KSR Postgame UK MBB at Texas 02/15/25

Summary

KSR Postgame UK MBB at Texas 02/15/25 – Episode Summary

Introduction The "KSR Postgame UK MBB at Texas" episode, hosted by Ryan Lemond and Billy Rutledge of the KSR crew from Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM), dives deep into Kentucky's recent loss to Texas in a heated college basketball matchup. Beyond game analysis, the hosts address critical community issues affecting Kentucky, notably severe flooding impacting multiple counties.

---

Game Recap and Analysis

Kentucky faced Texas in a closely contested game, ultimately losing with a final score of 82-78. The KSR crew expresses disappointment over the collapse Kentucky experienced in the final three minutes.

• Ryan Lemond opened the discussion by stating, “it was just, it stinks. It’s just a bad loss” (02:25).

• Billy Rutledge echoed this sentiment, highlighting Kentucky's dominant performance for most of the game before a dramatic downturn: “I felt like they were leading like most of the game... but then just a total collapse down the stretch” (00:25).

Key Factors in the Loss:

1. Final Three-Minute Collapse:

   • Texas surged with a 14-1 run, overpowering Kentucky in the last moments.
   • High turnovers and missed shots led to Kentucky falling short despite earlier dominance.
   • Ryan remarked, “Kentucky had 10 second half turnovers, but only 10 assists in the total game... it was a really bad collapse late” (03:05).

2. Player Performances:

   • Trey Johnson led Kentucky with 32 points, while Markus Kidd added 26, combining for 58 of Kentucky’s 82 points.
   • Kobe Bray, expected to be a reliable sharpshooter, struggled significantly, missing all six of his field goal attempts despite playing 35 minutes: “if Kentucky wants to be successful, he's got to do better than that” (04:00).
   • The absence of key players Lamar Butler and Jackson Robinson was felt, with both lacking their usual impact: “If Lamar was in the game, you got to feel like they would have had a better finish” (04:33).

3. Coaching Decisions:

   • Mark Pope faced scrutiny over his rotation and in-game adjustments. Callers questioned his strategies, especially regarding player minutes and defensive tactics.
   • Billy reflected, “If Lamar, Lamar Lamont Butler is playing point guard, that probably doesn’t happen” (05:08).

Impact of Turnovers and Rebounds:

• Kentucky struggled with turnovers, particularly in the second half, and failed to secure crucial offensive rebounds, compounded by defensive lapses.
• Ryan highlighted, “They don’t box out. Boxing out is not athleticism. It is muscle memory” (23:33).

---

Community Concerns: Severe Flooding in Kentucky

Parallel to the game discussion, the hosts addressed the ongoing severe flooding affecting multiple counties across Kentucky, exacerbating conditions from the previous year.

• Billy Rutledge detailed the widespread impact: “Massive flooding problems... Buckhorn School has been flooded again... a nursing home in Letcher county had to be evacuated” (07:06).

• Callers shared personal accounts of being trapped and the struggles faced by residents, underscoring the gravity of the situation:

  • Caller from Floyd County mentioned, “My aunt’s got water up to her foundation... having to sleep in her truck tonight” (15:37).
  • Another caller from Clay County reported fatalities: “There was one older man they found this evening” (43:22).

• Ryan emphasized the community's resilience and the importance of prayers and support: “We saw Kentucky at its best in 22... it's across the whole state” (56:15).

---

Listener Feedback and Perspectives

The episode featured numerous caller insights, reflecting a mix of frustration, concern, and hope for both the basketball team and the community.

1. Frustrations with Team Performance:

   • Several callers expressed confusion and disappointment over Kentucky's inconsistent performances, praising their victories against top-tier teams while lamenting losses to seemingly weaker opponents.
   • One caller remarked, “When we're playing the lower level teams, we're playing our average and below average” (35:04).

2. Support for Coaching and Players:

   • Despite criticisms, some callers advocated for continued support of Coach Mark Pope, acknowledging the challenges posed by injuries: “I’m thrilled that we could even be in the game on the road in the SEC tonight” (22:21).
   • Praise was directed towards emerging players like Amari Williams, whose dual-threat capability was highlighted as vital to the team's success.

3. Community Solidarity:

   • Callers from affected areas shared heartfelt messages, urging safety and mutual support: “Just say a prayer for those folks tonight before you go to sleep” (07:06).

---

Notable Quotes

• Billy Rutledge: “I mean, it was a bad way to finish... A total collapse down the stretch.” (00:25)
• Ryan Lemond: “Kentucky had 10 second half turnovers, but only 10 assists in the total game... it was a really bad collapse late.” (03:05)
• Caller from Bluegrass: “The SEC is so physical... you’ve got to just learn how to play that way.” (11:48)
• Caller from Clay County: “There was one older man they found this evening... that was probably the most frustrating time I had watching the game.” (44:05)
• Billy Rutledge: “Trent Noah was the only Kentucky player with a positive plus minus.” (47:21)

---

Closing Remarks

As the episode concluded, Ryan and Billy reiterated their support for both the team and the affected communities. They encouraged listeners to stay safe amidst the worsening weather conditions and maintained a hopeful outlook for Kentucky's prospects in upcoming games and the NCAA tournament.

• Billy Rutledge: “It was a horrible finish... keep your thoughts and your prayers for your brothers and sisters that are dealing with flooding conditions tonight.” (54:38)
• Ryan Lemond: “Absolutely thinking about everybody out there and good work tonight, Ryan.” (56:15)

---

Timestamp Reference:

• Each notable segment in the transcript is referenced with a timestamp in the format (MM:SS) for easy navigation to specific parts of the discussion.

Transcript

[Ryan Lemond]

T Mobile stats are as impressive as your favorite athlete's highlight reel because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network. Switch now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepandswitch up to 4 lines of your virtual prepaid card.

[Billy Rutledge]

Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service support in 90 plus days device.

[Ryan Lemond]

Knowledgeable carrier and timely redemption required.

[Billy Rutledge]

Card has no cash access and expires in six months. All right, let's do this. This is the local toy dealers KSR post game show as Kentucky loses at Texas 82 to 78. It just, it's a, it stinks. It's just a bad loss. Phone lines will be open. 859-280-2287. We want to hear from you. I mean, I felt like really it was a game that Kentucky, it felt like just to me, they led like most of the game. It felt like they were in the lead and had control. But then just a total collapse down the stretch. I mean, bad shots, bad turnovers, can't get a rebound. Just a total collapse. I think Texas, the run they went on in the last three minutes of the game was 14 to 1 until take a hit. That prayer right there at the end. 14 to 1. Texas closed out the game and Kentucky could do nothing. They were, I think one of 11 in their last field goal attempts until take it through that one in there at the end. It was just, it was a bad way to finish. After a game that I felt like they were going to get, I felt like there for most of the game they're going to sneak into Austin and come back home with a win when they're so shorthanded without Jackson, Robinson, without Lamar Butler. But they had two guys that they were super tonight. Trey Johnson had 32 points. Trey Johnson shot the ball. Every time he got it, it seemed like he ain't shy. And then the mark kid had 26 points. So those two guys combined for 58 of their 82 points. When meanwhile our sharpshooter Kobe Bray was oh of six and he played like 35 minutes. He was out there almost the whole game. Only got up six shots, missed them all. No field goals from Kobe Braya. I'm not gonna blame it on him, but he's, if Kentucky wants to be successful, he's got to do better than that. Giving up rebounds on free Throws. I mean, come on, Billy, they teach you that in elementary school. You don't give up a rebound, an offensive rebound on a free throw. And if you go back and look at the one that they got late in the game, Ansley Aminor did not move. He was standing at the free throw lane. He did not even move as the ball kind of got tipped around. They pick it up and put it in. Just. I mean, the Ryan Lemon post game KSR curse is back because this is a bad loss.

