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- [00:00]
Matt Jones
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- [00:28]
Billy Rutledge
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- [00:30]
Matt Jones
Welcome everyone. It is the local toy dealers KSR postgame show that's about as good a game as you will see in college basketball. 106 to 100 both teams in triple digits as the Cats get early morning home victory against Florida. It's only like 2:45 and we're done for the day except for this postgame show. I'll open up the phone lines here in just a few minutes after we finish this first segment. Awesome college basketball game. I mean really as it's. That's one of those, that's one of those high, high level games where both teams played excellent and luckily Kentucky was the team to win and just an awesome environment in Rupp Arena. I mean the as loud as it's been consistently for a game in a long time and a fan base really eager to get a big time victory in the arena and they got it. Kentucky's third top 10 win of the year, which is in and of itself a pretty astounding, astounding sort of stat. And they'll probably get three more chances at it as the years goes on as Tennessee, Alabama and Auburn will all come in at some point this year. First of all, let's just go over kind of big picture the game. I thought after the first 10 minutes of the game that is the best offense that I think I've seen Kentucky play in a long, long time in 30 minutes of action. They scored 82 points in the last, in the last 30 minutes. That's or actually, excuse me, that's not even right. They scored 88 points in the last 30 minutes of action. I mean there are very few games where Kentucky scores 88 points. They did that in 30 minutes. Just an absolute clinic on offense with six different guys in double figures I think. And we'll go over them in a minute. I think the six main players all had massive stretches in the game that if you didn't have any of them. If one of them was not there, Kentucky would have lost. And that is just a credit to how this team is a. Is greater than the sum of its parts. Defensively, I don't think Kentucky played particularly wonderful, but I also don't think it was all on Kentucky. I think Florida was offensively themselves pretty amazing. Those two guards, Walter Clayton Jr. Then Martin, were both terrific and we really didn't have an answer for him. And then you throw in the fact that offensive rebounding, you know, we just got destroyed. They ended up with 17 missed shots where they either got the rebound or got the ball out of bounds. So 17 second chances, which led to 31 points. And to beat them with that stat that just, that's not going to happen very often. So in Kentucky got out, toughed a little bit on the defensive end, but made up for it with excellent offense and creating turnovers. I think Kentucky made up for a lot of their problems rebounding by their turnovers. Florida ended up with nine turnovers, but I think Kentucky converted eight of those nine into buckets. That's. That's how you make it up. And then free throws. Florida got so many calls. I mean, I'm not, you know, I'm not a referee complainer. I don't think it was like unfair, but the referees just decided if you threw yourself into the defender, you were getting the call. And Florida just did that more often than Kentucky. And so they got a lot of free throws. But what I loved about the game is how each of these dudes were individually excellent, except excellent. We'll start with Kobe Bray, obviously, seven threes, you know, we've waited, you know, you knew this game was there. He's still in a. He's been an amazing shooter all year, but to make seven, all of them huge, including a couple where the game had gotten down to three or four points. He hits a three, extends the lead, never gives him a chance to tie the game or take the lead. And man, every time he shoots, it feels like it's in. He doesn't force it. He took one heat check three, and I thought it was in. It kind of went in and out, but it's just an amazing shooting performance by Kobe Braya Lamont Butler had, let's see, he finished with 19 points, but I thought just his defense, even though his man scored a lot, he got a couple of steals. He let got fast breaks out. He made free throws down the stretch. He's kind of sneakily not been a great free throw shooter this year. He Ended up hitting six of seven towards the end of the game when they mattered. He was massive, you know, Jackson Robinson, 14 points. You may have forgotten he was out there, but there were two different stretches where he had five point flurries when they needed baskets. Once in the first half when they were down 11 and then once in the second half he got these little flurries which kept them at one point in the game and and the other point ahead. Then you had Andrew Carr. You know, Andrew obviously hit the three. That pretty much sealed the game. I thought he played pretty poorly a lot of the game. He got switched a lot on those guards. He couldn't guard them. I thought he was getting out muscle down low. But he also then hit the two most important shots. He got the back to the basket layup, he got the three in the corner. That dude. End of games. He has been money this year at the end of games. He has been absolutely excellent. Did it again today. Oh way Kentucky went on three runs. I'd never heard the the phrase. Billy, had you ever heard the phrase kill runs? Have you ever heard.
- [06:30]
Billy Rutledge
No, never heard that. What is that?
- [06:32]
Matt Jones
Never heard the phrase kill runs. But I guess that's in the analytics stat head world. That's a phrase. Basically it means you go on a 10 nothing run. Kentucky went on three different kill runs in the game. A 10, 0, 100 and a 16, 0 run. Here's a little stat for you Billy, from Evan Mikayawa. In college basketball in the last 20 years, if a team goes on three kill runs in a game and doesn't give up one themselves, they're 299 and oh wow, never lost, never lost like Lavar ball. And we did that today. We're now we were number 299, three different kill runs. And all three of those started with an OTEGA away play. He ended up, it looks like with 16 points and I believe 14 of those 16 were at the start of the kill runs. To use the phrase that I guess they use in the analytic community, he really was the spark plug that kind of would get them going on runs that really were the difference in the game. And then finally Amari Williams, a guy who I thought started the game terribly, giving up rebounds, defensive mistakes, thought he was great in the second half, good passing, got a couple big buckets, including one where he did something, you know Billy, I don't like when he dribbles down the lane. But he did that on a play. Finished, I think got an and one on it. He was really excellent in that second half and I thought still wish he gets get his arms up when he's rebounding. But besides that, really, really good game throw in. I thought Brandon Garrison had good moments. ANSLEY Almanor was plus 20 in 10 minutes of action. Not really sure how that happened, but that's a pretty amazing number. Then Travis Perry, Travis Perry got some good minutes and hit a big three. That three he hit was down to a three point game. Perry hits that three kind of stopped a little bit of a run. So I thought that was a big shot as well. So really this is a game where I think everyone on the team can be said to have contributed to the victory. I also want to give a shout out to the big blue nation. Dan Schulman, who is the play by play announcer that you've everyone listening knows his voice. He did the game today. He's been doing games for 25 years. Does a lot of the games with with Billis, he tweeted after the game. Now this is a guy who does major League baseball, he does the NFL and he's done college basketball. He said in 30 years of games that it was one of the five best combinations of environment game that he's ever been in. That's pretty strong words from a guy who goes all over the country, gets the best game every day. And he says that about Rupp arena. And it was, he's correct, that was Rupp arena at its best. It was 11:00am game, guys, 11:00am I mean KSR would only be halfway through on a regular day. It's 11am and Rupp arena was like it would be for a 9 o'clock tip in prime time. That is a credit to that crowd. The Rupp crowd gets a lot of criticism. Some of it deserved, some of it probably hyperbole. But when it's at its best you get nights like tonight and tonight it was edits or today it was at its absolute best. Big shout out to the atmosphere, big shout out to the fans that were there. You know I was at the bar, we started our pregame show at 8:30. It got full right at 9 and you just had a sense it was going to be a good crowd. And I'm told the place was packed 10 minutes before the game. That's how you know it's going to be a great environment. And finally, you know, it feels kind of apropos to talk about this now because we just finished winning this game against Florida. On my TV screen right now, Tennessee is playing Arkansas. Arkansas's down, looks like 18 with eight minutes to go and you know, starting probably now going forward. This is all going to be about this year with the exception of February 1st, obviously when Arkansas comes to town. But there were a lot of people last year that kind of thought. Man, if we make a change, we'll set our program back. We'll never be able to be Kentucky. Kentucky basketball will, will move in a reverse manner. I hope that today, if the Duke win didn't dispel that, if the Gonzaga win didn't dispel that, I hope today dispels that. I think this fan base is totally unified behind Mark Pope. But I also think it's worth remembering something that older fans have said for years. Kentucky basketball is not about any coach. It wasn't about Rupp, it wasn't about hall, it wasn't about Sutton, it wasn't. It wasn't about Pitino, it wasn't about Tubby, it wasn't about Gillespie, it wasn't about Cal, and it's not about Pope. It's about the history, it's not even about the players, it's about the fans and it's about the state. And that is bigger than any player, than any coach, any radio announcer, any anything. Kentucky basketball is its own major thing and today is an example of what I mean today is Kentucky basketball at its best. An arena filled with people who are watching a well coached team that can go into a timeout, come out and run a play, that gets an open three, that can win the game. A team where the sum of the tot, the totality, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. None of these players individually are great. I don't know that any of them will play in the NBA. But as a unit they are significantly better than their individual pieces. And they are fun to watch and you know, they care about the name on the front. All of them are making money, all of them are getting paid. And yet this is as exciting as the teams in the so called good old days because they love being here and they make this fan base feel special. And that's what Kentucky basketball is. So as I watch us win a game, 106 to 100, a well played game, up and down the floor at the pace that Kentucky likes, with excitement and fun and with one of us coaching on the sidelines and getting the victory, and I compare it to a 60 to 42 game I'm watching that I've watched a lot over the last few years. I think Kentucky basketball did exactly what it should have done. Is the in the Place that we all wanted it to be. 859-28-0-2287. We will open up the phones, take your calls. I know you guys are excited about it. Usually these, like, Saturday afternoon post game shows are the ones, you know, people might want to go outside before the snowstorm. So usually it's a time to get in, but this is a big win. So it may be kind of crowded, but hopefully you can get in. We'll take your calls and be right back. It is the local toy dealers KSR postgame show. Welcome back. It is the Local Toy Dealers KSR postgame show. 859-280-2287. The text machine is 772-774-5254. Let's read a couple questions coming in. One person writes, Matt, there are a couple moments I thought the arena would explode. I think it did explode some, didn't it, Billy? I mean, I thought there were some loud, loud cheers.
