KSR Postgame UK MBB vs LSU SECT 3/11/26

Summary

KSR Postgame Show: UK MBB vs LSU SECT (3/11/26)

Podcast: KSR Postgame
Host: Matt Jones (with Ryan Lemond)
Recorded: March 11, 2026
Game: Kentucky Wildcats 82, LSU Tigers 77
Location: The Mint, Bowling Green, KY (on the road for the SEC Tournament)

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Episode Overview

This postgame episode captures the immediate reactions of Matt Jones and Ryan Lemond as the Kentucky Wildcats secure a hard-fought 82–77 victory over LSU in their opening game of the SEC Tournament. Broadcasting live from The Mint in Bowling Green, the KSR crew dives into the pivotal moments, standout performances (especially from Brandon Garrison), fan experiences, team outlook, and even some listener call-ins for a laid-back, community-driven analysis infused with the duo’s signature wit and passion.

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Main Discussion Themes

1. Game Summary & Key Performers

• The Cats won 82-77, never fully pulling away but holding on late.
  • Largest lead: 11 points; lead cut to 5 in the final stretch.
  • LSU played with more energy early and had some scorching performances, particularly from one of their guards (“the one kid on LSU could not miss for about 30 minutes” – Matt, [03:57]).
• Brandon Garrison’s breakout:
  • Scored 18 points—his best game as a Wildcat.
  • Hit two critical threes late, swinging the momentum and energizing the defense.
  • Noted for three hook shots made, a shot he struggled with much of the season ([05:55]).
  • Only made two threes during the regular season, then made two in this crucial game.

Notable quote:
“Maybe Brandon Garrison's best game at Kentucky.…18 points, basically hit two threes that turned the game from a one point game into a seven point lead.” – Matt Jones ([02:06])

2. Momentum Shifts & Strategy

• Garrison’s threes cited as pivotal—the Wildcats’ energy and defense improved directly after.
• Owe (OA) and Aberdeen deemed essential; question remains each night whether UK can find a “third guy” to step up offensively ([07:22]).
• Chandler, a regular offensive threat, struggled for a third straight game ([10:28]).
• UK’s transition game and pace discussed—calls for speeding it up, especially due to talent like Owe ([17:31]).

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3. Broadcast & Fan Experience

• The hosts describe the scene at The Mint, the travelling fan base, and Kentucky’s dominance in crowd presence—even at a noon Wednesday game.
• Listener calls illustrate the UK basketball bond—one caller shares how a customer let him stay to watch the end of the game on his couch ([22:40]), another seeks permission to skip school to watch the next game ([51:02]).

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4. Critical Calls & Quotes

On Garrison’s Performance

• “We're always going to remember this as the Brandon Garrison game.” – Ryan ([03:29])
• “It's crazy that that was the difference in the game.” – Matt ([05:17])
• “He was our best three point shooter tonight. What are you talking about? Two for three.” – Ryan ([30:31])

On Coaching, Substitutions & Adjustments

• Matt praises Coach Mark Pope for improved sub patterns:
  • OA (Owe) played 39 mins, Aberdeen 37, always keeping at least one on the floor.
  • Points out good timeouts, notably when the lead dropped from 11 to 7 ([34:50], [35:13]).
  • Criticism: Taking out Yelovich during a hot streak.
• “If you look at how teams played Kentucky earlier in the year…they kind of guarded Chandler the same way they did Owe and Aberdeen…not now, they’re taking the view of we’re not letting him get open looks.” – Matt ([36:25])

On the Team’s Potential and Talent

• Ryan: “We owe Missouri, man. They came in there and punked us on our home floor…. We owe them.” ([09:25])
• Matt: “If you’re just talking raw talent, I think virtually every team Calipari had has more raw talent than this one has….this is one of the less talented Kentucky teams in the last 15 or 16 years.” ([44:26])

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5. Listener Call-Ins & Memorable Moments

Fun & Heartwarming Exchanges

• Staying home for the Cats: Young caller Jackson negotiates, on air, with his mom to get the next day off to watch UK play; Matt strikes a deal, promising a house cleaning, getting mom to agree ([51:02]–[53:54]).
• Fan camaraderie: Several stories highlight Kentucky fans coming together–strangers watching together, folks recalling watching UK in school, and lore about old tournament matchups ([22:40], [54:52]).
• Family & traditions: Ryan and Matt share their traditions for dealing with game-day nerves, like Matt walking around casinos or snow-covered Syracuse rather than watching live ([33:57]).

Humor and Inside Jokes

• Ongoing ribbing about Matt riding a mechanical bull after predicting Garrison wouldn’t score double digits ([03:54], [19:01]).
• Banter about listeners’ crowd-pleasing, sometimes “creepy” on-air energy and support for the team ([30:13]).
• Several jokes (and laughs from audience) about fashion choices and what Matt will wear when he rides the bull ([60:03]).

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6. Team Outlook & SEC/NCAA Tournament Implications

• Seeding Stakes:
  • The win likely locks UK into a 7-seed, a further win could bump to 6; if they win the SEC Tournament outright, possibly a 5 ([14:48], [25:11], [56:15]).
• Next Game: Missouri—a key matchup for potential revenge after their home-court loss. Hosts believe UK is the better team, but didn’t overlook Missouri’s “number” on Kentucky or potential “atmosphere” in the gym ([09:25]).

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7. Quick Hits & Miscellaneous

• Shoutouts to UK fans traveling and packing the arena, especially at odd hours ([08:55]).
• Mark Pope’s trust in Garrison: “This is the Brandon Garrison we thought we were going to get the whole season.” – Ryan ([11:52])
• Defensive concerns linger—inside defense and physicality, particularly with Malachi struggling ([27:17]).
• Callers ask for Pope’s plans with sub patterns, Chandler’s recent performance issues, and how other teams are “keying” on key Wildcats ([36:47]).

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8. Timestamps for Key Moments

| Timestamp | Content | |-----------|---------| | 02:06 | Game intro, Garrison’s performance, UK never pulls away | | 03:29 | “Brandon Garrison game,” LSU’s best player on a tear | | 04:43 | Garrison’s momentum-swing threes | | 05:23 | Garrison only made two threes all year—makes two today | | 10:28 | Chandler’s struggles—team needs a third scorer | | 14:48 | Tournament seeding implications | | 19:01 | “Has Garrison earned another three attempt?” | | 22:40 | Fan watches game in stranger’s home—KY basketball community | | 33:57 | Matt and Ryan’s superstitions/“can’t watch with others” | | 35:13 | Substitutions & Pope’s improved adjustment | | 44:26 | On talent: “I think virtually every team Calipari had has more raw talent…” | | 51:02 | Jackson’s quest to skip school, mom negotiation | | 54:52 | Stories about watching UK in class / memorable games | | 56:13 | If UK wins out, what seed will they get? |

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Conclusion

The KSR team’s postgame is a lively blend of deep-dive basketball analysis, fan traditions, inside jokes, and heartwarming community spirit—an essential listen for Kentucky fans who want more than just stats from their sports talk. The Brandon Garrison breakout performance, wide-ranging takes on the Wildcats’ postseason prospects, tales from the traveling Big Blue Nation, and interactive fan moments combine for a quintessentially Kentucky experience.

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Quotable Endings

“We’re always going to remember this as the Brandon Garrison game.” – Ryan ([03:29])

“This is the only game…that I would say we won because of him [Garrison].” – Matt ([12:07])

“That’s going to be more than what he’s going to remember in school.” – Matt on skipping class to watch UK play ([55:03])

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Transcript

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[Matt Jones]

Welcome everyone. It is the local toy dealers. KSR Post Game show the Cats win 82 to 77 as we are now officially on the road and at the SEC tournament sponsored by Clayton and Croom and Burnt Tavern Bourbon Clayton and Croom with the Leather Burt Tavern Burnt Tavern Bourbon with the Bourbon. And we are here in Bowling Green where we stopped at the Mint to watch the game and saw the Cats get a five point victory. That was never, I mean it was, it was never, you know, not in question. They were able to win, but never had a bleed bigger than 11 and came down at one point, down to five at the end. But the Cats end up winning 82, 77, all on the heels of a great performance by Brandon Garrison. Maybe Brandon Garrison's best game at Kentucky. 18 points. Basically hit two threes that turned the game from a one point game into a seven point lead. I said on the pregame show this morning that Garrison, if he got in double digits, I would ride a mechanical bull at kid rocks, never thinking that would be possible. Not only did he do it, he scored 18 Ryan Linman and was the key to today's victory.

