2026-04-17- KSR - Hour 2

Summary

Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – April 17, 2026 (Hour 2)

Podcast: KSR
Host(s): Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond, Billy Reed
Special Guest: Derek Anderson (UK legend, NBA Mental Wellness Director)
Recorded at: Whiskey Thief Distillery, Frankfort, KY
Theme: In-depth discussion with Derek Anderson about player mentality, Kentucky basketball culture, coaching philosophies, and the state of UK basketball—including candid takes on mental health, NIL, and the transfer portal.

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Episode Overview

This special episode of Kentucky Sports Radio features Kentucky Wildcats legend Derek Anderson, offering a rich, authentic discussion about mental health in elite sports, changes in college basketball, and the unique pressures—and opportunities—of playing for Kentucky. Live at Whiskey Thief, the atmosphere is relaxed and engaging, with audience interaction and plenty of inside stories from one of the most respected UK alumni. The crew also debates the future of the program, the NIL landscape, and reminisces about classic UK teams. Anderson’s advice for the next generation, and for Kentucky’s new head coach Mark Pope, stands out as a highlight.

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Key Segments & Insights

1. Setting the Scene at Whiskey Thief (01:01 – 01:48)

• Live Remote: The show broadcasts from the Whiskey Thief Distillery, with the team sampling bourbon and food truck eats.
• Notable banter: “Best gravel road ever anywhere.” (Matt Jones, 01:21)
• Food highlight: The “Misfit” sandwich gets rave reviews: “It was like food crack.” (Matt Jones, 01:45)

2. Derek Anderson on Mental Health & NBA Role (02:12 – 04:37)

• Background: Anderson is now the NBA’s Mental Wellness Director, focusing on player mental health.
• Personal Context: Shares moving personal story—on his own at 14, challenging youth, mental toughness.
  • “I didn’t see my parents since I was 12 years old…they never saw me play.” (Derek Anderson, 03:16)
  • “It was better to smile than cry…” (Derek Anderson, 04:09)
• Mental Wellness for Players: Anderson stresses that NBA athletes aren't immune to life’s challenges, emphasizing authentic support and outlets for stress.

3. Social Media & Fan Criticism (04:47 – 07:06)

• Then vs Now: Contrast between old-school criticism (newspapers, isolated calls) and today’s social media reality.
• Advice to Players: “Don’t get on their phones a day of the game…” (Derek Anderson, 06:29).
• Impact: Acknowledges the increased mental burden on athletes due to constant public scrutiny.

4. Kentucky Basketball Brotherhood & Coaching Culture (07:06 – 10:58)

• Mark Pope Era: Significant optimism and sense of renewed family among Patino-era players.
• 96 Group Chat: Legendary Kentucky team group chat still active. Mark Pope participates, suggestions and feedback fly.
  • “Mark is in the group [chat]... And you guys are still giving suggestions?” “Yes.” (Ryan Lemond & Derek Anderson, 08:28–8:33)
  • Most active chat voices: Anderson, Cameron Mills, Wayne Turner. “When I tell you Wayne is brutal…” (Derek Anderson, 09:35)
• Philosophy on Teaching Players:
  • “If you want to make the coach or a game better, you have to teach IQ basketball. You don’t just run them out there...” (Derek Anderson, 07:39)
  • “You don’t just sit there and let kids play…” (08:07)

5. Relating to Today’s Players & Mark Pope’s Challenge (10:12 – 13:39)

• Can Mark Pope Relate? Anderson is unsure, notes it's about mentality and direct teaching.
  • “Is he teaching that mentality? Because he’s never been that rah-rah guy. Anyway, you saw when we play, I’m dancing. When I dunk on you, he just like, this good play D. Go sit down.” (Derek Anderson, 11:20)
• Players Need ‘Dog Mentality’: “If you can play basketball, you can do that.” (Derek Anderson, 12:11)
• Advice for Mark Pope: Stressing daily practice of IQ and effort – habits create results.
  • “You practice with a mentality of IQ and effort. You practice that every single day...” (Derek Anderson, 12:38)
  • Example: Patino's teams practiced with chaos (noise) to simulate game conditions.

6. Critique of 2025 Team—The Missing Ingredient (13:39 – 14:50)

• Basketball IQ Lacking: “It was IQ. 100%. That was the difference... we didn’t know how to play basketball.” (Derek Anderson, 14:03)
• Need for Teaching Fundamentals: Discusses specific situational awareness, use of counters, and coaching attention to detail.

7. NIL, Transfer Portal, and College Basketball’s Evolution (19:49 – 22:45)

• NIL View: Supports players making money but wants structure—suggests escrow, financial literacy, and maturity.
  • “If we gave us, all of us a hundred thousand dollars, put like 50 in escrow, give us 50… when we get out of college I get all that money.” (Derek Anderson, 20:34)
• Transfer Portal:
  • Supports one-time transfers but cautions against repeated moves for instability.
  • “You’re teaching bad habits for them to grow up in a real world, which is not really authentic.” (Derek Anderson, 21:47)

8. All-time UK Team Debate: The Great “Which Team Wins?” Roundtable (22:45 – 25:49)

• UK’s Best Four Teams: 1996, 2010, 2012, 2015—Anderson provides tactical breakdowns:
  • “John Wall’s team lost—they couldn’t shoot. So we go zone on them.” (Derek Anderson, 23:21)
  • “If he puts Devin Booker in, they win. That’s the team that scares me... 2015 had a deeper team and just as much talent as the ‘96.” (Derek Anderson, 24:14, 25:13)
• Ultimate Point: 1996 and 2015 were most dominant, but team play made ‘96 special.

9. Listener Questions & Fanbase Engagement (31:01 – 35:50)

• Suggests Pope’s main strength is being “one of us”—but needs to remain visible post-loss for fanbase connection.
  • “When he goes silent... you lose your best trait.” (Matt Jones, 33:34)
• Callers and hosts urge hiring Derek Anderson as assistant coach after his insightful segment.

10. Recruiting & Roster Prognosis (28:20 – 37:03)

• Wilkins and Freeman Recruits: Anxious speculation about potential commitments—hosts debate which commitments will come through first.
  • “If they get Wilkins, is he our best player or Diallo our best player?” (Matt Jones, 29:35)
  • “I think if they got Freeman and Wilkins… if they don’t get Stokes, they’re still one player away from being great.” (Ryan Lemond, 36:18)

11. Playoff Predictions and Inside Jokes (44:03 – 45:47)

• NBA and NHL finals picks—playful and lighthearted.
• Quick trivia on Kentucky transfers and top scorers.

