2026-03-30- KSR - Hour 2

Summary

Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) | Hour 2 | March 30, 2026

Host: Matt Jones
Panel: Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Jack Pilgrim, Shannon the Dude
Theme: Latest UK Athletics news, with a heavy focus on Kentucky basketball’s offseason, recruiting rumors, and roster predictions, mixed with commentary on major sports headlines (notably Tiger Woods), listener calls, and panel banter.

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Episode Overview

Hour 2 of KSR (Kentucky Sports Radio) delves straight into breaking news from UK Athletics, pivots to in-depth discussion on Kentucky Men’s Basketball’s offseason questions—including staff turnover and returning player speculation—and welcomes an animated round of listener calls. The panel also unpacks national sports headlines, notably Tiger Woods's recent legal troubles and the rise of UConn in the college basketball hierarchy, before offering a candid, often humorous look at transfer rumors and hypothetical lineups for the upcoming season.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking News: UK Volleyball at Wrigley Field

• Breaking News ([03:28]): Drew Franklin reveals—via a live email from UK Athletics—that Kentucky Volleyball will play Penn State at Wrigley Field in September as part of the inaugural SEC-Big Ten Volleyball Challenge.
  • “Kentucky, Penn State at Wrigley... that sounds like a KSR trip.” — Drew Franklin (03:41)
  • The panel marvels at the uniqueness of an outdoor volleyball matchup, noting the “Windy City” factor and the novelty for college volleyball.
  • Discussion briefly jokes about other events at unique venues (e.g., Bahamas trip for volleyball).

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2. Kentucky Basketball Roster and Staff Rumors

NIL, Contracts, and the Budget ([05:08–06:20])

• Ryan asks Jack & Drew about rumors of 2-year NIL deals and the $22 million budget.
• Both clarify: no known two-year deals, changes were about timing—last year’s larger budget was a result of calendar advantages as NIL rules shifted.

Staff Changes & Assistant Coach Speculation ([06:20–07:06])

• Jack Pilgrim indicates staff changes are imminent: “Some calls are happening and I think we'll see... some news pop up here the next day or two.”
• Rondo (Rajon Rondo) is discussed as a potential staff hire, with Jack clarifying past efforts and NCAA complications:
  • “If Rondo is interested in joining a coaching staff, I want it to be at the University of Kentucky.” — Jack Pilgrim (07:10)

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3. Reaction to Tiger Woods' Latest DUI Incident ([07:57–11:18])

Emotional Responses

• Panelists express concern and disappointment:
  • “He’s lucky he hadn’t killed somebody at this point... So Tiger, yes, I love to watch you hit a golf ball, but please get some help, because this could have been much worse.” — Drew Franklin (08:32)
• Jack notes Tiger’s recurring setbacks, wishing him well but emphasizing Tiger “has got to get his stuff together.”
• Matt: “You can't keep doing that if you're Tiger. And he has. So.”

On Tiger’s Legacy

• Will Tiger still be golf’s ceremonial elder? Drew and Ryan agree Tiger needs to “get help” but could still fulfill a symbolic role in the game.
  • “He needs to quit being selfish and getting on the road in that condition...” — Drew Franklin (11:18)

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4. Listener Calls & Interactive Segments

The “Blue Blood” Debate ([12:06–14:44])

• Alvin calls in to ask: If UConn wins another championship, does Indiana or UCLA lose blue blood status?
• Panel consensus: UConn is already a blue blood, especially for younger fans.
  • “For the younger generation, UConn is the UCLA of our generation. They just... They're the superstar team right now.” — Ryan Lemond (13:29)
  • Drew: “If there's still the conversation of blue bloods, you have to put UConn in it right now.” (13:05)
• Discussion of Dan Hurley’s coaching trajectory: Would he work at Kentucky? Would his NBA style succeed?

Roster Return Percentages Game ([24:02–29:12])

• Jack gives his percentages (“Matt loves percentage chances!”) on the likelihood each key player returns:
  • Malachi Moreno: 70–80%
  • Brandon Garrison: 10–40% (much less likely)
  • Cam Williams: 50–70%
  • Colin Chandler: ~70%
  • Trent Noah: 30–50%
  • Braden Hawthorne: 50%
  • Jasper Johnson: 10–20% (likely gone)
  • Diabate: 35–50%
• Discussion highlights NIL, local connections, depth chart factors, and how quickly portal decisions can change things.

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5. Recruiting & Transfer Portal Scenarios

Tyron Stokes & Kansas/Kentucky Battle ([32:54–35:39])

• Caller Kevin's Concern: Is Stokes just using Kentucky for leverage? Will Bill Self retire at Kansas, affecting Stokes’s decision?
• Jack: Kansas has been the leader, but “the longer this drags out, it helps Kentucky.” Nike/Adidas shoe contract “is a really problematic thing for him.”
  • Drew: If he ends up at Kentucky, “I don’t care if we're fifth on his list…if he puts the jersey on, I will think twice about what is happening right now.”

Dream Starting Lineups for Next Season ([37:32–38:16])

• Panic/speculation abounds on who will be in Kentucky’s starting five. Jack and Drew play along, citing optimistic combinations (e.g., “superstar point guard,” Stokes, Malachi Marino, Dink Pate).

“Over/Under” on Next Year’s Tournament Run ([38:27])

• Jack: Sweet 16 is a “safe bet for right now”; jury out until commitments roll in.
• Drew: “On March 30, I’ll go under because I can’t name one player that will be on the team. But my mind could quickly change in the next two weeks.”
• Matt highlights how volatile the portal is: “It takes one phone call and whatever you thought you were doing, you can change that real fast.”

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6. More Listener Calls, Rapid-Fire Topics

Concerns About Pope’s Recruiting Pitch ([46:22–48:46])

• Caller Mike asks if Mark Pope’s “shared minutes, play for the name on the front” philosophy hurts recruiting.
• Jack acknowledges it’s used against UK in negative recruiting, but notes increased minutes for Aberdeen and Otega as proof that players can thrive and play big roles.

Tyron Stokes’s Prospect Status ([49:23–51:08])

• JC asks if Stokes would be a top-10 player in this class. Jack: “100%. Tyron... he’d be a top 10 player this year. He’s a bull in a china shop, physical freak, with a developing perimeter game.”
• Stokes’s “confidence and edge” is cited as fitting for Kentucky.

