KSR Postgame UK MBB vs Tennessee Tech 11/26/25

Summary

KSR Postgame: Kentucky MBB vs Tennessee Tech (11/26/25)
Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Matt Jones (with Billy, Drew, and callers)

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Episode Overview

This KSR Postgame episode breaks down Kentucky’s dominant 104-54 win over Tennessee Tech on Thanksgiving Eve. Matt Jones and the KSR crew reflect on a game that swung from an uninspiring start to one of the Wildcats’ best offensive outbursts this season. Key player performances, team chemistry, upcoming schedule concerns, and in-game moments are discussed in depth, all in the show’s signature, lively KSR tone.

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Main Themes

• Kentucky’s huge 50-point win after a shaky start
• Emergence of offensive firepower and better shooting
• Enjoyment of special moments (notably Walker Horn’s memorable three)
• Chemistry and energy on the UK bench
• Ongoing issues with certain players’ effort and rotations
• The weight of upcoming December/SEC schedule (especially without injured players)
• KSR’s blend of deep fan analysis, humor, and relatability

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

First Half: Rocky Start, Then Explosion

• [01:58] Kentucky started slow, even trailing 25-21, and found the first half “uninspiring, kind of ugly.”
• [02:30] Turned around with a dominating run, fueled by better shooting.
• [02:45] Wildcats went 15/30 from three-point range, with five players scoring 13+ points.
• [03:55] “It was a feel good game after a poor start,” said Matt Jones.

The Walker Horn 3 – A Turning Point?

• [03:15] Walker Horn’s made three ignited the team and the crowd. Matt argues—tongue in cheek—that it might be the season’s turning point.

  • [03:28] “In that moment when you saw the team celebrating on the bench…all the excitement…that’s something we‘ve kind of been waiting for. I mean with all the rumors about chemistry, that was a really great—be honest with you, it’s the best moment of the season so far." – Matt Jones
  • [08:34] Billy: “I stood up. I shot the Jamal Murray bow and arrow…That’s the most I’ve ever cheered as a member of the working press.”

• [09:10] Balanced acknowledgment of other highlights, like Colin Chandler’s dunk (“the roof blew off on both of those moments”).

Player-by-Player Reactions

• [04:10] Praise for:
  • Trent Noah (4-5 from 3)
  • Denzel Aberdeen (4-6 from 3)
  • Colin Chandler (carried early when team struggled)
  • Moreno (16 points)
• [04:40] Concerns:
  • Brandon Garrison: “still very frustrating to me…not good, effort’s not there.”
  • Owa (Ola) also noted for inconsistent effort, especially early.
• [21:16] “Their talent is in part their effort…If he doesn’t give that effort, then he’s not going to be anywhere close to that.” – Matt Jones, on Owa
• [17:51] Garrison’s reduced minutes show growing implications for rotation.

Chemistry, Bench, and Team Vibes

• [03:15] Celebration on the bench after Walker Horn’s basket is lauded as a sign of positive team culture amidst chemistry rumors.
• [55:53] “So much better when we’re loose…That’s when we’re not stagnant.”

Injury & Depth Concerns

• Missing key players: “three of their four or five best players are out” and yet UK still won by 50.
• [24:23] With Jalen Lowe and Quainance injured, Matt pessimistically estimates a 2-2 record in December top-25 matchups if Lowe doesn’t return—and pegs Lowe as “by far the most important player on the team.”
  • [24:44] “If you just looked at the Louisville, Michigan State game, you would say, let Kentucky shoot.”
• [35:43] “You cannot show me a time that a college team has been good without a point guard. College is a guards game.”

Upcoming Schedule & Stakes

• [11:04] With North Carolina, Gonzaga, Indiana, and St. John’s next, Matt stresses UK’s must-win mentality at home.
  • [28:16] “When we play North Carolina and Indiana…you got to win those games.”
• [43:48] “December is going to be a very meaningful month…really going to help us, where we’re going to make the most jumps up or down.”

Coaching and Team Identity

• [29:51] Questions about Mark Pope’s communication style and ability to motivate elite, diverse rosters, coming from primarily coaching at Utah Valley and BYU.
  • [59:22] Caller Lane: “I’m just curious if you have any observations on his ability to motivate a locker room. He seems…really unrelatable to me.”
  • [60:53] Matt: “I have found Pope to be…difficult to read in these last few weeks.”
• [14:31] Discussion about AD succession: is UK ready for more “fresh blood” after Mitch Barnhart, or will his protege Mark Hill take over?

Big Picture & Notable Asides

• [11:04] Reunion of UK’s “Unforgettables” at Rupp for the first time since 1992 is highlighted as a feel-good moment.
• [34:07] Matt lauds TNT’s college basketball coverage, contrasts with ESPN’s “NFL-dominated” programming.
• [37:25 / 38:19] Caller wonders why Pat Riley’s Kentucky career is rarely celebrated; Matt agrees it’s "odd" given Riley’s legendary status.
• [54:52] KSR callers riff on the chaotic traffic and security around VP J.D. Vance’s Lexington visit, with comical on-the-ground reporting.
• [48:02] Fun aside: “It’s crazy seeing the little kid from North Laurel guard Steph Curry”—marveling at Reed Sheppard’s NBA moment.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:28] Matt Jones: “[Walker Horn’s shot]…that’s something we’ve kind of been waiting for. I mean with all the rumors about chemistry…It’s the best moment of the season so far.”
• [08:34] Billy: “I stood up. I shot the Jamal Murray bow and arrow…I was high fiving people. That’s the most I’ve ever cheered as a member of the working press.”
• [21:16] Matt Jones: “Their talent is in part their effort…but if he doesn't give that effort, then he's not going to be anywhere close to that.”
• [24:44] Matt Jones: “If you just looked at the Louisville, Michigan State game, you would say, let Kentucky shoot.”
• [35:43] Matt Jones: “You cannot show me a time that a college team has been good without a point guard. College is a guards game.”
• [49:00] Matt Jones: “From Red Bird to Steph and Draymond…you know what? Only in America.”
• [29:51] Matt Jones: “I’ve really had a hard time reading Pope these last few weeks…I haven’t really understood a lot of his—not just after the Louisville game and Michigan, but just in general.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:58 | Show begins, Kentucky’s rough start, then huge offensive run called a “feel good game”| | 03:15 | Walker Horn’s 3-pointer celebration and its symbolic importance | | 04:10 | Player-by-player analysis, Garrison and Owa called out for effort | | 08:34 | Billy’s “press row cheer” for Horn; crowd’s reaction to big game moments | | 11:04 | Schedule outlook (Unforgettables reunion, tough December ahead) | | 14:51 | AD succession talk: is Mark Hill the next Barnhart? | | 17:51 | Yellowvich’s emerging role; caller feedback on rotation patterns | | 21:16 | Effort discussion—returning players not meeting expectations | | 24:23 | Importance of Jalen Lowe, December forecast if he remains out | | 29:51 | Mark Pope’s coaching style and post-loss demeanor dissected | | 34:07 | Comparison of TNT vs. ESPN in college hoops coverage | | 37:25 / 38:19| Why is Pat Riley’s UK legacy not more celebrated? | | 43:48 | SEC schedule math; importance of December statement | | 49:00 | “Only in America”—Reed Sheppard/NBA aside | | 54:52 | KSR’s VP J.D. Vance traffic and Lexington scene reporting | | 55:53 | Fun/energy as key to UK’s ceiling; Walker Horn as a “turning point” | | 59:22 | POD on Pope’s ability to motivate and connect with locker room |

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Final Thoughts

• Despite a decimated roster, Kentucky cruised by 50, fueling optimism—but looming questions persist about consistent effort, perimeter shooting, and point guard depth.
• The episode is rich in classic KSR banter, balancing honest, sometimes tough basketball analysis (“If you just looked at [recent games], you would say let Kentucky shoot…”) with relatable, often irreverent, Kentucky-centric storytelling.
• The panel agreed that December will define the season—calling out the need to “find a way” against North Carolina and Indiana, especially at home.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

You missed a real “KSR night” episode—equal parts celebration, analysis, and insider fan perspective, punctuated by the type of energetic, occasionally self-deprecating, deeply Kentucky basketball conversation only KSR provides. If you want a sense of where the UK fan base stands—cautiously optimistic, entertained, but demanding more fight and better chemistry—this postgame breakdown delivers it all.