12. Final Thoughts & Listener Calls (45:53 – End)

• Callers rave about Derek Anderson’s book “Stamina.”
• End-of-show predictions and gratitude for live audience participation.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “It was better to smile than cry. I mean, I would never have been able to be… successful because I was always living in that sad moment. I just said, how do you get out of that?”
  — Derek Anderson (04:09)
• “I would tell them, don’t get on their phones a day of the game. As far as social media, especially after the game.”
  — Derek Anderson (06:29)
• “There is a difference with social media. You know, what Coach Patino was dealing with. We didn’t usually see it… Now the kids are actually happy to see it [but] it’s hard to pass up.”
  — Derek Anderson (05:15)
• “If you want to make the coach or a game better, you have to teach IQ basketball.”
  — Derek Anderson (07:39)
• “If you can play basketball, you can do [have a ‘dog’ mentality].”
  — Derek Anderson (12:11)
• “It was IQ. There was times when we had a big guy on a guard on him like, yes. If we didn’t throw him the ball, I would have been livid over there.”
  — Derek Anderson (13:46)
• “If we gave us, all of us a hundred thousand dollars, put like 50 in escrow... when we get out of college I get all that money after I’m done with college…”
  — Derek Anderson (20:34)
• “I never felt like [Cal or Pitino] were one of us… With Pope, I did feel that way.”
  — Matt Jones (34:04)
• “Seriously, I wish you could see how many [people]… Can Derek join the staff? …I’ve always wanted it. I’ve expressed that. And the reason why I haven’t coached anywhere. I told [them] I only wanted to coach in Kentucky.”
  — Derek Anderson (19:37–19:42)

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Memorable Moments

• Active, hilarious group chat of 1996 players giving suggestions to Mark Pope, who sometimes “ghosts” the chat. (08:21+)
• Derek Anderson’s tough childhood and resilience story—genuine, powerful radio. (03:16–04:09)
• Insightful debate about the best UK teams—Anderson gives inside basketball, not just fan hyperbole. (22:45–25:13)
• Overwhelming fan consensus during the show: “Can Derek join the staff?” (19:20, 19:31, 19:36)

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Concluding Thoughts

This episode stands out for its authenticity and depth, balancing nostalgia, serious basketball insight, and Kentucky fandom’s candid passion. Derek Anderson’s presence injects real wisdom and heart into debates on what it takes to build not just great teams but great people. Whether you’re a Kentucky die-hard or interested in the evolving landscape of college sports, this is a must-listen, centering the voices of those who know the culture—and the pressures of the job—best.

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Key Timestamps

• 01:01: Live at Whiskey Thief, food & bourbon banter
• 02:12: Derek Anderson’s mental health work, youth story
• 04:47: Handling fan criticism then vs. now
• 07:06: Mark Pope, legacy players, and the UK group chat
• 10:13: Teaching the “dog” mentality
• 13:39: Anderson’s critique of UK’s basketball IQ
• 19:20: Audience demand for Anderson to join UK staff
• 19:49: NIL, transfer portal, and real-world lessons
• 22:45: Best Kentucky teams debate
• 31:01, 35:01: Listener calls on Pope’s engagement and staff suggestions
• 44:03: NBA/NHL predictions & trivia

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For further engagement:

• Derek Anderson’s autobiography “Stamina” is recommended by listeners for deeper context on his life and philosophy (45:53).
• The crowd and fanbase energy for Anderson’s coaching involvement underscores his enduring Kentucky fan favorite status.

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Summary by KSR Podcast Summarizer. Structured for fans and newcomers seeking a lively, honest, and insightful recap of UK basketball’s past, present, and promising future.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

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[Ryan Lemond]

it is hour number two. Kentucky Sports Radio 859-280-2287 here at Whiskey Thief, 127 acre farm right off I 64. But even though the interstate's right there, it feels like you're in a completely different environment. Nice rustic, but great road. Best road. Best gravel road we've seen.

[Matt Jones]

Best gravel road ever anywhere.

[Ryan Lemond]

Whiskey Thief, bourbon. They'll stick the Whiskey Thief into the barrel and shoot it right into your cup. These people are all going to be hammered before the show is over, so we thank them. The food truck is here. They just brought us food. I'm just going to suggest if you come to Whiskey Thief and the food, I'm going to go ahead and give my suggestion. Is this thing rhyme? The misfit. I don't know what it is. It's barbecue and sauce. But that was great.

[Matt Jones]

It was like food crack.

[Ryan Lemond]

I couldn't really was it.

[Matt Jones]

It was awesome.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's a good. Like when they do that at Christmas, the little thing. Yeah, that's kind of what it is. Everybody welcome. His bourbon bottle is here today. Derek Anderson joining us here. I know you've talked to these folks once, but you haven't talked to me yet. Derek, great to see you. Tell folks what how things have been going for the man with the legendary dunks in in In Kentucky history.

[Derek Anderson]

I'm the mental wellness director for the NBA. So they're good. Yes, thank you. I'm the mental wellness for director for the NBA. So I just try to stay into the, the mindset of people just trying to keep motivating like I do with

[Ryan Lemond]

our foundation with the NBA. Like the players?

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah, all the players.

[Ryan Lemond]

So talk to me about what that's like. That's interesting.

[Derek Anderson]

Well, I think some of them, you know, I, I give the truth. Some of you guys are spoiled and some of you guys are going through stuff and I think you have to look at yourself in the mirrors to figure out what do I do to do?

[Ryan Lemond]

Oh, you have to see which one actually is dealing with things and which one's just wanted. Yeah.

[Derek Anderson]

More authentic. But there's a lot of guys, just because you make millions or you know, successful, it doesn't, you know, eliminate you from real life stuff. So you just try to give them an outlet, a resource, a place to go, talk, relief themselves. And being an NBA, I've dealt with a lot of stuff so I just try.

[Ryan Lemond]

How did you get involved in that? I didn't know you were doing that.

[Derek Anderson]

They called me like they saw what I was doing in the community, they saw how I was doing that kind of doing programs and they could reach out to me, say hey, would you be willing to help the guys? You're a former player, you can relate to them. And they called me and gave me the opportunity.

[Ryan Lemond]

Did you have some of those issues as a player? Did you ever have times that things were difficult that you had to deal with?

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah, I didn't see my parents since I was 12 years old. They never watched me play basketball a day in their lives and they were alive in Louisville. They never saw me play, never bought me a pair of shoes. So I was dealing with it. And then I had to work 2 jobs cuz my girlfriend was 17, I was 14, I was staying with her.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean your girlfriend was 17, you were 14.

[Derek Anderson]

But I was on my own. I lived in a project housing in Southwick and I lived on my own and she, when she got pregnant, I

[Ryan Lemond]

didn't know any of this. You on your own at 14?

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah. And I worked at job, candy store, paper route. I just was working but playing basketball and I didn't see my parents. So I was going through stuff. But I realized that a lot of people go through things and people when I came, people saw me smiling because I was just enjoying every day being, getting food, you know, simple things in life.

[Ryan Lemond]

So I did it's fascinating because people would, people would see. The thing I remember the most about you was how much you played with a smile.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Like you really, like you always had a big smile on your face. But I guess there were, you were having to deal with stuff. It was covering it up.