- [14:58]
Billy Rutledge
Seemed like a good crowd.
- [14:59]
Matt Jones
Yeah, you know, I got a little nervous during the game, Billy. I, you know, I did the thing. Sometimes when we're at home and it's a close game, almost listening to the crowd be silent makes me nervous. Does that sound weird?
- [15:16]
Billy Rutledge
A little, but yeah. Continue.
- [15:17]
Matt Jones
Well, I didn't ask you, actually. I guess you did, but. So I'll mute the game during those periods. Okay, so I did that. But, you know, games like today, I have to be honest with you, Billy. I feel like I played at the end.
- [15:31]
Billy Rutledge
Are you just spent? I'm spent, yeah.
- [15:35]
Matt Jones
I'm spent at the end. I feel like I played, you know, when there were a couple threes that when they went in, I felt like I'd hit them. You know, the Brea three, the Butler three coming out of the timeout, that.
- [15:50]
Billy Rutledge
Was a big one.
- [15:50]
Matt Jones
And then the Car three, I felt like I hit all of them.
- [15:56]
Billy Rutledge
I do, I do appreciate the practice and you're welcome, the clutch gene, but.
- [16:01]
Matt Jones
I do, at the end sometimes feel like emotionally I'm spent from the game. One person writes, Matt, what did you think about the fact that Ron DeSantis was on the front row? Well, you know, anytime there's a notable person at a game, I think that's, that's cool. I, I don't care so much about, like, you know, he's, he's a Republican politician. I mean, I'd feel the same way if it was a Democrat politician. I'm glad to have him at the game. I don't know if I like having the Florida fan, though, Billy, in the seats next to the Kentucky bench. You know what I mean? It's not about him being the. It's just about, like, I don't want him putting his. His gator voodoo on it.
- [16:45]
Billy Rutledge
I doubt he was making noise and. And getting into the ear of the Kentucky.
- [16:49]
Matt Jones
Do that thing, though, that. That Chris Christie did. The governor. He puts his name on his jacket. Did you see that?
- [16:56]
Billy Rutledge
I did not see that.
- [16:58]
Matt Jones
Santa's governor on the front of his jacket.
- [17:00]
Billy Rutledge
Is that a lame move?
- [17:02]
Matt Jones
Well, yeah, I think. But then again, someone bought me. You remember when I talked about Chris Christie doing it, Somebody bought me a jacket that just said, matt Jones, radio host.
- [17:14]
Billy Rutledge
Have you wore that at all?
- [17:15]
Caller
No.
- [17:16]
Matt Jones
I mean, I think I wore it once as a joke, but it's just an odd thing to have your name on the front of your jacket, don't you think?
- [17:22]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah, maybe.
- [17:23]
Matt Jones
Would you get a jacket that said Billy?
- [17:25]
Billy Rutledge
Oh, I sure would. Yeah.
- [17:27]
Matt Jones
Radio host.
- [17:28]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah, I would. It's all about what you would wear. Oh, yeah. I mean, shirts.
- [17:35]
Matt Jones
Yeah. But that's kind of making fun of you. I don't know. So, no, I didn't have any problem with him being at the game. I think anyone that's in an official role should come to the Kentucky games. I'm totally good with that. I just don't know if I'd put him right next to our bench, but other than that, I thought it was fine. All right, who's up first?
- [17:52]
Billy Rutledge
Andrew.
- [17:53]
Matt Jones
Andrew. Go ahead, Andrew.
- [17:57]
Caller
What's up, Matt? So I'm from Knoxville, and I literally just walked out of Thompson Bowling. Well, Food City arena, whatever. And I was close to Caliperi today, and he just looks defeated. And after watching Kentucky win, you know, I listened to Tom Leach towards the end. And watching the madness that was going on in Knoxville today, I'm 26, so all I've known is Caliperi, and I admittedly was sad to see him go, and I didn't know how Pope was going to turn out, but today it finally turned around for me that this is the future Caliperius chalked.
- [18:44]
Matt Jones
Let me ask you a question. When you say. When you say it's today, that was the day. And just be honest, were you one of the people last year who was like, we need to bring him back? I mean, were you in that and then and now you've changed your mind, or did you change your mind before that? When did that happen?
- [19:05]
Caller
Well, truly, if I'm being dead honest, I didn't know because, like, all my life, I've heard my dad Talk about Rick Patino, Toby, all these national championships and all I've seen is Cal. So it's like he was the standard to me. So it's like, what's now? What's next?
- [19:22]
Matt Jones
Yeah.
- [19:23]
Caller
So today was just, just, I mean, what a day. And also, I mean, Tennessee fans are the worst. Sad to see him win, but I can't wait to see him to wrap. They are good, but appreciate the call.
- [19:36]
Matt Jones
I appreciate the call. Yeah. You know, that fresh energy is great. Cal's jacket is hideous. Billy.
- [19:44]
Billy Rutledge
Like, I got to go look this up.
- [19:47]
Matt Jones
It's. It's awful. It looks like a picnic table. The red. I. I don't know. If you coached Arkansas, would you feel the desire that you have to wear red?
- [19:59]
Billy Rutledge
Oh, yeah, he feels like he has to.
- [20:01]
Matt Jones
Can't you just wear a dark suit though? Like, why can't you just wear a dark. Do you have to actually wear red to every game? I mean, Kentucky coaches don't wear blue to every game.
- [20:10]
Billy Rutledge
No, that's true.
- [20:11]
Matt Jones
Why do you have to wear red? Certainly don't have to wear what he's got on today.
- [20:15]
Billy Rutledge
Well, he's trying to ingrain himself with the fan base. Right. They got the slobbering hog out there. He's wearing red.
- [20:20]
Matt Jones
They're losing by 20. Who's up next?
- [20:23]
Billy Rutledge
Josh is next.
- [20:24]
Matt Jones
Josh. Go ahead, Josh.
- [20:26]
Caller
First time, long time.
- [20:27]
Matt Jones
Who are. What's up?
- [20:30]
Caller
Not much. Me and my son went to the game. We went to the pre show with you guys and what was it like inside?
- [20:35]
Matt Jones
What was it like inside?
- [20:38]
Caller
It was so loud. Everybody was on their feet, everybody was cheering, they were booing the Florida fans and it was just a great atmosphere overall.
- [20:48]
Matt Jones
Well, that's awesome. I mean, for an 11 o'clock start I was kind of worried, but the fans brought it for sure.
- [20:56]
Caller
Yes, sir, they did. We had so much fun and wanted to say thank you for all you guys do and we had a blast pregame show.
- [21:04]
Matt Jones
Well, thank you for coming by the bar. You guys have a safe trip home, okay?
- [21:08]
Caller
Yes, sir. Thank you.
