KSR Postgame UK MBB vs Florida SECT 3/13/26

Summary

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KSR Postgame Show: Kentucky vs. Florida (SECT) – March 13, 2026

Podcast: KSR Postgame
Hosts: Matt Jones, Ryan Lemond
Episode: UK MBB vs Florida SECT 3/13/26
Date: March 13, 2026

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Overview

This episode of the KSR Postgame Show analyzes Kentucky’s tough 71–63 loss to the Florida Gators in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Hosts Matt Jones and Ryan Lemond break down the key issues that led to Kentucky's defeat—poor shooting, rebounding woes, and questionable in-game decisions. They also discuss the team’s broader trajectory, fan expectations, and what’s next for head coach Mark Pope and the program as the NCAA tournament looms.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Game Recap & Analysis

[02:40 - 07:00]

• Early Struggles and Repeat Pattern:

  • Kentucky quickly fell behind, staged a comeback to tie, but allowed Florida to go on a decisive first-half run—mirroring all previous meetings this season.
    • "Fall down big early, come back, tie it up, and then have a stretch in the middle of the first half where you get a deficit you cannot come back from" – Ryan Lemond (02:45)

• Offensive Woes:

  • Poor shooting plagued Kentucky, especially from key players away ("Ortega") and beyond the arc, with many open threes missed.
    • “You get most of your threes from Mo Diabate, that's probably not a good sign.” – Matt Jones (03:13)
  • Team finished just 3-of-20 from 3-point range.
  • Away was 5-for-18 from the field, severely hampering scoring.

• Rebounding Disparity & Physicality:

  • Kentucky out-rebounded 50-29 overall; Florida grabbed an overwhelming 17 offensive boards.
    • “Florida had 14, or excuse me, 17 offensive rebounds. That is too much to be able to win.” – Matt Jones (03:30)
  • Kentucky’s bigs were bullied in the paint as less-physical players like Moreno and Yelovich struggled.

• Defensive Positives and Fouling Issues:

  • Kentucky's defense was strong after the first ten minutes, holding Florida to just 51 points in the final 32 minutes.
    • "They scored 20 in eight minutes. So...you held 'em to 51 points in the last 32 minutes." – Ryan Lemond (04:49)
  • Persistent fouls led to extra Florida opportunities.

• Bad Decisions at Crucial Moments:

  • The hosts noted several low-IQ plays, particularly in a stretch where guards forced up shots individually ("my turn" basketball), which stymied comeback chances.
    • "We had four different guys do 'it's my turn'...when that happens, this team's not good enough to do that." – Ryan Lemond (06:45)
    • “It’s like at the worst time of the game, you know, we were back in it, and now you got to play 'me ball' instead of 'we ball.'" – Matt Jones (07:01)

2. Bracketology & NCAA Tournament Outlook

[08:40 - 11:59]

• Likely a 7-Seed; First-Round & Second-Round Matchups:
  • Kentucky expected to land a 7-seed; likely second-round opponent among 2-seeds (Iowa State, Houston, UConn, Michigan State).
  • Hosts agree Houston is the toughest—and most dangerous—matchup (“Houston, they're grown-ass men...I'd rather get Iowa State.” – Matt Jones & Ryan Lemond 09:13–11:47).
• Potential Locations:
  • St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, or Buffalo. Hosts favor St. Louis due to Kentucky’s historical success there.
    • “Kentucky’s had great success in the city of St. Louis.” – Matt Jones (10:22)
• First-Round Opponents:
  • Not concerned by NC State, Central Florida, St. Louis, Santa Clara ("Ain't scared of any of those. Give me one of them." – Matt Jones, 09:51)
• General Tournament Hope:
  • Fan excitement low for this year’s tournament run; making the second weekend possible, but few see a deep run as likely.

3. Team Identity, Coaching, & The State of the Program

[12:09 - 15:15, 28:03 - 29:34, 35:07 - 37:19]

• Evaluation of SEC Tournament:
  • Mixed feelings: some consider reaching Friday a “success,” but seven straight years of missing tournament weekend deemed unacceptable for Kentucky.
    • “If we have now seven straight years of not making the weekend...that is not successful.” – Ryan Lemond (12:41)
• On Mark Pope & Pressure Ahead:
  • Next season is viewed as critical for Pope; another subpar year could doom his tenure, especially with a new athletic director coming.
    • “Mark Pope's career at Kentucky...next year, it's got to be good. If not, it's not going to work.” – Ryan Lemond (29:02)
• Roster Construction Issues:
  • Pope’s offensive style mismatched with current personnel; shooting and toughness have not materialized as hoped.
    • “This wasn’t going to work. He thought this team could shoot...he basically had to create an offense on the fly that he's just not accustomed to do it.” – Ryan Lemond (52:01)
• Declining Program Status & Fanbase Frustration:
  • Several calls highlight fan unrest and generational decline; younger fans have never known UK to be nationally dominant, often pulling for other Blue Blood programs.
    • “We used to be Florida. We used to be that program...We haven't touched that in seven years.” – Caller Kevin, [35:07]

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Essential Game Summary:

  • “Ultimately the story: shot really poorly, open looks couldn’t hit it...most importantly, out-rebounded by 21. Florida had 17 offensive rebounds. That is too much to be able to win.” – Matt Jones (03:15)

• On Defensive Performance:

  • “They forced, I think, 15 turnovers. I mean, like defense, they did their job, but yeah, offensively...their legs were just not there.” – Matt Jones (05:15)

• On Fan Expectations:

  • "We have not made the weekend at this tournament since 2019...it just never really felt like we were in it." – Matt Jones (13:16)

• On the Kentucky-Florida Comparison:

  • “Florida is honestly what we should be. That’s what we used to be.” – Ryan Lemond (14:14, 14:17)

• On Todd Golden’s Postgame Needle (Florida Coach):

  • “In the three games that we played these guys, they haven't led for one minute.” – Todd Golden (played at 30:16)
  • “Kind of a trash talking there, isn’t it?” – Ryan Lemond (30:29)
  • “He’s a little snot nose...But he’s not wrong.” – Matt Jones (30:33)

5. Calls from Fans – Common Themes

[16:44 - 56:14]

• Game Plan & Execution:
  • Several callers agree Pope had a solid game plan, but the team simply missed shots and failed to rebound.
    • “I actually thought Mark Pope had a good game plan. Got guys open, but we just couldn’t hit shots.” – Caller DJ (17:12)
• Announcer Criticism:
  • Jokes about muting the TV due to ESPN announcers Carl Ravitch and Jimmy Dykes (19:17).
• Bitterness Over KY-Born Players:
  • Fan frustration over homegrown players like Jasper and Trent Noah getting extra leeway, but rarely developing into stars ("We put too much stock in 'this guy’s from Kentucky.'" – 37:44)
• Generational Disconnect:
  • High school teachers and parents note modern Kentucky fans under 18 rarely see UK as a dominant force, many cheer for other powerhouse programs (47:54).
• Coaching Future, Patience vs. Pressure:
  • Debate over how much more time Mark Pope deserves, especially with wild changes in the NIL and transfer portal era (41:07–56:14).

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Game Recap & Initial Analysis: 02:40–07:00
• Offensive Problems, Bad Decisions, In-game IQ: 05:00–07:00
• Bracketology & NCAA Discussion: 08:40–11:59, 43:42–44:27
• Assessment of SEC Tournament’s Success: 12:09–15:15
• Fanbase Frustration & State of Program: 28:03–29:34; 35:07–37:19; 47:54–49:22
• Todd Golden Audio & Reactions: 30:16–31:55
• Homegrown Talent Debate: 37:40–39:02; 45:25–47:12
• Mark Pope’s Future & Administration Changes: 55:38–56:42

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Conclusion

The KSR crew’s postgame breakdown renders Kentucky’s 71-63 SEC Tournament loss to Florida as a microcosm of the season’s struggles: poor shooting, lack of toughness and rebounding, inconsistent decision-making, and a once-dominant program now searching for direction and identity. Matt Jones and Ryan Lemond express hope for a turnaround but underscore that the coming season will be pivotal for Mark Pope’s tenure and the broader Kentucky basketball brand.

