KSR - 2025-12-22- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: December 22, 2025

Mat, Ryan and Drew talk about Kentucky's big win over St. John's and the news from the weekendSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

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their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart

Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Clivert Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game.

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Listen to the Cliverts show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Comedy of Broadway and Lexington invite you to celebrate New Year's Eve with Lexington's own Lee Kembril for two shows only on December 31st. Then, from Netflix as a joke, catch Ray Lau, January 2nd and 3rd.

In January 8 through the 10th, don't miss 8th. G-G-T finalist Aaron Belial. For tickets to all comedy off-Broadway shows, call 859-271 joke, or visit Comedy UpBroadway.com. Comedy off. Welcome, everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Monday. It is December the 22nd. I'm Matt Jones here on a foggy New Orleans, Louisiana morning.

I am looking out from my window across the street to the Superdome, where tomorrow. I will be excited about the biggest football game in the history of mankind, the New Orleans Bowl. But until we get to that point, we are getting ready after a great weekend of basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats beating St. John. You can give us Shannon Clark's Pumpin-Shop phone line 859-2-80-2287. The A Vision Auto Glass text machine is 772-745254. And this edition is sponsored by the T.J. Smith Law Office, call T.J. He'll make them pay. Ryan, I spent all afternoon and evening traveling down here to New Orleans. It's the first time I think I've been in New Orleans since Kentucky cut down the nets in 2012.

I was trying to think. Has Kentucky played down here since then, Drew? I can't remember a time. Do you? Yeah, they played right up against Christmas in the CBS Sports Classic. I think they lost. It wasn't a well-attended game. It was on like the 23rd or something before Christmas.

I didn't come to that game. because I have not been here in a long time. And it's nice to be back. We came twice that year, Ryan. They played in the SEC tournament here. And then a few weeks later played in the Final Four. And we came to both, drove to both. So I've been on that road for a long time.

Nice to be back. Do you like New Orleans as a city? I do. Yeah. You know, they used to have the SEC tournament used to rotate. And like every third or fourth year, it used to be at the Superdome there in New Orleans. So we would go down and spend a week down there

and hang out of Bourbon Street. do all the New Orleans stuff. Yeah, it was always a good fan place for Kentucky fans. Haven't seen a ton of Hilltopper fans yet. Hattiesburg people will probably drive down like day up because that's not very far from here. But nevertheless, excited to be here. The big news this morning, I mean, we'll talk about a lot of other stuff,

but the big news is, of course, Saturday, and the Kentucky basketball win against St. John's. I talked a lot about it on the postgame show. I mean, if Kentucky does something, successfully this season if they are able to make any kind of run. We'll look back at the moment all of that changed. The second half when Jalen Lowe decided to come back in after his injury in the first half and Jaden Quaintance arrived to UK fans for a second half where Kentucky ended up winning

by 19 points in the second half against St. John's and really took a season that had been depressing at best and completely flipped it around. All of a sudden made it exciting, the possibilities endless, the ceiling, raising, and watching low and quaintance on the court at the same time. You got a sense now, Ryan, of what they were hoping to do when they constructed this team, and it was electric. It was not only the best moment of the season. I mean, it's one of the better recent moments, along with like the do, the dude.

win last year, etc. I'm just going, oh, wait a minute now, this could end up being a fun season. Yeah, for the first time, you're right. We got to see what the full roster, what a full roster looks like, what that $22 million roster looks like. And I'm telling you, man, when Jalen Lowe came in early and got hurt and walked to the locker, I thought he's done. I mean, not just done for the day. He is done for the season. I assumed, Ryan. I mean, I just assumed he was done. And then the kid comes back, just tells me everything I need to know about that kid. So tough, kind of struggled early, but then he turned it on when he needed to, and they're just a different team when he's on the floor, man.

Everything is better offensively and even defensively when he's on the floor. Yeah, I mean, no one in this team, Drew, can kind of create their own shot consistently besides him. But then you throw in the Quaintons piece where you get this physical presence. We've seen a lot of those guys over the years, these guys that just physically are just a different player. He is that. And, you know, Kentucky has not had that. Oscar was like that, but he was below the rim.

It's been a long time since we've had a dude like that. And just seeing him on the court, it's like, oh, my goodness, wow. Yeah, I have high expectations for him long term. But in his first game, I didn't expect much out of him. I mean, he hadn't played a full game of basketball since February. So for him to come in and play the way he did when he get like 15 minutes. And there were moments, especially when he was, especially when he was getting those put-back dunks.