[Ryan Lemond]

We thought it was over.

[Billy Rutledge]

I thought it was over the last one. I did. They won. But Billy, what, what were your thoughts on the game?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, it's just a collapse in those final three minutes. You know, you tell me. You lose a game on the road in the sec, I can understand that when you don't have your first, your second or your third point guard. But it felt like it was Kentucky's game and they just absolutely blew it at the end. You know, Kentucky had 10 second half turnovers, but only 10 assists in the total game. Ryan, it's just, it was, it was a really bad collapse late. And it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, doesn't it?

[Billy Rutledge]

It does. It really does. And it's just kind of. That's the way this year has been. This team plays great when they played the better teams. You know, you sweep Tennessee, you beat Florida, you beat Duke, you beat Gonzaga when they were highly ranked. You've got all these great wins, you beat a good Louisville team, and yet then you play teams that you should be, that you're, you know, a better team than Georgia, Vanderbilt, now Texas, I mean Arkansas, it just, it just makes you scratch your head. So Kentucky's now 6 and 6 in the SEC, right? When we think they get a big win like, oh, they can still in contention. That first round double buy get him one of the top four seeds not playing on Wednesday. Uh, now they're right back to, oh boy, we may be playing on Wednesday again if we're not careful. So just, just a horrible finish. And I think this is just my opinion, that's where they miss Lamar Butler the boats the most.

[Ryan Lemond]

Lamont.

[Billy Rutledge]

Lamont Butler the most. If he was in the game, you got to feel like they would have had a better finish. That's taking nothing away from Travis Perry. I thought Travis Perry did a good job. I only think he only had two turnovers, didn't he, Billy, in the game, something like that. Hit a shot. But if they, if Lamar, Lamar Lamont Butler is playing point guard, that probably doesn't happen. They probably can finish out strong. He controls the offense, gets him in better sets, makes better decisions because the other turnovers late in the game. And like I said, there's some bad shots.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, the perimeter defense would have been better with Lamont and Jackson there and those two Texas players wouldn't have combined for 58 of the 82 points. But I just, I don't understand the Kobe Braya stuff. Is it simply that they have tape on them and they're just not going to allow him to catch and shoot? Ryan, I just. How do you have. How do you go over six when everybody was saying they needed him in this game?

[Billy Rutledge]

Well, you know, defenses obviously are doing things to take him away, but you know what? Kentucky was doing things to take Trey Johnson away. He still got up 26 shots, still scored 32 points. I mean, I just feel like he's too good of an offensive threat to kind of just disappear offensively like that. Like I said, he played 35 minutes. He was, oh, of six. The only points he scored were at the free throw line. That can't happen if Kentucky wants to.

[Ryan Lemond]

Win some games or just inbound the ball correctly.

[Billy Rutledge]

How about that at the end of the game? Oh, that's just mental mistakes right there. All three of those guys. That's a mental mistake because then they almost came back and did it a second time. They're lucky it didn't happen two times in a row. Mental given, you know, their head down thinking, okay, yeah, we've blown this. When you still got to fight every possession and you heard coach Pope say that to Tom Leach in the postgame show. You know, we got guys that kind of can learn how they got to fight for 40 minutes, you know, and not you make a mistake, don't double that up and make another mistake because you're not mentally ready or not fighting or not playing strong. So I don't know, that's a tough one. They could have, you know, they beat Vandy on Wednesday. This is the four game win streak that I think they needed, the locker room needed, we needed as a fan base, seem kind of get back on the right track. But it seems like we're one step forward, one step back. It seems like it's how it's been this year.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, it has been weird. They beat the teams that you don't think they have a chance in and then they lose games like this. So I mean, maybe you expected to be 1 and 1 at the end of this week. They just do it in a different way.

[Billy Rutledge]

That's way it's been like almost this whole season. I know, you know, they lose to Georgia and they came back and beat Florida. I believe I would have maybe have flipped it. You know, they beat tennis, they lose to Vanderbilt, beat Tennessee in one week. Now, you know, this week they beat Tennessee again and lose at Texas. So we want to take your calls, 859-280-2287. But before we go to the first commercial break, we have to talk about what's going on in our state. I mean, this is a bad night for our state of Kentucky. The Commonwealth of Kentucky is, is crying tonight because all the rain and the flooding is hitting like the same areas that it hit just a couple years ago in 2022. All these counties, Laurel, Breathitt, Pike, Perry, Knock, Knox, Letcher, Esto, all these counties are having these massive flooding problems that they just, you know, some of them are still not getting over. What happened in 22. I saw, you know, I was trying to keep up with some of the pictures online. I saw the Buckhorn School has been flooded again. It got flooded last time. There's a KFC and Hazard, I think, that got flooded. A nursing home in Letcher county had to be evacuated. We've had listeners to this show post stuff that they were trapped in their home. Heather was trapped in her home. Virgie, I think, is been hit really bad. So, you know, it kind of puts this game in perspective. It is just a basketball game and these folks are now life or death situations again 2 1/2 years after they just went through it over there. So I know the first responders and the fire departments and the police departments, everybody's gonna just be working non stop trying to help these people. It looks like, you know, the rain is maybe temporarily kind of moved through, but I think there's more coming, Billy. So it's just one wave after another for these folks that desperately need a break.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, that's awful to hear. We're thinking about everybody affected by this terrible weather and, and I think we have snow on the way to Ryan.

[Billy Rutledge]

So, yeah, snow's coming. I saw where Pikeville, I think, has had to put down their floodgate. I always make fun of Pineville and their floodgates. Well, I don't know if it's confirmed, but I heard, I saw somewhere where Pikeville was putting down their floodgates to try to protect some of their city and their buildings and things. You know, powers out in areas, roads are closed in areas, people are trapped in their homes. So it's Just, it's an awful situation. We just hope and pray that it doesn't get as bad as it did in 22. And so many people lost their lives. I know there. I think there's already been a death in Clay county that I saw has been reported from the flooding. So just. Just say a prayer for those folks tonight before you go to sleep. All right, we'll take our break. We'll go take your phone calls. 859-280-2287. This is the local Toyota dealers, KSR post game show. Welcome back to local total leaders KSR postgame show. Cats loser. Tonight, 82 to 78 to Texas. Got full bank of calls. We're not gonna get to everybody, but with the ongoing weather situation, we do. This is live radio, so we need to kind of keep people updated. Just got some information that there's some water rescues actually going on right now in pike county from the big Sandy river that has already reached flood stage and is creating a dangerous situation there. And, Billy, I think you just sent me the radar that's coming. What does it say?

[Ryan Lemond]

I just. I had somebody send me the radar and it's just bands of red everywhere. It really is unbelievable this. This weather that's hitting us right now. So please, everybody stay safe listening out there. And. And you said water rescues are under.

