KSR - 2026-01-15- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: January 15, 2026

KSR is Live at KSBar & Grille talking Kentucky's win over LSU and your calls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Now here's Matt Jones. All right, welcome. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, grandpaws and grandmas, aunts and uncles. This is the Thursday edition of Kentucky Sports Radio, Thursday, January 15th. Ryan Lemon, Drew Franklin, Shannon the dude. Matt Jones will be joining us any moment. shortly. But as always,

Kentucky Sports Radio, sponsored by the T.J. Smith Law Office, Shannon. Call T.J., what will he do? He'll make them pay. Our Clark's puppet shop phone numbers 859-280-2287, or as Matt learned this week,

it's 859-280-Cats. Our Clark's puppet shop phone number is open all day, and I'm sure there's going to be a lot of happy callers today after what happened last night. We've had the Marty Grawl miracle. Last night we had the Malachi miracle,

Drew, as Malachi Marino hits the last second shot to punch a great come from behind victory for the catchdown. 18 points, came back to win on the road in the SEC. Malachi Marine on the hero last night. Sure was. And, you know, shame on all of you that gave up.

I'm not going to point any fingers to anyone that has a camera in my face right now. But some of you quit believing in the first half. Maybe we didn't score but one made field goal in the first 11 minutes. That happens sometimes. Maybe only 22 points in the first half, but that's all right because this is the second half team. That second half, I'm obviously kidding That second half was an incredible comeback though And we think about Malachi at the end

Which is the big story But just starting at the beginning with Aberdeen Catching Fire I mean he made like his first six shots from the field And then to end the way it did Yeah it's LSU Yeah it just got us to two and two Probably didn't solve a lot of problems

But I woke up still smiling I'm still smiling now What a finish that's one we'll be talking about A decade from now when we're ranking great shots In regular season history Yeah when they show the montage of last second shots at Rupp Arena before every game, that Malachi Marino's shot will now be involved in it because probably they said, what was the third, maybe the fourth option in the out-of-bounce play.

But he made the catch. Personally, he had to make a great catch, turn and shoot, and have the confidence to knock it down. It will. It will be go down in the UK history lore. I got to talk to UK about their PR. Why are they telling us that was not the right pass? No, that was the perfect pass. Just lie to us.

Just say Colin Chandler, saw Malacai Moreno, way to. wide open, knew he could moss his defender, and he threw it to him. Why does the story have to be that he missed by 15? I don't like that. I am saying Colin Chandler threw a dot to Moreno, who late at LSU. I think it was the perfect play. Chandler even had a rough half before that perfect throw that was definitely intended to Malacomero. So I'm glad he got to be a part of that too. But what a roller coaster of emotions in that game last night. The second half comeback involved a lot of heroes. You mentioned Aberdeen.

Maybe in his best half he's played in a long time, not just scoring but running the offense. Jasper, I don't even think, played a minute in the second half because they couldn't take Aberdeen off the floor. He didn't, and, you know, I'm someone that's wanted a lot of Jasper with the way Aberdeen and O'Way were playing. I mean, they were red-hot. I think the team had eight three-pointers in the second half.

Yeah. After being ice-cold in the first half, at one point, they were six of seven from three. Unfortunately, it seemed like, you know, it was good to get back to five or six. There was a stretch for right when they'd get to five or six, LSU would have an answer. They were still giving up easy buckets. But just to see the offense making shots and scoring so much and completely flipping the script from one half to another was exciting.

Whatever you think of the big picture. That was just an awesome 20 minutes in that game. And Otega now, four games in a row, he's got 20 points to start the SEC season. This is the Otega we all expected to have all season, and he's back. Said it first is Jody Meeks to have a 20-point game in his first four SEC games. It is good to see him back. Whatever was going on earlier in the year where we weren't getting these 20 points. performances which were pretty routine last year. I'm glad to see him do it again when it matters.