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For the NCAA tournament, fan expectations are muted, but the hope for a surprise run lingers—as always in March.

Transcript

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[Ryan Lemond]

Welcome everyone. It is the local toilet dealers KSR postgame show. We are live here. There you go. At the what the DraftKingsportsbook/PBR bull riding place. Even though we cannot ride the bull. But The Cats lost 7163 to Florida. Matt Jones, Ryan Lemon, you can give a shout. 859-2802. Kentucky. That was a brutal game to watch. Kentucky was in it, but not exactly in it most of the game. Kind of like all the Florida games this year. As a matter of fact, the script was exactly the same as all the Florida games. Fall down big early, come back tied up, and then have a stretch at the middle of the first half where you get a deficit that you cannot come back from the rest of the game. Kentucky made a little late run, I think cut it to six, but ultimately not enough and they lose 71, 63. Ultimately the story. Ryan, couple things. Number one shot, really poorly. Open looks, couldn't hit it. You know, you get most of your threes from Modi Abate. That's probably not a good sign. Ortega away was 4 for 17 from the field. That's a problem usually. Or excuse me, 5 for 18 from the field and then most importantly, out rebounded. By 2150-29, Florida had 14 off, or, excuse me, 17 offensive rebounds. That is too much to. To be able to win. I thought Kentucky actually played pretty good defense on the first shot for most of the game against Florida, especially after the first 10 minutes. But then too many fouls, too many offensive rebounds, and then we weren't able to score. You cannot go score 63 and beat Florida. You're exactly right.

[Matt Jones]

If somebody asked you or me or any of these guys here to write a script how they thought this game would play out, we could have scripted it. That's exactly how these games played out with Florida.

[Ryan Lemond]

But they've all been the same. Different, different point amounts, but the same margin, basically.

[Matt Jones]

But if you told me before the game they were going to hold Florida to 71, I mean, defensively they played pretty well. I thought, well, you tell me they're going to hold 4 to 71. We got a puncher's chance to win the game.

[Ryan Lemond]

They scored 20. Just to give you an example, they scored 20 in eight minutes. So that means you, you held him to 51 points in the last 32 minutes of the game. That's pretty good.

[Matt Jones]

That's. To me, if it gets Florida, that's really good.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, that's Pretty good, but we couldn't score away. Bad game for away. Now he's had a lot of great ones, so you can't. But bad game for away. And then, you know, Aberdeen didn't play at Great Chance. Nobody really played well except Diabate.

[Matt Jones]

You know, they forced, I think, 15 turnovers. I mean, like defense, they did their job, but yeah, offensively, I was sitting by a guy. He thought their legs were just not there. All. A lot of their shots were hit in the front of the room.

[Ryan Lemond]

Sound like Mark Pope. You think it was the legs, fatigue a lot.

[Matt Jones]

Yellow bitch. And always all their three pointers hit the front of the rim air. Like almost everyone. They missed.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's true. It's had a really difficult game. He did, especially in the first half. He was kind of. He. He was hard to play in that first half, and that hurt him. I mean, look, Florida's just better.

[Matt Jones]

They are.

[Ryan Lemond]

But you know what's weird is you come away from all these Florida games with the exact same view. They are better than us by decent margin. But we could have been in that game. Sure. I mean, we could have with it, but we haven't been. And for the second straight year, we lose in the SEC tournament to a team we've lost three times to in the regular season.

[Matt Jones]

And we saw some things in this game. It just drives me crazy. Like, you even tweeted it out. I think our basketball IQ is not very good.

[Ryan Lemond]

They had some sequences. They just make, you know, it's a small thing, but Brandon Garrison has that. Got trapped against the inline and he just reaches in and fouls.

[Matt Jones]

Why?

[Ryan Lemond]

You got him trapped? You got him trapped. Why are you doing that? You know, some of our shots, decisions are just in the timing. It just doesn't make it. It doesn't make any sense. We went through a sequence in the first half that I think was crucial. It was 20 to 20. And then they scored, what, 12 straight points. And during that time, we had a lot of guys who just did the whole, okay, it's my turn.

[Matt Jones]

Yep.

[Ryan Lemond]

We had like four different guys do. It's my turn. Jasper did one, Yellow bitch did one. Aberdeen did one. And then Owe did one. And they were like four straight. I'm shooting no matter what. And when that happens, it's this team's not good enough to do that.

[Matt Jones]

And we have guys for whatever reason, they. When they do that, it's like at the worst time of the game, you know, we're trying. We were back in it, and now you got to play me ball. Instead of we ball and then Aberdeen especially a couple times again. I know.

[Ryan Lemond]

I get so mad at him. He was our best player for. Except for Diabate.

[Matt Jones]

He took some bad shots late in the game. He dribbled over there in the corner.

[Ryan Lemond]

But see, okay, that dribble was bad. But why didn't Jasper get out of the way?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know.

[Ryan Lemond]

Right next to him, if he moves, maybe you can throw him the ball.

[Matt Jones]

That just kind of typical, I think how that game went. Just some bad decisions, bad mistakes. But off, like I said, you played good enough defense to win that game. So your offense was not good. Yeah, you got crushed on the boards. Crushed on the boards.

[Ryan Lemond]

50 to 29 our bigs. Just when it comes to toughness, they just don't have it against guys like that.

[Matt Jones]

Right. Their dudes are bigger, better than Moreno

[Ryan Lemond]

and Yellow Vich just can't play against those guys. I mean Garrison and Diabate are physical enough to kind of compete, but Moreno and Yellow Vic just have no shot.

[Matt Jones]

No, they got pushed around. Well, we've seen all three games against Florida. They get pushed around the whole time down in the post.

[Ryan Lemond]

And you know, even with all that, what was it? Was it 6 or was it 4? It set up to where if we got a stop, I think Xavier and Lee had hit a three. Actually I think it was five and he had a three that made it eight. If you, if you, if he doesn't make that shot and you get a rebound, you, you know, you got a chance. But it didn't happen.

[Matt Jones]

It's crazy that we. They were in a chance. They had the chance to maybe sneak up, take the lead or something because they played so well defensively, just offensively, it just like at times they didn't have any idea what they were doing out there.

[Ryan Lemond]

So let's talk about kind of where, where things are.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Bracket will come out on Sunday. I think Kentucky is almost certainly a seven seed. The way things have played out, that means if you look at the two seeds, you could get UConn, you could get Houston, you could get Michigan State. And who's the other one? UConn. Houston, Michigan State. Well, let's just take those three. I'm not sure who the other one is. Who would you want out of that group?

[Matt Jones]

Do I have to pick one?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, you got. I mean we got to play somebody.

[Matt Jones]

I've seen Houston scares me. Those guys are like grown ass men playing out there. UConn. I thought I'd probably take Michigan State. You know, they just beat us Here

[Ryan Lemond]

are the two seeds right now. Iowa State, Houston, Yukon, Michigan State, Iowa State.

[Matt Jones]

Who you'd want the most, Iowa State or Michigan State? Probably. Who I would pick one of those two.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, the ten seeds. This would be. You'd have to play one of these in the first round. NC State, Central Florida, St. Louis. Santa Clara.

[Matt Jones]

Ain't scared any of those. Give me one of them.

[Ryan Lemond]

Which one?