- [21:09]
Matt Jones
Thank you. Appreciate it. By the way, we were going to have Otega away at the bar tomorrow for signing because of the weather, we're going to postpone that. We'll probably do it sometime middle of next week. So keep that in mind. We're going to have. Because I know some of you all want to get all the players. We're going to try to have them all the main guys at the bar at some time during the season, but because of the weather tomorrow, we will it was going to be tomorrow. We're going to postpone it away, you know, for sometime in the next 10 days or so. Who's, who's up next?
- [21:42]
Billy Rutledge
Jordan.
- [21:43]
Matt Jones
Jordan. Go ahead, Jordan.
- [21:46]
Caller
Hey, Matt. First time, long time.
- [21:48]
Matt Jones
Who are, hey.
- [21:51]
Caller
So took my two boys, my wife, first time we've been as a, as a whole family to a game. Before the game we were able to go down on the floor, have some good friends, have really great seats. The scorekeeper actually let my 8 year old Hudson hold the game ball and Hudson was able to kind of bless the game ball a little bit. We've been shooting the ball a little poorly, so I think, I think Hudson.
- [22:15]
Matt Jones
Well, you got to get Hudson in the next little bit. He did a good job blessing the game ball. We shot 48% from three. Now you got to get him to put a curse on the other team shooting the ball because they still made a lot.
- [22:28]
Caller
Well, we did one thing. We'll work on the other next time but you know, anytime we need to come back and do that again, the balls in, in UK's court, if you want to put that out there.
- [22:38]
Matt Jones
You know what, I'll pass on the message. They need to have you there in order to have a shoot.
- [22:42]
Caller
Well, it was an awesome atmosphere. My kids had such a great time. We stayed after the game. Kobe brass stayed and he was still signing. We got a ball sign and Pope signed. It was just, it's, it's just, it's just awesome. So appreciate everything.
- [22:56]
Matt Jones
It is awesome.
- [22:57]
Caller
All these players, the coaches and whatnot.
- [22:59]
Matt Jones
Glad you enjoyed the game. Appreciate the call. Walter Clayton Jr. Billy. I'll be glad when he's gone.
- [23:04]
Billy Rutledge
Good grief, man, he's good.
- [23:07]
Matt Jones
That shot he hit, we, we were up 11 and it looked like we had basically they were done and he had a contested three and I think it was either Butler, Braya was right in his face and he still made it and they kind of stayed in the game from that play. That dude is unbelievable. And then the other guy, Martin, he had the Florida Atlantic transfer. He was amazing too.
- [23:30]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah, Martin had 26. Clayton. I, I, I do want to commend Butler. Even though he scored 33, he was tired at the end of the game. Missed those two free throw shorts and he missed an.
- [23:40]
Matt Jones
I think what they think it was a seven point game like two and a half minutes to go and Clayton had a wide open three and he left it short. And I agree with you Billy. I thought he was tired. Normally that would be, that would be in and I thought he was tired and I thought you could see this sort of, you know, what they were able to do to him defensively. And I do want to give a shout out to our guy, Travis Perry. I mean, he allowed Butler to get rest, but we played 31 minutes. I think Perry had like eight or nine, but that allowed him, you know, we didn't have a drop off. I think we even were plus points in the minutes Perry was in. So there's been a drop off at that position since Kerr got hurt, and tonight there really wasn't. Who's next?
- [24:21]
Billy Rutledge
Florida. Man.
- [24:22]
Matt Jones
Florida, man. How are you?
- [24:26]
Caller
Hey, Matt. I'm originally from Henry county, but I live down here in Florida now. I just wanted to tell you that the game has been all the talk down here for the last week or two, ever since they played a bowl game. I live in Tampa and that's where they played their bowl game for football. And ever since then, all the talk has been this Kentucky game, and that's all they've cared about. So I just wanted to let everyone know that this was their super bowl. And just like every other Kentucky game, we brought the heat and. Go Cats.
- [24:58]
Matt Jones
Go Cats. Well, they're. They're good now. I mean, I'm glad we're not playing down there. You know, we. We've played them twice a year for as long as I can remember. I mean, we've probably played them twice a year. I don't know, for 75 years in a row. I mean, we played them when it was the east and West. We played them twice a year. And then when we went to the rotating schedule, if you remember, it used to be you had three permanent opponents and that you played twice a year. And for ours it was. It was Tennessee, Vandy and Florida. And this year it's Tennessee, Vandy and Alabama because now Texas and Oklahoma in the conference. So this is the first year we haven't played Florida twice. Billy, it's got to be in 75 years.
- [25:47]
Billy Rutledge
That seems like a long time.
- [25:49]
Matt Jones
I mean, I don't know when we wouldn't have played them twice because the SEC used to play every team twice. And then it went to the east and the west and we were in the east with them. And then we went to the schedule. It's been the last 10 years or so, and we played them twice. So this is probably the first time we've played, not played them twice in who knows how long we went. But I'm glad we're not playing them again because I think if we played in Gainesville, we might lose.
- [26:12]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah.
- [26:12]
Matt Jones
Good year to do, right? I mean, they're good. So. So might see them in the SEC tournament. We'll see who's next.
- [26:19]
Billy Rutledge
Ryan.
- [26:20]
Matt Jones
Ryan. Ryan. Go ahead.
- [26:21]
Caller
Ryan was. Matt. Great day, great game. But I got a bone to pick with somebody.
- [26:26]
Matt Jones
All right.
- [26:27]
Caller
That guy that called in last week and said that stupid mess about y'all talking about Cal. Here's the deal. Yalls job is to talk about the overall storyline of the program.
- [26:39]
Matt Jones
Yes.
- [26:40]
Caller
And he's a part of the storyline of the program. And secondly, your personality is part of the show. That's like going to Applebee's and complaining that it's not Buffalo Wild Wing. Go where you like it and don't ask the place that you don't like to change to what you like. Have a nice day.
- [26:57]
Matt Jones
Appreciate the call. I generally agree with you. I mean, every. In future years, the cow conversation will get less and less. That's just going to be the nature of it. Pope will. It'll be about Pope. You know, I remember the first year that Cal was here. We compared Cal to Gillespie all the time. And Cal won that comparison very easily. That's going to happen. But I mean, look at today. We play Florida at home. It's 106 to 100, and then right after the game is over, Tennessee, Arkansas comes on and it's 76, 52 can. Arkansas is going to lose by 24 and scored 52 points like Billy. How are you not going to note that?
- [27:44]
Billy Rutledge
No, you are.
- [27:45]
Matt Jones
You're going to. Now, that doesn't mean we're going to beat Tennessee and Knoxville. I bet we don't. But I bet we score more than 52.
- [27:52]
Billy Rutledge
52.
- [27:54]
Matt Jones
52. Who's next?
- [27:57]
Billy Rutledge
Tristan.
- [27:58]
Matt Jones
Tristan. What's up, Tristan?
- [28:00]
Caller
Good afternoon, gentlemen.
- [28:01]
Matt Jones
Good afternoon.
- [28:03]
Caller
So I despise Florida the most. So games like this are basically spiritual healing. I was there. It was an incredible environment. The fans chanted at the rest, specifically three different times.
- [28:16]
Matt Jones
That was the loudest ref, you suck chant I've ever heard. At the end. Like when they called that right at the end. I can't remember the last time I've heard one louder than that.
- [28:28]
Caller
Yep. Well, you know. No, I forgot. The second thing I was going to say was, hope you have a great day.
- [28:35]
Matt Jones
Well, thank you.
- [28:36]
Caller
Yeah.
- [28:36]
Matt Jones
I mean, what do you think about the refs? I thought. I thought they bailed them out a lot at calls at the rim.
- [28:43]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah, there was. There was definitely a couple phantom calls. One on Garrison. That was egregious.
- [28:48]
Matt Jones
Yeah, well, that One? Yeah, that one on Garrison. They called it so late that I thought it was on the second shot.
- [28:55]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah.
- [28:56]
Matt Jones
No, I'm serious.
- [28:57]
Billy Rutledge
I know what you're talking.
- [28:58]
Matt Jones
Because again, I had it on mute because, you know, I was playing and I was nervous. I needed to focus, tune out the crowd. I didn't hear the whistle because I had it on mute. So I went into the break thinking they called it on the rebound. I couldn't believe they called it on the initial shot because I went back and listened. He blew the whistle after the second guy had shot it.