[Ryan Lemond]

Saddle up, Matthew. B.G. garrison's the hero. We're always going to remember this as the Brandon Garrison game. He was fantastic. The announcers were bragging on him every trip down the floor. But if you heard that wind gust siren that went off at about an hour ago in Kentucky, it was everybody's exhaling relief. Got the first one.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they did. And it wasn't certain. I mean, at one point LSU took the lead in the second half.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And it was not certain at all. As a matter of fact, LSU I thought played very, very well. Kentucky just didn't quite have the energy of LSU. And then the one kid on LSU could not miss for about 30 minutes of the game. He carries wore us out. I mean they had Chandler on him, wore him out. Aberdeen, he kind of was taken. Then they did put away on him towards the end and I thought, oh, we did a better job than the other guys. But he was tough to stop.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, they switched around and finally, always the guy that finally slowed him down a little bit late in the second half. I mean, what do you end up with, like 27 points or something? He was eating us alive.

[Matt Jones]

But you really do have to give Brandon Garrison a lot of the credit. I thought the game, I mean it turned around. I mean it was a one point game. Back and forth, back and forth. And then when he hit those two threes, not only I think it energized the team, it didn't just give us a seven point lead. All of a sudden the defense was a lot more intense. I mean really that if you go back and look the defensive possessions from like the. I don't know, when he hit those threes, there were like Seven minutes to go or whatever from there until about the three minute mark were probably the best defensive possessions we had in the game. And I think as crazy as it is, Brandon Garrison out there hitting threes and then tapping his shoulder kind of got everybody on, on.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think he wanted to send you a message. He took it personal, what you said on the pregame show.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, come on, it's crazy. Like it's, it's crazy that that was the difference in the game.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, he was a great three point shooter all season.

[Matt Jones]

He only made two threes all season and he made two today. That's the kind of thing that if it didn't happen to us, would drive us insane. Like, if you're an LSU fan, there's probably six that watch the game, but if you are, that would drive you absolutely nuts.

[Ryan Lemond]

So in about a minute's time, he missed a wide open slam dunk and

[Matt Jones]

they would have given him double digits.

[Ryan Lemond]

He's gonna get it double digits. And then he came down, hit back to back three pointers. I mean, that is Brandon Garrison to a core right there. But, you know, he came out immediately, got a couple quick backs. He did think that kind of guy's confidence.

[Matt Jones]

And he made, he made three back to the basket hook shots during the game, which is a shot he's been able to get all year but just not consistently make. He just didn't. Could not consistently make that shot all year and then he was able to do it today. And I actually think that a big difference away, obviously was excellent. He had a little stretch that wasn't good where he missed a couple open jumpers, missed a free throw. But besides that, I thought he was really good throughout the game. Got some good minutes from, from Aberdeen here and there, you know, but besides that, they, they had to grind it out. And I can't believe Brandon Garrison's the difference, but he is. And now the Cats move on to play Missouri tomorrow.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, there are a couple different points of the game where different guys did show up. You mentioned already, you know, what, what average.

[Matt Jones]

Well, yellow.

[Ryan Lemond]

Exactly.

[Matt Jones]

He, at the beginning, problem was he was getting torched on deep. He and Chandler just got torched on defense. Chandler really struggled the entire game and Yovich did too. But Yelvich did score seven points early.

[Ryan Lemond]

Cam Williams got some minutes, came in, hit a three.

[Matt Jones]

Another one though, that struggled on defense. I mean, he made the three, but you. I don't. It's just he's going to have a hard time defensively probably because until he gets Back to it. I thought Diabate played pretty good defense, but you know, I mean this team, if you watch Kentucky this year, it's kind of like away and Aberdeen are going to at least in SEC play away and Aberdeen are going to play well.

[Ryan Lemond]

They're going to get there.

[Matt Jones]

So the question is, can you have a third guy? And sometimes it's Chandler, sometimes it's being Diabate. And then tonight it was Brandon Garrison was the third guy.

[Ryan Lemond]

If you listen to John Crispin on the broadcast and the play by play guy, they acted like Brandon Garrison with first team all American because they kept saying when he went out, he goes, I always got to bring it back in. You got to put him on the floor.

[Matt Jones]

I always forget about the Crispin brothers until he. And then he'll just show up once every two years and do one of our games. And I'm like, oh yeah, the Christman brothers. That's right. Beat us it rep. So you know, they just, they needed to just win it.

[Ryan Lemond]

They did.

[Matt Jones]

Decent crowd there. Now I think a lot of Kentucky fans are making their way today and tonight and tomorrow. Is it. Is, is it Tennessee that plays the winner of this game or Vandy?

[Ryan Lemond]

Vandy. Vandy's in our top bracket with Florida.

[Matt Jones]

Well, so is Tennessee though. Who got the buy?

[Ryan Lemond]

Ah, I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

Vandy has the buy. So Tennessee. So tomorrow I actually think that's going to be a crowded gym because you're going to have Kentucky and Tennessee both playing. Yeah, I don't think Missouri will have a lot of people. If Auburn wins, they might have a lot of people. If Auburn wins, they might be playing Tennessee tomorrow for the tournament. Like to have it, to have a shit because it's true, to have a shot to make the tournament. So I actually think tomorrow's day atmosphere could be quite an atmosphere depending on and on what happens.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think that would be a good ticket if you got Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, if Auburn loses today, they're out. But if they win today and they were to beat Tennessee, I think they would have a chance then to make the tournament.

[Ryan Lemond]

I got to admit I was a little pleasantly surprised of all the blue that was in there today. They said the whole first level and second level was full of nothing but blue. Upper level was empty spots. But overall though, Kentucky kind of took over as they should. I'm just kind of surprised. It happened on a Wednesday at 12:30.

[Matt Jones]

So I kind of expected this game to be tight and back and forth. Do you feel confident after this game that this is a team that can make some kind of run. I'm confident at least win tomorrow.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm confident they can win tomorrow because we owe Missouri, man. They came in there and punked us on our home floor, beat us. I think it ended up being five points. We owe them, man. We in Dennis Gates, whatever reason, seems to have Kentucky's number. We owe them. So I think if they go look, look themselves in the mirror tonight, come out, man up, be the wounded dog coming into the game tomorrow, Matt, we're going to get them.

[Matt Jones]

Sometimes I think games can. Games like this can really come down to a couple of shots. I think the Garrison threes obviously are the most important, but I would also say when we were up 5 with like 2 minutes and 40 seconds left and we were. We had not scored on a number of possessions. Oh, I hitting that long two. Yeah, I think that was a huge shot because it got it to seven. I think psychologically there's a big difference between a two possession game and a three possession game. And that shot makes, you know, takes it there. So Garrison's threes were the biggest, but I think that always shot at the end was really big as well.

[Ryan Lemond]

In the second half, Kentucky had three offensive threats in away Aberdeen and Brandon Garrison. Colin Chandler's got to get involved. He's got to find a way.

[Matt Jones]

Three straight games he's not played well. And he had a three that would have ended the game. Yeah, he had a wide open corner three that he missed. I mean, there was a sequence before that away make that I thought could harness. You had Chandler miss a wide open 3. Diabate shot the worst shot in the history of organized basketball. A wide open three that he air balled three and a half feet short. That might. There may have never been a worse. A worse shot than that. But we got the ball back. And then Chandler threw the worst lob in the history of basketball. And those three plays, I thought now if we lose, these are going to be the plays. But then away came and made the shot the next time down.

[Ryan Lemond]

You had kind of walked away for a second.