[Billy Rutledge]

Water rescues going on right now. Yeah. And it's not just southeastern Kentucky, Bardstown, Frankfurt. I'm seeing all over the place the heavy rains that have caused some flooding situations. So our thoughts and prayers to all you folks that are out there fighting that. 859-280-2287. Who's our first caller? Billy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Bluegrass.

[Billy Rutledge]

Bluegrass. Go ahead, sir.

[C]

How we doing, fellas?

[Billy Rutledge]

Good. How are you? Bluegrass.

[C]

I don't. Well, we got a lot of water up this way. I know that. Up here in Floyd county looking pretty bad. Well, let's get to the game, little fellas.

[Billy Rutledge]

I know we're all right.

[C]

I know we're all disappointed. I know we're all disappointed, but. Yeah, you know, this is. This is not our regular team out here, is it, right now, fellas?

[Billy Rutledge]

No, they're definitely shorthanded without Butler and without Robinson.

[C]

Well, I know Pope don't want to make excuses, but I am glad he mentioned the holding and pulling when we're coming off those stagger screens and those curls they're holding on. They're. They're holding umbrella. They're holding on. I mean, they're pulling us around. That just seems like. Used to be. You used to be Able to cut and not. There wasn't that much physicality. It seems like in the SEC this year, you can't move nowhere. I don't understand it.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah. Appreciate it, Bluegrass. Thanks for the phone call. You know, he's right. Coach Pope said that in the postgame show, you know, the SEC is so physical, and the way they're let the officiating going right now, where they're letting them grab and stuff like that, Billy, you got to just learn how to play that way. Couple. Couple weeks ago, he said Amari has learned how to play physical in the. In the SEC because he used to be the biggest dude on the. On the court when he was at Drexel, and he could. Anything he'd do, he'd get called for a foul. Well, now he can learn. He can get away with some of that in the SEC because he's got other seven footers he's banging against. I guess now the whole team's got to figure out if it's going to be this physical, if the way this is the way they're going to let teams play. We got to figure out a way to beat it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Amari's improved leaps and bounds. It feels like from the beginning of the year, he's had that triple double game. He had this game tonight, 18 and 12. So I've been pleasantly surprised by him. And you know, I was talking to Darren. Rick Barnes said the same exact thing today about his screeners or his cutters being held. Ziegler and the other guy being hold. Held more than anybody. That in Rick Barnes time. So, wow. Maybe that is a real thing going around right now.

[Billy Rutledge]

I tell you, when Amari hit the three pointer, I thought to myself, this is our night. The dude has one of the ugly shots ever hits a step back three, I think, okay, we're going to win this game. So. All right, who's next, Billy?

[Ryan Lemond]

Michael is next.

[Billy Rutledge]

Michael, Go ahead. Michael.

[C]

Hey, what's up, Ryan? Hey, Billy.

[Billy Rutledge]

How are you? Michael?

[C]

I had to write a little bit stuff down because I was so frustrated. I got so angry tonight again. You know, I was expecting this season to be like mediocre, like a rebuilding year, like a growth year due to us having a new coach. However, when UK has these victories against these top tier teams, I'm becoming hopeful. I grew excited. And then we turn around and just like, I mean, we kind of blew this game the last three minutes. I mean, Perry turns it over. Williams did not block out and ended up like in the wrong position under the goal and get. We get that. They get that dunk. Texas gets the dunk. And then we allow two players to score 58 points against us. I don't understand how you let two players beat you. That's the game. Those two players. And then I just become frustrated. I get confused. I question our team's overall performance because of our amazing top tier victories. But then we lose to these lower tier teams and it just doesn't like, make it make sense. Please, someone please make make sense.

[Billy Rutledge]

Michael, I appreciate the phone call. I. We can't. You can't make sense of it. You can't tell me how. You know, they announced the top four seeds in the, the NCAA tournament, and Florida was one of them. Kentucky beat them. Duke was one of them, Kentucky beat them. I mean, two of the four number one seeds right now, Kentucky's already beat them in the next four. There's Tennessee. Well, guess what? Kentucky beat them twice. I mean, it's crazy that they do have these great tier one wins and then they can't beat the teams that are in the, you know, the bottom six, bottom third of the SEC in Georgia, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Texas. It is crazy, Billy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I just, I do think they had a mental lapse at the end of this game and in their mistakes compounded, Ryan, one turned into another and, and, you know, just take away those final three minutes. Kentucky's leading on the road for most of this game without, yeah, you know, three point guards. So, I mean, we do have to give them credit there, but it's all about how you finish. I mean, it doesn't matter if you don't win the game.

[Billy Rutledge]

You're right, man. It was a horrible, horrible finish. There's no doubt about it. By Kentucky. All right, who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Tim.

[Billy Rutledge]

Tim. Go ahead, Tim.

[C]

Hey, what's going on? Ryan, thank you to you and Billy and also shout out atl, cats and prayers for everyone in Kentucky for the flood. That's. That's no joke.

[Billy Rutledge]

And amen.

[C]

I hope everybody. I'm from Western Kentucky, so I know that's a big deal. And I hope everybody takes care of themselves. That's for sure. I wanted to just say, first and foremost, I. I just want to remind everyone that's listening, we're Kentucky. Okay? This is. I graduated from the University of Kentucky, grew up watching. This is Kentucky. And I mean, some of these excuses are just. Okay, so every game we've lost. Well, not games we've lost. Every game we won and every game we've lost, it's been the same thing. We win and we do the same things wrong. And I, I am not a basketball Vinnie, but I, I can see them and, but we celebrate because we're, you know, we're what a win. But then we, we lose before this game even happened. And I, I was talking to our friends like work. This is the game we've lost all season long and we'll probably lose it again. And this was actually, I think, the worst of all of them that we lost, that we should have won because we, you're watching it with your own eyeballs, and we're the better team. We are dominating. They're just there and we just all of a sudden decided, you know, instead of just winning the game and dominate the game, let's, let's get cute and let's run 75 different lineups. You know, let's take Amari Williams out when he is the most dominant player in the, on the court. Let's let him play 10 minutes in the first half. Let's not allow ourselves to get a lead in the second half. Let's throw 40 more different, different scenarios of lineups up. And we've done this every game. And the other thing that we've done every game that no one, no one, no one questions because again, they want to, oh, let's blame Brea, you know, but you know, if you watch the game, Brea brings three players that, that help off of their guys on him on every play. Which Pope is a smart offensive mind. That is how he schemes a lot of our buckets, and that is that. So first off, that's one thing, and again, I'm not a basketball buddy, but the second thing is all year long, you're right. A lot of people have talked about athleticism and maybe that's some degree on defense because that's definitely a, a bad thing. But there's another part that I don't understand is not being questioned and not even. And we're just making these excuses up and that's fight and rebounding. And this team, they do not box out. They. Boxing out is not athleticism. It is, it is muscle memory. And you know how you get that coaching and why you just watch them every go back and watch our wins. We do not box out. We don't ever box out. And our two guys around the perimeter, they want to get down the other side when the ball's in the air. And it's happened all season and I don't, I, I, it just drives me insane. And, and, and I listen to people and they don't want to criticize that because I think they think they're gonna. We don't want to be mad at Pope because we're so happy. We're not Arkansas, and that's great, but we are Kentucky.

