KSR Postgame Show – Kentucky Basketball vs. Purdue

Date: October 25, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Billy, Callers
Main Theme:
A euphoric breakdown and celebration of Kentucky men’s basketball’s 78–65 home exhibition win over the #1 ranked Purdue Boilermakers, with analysis of standout performances, the Kentucky crowd’s energy, and the program’s renewed optimism under Mark Pope. Matt Jones invites fans to enjoy a night of wild enthusiasm—“be delusional”—before returning to earth in the coming week.

Episode Overview

• Purpose: Immediate reaction and fan call-in show after Kentucky MBB’s preseason win vs. Purdue, focusing on analysis, player performances, and the big-picture meaning for the team and fanbase.
• Tone: Uninhibited excitement, optimism, and playful overreaction (with the hosts repeatedly noting how good it feels for Kentucky fans to indulge in such emotion again).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of the Win

• “Best team in the country—78-65 with a win at home tonight in a preseason game that I would suggest is probably the most hyped Kentucky fans have ever been for a preseason game.” ([02:03] Matt Jones)
• Context: Kentucky was missing key contributors (Jalen Lowe, and NBA prospect Jaden Quaintance) but still dominated a top-tier, veteran-laden Purdue squad.
• The win energized the fan base, with Rupp Arena “prettymuch full, loud, people into it. Louder than most regular season games.” ([04:36] Matt Jones)

2. Player-by-Player Breakdown ([04:36]–[10:39])

• Otega Oweh: “Big early on…scored 7 of the first, I think, 14 points. He only played 17 minutes…person you're worried the least about is Oweh.”
• Denzel Aberdeen: “Led the team in minutes—29. Led the team in plus-minus with plus 14. He was great…backup point guard.”
• Trent Noah: “10 points... surprised he started. Handled himself really well. Good defense.”
• Brandon Garrison: “Defensively actually thought he was pretty good. He had some foul issues, but otherwise good.”
• Mo Diabate: “Exactly what you want from a senior...nine rebounds. Kentucky as a whole controlled the glass—more offensive rebounds than Purdue, 10 to 7.”
• Jasper Johnson (Freshman):

  “Led the team in scoring—15 points, 6 of 10 from the field, 3 of 7 from 3-point line, and really a lot of wow plays…you had no chance of stopping Jasper Johnson off the bounds.” ([07:56] Matt Jones)

• Malachi Moreno (Freshman):

  “The story of the game to me is Malachi Moreno…he has improved exponentially in the last 18 months…He has all the potential in the world…it's going to be hard to keep him off the floor.” ([08:24] Matt Jones)

• Zvonimir Ivišić (Yellow Vich): “Played much better on defense than I would have thought…gonna get playing time.”
• Colin Chandler: “Only had 2 points, but Mark Pope said he was the MVP—did all the little things…he did have the highlight of the game, Billy, that dunk he almost did... very, very impressive.” ([10:40] Matt Jones)
• Cam Williams: “Spotty defense. 2 for 6 from 3. When Jalen Lowe comes back, he might be your 11th man…if your 11th man is on NBA draft boards, you're going to be pretty good.” ([11:25] Matt Jones)

3. Identity & Cohesion of the Team

• Multiple players can take over; rebounding strength and defensive energy were standouts.
• Offensively, the team has untapped potential—“the sky's the limit.”

  “We are good and we have a chance to be really, really good. This team can be great defensively. If they rebound like they did tonight, that's even more exciting. And then offensively, the sky's the limit.” ([12:30] Matt Jones)

4. Kentucky/NBA Talent & Kentucky-Born Players

• “Against the #1 team…Kentucky put it away with three Kentucky kids on the floor…when you can have the best players and then they are from Kentucky…and you're able to get the performance you did to win a game like this—I don't know how you can't be thrilled about that. That's what this whole thing is about.” ([13:30] Matt Jones)

5. Expectations, Projections, & Fan Emotional Release

• “Let me overreact for one night…give me one night to be delusional. I haven't been able to be delusional about Kentucky basketball since, like, middle school…I'm just happy to be happy about Kentucky basketball.” ([22:33] Parker, caller)

• Matt projects a now higher win total than previously (“26-5 and a one seed”—[16:16] Matt Jones).