I'm like, do we have shack on this team? I mean, the way he was throwing those down, that's been an issue for a few years, especially last year. Guys wouldn't dunk it. Guys wouldn't challenge shots. I mean, on the offensive end, he was putting everything back and had, I think, five offensive rebounds. And defensively, he made Zubi look like a fool.

He was called off the help defense and just got a laughing at him. Yeah, Zuby had no chance. And then the way, you're exactly right, the way he defended with no help. There was no reason to help. I mean, he, Zubi twice had moves that if it was anyone else on the court, he not only tries to score, he likely does. No chance with Quaintons. I want to go back to Lowe, though, for a second, because Jalen Lowe, I've thought since they built this team that he had to be good. To me, I've said going back from the beginning of the season, he had to be a while, he had to be the guy.

Without him, I didn't think we'd be as bad as we were, but I knew we wouldn't be good. it is so nice though Ryan to see it manifest itself right he did in that second half he did everything okay I mean think about it drives to the basket finishing with layups floaters he made a three great passes he beat his man off the dribble and that that is a good defensive team St. John's can't score but that's a top 15 defense in the country and he absolutely shredded them. And if you go back and look at the possessions where he's in, we get a good shot on every possession. Even when we miss, we get a good shot. It is unbelievable. And then contrast that with when he's out and we get no good shots. It feels like every time we score we're almost

fortunate. It is unbelievable to see how much easier this game is and how much better this team is when he's on the floor. I got to be honest, I never thought he was going to be an NBA guard. Second half showed me he's an NBA guard. He could do it all. He could be. He could be, yeah. I don't know if he is, but he could be.

Yep. And just the things you were talking about that he's doing, that allowed Otega to do what he does best. You know, it just improves everybody. It enabled Cam Williams, get some open looks, and he knocked him down. He just makes everything better when he's on the floor. All of these guys, Drew, get to be in their actual role. Otega is the most obvious. I mean, Otega gets to be the secondary score, which is what I think he can be like the best secondary

score in the country. I still don't believe he's a star. You and I thought about that a long time ago, but I just don't believe it because I just don't think he has the makeup for it. But now he doesn't have to be. He can be a secondary score. Cam Williams is shooting open threes instead of contested threes. Mo Diabate is able to be the secondary rebound rather than the primary rebounder.

It just makes, through, it just makes everything fit into place a lot more. Yeah, no, you mentioned Cam Williams. I want more and more Cam Williams. Quaintance and Lowe, everyone's talking about them as they should, but he was just as important in that second half. He had two threes in that 14-0 run. He's been playing good defense. I don't know how you fit him in in this puzzle because you've got a lot of guys that need minutes right now,

but I want more and more Cam Williams because he seems to have turned a corner and is getting better with each game. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I know what you mean by need minutes, but I actually don't care at this point if they get minutes. I mean, I think he needs minutes because he's good. I'm just saying, I don't know where I put him, because you got O.A. Then the four, you got Diabate. And I don't know who he's taking minutes from.

They played Cam a lot at the three. Yeah. I mean, you know, they play, and normally I'd be against that, but I think Quaintance and Diabate are such forces. Now, if you play a team that makes a lot of threes, not only shoots them but makes them. You might not be able to get away with that. I'm trying to think, you know, Alabama's not been shooting consistently well, but if you played them and they did, maybe you couldn't do that.

But, you know, the lineup that made the run, Ryan, was low away Williams Diabate Quaintons. Yep, that was it. Which on paper doesn't look like the greatest lineup in the world to score. But it worked, and it worked pretty consistently during that half. And I'm sure there'll be teams that game playing around that and that will make that hard for Kentucky to do. But in that game, it worked perfectly. What did you think about the lineup when he took Diabate out and went with two bigs,

went with JQ and Brandon or JQ and Marino? What did you think about that lineup? I was okay. I mean, I consider Diabate, though, a big, too. I mean, regardless of what, I mean, I consider him playing like that. you know, I mean, I think it'll work. I hate two bigs in general, but I think if you've got two guys that can, they all can handle the ball. Okay, so I do think that makes a difference.

They can handle the ball. I don't know, Drew, if any of them can shoot, we'll see. But at least worked in that game, and I think it will work, Drew, in some SEC games. Whether it works at all, we'll see. Yeah, I know Pope's an offensive guy, but with what we saw Saturday, Holden St. John's, I think they're 33% from the field and the way Kentucky rebounded. It's just going to be a defensive rebounding tough team that we didn't really expect out of a Pope team. But the way Diabate and Quaintiffs, especially, we're playing on Saturday, we need more of that because that's their strength right now.