[Billy Rutledge]

Okay. We gotta go ahead. Tim, we appreciate it, man. Thank you. I mean, they're. That theme from people about the fight in the effort, the rebound. I wish Matt was here, because Matt goes through his, you know, finger elbow, but, you know, you got to block somebody out. But Tim's exactly right, man. There was supple, glaring issues where they didn't just box out and the guys got tip in the shot or grab an offensive rebound and get a nut. Get the shot or get the. And one. But that missed free throw, man. They showed it two or three times on slow motion, and Ortega was going for it, but they were like three Texas guys in Ortega, and we had two guys not going for it. And Ansley Almanor stood there, didn't even move. When you go back and watch and take a look at it, Tim had a lot of good things to say, though. That's why I just let him go. Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, you can hear it in their voice, too, right? Not just Tim, but. Yeah, these callers, I mean.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah, you're right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Confused.

[Billy Rutledge]

That's why I feel like, you know, let it. Let it out, man. Just. This is what this post game show is for, Doug. Group therapy. So who we got next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Brian.

[Billy Rutledge]

Brian. Go ahead, Brian. Brian. I hear him.

[C]

Brian, hey, can you hear me?

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah, yeah, go ahead, Brian.

[C]

I think we got a chicken man problem. We can't beat Cal, and we haven't beat the Los Pollos Hermanos, man. Who coaches? Texas. We got to figure this out.

[Billy Rutledge]

All right, Brian, we appreciate it.

[Ryan Lemond]

What was he saying is a Breaking Bad reference.

[Billy Rutledge]

Okay. No, I've not seen one episode of it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay. Yeah, the. The coach for Texas kind of looks like one of the main villains.

[Billy Rutledge]

Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay, well, now. Now I can see where he was going. I had no idea what he was talking about there.

[Ryan Lemond]

He did have the glasses on. Did you see his reading glasses? He had polarized reading glasses. He had on.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yoga girl and I were watching the game, and both of us, first time they showed me, looked each other like, what is. What is that? Because it does kind of. It did make him look kind of odd. Do you see the cameras caught him saying, one time Ortega away is a problem. He was leaned over to one of his assistant coaches, said, otega away is a problem.

[Ryan Lemond]

He is, man. I Mean, if he's not turning over the ball, I mean, what is it, 25 straight games that he's had double digit points?

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah, he had 20, 20 tonight. So it's 25 straight games. He's the only dude in the SEC that has scored in double figures every game. Not Trey Johnson, who leads the country in scoring. Not Hubbard, you know, Mississippi State, not Johnny Broom. It is Otega away double figures in every game.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yep, yep. And despite Brea having everybody guard him, he can still put up more than six shots a game. Ryan, I will go to my grave having that thought.

[Billy Rutledge]

I agree, man. I mean, that's your job. That's what you. That's what you do. So if you're. If they're on you, okay. You know, I remember when Steve Alford played for Indiana, they, he would just run around picks, run around picks, run around picks. They finally got open. Okay, Kobe, do something, man. Get yourself open. Create a shot. Create some space. All right, let's take one more. We'll take a break. Who we got?

[Ryan Lemond]

Lauren.

[Billy Rutledge]

Lauren. Go ahead, Lauren.

[C]

Ryan, I'm gonna take a different perspective and say that I think that given the circumstances with Butler and Robinson out, we did the best that we could do and we could have won that game. But I think that it's pretty good that we held our own and, and looked good on the road and, you know, we came up short, but we did the best we could do.

[Billy Rutledge]

You know, that's. That actually is a good take on it, Lauren. Because if you told me before the game, you don't have Lamont Butler, you don't have Jackson, Robinson, you're going to lose the game by four points. I wouldn't have been shocked if somebody told me that. But then I saw how the game was playing out where I felt like Kentucky let it slip through their hands and just kind of collapse down the stretch. That's why I think I'm so frustrated.

[C]

And I mean, I agree with that and I'm frustrated, too. But I think when you look at the lineups that we've had to put out there and just our team as a whole and knowing we're down our two best players, I mean, I can't imagine what it would have been like the last few years with Caliperi if we had to play these guys. And that's no, I mean, I don't mean any offense to Perry and Noah and Garrison. I mean, I love those guys and I'm thrilled that hopefully they're going to be back next year, but it's certainly not the NBA lottery picks we've been used to playing. And I'm just, I'm thrilled that we could even be in the game on the road in the SEC tonight, starting who we had to start tonight.

[Billy Rutledge]

Appreciate it, Lauren.

[C]

I think we can, if we can get healthy, we'll be good to go.

[Billy Rutledge]

Thank you for bringing that perspective. That does kind of put it back into perspective. We don't have our best players during the SEC and Jackson, Robinson and our leader, our point guard, our best defender, it is amazing that they, you know, we have been able to win those games without those two guys. So we'll take our break, Come back, go back to the phone lines. 859-280-2287. Just saw another report that came in that there's now mudslides in Estill County.

[Ryan Lemond]

Wow.

[Billy Rutledge]

I mean, that's when you know, you get the roads collapse and roads will be closed. Like I said, power's out in different places. It's turning into a sad night. So we'll take our break. Come back, Go back to the phone lines. 859-280-2287. This is Ryder and Lyman. This is Billy Rutledge. And we'll be right back. Welcome back. Local Total Leaders KSR postgame show. It is now after midnight. So it is Sunday morning. Most of our state, those in central time zone that I want to talk about is still 11 o'clock. We focus so much on the attention of the flooding in eastern Kentucky because that's where it seems to be the most disastrous. But I got this text message that said, hey, man, Mayfield, Paducah and Murray in Western Kentucky also flooded and it's still pouring. Also in Eddyville where Travis Perry's from. So I mean, it's everywhere. And like when like Billy said, in the radar, I mean, it's, it's still coming down all across the state and I don't think it's gonna stop anytime soon. And then we got snow coming in the next couple days after that. But, man, poor Mayfield. I mean, they had hit with two tornadoes, I think in the last five years and now flooding maybe issues going on as well. So that's horrible.

[Ryan Lemond]

It is. And I'm surprised you're getting texts. I mean, I've been trying to send you a photo of the radar for 20 minutes and you haven't gotten it.

[Billy Rutledge]

Did you get the one I just sent you?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. You saying is this green? It is. Because you have an Android.

[Billy Rutledge]

I have an Android. It seems green text, but I don't have anything from you. So it must be your phone, not my phone.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, good thing I don't have anything important to show you because if I did, then I don't know if you'd ever get it right.

[Billy Rutledge]

Here's one more text message I want to read you because I think this will just, I want to get your opinion, Billy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay.

[Billy Rutledge]

Didn't understand why Trent Noah didn't get more looks at the end. He was steady in the first half and especially with Pope mixing in the zone and his knack for rebounding could have used him shooting down the stretch. I don't disagree with that. You know, when they went zone, he's, you could put him out there and if you need somebody that's going to shoot the three, Bray wasn't getting it done. Ansley hit one. Ortega's three point shot is kind of iffy at best. Travis hit one. No. Did Travis want to train? Hit one. One of those two guys hit one tonight.