Also another play that kind of gets forgotten there as I'm just running through that second half in my mind. Cam Williams had kind of a quiet night in foul trouble, but I love that stealing slam. Yeah. Marino kind of stole his glory there on the highlight reel with the game winner, but that was a big moment to complete the first comeback and give UK its first leading that entire game. So just a wild second half with so many fun moments. Few frustrating ones, but incredible comeback. Another guy we have to recognize Yelovich got the start played over 20 minutes hit a couple good buckets right when they needed and so he's he's earned the right to stay on the floor yeah I think you

got to keep him in that spot I think you do too now I still don't know what kind of Diabate we're going to get there were spurts where he would fight and hustle and he was part of the celebration and you know it looked to be a good teammate but there were moments where he wasn't reacting well and it didn't seem to be in the game but it looks like you got to keep rolling with Yolovitch there he just brings an offense that Mo D on his best day couldn't do. I will say Diabate, when Malachi hit the last second shot, he was one of the first ones off the bench to congratulate. So he's not sitting on their poutin, and he's still a big part of this team. They just got to find a way to use his skills when needed.

Yeah, and he's obviously highly paid and was supposed to be a leader of this team, and one of the ones when Pope built his Ferrari, I'm using my air quotes there, Diabate is one of the shiny toys he's bragging about. So it's weird that you have to bench that guy. But I mean, kudos to Pope. It seems to be the right move, and that can't be easy to do knowing you brought him in to help lead, and now you're having to ask him to take a seat to a dude who came over at the very end. So where are you now on this UK team? I thought they would win at least two of these three with Missouri, Mississippi State, LSU.

They did. Not necessarily the order I thought they would win them in. But where are you now in this UK team? You know, Ron, I don't like to look forward. I like to look backward. I just want to focus on last night. I just thought it was an incredible comeback. Incredible comeback at LSU.

Got a big win in a building. that's just full of magic. He didn't mention that the women's team, that's true. Two weeks ago, dagger in LSU's heart. Last second shot, out of the same court,

boom, Kentucky beat him in the last second shot, just like they did last night. I like the women's basketball team. They stacked the videos, put them out together, that was cool to watch. And then for those who had forgotten, the last time the men played there,

LSU won on a buzzer beater. So if you throw in the women, we've had three straight buzzer beaters in that building. LSU winning beat the Rob Dillinghand team in Cows last year when Rob hit what we thought was the game winner, and then they respond seconds later, and we get Tony Morgan on New Year's Day,

beating number five, and then Malachi making it a third buzzer beater down there. For a team that we don't have a lot of, not a lot of interactions, not really a rivalry, that building might have more magic than any SEC building in the conference. We'll just look at our history there.

Yeah, the Marty Graw-A miracle, they came from 31 down. Next year they scored, what, 81 points in the first half? 86 points, which is still amazing when you put that and say it like that. Your boy, Roger Hardin has a buzzer be there? Roger Hardin? Yeah, exactly.

But last night, not just needed for the fan base, that locker room needed it. And maybe this is something they can kind of build on now and turn around. You get a freshman, a guy that was expected to be probably third-string center behind Brandon Garrison and Jane Quaidons when the season started. Now as a guy who has earned the right to start and he hits a game winner and he's a hero right now, just right down the road in Georgetown. Yeah, it doesn't solve any huge big picture of problems, but it gives the team some confidence.

It does. An SEC road win, I don't care what your team looks like. I don't care what the other team looks like. You can't ignore an SEC win. I don't care that they're winless. Those are tough games to win as we saw last night. So it's good that they have some joy and some confidence moving forward. I'm still worried how they fit into the SEC tiers.

You know, Vandy lost last night. They're only a game back. But last night didn't make me saying, all right, let's go out and win the league. I'm still pretty far from that. But I am, if they had lost, I don't know how you can really come back. That would have been a horrible loss even being on the road. Now we at least say you can hold it together and let's see what's next and take the next step. Shannon, what do you think after the game last night?

I think that's the reason I don't tweet during games because of all the freezing cold takes I saw last night during the first half. Crazy comeback. I mean, this is, though, the fight that I was wanting to see going back to games like the Gonzaga game, where they look like they didn't even want to be out there. The fight that they showed in the second half Show me that this team hasn't given up on the season So, you know, they're still fighting And I think that they're at least back on track right now

That kind of cancels out the loss at Missouri at home for me So we're kind of back at square one So you mentioned something, Drew, like the win Doesn't necessarily save your season But a loss could have been devastating to your season If you had lost that game So in that sense, that's why I view it as a huge, huge victory for the team. Yeah, to go,

one and three if they had lost that, with two losses being winless LSU and Missouri at home. That's when you start thinking, all right, maybe we should look at NIT tickets. But that didn't happen. They're moving on. Got a big road win. All of those matter.