I saw a guy on TikTok say that we can now put in there, Ryan, the best defensive team in the country. And he basically said, if Lowe gets a breather and you go Oway, Aberdeen, Williams, Diabate Quintens, that that could be the best defensive team in the country. He might be right about that. Now, I'm not sure if that team can score, so I don't know how often you can play those guys together. But he is right about that. Like, they had a couple possessions with that lineup where St. John's couldn't even fathom getting a good shot. Well, you know, we talked earlier this season, how we thought they'd be an elite defensive team.

And then we got a little pushback because they were like, they didn't look like it. But I think you're right. I think they had the pieces there with that lineup you're just talking about right now. they can lock people down. All right, so let's talk. Okay, so now we have seen them be good. Granted Drew for one half. Okay.

We all have criticized everyone in the fan base has criticized the makeup of this roster. It is only one half. And I still have one major caveat that I think we're missing. But do you now say maybe the construction of this roster is better than people, had given it credit for. I'm still worried about not having a backup point guard. I'll say it's definitely better than we were saying. It looked like a couple weeks ago.

But even though Lowe came back, just the way he got hurt, just sticking his arm out there, I still worry that they're just walking a thin line right now with health. But if he can somehow stay healthy, as you've talked about how important he is, then I think they can be special and it worked out. But I'm just still worried about not having a true backup option there. Agree, totally. And I also think, right, we're still a shooter short, right? I still worry that we're going to play a team that makes a lot of threes,

and we don't have guys that can match them. But with that said, those two caveats, low stays healthy, and maybe Chandler or somebody starts making threes, then I think it's a really good construction of a roster. but I'm going to be sitting there all year like, I don't know, like a mother with like a six-year-old going, please don't get hurt, please don't get hurt, please don't get hurt, please don't get hurt. Like that's how I'm going to be with Lowe all season long. And it's going to happen again.

You guys are right. He's going to get bumped again. It's going to hurt again. The fact, though, that he wants to play enough to go to the locker room and come back out, out just tells me that the dude's going to do everything he can to stay on the court. And you mentioned shooting. Didn't everybody assume he was out for the year? I did.

I did. He's done. He's not going to come back. I mean, somebody wrote me on the text machine because I had just written a tweet that was like, well, Jalen needs to be selfish and just not play. And then they wrote me and they're like, he's warming up. And I thought, no, he's not. Like, I was shocked.

Yeah. Kind of inspiring, man, they'd come back. You know, we had a point guard not long ago that had a little injury and then set out the rest of the season. Said out like the last six games. Part of the scare is he walked straight to the locker room. Who are you talking about? Severe. That one scene, he didn't play like the last, what, five games?

Why did you make the little, why did you make the little baby? He had a little boo-boo. He had no boo-boo decided not to play. But you don't know what was wrong with him? Well, we kind of know. Oh. He wasn't laying at all in the line for that team that year. That's true.

That's a fair point. And now Jalen Lowe is. Okay. Wow. I'll say one more thing. You mentioned the shooting, what, there were 4-0-16, and one of them was Moab and Diabate three-pointer. I mean, they've got to, you're right, they've got to find another shooter somewhere,

Trent and Chandler have got to get back. Well, first of all, Chandler's going to have to shoot. He looks scared to shoot right now. And somebody's going to have to make shots. I do believe that you're not going to keep winning, shooting 25%. But with Jalen Lowe, it is a different situation. 859-280-2287. The text machine is 772-744.

We'll take your calls, talk more about the game, including the blow-by handshake at the end. What was that about? We'll be right back. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in.

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For wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What?

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Text machine, 772-744. One person writes, I bet Severe Wheeler didn't get up today and think Ryan Lemon would take shots at him on the radio. You got a little boo-boo. I can't play. Why are you taking shots at him, though? I mean, he just, like, do you really think he could have played the last games and just didn't? Part of me does, yes. Part of you, or you genuinely think it's true?

I generally think it's true. Okay, all right. One person writes, Jalen Lowe is favoring his arm. You can see it. Fingers crossed for his health in the season. He clearly is, Drew, he clearly, if you watch him, He runs in a way to try to protect that arm. I think a couple times you're going to see teams exploit this.