[Ryan Lemond]

What a three. Yeah, I think they both had one. They both, Travis had two and Trent had the one that was almost in Oklahoma as.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah, that's right.

[Ryan Lemond]

It was deep.

[Billy Rutledge]

So I, I, I can agree with what the, the guy is saying that maybe, you know, Trent maybe could have gotten more looks in the when Kentucky was collapsing down the stretch.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, we've complained a lot about Kobe, but I can say that his defense has improved over the as the season's gone along. And I'd say he's even a better defender than Trent at times, even though Trent can get a rebound every now and then. It's tough. It is because we see a lot of interesting rotations, don't we, Ryan? But you know, when you have three guys out like that, you kind of got to do stuff like that.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah. All right. 859-280-2287. Who we got first? Billy?

[Ryan Lemond]

Alex.

[Billy Rutledge]

Alex. Go ahead, Alex.

[C]

Hey. Yeah, I just wanted to talk about, you know, love, Lauren and what all she had to say but could not disagree more with talking about moral victories. This is the University of Kentucky and there are no moral victories. Coming up short to a team that has lost to Alabama by 23 at home. Vanderbilt by eight. Arkansas again, who was one and eight when we lost to them and you know, the whole Travis Perry, Trent, Noah thing. Love the guys, you know, they're Kentucky kids, but at the end of the day, if they're in your rotation and they're the seventh and eighth guys, it's, it's just hard to win and it's, it's something that Mark Pope that I feel like, you know, bringing in Malachi Moreno next year if he's going to be our starting big or if it's Brandon Garrison. I'm just worried about Mark Pope. Don't know if he's the guy. Would love your thoughts, Ryan.

[Billy Rutledge]

Wow, Alex, man, I wish I knew what to say to, you know, perk you up a little bit because I do think Mark Pope is the guy that is going to win here. And I think with the wins he's gotten this year. Yeah. Disappointing tonight. They should have beat Texas, there's no doubt about it. But I've seen even Calipari's really good teams lose a game on the road in the sec. They should have won. It just happens. Now, granted, yes, it's happened what, four times. Georgia, Arkansas at home, Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt and Texas at Texel. Three times on the road. They've lost games they should have won. I totally give you that. But I still like. I still like what Mark Pope's doing. And you know, you talk about Brandon Garrison, Malachi Marino, they'll bring in of another big Also in the transfer portal, there should be probably three guys bigs and down the post. So. I don't know. Billy, what do you think? That call kind of depressed me a little bit.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I mean, I think you have to expect some growing pains if you're on your fourth string quarterback, Ryan. I mean, if you were looking at this from a football perspective, I think you could. You would expect that you're going to be behind the eight ball and you've got to kind of throw some things together, just like he had to throw his roster together in a matter of months. So I do think it's a little crazy to have this take right now. I mean, this is not the time for doom and gloom. Is Mark Pope the guy because they lost on the road at Texas because they had a bad final three minutes. It sucks. Losing sucks. But you're not out on Mark Pope because they lost this game.

[Billy Rutledge]

Agreed. Agreed. Sorry.

[Ryan Lemond]

Worked up there, but.

[Billy Rutledge]

Well, because it. Losing does suck. Like you said, it stinks. You know, like the position when you collapse the way you did. Should have won the game. Yeah, they should have won the game. There's no doubt about it. But I'm still holding out hope that this thing and this program is back on solid ground. And I look forward to making the least the second weekend of the NCAA tournament this year. Something we haven't done in five years. Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Cat Head?

[Billy Rutledge]

Cathead. Go ahead, Cat Head.

[C]

Hey, what's going on, guys?

[Billy Rutledge]

How are you, Cat head?

[C]

Oh, we're good sitting here watching it rain, Man. And like you said, we've all said is look out for everybody in Kentucky. I got family in western Kentucky. I've got family in southeastern Kentucky that I talked to earlier today, and they're already surrounded all four ways with. With water. They can't get out. So let's just keep all those people in our thoughts and prayers.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah, for sure.

[C]

And. And then now we can get to the game, you know, run some coattails on. On the other callers is, you know, I just don't. I don't understand how we lose to these. These teams. Right. We beat the big teams and, and lose to the other team. But, you know, for the last caller, I really, I hate, I hate what he said. I mean, I think Mark Pope is the guy for the job. I love our team. I love our coach. I love our program. We go through injuries just like everybody else. It is a bad loss. But, you know, let's get behind our team. I mean, callers calling in saying Mark Pope's not the right guy for the job. Look, if we had Arkansas team, we'd have worse record than we do right now. So come on now. I mean, I know that we could rebound better. There's. There, there's some better situational things. And I will say if Robinson and Butler is not healthy, hold them out, keep them out, Let these young guys play. Let's get to the tournament. Let's. Let's get healthy and let's make the run that we know we can make.

[Billy Rutledge]

All right, boy. Cathead, we need more people optimism like you do. Thank you for the phone call. Appreciate it. You know, I don't think they're going to have Robinson and Butler back anytime soon. Probably Butler will return before Robinson as Robinson. Man, when Coach Pope said yesterday, Billy, that we're gone and gotten a third opinion, that, that just tells me that there's something going on there with that, with that. That wrist. And if there's something that's. That's torn that may. They're saying maybe it may be. Require surgery. It may be something where Jackson may just have to play through some pain if he wants to play and finish this season and then have surgery after the season's over. You know what I mean? Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

And Pope said he didn't re. Injure it when he went into the game, so he made two threes with that broken wrist. So, you know, it also makes me think of Kurt Crease as getting back on defense despite him breaking his foot, if you remember that. Play tough.

[Billy Rutledge]

That was tough, man. Can you run down halfway down the core with a broken foot?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Yeah. So I'm hoping they get them back because they desperately need the help on defense. There's no doubt about that.

[Billy Rutledge]

All right, who's next? Billy?

[Ryan Lemond]

Dwayne.

[Billy Rutledge]

Dwayne. Go ahead, Dwayne.

[C]

Hey, Ryan. Billy. Thanks for taking the call. I believe Coach Pope needs to have the hard conversation with Kobe Bra tomorrow or Monday that we can't play you 35 minutes a game if you're only going to get up six shots. You need to. You need to find a way to get yourself open. You need to, you know, just do something to get yourself open, because him having four points tonight killed us and played 35 minutes. I mean, we can put somebody else out there that can shoot, that'll shoot the ball. I mean, you can't make them if you don't shoot them. So if he's 50% from threes, if he ain't shooting them, he ain't gonna make them, so.

[Billy Rutledge]

That's right. Appreciate it, Dwayne. You know, I kind of agree. You know, he. For this team, he needs to be step up, take more shots, because we know he can hit those shots. And when you've got somebody up in your grill, you got to figure out a way how you can get open and help your team. It's, you know, it's. It's. It's. It's not a new strategy where teams are locked, trying to lock somebody down. You got to move off a pick, you know, set yourself up, take a step back, whatever you got to do to create some space to get your shot.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, let's talk about another older player, Andrew Carr. Six points fouled out in this game. He looks like another player that injury has really taken a toll on.