We'll see what happens in Knoxville. I don't know that last night it's a big statement for Lookout, Tennessee. We're coming to get you. But that's a place that's also here lately. Kentucky's been like an 11-point underdog, a 13-point underdog. It won both of them going down there with teams that were held together by glue, missing star players with Tennessee

licking their chops. Darren is to come down there and get some, and Kentucky's escaped with a couple wins in the last trips there, so don't count them out. I kind of feel like this is either going to be the highlight of the season or the turning point of the season. You know, like if Kentucky goes on a run and makes the tournament and wins a couple of games, gets to the Sweet 16,

I mean, we're dreaming here saying that. That's going to be the turning point of the season. If they have a bad rest of the season, maybe that's the highlight. Maybe that's as good as it gets last night. Well, you know, maybe there's a little truth to that because they're on the stretch where four of the next six games were on the road. Okay, they got the first one last night. Now they're going on the road again in Knoxville.

Like you said, a place where they've had good luck in recent years. So maybe this is a spot where they can maybe get it turned around a little bit. And, yeah, lots of road ahead, but especially after dropping Missouri, and this was the case all season, you really don't need to lose it rough. No. I mean, you shouldn't have lost to Missouri. Can't change that. But when the schedule came out, we said that, too.

I mean, you got Florida a few tough ones you can excuse, but no more of these. home favorite losses. You just can't take that at this point in your resume and try to get into the field. So do you like the new starting lineup? It seemed to come out and didn't do too well to start the game. But yet start the second half, they came out and looked like they'd been playing together all season. Yeah, William's got a little foul trouble. So I didn't get to see enough of him.

He had the big play to give him the lead. But I still think he works in that spot, even though we didn't get to see as much of it last night. And then let's just keep seeing more Yelovich and see what happens. He looks comfortable. I wondered how he'd handle a road SEC atmosphere when he didn't even play in the first two SEC games. That's a big change to go from not getting your warm-up off to now you're starting. But he handled it very well, even though it was a slow start for the team. Shannon, what did you think of the new lineup?

Didn't love it. I mean, you're scoring three points in the first, what was it, eight minutes of the game? Look, he just needs to figure out, like, who's going to play the most minutes? What is the rotation? I don't really that worried about, well, maybe we should be, though. worried about the starting lineup because we've been getting off to terrible starts the last couple of games but they've come back you know they come back to win the games and being down what was it uh in the mississippi state game you're down five point or not five first five minutes

of the game you're getting boot out the arena come back and win by 24 points he's got to figure out some sort of rotation that's working and the fact that we're halfway through january and still doesn't really have it is is a little concerning it's baffling how they're struggling usually midway through the first half. It makes the mass substitution, but it's just baffling how they just fall apart and are getting down double digits in most of these games. I don't know what's wrong with these starts. It's really incredible because it was the same guys that were hot in the second half

were your starters that were just couldn't find anything. You know, Pope has made some good in-game adjustments, and it's kind of become a joke about collecting the data in the first half. Remember he said that a few times last year when they had big comebacks, but this has to get fixed quickly. you can't expect to erase 18-point deficits and score with one point second left. On the road. That's not a winning formula.

You've got to get 40-minute games put together to stay in this league and get anywhere near the goals you set out to reach. Got a lot to talk about. We want to take your calls as well. 859-2-8-8-7. Had a very entertaining post-game show. We'll save that for Matt when he gets here. We want to hear from you right now.

859-2-80-cats. 8-9-2-287. Ryan, Drew and Shannon. We'll 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. 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. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.

Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 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 Hardway 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's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood,

pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this went to a billion-dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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. belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladecki. The ability to show 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, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Welcome back. Ryan, Drew and Shannon here on Kentucky Sports Radio. Matt will be joining this momentarily. I heard your theory that Garth Brooks is a serial killer. No, no, no, it's not my theory.

I think it's your theory. No, I think there's like a whole podcast on this conspiracy theory that Garth Brooks is a serial killer because there was, like a string of murders that happened in every city that Garth Brooks was touring in, and that led to people having a conspiracy theory that Garth Brooks must be the guy murdering people. I think he goes out after dark as Chris Gaines, his alter ego, and kills people. That's what the theory is anyway, if you believe that. Where are the bodies, Garth?