[Matt Jones]

St. Louis, St. Louis.

[Ryan Lemond]

Probably the one you want.

[Matt Jones]

The. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Santa Clara, even N.C. i mean, honestly, any of those.

[Matt Jones]

They can sneak up.

[Ryan Lemond]

You gotta.

[Matt Jones]

That's right.

[Ryan Lemond]

And the potential locations, at least according to bracketology, would be St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Philly or Buffalo. Where you want to go?

[Matt Jones]

If I'm picking, I'm picking.

[Ryan Lemond]

That means you're going. By the way, we don't have to go the west coast.

[Matt Jones]

That's true. St. Louis would be my number one pick. I mean, that's not too far.

[Ryan Lemond]

We.

[Matt Jones]

Kentucky's had great success in the city of St. Louis.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. So we'll find out on Sunday. Couple side things about the game. Does this matter to you at all? I heard through the grapevine for the second straight game, Mark Pope refused the sideline or the. The interview during the game. You know how they interview coaches during the game.

[Matt Jones]

Thought that it was quiet required.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, apparently he said no both times. The other coaches have all done it care.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, it's not the greatest look for him because all the other coaches do it. I think he probably should accommodate and fulfill his duties to do it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Pope did say that we miss shots, but he said we will make them. Not a lot of games left.

[Matt Jones]

We may have just one or two games left when they go start making them.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, hopefully in St. Louis, Buffalo, Philadelphia or Oklahoma City.

[Matt Jones]

Do you have a preference to where you think we're going to go?

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, all those 10 seeds. To me, if you play well, you should beat them, but you could lose to all of them. So I'm more concerned about the two seeds. The way we play, we cannot beat Houston.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

We're not playing with that physicality. So if you ask me, I'd rather get Iowa State. I think I was. State is. They're good, but they're the least talented of that group. So give me Iowa State. UConn. Very talented. Now, they can be inconsistent. Michigan State, we've already played. We saw the results of that game.

[Matt Jones]

Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

So. But if you may be rank them, maybe. Iowa State 1, Michigan State 2. UConn 3. I just think Houston, they'll beat us up and I don't think we handle that very well.

[Matt Jones]

I think that's the best order that we think Kentucky fans could hope for. Houston definitely the last you want to see. Like I said, they're grown ass, man. They play rough, physical. We see how we couldn't handle physicality today.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. You know, you consider this a successful or an unsuccessful SEC tournament, just leave aside. We got. We got to see. We got. When the bracket came out, do you consider now how we played successful?

[Matt Jones]

Yes, because after the bracket came out, I think most Kentucky fans, they were honest with themselves. They just wanted to win those first two games and have a chance to play Florida on Friday. Just win two, have a chance at Florida. I think most fans, if they're honest with themselves, we're happy that that happened.

[Ryan Lemond]

If you ask me, if we have now seven straight years of not making the weekend of the SEC tournament, that is not successful.

[Matt Jones]

It's not acceptable.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's a failure. If you ask me, though, once the bracket comes out, this is what I thought would happen.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

So. But we do at some point. I mean, we have not made the weekend at this tournament since 2019. And, you know, you had all these fans. I mean, you could feel much more so than the other two days. You could feel the big blue mist here today.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yes. Like, it felt like it used to feel.

[Ryan Lemond]

And you know, it's weird. We've had so many games this year where we're just. It never feels like we're in it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

This whole game today, I mean, it just never really felt like we were in it. Even though it was only 12, whatever. Most of the game today, when they

[Matt Jones]

closed it, Jasper's bucket made it 20 to 20. I let myself believe for a little bit. But then they, like you said, they went on 12. Oh, run. 13. Oh, run.

[Ryan Lemond]

Last two games, remember at Rup, we go down 11, nothing come back, make it 20, 19.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

And then they score 13 straight points.

[Matt Jones]

Exactly what happened today.

[Ryan Lemond]

We were at Florida. They went, I started the game, then we came back, got down one, and then they scored 14 straight points. This today, it was 10 straight points. It's been the same thing every single time.

[Matt Jones]

I really feel like Florida's dudes are just better than our dudes. We played them ten times.

[Ryan Lemond]

We might be maybe one once or twice. Yeah, yeah. No, I think that's right.

[Matt Jones]

They're better. Yep.

[Ryan Lemond]

And Florida is honestly what we should be.

[Matt Jones]

That's what we used to be.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, right. That's what we should be and we're not. And when you watch Them think, let's just act like we were doing the Florida show. Florida shot like a terrible percentage today. If you're doing the Florida show, you go, this is why we're good. We played terrible and still won. Right? They shot three for 20 from three, 15%. They shot 38% from the field. They had been averaging 47% from three since February and 53% from the field today. 15% and 38% and they still win. That's what you do when you're a really good team.

[Matt Jones]

That's why I think Kentucky's defense, I think they're big responsible for that portion percentage. Like I said, they turned, they made Florida Force 15, Florida Turnovers. They just got crushed on the glass on the second chance. Points is what killed them.

[Ryan Lemond]

And by the way, Trent Noah had two wide open threes wide open that if he hits, you know, we don't necessarily win. But they were right there.

[Matt Jones]

They were open.

[Ryan Lemond]

They were wide open. 39 minutes today. Aberdeen, 35-859-280-2287. We're going to take your calls. It is our SEC tournament trip sponsored by Burnt Tavern Bourbon and by Clayton and Croom. Thanks to those partners for having us here. We are looking over Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans and we'll take your calls and be right back. Local Toyota dealers, KSR Postgame Show. Welcome back. It is the Local Toy Dealers KSR Post Game Show 859-280-2287 Text Machine 772-774-5254 One person writes, Matt, we missed a ton of threes. If we hit those threes, we win. I'm positive about today. Fair enough. But they went 3 of 20. You could say the same thing about them.

[Matt Jones]

They'd hit their threes.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean by 20 they could, they would run us off the floor if they shot 30% from three.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

So, I mean, you know, you're right. We could have, we, if we hit those, it would have been different. But we didn't think about ours.

[Matt Jones]

Most of ours seemed to be like wide open looks that we just could not knock them down today.

[Ryan Lemond]

We struggled a lot at the beginning at finishing at the rim. I think the size of Florida, the size of Florida throws Kentucky off at the beginning of games. I think shots they're used to getting don't work against them.

[Matt Jones]

You're right there. We couldn't even buy a bucket outside or inside. Give credit to Florida's defense, but we were doing the same thing on the other end to them.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, 8, 592-80-2287. Who's up first? DJ DJ what are you doing?

[Caller/Guest]

I'm headed to my dad's graduation. He just passed college, so shout out to my dad. Derek, you.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, hang on. Your dad just graduated college?

[Caller/Guest]

Yep.

[Ryan Lemond]

How old is your dad?

[Caller/Guest]

Yep. He's 49.

[Ryan Lemond]

49. Congratulations to that. Good for him. I like that. Yep.

[Caller/Guest]

He's our. He's our associate pastor at our church. He's got a degree in theology. But I'm upset about the game. I thought the guys played well. I actually thought Mark Pope had a good, good game plan. Got guys open, but we just couldn't hit shots. I think that was the biggest thing for me is we couldn't get shots. We couldn't get rebounds. What. What. What do you think they could have done better?

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I mean, it's tough. I think part of the problem. I appreciate the call. Florida's a tough matchup. They got three big guys. Right.

[Matt Jones]

Bring a fourth one off the bench,

[Ryan Lemond]

and we only have two that seem like they can play against them.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

The other two are not physical enough. And when you play those two in Garrison and Diabate, your offense suffers. Right. So your two guys that are the bigs that can score the easiest, they can't really play because they get physically manhandled. And then the two other ones. The two other ones, yeah. They hurt you offensively, so you're kind of like, damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Matt Jones]

I agree with the caller, though. I think Pope had a good game plan. I did question a couple times coming out of a timeout. They ran some plays coming out of time out. They use a pretty effective. I'm like, what are they doing? Like one time.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, they had one terrible play coming out of the time.

