Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – Hour 2

Date: March 18, 2026
Host & Crew: Matt Jones, Shannon, Drew Franklin, Ryan Lemon
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Episode Theme: Sweet 16 Basketball, UK Recruiting, "Tuck" Mania, and Fun Sidebars

Episode Overview

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio dives into Kentucky High School basketball's Sweet 16, focuses on the breakout star “Tuck” Johnson, provides updates and insider opinions on UK basketball recruiting, and features the trademark banter and light-hearted debates that make KSR a Kentucky sports institution. Also, listeners get teases for an upcoming relationship advice segment and enjoy notable KSR caller moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Upcoming Relationship Advice Segment

• Matt Jones announces that on tomorrow’s show, he and Shannon will be giving relationship and marriage advice, inspired by listeners’ requests.
  • "Tomorrow, Shannon and I are going to start our relationship advice... We're doing an episode." – Matt (03:30)
  • Drew quips: “I think people will tune in and listen from two 40-year-olds that have never been married.” (03:59)
  • Shannon jokes they'll “break it down like Mike Francesa.”
• Listeners are encouraged to text in their relationship questions.

2. Reality TV & Age Perception: ‘Age of Attraction’

• The team debates the genuineness of age-related "shocks" on the reality dating show Age of Attraction.
  • Matt is skeptical: "These people are shocked at their ages. They all look their ages." (04:04)
  • Ryan: "There's one guy there that's 60 that does not look 60. He looks like he might be 45." (04:27)
  • Matt critiques people's surprise when guessing women's ages: "I don't think you should look at a woman who's 22 and go, 'I thought you were 31.' That's not a compliment, is it, Shannon?" (05:32)
  • Shannon: "No woman wants to hear that." (05:35)
• Discussion of couples with large age gaps and perceptions about them.

3. Sweet 16 Basketball & the Legend of "Tuck" Johnson

a. The Emergence of "Tuck" Johnson (Key Segment: 06:49–11:36)

• Matt is delighted by the discovery of Hazard's “Tuck” Johnson, a high school basketball player with standout style and personality:
  • "This is a human being that existed in this state of Kentucky that's really good at basketball and that has the rec goggles and carries a WWE belt and is from the mountains. And nobody bothered to tell me about him." (07:08)
  • "Tuck Johnson for president. He's got a mullet. He's got rec specs, and they're black... A mustache, a mullet, black glasses from Hazard..." (07:31–08:09)
• Tuck’s popularity leads Matt to joke about ditching St. Louis to attend his game.
• Surprise moment: Tuck and his team show up at KS Bar expecting to meet Matt:
  • Drew: "He's at KS Bar right now. They came to have lunch, expecting to meet you today." (08:41)
  • Matt: “You're telling me Tuck is at KS Bar right now?... How are you just now telling me this?” (08:54–08:55)
• Matt offers to buy the team lunch if they win:
  • “If you beat Butler, I'll take care of your next meal.” (11:36)

b. Sweet 16 Game Predictions (11:43–14:20)

• The hosts run through Sweet 16 matchups and make predictions, often with regional loyalty and playful banter.
  • Matt, on Butler vs. Hazard: “I love you, Larry, but I'm taking Tuck or all Hazard.” (09:25)
  • Drew on Tuck: “He's a new superstar. He's... our Larry Nerd. Our Cream Abdul Jabbar.” (09:35)
• Lighthearted debate over which teams/players are favorites, including notable family-line athletes (e.g., Wes Unseld’s nephew).

4. UK Basketball Recruiting & Roster Rumors (14:20–16:41)

• Discussion centers on Christian Collins, a top 5 recruit considering Kentucky, Louisville, and USC. The crew is skeptical about UK's chances:
  • Matt: "Any chance he picks us or is it like zero?" (14:44)
  • Ryan: "I don't want to say zero, but... there's a little bit of a buzz... It just seems kind of silent," picking USC as likely (14:52)
  • Drew: “Kentucky has not been connected with him in months... I'm surprised we're still in the top three.” (15:06)
• Running joke about relying on “Ryan’s scoop.”
• The team analyzes roster retention, dropping hints about which current players might be returning next season.
  • "Yesterday, like, only three guys were coming back. You went from four to three. There's a reason you said that. You know something?" – Shannon to Matt (16:06)

5. Call-in Moments: Passive Aggressive & Sincere Fans (21:46+)

• Caller Clinton: First-time caller, not a big sports fan, asks Matt why, with his knowledge, he's not coaching a team.
  • Matt senses passive aggressiveness but addresses the question with humor and candor, explaining his job is radio, not coaching. (23:01)
  • Caller’s follow-up about why coaches are blamed when teams lose sparks a discussion about the logic of coaching accountability in sports versus education (24:01–24:49).
• Everyone is entertained (and a bit confused) by this exchange, with Drew and Shannon debating the caller’s sincerity.