- [29:22]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah. Just one of the many calls that you could question today.
- [29:25]
Matt Jones
I didn't under. I felt like they bailed him out a lot with, like, late whistles. But honestly, on a couple of those. Billy, it was probably a blessing because we put the dude with the. The haircut that all the country singers have now.
- [29:39]
Billy Rutledge
Oh, yeah.
- [29:40]
Matt Jones
You know what I'm talking about.
- [29:41]
Billy Rutledge
I do. It was like, cousin has that.
- [29:43]
Matt Jones
Has that haircut, and I think it works on him. But I think a lot of these goobers that try to copy it, I don't think it works on them. I think the guy in Florida, he just looks like, well, he needs to not have that haircut. But we put him on the line and he missed a bunch of free throws down the stretch. And so I actually. I think some of those fouls might have helped us, honestly, because he would. He missed so many free throws. Who's next?
- [30:08]
Billy Rutledge
Ray is next.
- [30:09]
Matt Jones
Ray. What's up, Ray?
- [30:12]
Caller
Hey, Matt. Was. Was that the best 11am game of all time or what?
- [30:16]
Matt Jones
Yeah, listen, that's one of the better noon crowd. I mean, you know, we've had crowds louder than that, but it's. It's almost always a night game. I can't remember a crowd that good. I mean, we've never had an 11am game, but I don't remember crowds that good for a noon game ever.
- [30:39]
Caller
We complain about the early games, but the best game I've ever been to at RUP was a noon game. And that was that North Carolina versus.
- [30:47]
Matt Jones
Kentucky game, wasn't it? I forgot that was a noon game. Yeah, yeah, that was a noon game. And that was a great crowd, too. You're right.
- [30:57]
Caller
Matt. I'm so proud of Amari Williams. He started off, he was making bonehead mistakes.
- [31:03]
Matt Jones
Yeah, he was in the way.
- [31:05]
Caller
He finished 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists. What a line for a center like him.
- [31:12]
Matt Jones
Totally right. And I appreciate the call. Amari Williams probably frustrates me more than anyone else on the team. Because the main reason, well, two, I don't like when he dribbles, but secondly, he doesn't put his arms up. He doesn't rebound with his arms up in the air. And he doesn't always play defense with his arms in the air. And that frustrates me. And I was very frustrated with him at the beginning. He gave up two easy baskets because he didn't rebound. And then he turned it over and I thought, well, he's going to be bad this game. But then he went to the bench. Pope took team Pope took him to the bench early. Once he came back in, he was great the rest of the day really was. What take aside those last few minutes, that's the best I've seen Amari Williams play maybe this year outside of those first few minutes. Mississippi State, by the way, who we play next Saturday night at 8:30 on the road is up 30 on South Carolina right now. Wow.
- [32:11]
Billy Rutledge
Okay.
- [32:11]
Matt Jones
50 to 21. Mississippi State's good. By the way, Pope said this in the app in the post game and he's right, obviously. Florida was second in the country in half court defense. Second in the country in half court defense. And we scored 106 on them, most of which were in the half court. So that's pretty good. Let's do one more. We'll take a break. Who's next?
- [32:36]
Billy Rutledge
Charlie.
- [32:37]
Matt Jones
Charlie. Go ahead, Charlie. Hey.
- [32:41]
Caller
I think that their crowd being so old, I think that 11 o'clock time slots perfect to get the early bird breakfast and it's pre nap. I think that's why the game went so well, you know?
- [32:51]
Matt Jones
Is that what it is? That's an interesting point because like I wondered if we'd have people at the pregame show because it was so early and you're right, they all came and ate breakfast. You're exactly right. Maybe this is prime time for the RUP crowd.
- [33:05]
Caller
But my only worry is the rebounding. It's still, still initial worry.
- [33:08]
Matt Jones
Yeah, no, it's a worry. I appreciate the call. It is a worry. They we got, I mean, 31 second chance points. You're not gonna win. I'm not gonna say you're never gonna win because we won, but you're not gonna win a lot giving up that many. I didn't think about that. Billy. This is prime time for the older fans.
- [33:26]
Billy Rutledge
It really is the perfect call.
- [33:28]
Matt Jones
I mean, they go to the game.
- [33:29]
Billy Rutledge
They got their biscuits and gravy game.
- [33:31]
Matt Jones
Show, go to Shoney's at 4 o'clock for the get a. What is it? Happy hour. You know, early bird special in bed by 6:15.
- [33:41]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah, that's it. That's the formula.
- [33:43]
Matt Jones
You know what? 11:00am Every week. Actually don't.
- [33:48]
Billy Rutledge
That's a little early for us because.
- [33:49]
Matt Jones
It'S 11am is not good for the restaurant. Like it's, we need it later in the day. But that's okay because we won and it was fun. 859-280-2287 we're going to take a break. Be right back. It's the local toy dealers KSR Post Game show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR post Game show. Matt Norlander just tweeted out. Kentucky scored 1.47 points per possession today. Florida had 1.39. I don't know if you guys are like analytic folks, but those are insanely high numbers. I mean 1.47 is crazy high for any team, but especially against a top 10 team. And then 1.39 that Florida got will win you 99% of games. Norlander's comment is. And he's one of those. And I like, Matt's a friend of mine, but he's one of those kind of nerdy analytic guys. He said Kentucky and Florida combined for 206 points in a top 10 matchup. Kentucky shot 1.447 points, Florida 1.39. Absolute lava. There's a very good chance we don't see a more efficient offensive game between two high major teams for the rest of the season. It's pretty good, Billy.
- [35:08]
Billy Rutledge
That's impressive. Kentucky.
- [35:10]
Matt Jones
How many times do you see two teams from a major conference play and they Both score over 100 points?
- [35:15]
Billy Rutledge
Not in college basketball or.
- [35:18]
Matt Jones
You see that. Well, think about the Duke, Kentucky NCAA tournament game. It's like what, 104, 103 or something. That was in overtime. How many, how many games do you remember where both teams score over 100 in college basketball in regulation without in regulation? That just doesn't happen. Maybe Corey Price, if he's listening, can tell me even the last time it's happened in a Kentucky game. I mean, probably happened once or twice during Cal era, but probably not much. You probably have to go back to the Patino era when we were shooting a million threes to see it happen a lot. I can't off the top of my head think of one, although I'm sure it's happened. It doesn't happen very much. Who's next? Robert? Robert. Go ahead, Robert.
- [36:03]
Caller
Hey, Matt. The young man that blessed the ball today, I think we need to keep him on speed. Dial for these Adidas balls and Wilson.
- [36:11]
Matt Jones
Balls and stuff like that, right? Yes. Take them when we play at Auburn or one of those games. Yeah, that is correct.
- [36:18]
Caller
And then number two, you're missing it at the bar. You do breakfast, then you get the early birds right after it. And then you can have your bar crowded night. You can hit the trifecta that day.
- [36:27]
Matt Jones
Yeah, we don't, we don't, we don't usually get a late bar crowd because we're more of a family place. But. But I get it. We got the Bengals tonight. That'll help some. But we like 4 o'clock games. That's like perfect. But you know what? For the early birds, this is perfect.
- [36:43]
Caller
And I'll give you a shot. I'm in Northern Kentucky. I'll give you who day.
- [36:47]
Matt Jones
Well, I hope they win tonight. Who dat Go. I appreciate the call. Go Bengals. I mean if they win tonight, then they gotta have a couple things happen for them tomorrow. But it's plausible. They need what they need Kansas City to beat Denver.
- [36:58]
Billy Rutledge
Yes. And Miami City's playing there.
- [37:01]
Matt Jones
Kansas playing the reserves though. Right. But still a lot of pride with that Chiefs organization. And then who does, who does Miami play?
- [37:10]
Billy Rutledge
I'm not sure I'm looking that up.
- [37:15]
Matt Jones
They play somebody they could lose to.
- [37:17]
Billy Rutledge
Jets at the Jets.
- [37:19]
Matt Jones
But like. Okay, so it's going to be Aaron Rodgers last game, right?
- [37:22]
Billy Rutledge
That's what they said.
- [37:23]
Matt Jones
So he doesn't want to go out. You know, he doesn't want to start his Joe Rogan podcast with off a loss.