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To sum up in true KSR spirit: Kentucky won big, found some joy, but the team’s true identity will be tested in the coming stretch. And yes, Walker Horn’s smiling celebration might just be the rallying cry they needed.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

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[Billy]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Caller]

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[Matt Jones]

Of course, it's shaping up to be a very magical holiday. Welcome everyone. It is the local toy dealers. KSR Post game show on Thanksgiving Eve, the Kentucky Wildcats win by 5104, 54 against Tennessee Tech in a game that started not well but ended up actually being one of the better offensive performances Kentucky has had. You can give a shout 859-280-22 87 Kentucky scored 80 points in in what, 31 minutes? Or actually 28 minutes after a not so great start to the game, they got extremely hot in the second half. Went 15 of 30 from three and you saw a lot of guys play well. Trent Noah four or five from three. Denzel Aberdeen was four of six from three. Five players scored at least 13 points. You had a number of guys finish with 15 or 16. It was a feel good game after a poor start. I mean, the game was tied at 25. I think Kentucky was actually down 25, 21 at one point. And it looked like sort of uninspiring, kind of ugly beginning. But then things took off after that and there was a lot of fun, including the Walker Horn 3, which I think I. I'm going to make the argument Billy could be the turning point in the season. Right?

[Caller/Co-host]

Turning point of the season.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, I'm exaggerating, but I will say in that moment when you saw the team celebrating on the bench and you saw all the excitement and you saw all of the sort of happiness and togetherness, that's something we've kind of been waiting for. I mean with all the rumors about the chemistry, et cetera, you know, that was, that was a really great. I mean, be honest with you. It's the best moment of the season so far.

[Caller/Co-host]

There's some truth in that. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Think there's any argument that it's the best moment of the season. And I'm exaggerating when I say that it is the turning point, but it is, I think a. It was a good sign of the kind of thing we've wanted to see from this group. I'm just going to go over a couple things here. Just about the actual basketball game. I thought everybody on the team had really good moments except maybe Brandon Garrison, wasn't. I. He's still very frustrating to me. He had a play where he air balled a layup. He. Then he got his hit. Should have been a walk. They didn't call it. He got it back. He got it back. He came down the floor, gave up a dunk. He's just. I still. I think he's been not good. I thought away was not very good at the beginning. Kind of. He had his moments a little bit later. But besides that, I mean, I liked what I saw from these other guys. Denzel Aberdeen obviously made shots. I still think he's better at the 2, but he's going to have to play point guard. So it is what it is. Colin Chandler kind of carried the team a little bit at the beginning, you know, when they were struggling. Obviously Noah made His shots. I thought there were some good Yellow Vic moments. And then Moreno had 16 points. So I think you got to feel good about a team that honestly, three, probably three of their four or five best players are out and they were able to still get a 50 point win. Now, the other part of the story of the game is, which I was going to talk about later, but I want to do it now because Drew is in studio because, man, I want. He's got to go home and work on his turkey brine. Right, Drew? Don't you have that sitting there?

[Billy]

I have to do a lot of website work first and I'll get home and see what's left of my turkey that the squirrels left me.

[Matt Jones]

I hope your squirrels have eaten you. But I wanted to have you on because before the game, right after we went off of the pregame show, we found out that J.D. vance, the Vice president, was downtown and there were reports that there was crazy traffic. I actually didn't think the traffic was that bad when I drove home. But we were at the bar, we were warning people, getting information. And then it turned out. And we thought he was at the game. Turns out he didn't go to the game. He was eating at Tony's. And did I hear. Did you sneak in?

[Billy]

You know, I just like to be part of the scene, Matt. And you know, the road in front of Tony's was completely closed, which was why traffic was so bad. Tennessee Tech was late to the game, coming down new time, Newtown pike, everything.

[Matt Jones]

That's how he was coming in. Right? They closed. I heard they closed Newtown pike for a while.

[Billy]

Newtown pike was closed. Main street was closed. It was utter chaos on the lower end.

[Matt Jones]

So he could eat at Tony's?

[Billy]

Correct.

[Matt Jones]

See, I hate that. I mean, it's not. Listen, all the presidents and vice presidents do it. I don't. I mean, I guess they should get to have lives, but like, that seems like a huge hassle. But anyway, go ahead.

[Billy]

Well, they do have a great good crab cake, so I can't. I can't judge him. He knew what he was doing. But always I have that hour and a half between pregame and game. And I usually pop in somewhere, anywhere anyway, and eat dinner by myself. When I saw that Tony's was chaos, I knew exactly where I was going. What I didn't know is how much security would be there. And I didn't even think they would let me in, but I thought, you know what? I'll try it. And I had my backpack full of things. They pulled everything out Ran swabs on my laptop, my phone, tore my backpack apart. I had to take my hat off. But then they let me in and then when I got in, I didn't really know what I was going to do. I was going to sit at the bar, but it was, it was full. And then I had some friends invite me to sit down. So I sat down and ate with them. But it was just, you know, very presidential in there. There was security, secret service everywhere. Just across the street from Rupp Arena. I think a lot of people didn't even know that was going on, that were heading to the game.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, word kind of leaked out like right as the pregame show ended. Apparently. I was told he was going to go to the game but he didn't give notice that he wanted to go until this morning. And they didn't feel like they could secure the building in time. So yeah, I'd been interesting to see if he, if he did go to the game, what would have happened. I'm also told, I think he's like staying here all weekend. So for people there, there's again, who knows. But there's some reports he's like got a house for like a Thanksgiving weekend in Lexington.

[Billy]

Oh, he didn't, he didn't mention that to me.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, did you talk to him?

[Billy]

Well, no, but I just thought, you know, since I was already a part of his, his pregame dinner.

[Matt Jones]

Those of you that are, you know, traveling around the city, you there, there could be traffic, you know, maybe through the course of the weekend. So you may have to think that. Well, I'm glad you, you did some on scene reporting.

[Billy]

I had to, I didn't take any photos. I was very intimidated once they went to my back.

[Matt Jones]

That's on Facebook of them walking into the back of Tony that was looked to be taken from an apartment over Tony's but they didn't end up going to the game. What'd you think of the game real quick?

[Billy]

Well, considering just a few days ago I wrote a website post called Manifesting the Walker Horn three pointer and then I mentioned it on the morning show and pregame show. I went crazy. And you know, this is my 16th season covering games. I've never cheered on press row like I did. I stood, I stood up. I shot the Jamal Murray bow and arrow to him from I was in 213. I couldn't have been farther from Walker Horn and I tried to shoot him with the Murray arrow. I was high fiving people. That's the most I've ever Cheered as a member of the working press.

[Matt Jones]

And did you. Did you. You agree that was, like, the moment of the year, right?

[Billy]

I do, but I don't want you to forget the Colin Chandler dunk. I think collectively, those.

[Matt Jones]

True. That was. That was. That's. That was a really good. You're right. That's really good.

[Billy]

I've been at every home game so far. The roof blew off on both of those moments.

[Matt Jones]

Can I tell you one? The negative thing of the night for me? As you know, my parents came into town for Thanksgiving, and we were going to go to the game. We were given some. Some good tickets to the game. And then when we pulled in to go to the game, they scanned it and they said, this doesn't work. They had accidentally given me tickets for the last game. Oh, so we didn't get to go. Oh, you didn't get to go at all, Larry.

[Billy]

This was his Berea redemption game.

[Matt Jones]

This was his game. And they didn't. The person who gave them to me was. Was being very nice by doing it, but they accidentally gave me tickets to the Loyola barely game. Oh, no. So were the parents.

[Billy]

Okay. I know how excited they were.