Bruce Pearl/Succession Hypothetical ([51:10–52:11])

• Caller Robert wonders what UK would do if it hired Bruce Pearl, who then left abruptly and handed the program to his son (as Auburn did).
• Drew: “There’s no scenario where Steven Pearl would have taken over like what Auburn did... that would not have happened here.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “I’ve never known a volleyball game to be outside or at a stadium. That is really cool.” — Ryan Lemond ([03:54])
• “You see, no matter what you tell yourself, if you feel different, you drive different. So if you’re high, just don’t drive.” — Ryan Lemond (PSA, 01:42)
• “He has six to our one (titles) since 1999. Oh my goodness. That's gross.” — Drew Franklin on UConn ([12:47])
• “You gotta get them here first and then make them care later.” — Jack Pilgrim, on recruiting (48:50)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:28 — Breaking Volleyball News: UK @ Wrigley Field
• 05:08 — NIL Deals & Team Budget Discussion
• 06:20 — Staff Changes, Rondo as Coach?
• 07:57 — Panel Reaction to Tiger Woods's Arrest
• 12:06 — Blue Bloods: UConn’s Status
• 24:02 — Roster “Stay/Go” Percentages Game
• 32:54 — Tyron Stokes Recruiting Battle
• 37:32 — Dream Starting Lineup for Next Year
• 38:27 — Over/Under: Next Year’s NCAA Tournament Potential
• 46:22 — Does Pope’s Pitch Hurt Recruiting?
• 49:23 — Is Tyron Stokes a Can’t-Miss Superstar?
• 51:10 — Bruce Pearl Succession Hypothetical

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Memorable Lighthearted Moments

• The panel jokes about Rasheed Wallace’s 41 technicals in one NBA season. ([15:47])
• Drew Franklin’s story about shedding a tear when Tiger Woods won the Masters at KS Bar during a Reed Travis signing. ([08:32])
• “A guy that doesn’t need a gimmick—he is his own gimmick.” — Matt Jones, on Kentucky basketball-turned-wrestling hopeful Tucker Johnson. ([31:46])
• Bar and brawl shenanigans at the Louisville Kings’ football game: “Players grabbing drinks and throwing them at the fans.” ([45:47])

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Conclusion

This episode of Kentucky Sports Radio thrived on dynamic, real-time news, deep roster and coaching analysis, and interactions with an active, insightful listener base. Both irreverent and informed, the panel dissected everything from historic volleyball matches to the precarious nature of modern college basketball rosters, delivering both hard news and laughs in a style beloved by KSR fans.

Transcript

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Matt Jones]

welcome to hour two of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, welcome back, our number two. We're going to start with breaking news as soon as we get going here. Ryan, Drew. Ryan, Drew. Sharon, Jack Cookman, Drew Franklin with big news that just happened.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, an email just hit the inbox as the intro music is playing. It's from UK Athletics saying Kentucky Volleyball will play Penn State at Wrigley Field this year.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's really cool.

[Drew Franklin]

That sounds awesome.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's awesome.

[Drew Franklin]

September 6th, which appears to be a the Sunday after the home football opener. Kind of reading this on the fly, but yeah, Kentucky, Penn State at Wrigley. That's awesome. That sounds like a KSR trip.

[Ryan Lemond]

I've never known a volleyball game to be outside or at a stadium. That is really cool.

[Drew Franklin]

It's the inaugural SEC Big Ten Volleyball Challenge. Be on national tv. Obviously the Cubs are officially hosting it. That makes sense. Yeah. That's all I have now. That's crazy.

[Matt Jones]

Being in a windy city, you know, maybe the wind might have a lot to do with that.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Outdoor volleyball.

[Ryan Lemond]

Wrigley Field.

[Jack Pilgrim]

They're also going to the Bahamas for an inaugural event. Down, down there.

[Ryan Lemond]

So volleyball team.

[Drew Franklin]

Yes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Wow.

[Drew Franklin]

That's right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Craig Skinner getting it done. So there you go. Breaking news. I do have another breaking news story.

[Matt Jones]

Shannon, you need another one in?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I got another one. Another one.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think this might be the

[Jack Pilgrim]

most wanting news we ever had in one second.

[Ryan Lemond]

The state of Tennessee are now limiting baseball games to just.

[Drew Franklin]

How do I turn this off, Shannon?

[Matt Jones]

Right here. There we go.

[Ryan Lemond]

UK baseball team limits all, I mean, Tennessee baseball only to five innings. They're not going to play the sixth, seventh, eighth or Ninth inning because nobody in Tennessee plays the final four. All right, Ryan, Drew, Shannon and Jack.

[Matt Jones]

That was like an alternating version of it.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, we're getting spin offs. Yeah, I guess that was better than the golf one.

[Ryan Lemond]

Before we get to our friend Tiger Woods, I knew I got a couple of questions here on the a vision glass text machine, Jack. Did we do a couple deals for some guys to keep for two years because the rules were changing?

[Jack Pilgrim]

Not. That is not my understanding of how these. I think it's all because of how last year setup was with the you know, pre rev share everything was just kind of blank checks to everybody. Now that the rev share stuff and they're having to combine the pots with all that, I don't believe anybody is back for a re up on what their previous year's deal was. No.

[Ryan Lemond]

You hear anything on that, Drew?

[Drew Franklin]

I have not. There was like as Jack said, it was like when Kentucky took advantage of the rules as things were changing and they got to pay a little more than they will this year. I think it's partly why Jack Givens mentioned they won't have the same pot they did. It was more of just how the calendar lined up. But I don't know of any two year deals. I wondered at the time if like a Hawthorne or somebody might be. But your. Your big names aren't signing a two year deal when they can go double dip the next the next wonder.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's why. Why that's why the budget was 22 million. Maybe they were signing a couple of guys for two year deal. That's why it inflated that number a little bit.

[Jack Pilgrim]

I think it's what made us feel better about the number in real time. But maybe, maybe not the reality.

[Ryan Lemond]

Another one from the aviation glass text machine. Does Drew or Jack have any scoop or scuttlebutt on coaches?

[Jack Pilgrim]

Not publicly yet, but yeah. I think you can share with us.

[Ryan Lemond]

We're just us friends.

[Jack Pilgrim]

I do think some calls are happening and I think they're. We'll see but I do think that we should see some news pop up here the next next day or two but Pope swinging, Pope seeing, seeing what he can he can pull off with these. With these replacements and seeing who we can. Who who he can hire with these replacements.

[Drew Franklin]

The basketball aspect aside, I think you agree Alvin Brooks seemed like a good dude. You knew him a little better than me. But I wish him well and his family. That was a big deal for them to move here for a couple years. Obviously it didn't work out but I'm wishing Him the best, especially Heart, too. But Brooks really seems like a great guy.

[Ryan Lemond]

We're probably going to hear Rondo's name come up over the next couple years. Would he possibly join the staff?

[Jack Pilgrim]

So he. Cal tried. Like, that was a thing. Cal tried really hard. Had conversations with him. In fact, there was an event in Lexington. It was one of those just kind of donor events that, that Cal told the crowd, like, we're. We're bringing Rondo on staff for this next year. Tyler Ulis, I think that was when Rondo started taking classes at uk. He, Tyler Ulis had just gotten the student assistant job and he was like, well, shoot, if I could get Tyler Ules on staff, I'm getting Rondo on staff, too. But I think it was a little bit more complicated on Cal side than he realized with, you know, he had his own AAU program and some other things that would be a direct violation for, you know, NCAA reasons. So he. I think he was a little ambitious with his push for Rondo, but he. I'm for it. If Rondo is interested in joining a coaching staff, I want it to be at the University of Kentucky.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, we got to get to Tiger woods over the weekend. Gets arrested for possibly driving dui. He passed the breathalyzer test, but refused to take a P test. So I guess the implication is that maybe he was allegedly on some pills or illegal drugs. Breaks my heart. I mean, he is one of the top athletes of all time. Like you put Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, I mean, those of all time. And now to see this happen again with him, Drew, it just. It kind of just breaks my heart a little bit.

