Summary of "KSR Postgame UK MBB at Clemson 12/04/24"

Podcast Information:

• Title: KSR
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
• Description: Matt Jones and the KSR crew bring you the latest in UK news and views Mon.-Fri. from 10 to noon.
• Episode: KSR Postgame UK MBB at Clemson 12/04/24
• Release Date: December 4, 2024

1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with Matt Jones introducing the postgame show following the University of Kentucky Wildcats' narrowly lost basketball matchup against Clemson, concluding with a final score of 70-66. The show is hosted by Matt Jones alongside co-hosts Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin, Shannon The Dude, Max Duffy, and Billy Rutledge. They acknowledge the impressive turnout of around 40 fans who traveled from various Colorado locales, including Denver, Boulder, Vail, and even Wyoming, to watch the game in Fort Collins.

Matt Jones:
"Welcome everyone. It is the local Toyota dealers KSR Post Game show... we watched the game in Fort Collins, had a big crowd of Kentucky fans come." [00:28]

2. Game Overview

Matt provides a succinct recap, highlighting Kentucky's struggle against Clemson and reflecting on the team's performance trajectory. He posits that the loss suggests Kentucky is a very good team rather than a great one, ranking them somewhere between the 8th to 13th positions nationally.

Matt Jones:
"I think Kentucky is more in the line of very good than great. Now you could still do really good things with a very good team but probably more like a ranked 8th to 12th, 13th ranked team." [03:00]

3. Team Performance Analysis

a. Kentucky vs. Clemson Performance

The discussion delves into the disparity between Kentucky's starting players and their reserves. Notably, Butler posted a plus-minus of +17, while Kerr and Garrison were significantly below average with -21 and -20, respectively. This imbalance was pivotal in the game's outcome.

Matt Jones:
"Kerr was really bad tonight on both ends... Garrison was actually minus 20 tonight." [02:19]

4. Player Analysis

a. Key Players: Amari Williams, Kerr Creese, Garrison

• Amari Williams: Despite contributing points in the final minutes, his performance was inconsistent, marked by excessive dribbling and missed critical shots.

  Drew Franklin:
  "Amari Williams, he got a few buckets there at the end, but that's my guy. Still worried he's calling his own number a little too much." [04:59]

• Kerr Creese: Struggled significantly, leading to a notable negative impact on the game.

  Matt Jones:
  "Kerr was really bad tonight on both ends... minus 21." [02:19]

• Garrison: Similarly underperformed with a -20 plus-minus, exacerbating Kentucky's difficulties.

  Matt Jones:
  "Garrison was actually minus 20 tonight." [02:19]

5. Coaching and Strategy

Mark Pope's coaching decisions, particularly regarding player rotations amidst foul trouble, were scrutinized. The decision to benched key players like Butler due to foul issues allowed Clemson to capitalize, leading to significant runs that Kentucky couldn't counter effectively.

Shannon The Dude:
"And one thing that confused me was the rotations tonight because, like, I thought we felt like we went on some runs, and then after the timeout, we just completely do something different." [17:53]

Matt Jones:
"Mark Pope takes out Butler, who had two fouls, Williams and Car. He takes all three of those guys out." [19:00]

6. Shooting and Offensive Execution

A recurring theme was Kentucky's poor shooting performance, especially from the three-point line. Over the last three games, Kentucky averaged 27% from beyond the arc, a concerning statistic for a team relying heavily on three-point shooting.

Max Duffy:
"Kentucky shooting 27% from three in the last three games. It's going to be hard for them to win this year if that doesn't improve." [07:46]

Billy Rutledge:
"A lot of teams shoot a lot of threes... it's just a good way to score." [45:39]

7. Defensive Breakdown

Clemson's physical defense played a significant role in disrupting Kentucky's offensive rhythm. The Wildcats struggled to maintain their usual scoring pace under Clemson's aggressive defensive strategies, which included targeting key players and limiting their effective playtime.

Ryan Lemond:
"Ryan, we said that during the game tonight. You and I said this is the way teams are gonna play Kentucky to play. Physical." [06:49]

Max Duffy:
"Clemson just slowed down Kentucky's offense, kind of threw him out of rhythm." [07:08]

8. Listener Calls and Input

Throughout the episode, several listeners contributed their perspectives:

• Drew Franklin expressed frustration over player performances and rotation decisions.
• Shannon The Dude provided insights on rotational confusion and praised the team's resilience despite the loss.
• Billy Rutledge shared anecdotes and constructive criticism regarding defensive strategies and player roles.

One notable listener story involved a fan and his daughter receiving upgraded tickets, highlighting the positive fan experiences despite the disappointing game outcome.

Shannon The Dude:
"This is my daughter and I's first true road game for a UK game... they gave us tickets six rows behind the bench." [51:19]

9. Conclusion

The KSR crew collectively expressed concerns over Kentucky's offensive inconsistencies, particularly their shooting efficiency and reliance on key players under pressure. They acknowledged the competitive nature of the game but emphasized the need for significant improvements to elevate Kentucky from a very good team to a great one. Plans for future episodes and upcoming challenges, including a potential matchup against Gonzaga, were briefly mentioned as the show wound down.

Matt Jones:
"We will see you in eight hours at 10am Eastern. This has been the local toy dealers KSR post game show." [53:14]

Final Takeaways:

• Kentucky Wildcats are currently viewed as very good but not yet great due to performance inconsistencies.
• Key issues include poor three-point shooting, foul trouble affecting key players, and ineffective rotations.
• Clemson's physical defense was instrumental in Kentucky's loss.
• Listener engagement provided both criticism and positive fan experiences, underscoring the passionate Kentucky fan base.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Jones [02:19]:
  "If you look at the plus minus, Mari was plus 16, Butler was plus 17, Garrison was minus 20, Carisa was minus 21."

• Drew Franklin [04:59]:
  "Amari Williams, he got a few buckets there at the end, but that's my guy. Still worried he's calling his own number a little too much."

• Ryan Lemond [06:09]:
  "I just thought, with a team of shooters, this free throws would be a problem. But at some point, we need to worry, is this going to be an ongoing issue?"

• Shannon The Dude [22:01]:
  "Having no point guard tonight for half the game leads to 60 something points, which is unfortunate to see."

• Billy Rutledge [45:14]:
  "A lot of teams shoot a lot of threes... it's just a good way to score."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the "KSR Postgame UK MBB at Clemson 12/04/24" episode, providing a detailed overview for those who did not listen to the full broadcast.