[Matt Jones]

I think, you know, I mean, we didn't have a choice. What are you gonna do? You know, you got to your time. Because I had to. You know, we tried to find them in a certain way so that Larry get in and out. You know, there's. You can't just. I can't just scalp them. And. And so it didn't end up happening. But, you know, the. It's the thought that counts. That's what they say, right?

[Billy]

You got to spend more time together at home. You got to hear Tom Hard shout out green here.

[Matt Jones]

Tom Hart make fun of Shan the dude for the green beans. That was nice. So. So that part was. Was. But it is. It's a little embarrassing, Drew, when they go. Matt Jones. No. That they could just not work here. But it happens, especially if you.

[Billy]

It was such a big night. They're at the bar. They were so excited. I'm sorry for them.

[Matt Jones]

You know what? That's the way it goes. You have a good rest of your night, and you have a happy Thanksgiving.

[Billy]

All right. I'll be sitting here. Right, Billy. Blogging. Check out Kentuckysportsradio.com yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Please do. That's right. Thank you. 859-280-2287. What'd you think of the game? It was cool. The Unforgettables together in Rupp arena for the first time, which is amazing. To me that they have not been together in Rup at the same time since 1992. That's. That's wild. That was cool that that happened. And now things get serious with the schedule. North Carolina next week, Gonzaga next week. It is. Things are about to get real and we're going to find out what this team is. I don't know what they are. I'm not uber confident, but I guess I'm more confident than I would have been if the game had ended about with about eight minutes left in the first half. 859-280-2287. We will take your calls. Gonzaga by the way losing by 14. Billy right now to Michigan in the first half.

[Billy]

Wow.

[Caller/Co-host]

I just saw Auburn beat St. John's.

[Matt Jones]

Auburn beat St. John's so some of these games, you know, the teams were playing have lost. But Tennessee lost to Kansas, Auburn beat St. John's and now Gonzaga losing to Michigan. Not doing a lot for our strength of schedule. Not gonna lie to you. All these games. SEC is just been atrocious in the non conference. Auburn got a win today, but otherwise just atrocious so far in non conference play. 859280-2287 we will take a break and be right back. It's the local Toyota dealers KSR postgame show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR post game show. 859-280-2287 Gonzaga losing to Michigan by 16. Michigan must be really, really good. You know there's some. The three teams that supposedly spent the most money on their rosters are Michigan, St. John's and Kentucky. We obviously know where we are, St. John's now. Owen 3 versus quad 1. Kind of a disappointing start to the season for Rick's group. But Michigan looks like money well spent. We could have used this Yaxle kid, Billy. He would have been nice.

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, he's real good.

[Matt Jones]

He's really good. Like we, we definitely. That's one we definitely could have used.

[Caller/Co-host]

You think? Sorry. Do you think Kentucky's gonna see some zone now that Tennessee Tech played that in the first?

[Matt Jones]

No, because I think we, I mean, yeah, if we just throw bricks, but that we were able to penetrate the zoning. Once we got down low, they, they couldn't do much about it. But we might. Honestly though, you know, I thought maybe the most telling part of the game was Dame Bradshaw said that John Pelfrey had told them before the game If Kentucky shoots 40 threes, we're happy with that. We shot 30 and made half. But that tells Me that coaches in general are. They don't think this team can shoot. And, you know, I'm a big believer of what I know of Mark Pope. A Mark Pope team's got to be able to shoot because Mark's not known for his defense. Mark's teams are not necessarily, at least at this point, known for their toughness. They got to be able to shoot. And we have not shot well this year. We didn't start shooting well tonight, although we, you know, 15 or 30, you'll take every day. So. But that's interesting. That means the scouting report is let this Kentucky team shoot and we're going to have to play our way to where that's not the, the, you know, the game plan. But if you just looked at the Louisville, Michigan State game, you would say, let Kentucky shoot.

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Who's up first?

[Caller/Co-host]

Dustin.

[Matt Jones]

Dustin. Go ahead, Dustin.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt, can you explain better, like you talk about Mitch Barnhart transitioning to his new role. Is that January of next year or July or.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, this is. This isn't official yet. This is just what I'm hearing.

[Caller]

Yeah, I understand.

[Matt Jones]

Is that when I've said at the end of the year, I mean, the end of the school year. So I think this will be his last school year, which of course ends in May. Now, when would they announce that, you know, he's. He has to give six months notice, I guess, is what that contract says to the assistant thing. So that's why we had talked about. Well, maybe he does it at January 1st, because the, the $800,000 a year as a special assistant starts if he's done after July 1st. Does that make sense? Okay, so he could announce it at January 1st, but I'm under the assumption this will be his last school year, which would go through the end of May.

[Caller]

Okay, I understand. And I know one time you mentioned a person's name. I know this is all speculative of somebody else that would be taking over. Did you have any opinions or concerns about him or. Well, he. Is he. Fresh blood, I guess you would say, or.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, no, no, I. Okay, so. So I mentioned the name Mark Hill. Let me just say, I mean, I like Mark Hill a lot. I mean, I've, I've spent a lot of time. I mean, we've dealt with mark Hill for 15 years. I like Mark. I think. I don't. I don't think it would be fair to say he's exactly like Mitch. I think he's more open to a lot of the things that are in modern athletics now. Than Mitch is. Okay. So I don't. I do think he is more modern. Is it fresh blood? I would not say that, no. Because I mean, he, he was trained under Mitch. So some of the things that frustrate me about Mitch Barnhart, I do think Mark Hill would be an improvement. Do I think though, they should just give him that job without doing a national search? I don't know that I would say that. I think you have to at least go all the way around and maybe you end up back with him. But like, I don't. I don't really like people hand picking their successors. And we've talked about that before.

[Caller]

Yeah. So I agree.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate the, Appreciate the call. Oh, I'm sorry, did you hang up on him?

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, he's gone.

[Matt Jones]

I'm sorry. I didn't know you had another thing, sir. My bad. Michigan now 20. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Joe.

[Matt Jones]

Joe. Go ahead, Joe.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt, thanks for taking my call. Yeah. Michigan's looking insane right now. Yeah, but I'm. Yeah. Hope. Hoping we can get.

[Matt Jones]

We don't play. At least we don't play them, right?

[Caller]

Yeah, yeah, we'll see what happens with Godzaga. They looked unstoppable with Bama, but.

[Billy]

I.

[Caller]

Really liked Yellowvich tonight. I think it was his best game. He only scored five but 10 rebounds in 15 minutes. I really like him. And if we're going to play big him and Malachi a lot and trim the minutes for BG as time goes on, hopefully he'll get better, but that seems to be where we're going.

[Matt Jones]

I liked Yellow Bitches minutes, especially in the second half. Now granted, the game was kind of a route at that point, but. But I agree with you. I'd like to see more. I mean, I'm looking at the minutes right now. Yovich played 15, Garrison played 17. I mean, Garrison's minutes have gone down a lot. I want to say, like the first or second game of the year. I think he might have led the team in minutes and now he had fewer minutes than Trent Noah and Jasper Johnson. So I think if that doesn't send a message to him, I don't really know what's going to.

[Caller]

Yep, we'll. We'll see how he responds. I also thought we pressed. I feel. I thought a little bit and I liked it when we did. I don't know how common that'll be again.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I know. I think we need to have more players to do that. I mean, you know, I think we. Maybe that's something you do a little bit when you. The press is not like, I think what you want to do is you just want to harass full court like the old days of pressing and trapping. I just don't think that happens much. But picking up guys, full court and making them work. Yeah, there'll be some teams that. That can work against.

[Caller]

Yeah. Happy Thanksgiving, guys.

[Matt Jones]

You as well. 859-280-2287. For those of you at home, couple things. I mean, Gonzaga, Michigan is at halftime. Also, the Rockets have just. And Reed is playing right now on espn. So if you want to watch Reed shepherd in the NBA, if you don't have league pass, you might not have seen him yet. He's on right now. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Phil.

[Matt Jones]

Phil. Go ahead, Phil.