[Matt Jones]

I think they had like two or three.

[Ryan Lemond]

They got a shot clock violation coming out.

[Matt Jones]

They did come out of a timeout.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, you can't have that.

[Matt Jones]

No.

[Ryan Lemond]

I do think Pope did a pretty good job of adjusting defensively. And I actually think after the start of the game, I actually think. Actually, I think they played defensively really well most of the game. They. The first shots for Florida were contested and not successful. Yeah, the problem was the rebounding. I mean, but you. I think Jimmy Dyke said during the game, Florida, against a lot of teams, just says, let's just shoot it. We'll get it. And they kind of do.

[Matt Jones]

That's exactly what happened today. They got everything. Would you say that rebounded us by 30, by 20.

[Ryan Lemond]

21.

[Matt Jones]

21.

[Ryan Lemond]

But offensive rebound, 17 to 7. I mean, that's a big difference.

[Matt Jones]

A big difference.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's a big difference. Who's next? Andy. Andy. Go ahead, Andy.

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah. I just want to start out by saying that I don't want to ever hear Carl Ravitch again on my tv. If he's calling one of our games again, I'm just going to mute the tv. The whole time it was. Yeah, well, I mean, it's just. And the constant. Just, you know, glazing of Alex Condon the entire game. Like, you know, them talking about, oh, he's an Australian. This, you know, like they talk about the other guy's going to be a lottery pick. I mean, I think him and Carl. I think him and Jimmy got in the. Probably got in the showers with him after the game. I mean, it was just ridiculous.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, he did have a great game.

[Caller/Guest]

And then last thing, he kind of

[Ryan Lemond]

dominated us for especially early.

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah, but I mean, this is. You're watching two games here. You're not that. I mean, you're not the personal commentators for the University of Florida. I mean, you would think they work for the university. And I think we need to come. Come together as the. I think we need to come together as the fan base and get a GoFundMe started so we can reboot Jimmy Dykes his music career so we don't have to listen to him on our games anymore. Achy Breaky heart on. He can go back to singing Achy Breaky Hard on Broadway in Nashville.

[Ryan Lemond]

So you're not a fan. It sounds like to me you're a negative on Carl Ravage and Jimmy Dykes. Am I right? Yeah.

[Caller/Guest]

No. I'm muting the tv. I can't take it anymore.

[Ryan Lemond]

Appreciate the call. We have had him a lot. I mean, we've probably had him. What is that, 33 games? I mean, I bet you they've called 12 of them.

[Matt Jones]

I will not stand for this Carl Ravitch blast.

[Ryan Lemond]

There he is right there. Look at that hair.

[Matt Jones]

Look at that hair. He looks so good and handsome. Look at a man right there. He's got on. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

What do you think about that jacket and tie combo? Could you do that?

[Matt Jones]

I think he's a fashion icon and I just blast you. Yeah. My Pope T shirt, blue jeans.

[Ryan Lemond]

Serious question. Just me and you. Talk.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Same pair of jeans the whole weekend.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, yeah. Same pair I had on yesterday. And here's a good thing.

[Ryan Lemond]

I would just say if we had won, I have same pair of jeans tomorrow.

[Matt Jones]

I have no clean clothes for tomorrow. I Didn't pack through the set till Saturday.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, we would have gotten somebody to give you a free T shirt. And I think I could have got

[Matt Jones]

a free T shirt. Just wore these same.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, I know what jeans you would have wore.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. So put them in the refrigerator. They're nice and clean the next morning.

[Ryan Lemond]

Who's up next?

[Matt Jones]

Charlie.

[Ryan Lemond]

Charlie. Go ahead, Charlie.

[Caller/Guest]

Man, I'm sick. This is just so old this year, man. I keep thinking I have Covid or the flu, but I just got a pit in my stomach and I've had it for four or five months. It's just because Kentucky basketball is trash now. We just are. Every now and then we show flashes and we just fall apart. And I know you guys probably aren't going to agree with this. I know Jasper's rhymes, dude, and I understand, but, like, when he goes to Alabama or UNT next year and gets his 25 minutes and averages 8 points and 8 turnovers, we'll be glad he left. And Trent, I don't care what mountain he's from and Kentucky, he should not be on Kentucky, period. He needs to go play at Berea or Eastern Kentucky. Something's got to change quick because this is not Kentucky basketball. It's gross. It's disgusting.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I appreciate the call. I mean, I would not be as extreme as he is, but I do think, you know, I think it is fair to say that coming here and apparently I. I don't know how I blanked. We did make the semi the weekend in 2022. We won one game and then we're knocked out playing Tennessee. So we've made the weekend once since 2019.

[Matt Jones]

I don't even remember that.

[Ryan Lemond]

And we only won. We've only won two games here. This was the first time since 2018. I don't really remember playing Tennessee in that game. Do you remember it, Dwayne? Did we get destroyed? He's a Tennessee fan. Tampa. Oh, and okay, actually now I do remember in Tampa, yes, we did play Tennessee and. And lost. It's not Kentucky basketball. And you know, with Jasper and Noah, it's tough. I mean, they're Kentucky kids, so, like, they're going to get added praise when they do well. They're also going to probably get added scrutiny when it goes poorly. You know, I don't know what they're going to do next year. It's been a frustrating year for both those guys with the team. I don't. I don't think there's any doubt and I don't really Totally know why. You know, I really don't. I mean, both those guys should not have had the years they've had, and I don't really know why it happened.

[Matt Jones]

I totally believe that they're both better than they've played this year. And I gotta stand up for Jasper a little bit. When they made that run to tie it at 20:20, he was the one. He was one of them out there. Remainder.

[Ryan Lemond]

Right. He also shoots immediately, but he made

[Matt Jones]

a couple bad shots.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I mean, he was there to get the. He get. He took. He took three straight shots where he didn't even look at the other guy. Now, he made one.

[Matt Jones]

He made one, made the drive.

[Ryan Lemond]

He literally. The first, he took three shots where he didn't look at the. Another guy just came down. Shot. That's the thing with him. Now, again, Jimmy Dykes said that that's what Mark Pope wants him to do. So I'll take that at face value if that's what he says. I don't know that I think that's the best. But to be fair, our other guys weren't doing anything anyway.

[Matt Jones]

So I think Pope wants his point guards, Aberdeener, Jasper, to just drive and get in the lane. When you get in the lane, you gotta hit a little floater or dish it off somewhere.

[Ryan Lemond]

OA was. I mean, always just way off today.

[Matt Jones]

I don't know what was wrong, but,

[Ryan Lemond]

you know, to be fair, he deserves. He deserves a game. Sure, because he's been so good. But he was. He was off today, just the whole game. He just really wasn't in rhythm.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe it was the fatigue of playing all those minutes. Three get three games in three days. I don't know.

[Ryan Lemond]

By the way, and that technical he got, that's. You can't do that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you can't do that.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, we're. Why are you talking trash when we're down 12 anyway? You know, that doesn't make sense.

[Matt Jones]

He talked a lot of trash this whole weekend.

[Ryan Lemond]

He did. And some of that's how he plays. Like, some of that's just him, but there's got to be a line somewhere. And by the way, I'm completely to the. I don't know what's a flagrant and what's not. When you hit somebody in the face. Like, I don't know when it. When is it a flavored.

[Matt Jones]

They seem like they changed their mind after every play.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, the one that we got hit in the face. Chandler, I don't think that was intentional. But then again, I don't Think some of the other ones they've called were intentional.