- [37:29]
Billy Rutledge
His VP nominated.
- [37:31]
Matt Jones
Yeah. This is the only time in my life I've ever rooted for Aaron Rodgers. You know, I, I rooted against him. Every game in Green Bay is a Bears fan. So tomorrow the Bengals win. Let's go. Go Aaron. Who needs facts? What's next?
- [37:47]
Billy Rutledge
Gary in Orlando.
- [37:49]
Matt Jones
Gary in Orlando. What's up?
- [37:52]
Caller
Hey, Matt, Great to talk to you.
- [37:55]
Matt Jones
Good talking to you.
- [37:55]
Caller
Segment of yours was. I'm doing great, buddy. They. That first segment of yours was as good as you've ever had, buddy. That was a award winning first segment. Thank you very much.
- [38:06]
Matt Jones
Well, thank you.
- [38:07]
Caller
And all I could. All I can say is it's, it's great to be a cat fan in Florida today because maybe they'll shut up for a while.
- [38:16]
Matt Jones
Yeah, you know, I mean we always talk about when you live in a state, Kentucky beats the team in that state. It's extra special.
- [38:26]
Caller
Yes, it is. It's. It's. What I was going to say was if I find the Gator out tonight, And. And down here where I live, I'll have to go to the zoo. Have a great night, man.
- [38:37]
Matt Jones
All right. I appreciate the. Appreciate the call. I want to talk trash to Florida, but they are good. I mean, that team's good. We could easily lost that game. We had to have a great performance. Now they had to have a great performance, too. They had a couple dudes, you know, going crazy, but they're good. And they, you know, their bigs didn't play as well as they normally play, so. Although they did hit the glass a lot. But their bigs, couple of bigs are more talented than what we even saw tonight. Bad haircut guy being one of them. Who's next?
- [39:06]
Billy Rutledge
Fox.
- [39:06]
Matt Jones
Fox. Go ahead, Fox.
- [39:09]
Caller
Hey, man. I just want to recognize how important is on inbounds plays on half, half court and full court to get the ball in and have run a good play without being stressed to try to get a shot up. I mean, that played a very important part in the game of crucial points that kept.
- [39:31]
Matt Jones
Well, let's talk about those two plays for a second, because I want to get to your point, Fox. Hang on. Because I want you to be able to comment. All right. So two plays at the end of the game, 3 seconds left on the shot clock. Both times, first time, Pope calls timeout. Second time, it's an under 4 TV timeout. He comes out, and Pope talked about this after the game. I love listening to him talk about basketball because he talks about it. He doesn't say, you see what I did? See what I did? He, like, tells you what he did, right? He said, first play, Florida plays a defense. He named it. I don't even know. I can't remember what he said. But he said, they switch everything. And he said, you can take advantage of that. But when there's only a handful of seconds on the shot clock, it's really hard. And he said, so it's really hard against the inbound. We knew they were going to do that. He said, we ran the first time a play a little lob so Garrison could get a hook. You may remember Fox, he missed it, but it was a good shot. It was right there under the basket. And then the next time they run that play and we get the Butler.
- [40:30]
Caller
And got Butler in the corner, we.
- [40:31]
Matt Jones
Got Butler in the three open. Both plays got really good shots. We made one, we missed one. But in both situations, we didn't waste a possession and just throw it up. We got a really good shot. And it was because a coach recognized the defense the team is in tried to get something that he thought would play off of it. He said Butler coming off the inbound is the best thing to do against a team that switches so much because the inbounder won't have time to get there. And he didn't. And he got the three, and he ended up being a huge shot.
- [41:07]
Caller
Exactly. I mean, and I mean, it's the little things like that. It wins games. I mean, it's. It's not, you know, big. I mean, big runs plays a part, but little things like that, it just keeps the momentum going that wins you games.
- [41:21]
Matt Jones
You're exactly right. I appreciate the call. I mean, those are. You go back. Tubby Smith was great at inbounds plays. Tom Izzo is great at it. We've watched Rick Barnes at Tennessee is great at it. We've watched these teams just kill us at it. And now we got a guy that's great at it. And in two major possessions, again, we missed one, but that was a great look Garrison got. And then Butler wide open. Probably the biggest shot of the game was that three coming out of the timeout. Who's next?
- [41:53]
Billy Rutledge
Jared.
- [41:54]
Matt Jones
Jared. Go ahead, Jared.
- [41:57]
Caller
Hey, two quick things, Matt, and I'll hang up and listen. First. I don't think anybody will confuse this team for a great defensive team at any point, but what they do that I love, they play at a pace that in the second half, teams don't have their legs. Duke really didn't have it. Gonzaga, they affected them, too. And even Florida, that wants to play fast, they had guys missing free throws shortened, you know, some short shots in the second half. So I think that bodes really well come March when you're playing on short rest.
- [42:31]
Matt Jones
I think that's a really great point. Like, a really great point. And you're exactly right. And. And even Ohio State was like that, too. It's just we weren't close enough that it mattered. You know what I mean? You're exactly right about that. They. They. It's something I need to remember watching these games because sometimes I get frustrated at the beginning. One of the things I need to remember is you're right. We've now seen in the. Duke, Gonzaga, this game, even go to the Louisville game at the end. These guys on the other team, they kind of don't have their legs a little bit in those last three or four minutes. And I think you're right. It's because of the pace we play, and it's because Pope does a good job of. Even though it frustrates us sometimes, stealing minutes with these other guys that allows his players to be fresh at the end.
- [43:19]
Caller
Absolutely. And just, just second real quick. It just makes me laugh a little bit. Arkansas thought for sure they got such an upgrade with Cal. They've been a game from the final Four a couple times in the last five years. So.
- [43:34]
Matt Jones
Yeah, I didn't know what. I never understood why they didn't like Muscleman. I mean, Muscleman, like he was good. He was good there. I know they had kind of a blow up last year, but still he was good there. But. And I appreciate the call. I agree. I think the best summary of the situation on all that was what Drew said a couple months ago when this topic came up. I didn't know if Cal would do well at Arkansas or not. You know, they're 11 and three. They got crushed today. I don't think they're very good, but it wouldn't shock me if they're okay. Boogie Flynn is really good addition. Good. But Drew said, and I think Drew is right. I don't know if Cal do well at Arkansas, but I know he wouldn't have done well here again. And I totally agree with that. Whatever he does there, it wasn't going to happen here. This was. This was over. And you see something much fresher and exciting right now. Let's do one more and we'll take our final break. Who's next?
- [44:44]
Billy Rutledge
Emma.
- [44:45]
Matt Jones
Emma. Go ahead, Emma.
- [44:47]
Caller
Hey, Matt. This is Emma's dad. She totally chickened out on me.
- [44:51]
Matt Jones
That's all right. It happens. Billy's nerve wracking.
- [44:54]
Caller
Two things. Two things. We had the opportunity to go the game tonight and we said kind of in the top, but two things it was great to see. One is the spacing of the floor and the ability that our guys have to, you know, to either back cut or to get open and different things. It's so much better than having two in there to where it clogs it up. It's just modern basketball, you know, that's the first thing. And then the second thing, we had a couple calls that didn't go our way, which happens in every game. But in the past, Cal would go multiple possessions, yelling and screaming at the referees and totally forget to coach. And now Pope may say something, but he goes right back to coaching. And our guys, our guys just don't lose anything when they continue to go. So he doesn't get affected by anything that goes on. He's a. He's a great model for how to keep your emotions in check. And you can see that on Our guys.
- [45:50]
Matt Jones
I think that's another great point. I mean, how many times have you seen a referee go back and switch a play like it doesn't happen? You know what I mean? So once you've made your point, you got to move on. You can't let one bad call turn into another bad possession. And you're right, they are really, really good about that. They could have easily gotten frustrate on some of those fouls down the stretch where it felt like Florida was kind of getting bailed out by last second calls. And they did and they didn't do it.
- [46:20]
Caller
Yeah. And you know, and you saw Todd golden today. There was a couple of times when we were. We were down early and we made that first run, a 160 run. He should have called it. I was sitting next to a Florida fan. I said, man, they probably needed a timeout right here. And he went too long because he was kind of fussing at a referee. And we go down and get a bucket and then Otaga hits a three and that's five extra points while he's busting at the referee.