[Caller]

Hey, man, Happy Thanksgiving. I know you watched first half and you know second half just like I did, but gosh dang, Brandon Garrison just do something and his line of basketball. Or does Pope just need to look at, even be like, hey, man, you're good, but you're not that good. Let's just sit down, play my cap. Play. Play these other guys and let the chips fall where they fall.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, I don't know how many more. How many more? I mean, he's done it. Like, he. I mean, Garrison was starting, now he's not. And he had the second fewest minutes of any of the rotation guys tonight. I kind of think there's not. Like, if that doesn't get the message, I don't know what will. The problem for me with Brandon Garrison is his effort. I mean, you know, if he misses a shot, he misses a shot. It's just the effort is not there.

[Caller]

And with Olay, I don't know if y' all seen the first 30 minutes of game. There's very little effort from him. Also, I'm the pessimist. I love Kentucky basketball. I watch it every day. I watch all the podcasts. You know, I listen to every. I very rarely call in. Yeah, but the effort from OA Garrison, the two guys we thought would give the effort have the heart, it's not. I mean, it's about the heart. It's about wanting to play, wanting that.

[Matt Jones]

And what's frustrating is. What's frustrating is those are the two guys that returned. Right? The. The guys that played the most that returned. And if you were to ask me last year, who were the guys that played the game the most effort, you might have said those two. Right. Like, it's.

[Caller]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

It's kind of bizarre that. And I'm with you on all That I appreciate the call. I'm. That they were the returnees and owe was certainly the effort guy. And even Garrison, he would do small minutes, but he'd come in, be all over the place, almost be too all over the place. And it just. They just don't for whatever reason look the same. You know, I, it's very, very frustrating. I mean, I can take a kid like say, who's an example. I mean, Colin Chandler had a couple games early in the season, even though he scored a bunch, where he would make a lot of mistakes and you know, he missed a bun of shots early tonight. But it's constant effort and I feel like Aberdeen gives constant effort. Obviously Diabate does. But the. Especially Garrison. But even sometimes oa, I, I like those guys. Their talent is in part their effort. I mean, away is not preseason all SEC player talent. He's just not. But he, he's really good talent. And then the effort can take him to that level. But if he doesn't give that effort, then he's not going to be anywhere close to that. And he hasn't been so far this year. And I think that's hurt Kentucky. Who's next? Michael. Michael. Go ahead, Michael.

[Caller]

Happy Thanksgiving, Matt.

[Matt Jones]

Happy Thanksgiving to you.

[Caller]

Yeah, I was just. I, I had a question and a thought. I'll go with a thought first. When I, I saw somewhere. I was trying to look it up before you. You picked, you know, picked up my call. I saw today somebody said that Kentucky is without, you know, Lowell and, And Jaden. Jaden Quince. That Kentucky is really just filled with America's six man. Like, it's filled with a bunch of six. Six, you know, six man off.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think that's crazy. I mean, I don't think that's crazy. I think that's. I, I think that's a little harsh because I think Colin Chandler is a starter for most teams and I think. But, but it's not. It's not a terrible take. I would agree.

[Caller]

Yeah. Yeah. Like, I, I mean, I could definitely see Colin not fitting into that. But like, you know, like, even today when the, when the game started, that first, you know, gosh, 15 minutes or so, I mean, just. No, it did not look good. You could not get. No one could get open. No one could, you know, get the ball into the paint. And so I just thought that was an interesting comment. And then my question for you is Kentucky has six games in the month of December, four of them against top 25 teams. Three of them. Of those four are at Rupp Arena. Based on.

[Matt Jones]

I saw today, yesterday, two of the four. RUP Arena, Indiana, North Carolina. Rup.

[Caller]

Oh, okay.

[Matt Jones]

Gonzaga's in Nashville. It's counted as a home game.

[Caller]

Nashville, that's.

[Matt Jones]

And then St. John's in Atlanta.

[Caller]

Okay, so I. I think I saw your thing that said, you know, you'd put the panic level at an 8 if, you know, Lowell's not back. Based on what you saw up till today, what would be your prediction of those six games? What. What record they have in those six.

[Matt Jones]

Is low playing or not?

[Caller]

I'm gonna say no.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, so let's say Lowe's not playing. Then I would consider 2 and 2 a success if he's not playing. And if he is, I mean, like a real success. Okay. Because if you look at the SEC schedule, we start at Alabama, and then we have like four or five really winnable games in a row, Right? So you can get some wins and get everybody healthy, but you cannot take. I mean, just to use these four top 25 games. And then at Alabama, you can't start the season with seven losses. Right? Yeah, I don't. I don't care what we have. So, I mean, you know, we've got to win some of these games. However we win them, I think it's going to be very hard. I mean, I think. And this goes to your first point about the role players I have said, you've probably gotten tired of hearing me say that Jalen Lowe is the most important player on the team by far. He's even more important than. He's even more important than I thought he was. Because this team just does not have guys who can consistently create their own offense without a point guard. And we have seen this team look really good for these little periods of time. And really, you're talking about the Louisville game, like 10 or 15 minutes when low was point guard, we looked really good. And other than that, against good teams, we have not looked good. And I worry. And I worry that's how it's going to be the whole year unless something changes. So I appreciate the call. It's nothing against these guys. It's nothing against them, but I just don't know if you don't have low acquaintance. I just don't know how good they are. And then you throw in that. Against Michigan State, the effort was poor. Well, then you're asking to get crushed if you do that. I think the effort will be there a lot of the year, but I just don't know how good they are if they don't have low, but if you have low inquaintance, then I think you can still be really good. But we've literally only seen. We haven't seen it with quaint at all. And we've only seen it with low, like 10 or 15 minutes of the Louisville game. So who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Tommy.

[Matt Jones]

Tommy. Go ahead, Tommy. 859-28022. 87, by the way, since I told everybody to tune in. Watch. Ready? Miss five straight shots. Go ahead, Tommy.

[Caller]

Matt?

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Caller]

Do you think Kentucky 13 games this year.

[Matt Jones]

Is Jalen Low playing? If. If Jalen Lowe's not playing? I don't know. I still. I don't think they'll lose 13 because I don't think the SEC is very good this year. But if Jalen Lowe's not playing, I'm worried about the team.

[Caller]

I think they're going to get blown out on the 13th.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, that's the truth. Hang up on the truth. I knew that was the truth.

[Caller/Co-host]

That was the truth.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Is he still there?

[Caller/Co-host]

Oh, no, he's not. I hung up. I guess that must be the.

[Matt Jones]

He was trying to be. He was trying to be low key, but the fact that he picked the 13th and it was Indiana and then I heard, yeah, that was. That was.

[Caller/Co-host]

Surprised he didn't ask for tickets.

[Matt Jones]

Here's the thing. When we play North Carolina and Indiana, both those games are at home. If you're a good team, you got to win those games. It's one thing to lose on a. On the road to Louisville. It's nothing to lose on a neutral court. You can't lose a home. We got to beat North Carolina Tuesday and we got to beat Indiana on the 13th. And then what would be a real success is if we won those two and then split south, St. John's and Gonzaga, then I'd be, like, over the moon. But I'll be honest with you, Billy, we could lose them all. We're not careful. Yeah, we play. If we play like we did against Michigan State, we'll lose all of them. Now, I don't think we'll play like that. I think we'll win a couple of them, but it's not a given. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Hunter.

[Matt Jones]

Hunter. Go ahead, Hunter.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt. How are you doing tonight?

[Matt Jones]

Good. What's up?

[Caller]

Hey, I want to give a big shout out to Cam Williams. I think he's improved a lot. Beginning of the season.

[Matt Jones]

He has. You're right. I'm glad you mentioned him.

