is partially why I came here. Yeah. You know, it is what it is. The Caliperi did awesome things here, but like I remember we said this when he came. You are making a bargain with. With Cal and it's a bargain of we're going to have great memories, but it's always going to some extent be about Cal and I think that's kind of what you see with with that as well. We're going to go back to hour two. Talk a little UK Santa Clara. Take your calls. This is ksr.

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[Matt Jones]

This is Jim.

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[Drew]

marketing dollars in podcasting back in June.

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