He's very hesitant to go into picks right shoulder first. So for him, you know, when a defender is driving, I guess, to their left and his right, he's hesitant to watch. He kind of goes under him. I'm sure teams are going to exploit that. With said, Drew, that's what he needs to do. I'd rather him give up layups than get hurt. Yeah, we saw how fragile he is.

when seven seconds into the game, when he heard it, that wasn't even really a hard contact. I mean, he was kind of just trying to stop the ball and got bumped, and next thing, you know, he's running through the tunnel. So we know it's very close to going at any moment there. And I know some people have already brought this up. I would consider letting him chill tomorrow against Bellarmine. I know he needs a little run to keep getting his way back, but I wouldn't push him at all in a game that should be a blowout. Yeah, I wouldn't play.

I mean, I can't imagine there being a reason to blame, I hope. And, you know, but he did say, I thought he had a good attitude about it. He said something like, you know, I could get hurt at any moment. I can't sit and think about it. And Ryan, I do think that's true. He can't sit. It's clear he's favoring it. But he also can't sit and like try not to get hurt because, like, there's only so much he can do about that.

Both of the plays where he's been hurt have looked like nothing when they happened. And look, he's not that type of player that's going to take it easy. He's going to go full out as much as he's. he can. But you guys, you know, he sits out at Bellarmine, you've got a long break for you play Alabama. He's got 10 days, you know, letting him heal up a little bit. Yeah, I mean, I want to see Quaiton's play against Bellarmine. But the other guys, he played as well as he did for as long as he did. Poor Bellarmine getting the spot on the schedule where Quaintons just decides to break out and become Shaq and then they're the next team up.

Feel bad for their time in there. What did you think about the blow-by handshake? that somebody there is a bad sore loser I took it that Patino's mad because he lost and he just doesn't want to make nice nice

nice at this moment and they went out for dinner the night before they made nice nice then not then not after the game I thought it was weird I mean normally you would think

in that moment they would have some sort of embrace I mean I know that they had spent time together and it wasn't the first time seeing each other but I did think Drew it was a little weird didn't you I did too

you know Petino's quick to make a video telling us what to think can do and speaking about mock Pope as captain and he's always trying to insert himself in Pope's time here at Kentucky and then when it comes time to have a moment after the game get a little photo up a hug and congratulations he just blows right by him especially since he was a little sarcastic during the game right when he did that interview and said we're all choir boys or whatever yeah he's filling himself in the first half when they were winning by seven but then when it flips he was definitely filling himself absolutely and then all of a sudden he got he got quiet there

Yeah, I mean, they're not very good. They didn't want to give us the photo op. I mean, they can't score. Like, we think we can't score. Like, they, at least against our defense, they couldn't score. Like, I didn't even realize Drew Bryce Hopkins was out there most of the game. Did you? Yeah, man, he's, it's crazy how he hasn't taken a step forward, really.

Petino called him out last week about how he's not an alpha and he needs a complete personality makeover. But he's still just kind of out there going through the motions. what we saw his freshman season here. There's so much more, and he just can't get it out of him. Yeah, he can't really. One person writes, Matt, if the team on the second half plays like that all year, I think this is a Final Four team. What about you all?

I mean, I would still slow down. I still think you don't have a backup point guard. You're very susceptible to anything that keeps low out, whether it's an injury or foul problems. And I still don't think you have a really good show. shooter. But I do think now, I guess what I would say right is I do think now there's hope. And that is what is exciting because I don't know if I thought there was hope until right now. Yeah, I agree. I think it's a little hope now. Still some things they've got to clean up. Like you said, shooting too many turnovers still. I think they had more turnovers than assists even in the game.

So they still got some things they got to clean up to become a final four team, I think. Rick, we have some breaking news. Yeah. Bill Belichick. has hired Bobby Petrino as his offensive coordinator. Oh, my goodness. The clown show just gets better. Oh, my. Bobby Petrino will be joining North Carolina as Bill Belichick's offensive coordinator. You can't write that.

You're like, you couldn't make that up. Ladies watch out there on the town. Unbelievable. I know they'd never sign off on it, but we need a documentary crew in there for like a hard-knocks kind of show following these two around Chapel Hill. and make it too easy for this. North Carolina. You are North Carolina.

You're one of the best public universities in America. Wow. Bobby Petrino. That's a shocker to me. I can't believe I can't believe UNC would hire that guy. Well, there you go. It just goes to show in sports. People will do anything if they think you can win.

Who's up next? Got Scott up. Scott, go ahead, Scott. Hey, good morning, guys. How are you all doing? Doing good. We took the trip down to the game, and I'm going to tell you, it was just awesome. Really felt like we needed that.