I've said that on this show in the past. I've thrown that out there a little bit. Where are the bodies, Garth? We just need answers. That's all. Not accused anybody of anything. I'm going to doubt Garth Brooks is a serial killer? It's not what it says.

He's also got a big crew with him, too. So, I mean, it's possible that if somebody on his crew, yeah, maybe like his rodey. Where are the bodies? Ryan Drew and the dude here, Kentucky Sports Radio. I got a couple of personal stories, and we'll get to the telephone lines. One, you know, I've been driving that Palmiller Ford, huge Ford Bronco for like a month. You look pretty awesome in that, too.

When I see you in the I heart parking lot, there's a little bit of jealousy here. Thank you. I think I look like a manly man, studdily-looking man. Here I am in my little soccer mom, Toyota, just turned away. and you come in with this Bronco, Mario's got a new car, Matt's got a new car. I feel like I don't even belong in the same parking garage as you got sometimes. Well, they've sold it, so I had to give it back. Oh, okay.

That's why when I pulled in and didn't see it, I wondered if you had gone downtown today. Okay. They put me in a Ford Escape. Okay. And here's a crazy thing now. It's like a Bronco. My dad's going to buy it. The Escape or the Bronco?

The Escape. They already sold the Bronco. Oh, okay. So I had to take it back, and Paul Miller Ford gave me this Ford Escape. My dad's like, I think I'll just buy that. Do they, when they sell it, is they're like, hey, Ron Lemon's been driving this? It's kind of a thing. I'm sure that adds some dirt.

No, that's a deterrent. They know how kind of a crazy driver I am. But you almost showed up today at KS Bar and Grill with your bass slippers on. I had a morning. Still a little tired from a late night. I have a long day today. Got some tough news about a friend. My head was just in a weird spot, but I know I have a radio show to do,

and Malacomarino hit a big buzzer beater last night, so I got to get to work. So I run out to my car, got my backpack, I'm dressed. I feel like it'll look nice. Mario, got my diet starts Monday hoodie on, new hat. But get to Winchester Road, and I still feel something's just a little off. I don't feel completely ready for work, and I look down, I'm wearing my house slippers with pants. I don't even know how. I guess I had them on around the house fully dressed and meant to Mr. Rogers into my outdoor shoes and didn't.

But then at this point, I look at the clock, and I'm like, I don't think I have time to get home. And then back to the show, and I have a long day. I'm out all day today. I was like, I can't. I can't just wear house shoes around all day in public. Got a meeting. I got places to be. I can't be walking around in slippers.

So I turned around and changed and got here just before we started. But there was a moment, Ryan, where I was just going to be here in my house shoes, fully dressed, ready to go. Have you ever done anything? I feel like you've done something like that before. I've walked out your pants. I've walked out of the house, forgot to put my shoes on. It's like you were barefoot? Well, barefoot or in my socks.

It was in my socks. I realized I haven't got to put my shoes on. How does that even happen? It happens more than you. think. Seems like the concrete would give you a little. That's what got me. I at least had a little bit of rubber sole there.

It felt like a shoe. Yeah, but you got in your car, we're driving down here, and you realize something's not right. And not a little bit. I got pretty far. I've got not halfway here, but I'd say a quarter of the way here. So one time in, I can't remember what age I was. It was like middle school basketball. But I went to check in and ripped off back when you had the buttons.

Oh, yes. Didn't have my shorts on underneath. That was a fun moment for me, too. Yeah. That man got you a little bit in trouble. So that's Drew's personal story. Now, Shannon's personal story. His Vanderbilt Commodore was finally lost last night, Shannon.

Yeah, yeah, ugly. You know, I've actually picked that one, so I wish I'd just put some money on it and won some money on drafties. How'd you think they were going to lose that game? First true SEC road game that was against the team that was halfway decent. I just felt like they were going to lose at some point. That felt like one they would lose, and they did. By 16 last night.

Yeah, they got drums. So you went the hides of the highs with the Malachi Miracle, and then the loads of the lows vanny lost on the road. We were just doing this on the pre-show. Do you know the three teams that are still undefeated? Did you hear them? No, I didn't hear this. Okay, do you know the three teams undefeated in college basketball now?

Arizona's one of them. Check. BYU? No. Iowa State. No, they lost. Oh, they lost? They lost to Kansas.