[Matt Jones]

I walked away because I was too nervous. I was pacing through this mint. I was about to go play 50 cent slots and then you holler at Mario. Did Diabate just airball that shot by Diabo? I know we won, but that shot by Diabate could have haunted us. I mean, my mother is listening. My mother could have gotten it closer than him. And he was wide open.

[Ryan Lemond]

Wide open. I guess he figured if Brandon can knock down a couple, I think that's what it was.

[Matt Jones]

He was like, I'm not letting BG take all this.

[Ryan Lemond]

I gotta get mine.

[Matt Jones]

So, you know. But it's not a secret that Gander. Gander Garrison frustrates fans. Frustrates me a lot. Is this a game that you think kind of redeems him in some ways in the fans eyes? I mean, this will be again. This is a game we won because of him.

[Ryan Lemond]

I honestly feel like this is the Brandon Garrison we thought we were going to get the whole season. I thought that he made a big jump. Coach Pope kept talking about how much he was improved. I thought that's how Brandon Garrison would play all year. He's really only had like, what this is second game, but this is the

[Matt Jones]

only game I can remember of his career that I would say we won because of him.

[Ryan Lemond]

True.

[Matt Jones]

I can't think of another game we won because of him. And you get in the postseason when you get a game that for whatever reason, like, I remember when we lost to North Carolina in 2017, if we had won. That was the Isaac Humphreys game. You remember. People forget how well he played in that North Carolina game. We lost, but he played so well. And it just kind of fell to history. This is again first round. It's a Wednesday of the SEC tournament. Not the biggest game in the world, but this is the. The Brandon Garrison game.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'll say this. Brandon's other great game, Rupp Arena. And his son was there. Guess who was there today in the crowd? His son was there again today.

[Matt Jones]

So can we force that baby to come to games? Yes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Front row seats. Buy him a ticket. Take him to every game the rest of the season.

[Matt Jones]

Let me tell you who's annoying when Brandon Garrison's playing well. Mario.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes, he is.

[Matt Jones]

He talks, Mario, because not only does he cheer for him, he starts going, cook bg. Here we go. Shoot. Like he's. He's. He's playing to his worst instinct. He wants him to shoot even more than he does. He also threw a really good pass.

[Ryan Lemond]

He did. We forgot about that.

[Matt Jones]

That was a really good bounce pass. I think we missed the layup, but it was like he threw a really good pass during that stretch too.

[Ryan Lemond]

And we needed him because, you know, Malachi got in foul trouble so early. He didn't play hardly at all the first half, played very little in the second.

[Matt Jones]

Malachi struggled today. I mean, not just the foul trouble, but he was getting pushed around. I mean, he, the big guy for lsu, was going through him and there wasn't a whole lot he really could Seem to do.

[Ryan Lemond]

I know there's one point that I. Yellow bitch is playing the five. He had both Brandon and Malachi out, so yellow, which is playing the five a little bit.

[Matt Jones]

Well, this is a big win.

[Ryan Lemond]

It is.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, it doesn't. Probably doesn't change Kentucky seed. I think it probably makes it to where now. I don't think they'll drop below a 7 no matter what because Missouri is a, you know, Missouri is. Is a 6, 7, 8 seated team. Stop. A 6, 6, 7, 8, seated team. Anyway, so I think if you lost to him, I think this probably locks Kentucky in as a seven. And then I think if you were to win tomorrow, you got a chance to get to a six.

[Ryan Lemond]

I. I like Kentucky's chances tomorrow. I know we're riding on the heels of this win today, but I just feel like we're better than Missouri. We owe them. We need to win this game.

[Matt Jones]

We are better than Missouri, but we're better than LSU, too.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And let me say LSU. I. I'm not. Look, they're three and they're better than a three and 15. SEC team. I don't think they're good like South Carolina and Ole Miss I think are bad. Actually. Don't think they're bad. I think. I don't know why I haven't watched all their games. I don't know why they're 3 and 15.

[Ryan Lemond]

They lost a lot of close games, I think, early.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, they should be better than that because they actually have some. Yeah, they're gonna. He's gonna get fired.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And we'll, you know, they're gonna try to get Will Wade, but he'll be. Is he gonna be the only SEC coach fired? I think he will.

[Ryan Lemond]

You said Lamont Ferris. South Carolina is bringing him back, right?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, Lamont Paris.

[Ryan Lemond]

Paris.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So I think he'll be probably the only one, the only new Coach let go. 859-280-2287. We are here at the Mint and Bowling Green. Got some good fellas here. You all enjoying yourselves? Got tall. Hello to Tall with his Snoopy UK shirt. I asked him did UK officially license that shirt and he said, no, it was bought from China. So pre tariffs. And Mario is here and we're eating some nachos and we'll take your calls. 859-280-2287. This is the local Toyota Dealers KSR postgame show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR post game show. Couple things here. First of all, my mom. Look at this. She's found emojis on the phone and she now only texts me in emojis. Look at this.

[Ryan Lemond]

Love it.

[Matt Jones]

Happy face, cross fingers, party basketball. I mean, look at this.

[Ryan Lemond]

It all makes sense.

[Matt Jones]

You talk about. You teach my mom emojis. That's all I'm getting. Second, we have. We do have one thing in my friend group. People. These people aren't on the air, but you've heard me talk about them. My friend, the turkey hunter, been part of KSR since the beginning.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Hubby who started KSR with me.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Turkey hunter was supposed to bring hubby to the SEC tournament. Forgot him. No, left without him.

[Ryan Lemond]

That can't be a real story that we're.

[Matt Jones]

We're all best friends. Left him. Left him in Lexington. How do you forget?

[Ryan Lemond]

When did he realize he had left?

[Matt Jones]

Take your friend to the SEC tournament.

[Ryan Lemond]

Did he not realize until he pulled in? Like, we're okay, hubby, we're here.

[Matt Jones]

No hubby texting this morning, said, what time are we leaving? And he goes, I'm already in Hopkinsville. How are you gonna forget? Like, there ain't that many of us.

[Ryan Lemond]

So how's it. How's hubby gonna get down here?

[Matt Jones]

Well, you ended up getting in a car with somebody else, but thank goodness I didn't forget. Tall, for instance. He's here. I don't understand how you forget somebody to go the SEC tournament.

[Ryan Lemond]

It happens to the best of us sometimes.

[Matt Jones]

All right, let's take the calls. 859-280-2287. For you guys sitting here, just so you know, you won't be able to hear the calls. I'm sorry, but who's up first?

[Ryan Lemond]

Devin.

[Matt Jones]

Devin. Go ahead, Devin. Hey, Matt.

[Caller]

How are you, sir?

[Matt Jones]

Doing good.

[Caller]

Good win for the Cats today. Couple of quick questions. Number one, don't you think we could pick up the pace on offense a little bit? We essentially run a half court offense. How come we don't do more break? We got the horseback.

[Matt Jones]

I think when we pick up the pace, we're a lot better. I mean, you know, in the half court. If you think about. In the half court, we have two options to score away or Aberdeen going to the basketball or Roland Chandler off to get a three, but teams are taking that away. So you're basically away. And Aberdeen rolling to have a basket or hoping that you get an offensive rebound with Diabotic. So you're. I'm with you. The pace in. In transition away might be one of the best players in the country. So you got to get him in transition. Try to more.

[Caller]

And second question. Will Brandon Garrison now get selected ahead of Jaden Quaintance in the draft?

[Matt Jones]

I don't think so. I don't think so. I mean, I appreciate the call. I. I would love to. We need to figure out if we can have a. Mario just walked away. We need to figure out if we can have a double down of if Garrison does it again. What would I do? Get on an actual horse?

[Ryan Lemond]

I. I gotta admit, I don't know if I'm more excited about Kentucky winning today or the fact of seeing you on a mechanical bull. Yeah, I may be more excited.

[Matt Jones]

I was gonna say you had to score double digits and win, but we went back and listen to tape. I didn't say and win but they want.

[Ryan Lemond]

It wasn't that way.

[Matt Jones]

Doesn't matter. Yeah. Do you want him shooting more threes? I mean like he's. Now he was 2 for 14 coming in. He was 2 for 3 today, so now he's 4 for 17. On the year, still 22%. No.