- [46:42]
Matt Jones
That's a good point. Yeah, he's a good coach. I appreciate the call. I know he's got other stuff going on and I don't know about all that, but I do. He is a good coach. But you're right, he can. He's got a little bit of a temper, too. And that can. That can cost you. It's crazy seeing Duke SMU as a conference game. I was sitting here, I literally just showed Duke smu and I was like, why is Duke playing at smu? And then I went, oh, yeah, they're in the same conference. Duke, by the way, could go. Let me give you. Look, can I make a prediction? Yeah. I think Duke could go undefeated in the acc.
- [47:14]
Billy Rutledge
Oh, stop.
- [47:15]
Matt Jones
Who's gonna beat him?
- [47:17]
Billy Rutledge
I don't know, but I just. I would hate to see that.
- [47:19]
Matt Jones
But who's gonna. SMU is probably the fourth or fifth best team in the acc. Nobody's good. All those teams that you are think of as being good, they stink this year. Virginia stinks. Florida State stinks. Miami stinks. North Carolina, I mean, they could lose at North Carolina, but North Carolina is not good this year. Louisville, they've already beaten Louisville on the road, so they're not gonna lose any games at home. So who are they gonna lose to on the road? They're gonna have road victories. If they win this game right now against smu, they're gonna have road victories against Louisville and smu. Who are probably like the fourth and fifth best teams in the conference. So, I mean, North Carolina might be the second best team in the conference and they're not good. So I'm telling you, you write this down, Billy.
- [48:14]
Billy Rutledge
Okay, I'll write. I will go on record. I'll write it down.
- [48:16]
Matt Jones
They're going undefeated in the acc.
- [48:20]
Billy Rutledge
What happens if they're going?
- [48:21]
Matt Jones
They'll be. Well, I mean, then they don't. But I'm just saying to you, I put it like this. Will you give me one and a half losses and I'll bet you whatever you want.
- [48:31]
Billy Rutledge
No, I can't. I can't give you.
- [48:33]
Matt Jones
So if you think you can't do the bet at one and a half, it's not crazy to say they won't lose.
- [48:38]
Billy Rutledge
That's. That's valid reasoning.
- [48:40]
Matt Jones
I'm just saying. And it's not because they're great. I think they're good. But no, the ACC is awful. Okay, let me look at their schedule. If they play at Clemson. At Clemson could be a game they lose.
- [48:53]
Billy Rutledge
They do. February.
- [48:54]
Matt Jones
They do play at Clemson. All right, so when is that?
- [48:56]
Billy Rutledge
February 8th.
- [48:57]
Matt Jones
If they win that game, they're going undefeated in the acc. That's the only game that I think they could lose. I guess they could lose at Carolina, but I don't think Carolina's good this year. We'll take a break. Be right back. Final segment. This is the Local Toy Dealers KSR Postgame Show. Welcome back. It is the Local Toy Dealers KSR Postgame show. So, Big Blue history. Our friend John Scott, he gives me the numbers I was looking for. All right. How many times has Kentucky scored 100 points and the other team has scored 100 points as well? All right. This is the 17th time it's happened in UK history. Now, three of those were in overtime. So, Billy, we're down to 14 times. All right.
- [49:47]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah.
- [49:48]
Matt Jones
Now, how about this station? Seven of those were in the three season period.
- [49:53]
Billy Rutledge
The Issel years when he was dominating.
- [49:56]
Matt Jones
Yeah, I don't know. I'd love to go see the Dan Issel games, because it does. It looks like we scored. It will. But we also couldn't guard offense post during those games. No, I'm serious. Like, you go back and look at those Dan Issel era games. I mean, we played Northwestern two years in a row and both teams scored 115.
- [50:15]
Billy Rutledge
No three point line either.
- [50:17]
Matt Jones
But that must mean. What kind of defense were they playing in that game?
- [50:20]
Billy Rutledge
None.
- [50:21]
Caller
None.
- [50:21]
Matt Jones
None.
- [50:22]
Billy Rutledge
They really. There's no defense.
- [50:23]
Matt Jones
I guess they had no Interest for Issel. And then we were like, you know what, we'll just get this with the ball. We don't need to guard you. So let's go to modern. But I think modern basketball kind of changes with the three point line. So how many times has Kentucky and their opponent both scored 100? All right. Three times was in that first patino season, like I guessed Billy, when they just like shot all the time. Once was Duke. That was overtime. So since that Duke game, since that duke game in 92, this is only the fourth time that Kentucky and their opponent both scored 100. The other times one VMI when we lost under Billy Clyde. That's not good. I didn't realize we scored 100 in that game too. One is North Carolina, the Fox Monk. Bam. Year. That was such a great game in Vegas. You remember that?
- [51:15]
Billy Rutledge
Yes. Yeah.
- [51:16]
Matt Jones
Both teams scored 100 in that. And then the other is last year at home against Arkansas.
- [51:24]
Billy Rutledge
Must have blocked that out of my memory.
- [51:26]
Matt Jones
I must have blocked. And that was one of the last. That was one of the last regular season games of the year. Last year I, I remember us scoring a lot against Arkansas. I did not remember that they scored 100. So four times since the Leitner game have we scored 100 and they scored 100. VMI where we lost. And then North Carolina and Rup. Arkansas. The Arkansas game also interrupt. And then actually North Carolina was in Vegas, Arkansas and Rupp and then Florida tonight. So doesn't happen a lot. 859-2802-28771 person writes. Matt, you are clearly a closet Duke fan. I've known that for a long time. You hide it to these Kentucky fans so you can make money, but I've always known that. Well, thank you. I was definitely a closet Duke fan when I went to every game for three years and booed every single game.
- [52:16]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah, that degree on the walls got a big old blue devil.
- [52:19]
Matt Jones
Blue devil blue. That's why you go to do blue. Say blue devil. Yeah. No, I mean, I'm looking at it right now here in little. That's my law degree. And I cannot, I cannot stand their basketball team. It's. It's dropped below Louisville and Tennessee. But when I was there, it was the worst because they were really good. When I was there, that was Jay Williams and Boozer and Matty A. And Dunleavy and Duhan and like, they were awesome and I hated them. Who's next?
- [52:50]
Billy Rutledge
Well, here's another thing you can't stand. Bob in Jamestown has found his way.
- [52:53]
Matt Jones
Into Bob In Jamestown. Don't listen to him, Bob. I like you.
- [52:56]
Caller
Billy's line, how sweet it is. I mean, this was a marquee game. All our former players came back. We had celebrities in the crowd.
- [53:08]
Matt Jones
And what former players. What former players were there? I don't. Richie Farmer. I mean, how.
- [53:15]
Caller
How McCoy, the Dayton reporter, was there.
- [53:18]
Matt Jones
I mean it.
- [53:19]
Caller
Like I say, it was absolute.
- [53:22]
Matt Jones
Al McCoy, sportswriter for the Dayton Daily.
- [53:25]
Caller
News, covers the red for 50 years.
- [53:28]
Billy Rutledge
How McCoy.
- [53:29]
Matt Jones
You're telling me. Hang on just a second. Hang on just a second, Bob. You're telling me all the celebrities were there, and the two you came up with were Richie farmer and Hal McCoy of the Dayton Herald?
- [53:42]
Caller
Well, Rhonda. Rhonda Sanders.
- [53:45]
Matt Jones
I mean, I gotta say. But when Hal McCoy is your number two.
- [53:52]
Caller
The stars aligned. I mean, Florida is a tough game. It was a tough Lamar Pope era. The wind is in his sails in 2025. I mean, Mitch Barnhart could be. I mean, pleased as punch that he made that pick and got that win.
- [54:13]
Matt Jones
I mean, it was outstanding. All right. Well, I appreciate it, Bob. Thank you. Appreciate the call. Wow. A lot to digest there. I've never heard the phrase pleased his punch. Is that a phrase?
- [54:25]
Billy Rutledge
No, but I liked it.
- [54:27]
Matt Jones
But is that a phrase people use?
- [54:29]
Billy Rutledge
I've never heard it before that, but I am on how McCoy.
- [54:32]
Matt Jones
What about your boy, how McCoy.
- [54:35]
Billy Rutledge
The stars aligned today.