[Derek Anderson]

It was covering up. But you, it was better to smile than cry. I mean, I would never been able to be, you know, successful because I was always living in that sad moment. I just said, how do you get out of that? And it was always creating better habits. So I was always smiling, speaking to people, messing with people, joking and trying to motivate myself to get up every day just to survive. Because I was. I didn't have an alarm clock. I used an extension cord from a neighbor's house, even get an alarm to go to school. So I was living, you know, trying to figure it out and working two jobs.

[Ryan Lemond]

And did it work? Well, you're here.

[Derek Anderson]

I'm here.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's right. Well, let me ask you, when you talk about that. Go ahead.

[Matt Jones]

Great testimonial.

[Ryan Lemond]

That kind of goes to a conversation that's been happening a lot in the Kentucky fan base recently about playing at Kentucky and the amount of fan criticism that leads to. And of course now that people have to see it on social media when you were playing, obviously you were there during some really successful times. So there wasn't a ton of, of complaining. But did you see that? And how do you think, do you think it's a big problem for kids at Kentucky and UK fan base? What do you think?

[Derek Anderson]

Disclaimer. I'm not ever disrespecting any coach I ever played at Kentucky, ever coached at Kentucky, any of that. But there is a difference with social media. You know, what Coach Patino was dealing with. We didn't usually see it. You know, the newspaper would say something, we lost at UMass and we're with the best team in the country. And they, people criticize that. And I'm like, it's the third game, like really? And we saw the newspaper, but the rest of the time we didn't see it because we went on a 27 game winning streak. Yeah, you know, I mean, so it's like you kind of like don't see the moments of like whatever people are thinking, we didn't get enough to see it. Now the kids are actually happy to see it because it's hard to pass up. Like you said, it's just noticeable.

[Ryan Lemond]

But how did they. I mean, you know, as a moderately public figure, I see what I see. And I'm 25 years older than these guys. When you did. When you see what these college guys. I mean, what do you tell them? Can they ignore it? Do you like. How do you. How do I mean? Because it does feel like it would be a lot for a kid that age.

[Derek Anderson]

Well, I've always said I'd rather miss out to mess up. That's why I never drank. Sorry about my bourbon. But I never drank, never smoked. And I just said, if I don't go into it, I can't mess up. And I think that was just a mindset because it was still around. But I think a lot of these kids just don't. They don't. They can't break themselves from that bad habit. And that's what said. You create a habit, you got to always do it. But a lot of hard. These kids, as soon as they get on social media, they see something negative.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Derek Anderson]

And I think that's just something you have to practice. I would tell them, don't get on their phones a day of the game. As far as social media, especially after the game. Especially. Oh, God, yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Derek Anderson]

Unless we win.

[Ryan Lemond]

If you win, then go on if you lose.

[Derek Anderson]

But it's hard in this generation. It's just a lot of social media, and a lot of these guys are dealing with the. More conversation people in your business.

[Ryan Lemond]

So Mark. You play with Mark when Mark's announced his coach. I know you had to be excited about that, right?

[Derek Anderson]

Oh, yeah. Super excited. Super. I think he understood the. Like he said, the assignment, but, you know, he already knew the pressure. It was. And I said, that's not really pressure. That's an honor. I said, don't go into it stressful because you're gonna be doing stuff that you normally wouldn't do.

[Ryan Lemond]

And it felt like a lot of guys, especially in your group, the. The patino group, you know, they were. There was the patino Cal thing for a long time. I think that's dissipated, but it certainly existed for a while. Did you all feel like. Not that you weren't welcome before, but, like, now you were kind of like this, Our guys here. Now we can kind of be completely embraced again.

[Derek Anderson]

Well, if Cal was in a group chat, he get the same thing. Marking.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay, well, let's talk about that. All right, so.

[Derek Anderson]

Because, you know, personal again.

[Ryan Lemond]

Because I've heard the 96 group chat can be brutal.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah. And it was never personal. Like when we talked about Cal, and I was just telling about him, it's like, we. We can't do Certain things, if you want to win games. And I've. I've coached for years, and I've always told the kid, if you want to make the coach or a game better, you have to teach IQ basketball. You don't just run them out there and let them play basketball because any team can beat you. And I think that's what you look at most teams, they're just out there running the same stuff. They're not thinking. Like, when I play, when I coach, I teach the guy. Like, when you run out of bounds play, you try to score, you don't just throw it out and run a play.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Derek Anderson]

You know, I mean, that's wasted energy. If the ball gets in, you get it up really quick and you score. You make a layup, you get free throws, you advance the game. You don't just sit there and let kids play. And that was the thing that we was criticizing. So when Mark gets in a group, I say, don't run a set play like when I used to come out.

[Ryan Lemond]

So wait a minute. Is he still in the group?

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah, he's still in it.

[Ryan Lemond]

So people know there's a. There's a group chat of all the 90, 16.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah, all us. We all.

[Ryan Lemond]

Mark is in the group.

[Derek Anderson]

Yes.

[Ryan Lemond]

And you guys are still giving suggestions? Yes.

[Matt Jones]

100. I love.

[Derek Anderson]

There's an out of bounds play that I would run the set of back screen for me and catch it. Alley oop, dunk. We don't even run that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Does he still participate? Paid in the group chat.

[Derek Anderson]

He gets ghosts sometimes.

[Billy Reed]

Yeah. He may have you guys on mute.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah, I've seen. Sometimes guys write something and then they deleted.

[Ryan Lemond]

They'd be like, ah, that was too brutal, I think. Now, wouldn't you love to see.

[Matt Jones]

I wanted to be part of that group chat so bad because we heard, you know, it's like, become legendary. What you guys are going.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm gonna guess. You tell me if I'm. I'm trying to guess who the most prolific basketball commenters are. I'm just gonna guess. You tell me if I'm right, I'm gonna say you're one of them.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay. I'm gonna say Cameron's one of them.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah. And what do you think? Anybody who would be the third one's gonna surprise you, I think.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay, who's the third one?

[Derek Anderson]

You gonna guess?

[Ryan Lemond]

I. I don't know. Do you have a guess?

[Matt Jones]

You know Anthony Epps?

[Derek Anderson]

No. He's. He's kind of calm. He. Because he. I think because he's coaching, he's got to give him a little.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay.

[Derek Anderson]

Cushion.

[Ryan Lemond]

Who's the other one?

[Derek Anderson]

Wayne Turner.

[Ryan Lemond]

Oh, what? He turned.

[Derek Anderson]

When I tell you Wayne is brutal.

[Matt Jones]

Wow.

[Derek Anderson]

We'll text Wayne on the other girl, say, hey, raise that. Wayne, what are you doing? Like, he's gonna read this. Like he's coaching.

[Ryan Lemond]

Like, no. So Derek Anderson, Cameron Mills, and Wayne Turner, given that.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah. Well, everybody gives it, but I just think we're just more like. I'm more passionate about it because I see the game from different because I work with, like, NBA guys, top 100 high school kids. So I see the evolution of how the IQ game is not there, and I'm trying to get them to understand. That's the teaching part.