[Ryan Lemond]

Whether he played 100 and whatever, 40 something minutes or two, then he gets 2 and 40 seconds. You think he's Steph Curry? No, go back.

[Matt Jones]

Does he. Has he earned at least one the next game?

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes, one attempt.

[Matt Jones]

He likes the heat check. He and Diabate both love the heat checks, don't they? Diabate, Aberdeen, man, all three of them. If they make a shot the next time they get it, they want it. They want to put it right back up.

[Ryan Lemond]

I would love to see the stats after Aberdeen hits a shot. What's percentage he makes, takes an attempt next trip down the floor. It's like every single time.

[Matt Jones]

He loves it, but I can't complain. I don't think Aberdeen was great today, but in general, like when he gets fouled at the end, I trust he's going to make it. Like I love away but when he gets fouled at the end, I don't trust he's going to make it. I trust Aberdeen is going to make free throws at the end of games

[Ryan Lemond]

and again, only five turnovers as a team.

[Matt Jones]

That was. That's amazing.

[Ryan Lemond]

Five turnovers with it with a backup point guard. It's not even really a point guard.

[Matt Jones]

What about oh a played 39 minutes. Does that confirm what we've. What we've all said and did he

[Ryan Lemond]

seem fatigued to you? Did he play okay the whole game?

[Matt Jones]

He maybe seemed a little fatigued at the end when he, when he was missing those open shot. But at the same time, as I saw somebody say on, on Twitter. The question is not whether or not owe is better 100% or not or 80%. He's of course better 100%. The question is, is away at 80% better than Jasper and Noah? That's the question. And the answer is yes. So I understand his level of play is going to drop, but his. His 80% or even Aberdeen's 80% is better than our other options.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, you got to have him on the.

[Matt Jones]

So that's why you got to have him on. And he did that today. Aberdeen, I mean. Oh, it played 39. Aberdeen played 37.

[Ryan Lemond]

Away 20 over 20 points again. I mean, it's like every time you just count on him, you'll get 20 to 25 points every game.

[Matt Jones]

Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Fuzzy.

[Matt Jones]

Fuzzy. Go ahead, Fuzzy. Louisville's losing, by the way, by five right now to smu. Go ahead.

[Caller]

You're good. So Denzel, Aberdeen, all season long, that guy has been the most consistent straight face player I've ever seen. Like, he's never sweating. Gets up to the free throw line, doesn't look anxious. What in the world having. The first time he ever shows excitement, he wags his tongue and gets a technical file. Has anyone ever heard of anything like that?

[Matt Jones]

That is a good point. Aberdeen gets that technical, which wasn't great timing, but he never really does that. It's like the first time he kind of does something like. Something like that. Because, you know, OA and Garrison and Diabate, they're always talking trash. I don't see Aberdeen do it a lot. And then the one time he does

[Ryan Lemond]

it technical, apparently off the court, he's like just a quiet kid. Like, he doesn't even talk, he's so quiet. So that is his first emotion he showed all season.

[Matt Jones]

Do you think fans even know that we have like a first couple of Kentucky basketball?

[Ryan Lemond]

Probably not.

[Matt Jones]

They probably. He's like, he dates and I think. Seriously, Claire, strike.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So we have a first couple of UK basketball.

[Ryan Lemond]

They're both, what, six, Four of them?

[Matt Jones]

Let's. Can we go ahead and sign their kid?

[Ryan Lemond]

Amen.

[Matt Jones]

If they stay together for.

[Ryan Lemond]

For the future, get that nil deal in place.

[Matt Jones]

Like, bam. You know, Bam dates what? Asia or is married to Asia Wilson. Can you imagine their kid? I mean, good. That'd be like the best basketball player ever. Who's next?

[Caller]

Jake is next.

[Matt Jones]

Jake, Go ahead, Jake.

[Ryan Lemond]

Hey, how you doing?

[Matt Jones]

What's up?

[Caller]

I just had a question and a statement, so I had to work today. This is the first game I've missed all year and I've Been listening. I was listening to the game. Yeah. And I was listening to the game and I go into people's houses for my work and I. During the last like six or seven minutes, I went to this guy's house and he was watching the game and he let me sit on his couch and watch the.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I love it. I love it. Can I. Do you mind me asking what you do?

[Caller]

Yeah, I'm a measure tech for a window company. I measure.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so this is great. So you work for window company and you had to work during the game and one of your customers just let you sit and watch the end of the game with him. I love that. That's a very Kentucky basketball story. Yeah.

[Caller]

Yes. I walked in, he was watching it and I said I was listening to it and he said, have a seat and watch it with me. So we were both screaming at the TV and stuff. It was pretty funny.

[Matt Jones]

That's awesome. I love it.

[Caller]

And then my question is kind of a random question, but I'm getting married here soon and I was just wondering if I sent you all an invite, would anybody show up?

[Matt Jones]

Probably not, but we would. We. We'd use. Well, we used to. We don't have someone doing this anymore, but since you called, I'll do it. We will send like a little. A present.

[Caller]

Sounds good. I will send you all an invite for sure. I appreciate it.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate it. Appreciate the call. Although you never know, rhyme would show up.

[Ryan Lemond]

We talked about just randomly crashing some wedding one time.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, we used to get a bunch of them. And Maria, when she worked for us, she would send out little thank you, little thank yous and T shirts. But she now high up with on three, so we don't. She's not sending in the business of sending out T shirts anymore.

[Ryan Lemond]

How is that so UK the guy.

[Matt Jones]

I like that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Sit down and watch the game with him.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, that's really what. To be honest with you, that's what's great about sports and specifically UK basketball. You walk at a guy's house, you share that thing and you sit and watch it. That's. That's great. In a world where we're always so divided. That's really. That's nice. Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Alex.

[Matt Jones]

Alex. Go ahead. Alex.

[Caller]

Matt. This reminds me of like if Hulk Hogan opened up WrestleMania as the opening match because we're the main event. Just because you're not the last game or the last match doesn't mean you're not the main attraction. Right.

[Matt Jones]

But we can be the last. We could be probably the first team in the history.

[Caller]

Today, though we. We weren't. Today we were the opening game and still were the main event. Come on, work with me here.

[Matt Jones]

I agree with you.

[Caller]

And before I go, Ryan, can you say the word slurp?

[Ryan Lemond]

Slurp.

[Caller]

Can you say the word slurp?

[Matt Jones]

I appreciate the call. That's plenty. I can't listen to Ryan say slurp. It would be interesting. We might be the first team in the history of a major conference tournament to be the first game and the last game. If we were to go to the finals.

[Ryan Lemond]

Five for five, we got one down now we four for four starts tomorrow.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Well, we got the big ones. Game three.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

You know, that, that would, that's the one that'll be hard. But tomorrow, I do think tomorrow could, could lock in. I think we might be locked in as a seven anyway, but tomorrow would certainly lock it in and maybe give you a chance at a jump up at a six.

[Ryan Lemond]

They get the win.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. And I think that six is huge because I do think there's a huge gap between the twos and threes. And you, you would have a shot against most of those threes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. The way you laid it out this morning on the pregame show, it's amazing, the difference between the six, because we're

[Matt Jones]

not going to get Alabama. So the other. If you're, if we're a six, we're probably going to be paired with like Iowa State or Nebraska. If you look at where the games are, that, that could be in St. Louis, which is a place people could drive to.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

You know, you play a, you play Nebraska and St. Louis. I like Kentucky's chances in that.

[Ryan Lemond]

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

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Todd.

[Matt Jones]

Todd. Go ahead, Todd.

[Caller]

Hello, Matt.

[Matt Jones]

What's.

[Caller]

Watching the game today in the crowd there, I think I'll just think it to myself. You know, I, I bet this is the first time in a long time that there's been that many people at the first game of the sec.

[Matt Jones]

Well, there was, you know, maybe at the, maybe at the first one. They've had a couple years where they let in people for free in the, at the, in the first session at night and it would be full. But you may be right for the day. There hasn't been a Wednesday day session. This is only the second year. Yeah, but if they had. I'm sure it probably is.