[Drew Franklin]

Definitely big Tiger fan here. I think you were there when I cried at KS Bar when he won the Master years ago, very unexpectedly. Had a little tear in my eye. I think it was during a Reed Travis signing. Reed even stopped signing. I think Reed might have had a tear in his eye. You know, Tiger's a legend. He was coming towards a comeback at the Masters. We're all rooting for. But this, this stuff, he's got to get under control. There's no excusing this. I don't care how much we love his golf game. He's lucky he hadn't killed somebody at this point. This has already happened more times than it should. He needs to go out and get help. I know a lot of people say he needs to get a full time driver because he's rich. Whatever it takes. He's now gotten very lucky twice. Twice that we know of. So Tiger Yes, I love to watch you hit a golf ball, but please get some help, because this could have been much worse.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Yeah, I can't. Can't say any better than that, but, yeah, I looked at. I saw the updates unfolding. I was like, I don't know if it's 2006, 2012, because it just feels like it's in every couple years. Major setback for him. Like, right when he feels right on the cusp of breaking through and kind of having his hoorah moment again, he has another setback. So, yeah, I'm wishing him the best. And he's got to get his stuff together.

[Drew Franklin]

The one that happened years ago, I remember. I don't know if people were trying to spin it. They were talking about, oh, it's a dangerous part of the road. It was a blind spot. Okay, whatever. This one, he was like flying through a suburban neighborhood when someone's pulling in their driveway, like, come on, Tiger, we can't be doing this. Like, figure it out. Whether clearly whatever he's got going on with the. We assume addiction to pills, whatever. But the driving, if. If you're going through that, don't drive. You can afford Uber. You afford a driver like this, this can't keep happening. It's. It's sad. But it's also on him that he's doing it.

[Jack Pilgrim]

He could afford helicopter rides wherever he wants to go. He doesn't even need to be driving. Like, come on, come on, Tiger.

[Ryan Lemond]

Shannon is sad. You know, our heroes and you see their star get tarnished a little bit.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, and that was my takeaway. The same that Drew and Jack were saying. I mean, you've got all that money. There's no excuse for you to ever be driving in that condition. I mean, if you don't have a full time driver you can afford. I don't think Tiger's gonna get an Uber. But if you wanted to, he could get an Uber and it'd be a lot safer than him driving around hopped up on. On pain meds or whatever it was. So, yeah, he's gonna kill somebody. You're right, Drew. I mean, you can't keep doing that if you're Tiger. And he has. So.

[Ryan Lemond]

So what does he do? What does he do now?

[Matt Jones]

Don't get help. Don't drive.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, from the golf standpoint, it was. He was saying stuff about a potential return. He was. He just did his total golf league a few weeks ago. Even though he missed a three putt and looked pretty bad, there was some excitement behind Tiger, some great PR and some people thinking, are we going to get to see Tiger give it another run? And then to have this happen, put your clubs down and go figure out your life right now, Tiger.

[Ryan Lemond]

Because, you know, he could be that guy. Like Jack Nicklaus would hit the first shot at the Masters and all these great golf stars.

[Drew Franklin]

Gary Player, Arnold. I know what you're saying. The ceremonial show and golf needs that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Can he be still be that guy?

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, yeah, he can still be that. But right now he needs to, you know, get help. Quit being selfish and getting on the road in that condition. Because as I said, when you're passing people in a suburb as they're pulling in their driveway, you're out of control. And it's lucky hadn't been much worse. I mean, his car flipped over. There's lucky, there's no injuries.

[Ryan Lemond]

Very true. Yeah. All right. 859-280-2287. Go back to the phone line. So we got Shannon.

[Matt Jones]

Let's go to Alvin.

[Ryan Lemond]

Alvin, go ahead. Alvin, good to hear from you.

[Caller]

Hey, hey. Likewise. Thank you a lot. Yeah, I think little Charlie needs Tiger Woods. He has a great young son that's going to be a promising golfer. We don't like to see superstars have

these type of incidents similar to Mike Tyson and.

And others. Tiger woods is a icon in certain

generations, a great golfer. I do have a question for your panel.

If UConn wins guys this championship, do they move into the blue blood conversation, which I really think is antiquated blue blood. If they do, who would they replace?

I would.

I think Indiana needs to be removed and maybe ucla.

So I wanted you to, you know,

comment on that to see if they would change the lineup. Regarding blue bloods.

[Ryan Lemond]

Appreciate, Alvin. I think they're already a blue blood.

[Matt Jones]

They are, Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, they're already there.

[Matt Jones]

6 and 20. What? 7 years? 28 years. 6.

[Drew Franklin]

6.

[Matt Jones]

It's 1999.

[Ryan Lemond]

They're sneaking up on Kentucky. We got to be careful. They're going to get past.

[Drew Franklin]

So sneaking up. They have six to our one since 1999. Oh, my goodness. That's gross. Imagine they get a seventh. Yeah. I mean, they deserve everything that's being said about them. Like Alvin said, I don't know how much blue blood still exists. According to Rick Patino, they're dead. But if they're. If there's still the conversation of blue bloods, you have to put Yukon in it right now.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Yeah, I think that conversation's been over. I think they've been a blue blood. I'm more concerned about their standing compared to ours in terms of, like, the trajectory and where things are going. But, I mean, they were talking about Villanova being a blue blood and if they belong in the conversation when they were went on their little Jay Wright run. So I, you know, UConn is absolutely deserving, and I think another one would only add to that.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, I've said this before. Josiah is 19 years old. He's. He doesn't remember Kentucky winning the 2012 title, but he remembers UConn, all these titles they've won. So for the younger generation, UConn is the UCLA of our generation. They just. They're the superstar team right now.

[Drew Franklin]

Kind of are.

[Matt Jones]

Especially.

[Drew Franklin]

They had another one. And compared to Indiana, I guess my math's right. Indiana has one Final four appearance to UConn's six national titles since 1999. So if you're trying to put Indiana in that group, they definitely get kicked out.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Here's my thing is Hurley, if he gets three of four, does he start kind of getting his wandering eye going? I've accomplished everything that I. Because that was the speculation when he, you know, Kentucky tried for him, the Lakers tried for him. It was like, hey, you've already won two. Like, what? What more could you need? He gets three of four and has kind of established himself atop the sport. Does he kind of start going, well, maybe I can test myself somewhere else and see if I can do it, you know, bigger. Bigger powerhouse, so to speak.

[Ryan Lemond]

Would Hurley have worked here?

[Jack Pilgrim]

Ooh, not with Barnhart, not with Monhart, but. But himself as a coach. Yes, because he's Dan Hurley and he could coach anybody to a championship.

[Drew Franklin]

So, yeah, probably he'd work about anywhere in college. If he went to the NBA, that would not work. The way he acts, doing that to a mega millionaire. Think of someone name. Name an NBA superstar. I don't know if they're going to take the Dan Hurley level of coaching. So if he stays in college, I think he'd win anywhere. If he tries to make the jump in the pros, I don't see his style working at that level.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Can you see him doing it with

[Drew Franklin]

Draymond Green or even Yana, Anybody up in their face like that?

[Jack Pilgrim]

I mean, there was a real chance that he was going to do it with LeBron and Luca.

[Drew Franklin]

Like, that would not have.

[Jack Pilgrim]

That would have been.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm confident in that. I mean, LeBron won't even listen to J.J. redick. I mean, I definitely not listen to Hurley get in his face.

[Ryan Lemond]

You see, Luca got his 16th technical already this season, 16 technicals. So I heard him say what the record was. Shannon, what the record is for most technicals in an NBA season. 82 game, NBA season.

[Matt Jones]

I'm going to say Dennis Robin has it. Am I right or wrong?

[Ryan Lemond]

No.

[Matt Jones]

No.

[Ryan Lemond]

You guys got to guess who it is. Who has it.