- [54:36]
Matt Jones
Hal McCoy of the Dayton Herald. Do you think how McCoy. His family would consider him a star?
- [54:48]
Billy Rutledge
He sounds like he's.
- [54:49]
Matt Jones
No, I mean it. Like, I'm sure he was a great sports rider. Yeah, but who has Hal McCoy as a celebrity?
- [54:57]
Billy Rutledge
I guess Reds fans. Right.
- [54:59]
Matt Jones
And while I love Richie Farmer, he's in every game. Hal McCoy. All right, I gotta look this guy up.
- [55:08]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah, have him on the show Monday, dude.
- [55:10]
Matt Jones
I mean, if. If he's biggest. He. Ron DeSantis was behind Hal McCoy in Bob's mind. All right, who's next? I'm Looking up Hal McCoy, Chris How McCoy, an American sports writer for the Dayton Daily News. He covers the Reds, and he was honored by the Baseball Writers association for the J.G. taylor Spink Award for Baseball Writing. Now, this is kind of neat. This is kind of neat. He continued to cover the Reds in 2003, even though he became legally blind. Now, that's very cool.
- [55:46]
Billy Rutledge
Oh.
- [55:47]
Matt Jones
So thank you for telling me that, Bob. I would never have known that. Who's up Next? Chris How McCoy. Chris, go ahead. I'm not.
- [55:57]
Caller
I'm not sure I can follow that news up.
- [56:00]
Matt Jones
I don't know that's pretty impressive though. He kept covering the team. That is kind of awesome, but go ahead.
- [56:05]
Caller
Absolutely. Chris from Jacksonville here, like Gary said earlier, it's always good when we beat Florida for us fans down here in Gator country, we probably won't hear a peep out of them, but if they would have won, we would be hearing about it for weeks.
- [56:21]
Matt Jones
That's kind of how Florida fans are. I always feel like Florida might be the best basketball program whose fans don't deserve it because they don't care. And they have like, I mean, they have the, you know, before Connecticut won, the last team to win back to back titles and they don't even follow it.
- [56:39]
Caller
The one, one of two friends that I heard from, he brings that up every time.
- [56:43]
Matt Jones
We've.
- [56:43]
Caller
We've got the back to back. We've got the back to back.
- [56:46]
Matt Jones
Yeah.
- [56:46]
Caller
But in today when I heard from, he said he didn't even watch the game.
- [56:50]
Matt Jones
So that's what I'm saying. They're just crazy. They're undefeated and they don't even watch the game. That's what drives me crazy. Crazy, right?
- [56:57]
Caller
Yeah, we had, we had a pretty good crowd at our local game. Watch. Probably not what Gary had in Orlando, but we had about 15 where we were. But with the game so early, when Florida got out to their hot start, I did look around the restaurant and I was glad that there were no Florida fans there yet for lunch.
- [57:14]
Matt Jones
Well, I will say when they got off to the hot start, I, I was, I was worried. I mean, I was worried we were going to get run off a little bit because, you know, after the Ohio State game. But this group came back and the fact we went from 11 down to 10 up at halftime is pretty impressive.
- [57:31]
Caller
Yeah, I was hoping you would have been at the game so the crafts could have introduced you to Governor DeSantis.
- [57:36]
Matt Jones
I would have said hello. I mean, I appreciate, I appreciate the call. I've met, you know, I've met almost every Republican candidate over the years for president. A lot of them through the crafts. The only one I haven't met is the one that will be president here in a couple weeks. So. But I don't think I have not met DeSantis, but maybe that'll happen one day. You know, he could have had DeSantis Beshear just debate at half court, Billy, because there's people who say they'll both run in 20, 28.
- [58:07]
Billy Rutledge
Oh, you think Beshear is ready to do this thing?
- [58:09]
Matt Jones
I bet he runs. I mean, I don't Think he'll. I don't think he'll get it. The Democratic. But. But I bet he runs. That's my, that's my early prediction that. And Duke goes on.
- [58:17]
Billy Rutledge
Yeah, I'll write that down.
- [58:18]
Matt Jones
Who's next card?
- [58:20]
Billy Rutledge
Marty.
- [58:21]
Matt Jones
Marty. Go ahead, Marty.
- [58:24]
Caller
Hey, Matt called in many times during the Cal era being so frustrated and so I have a comment and a question. Comment is the day you had Mitch Barnhart on when Mark Pope was announced made me a believer right then and there. We got on the Polk train, bought season tickets. We're actually heading home from the game now to Lagrange section 221. The whole UP arena was. The whole arena was amazing, but seeing a full arena was even just so sweet. So what was it about?
- [58:58]
Matt Jones
What was it about that interview? What was it Mitch said that kind of got you on board?
- [59:04]
Caller
And it's interesting too, because I've not always been a Mitch fan. He just showed his passion and just, you know, admitting, hey, we need to move forward. And that Mark is the right person and totally convinced me and I wasn't the only one. I have some co workers that I don't think they're on quite on the Pope train yet. But even that day they said, yeah, Mitch convinced them that at least give him a shot. But we actually put in for. Well, we went to the press conference, if you can call it that, that day.
- [59:35]
Matt Jones
Yeah.
- [59:36]
Caller
And, you know, watched them pull down the curtains because the place was filling up. And we put in for tickets and just, you know, we get a call 10 minutes before my first grandchild was born saying, hey, you have tickets. I'm like, okay, this is in the. And you know, it's in the, in the cards here, so we have to do it. And you know, it's, it's a breath of fresh air for sure. And you just can't help but just love Mark Pope and just what he stands for and things. But, you know, so I had to, it was. I just have to say that Barnhart just, you know, he kind of went down the list of things that Mark checked off and just the passion to be there. Because at first, you know, we're thinking, okay, is it the Baylor coach? Oh, gosh, so glad it wasn't hurt.
- [60:24]
Matt Jones
No. But you know what's great about him? And I think this gets to. And I appreciate the call. That's good stuff. I think part of what you're getting to with that is from moment one, from that phone call where Mitch Barnhart that Friday morning talked through the press conference, on that Sunday, we all fell for Mark Pope, the person, right? We saw that he wanted it like we do. We saw that he was one of us. We all fell for him as a person, which is a really good first step. But since then, I think we're falling for him and have as a coach, like he coaches now the way we want, and we're seeing the results. I mean, we've beaten Duke on a neutral court, Gonzaga basically on the. On a home court, Louisville, and now undefeated Florida. Like, I know we have a couple losses in there, but it's a pretty good run. Not many seasons, you get a lot. Just. I mean, if the season ended today, there's not a lot of seasons you get a line of wins like that. We got a lot. A lot more top 10 games to come. Who's next?
- [61:39]
Billy Rutledge
Bentley.
- [61:39]
Matt Jones
Bentley. We'll do four more. Go ahead, Bentley. This is one of them.
- [61:45]
Caller
I'm on the. Hey, Matt, I'm on the road home from the game, and.
- [61:50]
Matt Jones
Are you driving?
- [61:50]
Caller
I just want to say that.
- [61:51]
Matt Jones
Are you driving? No. Okay. Don't. Don't drive. You're a little young, but go ahead.
- [62:00]
Caller
I just want to say, in the first half, Kobe Bra was shooting the lights out of it, and then in the second half, he sat on the bench until nine minutes left. I feel like he should start getting a little bit more playing time than he does.
- [62:15]
Matt Jones
Well, I mean, you might be right. I think they probably set him on the bench for. For defensive purposes because he's not a great garter, but, you know, as soon as he got in there, he hit three threes in about five minutes. So he made the most of his minutes.
- [62:32]
Caller
Yep.
- [62:33]
Matt Jones
So. Well, Bentley, be careful. How old are you, Bentley?
- [62:36]
Caller
12.
- [62:36]
Matt Jones
Is that right? 13.
- [62:38]
Caller
11.
- [62:39]
Matt Jones
11. All right, well, five more years, you'll be on the road. I appreciate. Appreciate the call. Who's up next? Three more.
- [62:46]
Billy Rutledge
Ray is next, who I believe is with Hal McCoy.
- [62:50]
Matt Jones
No way. Yes, Ray. No way. You're not with Hal McCoy, are you?
- [62:55]
Caller
Yes. Yeah, I'm in the car. We're listening to you. I'm. Hal McCoy's in the car with me. I'm gonna put him on with you now.