[Caller]

Yeah. No, I was tickled with the wind today. Always tickled when we win. But you know what worries me is our inside defense. It seems like we let players come in and just lay it in. It's like we, yeah, we do or you know, it's like we let them move our big guys around. You know, they just keep backing into us. Instead of us trying to man up, we just let them push us around. You know, we, we need to start being a little bit tougher.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean I think that's why. And I appreciate the call. I think that's why you so much saw so much Garrison today as he was so much. He. Even though he can frustrate me down low too. He's. He's tougher, more physical than. Than Moreno who really struggled to guard today. And our, our help defense was bad all day. Guys would get a step on our guards and we wouldn't rotate over and they just end up right at the rim.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. You mentioned earlier Malachi was kind of getting before he got in foul trouble was kind of getting shoved around a little bit. You need moment Diabate and Brandon Garrison out there to show some muscle in some capacity to help the front Court.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. 859280, 2287. Auburn has just tied it up against Mississippi State with 17 minutes to go and Louisville is down three to SMU. We will keep you track of those games and seen a lot of people on their drive home. I assume people are going to head down to Nashville. Tickets. Let's see what tickets are on the

[Ryan Lemond]

thing here for tomorrow morning.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, because I mean I bet they're. I bet they're expensive but I bet they're reasonable tomorrow.

[Ryan Lemond]

Jump on them now if you got a chance.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, we will take a break and be right back. It's a local toy dealers KSR postgame show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR postgame show. Joe Tipton of On3Sports is reporting that former BYU staffer Keegan Brown is being targeted for a front office role with UK basketball. He worked with Pope at byu. I think he has worked with the Milwaukee Bucks. He did not come to Kentucky. I don't think there are some people who say he might have had a little bit of a role in helping at first pick some of those players. But he didn't even in that first year. But then he didn't come. It's interesting if you go to his Twitter account he has a lot of tweets about how you should build teams in the portal era. So I'm sure somebody probably on KSR will compile those and you might get a sense I don't know if he's going to be the gm. I don't think that's the necessarily the title they're going to use. But you might get a sense of what he's going to be like based on all the things he writes. It seems like he says you don't need five stars, you need guys. He seems like another analytic person which, you know.

[Ryan Lemond]

Well, just, I've never heard of this guy. But just what you just said, he does sound kind of gmish.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean he has a lot of tweets about over the last two years where he has just commented from afar on how you should build teams.

[Ryan Lemond]

So that's very interesting.

[Matt Jones]

So I'm sure like I said, at some point somebody will probably combine compile those into a post. But I've had a couple of them sent to me today. Brandon Garrison has scored 15 plus points five times in his UK career twice. Two of them are against LSU. Well, so maybe he likes that one.

[Ryan Lemond]

And he seems to play really well against Oklahoma.

[Matt Jones]

The other two teams are Oklahoma and South Carolina.

[Ryan Lemond]

So if he is, if he brings that energy and that attitude, the game just makes Kentucky totally different basketball team.

[Matt Jones]

One person writes. Matt, I think you should lay off Ryan. The creepier he is, the better it is for the show. I don't agree with that. Mario shaking his head. You're just a troublemaker. You're the one that wants Brandon Garrison to shoot every time. Although tonight. Listen, I can't say anything. He was, he was great.

[Ryan Lemond]

He was our best three point shooter tonight. What are you talking about? Two for three.

[Matt Jones]

859-280-2287. Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

I would agree with that sentiment but which one is next?

[Matt Jones]

That it's better that we should let Ryan be. No, stop you all this is. There are women that listen to this show and I hear, you know. But there are a couple that took up for you. Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Dave is next.

[Matt Jones]

Dave, go ahead Dave.

[Caller]

Hey Matt, I was hoping to get to talk to you before the NCAA tournament and my wife and I are real avid Kentucky fan and we have a dilemma. We have, we're, we have. We had something going in the NCAA last year when Kentucky won two games. I, I get real nervous like you and I have to walk away sometimes and I would wear, put on my hoodie and I'd go over into the kitchen about 25ft from the TV and I would watch from the kitchen where I couldn't really see all the calls real clearly and it keeps me from getting too angry. She stayed on the couch, and she'd give me feedback from the couch and tell me what was going on.

[Matt Jones]

That's interesting.

[Caller]

But then after two wins, people wanted to. They know we're Kentucky fans. They want to start watching the games with us. And they're kind of.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, you don't. You don't. You don't let people watch. If you're somebody that watches games by yourself, then you don't watch them with other people. I don't ever watch it. I don't watch games with other people. I mean, I did today, but in general, I'm by myself. I can't watch them with other people.

[Caller]

Oh, it was miserable. I tried to sit on the couch. I didn't want to be a jerk. They were having conversations. You can't ignore them. So I just want to. You've already told me what I wanted to know.

[Matt Jones]

You just. Yeah, I can't do it. I mean, I appreciate the people who like having so social, but especially in the postseason. The postseason is too important to be social. I appreciate the call now the people who can go to, like, KS Bar or Tin Roof and. And watch them with people. More power to you. Because I do think it's fun to be in a collective environment, but I personally can't do it. I mean, I couldn't even sit with these guys. I was walking around the slot machines during the end of the game.

[Ryan Lemond]

I've been with you now in postseason for 11, 12 years, and it just. When it gets time for the game, you just walk away. Just kind of.

[Matt Jones]

In 2010, when we played in Syracuse and we played against West Virginia and Cornell.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I left the arena and walked outside in a snowstorm. We're in Syracuse. It was freezing because I just couldn't. Couldn't take it. And I could feel early we were losing that West Virginia game. You. I could just tell. You could just tell. And I was like, I don't want to be in here. And I came back and went in the locker room after the game and watched all those guys crying, and I was. That's the last team I really felt close to. And I. That still makes me so. I can still see DeMarcus Cousins Ball and Ramon Harris, and it was. I hated it.

[Ryan Lemond]

There's been where you ended up in a. Like a fitness room in a hotel.

[Matt Jones]

That was for the Wichita State. Yeah, I watched it on a treadmill. We were up in Milwaukee, and you

[Ryan Lemond]

had to go to some strange hotel. What, even our hotel?

[Matt Jones]

That was last year. Yeah, last Year I watched Kentucky Illinois in a hotel banquet lobby.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's right. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

So we did. We just know that about you. There's nothing wrong with you. We know that's part of your fandom.

[Matt Jones]

Just kind of what I do. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Just gotta accept it.

[Matt Jones]

Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Andrew.

[Matt Jones]

Andrew. Go ahead, Andrew. Thing is, all these games I can remember, like I. I sat in my car in 2014 in Dallas in the parking lot when we beat Wisconsin on the three at the buzzer.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So like I remember where I am. I just am never in the arena. Go ahead.

[Caller]

Okay. Two things. When the Cats have done poorly this year in certain games, Coach Pope has gotten criticized for his, you know, his, his substitution procedure. I guess the thing to say it. What I wanted to say one other thing about Colin Chang Chandler before I got off. But what do you think he's done to change?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, look at today. So look at today. Here's what I would say. He's changed. So if I look at the minutes Today, away played 39 minutes. Aberdeen played 37 minutes. So he didn't make crazy subs. Those guys played. I would also notice there were 40 seconds where away and Aberdeen were both not on the court at the same time. He kept one of them even in their minute amount of time out. He kept them both, at least one of them on the court the entire game except 40 seconds. Also he went Garrison Diabate 26:21, Yellow Bitch Moreno, 14:12, Ryan. There's going to be games for. That's flipped right in the 26, 21 is yellow Vic Moreno and the 1412 is. So I actually thought he handled the substitution pattern very well today actually. And he called timeout. Let me give him credit for that too. He called time out. I thought the perfect time, they'd cut it from 11 to 7. And he. And he called a timeout right there rather than letting it get to four or something like that. So I thought he was. He was good on all that. LSU also hit some crazy good shots today, especially in the first half. I mean, we. They hit some first half. We should have been up probably 10. They hit some really good shots. But go ahead.