[Drew Franklin]

Marcus Cousins.

[Jack Pilgrim]

No, it's Rasheed Wallace.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, that's an easy one.

[Ryan Lemond]

Rashid was with. You know how many he's got?

[Drew Franklin]

No, I don't know how many has

[Ryan Lemond]

a two game season. 41 technicals.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I figured it's probably him by miles.

[Ryan Lemond]

41 technicals in an 82 game season.

[Matt Jones]

Every other game he was getting teed up.

[Ryan Lemond]

So Lucas got 16 right now with several. Well, there's only like, what, 10 games left or something.

[Matt Jones]

He's got a long way to go.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, he's got a long way to go. All right, we'll take our break. Come back. 859-280-2287. Ryan, Drew, Shannon, Jack. We'll be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

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I'm an alcoholic and without this program, I'm gonna die.

[Cino]

Open your free iHeartRadio app, search the C no show and listen now.

[Nick Dicken]

When you listen to podcasts about AI and tech and the future of humanity, the hosts always act like they know what they're talking about and are experts at everything. Here at the Nick Dick and Pole show, we're not afraid to make mistakes. What Coogler did that I think was so unique. He's the writer, director.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Who do you think he is?

[Caller]

I don't know.

[Nick Dicken]

You meet the, like the president.

[Daniel Alarcon]

You think Canada has a president? You think China has a president? Let's walk through that. God, I love that thing. I use it all the time. I wrap it in a blanket and see sing to it like it's like

[Nick Dicken]

the old Polish saying, not my monkeys, not my circus. Yep, it was a good one. I like that.

[Daniel Alarcon]

It's an actual Polish saying.

[Ryan Lemond]

It is an actual Polish.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Better version of play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Yes.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Which. Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift who said that for the first time. I actually. I thought it was. I got that wrong.

[Nick Dicken]

Listen to the Nick Dick and Poll show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erin Welsh]

A ambitious, well intentioned, ferocious and wealthy mother looks like in the black community.

[Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie]

This woman's history month. The podcast Keep It Positive Sweetie celebrates the power of women, choosing healing, purpose and faith. Even when life gets messy, love is not a destination.

[Nick Dicken]

You have to work on it every day.

[Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie]

Keep It Positive, Sweetie creates space for honest conversations on self worth, love, growth and navigating life with grace and grid life, led by women who uplift, inspire and tell the truth out loud.

[Caller]

I have several conversations with God and I know why it took 20 years

[Host of Keep It Positive Sweetie]

to hear this and more. Listen to Keep It Positive, sweetie on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Ryan Lemond]

God's up to something. That's it.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm Scott Fitzgerald.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm Scott Fitzgerald. And this song happens every commercial break.

[Drew Franklin]

They live in my head.

[Ryan Lemond]

They do.

[Drew Franklin]

You know what else lives in my head? Ryan?

[Ryan Lemond]

What else?

[Drew Franklin]

Court Physical Therapy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Tell me about Court Physical Therapy.

[Drew Franklin]

Spring has sprung and that means you might Be getting outside more, and whether that's doing yard work, which I did last weekend, or just staying active by biking or running. For most people, increased physical activity when the weather gets warmer can lead to aches, pains, and injury. That's where court physical therapy can help. At court, the therapists know what it takes to help you heal and get back to the things you enjoy, while also helping you prevent future injuries from happening. With over 70 locations statewide, it's easy to find a center near you. Go to court.com to experience the best in rehab.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's k O R T 859-280-2287. Let's get a phone call. We got Shannon, who we got.

[Matt Jones]

Let's go to Roland.

[Ryan Lemond]

Roland. Go ahead, Roland.

[Caller]

Hey. Yeah, I'm around a lot of basketball, and I made me be a minority on this, but I. I do not like Marino's game. I mean, to me, he doesn't roll to the rim, he doesn't attack the rim. He, like, shy on rebound, and he's shy on getting over where he needs to be. And I just, you know, I just don't like Marino's game. It's just, you know, we need somebody that's ready to attack the rim. We don't need any guys like that.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, Roland. Appreciate it.

[Caller]

And all right, you know, recruiting real quick, just recruiting. All they need is 12 guys. You need four guys, 12 from six foot to six, six. You need four guys from six, six to six, nine, and you need four guys. It's not and over. It's that simple. I don't simple. We just need attackers, not these guys.

[Matt Jones]

Sounds like we need Roland on the staff.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, Roland, appreciate it. We'll put you on the staff. What do you guys think about Roland's philosophy about Malachi and 4, 4 and 4.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean, Malachi has a lot of places needs to improve. I feel like people are a little hard on a guy who plays the center position and was just playing against Madison Central and Frederick Douglass a year ago. And then he jumps to the sec. You know, Jack mentioned he's a little physical. Hands need to get better. But at some point, like, I think we got it burned in our brains from the Cal era like these, that players just are what they are for one year. Like, I think Malachi has a great chance to grow. I think you had a lot of growth in one season. Sure, there's a lot of things he can work on, but I don't think you throw them away right away over freshman year, especially for a center that has to make that big jump from. From high school to the SEC.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Yeah, we got to remember 19 year old kid, man, like true.

[Caller]

He.

[Jack Pilgrim]

It wasn't supposed to be where he like it was going to be. Jaden Quaint says team and Brandon Garrison backing him up in Malachi playing 8:12 minutes a game. Yeah, he got thrust into that position. Not his fault. And he outperformed the expectation for. For what it was coming in. And like, I feel like it just put him in a really tough spot for the fans where at the end they just leaned on him so much to be something that he's not yet. But he showed so many flashes of being that all American type, type of talent. And I think we also have the recency bias with. With Amari Williams being the complete perfect product as a 22, 23 year old. So, like he was four years advanced beyond what Malachi is right now. Just give him time. Where he is right now, he's already exceeded all expectations. And I think he could be a star at Kentucky.

[Drew Franklin]

If anything, Pope Feld building the front court where Malachi had to be the guy as a freshman. That was not the plan. It's just that, you know, acquaintance we didn't get to see. And then Garrison didn't make that big jump.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Right.

[Drew Franklin]

That everyone was assured would happen. So Malachi was already doing more than he was recruited to do. And I think he's got a lot left in him.

[Ryan Lemond]

This is from the aviation glass text machine. I'd like to hear Jack go through the current players, give his percentage chance of each coming back. We did this with Matt the other day. You feel comfortable doing it? We go real quick. And Drew, you can jump in if you got an update.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Sure. All right, you got to read them off.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay, let's do Malachi first.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Stay. Are we doing like a percentage chance?

[Ryan Lemond]

Percentage chance. Matt loves percentage chances.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Okay, 70.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I think I said 75 when we did this last week. I'll stick with that.

[Ryan Lemond]

I said 50. I jump it up to now like 80.

[Drew Franklin]

I just don't think Pope can let that happen. If he sees a foot out the door, he needs to make sure he pulls him back.

[Ryan Lemond]

Shannon.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I think he's coming back 75 also.

[Ryan Lemond]

Brandon Garrison,

[Jack Pilgrim]

25%.

[Drew Franklin]

I was 50. I'm gonna go lower to 30.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I think I was about 40. And you know, his. He has a child that's in Oklahoma and maybe he wants to go back closer to the child. I can see some things in random.

[Drew Franklin]

And he was paid so much this year. That you just can't.