[Matt Jones]

Intentional, right.

[Ryan Lemond]

So I don't really know what their standard is. Is my friend Brian hacks up along over there. 859-280-2287. Who's up next?

[Caller/Guest]

Chad.

[Ryan Lemond]

Chad. Go ahead, Chad.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, first time, long time.

[Ryan Lemond]

Who are. What's up?

[Caller/Guest]

I just don't understand like two or three for 20. Like why not try a zone, lock up the middle, take out the big man. I'll sit up and listen.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I mean that's. But I don't know. First of all, I don't think that would have helped because the problem for us was the rebounding and that would have been worse in a zone. Right. Do you agree with that?

[Matt Jones]

Absolutely. They were. They outreached by 20. You going to join it? May have rebounded by 30.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I mean, I understand, but you know, outside of those first few minutes. Well, they went from the 13 minute mark to the 4 minute mark where they only had one field goal.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean that's pretty good. Now, we kept fouling them, but we went nine minutes of game action where they only had one field.

[Matt Jones]

Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

So.

[Matt Jones]

And a defense deserves a lot of that credit. It wasn't just all on their poor offense. Our defense created that.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think our defense played well. Yep. I just think offensively we just didn't have it. And it was everybody too. It was everybody. I Diabate had that run in the first half. But, you know, your offense can't be. All right, let's let Mo cook. That's just not going to be an offense that's going to have a lot of.

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Your main offensive threat cannot be Mohammed Diabate, period.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. I mean, Modi on the ones and twos is not the way to. Is not the way to make it going. You like that, didn't you, Mario? That was all right. All right, who's next?

[Caller/Guest]

Ryan.

[Ryan Lemond]

Ryan. Go ahead, Brian.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, Matt, thanks for taking my call. It's at the point now. I don't want to hear any excuses. Yes, Carl Ravitch is annoying. Yes, Jimmy Dykes is annoying. Yes, the refs aren't great. But this is Kentucky and we need to be going to the SEC tournament on the weekend. When you think about it, think about how many people work during the week and have not seen this team play meaningful games in the SEC tournament in years. It's astonishing. Mark Pope has got to turn this around. I think he's at a point next year where he has to make the weekend. I know year three is going to be a lot of pressure on him. But, you know, there's just nothing that excites me about this being going forward in the tournament. And I don't know, maybe you all can talk me back on.

[Ryan Lemond]

No, I mean, there's nothing. I get it. I mean, you know, the brackets are going to come out. I love bracket day. You know, I'm going to be on ESPN radio announcing them. I'm excited to look and see where Kentucky's going to go. I think this. I can't remember a year in a long time where the fan base has had less excitement about whatever is going to happen in the tournament. I mean, everybody will watch the games, but I don't think there's very much confidence in anyone's mind right now.

[Matt Jones]

There's really not. Let's go back to that article that Mark Story wrote. He said Mark's Pope's legacy could beginning right now, starting in March, we lost A and M, lost to Florida, got beaten the quarterfinals here at the SEC tournament, going to the NCAA tournament. So a lot down. His future, his legacy may dictate what happens in the next couple years.

[Ryan Lemond]

I will say there's going to be a lot of pressure in that first round game. Yeah, that 7:10 is going to be a lot of pressure on that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, there will be.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think there'll be a lot of pressure in that next game. You better not get crushed.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, you want to win, but if you go out there and get crushed and then, I mean, Mark Pope's career at Kentucky is going to be next season. It's got to be good. It's not good.

[Matt Jones]

Who he signs, how they play next season is not good.

[Ryan Lemond]

It's not going to work. I mean, that's just the reality. Next year doesn't. If we have 12 losses again and we are a 7, 89 seed going in the tournament and we lose, in fact, like, it's just not going to work. They have to be good next year, I think, for this fan base to really feel it.

[Matt Jones]

And it starts.

[Ryan Lemond]

It starts by picking the roster a couple of weeks.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right. 859-280-2287. What is Corey doing? I don't know. Corey is going to get on the bull. So. All right. So it is working. Oh, yeah. See, I'm. Cory will probably break it though, won't he?

[Matt Jones]

No, I think he's gonna set the tone.

[Ryan Lemond]

We will take a break and be right back. This is the local Toyota dealers postgame show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR Postgame show. I haven't heard this yet, but I'm gonna play the audio here. Apparently Todd golden said something about the fact We've now played 120 minutes against Florida this year. And here's what he had to say.

[Caller/Guest]

I would have preferred to win this game by 20.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, but, but we'll take this eight point win.

[Caller/Guest]

And you know, in the three games

[Matt Jones]

that we played, these guys, they haven't

[Ryan Lemond]

led for one minute. Kind of a trash talking there, isn't it?

[Matt Jones]

He's a little snot nose, snot head, I think. And he's going to rub it in.

[Ryan Lemond]

He's not wrong.

[Matt Jones]

He's not wrong.

[Ryan Lemond]

But here's, I mean, coaches don't talk like that. They don't. But if he was, if our coach was doing that, we would like, of course. So you, you, are you mad because he. Because he's right or because he's right?

[Caller/Guest]

Both.

[Matt Jones]

Little snot nose, snot head, Snotty boy.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right, we can do other adjectives.

[Matt Jones]

He's a little snot head. I can't say the other adjectives.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I mean, he's knucklehead. He is a knucklehead. He's a knucklehead. One person writes, matt, doesn't Todd golden just seem like the biggest jerk? Well, he's definitely a jerk. I mean, he and he and Hurley are competing for biggest jerk. But they've won the last three national titles, so.

[Matt Jones]

And they have two of the best top five teams in the country right now. They can back it up for talking all kind of smack.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. I mean, you have to say they're two of the five teams I think have the best chance to win the national title. And they are, you know, you can't shut them up.

[Matt Jones]

The only way to shut them up is to beat them. You got to beat them.

[Ryan Lemond]

It is weird, though. Todd seems to take particular joy against us and I, I, you know, I don't know. I can't tell. Do you think his relationship, he and Mark, maybe. I mean, they're very different people, so maybe they just don't.

[Matt Jones]

I've wondered and I don't know this.

[Ryan Lemond]

I've gotten the sense that they don't necessarily love each other, but I can't, I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

And I wonder if it goes back to when they're both on the west coast. You know, golden was at San Francisco and Pope was at Utah State and byu. Maybe something happened in their past out there out west or something.

[Ryan Lemond]

Maybe. Yeah. I don't know. One person Writes Matt. This is two straight games where we've had a guy get hot and then they got pulled. It was yellow bitch yesterday. It was diabate today.

[Matt Jones]

True.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean diabate goes on that 8o'. Run. They did take him out and yesterday

[Matt Jones]

yellow bitch was cooking and he took him out and he didn't score again the rest of the game after he took him out.

[Ryan Lemond]

Interesting. Yesterday Yelovich did really well. They took him out. Didn't really play me again in the first half today. He was really bad and they kept him in a lot of. So I didn't really understand that.

[Matt Jones]

Man, he was getting open looks and just couldn't hit one.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, he was. He had a bad game. 859-280-2287 who's next?

[Caller/Guest]

Mark. Mark.

[Ryan Lemond]

Go ahead, Mark.

[Caller/Guest]

Well, you, you played the clip that I was going to make a comment on. I was going to tell you. Did you know that in the three games this year, which is 120 minutes, that Kentucky never had to leave? Yeah, no, you're right. You, you stole my comment. And as far as Todd golden, he's not very friendly but I think the majority of Kentucky fans would take him in a minute.