[Ryan Lemond]

So you're. You're dealing with a lot of the high school guys, and you're. You're dealing with a lot of top players of. Of all those ages.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Conversations. And you know, Mark, so this. You're actually the perfect person to ask this question. There's a lot of people been wondering over the last couple years, can Mark Pope relate to the current player? That's been the question that. That a lot of fans wonder what. What you would. You probably the only part. One of the few people knows both. How would you answer that?

[Derek Anderson]

Well, I don't know his speech. And I think when I speak to kids and the parents, I'm like, I can teach your kids. Like, if y' all probably put a five up like this, that's 55 a jump shot. They don't teach that. So when you ask a player to be a great shooter and you don't teach it, it's kind of, like, hard. So I don't know what his speech is going into it with the parents, and mine was always, I can teach your kid how to think, how to play and how to. And be a pro. And that's a mentality. And I don't know what his speeches are. He can relate to the guys because he's a great guy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay.

[Derek Anderson]

When it's time to X's and O, it's time to change. It's time to do things. I think that's when we don't know what he's actually done because it's a new situation. Because when you're in byu, you get to kind of run and play, and it's a different style. When you're in the sec in a Kentucky thing, we was coming for your throat, and that's a different mentality. Is he teaching that mentality? Because he's never been that rah. Rah, guy. Anyway, you saw when we play, I'm dancing. When I dunk on you, he just like, this, good play, D. Go sit down.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Derek Anderson]

Like, that's a great guy. But that's not Kentucky. Like, that's. I was taught to dominate players whenever I played, and that was the mentality.

[Ryan Lemond]

So you think maybe there needs to be a little bit of a dog mentality.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah, you have to.

[Ryan Lemond]

He always is saying that. That's right.

[Derek Anderson]

And the thing about it, you can say a player. Like when you say you need some dudes, I can create a dude.

[Ryan Lemond]

You think you can create a dude

[Derek Anderson]

if I gave you 20 shots a game and said, I'm gonna put you in a position to score, and I want you to dominate that player, and you do that every single day for two, three weeks. What happens in that fourth week, it becomes normal. And then if two months, you're like a whole different animal because you see it from other players, you see it from other teams. You'd be like, I didn't know that guy was that good. He hadn't been coached yet. He hadn't been let loose yet. And you can see it all day long. When some of these guys are trained and put in a position to succeed, they play totally. Why do you think the transfer portals. You see guys like the kid from Went to Michigan was a Big Ten player of the year. Yes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Derek Anderson]

He was a totally different player from where he was at.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Derek Anderson]

He became a dog because he was taught to be a dog. I need you to be my leader. I need you to be the guy I depend on. Don't be emotional. And you lead by example. That's how you create a dog. If you can play basketball, you can do that.

[Ryan Lemond]

So if you were. If you were. You know, if. If Mark was standing here because he knows you love it, right? Like. Like he knows you've got love for. If you were to say, hey, I love Mark Pope, here's the one piece of advice I would give him. What would that be?

[Derek Anderson]

You practice with a mentality of IQ and effort. You practice that every single day, because that's what happens. The players will start doing stuff on the court where they'll be like, wow, good play. You ever seen him? Sometimes when Coach Matino is playing, he's coaching, he's doing this.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Derek Anderson]

It's because we've been taught to do what we were supposed to do. When you watched us play 80 score 86 points at halftime, what do you think he said at halftime?

[Ryan Lemond]

Probably not much.

[Derek Anderson]

I mean, it was it was because this is the way we practice. So our minds were different. Our thought process and our anticipation, our thoughts were. We have to exploit, do the job that he taught us in practice. And I would tell Mark what you do, like when he does this thing in practice, I love him, but he does the free throw thing. He wants everybody quiet. We wanted everybody loud. So we're on the road.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, he does do. Shannon, you talked about that process.

[Derek Anderson]

So if I'm at the free throw line, I need to hear noise. So I know at the end of the game when there's crazy going on, I got to concentrate. One, shoot it, hold my follow through, one, two, three. And the ball goes in. But if you don't teach that and when it happens in a game, how am I prepared? I'm not. So when you see guys kind of like doing this and that's never going to happen. And I think that was just what I would tell him, is you got to practice a different way to get a better result in the end of game.

[Ryan Lemond]

What do you think was the thing in last year's team, as you watched it, that said this team is missing this?

[Derek Anderson]

It was iq. There was times when we had a big guy on a guard on him like, yes. If we didn't throw him the ball, I would have been livid over there. I would have been like, dude, throw it to him. And when they double team, you cut, get a layup, as soon as you cut the rotation, guy's coming, right? That's the other guy for layup, it's. Where else are you going to go?

[Ryan Lemond]

So you don't think it was a talent thing? It was a basketball IQ.

[Derek Anderson]

Yes, 100%. And that was the difference. And you watch how we lost the game. It was iq. We didn't know how to play basketball. It was literally. We couldn't throw a bounce. I could bounce, fake pass here and bounce it. Guys would do this and look at him. And the whole defense was looking at him. I know where you're throwing the ball. Like, dude, pump fake. If you're in a 2, 3 zone and you did this, the whole defense goes. We only teach that. And then the assistant coaches, the guy shoots a free throw. They do this and walk off the line. You know what the assistant coaches would do? Nothing. I would say, stay on the free throw line, hold your follow through, make the ball go in. That's points to after end of the game. Yeah, it was not teaching. And I was, I was always telling them, you got to teach the IQ part. And understanding of the game. If you want players to be better, you can't just let them go and say, well, they'll figure it out. I was expecting. Because if you run a play, you know, teef and scout defense, scout your place, it's got to be a counter and it's got to be IQ counter.

[Ryan Lemond]

Now you, when you were doing this, this guy was covering the team.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah, I remember. My man.

[Ryan Lemond]

What did everybody think of this guy right here?

[Derek Anderson]

He was funny. He was. He was on us. But he knew the game too. He would say something.

[Ryan Lemond]

He knew the game.

[Matt Jones]

I know ball.

[Derek Anderson]

He know ball.

[Billy Reed]

This is breaking news to us. He, the game.

[Ryan Lemond]

You say he knew the game.

[Derek Anderson]

I knew ball, he said.

[Ryan Lemond]

Breaking news.

[Matt Jones]

Those guys were so much fun to be around too, because they weren't just great basketball players, they were great young men off the court. That's what made them fun to be around.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, tell me, you mind sticking around for a second? Yeah, yeah. Tell me about Stockton Mortgage.

[Matt Jones]

Stockton Mortgage, you know, anybody out here going to look for a house this spring or summer? Need to contact stockton mortgage stockton.com. they'll take care of you. Get to the closing table. Get pre approved before you start your search. Spring buying season is hot and heavy right now. I'm going to show houses in Frankfort this afternoon, as a matter of fact. Be ready. Stockton Mortgage, NMLS 8259. Equal housing lender.

[Ryan Lemond]

You get one house for me and all of a sudden you're a busy man.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. I did get a call from you about your, my relationship with you. Said, hey, if you help Matt buy a house, you can help me buy a house.