[Ryan Lemond]

You can't pay that much.

[Drew Franklin]

You can't run it back at that rate.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's right, Shannon.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I think he's gone. I think I said 10 or 15 last week, so I'll stick with that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Cameron Williams.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Cam Williams. 50%.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, soap. And Jack will be a little higher than me too.

[Anonymous Recovery Speaker]

Me too.

[Drew Franklin]

I'll say 70.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I was going to like 70. I thought he was a guy that was maybe leaning more toward Jack. May know something. What about you, Shannon?

[Matt Jones]

You need back. Give you some three point shooting? I'll say 60.

[Ryan Lemond]

Colin Chandler. There's a lot of scuttlebutt about him on the socials this weekend.

[Drew Franklin]

I'm still going to go high. I know BYU wants him. That's something we have to assume was going to happen. Yeah, Just unique circumstances there. And I still think he's got a connection to Pope and he really likes this place and then he'll see it through. But it's not as high as I want it to be. I'll say he's 70.

[Jack Pilgrim]

70.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Pretty high. 70.

[Matt Jones]

I go with that.

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Trent Noah.

[Jack Pilgrim]

That's, that's the coin flip because I think that there's a real pull for him internally to like he wants to play. Like he's a key, doesn't want to be a token kid at the end of the bench is, you know, victory cigar kid. Like, I think he wants to play, but I think he will also make much more money here than anywhere else with the organic local nil. And he wouldn't take up a bunch of the, you know, the rev share cap cap dollars. So I think it's going to be, do you value wearing the jersey and making a lot of money or playing somewhere and probably dropping down a level? So I'm going to go coin flip. I'm saying 50.

[Drew Franklin]

Same here for what he just said. I mean, he will not, he will not find better support than he has here, obviously. I mean, there are people screaming for him at the end of the season. They wanted more Trent Noah. He has that Kentucky fan base that would be hard to get away from, but at the same time, he's done two years of it. Maybe he wants to go somewhere where he can get up a bunch of shots the game. It'll just come down to what's between his ears. But I'll keep it at a coin flip because it would be hard to turn down the money and the fan support in Lexington, even though it'd be likely a smaller role.

[Matt Jones]

Shannon, I see him as another Travis Perry, you know, and maybe that's just because he's a Kentucky guy, good three point shooter, you know, that didn't necessarily perform like we thought he was going to. So I think he goes somewhere else. I'll say there's a 30% chance he comes back.

[Ryan Lemond]

Brandon Hawthorne.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Braden.

[Matt Jones]

Braden.

[Ryan Lemond]

Braden Hawthorne. Sorry.

[Jack Pilgrim]

50%.

[Ryan Lemond]

Really?

[Drew Franklin]

Wow.

[Matt Jones]

That ain't good.

[Ryan Lemond]

No, he's.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, he. That they're aware. Because if you want Stokes and you want Cam Williams, you can see where Hawthorne is.

[Caller]

Like.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, I don't. Not really a spot for me. If they do get Stokes and Williams comes back to be different than Jack, I'll say 55. But he's probably waiting to see what pans out. If I'm guessing.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, Shannon, I think he comes back.

[Matt Jones]

I'll go 75.

[Ryan Lemond]

Jasper Johnson.

[Matt Jones]

10 gone

[Jack Pilgrim]

20%.

[Drew Franklin]

You and I went really low last week on this. I think I said one or two. I will raise it to 15, but I still think it's unlikely.

[Ryan Lemond]

And here's the.

[Drew Franklin]

And a reset would probably be good for him.

[Ryan Lemond]

To me, the biggest wild card, Aberdeen.

[Jack Pilgrim]

He has no eligibility, so I'm going to say he's gone diabate.

[Ryan Lemond]

I don't know why I said Aberdeen.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, I'm going to go zero percent on Aberdeen in no way.

[Ryan Lemond]

I don't know why I said Aberdeen.

[Drew Franklin]

Also. I go 0% another year right away.

[Ryan Lemond]

Oh, hey, 100%.

[Drew Franklin]

I'll go 0 on Jason Hart, 0 on Alvin Brooks.

[Ryan Lemond]

Let's try it again. The abate

[Caller]

third.

[Jack Pilgrim]

35%.

[Drew Franklin]

I'll go 50. I heard mid year things were optimistic about it on both sides, that those conversations were going well as the season progressed. But you know, you get to this stage of the calendar and their phones are ringing and offers they didn't have start showing up.

[Matt Jones]

Shannon, go 40. Go right in the middle between those two.

[Ryan Lemond]

See, I was kind of lower on him. Now I'm kind of a little bit higher on him than I was originally. So, Pope, I think once that physical number four guy go out and get

[Drew Franklin]

a shooter, he's another one I'd love to have back. Only if the team is built the right way. We saw how it hurts the offense with him at the four not being able to get spacing. But if you. If you have spacing and shooters and need him to come off the bench and do what he did at the end of the year, I would love to have him back.

[Ryan Lemond]

We're about out of time. We got to yellow yet.

[Jack Pilgrim]

40% say 35.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Shannon 30. Well, this didn't go as well as we did last the other day.

[Drew Franklin]

Are we doing Mark Fox?

[Ryan Lemond]

Mark Fox? Guys, do mark fox five.

[Drew Franklin]

Keep watching. Coaching staff moves. 40.

[Ryan Lemond]

We'll take our break. We'll be right back. Tech Sports Radio. TJ Smith, personal injury attorney. Call tj. He'll make him pay.

[Matt Jones]

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

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, welcome back. Ryan, Drew Shannon and Jack Pilgrim here. Kentucky Sports Radio taking your calls. 859-280-2287. And our breakdown of the players. I did forget Reese Potter.

[Jack Pilgrim]

He said after, after the season ended that he was like, I don't care. I just want to be here. I love, you know, being a part of this and, you know, Pope will have me back. I'll be back. And I know he wasn't making a ton of money in year one as a red shirt anyway, so I think the plan is for him, for him to come back. But, you know, I think he's one of those end of bench, we'll see. We'll see what happened guys that, you know. But I, I expect him back.

[Drew Franklin]

I do, too. And since he didn't play this year, you know, I don't know that his phone will be ringing with huge offers because he didn't really show anything at the next level. So just knowing his connection to UK and being from here, I would expect him to run it back another season.

[Jack Pilgrim]

The difference with Hawthorne as the red shirt thing is Hawthorne was a top 40 recruit. Like NBA draft interest there, there will be a bidding war for him, at least the back channels of people wanting to come and steal him as a potential star piece for their respective programs. So that's part of the reason why I think Braden, like, does he get out priced for Kentucky versus what they're willing to pay.

[Ryan Lemond]

Do you believe that Hawthorne was about to get his red shirt pulled but he sprained his ankle?

[Jack Pilgrim]

I don't. I mean, my understanding of the people that actually watch practice that he was awesome, showed flashes of it. But he red shirted for a reason. If he was good enough to play, he would be playing. You know, he was way too skinny, way too raw, immature. Like that was a common thing that popped up with him. Just, you know, little, A little too physically and mentally immature to be a serious competitor, competitor right now. But next season could be awesome for him if he does decide to come back.

[Ryan Lemond]

Shane, I got a story for you.

[Caller]

All right.

[Ryan Lemond]

The guy named Tucker Johnson who played for Hazard basketball, that looked like Kurt Rambus oh, yeah, yeah. Remember talking about him?