Oh, that's right. Michigan lost. Did Nebraska lose yet? Nebraska. Yeah, Indiana beat Nebraska. Huh? No. Yeah, Indiana beat Nebraska this weekend, didn't they?

No. Nebraska won't. Nebraska's undefeated. My bad. Nebraska ball, they call it. All right. So what's the third one? Well, this is the one that we didn't get.

I thought there was only two teams left. I'll just give it to you. Miami of Ohio is still undefeated. Wow, there you go. So those are three teams still left. After Vandy went down last night. All right, 859, 2802-287. Who's our first caller, Shannon?

Let's go to Roger. Roger. Roger. Thanks for taking my call, guys. is an awesome win last night. But the main reason I was calling, because I called in last week and was talking to Matt about our out-of-bounce play

where we threw at the length of the court, well, guess what? We run one last night, and we scored. I wanted to Matt. He vetted on that for 45 seconds the other day. So I wanted Matt to see what he saw about that score. Last night, I have a bad to play. First time this year.

Appreciate it, Roger. He did talk a little bit about it on the post game show last night trying to come up with has there ever been a buzzer beater that involved a length of the court pass and he couldn't think of one i can't think of one do you know of any for kentucky there's been you know of obviously buzzer beaters but to have a full like the chris latner not recreated a latiner like that i have a little bit of a confession um you know i'm calling chanler's biggest fan you are when he was uh when i saw that he's the one inbounding the pass can i admit i was a little little pessimistic yeah i thought we're not even

even going to touch this ball. Because there was the game, North Carolina, I think, where we had the at home where he threw it to nothing. That's true. Even though he was my guy, I was like, oh, no, I have no faith that we're even going to get a shot here. But in my face, he threw the perfect pass to Marino, definitely intended to him. But I did not feel good in the moment.

I guess the story has come out now where normally it's set up where Cam Williams is supposed to do that. But he had fouled out. And in the huddle, Colin volunteered. Let me do it. I can do it. So maybe he was in his mind. Like, I need to make up for that bad pass I made against North Carolina.

I know I can make the right pass this time. And he, like, stepped up and was politicking to try to be the guy that inbound the pass. Well, it works. He now, I'd say he's taking Cam Williams' job for the foreseeable future, at least on that inbound. Maybe even Will Stein can call him Malichael over and get a little run in the spring, see if they can put them to work. Who's next, Shan? Let's get another phone call. Let's go to Randall.

Randall. Go ahead, Randall. About, fellas, I got two things. I'm really glad about the win last night. You know, they come out, you know, got hotter than a fox and a forest fire, you know, really started to cook. I'd like to see, you know, I think Pope listens to show. So, I mean, you know, try to build, you know, Jasper Johnson's confidence maybe a little bit.

Give them a starting spot. Let them go with that starting lineup. I'd like to see them with that lineup and see what happens, you know, maybe for at least the first five minutes of the game. That would be pretty cool. And my second thing, I was just wondering if Ryan ever watched Godfather too. Appreciate the phone call. I have not yet.

That is still on my list. You know, I don't watch so much that we've learned earlier this week so much TV. I didn't have a chance to watch the Godfather. But I will. I'm going to watch it at some point. I do want to talk about Jasper. You know, he got minutes in the first half as the backup point guards. We knew he would.

But the second half, it wasn't necessarily a reflection on him. And it was reflection on how good Aberdeen was playing. couldn't take Aberdeen off the floor the second half. Yeah, I'm going to assume Johnson was part of the plan, but Aberdeen did not miss until maybe the last thing. You finished 8 of 10 or something in the second half, 17 points after scoring zero in the second half. Zero in the first half, 17 in the second half. And then O way right next to him completely turned it on too. So at that point, you just got to let those guys go, and that's why they played the whole second half.

I don't think it was any indictment on Jasper. I agree. It would be criminal for Pope to sit Aberdeen in that moment because he was hitting everything. There's one thing I will give Pope credit for. We give him a lot of hard time about his rotation, especially in the first half. When he gets a group of five going in the second half, he kind of stays with him. We've seen it in like the St. John's game, even the Indiana game. You've got your five guys that are playing the best that day.

He rolls with him, and he did that again last night. Yeah, he's done that a lot this season. It's a little bit of criticism last year, maybe to start this year of my memory serves. But here lately, he finds out who's going. Maybe some people think he still plays too many people, whatever, that can be debated. but to his credit, once he sees who's playing well earlier gets it going, he's not no longer sitting them because that's what the analytics said. He's letting the hot hand roll.