[Billy Rutledge]

I agree, man. He was really, I think, starting to find himself. And remember, he had the great finish the Duke game and the great finish and the Gonzaga game. And I thought he's gonna be a guy we can count on down the stretch. You're right. He's just not been the same since he injured his back and trying to play. Now that, you know, everybody says he's close to 100%, but his game is different, isn't it?

[Ryan Lemond]

It is. An Ansley's played good in spots. I mean, he had 11 tonight, but, you know, I think you're missing a healthy Andrew Carr there at times.

[Billy Rutledge]

Totally agree. All right, who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Hunter.

[Billy Rutledge]

Hunter. Go Ahead. Hunter.

[C]

Hey, how you guys doing tonight?

[Billy Rutledge]

How are you, Hunter?

[C]

No, we're hanging in there. Before we get to the game, obviously kind of piggyback off what all the other callers said. The flooding that's going on right now is insane. I'm, I'm from Utah. I'm actually the one Ryan you met on the remote, that's from Prestonsburg. I have the girlfriend from Utah.

[Billy Rutledge]

Oh, yeah, I do remember talking to you. You were just in the restaurant not long ago too, right?

[C]

Yeah, I was at the, the spoken spirit. I came to my first ever game and at the Alabama game I was.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yeah, yeah, I remember that.

[C]

But it's just very sad. Thoughts and prayers go out like my aunts right now she's got water up to her foundation in Pikeville and she's having to sleep in her truck tonight. They got clothes in case they need to go. So definitely hoping that everything turns out for the best. As far as like the game goes, you know, in all reality it's like, what more could we have done? Like towards the end of the game it really, we really needed a point guard. That's, that's, that's what it kind of came down to. This game was going to come down to the final minutes, who was going to make plays and who didn't. We didn't make plays. Texas did. That's why they won. As far as like the season goes, I actually have a theory I want your guys opinion on. I have a really strong feeling that we play to the level of who we're playing against. So the best teams, we're playing our best and our best can be anybody. But when we're playing the lower level teams, we're playing our average and below average. Meanwhile, we're getting the best from these teams and a lot of these times their best is better than our average.

[Billy Rutledge]

Hunter. Appreciate that. And you know the crazy thing about what Hunter said there, Billy? That's what the knock on Mark Pope's teams were at byu. They went on the road, they beat Kansas, at Kansas, they beat Baylor at Baylor. I think they beat Houston. But then they would lose games at, even at home or in the conference that they should have won even the first round turn first round game in the NCAA tournament last year they played Duquesne, got upset by Duquesne. So that has just been a knock, I think on his coaching career.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I don't know why that is though, because I don't think the guys aren't ready to play. You know, they, they, they play with Effort, but at times, you know, they don't look like they want to rebound the ball. So it's. It is. That is strange. I. I would say that is true that they play down and up to their competition, but maybe the outlier is tonight.

[Billy Rutledge]

Right?

[Ryan Lemond]

Because they should have won that game if they had a point guard.

[Billy Rutledge]

We're going to see how they respond. We got Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Okay. Vanderbilt's a lower level team, but they beat you already once this year. Okay, so we'll see what kind of fight effort they get playing a team that they're. They're better than that already beat you once. They should come out, try to bury Vanderbilt on a Wednesday night. Who's next, Billy? We'll take one more. They'll take our break.

[Ryan Lemond]

Andy was up 16.

[Billy Rutledge]

16 Tennessee and then lost.

[Ryan Lemond]

Jared.

[Billy Rutledge]

Jared. Go ahead, Jared.

[C]

Hey, what's up, guys? Hey. A couple things. Ryan, man, how do you always get stuck with these post game shows, man?

[Billy Rutledge]

Preach. Preach it. I don't know. I don't know how that. That's why it's got to be my fault. But remember, I just did one. Billy, A couple weeks ago, Kentucky won and they played really well. They beat somebody they weren't supposed to beat, I think. I don't remember who it was, but. Yeah, I don't know, Jared. It seems that always happened. Football, basketball, it's been that way for. I. Seriously, I did the post game show for the Garden or Web basketball game that they lost.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, I remember that. Now, listen, I'm. I'm still in on this team, man. I. I know we've had some tough losses, but we're hurt. We've had some, you know, look at the wins, man. We have the best resume in the country, I think, and I think we'll be fine by March. Get everybody healthy. And last thing, just prayers to everybody in the. In Eastern Kentucky with the floods. I've got some buddies in Clay county and just prayers for those guys. And shout out, Jordan White. Shout out tight Farmer. Go Cats.

[Billy Rutledge]

I appreciate it. Yeah, I mean, we're all. I always say that's the best thing about this state is that when one of our own needs a helping hand, we're the first one there, you know, we're the first one to lend a helping hand. One of our brothers or sisters need it. And we saw it in 22 when they had the floods. We saw it in the tornadoes that hit over there in western Kentucky. Mayfield and Bremen in that area. And I'm sure we'll see the same thing. Over the next couple days, daylight comes in the morning and people started realizing the damage that's happened with all the rain that's coming. So it is sad. All right, we'll take our final break. Come back. Final segment, 859-280-2287. If you want to call and get on board, we'll take your calls. Kentucky loses tonight at Texas 82, 78. I bet the over it didn't hit, Billy. I just throw away my money on DraftKings. Every UK game, I just throw it away right back. This is the local toilet KSR postgame show. All right, welcome back. Final segment, the local total leaders KSR post game show. Kentucky loser tonight at Texas 82 to 78. But a big day for college basketball today, Billy. Of course, the number one game everybody was talking about, number one Auburn, played at number two Alabama. Two football schools, the Iron bowl of basketball and Alabama fought back to tie it. But then with like five minutes left, Auburn just closed it out and ended up winning by I think eight or nine points, right?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yep, yep. Auburn is legit. There's no doubt about it. If they can stay healthy, they, they could go on a historic run here. Kansas just lost to Utah as we're.

[Billy Rutledge]

Kansas loses again. Wow. You mentioned the Tennessee Vandy game. Vandy was up 16 points in the second half and ended up losing that game in Knoxville Detect Tennessee. But I want to tell you, I want to tell you about another game I went to today, Billy. I went to the Transylvania basketball game. They were hosting Mount St. Joseph over here at the Beck center on Broadway and it was Senior Day and I went because one of their seniors is a kid named Hunter Penn. Now you may say, well, who in the hell is Hunter Penn? Well, I'm going to tell you, I coached him for like four years in baseball when he was like 4, 5, 6 and 7.

[Ryan Lemond]

Okay?

[Billy Rutledge]

And two all star teams. So I think I coached him on six different teams when he was little. He was our best player. He was our best player and he ends up playing college basketball at Transylvania. So today's his senior day and he's a big guy, Billy. He's like 6, 5, 250 pounds. He's a big dude. It's Mountain St. Joseph that by the way, had a dude who was like 6, 7, 280 pounds. He was bigger. But I'm telling you this story because four years of playing college basketball at Transylvania started all four years. It's a big guy. He'd only hit one three pointer in his entire career. Today on Senior day, Hunter Penn from Woodford County, Kentucky, let it fly. Hit three three pointers in the game.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes.

[Billy Rutledge]

He's got one his whole career, and he hit three tonight on senior night.

[Ryan Lemond]

Oh, I love that. Because, you know, he thought about it, right? I mean, you only shoot 13 in your career. You come in a senior night saying, I got to take at least one or two. So.