[Matt Jones]

I'm a fan of this guy. Yeah, we all are.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. He came to KS Bar. Has the hair, has the glasses, looks like Kurt Rambis. As soon as the Hazard got beat and as soon as the high school basketball season was over, guess what he started doing?

[Matt Jones]

Duck hunting.

[Ryan Lemond]

Training to be a wrestler.

[Drew Franklin]

It's perfect.

[Ryan Lemond]

It's perfect. The guy looks like Kurt Rambis. He's from Hazard and he's training to be a professional wrestler.

[Matt Jones]

A guy that doesn't need a gimmick. Like he is his own gimmick.

[Ryan Lemond]

He is his own gimmick. So I loved it.

[Matt Jones]

Do we think that maybe he's going to end up at ovw, you know, training grounds for wrestling in the country.

[Ryan Lemond]

So him and Cash Daniel, future tag team partners. I mean, the man from the mountains. It's perfect. Both those guys. So. So we're. He's now my new favorite. Well, Cash is my favorite tuck. Tuck Johnson's my second favorite.

[Matt Jones]

He's got to wear the.

[Drew Franklin]

Cash is your favorite because he puts you through a table.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's true.

[Drew Franklin]

Did you see the Abby Hornacek reporter get body slammed? It made me think of your derby.

[Ryan Lemond]

No.

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, she took a suplex from a female wrestler. Her neck almost snaps. I know this is radio, can't give you the video here, but you'll have to watch it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay.

[Drew Franklin]

She voluntarily takes a suplex, but she is inches from her neck.

[Ryan Lemond]

Snaps.

[Drew Franklin]

I didn't see it. Reminded me of your derby.

[Jack Pilgrim]

She took it in stride.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean she did. She hopped right up.

[Ryan Lemond]

She was on the job.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, but she hops right up and finishes the live hit. But you know, she's hurting and she probably didn't know how close she was to long term effects. It was a nasty suplex.

[Ryan Lemond]

859-280-2287. Who's next? Shannon?

[Matt Jones]

Let's go to Kevin.

[Ryan Lemond]

Kevin. Go ahead, Kevin.

[Caller]

Yeah.

Thanks for taking my call, guys. You may have said this earlier shows, sorry if it's a repeat, but what are your, what's your opinions on. On Stokes? Your, you know, your, your, I guess. What, what is your gut telling you? I'll just give you mine real quick. I think if he wanted to come to Kentucky, be here already. He seems to be waiting on, you know, I guess a clear future for, for Bill Self.

So.

And, and to me, if, if that's, if he, if he wants to go to Kansas that bad, then, then even though we need players, he just doesn't seem like he really wants to be Here, in my opinion. So I'll hang up and listen to your call.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, Kevin. Appreciate it.

[Jack Pilgrim]

What you're hearing, Jack, I preface by saying I think that Kansas is the leader, has been the leader, better relationships with the Kansas staff, all of those things are very true. But why is he not committed to Kansas then? Like, why. Why are we still doing this song and dance with him if it's just been a shoe in lock for Kansas this whole time? So you can't kind of have it both ways. Would we're, you know, weighing both of these things? Oh, he doesn't really want to be here. Well, it doesn't sound like he really is dying to be a Kansas because he's still not committed there to the Bill Self thing. Like, I think that's something to really monitor that is he just going to pull a Bruce Pearl, Steven Pearl deal where he's going to coach the guys throughout the summer and then once you get the day before the official start of fall practice, say, coach Vaughn, you're now the head coach and I'm calling it a career. I think that's something that if I'm Mark Pope, I need to be leaning super, super, super hard into and say, like, you don't know if the guy that is promising you to be your head coach is even going to be your head coach. So I think the longer this drags out, it helps Kentucky. I do think that the Nike thing is very real. I think that's been probably the biggest hang up in his entire recruitment is will he, if he goes to Kansas, will they let him wear Nike? Would he ever be willing to wear Adidas, given his contracts and all that? I think that's a really problematic thing for him that he's trying to. So I think the longer this drags out is better for Kentucky. But all things considered that the momentum is still, still in Kansas way.

[Drew Franklin]

Yeah, it's pretty clear he prefers Kansas. But the Adidas Nike thing and Bill Self, he just can't pull the trigger yet or hasn't. I know Kentucky fans kind of grown at being the second option, but if he ends up at Kentucky next year when it's 10 minutes left and they're in the Louisville game, I'll tell you what, I'm not thinking about that he thought about Kansas in April. I don't care if we're fifth on his list, if he ends up putting the jersey on, I will think twice about what is happening right now. So that doesn't bother me at all that maybe second on his list if he ends up, you know, putting Kentucky on top, we're fine with whatever is going through his mind right now. I mean, Terrence Jones committed to Washington.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's true.

[Drew Franklin]

And then coach Cal called him a day later and was like, hey, but what are we doing? And he switched, you know, you up? We were fine. We were. We were fine after that. Are you.

[Ryan Lemond]

Are you putting any traction to the Jamal Crawford interviews with Kentucky, possibly assistant coach and he's connection with Stokes or anything?

[Jack Pilgrim]

Not yet. I think that's something that I'd love for Pope to call and see. See, you know, pick his brain a little bit about. But like, my understanding is that Jamal loves where he is. He's got that super cushy NBA on NBC job that, you know, he's coaching his, you know, eighth grade son in Seattle. So I think it's something that it. Pope needs to see if he can swing for the fences on that one. But my understanding is that he's. He's content with where he is, but, you know, worth phone call.

[Ryan Lemond]

859-280-2287. Who's next? Shannon.

[Matt Jones]

Let's go to Jacob.

[Ryan Lemond]

Jacob. Go ahead, Jacob.

[O]

Hey, guys. Good morning.

[Ryan Lemond]

Morning.

[O]

I love this team, man. I didn't like the outcome, but I love this team. I love the Cats no matter who throws on the jerseys. I do worry about Tyrone Stokes being a Darren Peterson type, Granted. I'd love the kid if he came, no matter what he did. If he puts up 30 a night, you know we're gonna love him. But with the. And I hate all the fake media on Facebook, I don't know what to believe, what not. I mean, I. You can obviously tell what not to believe, but with the landscape of like, box and of course, we got Mo Williams committed, which is awesome. Who could you possibly see starting for Kentucky next year?

[Drew Franklin]

If you let me know if you find out.

[Ryan Lemond]

It is a summer show, so why not? Who would you foresee a potential starting lineup next year?

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, my goodness. Optimistic. Yeah, I'll say. Malachi. I mean, like, the dream lineup would have Stokes in it. Maybe some dink pate.

[Ryan Lemond]

There's three.

[Drew Franklin]

I don't know. I mean, if we're just dreaming.

[Ryan Lemond]

Colin and Cam, there's our five.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, we need a good point guard. I mean, I would love to go to Vanderbilt and take him. Or there's a lot of them I'd love to have, but right now it's so early in the portal process, I don't have much optimism at the point guard spot.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Superstar point guard. Not going to name names but just superstar point guard to be announced. Point guard Colin, you know, Stokes. Yeah, let's go. Yeah, let's do this. All right. Superstar point guard Colin Dink Pate, Tyron Stokes, Malachi Moreno.

[Ryan Lemond]

There we go. There you go. There's your train lineup.

[Jack Pilgrim]

That's what I want.

[Drew Franklin]

Yellow off the bench because I want to lose him.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Heck yes. Let's do it.

