Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR): Hour 2 – March 27, 2026

Host: Drew Franklin (filling in for Matt Jones) with Ryan Lemon, Billy Rutledge, Shannon the Dude

Broadcast from: KS Bar & Grill, Lexington

Episode Overview

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio focuses on previewing a big March Madness weekend for Kentucky fans, especially with the UK women's basketball team making a Sweet 16 run. The crew also discusses shifting dynamics in college basketball brought on by NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), Kentucky’s baseball fortunes, the Louisville Kings’ football debut, listener stories, and lively call-ins. Some friendly ribbing on archrivals and nostalgia over UK’s past glories round out a classically fun KSR hour.

Key Discussion Points

1. Kentucky Women's Basketball Sweet 16 Run

• First Sweet 16 Since 2016: Praise for Coach Kenny Brooks and the players for reaching this milestone.
• Upcoming Match vs Texas: Rematch after a tough regular season game (Kentucky lost, but kept it close until a late Texas run). Texas is a strong favorite (spread at 15.5, then down to 14.5) but UK’s improvement and health inspire cautious optimism.
• Key Players: Clara Strack and Tony Morgan highlighted for recent performances. Amelia Hassett and Asia Boone are battling for the single-season three-point record.
• Big Picture: Win would set up a possible Elite Eight vs Louisville, which lights up discussion about rivalry and rooting strategy.

"March Madness ain't dead yet for Big Blue Nation." — Drew Franklin [04:43]

2. Rick Pitino, St. John’s, and the “Blue Bloods” Debate

• Pitino vs. Duke: Debate on whether Kentucky fans are rooting for ex-UK coach Rick Pitino, noting growing support mainly due to anti-Duke sentiment.
• Pitino Comments on "Blue Bloods": Pitino told media that NIL has leveled the college basketball landscape, and that "blue bloods" no longer control the sport, though Kentucky and Duke retain legacy status.

"He said now 40 to 50 teams are all on the same level playing field with NIL." — Drew Franklin [11:46]

• Panel Reactions: Some agreement (especially that the gap has closed), but also pushback that blue bloods still exist, just wield less dominance (see: UConn’s recent rise).

3. Nostalgia, Rivalries, and Kentucky Fandom

• UK vs. Louisville in Women’s Elite Eight?: Discussion on rooting preferences—best if UK faces and beats Louisville, but hard to root for Louisville outright.
• Rick Pitino’s Complicated Relationship with UK Fans: Pitino’s increasing appearances in Kentucky basketball's orbit (videos, public comments, stories about iconic games), fueling old debates about loyalty and grudges among the fanbase.

4. Kentucky Pros and Other Local Sports

• Louisville Kings Football Opener: Excitement for in-state semi-pro team with notable UK alums like Benny Snell (but not Lynn Bowden, who was expected).
• Braves MLB Opening Day Confusion: Discussion about scattered season openers, streaming app confusion, and passionate Braves fandom.
• UK Baseball and Softball: Baseball at LSU for a big series, with standout pitcher (name missing—“Jelkin”?), and softball hosting Georgia.

5. Making Sweet 16 Picks

Sweet 16 Picks (DraftKings)

Each host shares their picks against the spread for the night’s big NCAA men’s games:

• St. John’s (+6.5) vs. Duke — All pick St. John’s to cover, several hope for outright win. "It’s still trendy to hate Duke." — Billy Rutledge [22:52]
• Michigan (-8.5) vs. Alabama — Most take Michigan to cover, Drew picks Alabama to cover but lose.
• UConn (-1.5) vs. Michigan State — Split panel, Drew takes UConn, others like Michigan State.
• Iowa State (-3.5) vs. Tennessee — All favor Iowa State, particularly based on recent dominance over Kentucky and ongoing distaste for Tennessee’s tournament success.

Kentucky Women vs. Texas

All pick Kentucky women to cover (spread 14.5): “I ain’t scared – disrespectful number.” — Drew Franklin [28:45]

6. Recruiting & Looking to Next Season

• Women’s Team Recruiting: Kenny Brooks has three McDonald’s All-Americans coming in. “He’s getting it done on the trail, unlike his counterpart at the Joe Kraft Center.” — Caller [30:20]
• Men’s Basketball Recruiting: Optimism around returning core (Moreno, Chandler, Hawthorne), but a need for “dudes”—elite transfers and high school stars (esp. Tyron Stokes). Discussion of the dynamics around Nike/Adidas schools and hoped-for commitments.
• Point Guard Needed: Consensus that Mark Pope must land a playmaking point guard from the portal to raise the team’s ceiling.

7. Listener Calls & Community Moments

• Calls Cover:
  • Optimism vs. skepticism for the women's program and Pope hire (including references to old Drew Franklin tweets).
  • The need for a strong point guard and what’s holding the team back.
  • Listener “Matt” shares a charming story about KSR connecting fans statewide.
  • Classic JRock-style humor and KSR in-jokes abound.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Kentucky Women’s Chances:
  “Kenny Brooks, I think this year honestly thought he had a team that could do it. You can knock off Texas tonight, you’ve got a route where you can get to the Final Four for the first time ever.” — Ryan Lemon [07:50]

• On Pitino's "Blue Blood" Comments:
  “This is just an offshoot of professional basketball now and that we need to accept it.” — Drew Franklin, quoting Pitino [12:53]

• On the Changing Calculus in CBB:
  "I likened it this morning on the pre show to Alabama in football...it’s not just two or three deep of NFL talent anymore.” — Billy Rutledge [13:08]

• On Classic Rivalries:
  "It should be part of your life: hating Duke." — Drew Franklin [23:01]

• Fan Community Story:
  “You all connect people I would never meet and make friends with. I appreciate you all so much and this is a wonderful thing you all created.” — Caller Matt [49:15]

• Fans Coping with Disappointment:
  "We are in agreement—Pope needs to go get a stud at point guard. Go steal one of these guys we watched this year." — Drew Franklin [44:56]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:27: Show starts; hosts recount 90’s pics for TikTok, preview upbeat focus for hour 2.
• 04:55–08:45: Women’s Sweet 16 preview, rematch vs Texas, key players, potential UK-Louisville Elite Eight.
• 09:12–14:37: Rick Pitino’s return to March, Duke game history, NIL and blue blood debate.
• 18:33–20:15: Louisville Kings debut, bemoaning lack of pro sports in KY, Benny Snell nostalgia.
• 22:16–28:59: Sweet 16 men’s picks and fan attitudes (heavy Duke hate, Tennessee jokes, game analysis).
• 30:19–34:07: Call-in discusses women's team recruiting, Pope hire, reactions to Drew's old tweets.
• 34:29–36:09: Call on slow starts, practice changes, and need for urgency in next year's men’s team.
• 36:21–37:40: UK baseball, softball updates, optimism for next season recaps.
• 44:19–49:15: Listener calls, community stories, fan feedback, personal anecdotes.
• 49:32–50:13: Next week’s plans teased, more live shows, suggestions for future broadcasts.

Tone and Atmosphere

Energetic and upbeat (after some initial technical difficulties), with the signature KSR mix of sports banter, rivalry roasting, fan nostalgia, and listener interaction. The hosts keep it Kentucky-centric but openly reckon with the realities of modern college sports, all while maintaining trademark humor, optimism, and community spirit.

Summary

This episode delivers classic KSR: passionate Kentucky sports coverage, good-natured rivalry jabs, lively calls, and a deep sense of connection with its audience. With the men’s season over, the women’s Sweet 16 run and a new era in college sports drive the conversation, reminding fans that March is alive and well—at least in Big Blue Nation.