6. Christian Collins’ Inspirational Story (26:09–27:53)

• A caller gives context: Collins, a top recruit, plays basketball at a high level despite living with cystic fibrosis.
  • “He was telling the story that... he was getting a lot of bullying, online bullying as well as personal bullying... Now he's a top five recruit, and that's the kind of kid you want to cheer for.” (26:42+)
• Crew expresses admiration for his perseverance.

7. Ratings on Coaches/TV Analysts & Bruce Pearl Debate (28:59–31:12)

• Listener text criticizes Bruce Pearl’s “unlikable” behavior during the tournament; the crew generally agrees:
  • Drew: “I wanted to make Kentucky but here lately like what he did in Nashville on the sideline, that was odd... Just blatant nepotism...” (29:38–30:20)
• Shift to Jamal Mashburn: all agree he's been excellent as a TV analyst:
  • Matt: “Jamal Mashburn's good at TV... He's legitimately good.” (30:38)

8. More Listener Calls & Kentucky Basketball Analysis

• Callers reminisce about Taylor County, Clem Haskins, and give well-wishes ("Mama Bird" segment).
• In-depth discussion about Mark Pope's performance, the team’s health/injuries, and gamesmanship of Denzel Aberdeen versus Adou Thiero running point. (32:32–36:41)
  • Matt: "I want Aberdeen to have the ball. I think Aberdeen is just as good at getting to the rim..." (35:53)

9. Sidebar: Kentucky “Sin Tax” on OnlyFans? (41:09–44:07)

• The team debates a hypothetical 50% “sin tax” on OnlyFans creators in Kentucky—a parallel to taxes on tobacco or alcohol.
  • Drew: “That’s tough. I’m gonna say I’m for it.” (42:05)
  • Ryan: “Wholeheartedly against it... There are people on OnlyFans doing completely reasonable things.” (42:11)
  • Shannon and Matt both oppose the tax on grounds it's a legal livelihood.
• Mario unexpectedly jumps in, breaking his usual silence, adding a lighthearted, memorable twist.

10. Travel Advice & St. Louis Trip Talk (44:19–45:48)

• Listener “Tim” warns Matt about dangers of wandering St. Louis at night; recommends the Hill for Italian food and sightseeing (the arch, Fox Theater).
• Tim offers uniquely KSR-style parting wisdom: “If you have sex, wear tennis shoes. You get lots of traction.” (46:04)

11. Game Picks & Closing Banter (47:52–49:36)

• Hosts make their picks for the First Four NCAA games—Lehigh vs. Prairie View A&M; Miami of Ohio vs. SMU—accompanied by jokes about crowd advantage and team nicknames.

Notable Quotes

• Matt Jones:
  • “If you told AI create a hazard basketball player, is that not what they would create?” (10:23)
  • “Do I think I can coach better than Mark Pope? Of course not... my job is to critique.” (23:21)
• Drew Franklin:
  • "He's our Larry Nerd. Our Cream Abdul Jabbar." (09:35, on Tuck)
  • “Kentucky has not been connected with him [Collins] in months...” (15:06)
• Ryan Lemon:
  • “Don't want Low to be hurt, but if you look at his numbers when he was just bouncing back from the 1 and 2 and trying to find a spot, it's not... the same.” (36:30)
• Shannon:
  • “No woman wants to hear that.” (05:35)
  • "We'll tell you where you went wrong. You started with two words. I do." (40:07)
• Callers:
  • “Why do they punish the coaches if teams don't do well? ...You don't punish the teachers if students don't...” (24:01)
  • (On Collins) “...he's now like 6'9", really athletic wing... the kind of kid you want to cheer for.” (26:42)

Key Timestamps

• 03:06: Show opens with announcement of relationship advice segment
• 06:49: Matt discovers "Tuck" Johnson; segment on Kentucky Sweet 16 star
• 11:43–14:20: Sweet 16 game-by-game picks and regional basketball discussion
• 14:41: UK recruiting scoop on Christian Collins and roster management
• 21:46: Call-in segment: “Why aren't you coaching?” “Why are coaches blamed?”
• 26:09: Collins’ personal journey with cystic fibrosis discussed
• 28:59: Listener’s text on Bruce Pearl, followed by TV analyst ratings
• 41:09: “Sin tax” on OnlyFans debate
• 44:19: St. Louis travel/advice and quirky KSR listener
• 47:52: Hosts’ picks for tournament games

Memorable Moments

• Matt’s instant, almost comedic adoration for “Tuck” Johnson, right down to his mullet, specs, and WWE belt.
• The passive-aggressive but oddly earnest call-in Q&A about coaching and who really gets blamed in sports.
• The accidental deadpan wisdom from a caller about wearing tennis shoes “for traction.”
• The crew’s playful argument over OnlyFans “sin tax.”
• Mario, usually silent, unexpectedly chiming in during the OnlyFans segment.

Closing

The episode is classic KSR: a blend of serious Kentucky basketball talk, high school legend-worship, local color, quirky caller contributions, and off-the-court shenanigans. Listeners get both informed (and unfiltered) analysis and the cheerful, irreverent camaraderie that defines Matt, Drew, Shannon, and Ryan’s approach.