[Billy Rutledge]

Well, I was sitting by his dad, Tollen, and he. He hit the second one and I goes, does he shoot a lot of threes? No. One's like, no, he doesn't. I said, how many hit? He goes, one. His whole career, one. So we were all laughing. He hit the second one, then he hits the. The. The third one. Like, oh, turn it on, big fella.

[Ryan Lemond]

Was it like a proud Popham coach moment that you had tonight then?

[Billy Rutledge]

It was. It really was. Yeah, I'm really proud of him. You know, he played over here at Woodford county and he, like, had a good care career at Transy. Drew was there. He was there watching the Transy Pioneers play. So they got a win at Hanover next week, and I think they host a first round game in the. Their conference tournament. So maybe we can rally the troops, Billy. We can all go watch them play in the conference tournament.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, let's do it.

[Billy Rutledge]

Because Matt will go. Matt's a trancy grad, for crying out loud.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, he should have been there tonight.

[Billy Rutledge]

Well, he had other things to do in Austin, Texas.

[Ryan Lemond]

Like what?

[Billy Rutledge]

Ball game, pre game show. He's doing his NFL. Not his NFL, his ESPN show down there tomorrow morning, I believe, from Dallas, I think. I'm not sure. All right, final segments. Let's line them up, see who we got. Billy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Justin.

[Billy Rutledge]

Justin. Go ahead, Justin.

[C]

Hey, fellas. How you doing this evening?

[Billy Rutledge]

Good. How you doing?

[C]

Doing good. I'm. I'm here in Clay county and it's. It's getting pretty rough in some spots, so just. Just remember everybody here and, you know, all throughout eastern Kentucky this evening.

[Billy Rutledge]

Now, did. Were the reports right? Has somebody already died in Clay county from the flooding?

[C]

Yeah, there was one older man they found this evening, so. Yeah, not him personally. No one. One thing about the game. Just that last inbound where Kobe Braya missed the ball and he was just, you know, complaining while the other team had the ball. That was probably the most frustrating time I had watching the game this evening.

[Billy Rutledge]

Well, I appreciate Justin, and please stay safe down there in Clay County. Yeah, I think that's one thing that really frustrated Coach Pope is that, like, mentally they just checked out when they, when they were starting to collapse, they. Instead of answering the bell, so to speak, they hit the canvas and just didn't respond the way you would when you're in a rock fight with somebody. You know what I mean?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, no, absolutely. You know, and nothing embodied that more than that inbounds pass that went.

[Billy Rutledge]

Yep. Justin Droit. All right, who's our next caller?

[Ryan Lemond]

Michael.

[Billy Rutledge]

Michael, go ahead, Michael. Michael, are you there?

[C]

I'm here.

[Billy Rutledge]

All right, go ahead, buddy. What you got?

[C]

How you doing?

[Billy Rutledge]

Good. How you doing, Michael?

[C]

Not too bad. Hey, you know what? You know, you know, the freshman played really well, and I know they made some mistakes, but I really think the upperclassmen kind of failed the freshman today. You know, Braya, you know, not making a shot, just it, it. It's just. It's just beyond fathomable that I, that I saw that today. And you know, Amari Williams, he just left everything out on the floor and it was just frustrating to know that all they had to do is just execute the small things and we would have won that game.

[Billy Rutledge]

I appreciate it, man. Yeah, thank you very much for the phone call. The thing about Kobe that's frustrating is that this is not the first time, you know, if he had been having a great season, everybody has an off shooting night. Everybody gets covered up. Maybe he wasn't feeling well, but this has been something, Billy, that we've seen throughout the season.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yep. But you can't blame it all on him. Right? I mean, 10 second half turnovers when you only had 10 assists for the game is. Is unacceptable as well. And. But yeah, I mean, as somebody that was called the best shooter in the portal and. And has had games where he has completely carried this team, you just simply can't go. Oh, of six.

[Billy Rutledge]

All right, this is what I was looking for. Corey Price. Go, Mr. Stack. Guy, put this out there. Kentucky is two and four in games in which it makes seven or fewer threes. Okay. Okay. Brea is eight for 35 from three in those six games, and he's 11 of 31 in UK's eight losses.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Billy Rutledge]

So, you know, Drew has been saying it for a month. You know, if Coral, Kobe Bray hit shots, this team's a better team. It's as simple as that. He has to hit shots.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, but I'm with you. When Amari hit that step back three and Tom and Goose were yelling about it, I thought it may have been Kentucky's night, but I thought it was.

[Billy Rutledge]

I thought, there's no way they're going to lose this Game. When Amari Williams throws one, I mean, he looks like he just kind of threw it. He, like he didn't have his feet set, just kind of threw it up there and it went in. Well, the, the caller, Michaels, talked about the young guys, and I do want to say only one person has had a positive plus minus in the game tonight. Only one Kentucky player had a positive plus minus. You know who it was?

[Ryan Lemond]

Who was that?

[Billy Rutledge]

Trent Noah. At +1 + We had a couple zeros. Let's see here. Who was a zero? Andrew Carr was a zero and Travis Perry was a zero and Trent Noel was a positive one. I don't know. You know what I'm saying? I hear our next call.

[Ryan Lemond]

He's definitely earned his minutes. Let's go to Dave.

[Billy Rutledge]

It's earned, not given. Go ahead, Dave.

[C]

Hey, Ryan, it's awesome to talk to you, man. I really wanted to call during the day show and ask you a question. I'm a relatively new listener to ksr. Why do you guys are giving Matt a hard time about Austin, Texas? What's the story there?

[Billy Rutledge]

Well, we, you know, if you've listened, we're kind of a group of brothers, and, you know, brothers pick on each other. He likes to pick on us about things, so when something comes up we can pick on him about, we kind of jump on it. And a couple years ago, he was going down to Austin because he likes the city. His buddy Josh Hopkins lives down there. He likes going out in Austin. He can kind of be himself, can take his Matt Jones hat off and just be some dude from Kentucky, you know, who's down there visiting. So that's why we kind of give him a hard time about it.

[C]

All right, cool. Well, I was. Thanks. I just wanted to say that, you know, I'm frustrated with the game tonight, but I take comfort in knowing that we have a coach that probably agonizes over this more as much as the fan base. So still going to have the face. Still frustrated, but go Cats.

[Billy Rutledge]

Appreciate Dave. Yeah, I mean, I knew we were gonna have the callers like that, Billy, tonight because it is frustrating. It's just, you saw a team that pretty. I, like, I said, like, I opened the show with, I felt like they were dominating that game and were in control throughout and then just collapsed in the end. Like, I don't know what, what the magic number of minutes they led by, but it seems like they were led for like 30, 40, I mean, 34 minutes and then just didn't lead the final, you know, five minutes. Well, really was Less than that. The final three minutes that they didn't lead.

[Ryan Lemond]

So next week, just flip what you expect to happen. Right. So Kentucky versus Vandy at home. That's a loss. Kentucky at Alabama on Saturday. It looks like a win.

[Billy Rutledge]

They got to be Vandy Wednesday. Mandy's coming in competition. Ryan, they have got to beat Vanderbilt Wednesday. We can't let Shannon the dude have a sweep with his Vanderbilt Commodore.