Jasper, though, still going to be a big piece. He is going to get a lot of minutes because he is now the backup point guard. No questions asked. And, I mean, it's awesome as that was from Aberdeen. He's going to have some bad nights. I don't know that we can expect him to do that every night for the future, and that's when Jasper will be needed a lot. So Ryan, Drew, and Shannon, we're here taking your calls.

859-2-802-8-7. I see Matt Jones out the window. Oh, Matt will be here. He's got trivia tonight, so he's got here ready. God is broke in his hand. His planner. So it's perfect time. We'll take our break.

We come back. Matt Jones will join us here on Kentucky Sports Radio. Don't go away. T.J. Smith, personal injury attorney. Call T.J. He'll make them pay. Now, more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones. Welcome back.

It is Kentucky Sports Radio. 899-280-2287. Text machine, 772-754. Sorry, I missed the beginning there. had some meeting stuff, got win a little long, but now I'm here and ready to help celebrate the win. I know you all have talked a lot about it, but how exciting was that yesterday? I thought maybe that's what it was. You partied two-mile last night after that big win.

It was such an Malachi miracle. Malachi miracle. I'll take it. 859-280-2287. So I said season saved when it happened. Do you think season saved? for a little longer. I agree.

I mean, it doesn't change really anything. It just kept something bad from happening as basic as that sounds. Like, if they had lost that, maybe you can recover with some big wins, but I don't have the confidence they can recover. Now you're at least alive a little longer. The SEC is just all clumped up together. So who knows what could happen? So you're still in the fight for a little longer.

Every single team in the SEC is within two games of first place after the first. So if you beat Missouri, you're three and one, you're knocking on the door. Except LSU. Except LSU. Oh, no, if you're in Missouri, if you beat Missouri, you would be tied for the league. That's crazy. To talk about a couple things, and again, you all may have said this, so if you did, just act like I didn't before we go to the phones.

772-7-7-4-5-25-4. Let's talk about the end of the game. Did you think O.A got his shot off? I was 100% convinced he did, and then I saw another angle where I could at least entertain the idea. But I'll admit, I yelled when they overturned it. I was convinced it was going to stand. I think it was just like that Old Miss Auburn game where the television clock was different than the arena clock. Because on the arena clock, they showed the wrong angle, like they didn't show the right angle till the very last second. On the final angle, you could see the light being off,

but they didn't show that angle for a while. So at first it looked like it was good. Then when they showed the other angle, I actually thought it made sense. That was a terribly discombobulated play, though. Like, there was nothing happening on that play. They waited too long. So then they come down, and they called the foul in Oway. Hated that call, didn't you? Yeah.

Because I didn't think he fouled him. I mean, he fouled him in the sense that everybody gets fouled, but I didn't like that call. You didn't have to call it. You see that not called a lot in that situation, don't you? They didn't let that go. So he made one of the two. Right. And then we came down and how would you describe our last attempt at a score?

Brilliant coaching. No, no, no. Before that. This is why I don't want to be negative on such a happy day because I am so happy. But there were a lot of things at the end that still made me think if that was our strategy. I mean, we lucked out and it worked, but I don't have a lot of confidence moving on. Like even admitting that final play wasn't what they were trying to do. I'm like, just tell me it was perfect.

Just say that's what you want to do. so I know something is working. Yeah, I did like the play where O.A drove down, got fouled. Yes. But, you know. He only hit one free throw. He only hits one free throw. So, like, you've got to make that free throw if you're him.

And he's been pretty clutch at that. You know, he drew the foul. He just barreled into the paint and then drew the foul. And then you, of course, had the – he misses two free throws. When he was shooting those two free throws for LSU, I thought he should make the first miss. the second, right? But then I, but, but then he makes, he misses them both.

Yeah. And then the Malachi shot. Malachi shouldn't have said, by the way, that the pass wasn't for him. That's how I love the show. I was like, why are you all doing this? You need PR help. Say Colin Chandler through the perfect pass. And I think he actually did.

I think what he meant was the initial pass was to go to O.A. But O.A. was covered. I hope so. So then he went to Malachi. When you something to say they're good at. I must say that was a great pass by Colin Chandler. And then what? a shot by Mariner.