[Ryan Lemond]

I expect a commission. We'll take a break and be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Matt Jones]

People don't listen to radio ads while you're driving or making a sandwich. Your subconscious pays full attention.

[Derek Anderson]

So relax.

[Matt Jones]

Let it take over.

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[Derek Anderson]

Here we go.

[Ryan Lemond]

Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here live at Whiskey Thief, Derek Anderson's new bourbon, his AOK charity bourbon, Acts of kindness. Tell people what?

[Derek Anderson]

Acts of kindness is just teaching people common courtesy, people skills. Oh, you can't hear me. Okay. People skills, common courtesy and character building. You can't change a community without changing the character of a kid. So we just try to teach that whole part of every day that you wake up, you got to do something good.

[Ryan Lemond]

Awesome. This bourbon is on sale here. He'll be signing it when this is. When this is over. I have about 4:50 messages on the text machine. 772-7745254. Ryan asking if Derek Anderson could be the next coach assistant coach on the staff.

[Billy Reed]

I wasn't going to say anything, but

[Derek Anderson]

after hearing this interview, you have to give me somewhere to live. I got you.

[Matt Jones]

You know, you kind of dabbled in coaching a little bit over the years. Is that something you would want to eventually do?

[Ryan Lemond]

Seriously, I wish you could see how many of these are. Can Derek join the staff? Can Derek join the staff? Can Derek, join the staff.

[Matt Jones]

Wow.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah. Yeah. I've always wanted it. I've expressed that. And the reason why I haven't coached anywhere. I told him I only wanted to

[Ryan Lemond]

coach in Kentucky, really only wanted to go to that.

[Matt Jones]

There's a spot open on the staff right now.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, so let me ask you just a couple questions about the changes in college basketball. First of all, do you like that the guys now make money? You could have made some big money back in the day.

[Derek Anderson]

I like if it was structured like I would get it where you guys get some of your money, put something in your trust, put some up, put it away where we can teach in financial literacy. And then they could. They won't be so entitled and say, hey, I get to ride around in Rolls Royce on campus. Like, I just think it doesn't make good for a young person to do that. You want it just. I was 65 in 8th at 9th grade. I shouldn't have been driving even though

[Ryan Lemond]

I was tall enough.

[Derek Anderson]

My. Think about that. You can give someone something, but they're not able to prepare for it. I think you can give it, but put it in and then do it over a period of time. You know, why would I need a million dollars on campus? I would say give me, you know, maybe 20,000 or some. Or just a hypothetical. You have a hundred thousand a year.

[Ryan Lemond]

So you don't have any problem with them making money in theory?

[Derek Anderson]

No, not at all.

[Ryan Lemond]

You should.

[Derek Anderson]

If you're making money with the university like we made, we want a championship. You should. If we gave us, all of us a hundred thousand dollars, put like 50 in escrow, give us 50 so when we get out of college now I get all that money after I'm done with college and then I can do what I want to do. What if I don't make the mba? I still get to live off the money I've earned in college and I can live a good life.

[Ryan Lemond]

Do you the transfer portal. You transferred but had to sit out.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Now that is not the case. Are you in favor of that?

[Derek Anderson]

No, I think. I think I like it. I just don't think you should transfer multiple times. Like if I were to transfer one time, One time. Unless the coach leaves, like they said. If the coach leaves and you can't get opportunity to leave.

[Ryan Lemond]

Right.

[Derek Anderson]

But if you're transferred once and then I'm here, I'm here for the rest of the time. And that way you can build a relationship, you can build camaraderie and you build your team, your structure.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right.

[Derek Anderson]

You got to rotate. Like, this is worse than NBA. Like, I play with guys he get trade I was playing with. It's funny, I was sitting at home on watching ESPN and look up, Derek Anders was traded. I'm like, damn, I didn't get a call. I'm like, you know what I mean? It's like this.

[Ryan Lemond]

You found out from espn?

[Derek Anderson]

Yes, because my contract. My contract was up and they was like, we can't pay you and Sean Kemp. And I was on my rookie deal and had one year left. So I was sitting at home just clicking through and it looked up Derek and his like, dang, wow. But it was a business.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Derek Anderson]

So they don't owe you the respect they owe you as a job. And I'm like, well, I got to deal with it.

[Ryan Lemond]

But if you're in college and you

[Derek Anderson]

sign a contract, you can't just up and leave when you feel like it's not going well. How does that teach you in life? What can you do that in any other job where you do that? We're teaching bad habits for them to grow up in a real world, which is not really authentic.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, you can leave jobs if you don't. If you don't like a job, you

[Derek Anderson]

can get another job, because would you guarantee.

[Ryan Lemond]

But you're not. If you leave it. If you leave a school, you're not guaranteed to get another school to want you.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah, but you. That's what you're going for. But you're teaching bad habits. And how many kids are left out of the portal for that?

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, but that also is a life lesson.

[Derek Anderson]

That's a life.

[Ryan Lemond]

It is a brutal life lesson.

[Derek Anderson]

No, you're right. Protect the kids integrity of the game and protect the kids from being making bad decisions. Again, you wouldn't allow me to drive because I'm 6 5. You would say, are you able. Are you. Are you mature enough? Are you able to do those things? And you don't do that. And I think that was a difference. Just because my son can. Like, my son is 16. He's my height. I'm not going to let him just run off to do something just because he's older. I mean, he's tall. We got to give structure, and I think that hurts the game when you don't put structure in anything.

[Ryan Lemond]

Let me ask you a more fun question. In my opinion, the four best teams of my lifetime since I've been covering Kentucky 96, 2010. Now, granted, some of these teams didn't win, but 2010, 2012, 2015, all right, so Anthony Davis, Wall and cousins the 381 team and you guys, I'm going to do a final four round robin. You all play each other. I'm going to assume you think you are winning. But how would you, how do you rank that?

[Derek Anderson]

It's tough because the reason John Wall's team lost they couldn't shoot. So we go zone on them, remember?

[Ryan Lemond]

So they're out, they're out.

[Derek Anderson]

They're against you. But they got all the talent. When you a man to man they can win. The the 2012 team, I would say we would beat them because of our bench was stronger offensively. Their five was.

[Ryan Lemond]

But you all had no but no offense to Mark. He ain't guarding Anthony Davis.

[Derek Anderson]

Anthony Davis can't guard a three point shooter. If we would put Walter McCarty in.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay, I like it.

[Derek Anderson]

I mean so we bring Anthony away from the basket.

[Ryan Lemond]

He's thought about Anthony could guard a little bit.

[Derek Anderson]

I mean but he's away from the basket. So when I'm going me and Ron and all those going basketball where you

[Ryan Lemond]

think, wait a minute. You think you can take Duron Lamb off the bat off the bound.

[Derek Anderson]

I love you Duron.

[Ryan Lemond]

I see. I'm not gonna like they're gonna be talking about you on Club 520 the way if no these are great players.

[Derek Anderson]

They know they're great. But it's if, if I said yeah, if Jordan I could take you, they're gonna look at me like I'm crazy.

[Ryan Lemond]

No, I just said all right, so now 2015 though.