6. Perspective on Purdue & National Standing

• Purdue’s style critiqued as “slow twitch,” with concerns about their ability to match athletic teams (mirroring previous NCAA upset losses).
• Matt is firm: no excuses—“If they were number one, I’m going to, in my mind, say, we’re number one now.” ([25:39] Matt Jones)
• Caller James:

  “I just told my cousin I just watched the number one team in the country beat the number one team in the country.” ([25:39] James, caller)

7. Fan & Culture Moments

• The crowd’s intensity and “Mark Pope chants” in bars. Consistent calls expressing relief and joy at feeling pride in Kentucky basketball again.
• Matt appreciates Pope’s approach to connecting players to the state and to fan culture (contrasts to the “path to the NBA” message of predecessors).

8. Depth & Minutes Distribution: Managing Talent

• Questions arise about how Pope can keep all 12 key players happy with minutes, with two more top talents (Quaintance, Lowe) yet to return.

• “There’s going to be dudes who don’t play...I think it’s just inevitable that at least two of those guys are not playing in games or only playing a couple minutes. It’s a good problem to have.” ([32:31] Matt Jones)

9. Favorite Stats, Highlights, and Notable Quotes

• “Goose and Tom were fawning over…the first half, 11 assists on 14 made baskets. That’s great. That’s great. Without [a true] point guard.” ([27:17] Billy & Matt Jones)
• “If your 11th man is a guy that's on NBA draft boards, then you're going to be pretty good.” ([11:35] Matt Jones)
• “We needed after what's been going on in football to have excitement around this fan base and we had it.” ([04:37] Matt Jones)
• “Tonight…doesn't mean anything in the big picture, but in the short term…we are really good, we are really fun and this is going to be a really exciting year.” ([14:27] Matt Jones)

10. Johnny Rocker’s Role Player of the Game

• Mo Diabate: 8 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals. “He was good on defense. He was great rebounding despite the early foul trouble.” ([34:49]–[35:17] Billy & Matt Jones)
• MVP: Jasper Johnson.

Memorable Moments & Light-Hearted Banter

• “Give me one night to be delusional.” ([22:33] Parker, caller)
• Anecdotes about UK fans driving hours just to attend exhibition games (e.g., a customer at Berea Walmart getting a flat tire on the way from Williamsburg).
• Playful ribbing about MLS teams and host Billy’s (in)ability to answer soccer questions.
• Multiple enthusiastic CAT chant call-ins, families listening together, kids calling in after their first games or dunks.

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:03 | Matt begins analysis, frames significance of win | | 04:36–12:30 | Full player-by-player evaluation and game breakdown | | 13:30 | Kentucky-born players close out game – meaning for the program | | 16:16 | Fan call-ins begin; Matt's now-upgraded win/loss projection | | 19:25 | Caller reflects on Calipari era, “revenge tour” theme for this season | | 22:33 | Parker’s “give me one night to be delusional” call/payment for fans letting loose | | 25:39 | “We’re number one now”—Matt on Purdue’s excuses | | 28:15 | Concerns about over-shooting threes, insights on SEC matchups | | 31:30 | “How does Mark Pope manage all this talent?” – depth and playing time concerns | | 34:49 | Johnny Rocker Role Player of the Game: Mo Diabate | | 39:35 | Callers ask about the impact of returning stars, e.g. Jaden Quaintance | | 46:00 | National title odds, comparison to last “it’s time” article and the 2012 title team | | 52:44 | Callers highlight small moments—Colin Chandler's “header” after dunk; radio listening camaraderie |

Final Reflections

• The hosts and callers agree that while the win is “just” an exhibition, its meaning for the Kentucky fan base—after years of frustration and with renewed identity under Mark Pope—can’t be overstated.

• “Tonight was a great night. Tonight is great for the program, great for the fan base. Packed house, exciting win against a good team. Lexington has a buzz about it…And at least until Tuesday, we’re going to say this team can win the national championship.” ([60:17] Matt Jones)

Summary: For Those Who Missed It

This episode captures UK fandom at its best—overjoyed after a dominant preseason win against the country’s consensus #1 team, with hosts, analysts, and fans alike exulting in the athleticism, depth, upside, and Kentucky roots of this year’s squad. The show is full of firsthand impressions, superlatives, warm nostalgia, outrageous optimism, and a sense of shared communal catharsis.
Listen if you want: passionate basketball analysis, authentic fan voice, and insider insight on why Kentucky’s 2025–26 season might be the most fun—and meaningful—in years.