[Caller]

Yeah. The other thing before I get off, Colin Chandler, I. I know that he can be a consistently good three point maker. Do you think his production has just dropped off the last couple games because he's just gotten a little bit cold?

[Matt Jones]

No, I think teams are keying on him. Teams are clearly keying on him. Like, if you go, look, I appreciate the call. If you look at how teams played Kentucky earlier in the year. They, they kind of guarded Chandler the same way they did away and Aberdeen not now they're taking the view of we're not letting him get open looks and he's struggling to find other ways

[Ryan Lemond]

to score, you know, because the Vanderbilt game, he was, you know, so hot. Next game, Texas A and M took him out. The next game, Florida took him out.

[Matt Jones]

He can't beat people off the dribble, and so it's making it very hard for him to get shots. And then tonight he had two wide open threes, one in the first half and one the second half in the corner and he just missed them.

[Ryan Lemond]

So he said, I would like to see him get open more, get a way to get the ball in his hand to get the shot more. He kind of.

[Matt Jones]

But he, he can't consistently beat guys off the, the dribble.

[Ryan Lemond]

Can't.

[Matt Jones]

He can, he can sort of juke them and then pull up and shoot, but he cannot beat them to the basket. And they're getting to the point now they're saying, all right, beat me at the basket. And he just can't do it.

[Ryan Lemond]

He did that. Well, you're right. Once he beat his man, pulled up in the lane, he's good at that.

[Matt Jones]

He's good at taking a little step and then quickly elevating. He can do that. But if you'll watch now they are, they're not giving him a step and he just can't. He. Whereas, like, if you do that to oa, he'll take you to the rim.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, he can't.

[Matt Jones]

You can't. With Chandler, it doesn't work.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. In football you talk about, you know, the receiver, try to get, get some space. He's got to find a way to get some space.

[Matt Jones]

He just, he just, he just can't. And so that. But that's why you're seeing Aberdeen get more looks.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And that's why you saw, you know, Diabate wide open in the corner during that shot. Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Let's give our Johnny Rocker personal injury attorney, moneymaker of the game. Next, Matt injured get small town compassion with big city results. When you call the rocker at 270-321-4429 and you guys called it. It was the Brandon Garrison game. 17 points set up 7 of 9 from the field, had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals in 26 minutes. He was the Kentucky Wildcats plus minus champ at plus 11. He is our Rocker personal injury attorney, moneymaker of the game.

[Matt Jones]

Garris that's two games in a row, by the way. Garrison's been the plus minus champ. He was against Florida as well.

[Ryan Lemond]

Never saw that coming. Yeah, we do need to remind ourselves he did miss a wide open dunk underneath the back.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but he's 618 points. I think you got to give him a break this trip. Our trip to the SEC tournament sponsored by Clayton and chrome and Burt Tavern Bourbon. I'm going to tell you about Clayton and Croom. They have leather products that are amazing. You know that, don't you?

[Ryan Lemond]

I brought my Clayton groom belt with me this trip.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. They've got. They have a new store in the. In Nashville. 12 south in Nashville. Bags, belts, wallets. They also have a custom belt bar. You can go choose the strap you want, the buckle, the style, the stitching and the hardware. They got one in louisville or claytonandkroom.com I have a ton of Clayton and Groom here and now they have a belt bar.

[Ryan Lemond]

You bought us all Clayton and Kroom bags one year for Christmas.

[Matt Jones]

That's what I. It's exactly right. Let's do one more and we'll take a break. Who's next? Billy?

[Caller]

David.

[Matt Jones]

David. Go ahead, David.

[Caller]

So it's funny you guys were just talking about the substitution pattern because that's what I was going to ask you about. So one of the things I feel like doesn't get enough talk is that Pope is not afraid to check a guy in and then pull him right away. I mean, kind of.

[Matt Jones]

He did that with Jasper. He did that with Jasper tonight. Yes.

[Caller]

So Jasper checks in, calls his own number twice and takes him out. Sit down. But that's the only reason why OA and Aberdeen were only out for 40 seconds is because he pulled Jasper back out. But he was prepared, I think to sit them together for longer. And then for Yella, it's like let this guy play more than the first five minutes.

[Matt Jones]

That was crazy. But that's my only, my only substitution. Frustration with Mark was he yellow scores seven points in a row and he takes him out and then he didn't put him back in until the last four minutes of the first half. But to be fair, Garrison was playing well and I think that's in part why why he did that.

[Ryan Lemond]

Gotta let yellowich cook at that point a little bit, don't you?

[Matt Jones]

But he also yellowic gets killed on defense. Yich was yellow. Chandler were just getting just destroyed on defense tonight. But go ahead.

[Caller]

I was just gonna. Thank you guys. Appreciate it. I was just gonna say we didn't invite Mark Pope to our wedding. He did not attend, unfortunately. But Hail Mary wedding advice. Thanks, guys.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate it. Yeah. Tough night for Chandler. But the thing is Chandler has to play regardless.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Because who are you going to put in? Maybe now you can get Cam Williams a few more minutes as you go. But he's going to have to play. He has to play through him not playing well, they don't. They don't really have a choice.

[Ryan Lemond]

Just having him out there, that threat of him out there opens up the defense a little bit for Aberdeen.

[Matt Jones]

You think we're done now with KMC and Noah the rest of the year?

[Ryan Lemond]

Probably. I mean, if Noah didn't get even get a minute today.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

And Cam didn't look like this.

[Matt Jones]

Wasn't a good game for him though. I mean, I don't know who he would have guarded on that team.

[Ryan Lemond]

True.

[Matt Jones]

Maybe trying to remember what Missouri's like.

[Ryan Lemond]

Got that Mitchell kid.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. He can't guard him. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know if he can be able to play the next one either. Auburn's up 9 now, so. I couldn't believe you told me. Hubbard. Josh Hubbard's got another year. How is that possible?

[Ryan Lemond]

Just a junior.

[Matt Jones]

That is unbelievable. We'll take a break and be right back. It's a local Toyota dealers KSR postgame show. Welcome back. It is Kentucky sports Radio final segment here on the road with Clayton and Kurum and Burt. Tavern, Bourbon. Let me also explain to you what Burnt Tavern is. So Burnt Tavern Bourbon came from. Is it Garrett County?

[Ryan Lemond]

Garrett County.

[Matt Jones]

And it's a tavern that was burned down twice.

[Ryan Lemond]

Twice.

[Matt Jones]

Twice. Hence the Burnt Tavern. And they rebuilt it and made twice burned, double barreled, reborn with a whisper of smoke. Bourbon at burnt tavern. Bourbon.com. and there's a set of stores there as well I haven't heard of. Hadn't heard of it. But Shannon got it and Shannon. It's like his favorite bourbon now.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So it's in Garrett County.

[Ryan Lemond]

Garrett County. Shannon's their endorser. They brought him a whole case of it at the Paul Miller show the other day. Janet said it's really good.

[Matt Jones]

Burnt Tavern. One person writes. Matt, Billy, Brandon Garrison has always had the athleticism. I think that's what makes it frustrating. He is a great athlete and he's got long arms and yeah, like I said, he can be very frustrating. But then you see a game like today and you can see why Pope has always been so intrigued with him.

[Ryan Lemond]

I. And I really think Pope loves Brandon Garrison, I think he likes.

[Matt Jones]

I do too.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think he. Brandon works hard. It's just sometimes I think he plays like a little middle schooler sometimes.

[Matt Jones]

Louisville's been losing this whole game and now they're up 2. Looks like they might. They are up to with the ball. With 20 seconds to go, Mikhail Brown's not playing in this.

[Ryan Lemond]

Get hurt.

[Matt Jones]

Well, he's. He said they say he has a sore back for this tournament and they're trying to get him ready for the NCAA tournament. Let's see what they do right here. I'm gonna do my play by play. This is. Cromwell gets the basket and he makes the layup. Louisville's probably gonna survive against smu. Who's up next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Robert. Robert.

[Matt Jones]

Go ahead. Robert. I said Cromwell, Conwell, go ahead.

[Caller]

But hey, Matt. First time, long time.

[Matt Jones]

Who are. Hey.