[Ryan Lemond]

There's, you know, it's interesting, there's a video out here I'm looking at right now online of when away got his technical and it seems like it's interesting watching him, Pope and Golden because Pope's kind of jawing and then Golden's kind of, he's not jawing but he's staring at him and then he's like, tells the ref, hey, get him to shut up. They give the technical. Golden starts clapping wildly. I they can't, they must not like each other. If you just look at that clip, there's no way those two guys like each other.

[Matt Jones]

And the post game handshake is always a blow by between those two guys. Always a blow by one person.

[Ryan Lemond]

Writes Matt. Admit it, the UK fan base wishes Todd golden were the coach. I don't want to say wishes but I mean there's no doubt like there aren't going to be a lot of people that would say they would like that. But if he was the coach, most fans would defend his actions. Now they wouldn't defend the other thing that happened, you know, but the his actions as a coach. Of course everybody would defend. I mean Cal did a lot of this stuff, you know, I mean young swashbuckling gal.

[Matt Jones]

We loved, we loved it when Cal did it. It only when he started losing, not playing well then We.

[Ryan Lemond]

We did it with Rick was the same way. Rick and Cow were the same, and we loved it. I mean, they were. You know, they didn't have the same exact personality traits, but the sort of talk trash. I mean, he make those videos. We come to your town and we take. You know, we liked what he did when we had coaches doing all that. Somebody called the show the other day and said, we need to be the villain of college basketball. And to some extent, I actually think there's some truth to that.

[Matt Jones]

When Cal was saying that stuff, doing that stuff. Oh, that's just Cal. Because they were winning, we loved it. Things turn quickly, though, when you start losing. And right now, Pope's not winning those games, and so everything he does get judged. Judged a little harshly.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Who's next?

[Caller/Guest]

Kevin.

[Ryan Lemond]

Kevin. Go ahead, Kevin.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, Matt. Man, the feeling of existential dread I had watching that game was so jarring. I mean, we used to be Florida, you know, we used to be that program. We used to have the best athletes, the biggest guys, the most size, the most skill. We knew no matter what, whoever we laced up against, we were going to win, we'd find a way to win. It wouldn't matter. We haven't touched that in seven years. And I'm just wondering, at what point do you just say the program is in decline and potentially unalterable? I mean.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, why? Let me ask you a question. Why would you. I mean, is. Has it been in decline? Yes. I mean, I will agree with that. Why would you say it's unalterable? I mean, like. All right, take Florida. Florida was bad for six years in a row, ever since. I mean, since Billy Donovan left. They were bad. And then they went and hired a coach and he turned it around. Kentucky can be terrible. I mean, we can. They can be terrible. They can still turn it around with the right hire. Billy Gillespie was bad. Then they hired John Cal Perry. So why would it be unalterable?

[Caller/Guest]

I suppose maybe it's just. Just me being so low in the moment because this. This season has been so unremarkable and uninspiring. But with all the new challenges and wrinkles in college basketball, it just doesn't feel like we're on the eight ball and every other blue blood is.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I agree with that.

[Caller/Guest]

On the outside looking in, I agree with that.

[Ryan Lemond]

And I. But I don't think, outside of some decisions that I think UK Athletics has made that I think are poor decisions. I don't think there's anything structurally that makes it impossible for Kentucky to Be good, if that makes sense. I think if you have the right leadership, making the right decisions and embracing the modern era, then there's no reason Kentucky can't be good. It's not like, you know, if you're a fan of Boston College, there just may never be a way for them to be good. I don't think, Ryan, that's true about Kentucky at all.

[Matt Jones]

I still believe Pope can do it. Maybe it is next year. I. I'm not giving up yet. Know a lot of fans have, but I think he's a guy that could turn it around here.

[Ryan Lemond]

I hope so.

[Matt Jones]

I do hope so.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Caller/Guest]

And I guess last thing, if. If Pope's game plan was to have Jasper just shoot through his misses, I. It makes. Everything makes sense this year. I'm just grumpy today, Matt. But I mean, the amount of latitude that a lot of this fan base gives the kids simply because their birth certificate has a KY on it is so ridiculous to me. I will never understand that.

[Ryan Lemond]

I will never appreciate the call. Do you agree with that?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I think.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, but you're one of them.

[Matt Jones]

I may be the. I may be the leader of the Jasper Johnson fan club. I think there's. The day is going to come he's going to be a fantastic college basketball player.

[Ryan Lemond]

But do you think that's right? The fan base gives too much. I mean, I don't say leeway, but like, we put too much stock in. This guy's from Kentucky, you know, that. That, that matters and maybe they get more chances. I mean, you think that's true?

[Matt Jones]

I definitely think that's true. I mean, that's who we are. These guys are one of us, you know, and one of them played a high school ball and end up in our roster.

[Ryan Lemond]

We.

[Matt Jones]

We want. We want them to succeed, but it

[Ryan Lemond]

hasn't worked a lot. No, I mean, you know, Malachi's on a good path.

[Matt Jones]

He is.

[Ryan Lemond]

But Reed.

[Matt Jones]

Reed was a Kentucky boy that did well.

[Ryan Lemond]

I consider Reed different because Reed was like an uber town.

[Matt Jones]

Huh.

[Ryan Lemond]

Right. Besides. Besides Reed, when was the last Kentucky guy. That's really worked out.

[Matt Jones]

You count Rondo?

[Ryan Lemond]

No, because he wasn't. I mean, yes, but like, he also went to Oak Hill.

[Matt Jones]

Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Darius Miller obviously worked out.

[Matt Jones]

Patrick Sparks.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, but I mean, Patrick Sparks, 20 years ago.

[Matt Jones]

That's right.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, I mean, Darius Miller definitely worked out. I'm trying to think. There's guys who else think? Well, okay. Hawkins and Willis were solid contributors.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, they were. Although it took a while for Cal.

[Ryan Lemond]

It took a while Though, I mean, it took them, you know, Willis didn't even get in the game until he was a junior, you know. Now, Hawkins played a little bit as a freshman and sophomore, but we were

[Matt Jones]

talking about the fact that Dominique Hawkins was SEC Tournament MVP that year.

[Ryan Lemond]

He actually wasn't. I think in our minds, we've.

[Matt Jones]

I thought he was.

[Ryan Lemond]

I, I, I did too. He was on the All Tournament team, but I don't think he was actually in my mind, I've always kind of made, I think I had a bunch. I have, too, and I don't think it's actually right. But he was on the All Tournament team.

[Matt Jones]

That's crazy because he was like the 10th man on that team, but he just showed up that weekend.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Who's next, guys?

[Caller/Guest]

Let's give our Johnny Rocker, personal injury attorney.

[Ryan Lemond]

Next.

[Matt Jones]

Injured.

[Caller/Guest]

Get small town compassion with big city

[Matt Jones]

results when you call the rocker at 270-321-4429. And today we got to give it to Ramadan Mo.

[Caller/Guest]

14 points, 12 in the first half, including those two threes. Five of seven from the field, three rebounds, one steal, zero water and zero food ingested during the game. In 23 minutes, he was a team

[Matt Jones]

high plus six on the plus minus. He is our Johnny Rocker, moneymaker of the game.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's exactly right. All right, who's next?

[Caller/Guest]

Royce is next.

[Ryan Lemond]

Royce. Go ahead, Royce.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, Matt. Hey, Ryan. Thanks for what you guys do. You're the best. I just, I'm not surprised. I've been a Kentucky fan my entire life, but everybody seems so willing to want to declare that this is the end of the world and the program's in decline and Mark Pope's awful and we got to get rid of. This is what we do every year when we get knocked out of an SEC tournament or NCAA tournament. I heard you guys say a few minutes ago, oh, the fans. Boy, I've never seen people really kind of less motivated and enthused about the ncaa. I listened to you guys yesterday and you were exuberant after that win and talking about 8am and the fans were going to be in. This is what we do.