[Caller]

Yeah. Yeah, he's been a lot better. And once he Starts hitting his shots. I think he's gonna be big for us. We definitely got a short in the front row court rotation as well. I think BG doesn't really need to be getting that. But I will say I had one thought. After the game. When Pope and the Unforgettables were doing the interview, he asked the question to them. Something to the effect of like, hey, what was the moment where you guys were at your lowest and you guys pulled through? I wonder if that was something that was kind of on his mind when he asked that question, you know, just from where he is right now.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, maybe. I mean, I've really had a hard time reading Pope these last few weeks. I mean, I felt like prior to the Louisville game, he's very different than I am. He's probably. I mean, he's very different. I mean, everybody's different, but he's like, very different than I. But I felt like I had a pretty good read on him and kind of the way he reacted to things and the way and, and in the last two or three weeks, I've. I'll admit I. I haven't really understood a lot of his. Not just after the Louisville game in Michigan, but just in general. I, I listen to his press conferences, and I'm. I have a hard time kind of following what he's doing. So I wondered the same thing. I mean, I thought. I thought it was cool that they brought those guys out. I enjoyed listening to them. But it was also, I agree with you, he sort of was talking a lot about the adversity of those times. And part of me did wonder, like, is this something where he's trying to send a message to our players? And I don't know the answer to that. I mean, Pope has been very honest this year that he doesn't think he's gotten through to these guys. And, you know, hopefully that starts to happen. We'll see. Yeah. Appreciate the call. I mean, I, I. What has been sort of hard for me to understand is I just feel like these last three weeks have just been really difficult to comprehend. I mean, I'll give you a stat, Billy, that's kind of interesting. Okay. I can't think of too many times early in the season where we've looked worse than we looked like. First half of Louisville and the whole Michigan State game, Would you agree with that?

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, I would.

[Matt Jones]

Now, we played pretty. We played decent in the second half, but first half of Louisville and the Michigan State game, I cannot think of too many times where we've had the first two good games look like that. With that said, I saw a stat today. This is the first time in UK history that in the first seven games of the year, Kentucky's won four games by over 40 points. So on the one hand we looked really bad, really bad against the two good teams we played. And on the other hand we're beating the bad teams we play by obscene amounts, like historic amounts.

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, that doesn't really.

[Matt Jones]

Part of it is the bad teams were. No, it doesn't. Me either. But the bad teams we're playing are really bad. But we play bad teams every year. It's just interesting to me that this team can win by 50 regularly against bad teams and then lose. Like Michigan State's good, but they're not 70 points better than Tennessee Tech. Right, right. Yet there was a 70 point differential in those two games.

[Caller/Co-host]

Well, if they didn't have the BBN United tip off presented by Kentucky Tourism and they went to Maui instead, then that could be even a worse record.

[Matt Jones]

Well, the people teams at Maui are bad. But if we had played in the players that Players era, we might have. Yeah, but then again, you take a team like Kansas who has looked bad and then they go to the players ERA and wink go three and oh, and win. So maybe we're going to have a moment like that. Maybe North Carolina is that moment for us. We'll see. 859-280-2287 we will take a break Pre Thanksgiving. Local toilet dealers KSR Post Game Show. We'll be right back. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers KSR Post Game Show. One person writes in Matt, I'm watching the Players ERA tournament. I'm glad we didn't play in it because I don't think we'd have done very well. But I've really enjoyed it. TNT is doing a good job with college basketball. I agree. I mean we're not gonna have any games on TNT. I guess they're doing Big east and Big 12 games. But I think they're actually really good. I think they've got a great, I mean for, for a network that last year was their first games and they only had like Big 12 games last year. I mean they've got, you look at who they've got doing it with our friend Adam Lefkoe. But like the color announcers are Bruce Pearl, Jamal Mashburn, Chris Weber, Jalen Rose, Grant Hill. Like that's a pretty good group, Billy, you know?

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

[Matt Jones]

I mean that's a pretty good group of people calling Games. And then Robbie Humble might be the best color announcer going right now. And he's on there too.

[Caller/Co-host]

I wonder how Bruce was tonight. Was he on the call for.

[Matt Jones]

Hopefully he calmed down just a little bit. But I mean, they've got like I heard Danny Hurley say tonight, Danny Hurley did a interview and he said something to the effect of they're covering college basketball, how we need it to be covered. They do pregame shows, they do post game shows, they do interviews. I agree with that. I mean, it's nice that our games are on ESPN and I'm an ESPN employee, but espn, like NFL is always going to dominate everything. And so college basketball doesn't get a lot of like, like people just like when their games aren't on, they're not talking about it. Whereas with TNT now, this is like the only sport they have. So they're treating it like an event. And I actually think it's, it's, it's good for the sport. I kind of wish a couple of our games were, were on there too. One person writes, matt, why are you, when are you going to stop acting like Jalen Lowe is Michael Jordan? He's a good player, but you keep pounding him as being the answer. And we all, all while knowing we will not get him back this season at 100%. I disagree with that. First of all, he's not Michael Jordan. I agree with that. But if he comes back, I think he will be 100% unless he gets hurt again. I mean, from what I understand about that injury, because this is not like Lamont Butler. Like Lamont Butler had some structural damage that was apparently worse than Lowe's. I mean, did you see him, Billy, when he was celebrating the Walker Horn thing? His arms were flailing everywhere.

[Caller/Co-host]

I didn't, but that's a good sign, right?

[Matt Jones]

I think he's going to be okay unless he gets hurt again. And then I think when he gets hurt again, I think the idea is then that he probably wouldn't play anymore. So it's just going to be like a please don't get hurt. But I think when he plays, he'll be very effective. And I, I, you cannot show me a time that a college team has been good without a point guard. College is a guards game, the NBA's guards game now too. But college is really a Guards game. And show me a college team that does not have a good point guard. And Denzel Aberdeen is pretty good, but I don't think he's like a real point guard. I think he'd rather Be a two. So I think Pope's going to regret. We don't have a. Pope's going to regret he didn't bring in a backup point guard. I think, I guess he thought Aberdeen could do that. And you know, he's, he's fine. But we need, we needed a more athletic Travis Perry on this team this year and we didn't get it.

[Caller/Co-host]

And this is what happened last year, right?

[Matt Jones]

Well, last year he brought in Kirk Crease. He's got hurt. You know, they both got hurt and.

[Caller/Co-host]

Then Butler got hurt.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, they both got hurt. So he's had a lot of bad luck with getting hurt. But we didn't even really bring a back up in this year and that was probably a mistake in hindsight. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Dwayne.

[Matt Jones]

Dwayne. Go ahead, Dwayne.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt, what's up? After a 50 point win, After a 50 point win tonight, I was, I was the one to ask you a question. Pat Rowley played at Kentucky and nobody ever says anything about him. Is there, is there some kind of animosity between Pat Rally and Kentucky?

[Matt Jones]

I don't think there's animosity that I've ever heard it. It has always been weird to me. I agree with you that we don't make a bigger deal about the fact that he plays that there now. I have heard like he was on that Rups runs team, right, that lost to Texas Western. And I've always heard that he, you know, has had like, you know, that there was always some kind of thing of being part of this historical event, but sort of being on the bad guy side of it, you know, that is something that Pat's like always kind of not wanted to make a big deal out of. But I mean, he was here a couple times during the Cal era as a scout and he would be at the game. But, but I don't disagree with you. It is odd to me. I mean, he's one of the more famous people to ever play here and we don't talk about it a lot and it's not played up a lot. It is, it's, it is sort of strange. I agree.

[Caller]

Yeah. I mean, I just thought, like, do you hear more about it? Because like, I mean, he's like a big, I mean like a big time name and like.

[Matt Jones]

No, I mean, I think if you're talking about, if you're talking about guys who played here and their impact on professional basketball, like real impact, I mean, you could make an argument he's had more impact than anyone that ever played here on the NBA. You know what I mean? Like, like, I mean, you could certainly make that argument. I mean, it's. It probably is him. I don't even know who else it would be. I mean, I guess the other two would be like, Anthony Davis and maybe one day it'll be Shay, Gilgis, Alexander, but like, it's him probably. And you're right, we don't really talk about it.

[Caller]

Yeah. And I mean, there's a lot of people in our fan base that don't even know that he played here because I didn't told just a couple of years ago when I was like, looking and I'm like, oh, well, yeah, he played here. Like, oh, that's. Oh. And there's like. And nobody ever says nothing about it. And I've been meaning to ask you.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, it's a great question. That's a very good question. I appreciate the call. It's a very good question. Billy, did you. I mean, I know you know now, but did you. When did you know growing up that Pat Riley played here?