[Ryan Lemond]

And Aberdeen.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Aberdeen with his make believe six year senior, Cam Williams.

[Drew Franklin]

Six man of the year.

[Ryan Lemond]

There's a this on the Aviation Glass Tech machine. What are you guys over? Under for a tournament run next year. If I give you sweet 16, are you taking the over or under?

[Drew Franklin]

Make me do this, Ryan.

[Anonymous Recovery Speaker]

Gosh.

[Jack Pilgrim]

I mean until we like if you. If Tyrone Stokes commits, I go, let's run it. Let's go. Like I could be bought very, very easily. But until we see it, I think this week, I mean with the dominoes, with the state goes decisions, I think the offers are coming in. I think they're going to be accepted slash turned down. And I think I'll get. We'll get a better feel for all of this. But I think Sweet sixteen is a real nice safe bet for right now. So I'm going breaking even on that one.

[Drew Franklin]

On March 30, I'll go under because I can't name one player that will be on the team. But my mind could quickly change in the next two weeks. That's true. Excuse me. You know what? I apologize to Mason Williams in that case. Elite 8. Mason Williams and 11 players to be named later will lead us to the Elite eight.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, didn't Hawthorne say he was coming back during the.

[Drew Franklin]

I mean they all. What else are you supposed to say in those moments?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, Jaylen Lowe's not going to say during the March Madness run that he's coming back.

[Drew Franklin]

And even if they believe it, you're one phone call away with someone on the other end saying, I got a bag for you to come here. I mean this can change in a night. Well, as we saw with your boy Wilkerson last year.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Changed overnight.

[Drew Franklin]

It takes one phone call and whatever you thought you were doing, you can change that real fast.

[Jack Pilgrim]

I can confirm everything that you heard on that. You are totally vindicated in every to do with Lamar Will.

[Ryan Lemond]

Thank you, Jack. I'll kind of be clear.

[Drew Franklin]

They still get vindicate him saying it was done.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, yeah, it was done that night before.

[Jack Pilgrim]

But your optimism was justified.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Drew Franklin]

Just can't use the 100% 99.9 there you go.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, we'll take our last break, Come back. Our last segment. We got a couple calls we got to get to 859-280-2287. Ryan, Drew, Shannon, Jack. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

[Erin Welsh]

Usually on this podcast, we'll kill you. We talk about the diseases, infections and biological threats that can make us radio really sick.

[Holly Frey]

But right now, we're doing something a little different.

[Erin Welsh]

We're stepping back and looking at what the human body needs to keep going.

[Holly Frey]

When you consider what we know about sleep in humans, there's one rule that comes out. We are predictably unpredictable sleepers.

[Erin Welsh]

We're talking about why sleep works the way it does, why our bodies don't follow neat rules, and why modern life makes rest so hard to come by.

[Holly Frey]

The second half of our series takes us to the digestive system with a multi part series on what happens after we eat. Okay, I just have to say that all of my favorite words, apparently are digestive words.

[Erin Welsh]

Sphincter, peristalsis, duodenum. It's fascinating, it's funny, and it matters so much more than you think.

[Holly Frey]

Episodes of our new series run from January 20 through February 17, with new episodes every Tuesday on the Exactly Right Network.

[Erin Welsh]

Listen to this podcast will kill you as part of the Exactly Right Network. On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Anonymous Recovery Speaker]

I went and sat on the little ottoman in front of him.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Hi, dad.

[Anonymous Recovery Speaker]

And just when I said that, my mom comes out of the kitchen and she says, I have some cookies and milk. This is badass, convict. Just finished five years. I'm gonna have cookies and milk at mom.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Yeah.

[Cino]

On the CNO show podcast, each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor cultural icon Danny Trejo. Talk about addiction, transformation and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to binge, featuring powerful conversations with guests like Tiffany Adish, Johnny Knoxville and more.

[Anonymous Recovery Speaker]

I'm an alcoholic. Without this probe, I'm gonna die.

[Cino]

Open your free iHeartRadio app, search the Cino show and listen now.

[Bob Pittman]

Hi, I'm Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia and I'm kicking off a brand new season of my podcast, Math and Stories from the frontiers of Marketing. Math and Magic takes you behind the scenes of the biggest businesses and industries while sharing insights from the the smartest minds in marketing. I'm talking to leaders from the entertainment industry, to finance and everywhere in between. This season of Math and Magic. I'm talking to CEO of Liquid Death, Mike Cesario, financier and public health advocate Mike Milken. Take Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick.

[Jack Pilgrim]

If you're unable to take meaningful creative risk and therefore run the risk of making horrible creative mistakes, then you can't play in this business.

[Bob Pittman]

Sesame Street CEO Sherry Westin and our own chief business officer, Lisa Coffey.

[Holly Frey]

Making consumers see the value of the

[Erin Welsh]

human voice and to have that guaranteed

[Holly Frey]

human promise behind it really makes it

[Caller]

rise to the top.

[Bob Pittman]

Listen to Math and Magic stories from the frontiers of Marketing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Nick Dicken]

When you listen to podcasts about AI and tech and the future of humanity, the hosts always act like they know what they're talking about and they are experts at everything here at the Nick Dicken Pole. Not afraid to make mistakes. What Coogler did that I think was so unique.

[Drew Franklin]

Who's he?

[Nick Dicken]

He's the writer, director.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Who do you think he is?

[Caller]

I don't know.

[Nick Dicken]

You meet the, like the president.

[Daniel Alarcon]

You think the president. You think Canada has a president? You think China has a president? La Crusette. God, I love that thing. I use it all the time.

[Nick Dicken]

What color?

[Daniel Alarcon]

I wrap it in a blanket and sing to it at like.

[Nick Dicken]

It's like the old Polish saying, not my monkeys, not my circus. Yep, it was a good one. I like that saying.

[Daniel Alarcon]

It's an actual Polish saying.

[Ryan Lemond]

It is an actual Polish.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Better version of play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes.

[Daniel Alarcon]

Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift who said that for the first time. I actually. I thought it was. I got that wrong.

[Nick Dicken]

Listen to the Nick, Dick and Paul show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ryan Lemond]

Final segment, Kentucky Sports Radio. Ryan, Drew, Shannon, Jack, who's our sponsor,

[Matt Jones]

Shannon, the Kentucky Skin Cancer Center. You know, the final four is here and so is prime time for your skin. Tailgating, patios, sunshine. Before tip off. It can all add up. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America. It's also one of the most preventables. So go to Kentuckyskincancercenter.com they offer full body skin checks and treatment for all types of skin cancer. And they're right here in your community. Owensboro, Bowling Green, Franklin, glasgow and powderley. Kentuckyskin cancer center.com for an appointment.

[Ryan Lemond]

Did the Louisville Kings win their opener this week?

[Drew Franklin]

Oh, no. I watched it, lost in the end. They led for a lot of the game. It looked like a great crowd.

[Ryan Lemond]

Looks like it Was packed.

[Drew Franklin]

They had like a cool skyline. Shot a Louisville before the game started. The broadcast was fun. First drive, they threw an interception. It's like a blooper. It hits the tight end and the helmet pops in the air. Then it bobbles off both of his hands. I think it hits in the helmet again and it's an interception. At that point, I was like, oh, my goodness, let's not have him on the team anymore. Just hand it off to Benny. But then Benny didn't really get going either. The offensive lines got to get him some help, but they lost the overall just product of the broadcast and stuff. Look fun, though. I'd like to go sometime, so I'm rooting for it. But game one did not go well, and they had a little incident. I don't know if you saw it halftime. The players walk through a tunnel where there's an open bar, and the other team and the fans got into it, including other players grabbing drinks and throwing them at the. At the fans. All had to be separated.