[Caller]

First off, I love this time of year. I went to watch the game during work, looked over one of our senior leaders were walked in, right in and we're both watching the game, kind of looked at each other and said, yep, we're both for the cast, even though we should be probably working today. So love this time of the year. One thing I keep doing while I'm watching these games, I keep comparing Cal's teams to Pope's teams and thinking, hey, these guys should be better than they are. Am I. Am I crazy for thinking that way, or is that kind of a normal thing?

[Matt Jones]

If you're just talking raw talent, I think virtually every team Calipari had has more raw talent than this one has. So I would say raw talent. This is kind of one of the more untapped, well, athleticism this team's got some. But in terms of basketball talent, I would argue this is one of the less talented Kentucky teams in the last 15 or 16 years. Now, with that said, you know, Aberdeen and away are great penetrators getting to the basket. Chandler at times can be a great shooter. You got a lot of big options. But no, I think he's this team. The problem for this team is they're just not. Ryan. That talented. I mean, how many guys on this team that play are going to get drafted?

[Ryan Lemond]

I mean, potentially.

[Matt Jones]

Potentially. Moreno.

[Ryan Lemond]

That might be it.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, you know, and our best play. Here's the way I would look at who are our best players. Always our best player unlikely to get drafted. If he does, it'll be at the very end. Aberdeen will not get drafted. Yeah, right. Chandler, as of today, wouldn't get drafted. That could change. But you know, Diabate not going to get drafted. So that's not been true of other teams. And so that's. I do think it's. There is a talent issue here.

[Ryan Lemond]

We had a serious talk in the middle of the season. Is this team just not very good? And I think a lot of it is they've got a lot of role players, six men type guys, but maybe at times they'll have found a way to play really well.

[Matt Jones]

Now, last year we didn't have a lot of guys that were going to get drafted, but the difference is they could shoot. So on any given night, they could get hot. But they also remember that team last year would lose by 30, sometimes 2. I mean, so on the one hand, you look at this team and go, they should have won more. On the other hand, you could look at it and go, they could have won last.

[Ryan Lemond]

How in the hell. They beat Tennessee twice, You know, beat Arkansas at Arkansas.

[Matt Jones]

So I think they probably are about what they deserve to be.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

This is 20th win, by the way.

[Ryan Lemond]

Six or seven seed going into the tournament.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Who's up? Well, and that's disappointing. But think about with five minutes to go down at LSU when we were down nine, if I told you right now, you can be a succeed in the tournament, I'm taking it, you'd have taken it in a heartbeat because it looked like at that moment we weren't even gonna make the tournament.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, that's right.

[Matt Jones]

Let's do four more. Who's next, Billy?

[Ryan Lemond]

Lincoln.

[Matt Jones]

Lincoln. Go ahead, Lincoln. Yes, Go ahead.

[Caller]

First time, long time.

[Matt Jones]

Who are. Yeah. How long could it be? I was just.

[Caller]

You may disagree with this, but that playground, I'm pretty sure it was on Marine, on the LSU guy who's trying to dunk on Marinas.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Caller]

And hit him in the eye. I think Marina is really good, but he needs to get more. He needs to get a little bit stronger.

[Matt Jones]

I agree. I totally agree with you. Lincoln, he needs. He gets the ball taken from him too much. I mean, he got hit in the eye there, so that's not really his fault. But in terms of being stronger, I agree Moreno's got to get stronger. We were sitting here talking with these guys about Moreno coming back and how he might deserve up to $3 million. Well, you got to get stronger, you know, I mean, he. I think he does. He's very, very talented, but I think he needs to get stronger. You're right.

[Caller]

And can't believe the USA team lost.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Caller]

Going back to. I don't know if you follow baseball or anything, but at Caglion he played for Florida. He hit a two run bomb.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he's in the minors, I think now. Well, Lincoln, I appreciate the call. Let me ask you a question. So tonight Mexico play here and for the USA to have. If Mexico. If Italy wins the usa, they move on. But if Mexico wins, the USA moves on. If they win by five or more and it's the USA and Mexico. So why wouldn't Italy and Mexico agree? Mexico, we're gonna let you win, but by between one to four runs because then we'll knock the USA out. Because then Mexico and Italy would go. So Italy's incentive would be to lose to it. Well, if Italy wins, they're in, but the USA comes to. But if you wanted to get the USA out, you would say Mexico, you win but don't score the more than five runs. Why wouldn't you do that if you were Mexico and Italy? Well, I think just conspire to get the USA out because they're the best team.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think, you know, the. In the spirit of true sportsmanship, you want to, you don't want to do.

[Matt Jones]

What would you do? You cheat all the time.

[Ryan Lemond]

I never cheat. I would go up and play my butt off. I'd want to win. I'd want to win by as many runs as I could.

[Matt Jones]

But if you're Mexico and you're up four nothing and you know if you score one more run, the USA comes with you, would you just strike out? You're up to bat. All right, it's four nothing against Italy. One more run, the USA moves on with you. But if you don't score again, then it's Italy that moves on with you. Are you striking out?

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm swinging and I'm hitting a home run. They're not going to strike me out.

[Matt Jones]

And then what are you gonna do in the usa? Beat you in the next round?

[Ryan Lemond]

They're not gonna beat me in the next round. We're gonna beat them. We're good. We're a good Mexican team.

[Matt Jones]

That should be a drop right there. We are a good Mexican team. All right, who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Remember that happened in the NFL, Matt, the Raiders and Chargers, if they would have tied, they both would have.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, they tied. That's right. And then they played for field goal and over.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Many years ago, Tom Osborne, I think at Nebraska, if they had played for a tie, would have been the national champion. And he went for it. And they lost in the bowl game.

[Caller]

Wow.

[Ryan Lemond]

I respect that.

[Matt Jones]

He went for two and if he kicked the extra point or something, like that. And he. And he went for it, and they ended up losing, and he didn't. And he lost the national championship.

[Ryan Lemond]

You don't want to give a backdoor into something like that. You want to.

[Matt Jones]

I think I would really strike out if I was there. I would strike out because Italy, you got a much better chance against. Who's next? Jackson. Jackson. Go ahead, Jackson.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt. My mom let me stay home from school today to watch the game.

[Ryan Lemond]

What a great mom.

[Matt Jones]

I wonder how many teachers out there in the state. Just say it, Jackson. How many teachers out there in the state you think will let their class watch the game today?

[Ryan Lemond]

Roll that. That crate in with the TV on top of it coming down the hallway.

[Matt Jones]

Do you think. Do you think there's a lot of teachers that did that today?

[Ryan Lemond]

Absolutely.

[Matt Jones]

Some people are on spring break. I know. Or. Well, colleges are. High schools are.

[Ryan Lemond]

High schools are not on spring break yet. Yeah, I guarantee there have been a lot of. Especially, like, those coaches that are teaching class. They're not going to teach guys. They want to watch a ball game all day today.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

All right.

[Matt Jones]

Go ahead, Jackson.

[Caller]

But she said that I'm not allowed to stay home tomorrow, so I was wondering if you guys could convince her to let me stay home tomorrow.

[Matt Jones]

Is your mom. Is your mom there? Is she there?

[Caller]

I can have you doctor if you want to.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, put. Put your mom on the phone for just a second.

[Ryan Lemond]

This is gonna be good.

[Matt Jones]

Mom, wait till you. Wait till you hear my. Wait till you hear my problems. Persuasion here.

[Caller]

Matt Jones wants to talk to you.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, mom doesn't know.

[Caller]

Hello?

[Matt Jones]

Hi, there. What's. What's your name, ma'? Am?

[Caller]

My name's Emily Krebs.

[Matt Jones]

Emily. Okay, so your son is Jackson. You let him stay home today to watch the game? I.

[Caller]

Well, I went and picked him up. He went for half a day at least.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so what do I have to do to convince you to let him do a half day tomorrow? Tomorrow's a big game. Okay. It's Missouri. They beat us earlier in the year. The entire state's listening, and they want Jackson to be able to watch the game, and so do I. So what do I need to do to.

[Ryan Lemond]

For a half.

[Matt Jones]

Just a second half day for Jackson.