[Caller/Co-host]

I did, yeah. I can't tell you when I figured that out, but I did know.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Well, I mean, it is interesting. I do think part of it is that he was on that team. That is, you know that they've made movies about us losing the game.

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, I think so.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, I think that's probably part of it. But, you know, I mean, it was history and it's not like that was Pat Riley's fault. So I don't. I don't know. Say it's a good question. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Hudson.

[Matt Jones]

Hudson. Go ahead, Hudson.

[Caller]

Hi, Matt.

[Matt Jones]

How are you, Hudson?

[Caller]

Good.

[Matt Jones]

What's up?

[Caller]

So Walker Warren hit a great three today.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, he did. Were you in the gym? Yeah. Did you go crazy? Because it looked like everybody did.

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I loved it. His first points as a UK player. What an insane shot to make it on. And Hudson, I have you. I hope you have a good Thanksgiving. Billy, did you. Oh, go ahead, Hudson.

[Caller/Co-host]

He's gone. Why?

[Matt Jones]

I didn't even appreciate the call.

[Caller/Co-host]

That was the end.

[Matt Jones]

What is it with you and children?

[Caller/Co-host]

No, that was not. I was not trying to end a call or anything. That was just.

[Matt Jones]

But I didn't say. I didn't give you the magic words.

[Caller/Co-host]

It was the magic time.

[Matt Jones]

Says who?

[Caller/Co-host]

The call screener.

[Matt Jones]

All right, I'm sorry, Hudson. Billy, I was not.

[Caller/Co-host]

I was not intentional.

[Matt Jones]

Billy is. Billy is not in the Thanksgiving spirit.

[Caller/Co-host]

It was. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

That he should be. Did you. Okay. So Walker Horde for a second I had somebody say send me a picture and said Walker Horn in the moments after that look like Big earned McCracken from Kingpin. I think that's a pretty good call. And Big Irvin McCracken is one of my favorite characters in a movie ever. And I think that's a good call. I'm a big Walker Horde guy. I love the joy he had with it. You know, like he wasn't trying that cool. You know, sometimes we've had walk ons who tried that cool. Like Brad Cal Peri tried that cool. I like Sam Malone a lot but he tried that cool. I like the Walker Horns. Like I'm going to go crazy because this is fun, you know.

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, he's been trying to hit it too. So it was.

[Matt Jones]

And I love, I'm telling you, I love that reaction of the bench. I've watched it probably 10 times. It was. It was great. And I'm calling it now. Billy. It's the thing that turns around this.

[Caller/Co-host]

I hope so. I do.

[Matt Jones]

I think we're going to come out, we're going to beat North Carolina and it's going to be somebody's. One of the players is going to say that moment was the one that turned it around. I don't feel like you're buying it.

[Caller/Co-host]

No, I am. I'm just worried about the reaction to that. Me hanging up on the kid there.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, you can't be like that. I think you're over. I think you're worried too much. You didn't do it on purpose. You probably did actually. Probably did not this. All right, who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Hunter.

[Matt Jones]

Hunter. Go ahead, Hunter.

[Caller]

Matt, Billy. Great to talk to you guys. Billy, you gotta watch out. There might be a hashtag justice for Hudson Twitter going on.

[Caller/Co-host]

So I'm sure.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, justice for Hudson. I understand.

[Caller]

So I have one quick point I did want to make and wanted your take on it. But first I do have to give a quick shout out to my father. It's his 49th birthday today. He's been a KSR listener since 2015.

[Matt Jones]

Happy birthday.

[Caller]

He's. He's been the reason, like he's the reason why I'm talking to you guys now. Like, listen to this car on, you know, drive, so on, so forth. But I take away from this game is, you know, we have the potential to be great. My worry though is December is going to be a very meaningful month.

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Caller]

I mean by that, because our SEC play is set up to where we play all the, all the good teams away and all the bad teams home. So when we, when we lose to the bad teams that away, it's not going to ding us as much in the seating. So our SEC play set up to help maintain seating. And so this December is really going to help us where we're going to make the most jumps up or down, depending on what happens. So I'm really hoping we can get Jaden Queens getting low back. That way we can, you know, have a great December and then we can roll that in into SEC play.

[Matt Jones]

Totally agree with you. Everything you just said right there is 100% correct. The schedule is weird. It's a bad schedule for us. I appreciate the call in terms of, like, we may take a lot of losses, but it actually is not a bad schedule for us in terms of strength of schedule. Because as you said, if you lose at Alabama, you ain't gonna get punished for it. Whereas if you lose a home, you might. But that's part of why we got to beat North Carolina and Indiana, because the neutral site games and the home games against good teams, we have to win. And we didn't win the Michigan State like the Louisville game would. It would not have hurt us at all for an NCAA resume. But the Michigan State one will, and so will the North Carolina one if we lose. So we, we, we need to win that A. Kaden Lewis, by the way, was, was going to be our backup point guard. That's the. He's a, he's a Villanova. And we did and he decommitted and that's fine. But like, you still could have gotten somebody. I mean, there, there are people that got players in August. I mean, I, whoever it was, they probably needed somebody because I don't know if they thought that would be Aberdeen or if they thought that would be Jasper Johnson. And I'm not saying it can't be those guys. They just haven't yet showcased the ability to be that. I think Jasper Johnson's a great playmaker. I'm not sure that he's the best at getting everybody involved, although he does, he does make, I mean, does pass well, but I'm just not sure if that's his, his strength. One person writes, Matt, my mom dated Pat Riley at Lafayette High School.

[Caller/Co-host]

Wow. It's a claim to fame. Dated Pat Riley.

[Matt Jones]

She. I mean, Pat Riley, he's not from here, but is he any from like Missouri or something?

[Caller/Co-host]

I don't know. But he'll have, he'll forever be Big Blue.

[Matt Jones]

He will forever be big blue. 8, 5, 9, 280-2287. We will take a break, take one final round of calls with Billy the Hang Upper and Matt Jones here on the local toy dealers, KSR post game show. Welcome back. Final segment. Local toy dealers KSR post game show. We'll go, I don't know, 12 or 15 minutes and then let Billy go home. You're taking some heat on this, Billy. On the text machine I knew was.

[Caller/Co-host]

Coming.

[Matt Jones]

One person writes, matt, Billy said it was the magic time to hang up. How does he decide that? How do you decide that? There's. There's a. There's a code for you to do it, but let's say you decide to go on your own. How are you. How are you deciding that?

[Caller/Co-host]

I don't know. It's just more of a feeling than it is anything I can describe.

[Matt Jones]

No.

[Caller/Co-host]

No malice behind that hang up, though. I felt like I've been doing better with kids. Women and children.

[Matt Jones]

So you know that the saying is always women and children first. Are you saying for you it's the opposite? I don't think you want to take that position, do you?

[Caller/Co-host]

No, not at all. Okay, put them on the boat. Get him out of there.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. It's one way to say it. Pat Riley was from Schenectady, New York, which I've never been there, but I've always, like. I've used the phrase Schenectady is like a word for just like a random place. Like, that's. You know, some people used to say if it plays in Peoria, I would always be like, oh, it's in Schenectady. I didn't realize that's where Pat Riley's.

[Caller/Co-host]

He's actually from there.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, he actually. So when I've been saying the, like, in my mind, a random place, I was actually saying, Pat Riley's home. One person says, matt, it is crazy. Seeing the little kid from North Laurel guard Steph Curry, that really is kind of amazing. I mean, it was only. What? I mean, he was playing at North Laurel three years ago, you know, I mean, literally three years ago, he was playing against, you know, Lincamp, and now he's playing against Steph Curry. That's. I mean, he had a road game at Redbird, and now he's playing against Steph Curry in the Golden State's home arena. Three years. Think about that in life. That's insane.

[Caller/Co-host]

That is bizarre.

[Matt Jones]

From Red Bird to staff and Draymond, that's. You know what? Only in America. What's. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Danny's next.