The atmosphere was great. Talk to me about the atmosphere. Talk to me, before you do, a question, talk to me about the atmosphere. Because that was one of those moments that I really regretted not being there. What was it like in there? Well, it was electric. It started with just around town. I mean, it was blue everywhere, but, you know, just about 45 minutes to the game.

I mean, the line was just ridiculous to get into the place. But everybody was just fired up, positive vibes. It was incredible. You get in. Excitement. Of course, it was such an amazing thing because you go from being high to when low goes out. I mean, just you could feel the air, just leave the stadium. It was crazy.

And then Quaidons comes in. So you're excited. You know, going constantly. Yeah, you're excited. We just have 30 seconds. So give me, we just have 30 seconds. So give me your question, if you would. Yeah.

No problem. It's a comment. When the second half was starting, Lowe got out there to warm up. It was amazing. But I don't know if anybody else saw this. We were sitting behind the Kentucky bench. While the team was huddling right before the second half throw in, Lowe runs over to the stands and over behind the Kentucky bench,

he's talking to somebody for a minute while the team's huddled up. And, I mean, he's talking to almost when the team is, you know, getting ready to get back out on the court. 10 seconds. And he rolls out to the court, taps Pope and says, I'm good to go, gives him a thumbs up. So that, I thought that was interesting. That was awesome. I mean, I don't think they decided right until the last second to have him play. We'll take a break.

Very back, KSR. Welcome back, Techie Sports Radio, 859, 280, 20287. Text machine 772, 745254. One person writes, Matt, I think the blowby was because Kentucky scored with eight seconds left and it made Patino Matt. Maybe, but he can get over that, Ryan. I don't understand. First of all, they were pressing, okay? If they're pressing and you break the press, you score.

Secondly, just stop people. I was talking about this yesterday on Cover Zero. Like, when did we decide that you just stop playing a sport? at the end of the game. I don't, I mean, why? Why? Explain to me why it's bad that he scores right there. I don't know why that trend started.

You're right. You always used to be a chance to, you know, even the walk-ons, get a chance for them to get a bucket in or something at the end of a game. I don't know what happened. But like you said, they were still competitive. James Lee made the final basket at the end of the 78 championship with a dunk and the game was over, but it was kind of an explanation point. And it's the most famous moment of that game in some ways.

I don't understand why we decided this was somehow bad form. But even if you think it is bad form, Drew, they were pressing. So if they're going to press, then you cannot expect them not to score, right? Right. And I don't think Petino would have been mad at that because he was pressing. And he might not have seen it, but Pope tried to stop Diabate from scoring. He put up his hands. He was just too late.

I mean, I didn't think it was that big of a deal at all, but you saw the St. John's took offense. And it's been happening in the NBA a lot lately. They've had actual fights because of the guys gone and done a layup as time runs out. All these tough players, I could do what I want. And then you score and you're like, you're not being fair. You're not being in this different sportsmanship. Like, I don't get that at all. And it was not always like that.

It wasn't. That's been a change. And I don't, I guess I don't think I was at the meeting where they decided that that was going to be it. One person writes, Matt, that sounded like one of our best crowds in a long time. I love listening to how loud it was with the traveling fans. I think obviously the crowd was great. Part of it, I'm convinced, Drew, is how they mic these games. Because on ESPN, I think they turned the announcers up and the crowd down.

And on CBS, I think they turned the crowd up and the announcers down. because I could barely hear Bruce Pearl and Bill Raftery. I could barely hear what they said, but the crowd was loud. If I'm right about that, that it depends on how loud you turn the crowd or not. Now, Billy says also the radio, he thinks the people in Atlanta screwed up the crowd because they couldn't even turn it down on the radio. So maybe that was just an inn arena thing. But which do you prefer it, the way ESPN does it or the way CBS does it?

I think CBS is a much better product, but I will say I didn't, there were moments. where I even thought like, I can't tell you one thing Bruce Pearl said. I don't know if it was just him not adding much or the fact that it was turned down, but I was really excited to hear from Bruce Pearl and nothing really jumped out from me. And part of it was it was kind of quiet with the announcers talking. I could not hear those guys at all, which, I mean, I guess it doesn't really matter. But Ryan, especially Bruce Pearl, Bill Raftery, I can hear a little bit. But I feel like I couldn't hear Bruce Pearl say anything a lot of the game.