[Ryan Lemond]

That there is a lot. There's some truth to that. I agree. But let's just use my point about the NCAA tournament. When is the last time? I mean, if I go back and I sit there and think about the NCAA tournament last year, I thought they could get to the Final Four. I knew it would be tough to beat Tennessee, but, and I don't remember who would have been in the next round But I knew it would be difficult, but I thought it would. I thought we could. Then the year before we lost Oakland, I thought that team had a chance to make a run. Those Oscar teams, certainly the St. Peter's year, I thought they could.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

The year we didn't make the tournament, obviously didn't. Then you go back before that, pretty much every Cal team I thought could make a run. So this may be the first time that we've gone into a tournament that it's hard for me to see us making a run. And I think that's really all.

[Caller/Guest]

I mean, I. I totally get it.

[Matt Jones]

And.

[Caller/Guest]

And here's the. Here's the perspective that I would offer. And maybe because it's. I'm not as close to it and down in the weeds breathing it as you guys are and a lot of others. But look, Mark Poe has been here. He's in his second season. The guy has got such positivity, such a lovely guy. We don't. We don't decide whether he's a good coach or not right now. He needs at least another year. The deal is the whole landscape has changed. We're not. We're not playing the game we used to be play. Nil, transfer, portal, all that stuff. This is a totally different game. You can't judge it by what we did in the past.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, but. Okay, but I. I agree with every. I agree with everything you said, except the last thing, because then how do you explain that the other blue bloods are good.

[Caller/Guest]

Let's see. Awful small, small specimen. Remember that in our one year, Mark Pope, who you just said you thought might go to a Final Four, potentially, in that first year, after Cal took everybody, we had zero.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, but we're gonna have zero. We're gonna have zero every year.

[Caller/Guest]

The Final Four.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I mean, we're gonna have zero every year. I mean, that.

[Caller/Guest]

Him being the worst coast and running him off just yet.

[Ryan Lemond]

Nobody said he was the worst coach. You're being just as extreme as you're accusing us of being. Nobody has said he's the worst coach. Nobody has said he should be running.

[Caller/Guest]

I'm saying I'm here in three. Some callers that seem to be real quick to want to pull the trigger on the guy. We got to give this some time. It's a new world, boys.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I appreciate the call. I mean, I agree with you. But I do think next year is going to be big.

[Matt Jones]

Do you think this team has the capability to make a run next week? Next week?

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, I think they can make the second weekend depending on the draw. Yeah, it all depends on the draw you got. Yeah, I got to see who we're paired up against. But could they make the second weekend? Yeah. Do I think they're good enough to beat any of those one seeds if they got to the to the second weekend? No, but, you know, if you got the right draw and everything came out and you played well, could you make the Elite 8? You could, but you could also lose that first game.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, you could lose the first game.

[Matt Jones]

I think most of us, when the brackets come out, we'll talk ourselves into them making a run. We'll say, oh, yeah, they can beat my mood.

[Ryan Lemond]

Will some be about who we play?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, right, right.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, because I think if you look at it and I see Santa Clara, Iowa State, I go, all right, game on.

[Matt Jones]

Let's go.

[Ryan Lemond]

Got a shot.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

If I see SMU Yukon, I'm like, oh, I hope we beat smu.

[Matt Jones]

You know, I think that's probably what our fan base. That's who we are, man.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. 859-280-2287 we are going to take a break. Did I just see my friend Corey got on the bull? Was that hard?

[Matt Jones]

They had it on. They had it on kitty mode. No offense, Cory. It was on kitty mode.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, I want it to be below that for you. Two and three out of what, 10. Okay, well, that's. That's good. You got between two and three out of 10. We'll take a break and be right back. It is a local toy dealers KSR postgame show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR post game show. Met Jones, Ryan Lemon about to finishing up here. We got Terry Miners coming on next. He came on and said we had to give him enough time a few minutes ago or yesterday. So we will. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

We started late today because the game went long.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes. One person writes, Matt, I love the guys on this team. They're just not a very cohesive unit and I really don't know if there's much you can do about that. I kind of agree. I mean, I don't dislike. I mean, everybody knows Garrison frustrates me, but I love his passion. But I do think it's just not a group that really molds well together.

[Matt Jones]

I think we saw it earlier this year when we should have read the tea leaves early in November, that there's something. There's just something off about this team. We couldn't figure out what it was. There was a time where I even said I Don't like this team. They do have grown on me, though, this group of guys.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. Fox was the MV MVP of that tournament. Hawkins was. Was altered.

[Matt Jones]

Was first team.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. But, yeah, I mean, pretty much, if you're looking at it in the. If you start with Patrick Sparks. So Patrick Sparks was what, 2007 ish for Kentucky. Am I right about that? Six, six, seven. That's 20 years ago. Since then, it's really just Darius, Miller, Hawkins and Willis. That's really it.

[Matt Jones]

20 years.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, I think we think about it being, you know, we love hat, but, like, there hadn't been many Kentucky guys that have had success when. We've had a lot of guys during that time, but really only those are kind of the guys that have had success.

[Matt Jones]

There were definitely very few during the Cal era, for sure.

[Ryan Lemond]

I will say high school basketball is a lot better in Kentucky now than it was during those years. I believe so, too, for a variety of reasons. We went through a period where we just didn't produce that many great players, and it is a lot better now.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I totally agree with that. And Malachi is a guy that. I think he's developing into an NBA guy at some point. If Jasper gets there. I hope so. But Malachi is definitely on the high.

[Ryan Lemond]

Who's up next?

[Caller/Guest]

Brett.

[Ryan Lemond]

Brett. Go ahead, Brett.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, Matt. Thank you for taking my call, guys.

[Ryan Lemond]

Glad to.

[Caller/Guest]

I just wanted to give you guys a little bit of a cool perspective. I mean, obviously everybody's pretty disappointed with the result today, but I'm a high school teacher. This week did create some fun memories for me and a few of my classes that I had. We put the game up on the big projector and I had multiple classrooms in there.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Caller/Guest]

At one time. And we had a lot of excitement during the LSU and Missouri wins, and it was really nice to experience that. But one thing that I noticed that struck me as odd is a lot of these kids who are, you know, between 14 and 18 years old, they've never really known Kentucky to be dominant or good. And in fact, a lot of these kids, unfortunately, they have other teams that they pull for even in the sec, like Alabama and Nate Oates and Tod in Florida. And some of them even choose teams like Yukon, Duke, North Carolina, and they're just. It really blew me away and made me a little sad. And we. We all were disappointed in a few of them. Even got some laughs at my expense today when they saw me get angry at the game.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, some of that is just when people are kids, they are contrarians I mean, when I was growing up, even in Middlesbrough, there were a couple people that would root for Duke. But yeah, I mean, you know, that is a very good point. I appreciate the call. Certain age of kids really never seem Kentucky be dominant.

[Matt Jones]

I was talking to my son Josiah about that. He was five years old in 2012 when Kentucky won the title. Five years. He does not remember it. He's never seen Kentucky make a big run. I think he said he first he remembers. He thinks he can remember the Fox Monk and Bam team, but he doesn't really remember much about it. So that he has yet to see a good run by Kentucky team.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, but then like today at the bar, there were a ton of kids there.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, right.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

So, I mean, it is what it is.

[Matt Jones]

4.

[Ryan Lemond]

Let's do four more. We'll call it a tournament. Who's next?

[Caller/Guest]

Macy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Macy. Go ahead, Macy.

[Caller/Guest]

Hi, I'm.

[Ryan Lemond]

How are you?

[Matt Jones]

Good.

[Caller/Guest]

First time, Long time. So why do you think they shot so bad today?