[Matt Jones]

Danny, go Ahead, Danny.

[Caller]

Yeah. So we have North Carolina at Ruppering.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, we do.

[Caller]

I know we need the point guard, but I mean with this personnel we have, don't you just dig deep and get that win?

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Caller]

Wouldn't it change the mindset of players and the fan base?

[Matt Jones]

Yes, it would need this. We do need it. I, I completely agree with you and you have. I mean listen, this isn't the ideal group but you, I think you would agree, we have a team that can beat North Carolina Rubbery. We can win that game. Okay. I mean think about it. We've had really good teams go. We've had better teams than North Carolina here and we've gone on the road and played teams worse than we are this year. And they've beaten us on their home floor because the environment because so we can win. I mean it's at 9:30 on a Tuesday night so it's what's going to be late and we need a loud crowd and we need all that. But we can win the game. I'm with you.

[Caller]

You absolutely.

[Matt Jones]

I mean they're, they're not great. I mean they're good, but they're not great. I appreciate the call. You know we're going to get to see Caleb Wilson who we wanted here and we're going to see him up close. But you know, they lost. I think it was their point guard is the guy that got hurt in the weightlifting thing. Was that their point guard?

[Caller/Co-host]

I'm not sure about that.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they lost one of their good players to like a weightlifting injury. And so I mean they're not a, you know, 100% either. We gotta win with or without Jalen Lowe and I don't think he's gonna play. But with or without, we gotta win. Apparently Adam Lefkoe said this Gonzaga Michigan game was going to be the best non conference game in 20 years. Which is a strong statement from left. Go right now the score is Michigan 72, Gonzaga 37. Good, that's the score. 72, 37.

[Caller/Co-host]

Dusty may be a problem this year.

[Matt Jones]

Who all has beaten? Is Michigan beaten this year? So they beat, they've beaten Oakland by 40, Wake Forest by one in overtime, TCU by four and then San Diego State by 40, Auburn by 30 and they're up 30 on Gonzaga. That is a heck of a three day run, isn't it?

[Caller/Co-host]

They flipped a switch at the right time.

[Matt Jones]

I mean they, if the game were to end right now, they would beat San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga by combined 100 points. That's got to Be one of the greatest tournament runs ever in a preseason tournament, like, ever.

[Caller/Co-host]

They're money motivated. We'll go to Jerry.

[Matt Jones]

Well, yeah, they get this money, right? It's like they split like $2 million, don't they?

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, if they win the tournament.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. All right, who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Jerry.

[Matt Jones]

Jerry. Go ahead, Jerry.

[Caller]

Hey, thanks for taking my call, man. I'm more worried about our team playing against teams that physical. I've been watching this Terminator, Las Vegas, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama. I'm just worried. I don't know how much we can handle physicality and man love. I want Jaylen. I want to see quaintance. If we can move Moreno to the center, acquaintance at power forward, I think we can roll. But I'm just worried about the. I'm just worried about the physicality with this team, especially Tennessee. They're so big and huge strong.

[Matt Jones]

Well, you should be. I mean, that's how Michigan State beat us. Is. Is the physical. So I think it's a legitimate worry. Appreciate the call. You know, if you're not going to be physical, then you better be athletic and you better be able to shoot. And some things we haven't been. So I. It's completely legitimate to worry. I understand why you do and I worry about it too. I don't think North Carolina will be the game where we feel it, but Gonzaga maybe. One thing I don't like about the new Elon Twitter, Billy, is that, you know, now if you're not careful, you get the. For you instead of the following.

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And so you get tweets in like any order and people will see tweets I sent at one point in the game and think I tweeted it after the game. So I wrote like after 10 minutes. This is a pretty uninspiring poor effort. Which it was at that point. Right. But then people see it after the game and they can't think that I may have said it when we did look bad.

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, well, that they got to find some critical thinking there.

[Matt Jones]

And that's exactly right. One person writes, matt, you drew snuck into Tony's to see J.D. vance. If you had seen him at the game, would you have spoken? Well, yeah, of course. I mean, there was a time he's been a multiple time guest on this show. I don't think people realize that. Billy, this is. He is a three time guest on a. On a Matt Jones show. Ksr. Twice in the podcast once.

[Caller]

Mm.

[Matt Jones]

So. So yeah, I mean, I haven't talked to him in a long time, but we. I Used to know him.

[Caller/Co-host]

So you couldn't even get in the game either.

[Matt Jones]

That's true. There's no way for me to talk to him. I couldn't even get in.

[Caller/Co-host]

Both of you.

[Matt Jones]

We both were told to stay out. All right, we'll do five more. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Nathan.

[Matt Jones]

Nathan. Go ahead, Nathan.

[Caller]

Yeah, it's actually crazy. So we had our Thanksgiving last night, and my brother came from Versailles, and jd, I guess he landed in our airport, so he was like an hour and a half getting to the dinner, so I had to just stare at the dinner because it was all done and.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, did you really? You couldn't even eat? Yeah. Yes. Are you sure? Like a family where everybody has to be there. You have to. Are you? Like a family? Everybody has to be there before you start eating? Well, it's Thanksgiving.

[Caller]

Well, yeah, because it was. They were the guests, so I couldn't just start eating without them. But. Yeah, but that would be for him. Out and about. Today I saw him at P Rats, and he was actually, like, checking out couches for some reason. I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, that's crazy. That's rude.

[Caller]

But, hey, so the one thing I was actually calling about was because you're joking, that the Walker horn might be the turning point. And I was thinking, okay, well, in all honesty, that was the funnest I've ever seen this team have this year.

[Matt Jones]

I agree.

[Caller]

So much better when we're loose. And I mean, like, so much. We're. We're very rigid and not, you know, that's when we're getting stagnant and everything like that. So in all honesty, I hope they can take that, you know, the fun that they saw right there and how Rupp arena blew up and take that and move forward, have some momentum.

[Matt Jones]

So I'm totally with you. Like, I was kidding, but not really when I say that about the turning point, because I appreciate the call. I think you're exactly right. They did have fun in that moment. They look like a team that liked each other in that moment, and they looked like college kids. And. And one thing that Caliperi used to say that I think is totally true is these dudes at this level play better when they play loose. I think that's. I think that's true of almost everyone. I think it's probably true at the professional level, but I definitely think it's true at the college level. And they did, in that moment, look like a group that was having fun. And I do hope it carries over. I mean, and if it if we win, I'm going to give Walker Horn, big iron Horn his credit because I think he deserves it. Four more. Who's next?

[Caller]

Well, what.

[Caller/Co-host]

It's time now for the Johnny Rocker personal injury attorney moneymaker of the game. Matt injured. Get small town compassion with big city results when you call The Rocker at 270-321-4429. And while Walker Horn is our MVP of the game, we'll go in a different direction for the moneymaker and pick Colin Chandler, who scored 14 points, had five rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes. He was plus 38, which was tied for first on the team. And he scored or assisted on 12 of 18 straight points near the end of the first half. That was really the run that got Kentucky to the blowout stage. He is our moneymaker of the game.

[Matt Jones]

How would you define for people what it means to be the money maker of the game?

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah, I. Somebody.

[Matt Jones]

You're picking it. You need to. You need to have a definition.

[Caller/Co-host]

Yeah. There was not a clear definition given to me when we made the name change.

[Matt Jones]

So how are you picking the people?

[Caller/Co-host]

You know, somebody that maybe made a little money tonight, maybe they did something.

[Matt Jones]

That's a Ryan Lemon definition. You just repeat the words money that we said. Yes, it's someone who makes money. Yeah. Okay.

[Billy]

All right.

[Matt Jones]

Well, maybe we need to work on the definition because I do think, like, we should be precise as to who the money maker.

[Caller/Co-host]

Well, it does not involve gambling. This is a completely different concept.

[Matt Jones]

Four more. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Lane.

[Matt Jones]

Lane. Go ahead, Lane.