[Derek Anderson]

The 2015 now that's a whole.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's a different thing.

[Derek Anderson]

That's a different thing. And I would say it to one time we had a conversation, I said if he puts Devin Booker in, they win. That's the team that scares me.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay, so if they go Harrison Booker rather than Harrison Harrison, even Eulis and

[Derek Anderson]

Booker because that puts pressure on us and we can't double and help off as much. And Booker's a shooter. Do you think about this? If you have the Twins are great players but they weren't the shooters.

[Ryan Lemond]

They were not that Booker was unless it was under 30 seconds.

[Derek Anderson]

I'm just saying. And you know Booker was a shooter and I think that was a difference. And my whole comment was if you took take the bigs away from the basket, that's what hurts. And I think that's what we did with Walter and Antoine. Antoine Walker and Walter was up top. So when me and Ron and Tony Delk and Jeff, we was posting up guys, you Couldn't help and block it. I'm catching the ball and I'm dunking off the. Off the pace, off the baseline, you know, in the post. And where's Anthony at that point? Where is Carl Towns and all those guys?

[Ryan Lemond]

So you think the 15 team along with you, the two best teams? I do. Even though they lost, I still do.

[Derek Anderson]

I said it was because the. The right players weren't in the game. And that's why I agree with you. I think the 2015 had a deeper team and. And just as much talent as the 2020.

[Ryan Lemond]

Only two teams in Kentucky history that during the regular season just dominated everybody they played. Were you all in 2015? 2012 won a ton of games. But a lot of them were close.

[Derek Anderson]

A lot of were close.

[Ryan Lemond]

The, the 2015 team, Ryan, they just pounded people and so did that.

[Matt Jones]

I'm telling you, there ain't nobody no team beating that 96 team. They were the best by far.

[Derek Anderson]

You said it. It was a team and I think that was the difference. Were a team. When you looked at Ling like you look, they were. They were a team.

[Ryan Lemond]

They really were. And hey everybody, give a big round of applause. Derek Anderson. That was a great interview. You did a great job.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you, brother.

[Ryan Lemond]

We're going to take some calls and talk more recruiting. Be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. The NBA playoffs are here. DraftKings Sportsbooks an official sports betting partner of the NBA. They got profit boost for every single game day starts tomorrow. Well he got the end of the the play in tonight and then the actual playoffs start tomorrow. Bet just $5. If your bet wins, you'll get 300 bonus bets. Use my code KSR5into300 in partnership with DraftKings and if the crown is yours if you got gaming problem go 100 gameboy 18 plus Kentucky only supply betments win receive bonus bets expired 7 days minimize required NBA bet restrict supply and Barry win over boost only applies to winnings for Digital Typical Game Resources.com promos Limited time offer Whoa, hey.

[Billy Reed]

To be an auctioneer.

[Derek Anderson]

No kidding.

[Ryan Lemond]

I've got that. I've got that down. How great was Derek?

[Matt Jones]

He was incredible. That was awesome.

[Ryan Lemond]

If you. If you go to the text machine. If you go to the text machine. Honestly, you are the people's choice for assistant coach. I thought he knew a lot Shannon until he said Ryan knew basketball.

[Billy Reed]

Yeah, that was really my takeaway from the entire interviews that Ryan apparently knows basketball.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's what made me worried, Billy that maybe I can't take the rest of his stuff seriously. If he thinks. If he, if he thinks that Ryan knows.

[Matt Jones]

Well, Derek knows this to be a fact. I went to Rick Patino before the Arizona game, the 97 championship, said, play Derek Anderson. You played Derek Anderson. We win the championship in 97.

[Billy Reed]

He was ready to go, too.

[Ryan Lemond]

And I'm sure. Yeah, I'm sure that Rick liked you say.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he didn't. He didn't. Didn't play him. See what happened. He played Derek Anderson. We win that game.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Billy Reed]

You know, I'm sad I missed Ryan's TV era. Interviewing Tiger Woods.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah.

[Billy Reed]

The 90s.

[Ryan Lemond]

People don't realize that, like Ryan, the Ryan, you know, Ryan was moderately a serious person for a long time. No, I mean that for those of you in Lexington, you know, that's true.

[Billy Reed]

Look what you've done to him, though.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I feel bad I brought this. But like you, you there. This was not always the Ryan Lemon that you see now, taking his shirt off and all that. That wasn't the Ryan Lemon of television when I was a kid in college, for instance.

[Matt Jones]

But I feel like the dumbass hat fits me a lot better.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, the dumbass hat.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Take off the sports hat, put on the dumbass hat.

[Billy Reed]

You set the bar low.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Billy Reed]

And then when you have something that's actually true and factual, you surprise everybody.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's interesting. A couple things real quick that's happened during the show. Jeff Goodman has said he expect he projects, although he says he doesn't know for sure, but he projects. Donnie Freeman will go to Kentucky, and then Jacob Polachek of KSR says he's hearing very good things about Alex Wilkins and Kentucky so that both of their visits are over again. If we got to Monday and those two guys had committed Billy, I think we'd have a different feeling kind of

[Billy Reed]

around the basketball 100%. And we talk about the dominoes that start to fall when you get a guy like Zoom Diallo. I mean, just who wants to play for Kentucky when people get signed up like that?

[Ryan Lemond]

So Alex Wilkins, to me, is the one like, I mean, I watched that kid play one day again, knew nothing about him. And I turned on and I said, that kid's way too good to go to Furman. You could just tell he was of the sm. I didn't see every small college in the country, but I watched some on, you know, Friday nights and when random times and when I. That was the best small college kid player I saw year. So he would be. He's the guy of all the people him. And then I'd love to have the dude. I don't think we're in on him, but the dude from Iowa State, that. That. That shoots threes, the big guy, I would love to have him, too, but Wilkins would be one. I would be very happy if.

[Matt Jones]

If they get Wilkins, is he our best player or Diallo our best player?

[Ryan Lemond]

I think he's our best player. I think he'll. Well, at least he'll score the most. I mean, I don't know if he's the best player necessarily, but he'll score the most. I do think if you could have a starting lineup that is Diallo, Wilkins, Moreno, Freeman, and then somebody. Maybe it's Cam Williams, maybe it's Braden Hawthorne, maybe it's somebody else. They get in the portal. I think you got the potential to have a really good team. Now, is that a Final Four team? I don't know if it is or not, but I think it's. It's good enough to be really good. And then if you could add somebody, whether it's Tyron Stokes or it's somebody from overseas, then maybe you're cooking. But at least you have the base. What I've been worried about is I've yet to be. We don't have the base of a team that's even good yet. But I think if you get those two guys, Ryan, you can have that.

[Matt Jones]

When we go back to during the NCAA tournament, when Furman was giving Connecticut

[Ryan Lemond]

a good game, and I remember we

[Matt Jones]

flipped over and it was him, the Wilkins kid was the reason they were giving Connecticut such a good game. The dude's a player.

[Ryan Lemond]

He's very, very good. All right, who's up next?