Agreed. You know, we're sitting at home, watch it, turn in the phone. volume up. I got a friend that went to both games, Gonzaga and Nashville and the St. John's in Atlanta. He said the crowd was louder in Nashville, but on the TV it sounded louder in Atlanta, didn't it? It just shows

how much they can manipulate it with those like knobs of whether or not you turn it turn it up or not. Another person writes, Matt, what do you think about Petino calling you guys out in the media? We called out the riders. We weren't part of that, are we? He did say

riders. I haven't written anything in a long. I haven't written anything in the media. long time. But, but I mean, you know, okay, so his point is you guys gave up on this too much. And there was a little bit of that from some folks in the fans. Here's what I would say. The job, the job of a media person is not to, like, be the cheerleader. And I think some people are naturally optimist. Some people are naturally pessimist. But even if you were an optimist, I don't know how anyone could have looked after that Gonzaga game and said, things are going well.

Even leave aside low in quaintance, the issue drew after the Gonzaga game was not just that the team wasn't well constructed, is that they were not playing hard. That was my problem. They were not playing hard. So I'm not surprised they're a lot better with Lowe. I thought it would be like that all season. But I was upset that they weren't playing hard. And so I think the criticisms that the media had, us included, were Drew completely

fair. Now, if you gave up and said Pope can't recruit, Pope's not good, then that's a different point, but I didn't make any of those points. But if you're making the comment of this has been disappointing, I think that was totally fair then. I do too. The Fire Pope crowd, they were a little early on that,

I thought, but overall, that was not a fun month to start the season. And sure, those guys were out, but you still paid a lot of money for Brandon Garrison and a lot of the roster and to get embarrassed the way they did in those games and just not even show up. That's a different conversation than losing.

If you go out and lose by four, and some of your best players are out, all right, you can brush that one off and get excited when you can get healthy. But they looked terrible in those games, and that's why the criticism was fair. They should have been much better than they were, even if they weren't able to win. Totally agree. Who's up next, Rick? Ryan is up next. Ryan, go ahead, Ryan.

How you doing, Matt? It's been a while since I called you. First of all, I want to wish all you guys and Merry Christmas. And a happy new year and prayers for your family, Matt, your dad. A couple things. I got a question for you. Go for it. Quentin and Lowell, you know, they pressed us.

Then we turned around and pressed on them. But one thing on the press, I know, when they were pressing us, our guys were not moving. They just stood still. You've got to move. I understand. You know, a lot of them are not agile. or not agile, but you have to move when somebody's pressing you.

If we had lost that game, okay, hang on, hang on, just take a breath. Okay, Mike. Take a breath. My name is not Mike. I appreciate the call. I mean, Matt. I mean Matt, yeah. Okay, hang on.

I don't remember what you said now. All right, go ahead, do your second point. But the press. The press. Okay, so that drove me insane. Ryan, it drove me insane. We had three turnovers just in mounting the ball in the ball in the, Couldn't get the ball and bounds.

Well, but he's exactly right. We didn't do anything. We just stood there with our left arm up trying to lob the passes. I'm convinced, and I like Mark a lot, he didn't run one thing to get them ready for that press. Do you agree with that? Yeah. They were doing the Caliperi play. Biggest guys are standing with these arm up.

But Cala Perry would do that on an inbound play on our own side of the basket. And while I didn't like that either, that's even different than a press. I mean, you're sitting there trying to lob it, Drew, to guards who aren't that tall to begin with. I just, I hated it so much. Against the St. John's team that can really make you pay doing that, too. You're right. It was obvious they didn't have any plan in place or practice for that much to just try the old lob it up inbounds. And they never adjusted either, by the way.

At any point in the game, they just kept doing it. All right, what's your second thing? The question is, if we got a call-in show, why aren't we not taking calling? on the big blue line. I don't understand. I know there's been criticism, but if you're a coach at Kentucky, you should take calls.

I don't understand that. And I want y'all's opinion on it. Well, I think there's two reasons. There's two reasons. I appreciate the call. One reason is that they didn't get a lot of calls. I mean, that's one of the reasons. It was like Bob and Jamestown every week.

But then another reason is when things go bad, they don't want to take calls. So I agree with you. if it's just going to be a leech pope monologue every week, then you probably shouldn't call it the calling show. Because they don't really take calls. So, but, I mean, that's the way it go. Who's next?

Ed is up next. Ed, go ahead, Ed. Ed. All right, no, Ed. Who's next? Okay, up next is Austin. Austin. Go ahead, Austin.

Hey, guys, I want to say, Merry Christmas. Happy New Year to all y'all and your family. Merry Christmas. Me and a couple buddies took off Friday night heading down there. Long story short, my car decided to catch on fire on the side of 75. I heard about you. I heard about you. So your car caught on fire on the side of I-75.