[Ryan Lemond]

Oh, wow.

[Drew Franklin]

I would say maybe not run that back next time because, I mean, it was. It wasn't like a little bit of jaw and they're throwing drinks at each other.

[Ryan Lemond]

Shannon's kind of event overall.

[Drew Franklin]

Go Kings, though we got to get Benny going a little better. Get it. Get him some holes. But it looked like a fun atmosphere.

[Ryan Lemond]

It looked like it was packed.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Did Lynn Bo never get picked up?

[Drew Franklin]

He did not feel like we could get.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Get him on waiver wire right now.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, we cut him, so I know

[Jack Pilgrim]

I made it free.

[Ryan Lemond]

Pick it back up now.

[Drew Franklin]

That's a big hit for them. Not having Lynn and Benny. That was a big selling point.

[Ryan Lemond]

859280-2287. Got a couple callers yet before we get out of here. So who we got? Shannon.

[Matt Jones]

Let's go to Mike.

[Ryan Lemond]

Mike. Go ahead, Mike.

[Caller]

Hey, guys, I got a question for Jack on the recruiting trail. Do you think that Pope's shared minutes and name on the front of the jersey hinders his ability to land some of these top recruits, whether it's high school or transport fertile?

[Ryan Lemond]

I appreciate it. Thank you, Mike.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Yeah, 100%. Yeah, that's. That's definitely been a talking point. And it's been negatively, you know, a negative recruiting pitch for other schools to say, why would you only go play 20, 22 minutes there when we're going to promise you 30? But I think it's kind of the same deal with the cow, where it's like, we're not going to promise you Anything, but you can come in and play. And I think it helped this year with, you know, Aberdeen playing 38 minutes and Otega playing 38. Like, I think year one was a bad example because that's when it really peaked. You know, hey, this is Mr. System Coach, not player, players first coach. So I think year two helped his cause, even though the product itself was, you know, a little bit more of a stinker. So I think it should be on the uptick going into year three, and I think some of the support staff help that he's getting, and it seems like he's trending back in the right direction to kind of make, you know, make up some ground on the recruiting front.

[Ryan Lemond]

Your post, you made you. And Jacob was very alarming with the fact that some people were admitting that Pope would get to the closing table and couldn't get the deal closed, that sort of thing, and want you to play for the front of the jersey. And that's alarming in this day and age.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Yeah. But I think to Pope's credit and to give him some grace, this is all brand new to him. I mean, he only. He has this romanticized view of Kentucky basketball of the 1990s and what it was then and what it means to him now. And I think what's missing and something that he has to learn on the fly on the job is kids just don't care about that. You got to make. You got to get them here first and then make them care later. Don't, you know, like, John Wall didn't come to Kentucky because it was the sacred piece of cloth. He came because he wanted the platform to go be the number one draft pick, and that's exactly what he did. And then he ended up falling in love with the University of Kentucky in the process. That is. That is the future. That's what these kids care about. Tyron Stokes is the perfect example of. I could not, because Drew so eloquently said, I do not care about where he, like, oh, I'd rather play at Kansas. Don't care. Get him on campus. Let him fall in love with the fan base. Let him fall in love with all this stuff and figure all that stuff out later.

[Drew Franklin]

For being honest, most of the players we love in history probably didn't have those feelings about Kentucky until they got there, outside of the ones born in this state or might have grown up nearby that like it. The legends we think of probably came in here not really knowing about the sacred cloth and the fan base other than what they hear. And then they Fall in love as it happens. So let's keep it that way. Trying to sell it to them until they live it. I think they might even be like, what? What are you talking about? What is this? Yeah, they'll fall in love when they get here. There's no doubt about that. So maybe I wouldn't lean all the way into that. I would, you know, focus on the basketball and let the, the Kentucky romanticism fall into place. Because it will.

[Ryan Lemond]

Who's next?

[Caller]

Shannon?

[Matt Jones]

Jc.

[Ryan Lemond]

Jc, you're up next. Go ahead.

[Caller]

Hey, guys.

I'm trying to get to invest most invested in Tyrone Stokes. Of course, I've never seen play other than his Eclipse.

Jack, do you think he would even

be a top 10 player in this year's class if he was like a year older and doesn't have an outside shot? And I'm the kind of guy that kind of likes this, the older postman. I'm worried about Malachi being able to put on waiting within, within a year. I think he's like three years away. I'll hang up with.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, J.C. appreciate it. What do you think, Jack?

[Jack Pilgrim]

100%. Tyron is, he's the guts. Tyron is, is a, he'd be a

[Ryan Lemond]

top 10 player this year.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Yes, he's a bull in a china shop like physical freak Julius Randoli in that regard, but also I think tests himself with what he can do on the perimeter. And he's taken 29 foot step back threes just to be like, I can add that to my bag, you know, pick little things. So like the efficiency is a work in progress, those things. But he's even said in interviews he is, he is cocky, he, he believes in himself more than anybody else in the world. Believes in himself. And you need that. Like that's what, that's what a Kentucky basketball player embodies. It's a. I believe I'm better than you. I believe that I can go be a superstar at the highest level, average 20 points a game and be the number one draft pick. You want that to be a part of your, part of your program. And I think he's, he lives up to the billing in that regard. You know, tough, tough, tough kid, you know, character, I don't know, concerns. But that's a talking point about being a, you know, good teammate. But he's just, he's, he's got that, that, that edge to him, that dog to him that it embodies winning.

[Ryan Lemond]

We got one more car before we get out of here. Shannon. We got Robert.

[Drew Franklin]

Robert.

[Matt Jones]

Yep.

[Ryan Lemond]

Go Ahead, Robert.

[Caller]

Hey, guys, I want to say I

am pro pope, but I want to go back. If when Bruce Pearl was a conversation, how would you all have felt if he had come to Kentucky and at whatever stage of the game it was, left right before the season and left Kentucky with having to take Stephen Pearl as their coach.

[Ryan Lemond]

Appreciate the phone call, Drew. We got back a minute.

[Drew Franklin]

Well, that wouldn't. He wouldn't have taken the Kentucky job just to leave. Also we got like nepotism laws that they don't have. Right. I don't think he could have done that. I think that was a Cal Brad issue. So I don't think that scenario could have even happened.

[Ryan Lemond]

What if he'd stayed five years then given off to Steven?

[Drew Franklin]

That wouldn't have happened. We would not have let Stephen Pearl coach this basketball. That would not have happened. There's no scenario where Steven Pearl would have taken over like what Auburn did. You know, they're Auburn and Bruce, Les and Beth. That would not have happened here.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Good for him, though. Good for Steven to just walk his way into high major, big time coaching job and have Bruce Pearl build the platform for him.

[Drew Franklin]

Almost made the tournament.

[Jack Pilgrim]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Jealous for your first head coaching job. Not a bad. Must be Jack. Thank you for coming in. Appreciate you a lot on a basketball heavy day. Drew's driving the ship tomorrow. Football radio with a lot of football with Nick Roush.

[Drew Franklin]

That's right.

[Ryan Lemond]

We're back. This is Canadian sports radio.