[Matt Jones]

Rick got Jared.

[Ryan Lemond]

Up next, Jared. Go ahead, Jared.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt. Thanks for taking my call. First off, I just want to say I really love what you guys do on the radio show, and I know you've taken a lot of heat, and I just want you to know a lot of people support you guys and everything you do. So thank you for this show.

[Ryan Lemond]

Thank you for saying that. I appreciate it.

[Caller]

Of course, going back to the question of kind of what Mark Pope can do to get the fan base excited again, I want to preface this. I do want to be positive, but I'm under the impression that he's not necessarily the right person for this job. But how he could win me over this summer is, first and foremost, get Donnie Freeman, get Wilkins, get Rancic, and then I'll be excited regardless of everything else. Two, just actually talk to the fan Base. Like, the reason we hopped on board was because of that press conference where he came out and was 0 to 100 and was wearing his Kentucky jersey and was holding up the national championship trophy from 96. And then the last thing, hire Derek Anderson to be an assistant coach after that interview you just did. That's who I want as an assistant.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, listen, I appreciate the call. First of all, I don't think. I actually think there was nothing wrong with that call to say, you know, it's okay, that people are skeptical. I get asked sometimes, do you believe that Mark Pope will say, you know, I don't know. I hope, but I don't know. But I think that's a really good point he said about the press conference. If you were to have asked me a year ago, Ryan, what does Mark Pope have going for him the most? I would say the trait that he has going for him the most is that this fan base wants to love him, right? That he's one of us, that we feel a connection to him and that he gets us. He gets our quirks. He understands us. And when he talks, you can feel like back in the day with Joe B. Hall, like, this is a guy who's part of us. When he goes silent, then he loses his biggest. Like, what is his biggest strength with the fan base is that connection. And when you take that connection away and all, we can judge our results, and then you lose by 35. What have you done? You've taken away the thing that was your best trait. It's like when Tubby Smith was so nice. His best trait was everybody thought he was nice. Well, if he'd all of a sudden start being a jerk, he'd be taking away his best trait. I think Mark kind of this year got away from Ryan. The thing that was his best, which was being engaged with the fan base, and by becoming kind of a hermit recluse, it made it harder for people to have any connection or even sympathy for it.

[Matt Jones]

I agree with you 100%. We got so mad at the end of the Cal era because he was talking down to us. We said, mark Pope's going to talk to us because he's one of us.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, with Kyle and Patino, I'll let you finish Cal and Patino, I never felt like they were one of us. Yeah, they were, like, almost the band leader, marching us along. And when it felt like they were doing it in connection with us, that was great. And then. But when Cal kind of got. It got away from. But I never felt like they Were one of us. No, with Pope, I did. Did feel that way.

[Matt Jones]

We definitely felt that way. So when they get beat by 30 and he comes out and has these horrible post game news conferences with Tom Leech, we needed our leader to pick us up, you know, be a leader, Talk to us the way we want to be talked to. As a fan, you. You're one of us. And it just didn't happen this year.

[Ryan Lemond]

People, they hear us talk about, or me talk about Shannon talking to the media, and they're like, who cares if they talk to you? Okay. Leave the media out of it. Mark Pope is yet to talk to the fans since the season ends. Yeah, he hasn't done one press conference. He hasn't done one anything since the season ended. We lost on a difficult, embarrassing loss to Iowa State in a game that after the first 10 minutes, we were never competitive in. And he hasn't said one word since then.

[Billy Reed]

Yeah. And I completely.

[Ryan Lemond]

It's just a mistake.

[Billy Reed]

Agree with you and the caller, you know, like, when he was first hired, a lot of us were, you know, sort of skeptical. There's a lot of uncertainty. But when he did that press conference at Rupp arena, everybody was on board.

[Ryan Lemond]

Everyone. The whole first year.

[Derek Anderson]

Yeah.

[Billy Reed]

Yeah. You know, and again, if he can get just a couple of players, he can flip the script on the negativity that the fan base is feeling right now.

[Ryan Lemond]

But think about how much, Billy, you turn on tv. College basketball. I actually would argue the portal keeps college basketball interesting for a little bit longer. You know what I mean? Like, normally the tournament's over and everybody just moves on.

[Derek Anderson]

You're right.

[Ryan Lemond]

And now you've got these few weeks where people are still talking. And I see these coaches every day. I see Danny Hurley, I see Todd Golden, I see Nate Oates. They're going on interview shows. I kind of think they're trying to, like, show the recruits out there. Look, Mark's nowhere.

[Billy Reed]

Yeah, that's just recruiting in a new day and age where you can get in front of these shows and be present in front of guys and. And look, I mean, that was his biggest strength, was talking. And so hopefully he can do more in this off season.

[Ryan Lemond]

I hope so. Who's up next? Andy is up next. Andy. Go ahead, Andy.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. Got two questions. He's talking about us becoming a Final Four team and what it would take to get there with Stokes. My question is, what would it take, what you have to go out and do this offseason to become a final 14 without getting.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I don't know if they. I don't know if they have.

[Derek Anderson]

I.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, unless they have a recruit that I don't know about yet, which is certainly possible. I don't necessarily see a preseason top five to seven roster coming together with Pope. Unless you get Stokes. I think otherwise you're looking at a preseason 8 to 20 team. That's just. That's just my take on what I've seen Now, again, maybe there's some guy out there we don't know yet. But I still think even if they got Freeman and Wilkins for me, if they don't get Stokes, they're still one player away from being great. Not trying to be pessimistic. That's just my view on it.

[Caller]

And when is the NCAA voting on this fifth year eligibility thing?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, that's a great point, Andy. I appreciate the call. I think it's in like two weeks they vote. And again, that may make a whole new set of players. Ryan available. These. These graduates. Like, in hindsight, man, I really wish we had Aberdeen. If he could have a fifth year, you know, if you could. If you could add him to that team next year and have like three guards and he's one of them. And like, I kind of bums me out if he ends up playing at Florida.

[Matt Jones]

Makes me wonder, you know, if like we talked about, a lot of these guys enter the portal by Monday. Maybe there's another Denzel Aberdeen out there.

[Ryan Lemond]

Maybe there is. Yeah. I got to the point at the end, Billy. I really liked our Denzel Aberdeen. Yeah, I thought the last 15 games he was great. Yeah.

[Billy Reed]

A little rough to start, but he really became his own or came into his own. I think if Cam Williams and Moreno take the jump that we want them to, then you become that final.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's the one thing that I. I'm glad you said that. Oh, a took. I don't know if. Oh, we took a jump. He always was kind of the same. Both years he was very good, maybe a little better. Garrison did not take a jump. Noah did not take a jump. If Moreno and Cam take a jump, that's a different thing, you know, and because I'm. The problem was we didn't really have guys take a jump last year. So that's what makes it a little bit harder. Shady Rays is the same quality as the 200 sunglass 200 sunglasses you might buy. They are every bit as premium and they are nice. They are polarized lenses. They cut glare. I wore them today to the show. Super Clear Optics over 300,000-star reviews. Go to shadyrays.com and grab a pair. Today it's shadyrays.com use my promo code, KSR. And this weekend only. It's 30% off.