I heard people drove by, saw your UK gear, and your car on fire. But did I hear you still manage to get to the game? Yes, we made it to Atlanta about 11 o'clock Saturday morning. All right. So what happened to your car? Well, we were driving along, everything was fine, and lost all power, pulled over, popped the hood, and it was already on fire. I'm really not sure what happened. Well, I'm sorry about that.

Is it gone? Oh, yeah, it's completely gone. Well, all right. Well, I'm sorry, but at least you got to go to the game, so that was good. Yeah, we made it there. We won. You know, it is what it is. It is a good weekend all and all, I'll say.

Well, if you can say it was a good weekend when your car caught on fire, I think you got a pretty good, pretty positive outlook on life. It was the first time I'd ever experience Catalan in person, and let me tell you, that crowd showed out. Yeah, it really did. I appreciate the call. That was, that's the part I loved. You got to see that kind of Atlanta crowd.

Kentucky probably should play a game in Atlanta or Nashville every year, maybe both because of the way the crowd they get. If you're looking for a last minute gift to make your loved ones feel great, cornbread hemp has you covered. The code is K.Y. Cheer. Stock up on infused gummies, seltzers, sleep support, oils and topicals. It's all there at cornbread hemp. The code is KY Cheer for $40 off orders over $120. K.Y. Cheer. You got three days left. Great stocking stuff for K.Y. Cheer. It's cornbread hemp. This is the good life. We're going to take a break and be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies,

and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls,

we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, learn the hard way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist. Kier Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Destin, Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid because that's two different intentions bro absolutely and that that's two different levels of trust i want you to just really be a good person join me care gains is we have real conversations about healing growth fatherhood pressure and purpose on my new podcast learn the hard way

open your free i heart radio app search learn the hard way and listen now life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going from the WNBA standout, Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason. Don't do it.

An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning.

It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts for wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Clivert Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game.

This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, A, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office, Blue, 42. Hey, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker.

Listen to the Clipper Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back, Techie Sports Radio. 859-28027. By the way, KS Bar is open today. We're usually closed on Monday, but we are open today since it's right before Christmas. And it's a Wings Day, a rare Wings Monday. And then tomorrow, KS Bar will open. at 10 for the KSR show leading into the game.

So KSR tomorrow will go from 10 to 1130. Then the pregame show starts. The game is at 1, but we open an hour early tomorrow, Ryan, for the game. Yeah, it was kind of a rare Monday occurrence. We're there today. But, you know, I know we're going to get to it, but, man, it was packed last night. We had a great crowd last night at KS. Barr.

We are. But again, tomorrow, 10 a.m., it opens for the game. open early as part of the watch party tomorrow. By the way, oh, and we're serving breakfast. I didn't know that until our- I love our breakfast, actually. So we are serving breakfast tomorrow at 10 a.m. as well. Let's talk about the volleyball game.

We lost three sets to zero. It felt like we just, when we lost the first set, which we should have won, we were up six points at one point, kind of lost all momentum, and then, you know, the Texas A&M run continues. It's a bummer to get to all the way the championship drew and lose. I saw they kicked you out early, and then we just never were able to come back. Yeah, I don't think my jinks had anything to do with that one. They just got absolutely dominated. I didn't watch all 33 or whatever their matches this season, but I have to assume that has to be one of their worst performances. They just couldn't get anything going

after they lost that first set. I mean, you have set point there and can take a lead, and to blow it like that, they were just never in it from there. And it didn't help. It didn't help that it sounded like A&M had 99% of the crowd getting them going to. They had all the energy, all the momentum, and they ran away with it. Well, I think the Nebraska, for some reason, volleyball of the other teams hate us, like the other fan bases. Because Nebraska had over half the fans there. And they were hit by the UK. They all cheered for Texas A&M, which I don't understand why Nebraska would care either way. I guess it was because they had beaten Nebraska, but I don't really understand why they would

care, but it does seem like the other fans really don't like us, and I don't know why that is. But it did sound like the crowd was very pro Ryan A&M yesterday. Yeah, I don't know if it's because we're the new kid on the block and the SEC's kind of not being the dominant in volleyball, so we're trying to take over with two SEC teams in the championship. Nebraska, anti-Kentucky for whatever reason but yeah more than half the crowd was Nebraska people rooting against Kentucky apparently so we had a good cre was it fun at the bar I saw it was packed

it was awesome it was great environment every table was full we had a line of waiting line to get in all that excitement we jump out by six everybody's happy and then just watch it just slowly fall apart I got there early knowing I wouldn't be staying and I was shocked by how many people were already in their seats well

before it even began yeah well I hate that we lost and uh but shout out to Craig's entering that team. They made it really exciting this year getting to the championship game. And, you know, I think he's going to have multiple more years of having a chance to have a top program here. I think his entire team are, there's only one senior, right? Am I correct? It wasn't Hudson the only senior? It's a big win to lose, but they still are built to make another run next year. She's the one loss as long as they retain everybody.