[Caller]

Yeah. Hey, you mentioned that Pope is difficult to read this year, and I agree with you on that. I think the original concern with him coming in was that he was just kind of giving off really corny youth pastor vibes, and then that quickly was squelched by his passion. And it's just his firsthand experience understanding the UK fan base, and that was awesome. But I'm just curious if you have any observations on his ability to kind of motivate a locker room because he's not coaching the fans hands on the court. And I know that he. His. His past experience has been at Utah Valley and byu, which is just a very different type of player. And I'm just curious. To me, he seems. I love him. I love him as a coach, and he's. He's a really likable guy, but he also seems really unrelatable to me. And I'm curious as a player missing like a, you know, any pain or a Vince Marrow type that could.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I think he has that. I do think he has that in some of these assistants. So I think Alvin Brooks, from what I understand, is really good at relating to players. Jason Hart is really good at relating players. And even Cody figure, I think his assistants do serve him well in that regard. But I do think everybody takes the lead of the head coach. So there are many, many, many different ways to be successful as a coach, as a leader. So let's take last year. I agree with everything you just said last year. I think he really connected with that team. But you have to remember what that team was. That was a lot of guys from places like Drexel. Right. That were kind of like Mark Pope. Right. People who were kind of very smart, underappreciated, working hard for everything they did. And that was probably a group that really vibed with Mark Popes, and they would talk about how much he motivated him. Okay. Right. Some of the. We've got some of those guys on this team, but we also have and are going to, especially if he gets, like, Tyron Stokes and some of these guys, a different kind of guy. A guy that's got super talent that probably is not going to be, you know, reading Yates when it's over. And so how does he relate to those guys? And I don't know the answer to that question. I don't know. I mean, I think it's an open question because you're right, he didn't have those guys at Utah Valley, and he didn't have those guys at byu. And so, I don't know.

[Caller]

He hasn't landed.

[Matt Jones]

Go ahead.

[Caller]

Well, I don't think he's really landed like a killer or like a dog type of character yet. I mean, last year, that was. That guy was from Nottingham, England, in Amari Williams, and he was virtually mute on the court.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Caller]

So, like, I'm curious. I'm excited to see Quaintance, but I'm curious to see if he can get.

[Matt Jones]

Well, the. Quaintance is a unique guy because Quaintance is like. Quaintance is an anime chess guy. Right. So, like, Quaintance, he'll probably work out really well with Quaintance, so we'll see. I appreciate the call. I think it's a fair question. I. I have found Pope to be. I don't want to use the word odd because that implies, like, a negativity. And so I don't want. I don't feel negativity. But I found him to be very difficult to read in these last few weeks. And I'm not Sure. Why that is. I think losing is part of it. He sounded more like himself tonight. He clearly was very happy having the Unforgettables there, but I don't know. I mean, we've all talked a lot about the way he looked at the Michigan State game and what he said after. I guess we'll have to see what it's like Tuesday night because it's been. It's been odd to me. I mean, I feel like with most of our coaches, we kind of know them. And I still think with Mark, like, it feels like I don't completely feel like I know what I'm going to see every time he talks. Three more. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

We have two on the line, so we need one more person to call in. 859-2802.

[Matt Jones]

I think we had. I think that he's probably scared.

[Caller/Co-host]

I, I don't blame him after.

[Matt Jones]

All right, hopefully we'll get someone before. This is Ron. Ron, Go ahead, Ron.

[Caller]

Hey, what's up, Matt? Billy. What's y' all doing?

[Matt Jones]

Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

[Caller]

Hey, quick question. You know, Hope, you know, you just mentioned that he's been going through some stuff. Do you think that he might be upset that he's left BYU with what they have in nil and.

[Matt Jones]

No, no, not at all. This dude is in. In heaven with this job. So no, I don't think he's regret. And look, we've got, we've. BYU's got more nil than they had when he was there, but we still have more than they do. And I was not going to be an excuse here. I mean, that we, we probably spent more on this roster or at least equal to every other team. So byu, he, he might be like, well, you gave him more money than I got. And that may be true at byu, but when it comes to here, as much as they have at byu, Kentucky will have equal amounts.

[Caller]

They got a lot of money out.

[Matt Jones]

There, you know, they do, but they didn't spend. I mean, they, you know, they spent a lot on AJ DebonSA, but a lot of those guys, most of their players returned from last year. I mean, it's not like they, you know, they didn't go get seven portal guys. Well, they may have gotten said, but like they still have returned. I mean, the Richie Saunders kid who we wanted returned. So, I mean, they've, they, you know.

[Caller]

Yeah, we had him on campus and he went back or something. I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

I guess that may have been his first year, but anyway.

[Caller]

All right. Well, y' all have a good day.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate it. Yaxel Landenberg, 20 points, 10 assists or, excuse me, 10 rebounds and seven assists tonight. That's pretty good. Some crazy dunks, almost triple double. They are up 44 points on Gonzaga right now. Make that 46 points on kids. Wow, that's. That's one of the more impressive. That's one of the more impressive December performances I think I've ever seen in a college basketball game. Who's next?

[Caller/Co-host]

Lucky.

[Matt Jones]

Lucky. Go ahead, Lucky.

[Caller]

Hey, thanks for taking my call, guys. Poor Hudson. By the way, we got a random hypothetical. Low is starting, so I've got to set somebody. I'm not setting Chandler. I'm not setting Aberdeen. I'm sitting away. What would you do and what do you think Pope would.

[Matt Jones]

If you were talking about based only on their performance this year, you would sit away? Yes. Without question. What do I think? I think I would have to know always mind to sort of know am I going to lose this kid if I sent him? And I. I don't know the answer because I don't know him. My guess is Pope will give him every chance to be the starter and he would probably sit Chandler or Aberdeen. But if you just based it on performance this year. Yes, you would start low, probably. What will happen is that low will come off the bench at least for. I mean, that's what he did in the Louisville game. So I'm going to suspect that's what he does, at least at first.

[Caller]

Thanks to God, man.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate it. Well, I mean, look, Michigan's taking their starters out with seven minutes and 20 seconds ago. I mean, that's insane. Like they are get like putting in the backups with 7 minutes and 20 seconds to go. All right, let's do one more.

[Caller/Co-host]

Josh.

[Matt Jones]

This is the last one, right? Yeah. You've got one more call. Go ahead, Josh.

[Caller]

Hey, Matt, just want to say in the Thanksgiving spirit, I'm almost home from driving down to see my good buddy in Charlotte tonight. Watch car. Anthony Towns. Kind of kill the Hornets. But just to come full circle, the big blue nation is special. I went to school there 20 something years ago and met St. Barney at Hagen Hall. Went and watched the game with him tonight and just want to tell you guys, you know, I'm not sure how good we're going to be this year, man, but I'm just happy to be a cat. And it just this show and everything you guys do brings it full circle and want to wish everybody half Thanksgiving and go catch.

[Matt Jones]

That's a great way to end it. Thank you very much and I appreciate you saying that. And we love Fake Barney, one of our oldest listeners and parts of the KSR group. So please tell him I said hello. Thank you all very much. I give him a hard time but I do want to give a shout out to Billy who Saturday will end a streak of him working like an obscene amount of football, basketball, women's basketball, like all these games back to back to back to back to back to back over the course of the last three or four weeks and going to Buffalo in the interim taping podcast. So have a happy Thanksgiving Billy. Enjoy your two days off that are coming up and same to you Saturday morning we will be back at 9 o' clock for the UK Louisville pre game show. We need to go down to what used to be Papa John's and get a victory. It'll be a program defining day for UK football one way or the other Saturday and we will be ready for it. We will see you later. Cats win by 50. This is the local Toyota dealers KSR postgame show.

[Billy]

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[Matt Jones]

What a matchup we got y'. All. This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beat everybody showing that school pride. Game like this. Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere and an ice cream ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo. No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Billy]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Billy]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Billy]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Billy]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Caller/Co-host]

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[Caller]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Billy]

It's our own boutique women representing women.

[Matt Jones]

You can't afford to miss. Make it rig showtime, ladies. Stand up straight and breeze into that room like a storm no one saw coming. Hulu Original Series All's Fair now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus for bundle subscribers. Terms apply.