[Caller]

You know, if you could write the school excuse note, I will.

[Matt Jones]

Mario and I will write the school excuse note tonight. Okay? You give your. You give your email to Billy, and we will send you an excuse note from KSR to give to his school.

[Caller]

Okay, well, then I will consider.

[Matt Jones]

And then if he. No, wait, A minute. Consider you have to say yes. The whole state is listening. Don't let them down.

[Caller]

Oh, but I can't go pick him up early tomorrow. I will be going get him an Uber. Have to stay home the whole day.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, he's got. Well, even better, right, Ryan? He gets the whole day off. He can listen to. He can listen to KSR in the

[Ryan Lemond]

morning and then watch basketball all day long, which is much better than going to English class.

[Matt Jones]

All right. And I promise you, if you do that, Jackson will help you. We'll clean the house this weekend.

[Caller]

Oh, in that case, he is more than welcome to stay.

[Matt Jones]

All right, there you go. All right, now put Jackson back on.

[Caller]

Okay, here he is. Did it work?

[Matt Jones]

Jackson, I've convinced her. But I said you would clean the house this weekend. Are you gonna do that?

[Caller]

Oh, I'll do it.

[Matt Jones]

All right. There we go. Jackson will be home tomorrow. I expect to hear you on the post game show.

[Caller]

All right, I'll do it.

[Matt Jones]

All right, there we go. Jackson gets to stay home from school.

[Ryan Lemond]

I hope he hugs so you don't.

[Matt Jones]

You don't think I'd be a good parent? Mario, We.

[Ryan Lemond]

We were strongly encouraging hooky. So we are good parents.

[Matt Jones]

Exactly. But I remember, I still remember in two. Excuse me. In 1992, when Kentucky made the NCAA tournament for the first time in many years when we lost to Duke. But remember, we hadn't played in the NCAA tournament in years. The first round Kentucky played. Who did they play in the first round in 1992? I want to say I don't think it was Monmouth, but it was Ryder. No, that was 93. Billy, look up who played in the first and second round. Old Dominion, maybe. Either way, we watched it in our school.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And I still remember sitting there and watching that game. And I guess that would have been. I was in eighth grade and. And how exciting it was. So that's going to be more than what he's going to remember in school.

[Ryan Lemond]

One of my greatest memories of go sit in a classroom in middle schools and wheeling that TV and so we could all watch the basketball games all day. It was part of the sun.

[Matt Jones]

I got to think of who it was. See, Billy, look it up. I want to say Old Dominion.

[Ryan Lemond]

92. 93 was Ryder.

[Matt Jones]

That's Ryder. But that was the next year. 91. 92. See who we played in the first round. You look it up while we take. Okay, I said Ryder. Yes, about 93. But the year before. Go ahead. Who's up next? Jacob. Go ahead, Jacob.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. Good game today. We didn't play great. I feel like against Missouri, we're definitely going to get back on defense a lot quicker than we did today.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, I agree.

[Caller]

And the officiating, I didn't. I didn't hate it. It wasn't as bad as some of our games, but I feel like whenever they called those texts, it just took the air out of the ball for us. I mean, you could see, especially the Mo Tech. You know, I don't. I don't know if that played, but I feel like it slowed us down. But I do have a question. If we beat Missouri, Florida and we go all the way, what is. What would you think our seed would be in the NCAA tournament?

[Matt Jones]

You mean if we won the whole SEC tournament?

[Caller]

If we won the whole thing?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Like. Well, I mean, Seth Davis says otherwise, but they don't consider the championship game in the seating. I would say if you won the whole thing, you definitely are five. Maybe you could get to a four, but I would just say a five. I think they probably won't consider the championship game either way. So I'd say that if you get to the finals, you'd probably be a 5 seat.

[Caller]

Awesome.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the call. Thank you very much. Who do we play at?

[Ryan Lemond]

92 Dominion.

[Matt Jones]

Bam. Wow.

[Ryan Lemond]

How did you remember that? How'd you pull that out?

[Matt Jones]

Old Dominion. And pulled out Rider the next year.

[Ryan Lemond]

That's amazing.

[Matt Jones]

I cared about UK basketball way too much at that age.

[Ryan Lemond]

You had all your brackets.

[Matt Jones]

I did, yeah. And I remember schools based on who we play. Like I remembered in 2010, we opened up with East Tennessee State. We've played Eastern Kentucky in the first round, the tournament before. We've played Abilene Christian in the first round of the tournament before. We've played Troy last year. I think we played. We played. What was the school that had the. Got Mount St. Mary's we played them one year.

[Ryan Lemond]

Played a team called St. Peter's in the first round.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, let's not. I'll never forget St. Peter's but we played Mount St. Mary's once. They had the guy with the bow tie who had the most wins. History of college back whaling.

[Ryan Lemond]

Feeling.

[Matt Jones]

Feeling. That's right. Feeling. All right, we'll stop with the old man memories. One more. Who's next?

[Ryan Lemond]

Michael.

[Matt Jones]

Michael. Go ahead, Michael.

[Caller]

Gentlemen, it is a good day to be a Kentucky Wildcats fan, don't you think?

[Matt Jones]

Stony Brook. We played them once, too. Yes, it is. Go ahead.

[Caller]

Oh, man. I really don't know where. Yeah, I'll say. I'll Be real quick, dude. When Brandon Garrison hit that second three, I don't know if you all saw, but it cut to Mark Pope's face. And, dude, it looked like. Like a father. It's like a proud father seeing his son hit the game winning three. He was. He was just sitting there. He was like, thank you. He's like, this is what I've been waiting for.

[Matt Jones]

Right? That is what he like, that's a good call,

[Caller]

but, man. Oh, dude, I ain't even gonna lie. When he hit that second three, I was literally running around my living room

[Matt Jones]

screaming, dude, that's what Mario was doing

[Caller]

here, because we're gonna need it, dude. I know. I saw the video. I saw y' all reacting on video. That was funny. And you called the fresh. You called the miss free throw. That was funny, too.

[Matt Jones]

I knew he was gonna miss that free throw. I knew he was gonna miss that free throw to go to 10 points.

[Caller]

You're like, dude, I don't care. Look, I don't care what anybody says about you, Matt Jones. You know this team more than I don't care. You know when they're gonna miss something. You know when they're gonna hit it. You're good at calling it. It's kind of funny.

[Matt Jones]

All right, well, I appreciate it.

[Caller]

With that being said, I'm gonna get off here. I'm gonna get off here. I'm gonna let you all have a rest of your good day. Take a shot of bourbon for me because I'm out in Washington state. Appreciate you there.

[Matt Jones]

Bourbon.

[Caller]

We'll.

[Matt Jones]

I'll have tall and Ryan and Mario, take one for you. Appreciate. Appreciate the call. Thank you all very much. Thank you guys. And. Oh, hello there. I didn't see you all back there. Thank you very much for coming. We didn't even tell people we were here. And you found us. There you go. Thanks to the mint. We are gonna get in the car as soon as we pack up and head to Nashville tomorrow. 10 roof. So here the show starts at 9am Eastern. We're combining KSR and the pre. Show starts at 9am so that's 8 central. Get to tin roof and come and see us. Then we'll have the game and the post game, and at some point, we will ride a bull. I don't know if that'll be tomorrow or Friday. Probably have to move back later in the week. In case I get hurt.

[Ryan Lemond]

I do have a really serious question.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Ryan Lemond]

What are you going to wear when you ride the bull?

[Matt Jones]

Well, the cowboy hats go, but it'll

[Ryan Lemond]

come off on it. I don't want to get it damaged.

[Matt Jones]

How do you know? You don't know, Mario. You've never been on a bull. We'll figure it out. I can wear a hat if I need boots. Yes, I do have boots. I brought boots.

[Ryan Lemond]

Nice.

[Matt Jones]

Brought boots.

[Ryan Lemond]

Nice.

[Matt Jones]

We're ready to go. All right, we'll see you later. Enjoy your rest of your evening. This has been the local Toilet Dealers KSR post game show.

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[Ryan Lemond]

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[Ryan Lemond]

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