Yeah. So that's, I think they got a big time future ahead. Who's next? Got Joe up next. Joe, go ahead, Joe. Man, I'm going to tackle what you just talked about, why Nebraska fans weren't pulling for us. Do you ever think maybe they think they maybe made the wrong choice and picking Bushbaum Kelly, the Louisville Coast, over Coach Skinner? That might be my comment.

I don't know. But they don't like us, which is weird. That's all right. They'll get over it. Here's my big comment. Coach Will Stide. He really hasn't formulated, or I haven't heard, a special team coordinator. And I think, man, I'm serious about this.

That might be his most important, whoever he designates to be his special team coordinator. Because I've always said this about Kentucky. If you have good special teams, you've got a chance. And if he can get the right coach to do special teams, then I think we got an outside chance when six games. And the last question is, is you've made the bottom. Bonnie and Clives over the weekend, man. I did not make Bonnie and Clydes, unfortunately. I got tied up, and we'll talk about this a little bit more in the second hour.

I got into my head about this play-by-play, and it led me to stay at home and work all weekend, so I didn't end up doing that. But I, you know, I have not heard about the special teams coordinator. Will Stein wins, so he's going to at least be staying there through the first of the year, and we'll see what happens. But Will Stein will remain there, and he's going to continue to have to go doing double duty. at least right up until the opening of the portal.

So that'll be interesting to see how that works. Who's next? Up next is Corey. Corey, go ahead, Corey. Good morning, everybody. So I was at the game of Set Second Road down there, and you guys have shown some interest in the environment. Something cool that wasn't on the broadcast was during the lineups,

whenever they were calling St. John's, Rick Patino and Bryce Hopkins both got applause from Kentucky fans. Now, it wasn't like a roaring, it wasn't like a roaring applause like for our guys, but more like, you know, when you sink a seven-foot putt, it was kind of like that, but still, there was no booze. So I thought that was really cool. And another thing that was really, first off, I've gone to a lot of games that were up, some of the bigger games like Kansas, Gonzaga and all that. This may be the best environment I've been in as far as the crowd, the cheers. Of course, it was probably 80% Kentucky fans there, so that was cool.

But the guys, they seemed different. They were having fun on the sidelines. Every time they come down in front of us, they were smiling. Of course, they were up by then. But they were just having a good time. No, it was definitely a different mindset for the players, you could tell. They looked a lot happier. And I appreciate the call.

And it is without question, Ryan, Drew, that the Kentucky fan base on the road, but specifically in Atlanta and Nashville, It is just a different fan base, and it can be because, like we've talked about, they party leading up to it. It's people who don't normally go. But I would suggest that for big time home games, if you promise me we get to control the tickets, I almost would rather play them in Atlanta and Nashville because the crowd is so much better down there. Yeah, a lot of those fans, they don't get to go to Rup Arena.

I'm not like the caller. This is their one game a year, get a travel, make a big deal of it, make a big weekend of it, and that's why it's so exciting. But it also just, I think it just attracts a different kind of person, Drew. You know, I mean, I'm nothing against Rupp, but I think people who have season tickets get complacent about it. They don't do that for these trips. They're basing their entire reasoning around going. And you just said it.

It's a trip. I mean, having just spent a lot of money to go to Gonzaga, I purchased that last April. I mean, you're looking forward to that for months and months and months. When it finally gets there, you just pint up and you're ready to let it out for the game, unlike when you get a routine of going to home games at Rupp. Yeah. I wish we could find a way to get some of that energy in Rupp. I think it's hard.

But I am four. I would be four playing a game in Atlanta and Nashville almost every year because I think that is the best of Kentucky crowds. And in some ways, these regular season games are now even better than the SEC tournament because the SEC tournament's gotten priced out for a lot of Kentucky fans. We'll take a break. Come back.

Hour number two. This is KSR. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in.

I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12

in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth.

And on my podcast, The Clivert Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Look.

Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Rhett, Mom, I want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.