[Ryan Lemond]

I do have to host a show with a Vandy fan that would.

[Billy Rutledge]

With Mr. Number One Vandy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Remind me every sing, dude. Yeah, I'm sure.

[Billy Rutledge]

All right, we got two more callers. So who we got?

[Ryan Lemond]

Todd.

[Billy Rutledge]

Todd. Go ahead, Todd.

[C]

Hey, guys. Appreciate you taking my call. First off, I'm in lecture county and it's. It's. It's bad here. Wow. It's not in my house, but my road was flooded above me and below me, so kind of been stuck all day.

[Billy Rutledge]

There's. There was a report on Electric county that they had to evacuate a nursing home or something down there. Does that have you hear anything about that?

[C]

Yeah, it. Like I said, I haven't been out, but the nursing home is right below the hospital and they had to evacuate it back in 22. So this didn't get as high today, but I'm saying it probably got in the nursing home. Yeah. From where it's at.

[Billy Rutledge]

Well, well, hang in there, brother. And be sure to help out your. Your neighbors when they think they're going to need it.

[C]

Sure. Absolutely, man. That's what we do as Kentuckians. Just a couple points. The game's completely frustrating. Kind of piggybacking off the guy that said this is Kentucky. I mean, you can just watch like the first five minutes of the game and kind of get a sense of how the game's going. Like, they just, you know what, had five offensive rebounds in two positions. But for a team that doesn't have superstars, we should be the most fundamentally sound team in the country, and we are far from it. Lazy passes, defensive rotations are not there. I mean, we don't even block out. I mean, that's just basic, basic things that win games, win road games, win games when leaders are out and we just have no attention to detail at all. None.

[Billy Rutledge]

Todd, I appreciate it. Yeah, I mean, that's what I think is frustrating for me and a lot of people. The. The. Not boxing out on the free throw and the kind of. The. You know, Billy, they had 10 turnovers in the second half, but it seemed like they were. Everyone was like a. Came at a bad Time like right we needed a bucket or need to make a play. We'd shoot a bad shot or make a bad turnover. It seemed like right.

[Ryan Lemond]

And that would turn into another one. And you just. They couldn't stop that skid. Mark Pope was calling a timeout after every possession. It felt like near the end, just trying to get those guys centered and focused on the present. Right. How many times does he say, be where your feet are? And you know, at times tonight it looked like the. The moment was too big for him. Which against a middle of the road Texas team that's lost four of the last five games, that should not be the case. And that's why I think we're hearing some of these frustrations tonight.

[Billy Rutledge]

You have Lamont Butler. Maybe you don't have those turnovers at the end of the game. Maybe he runs the offense a little more efficient. Maybe he has better sets. Maybe he. Maybe he slows down. Trey Johnson and that the Mark kid in the perimeter, you know, on the defensive end, you know, he may have made us big swing losing by four points. You add him to the game, just him alone may have made a difference. So. And then you got with Jackson, him not in there. So those, you know, the two big, big studs didn't get him. Get off the bench tonight. All right, I think our last caller, who we got. Go ahead, Sam. You're our last caller. Don't make it a good one.

[C]

Hey, thanks so much, guys. Ryan, I'm in Georgetown. It's been coming down for a while and I'm honestly getting pretty nervous thinking that it's going to be kind of like 22 again and. And that makes me really nervous. It makes me really upset for the state of Kentucky as well. But I wanted to bring up a point. When I look at the box score, everyone's talking about Kobe Bray didn't make a field goal. He actually played the most minutes. And I, Amari Williams played 26 minutes with 18 points and 12 rebounds. He's been a massive factor. I feel like in these past few games and I don't think we'd be where we are today without him. But I wanted to get your thoughts on that.

[Billy Rutledge]

I totally agree with you, Sam. Appreciate it. Thanks for the phone call. He's a guy. I know Pope doesn't like to play him a lot of minutes. Tries to protect him and keep him from being fatigued late in the game when you desperately need him. Try to keep him from getting in foul trouble. Trying to get just Brandon Garrison. Some minutes just to you know, rest Amari a little bit and keep him fresh for the end of the game. But I mean, Sam's right. Amare has been a force the last couple games and tonight was another game. He was just stronger than the other guys. Although that their, their guy did have a huge play at the end of the game. Their big guy didn't score a bucket the whole game. And then he gets that offensive rebound and put back there at the end of the game. Had a big defensive play on Amar. I think he had a block shot. But yeah, I hate to think with this team would be without Amari because he is definitely becoming one of the heart and souls of the team, isn't he?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, for sure. Or away, right? I mean, double digits every single game at times. The motor of this team without Lamont Butler or Robinson there. So. And that's a guy that I don't think you expected that from. Right. Coming from Oklahoma.

[Billy Rutledge]

So no way, no way, no way.

[Ryan Lemond]

Away you expect Kamari to be the five but away coming in and just stealing that starting job. I'm sure.

[Billy Rutledge]

And he brings it every night, man. He's not a guy that's going to take it out, take a night off or he's, you know, he's going to bring it every night, play as hard as he can. You know, he's always good for a good poster dunk. But his. What worries me though is his three point shot. His shot seems to have left him a little bit, you know what I mean? Well, that's going to do it. Kentucky loses 82, 78 at Texas. It's a bad loss. I mean it's a. It was a horrible finish. They were up three with like just under three minutes to go and just totally collapsed down the stretch. 14 and 1 over the last three minutes. They got out, scored 141 over the last three minutes and it just ended up being a stinker. That's why we all kind of feel this way tonight. So appreciate all of our callers. Appreciate Billy running the show again. We've talked about it all the entire broadcast, but just keep your thoughts and your prayers for your brothers and sisters that are dealing with flooding conditions tonight. It's going to get worse probably before it gets better. And you know, we saw Kentucky at its best in 22 when people reached out and tried to help some of the flooding areas. It seems like we may need it more this time because it seems to be across the whole state. It's not just in southeastern Kentucky. We heard from people in western Kentucky. We heard from people in Barstown and Frankfort. It seems to be everywhere. So everybody just be safe and be smart and don't try to drive through a flooded street. You know, people do that all the time and it just ends up being a disaster. So just be smart out there. So, Billy, we appreciate it and we hope so we people have some, some better news in the days ahead and these areas that desperately need it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Absolutely thinking about everybody out there and good work tonight, Ryan.

[Billy Rutledge]

You too, my friend. Billy. All right, that'll do it. Kentucky loses Vanderbilt coming on Wednesday. We'll be back. We got a lot. We got a best of KSR show Monday. Are you doing a live pre show? You got a best?

[Ryan Lemond]

No, no. Best of the day after Mark Pope was hired.

[Billy Rutledge]

For both shows.

[Ryan Lemond]

For both shows, yeah.

[Billy Rutledge]

Oh, that's cool. That'll be cool. And then we'll be back live on Tuesday. So for the local toiletries, KSR post game show for Billy, I'm Ryan. Good night. Goodbye. Save on your next oil change at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Choose Castrol Edge full synthetic motor oil to provide maximum performance and protection for your engine gas. Get a $15 gift card after rebate when you buy 5 quarts of Castrol Edge for 34, 95/2 times o rewards points offer valid in store and online at o'reillyauto. Com. O'reilly Auto Parts.