- [63:02]
Matt Jones
Oh, my goodness. You're kidding me.
- [63:04]
Caller
For a little bit.
- [63:05]
Matt Jones
You're kidding. I didn't. Mad. Matthew, I'm impressed. Is this Hal McCoy?
- [63:10]
Caller
Yes, Matt, this is Hal McCoy.
- [63:14]
Matt Jones
First of all. What. What. What an honor. Well, let me ask you a question, if you were listening. What did you think when Bob in Jamestown picked you out as one of the celebrities at the Game.
- [63:29]
Caller
Well, I was very honored that somebody would pick me out of the crowd and say something like that.
- [63:35]
Matt Jones
That is it. That is an honor. And I just read your story. That is so cool. So tell me about your year covering the Reds. I mean, you. You did it for how many years?
- [63:49]
Caller
I have done it for more than 50 years.
- [63:53]
Matt Jones
So you're still doing. You're still doing.
- [63:56]
Caller
Still doing it? Yes, yes, I certainly am.
- [63:59]
Matt Jones
So when did you start? What year?
- [64:02]
Caller
1973. And you heard of the Big Red Machine?
- [64:07]
Matt Jones
Of course, yeah.
- [64:10]
Caller
Well, I'm the one who named them.
- [64:12]
Matt Jones
No, you.
- [64:12]
Caller
And if I had put trademark. If I had put a trademark on it, I would have read, yes.
- [64:18]
Matt Jones
You named the. You named them the Big Red Machine?
- [64:23]
Caller
I certainly did. And it picked up, caught on a little bit. And like I said, if I'd have put a trademark on it, I'd be in Tahiti right now.
- [64:31]
Matt Jones
Yes, you would. You know, Rick, you know, Pat Riley did that with 3 Pete and he made a lot of money. Hal, that could have been you.
- [64:39]
Caller
I know, I know. But here I am, 84 years old and still trudging around with a laptop.
- [64:45]
Matt Jones
Okay, so you're still doing it. First of all, that's the coolest thing I've ever heard. I am a Red season ticket holder. So you got to tell me, are we going to be. I've been for like six years, so I haven't really seen him win a lot. Are we going to be good this year?
- [65:03]
Caller
I think they're going to be decent, especially with Tito Francona as the manager, but he's not a miracle worker. They still need some help. A lot of great young talent, young pitches, great young pitching staff, but they still need a power hitting outfielder. And you know, they've been saying they're going to acquire one, but I think they already have one. They got Ellie Dela Cruz at shortstop and they need to move him to center field.
- [65:26]
Matt Jones
So where does he rank for you? I know obviously he's only played like a year and a half, but like in terms of talent, you've seen great ones. Can Ellie be like that?
- [65:37]
Caller
I think that Ellie Dela Cruz is probably along the lines of Eric Davis, who's my all time favorite player and was a five tool player who could run, throw, hit for power, steal bases, everything that Ellie De La Cruz does. And if Eric hadn't gotten hurt so much, he'd be in the hall of Fame right now.
- [65:57]
Matt Jones
Well, I agree with that. Well, first of all, Hal, Bob was right. You are a legend. And I want To.
- [66:05]
Caller
I will.
- [66:05]
Matt Jones
I want to come meet you when I come to a game sometime next year. Okay.
- [66:12]
Caller
We'Ll count on it.
- [66:14]
Matt Jones
Hal, thank you very much. And tell Ray thank you very much for calling. Get. Is he still on the phone?
- [66:21]
Caller
Yeah, yeah, race through here.
- [66:23]
Matt Jones
Yeah, give the phone. How. Hang on and get. Hang on and give. Hang on and give my producer your contact. Okay.
- [66:32]
Caller
Hold on.
- [66:33]
Billy Rutledge
All right, hang on and get the.
- [66:35]
Matt Jones
Contact from one of them. See, first of all, Bob and Jamestown, you were right. And how cool is that?
- [66:42]
Billy Rutledge
Very cool. That is awesome.
- [66:43]
Matt Jones
Very, very cool. Very cool. Who's next?
- [66:46]
Billy Rutledge
Tosh is next.
- [66:47]
Matt Jones
Tosh. Two more. What's up, Tosh? Hey, Matt.
- [66:52]
Caller
Last time I called the post game show was March of 2020 when we won in Gainesville.
- [67:00]
Matt Jones
And gotta tell you, two weeks later. So I hope that doesn't happen again.
- [67:06]
Caller
I'll tell you what, we were gonna win the SEC tournament, go to the Final Four.
- [67:09]
Matt Jones
So Covid hit like one week later. That's right.
- [67:12]
Caller
Yeah, I know, man, I know. Crazy, crazy. But I love beating the Gators. You know, to me personally, they kind of replaced Arkansas as the non Tennessee SEC rival for a lot of years. So super awesome to beat the Gators. But I have to tell you, Matt, the worst thing about these 11am tips, it's too early to get into the Four Roses, so hopefully this is just a one and done thing, but you.
- [67:42]
Matt Jones
Got the rest of the night, too. I mean, you're going to have all evening here, starting in two minutes, so.
- [67:49]
Caller
Oh, that's true. That's true, my man.
- [67:51]
Matt Jones
But hey, great call. Thank you, Tosh. There you go. Let's do. Let's do one more and we'll call it a night. Who's next?
- [67:59]
Billy Rutledge
Claude.
- [68:00]
Matt Jones
Claude. How are you, Claude?
- [68:03]
Caller
I'm doing great, Matt. Listen, that. That was a great win. I think it's going to age well. Florida may have the best guards in the country, and they're going to be a tough out in March, but, you know, Pope has talked a lot about energy and bringing energy. And I say this from an optimistic point of view. Like in our two losses, they. They really did not bring it, but this team seems like they can kind of turn it on, turn off. I mean, three top 10 wins. I, I say that because it's going to be tough to bring that over the next 16, 17 games and be realistic like that.
- [68:34]
Matt Jones
We're going to have some clunkers. That's why I thought tonight. That's why I thought tonight was so important, because we're going to have Some clunkers. We may. We'll probably lose one of those top 10 games, one or two of them at home, and then win them. One or two. If we win one of our, you know, we play Bama Tennessee on the road and then we play what, Ole Miss on the road and maybe Texas, a couple other ranked teams. If we can just win one or two of those, that'd be great. So we're gonna have some clunkers, which is why tonight is so big.
- [69:05]
Caller
Well, it's just great. Again, the star of the game is Pope. Somehow he brings the best out of these guys in these big games. Man, it makes me incredibly optimistic. I'm excited for March. It's just a great day today. Thank you so much.
- [69:19]
Matt Jones
Appreciate the call. Thank you very much. So awesome day. Awesome day. Couple notes. First of all, if you all like having fun and excitement, tonight is our OVW Royal Rumble. Billy, you can get it on, on, if you get on YouTube, it's like, it's like I think 10 bucks to watch at home or whatever. Or if you have fight tv. There's probably other places, but those are the ones I know. I'm gonna go out here in just a minute to historic Davis Arena. So that's at 7:00. Shannon, the dude will be on that show as well. Bingles play obviously at 8. What is it, 8:30 or 8, Billy?
- [69:55]
Caller
8.
- [69:55]
Matt Jones
I believe Bingles played 8. So there's a Bengals watch party at the bar. There's always a group of Bengals fans. So if you're in Lexington, tomorrow's my ESPN show. And then Monday, obviously there's going to be a ton of snow and ice across the state tomorrow. Everybody please stay safe. It looks like, you know, if you heard Chris Bailey, he said the Richmond Danville area was the area to watch out. It's actually moved. It looks north to where we are, Lexington, Louisville, Shelbyville, Frankfurt. That basically all around the line of I 64. So everybody stay safe. And in Northern Kentucky, apparently a ton of snow coming, but snow and ice in this area kind of from just north of Lexington down to Richmond Berea. So everybody please stay safe. And then Monday, chances are we'll all be at our house but doing the show because of that. But we will be here for you Monday morning. You guys enjoy your weekend. Enjoy your Saturday night. Thanks to Hal McCoy. That was very, very cool. Great end to an awesome day. We will see you later. Cats win 106 to 100 on an awesome victory. This has been the local toy dealers KSR postgame show.