[Matt Jones]

Whoa, slow down.

[Ryan Lemond]

It's 30.

[Matt Jones]

30%. Slow down. Slow your roll, big spender.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, I'm not deciding, but go to shadyrays.com the promo code is KSR30OFF. Get your summer sunglasses ready. We'll take a break. Final segment here at Whiskey Thief in Frankfurt. It's ksr.

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[Ryan Lemond]

Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. Everybody's gone to get in line to get the signing of the bourbon, but we got food here as well. Derek Anderson will be signing his bourbon here in just a little bit. 859-280-2287 we were talking about Denzel Aberdeen. Real quick. You mentioned from last night. I did a trivia question where he's one of, where he's one of the answers surprises people. I said who are the eight players in UK history who either transferred in or transferred out that had the most points in a season at uk? So they had either transferred in or transferred out. Derek is like 13th on that list.

[Matt Jones]

We guessed him, we guessed Derek.

[Ryan Lemond]

But the number one is who's number one? Antonio Reeves is number one. Who's number two? Always number three. Who's number two? Oscar is number two. Oscar. So it goes. It's Reeves, then Oscar, then away. Then it's Kyle Macy. People forget that Kyle Macy was a transfer and then fifth is Roderick Rhodes who transferred out Lauren Ellis.

[Matt Jones]

That was a shocker. That was a big shocker.

[Ryan Lemond]

That was one you didn't get.

[Derek Anderson]

No.

[Ryan Lemond]

And then the one. But then my point about Aberdeen, Aberdeen is seventh. So like I don't think people realize just how many points Aberdeen scored. Aberdeen, Aberdeen at the end of the year was averaging 13.9 points a game. And I don't think people realize that really necessarily Ryan, when they think about his career that he ended up averaging, you know, more points than say Kobe Bryant did when he was here.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think there's been one player that I have disliked as much to start a season and liked him twice as much at the end of the season. He made me so frustrated with the first 10, 12 games. But then he became not just a good point guard. He was a valuable, valuable player on our team last year.

[Ryan Lemond]

And not to just not to always be an Antonio Reeves stand but when you go look at how many points Billy that Antonio Reeves scored at this school, even with Mark, even with John Calport not playing him the first half he played. Antonio Reese basically played a year and a half and the amount of points he scored, he's like the second highest two year scorer, third highest in UK history and he really only played a year and a half.

[Billy Reed]

That's hard to Believe. You know, I remember some great performances, like 37 points on the road against Arkansas. But for him to be in that kind of conversation is surprising.

[Ryan Lemond]

But, you know, he scored in double digits. Like it was something like 40 games out of 41 or something, like some crazy thing. And we just. We don't think about it. All right, The NBA and NHL playoffs start tonight, so you got to go on record who's going to be in the finals. Let's start with the NBA.

[Derek Anderson]

Ryan.

[Matt Jones]

I'll go Thunder for sure in the West. I mean, the Pistons have been the best team in the east, so I'll go. Give me your choice. I'll go Pistons. Thunder.

[Ryan Lemond]

Pistons. Thunder.

[Derek Anderson]

Shannon.

[Billy Reed]

I agree with the Thunder, but I'm going with my Boston Celtics.

[Ryan Lemond]

Boston Celtics.

[Billy Reed]

Yeah, I was going to go Thunder. Celtics. So not exciting, but similar with Shannon.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm going to go Thunder. Knicks. I'm going to take the New York Knicks. Now let's really test him. Hockey. Can you even get two teams who theoretically could play in the finals against each other?

[Matt Jones]

The Tampa Lightning.

[Ryan Lemond]

Tampa Bay Lightning. Okay, they're in it.

[Matt Jones]

And the Detroit Red Wings.

[Ryan Lemond]

Detroit Red Wings are not in it. And they're also in the same conference.

[Matt Jones]

Colorado Avalanche.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay, that's a theoretical possible.

[Matt Jones]

All right.

[Billy Reed]

Avalanche and Hurricanes. Lightning and Canadians.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, I'm gonna get.

[Derek Anderson]

I'm going with you.

[Ryan Lemond]

Avalanche and. No, you can't have the Lightning. The Canadians. Same. Same one.

[Billy Reed]

The Calgary Flame.

[Ryan Lemond]

No, not in it.

[Billy Reed]

Running out of NHL teams.

[Derek Anderson]

Come on.

[Ryan Lemond]

West coast team, let's go.

[Billy Reed]

The Minnesota Wild.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay, they're in it. There you go. So you've got Lightning Wild.

[Derek Anderson]

I'm with you.

[Ryan Lemond]

Hurricanes and Avalanche. My camera play. They open with the Ottawa Senators. Did you know that was a team?

[Matt Jones]

Yes, I knew it was a team. I didn't know who they played, though.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, who's up next? Larry is up next. Larry. Go ahead, Larry.

[Caller]

Yeah, yeah. Thanks for taking my call. I really enjoyed listening to your conversation there with Derek Anderson, but I would want to mention I didn't hear it. There's a book that he wrote about 10 years ago by the name of Stamina. And he talks about his life and he talks about don't run out of breath before you win. It's a great book to read. Stamina by Derek.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes, I remember that. Good. Good recommendation there, sir. Thank you very much. All right, let's do a prediction here. We'll make this my Draft Kings prediction when we come in on Monday. Will Wilkins and Freeman have committed to Kentucky, right?

[Matt Jones]

I'M going to say yes on Wilkins, no on Freeman.

[Billy Reed]

Okay, I'm gonna say yes on Freeman, no on Wilkins. I'm saying yes to both Wilkins and Freeman.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so break the tie.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go with Shannon. I'm gonna say yes on Freeman, no on Wilkins. But it's not because Wilkins went somewhere else. It's just because he hasn't decided yet.

[Billy Reed]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

So I'm gonna say Freeman. I mean, this is not any way to guarantee, but Freeman might even be today.

[Billy Reed]

He did cancel his visit to Yukon, which is a good sign.

[Ryan Lemond]

That could even, that could even take place today. I think Wilkins probably drags into next week. So that's why I'm not sure whether or not we'll know. Thank you to everybody here at Whiskey Thief. We appreciate you guys. Awesome show hosting us. Great crowd as always here. You all always show up great. And the food as well. Thank you to Derek Anderson. Awesome interview on this on this Friday everybody have an awesome weekend. We are back next week on Monday. Appreciate it. Hopefully everybody's in a positive mood. We'll see you later. This has been Kentucky Sports Radio

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That's innerbalance.com running for office means having something important to say. Radio is the most personal medium out there. Voters hear the real you exactly the way you want to be heard. No filters, no AI. Just your voice, your message. And it's one tenth the time and cost of video. Don't just campaign. Connect with millions all over the country, even thousands in the smallest communities with radio. Call now and be on the air in just 48 hours. 844-844 iHeart. That's 844-844 iHeartra.