[Ryan Lemond]

Do you think, like, I don't know, they got cocky since they won the last two games? I think Florida is very long, Macy. They got tall guys in a lot of the positions and they contest well and then, you know, they just got cold. And this is not. Ryan a great shooting team. Even though Pope said during the preseason that it may be the best shooting team he's ever been a part of. I. That. I don't think that's true. And that's been true all year.

[Matt Jones]

I think you're right. I think Florida's defense had something to do with it. And I know we've been talking about a lot, but I think fatigue definitely played a little bit into it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, that may be true, but thank you, Macy. Appreciate it. Tennessee, by the way, down 5 right now to Vandy. They were up. They'd gotten up eight, but Vandy's gone on a run. Who's next? Tim. Tim. Go ahead, Tim.

[Caller/Guest]

Hey, what's up, Mr. Matt Ryan and Billy the Dude. How are y' all doing today?

[Matt Jones]

Happy Friday.

[Ryan Lemond]

Doing great.

[Caller/Guest]

I was just gonna say, you know how in the movie Miracle, Brooks comes out and he says, hey, you know, when they're doing the trials, he's like, hey, you're missing some of the best dudes. He goes, I'm not looking for the best guys. I'm looking for the right ones. So what happens when you have a coach that can't find either of those? And here's my thing. I love Mark Pope. I think he's a great guy, but we're all like, I feel like I'm in one of my, you know. You know, you have a friend that's married like one extra year too long and they're just like not wanting to get a divorce because of that. And like, I'm just saying, like, I think Mark Pope's going to be a great coach. I just think he's three or four years away. He needs to go and figure out kind of what he wants to run so he can figure out the guys that can run it. And I just don't think Kentucky is the place to do that and.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, he's not that young, though. I mean, he's not that young. Todd Golden's 38, Mark Pope's 50. Right.

[Caller/Guest]

I mean, I'm trying to be nice here.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. But I'm just saying, like, I, I've gotten the sense all year and I appreciate the call. I think Mark has an offensive philosophy. I think sometime during that stretch of Louisville, Michigan State, Gonzaga, it became very clear that the philosophy he wants to play just didn't work with.

[Matt Jones]

This wasn't going to work.

[Ryan Lemond]

Just wasn't going to work.

[Matt Jones]

No.

[Ryan Lemond]

He thought this team could shoot. He thought that. And it just, it wasn't going to happen. So then he basically had to create an offense on the fly that he's just not accustomed to do it. And you know, one of the signs of a coach is you got to be able to adjust and I. And I don't know that that happens. So I think you recruited a team that really didn't fit his style. And then this style that he's tried to do just hadn't done that well.

[Matt Jones]

That was the argument a guy gave me that he is a good coach. He changed his style in the middle of the season after he lost a couple key players, changed it again and then even during the SEC season, changed during the halftime of games.

[Ryan Lemond]

But like, Jalen Lowe was always going to be the worst shooter on the team, probably. So losing him shouldn't have changed a lot.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Because he was going to always be the worst three point shooter.

[Matt Jones]

He definitely thought yellow Noah, these guys were going to shoot.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think if you, if you were to get him and to be honest and you were to say what went wrong, he would say to you that he thought Garrison would make a leap.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. That didn't really, didn't really happen.

[Ryan Lemond]

He thought Jasper would be better, definitely shoot better than he's then he did. I think he thought that the Chandler we saw sometimes would be the Chandler all year. And then that Jalen Lowe would be a point guard who could create kind of like Denzel has at the end of the year. But he did done that all year year.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

And then he probably thought if Quaintance is healthy, he's a beast.

[Matt Jones]

Yep.

[Ryan Lemond]

And a lot of those things just didn't.

[Matt Jones]

None of those happen.

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean I, you know, probably the one pleasant surprise. Moreno's probably better than he thought he would be. Don't you think that's probably a pleasant surprise.

[Matt Jones]

We, we saw this at the season started. He was the backup to the backup.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well he didn't play some games earlier so but otherwise. And then Trit Noah hasn't been able to give it any. No, I mean I started.

[Matt Jones]

He did. He was a starter when the season began.

[Ryan Lemond]

So I think he. Him not being able to really give him much. I think all of that has combined to. To. To. To where they are two more. Who's next?

[Caller/Guest]

Jerry is next.

[Ryan Lemond]

Jerry. Go ahead, Jerry.

[Caller/Guest]

Thank you. My call, man. I don't, I don't want to go Kentucky because I don't tell you why he lost three guards last year to the NBA and he recovered good this year and I don't think he'll win a championship this year. And I'm not, I'm not a Florida hater. But he's going to lose four out of his five starters off his team next year. Only ones coming back is probably going to be playing if he comes back. But he's going to have a lot of people to replace next year and we may be time of year from now and we may be laughing at him this time next year.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's true. But I will say this, I will say this. You know, in college basketball to win you got to have really good guards. And I actually think you could argue his guards have been kind of disappointed and they're still winning. You know, I mean it's not been what he thought they'd be. He'd be. And Xavier Lee's been better in the second half of the year. But in the first half of the year was a disaster and yet they've still found a way to be really

[Caller/Guest]

good one more time and I get off here. But Florida was very gettable today. You know what I'm saying? We missed out on a lot. You know, we missed out on a lot of rebounds and it just. I'm sure it was hard legs.

[Matt Jones]

Whatever, whatever.

[Caller/Guest]

But they was very getable today. But thanks for taking my call, buddy.

[Ryan Lemond]

Totally agree with you. 859-280-2287 why am I giving you that? We're doing one more call. Who's next?

[Caller/Guest]

Curtis.

[Ryan Lemond]

Curtis. Go ahead, Curtis.

[Caller/Guest]

Thanks for taking my call. I can't believe I'm actually ending the show. I will say I do love Mark Pope and I wanted to work for him. And a question I had was, if the season next year starts as slow and as poorly as this one did, how quick with Barnhart retiring, will the new administration be to probably get rid of them or look into the next next coach, you know, and then I will say next week is my favorite week of the year. I can't wait for March Madness to start. Let's have a little bit of hope and let's hope the Cats can go on some kind of run. Let's have fun with it. We only got a couple games left.

[Matt Jones]

Let's.

[Caller/Guest]

Let's stay positive, bbn. Hopefully. Hopefully we can do something.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, I totally agree. I think it depends on who the ad is. You know, I think there's a couple of candidates who would probably be a little more forgiving with Pope for various reasons. I think there's, you know, you bring in somebody with no ties, they may just be like the new CEO of a company. Right. So I think that that's a hard question to answer until you know who's got the job.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, there are some guys that want to hire their guy. You know, they.

[Ryan Lemond]

A lot of people do.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Ryan Lemond]

A lot of people do. But if they're winning, they're not going to change.

[Matt Jones]

Not going to make a change then.

[Ryan Lemond]

So. Yeah, we'll see. Well, listen, thank you all for a fun weekend, a weekend here in. In Nashville. Thank you to the folks at DraftKings who have hosted us for the last couple days. Thank you to my friends for chanting this as here on the air. Really, really appreciate that. And we will be back. So I will be on. I'll be doing ESPN Radio 6 to 9 on the bracket show Sunday and then we will host Monday. I will be in Connecticut. Myron cannot do it now, so Ryan and Drew will be with us. We'll be with you on Monday in Lexington. I will will be at the ESPN studios in Bristol. We will see you later. Cats lose 7163. This has been the local Toyota dealers KSR postgame show.

[Caller/Guest]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Caller/Guest]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Ryan Lemond]

This is the biggest night in podcasting.

[Caller/Guest]

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[Ryan Lemond]

It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world.

[Caller/Guest]

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[Ryan Lemond]

And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is.

[Caller/Guest]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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