And we said before you got here, you know, the stories come out now were Chandler and volunteered he wanted to be the guy to make that pass. Well, but that was also a little misleading because they said Cam Williams, but he had fouled out. Fowed out. So somebody had to volunteer. Somebody had to step up. It was a great pass, though.

And the Malachi shot, is that like the start of him becoming a star? I think so. It wasn't just the shot. He would have a tough ball to go up and catch. And in one second, have your wits about you to turn around and, you know, had a good looking for him to jump shot go off too. That was an incredible play by him. And yeah, I agree to your point about it being his star really took off.

It was the Leitner play, except they played good defense. They had a guy on the ball. They did. And they had a guy in front of Marangelo. It did. And he still scored. Like it was the Leitner play, but then it didn't work. So I was happy.

Then we had the post game show. I would say strangest post game show in the history. I mean, yesterday was up there for the most amazing calls. in a day of KSR ever. Bob and James Town in the morning, we got Malachi's mom on again. She was awesome. Did you hear this?

Yeah, it's great. We had the guy who called Chad, who had yelled at his wife and son and dog. Yes. That was strange. You had the woman at LSU who had been there. She was my favorite. Who kept calling the players the numbers and saying her,

what was her name for her husband? my something no no it was like I can't remember she was great she also wrote me afterwards and said if we wanted to send her to any games as a correspondent that we could which I love that that was her thought

like I'll you know just send me to some games I did like her analysis we had the guy who took his girl on a date for the game so there were a lot of very there were some great calls last night the woman that supports the team for her sweetie or honey honey honey I think it was honey honey her enthusiasm to not really know what she was watching

that was genuine happiness though you could fill it through the radio how thrilled she was about a win and she doesn't even know the names of anyone no she said she likes one two four five she basically mentioned all the but then she was like i love kentucky yes got a lot to learn but she loves them i loved it so it was a huge win huge for the fan base i mean i think that's a huge fan base win i don't even want to think about what would have happened if we didn't win You know, I mean, Mario was here. He was celebrating with people at the end of the games. A lot of people quit during the game.

The ones that stayed had a huge, you know, huge burst of excitement. But we needed that. I mean, it was kind of a shocking victory. Yeah, like you guys said, you know, the win kind of keeps us poking forward, but a loss could have been devastating, devastating for our fan base, devastating for our NCAA tournament hopes. I think if we lose, we don't make the tournament. I agree.

I mean, I'm not 100% sure we're going to. make it. But if we lose, we do not make the term. We're at least still on the road. Our Ferrari is definitely not a Ferrari like we thought. We're in a rental. We're low on gas. Might have a flat tire, but we are still on the road with the other cars right now. We didn't fall off the edge into the end of the ravine. We're still driving. No, I mean, Shannon, we're like my old car. It's got 235,000 miles, but no oil change. Yeah, I mean, it exists. It's still physically there. It's still running. Yeah. And like, so far, there's all indications it will continue to run. We might pick up a little speed.

You might get downhill up here in a mile or two. Get going. Get some win behind us. And if we win at Knoxville, which we always do, then look out. Then look out. Step back. We've got to stop falling behind.

Can't do it again. I don't have an answer why this keeps happening. It's not just a one-off thing. They do it all the time down double digits by midway through the first half. And done it all the time for two straight years. Yeah. I mean, it is, it's clear. It would be fascinating to hear what Mark Pope.

thinks the reason is. Like, why does he think this happens so much to us? Even in some of the games we've lost this year, we've come back, but it's started like that. I almost think it's just getting him up and motivated. It can't be technically

so, he's fixing the second half. How are you so bad to start the game when you've had days to prep to get ready? So I'm almost don't even think it's like the analytics and the coaching. I think it's just him literally motivating him and getting them up to play the game. Whereas, you know, they get to halftime, they look it up, and they're down bad, and they're getting embarrassed.

Then they wake up, and they're like, now let's go turn it on. It's like he almost needs to be angry before they even tip it off. I agree. 859-280-2287. Who's up next? Let's go to Connor. Connor. Connor, how are you, Connor?

All right, we're rolling. Who's next? Go ahead, Connor, whenever you're ready. Sorry. Yeah, sorry. I just wanted to call in, man. Last night, big blue miracle throw. So last night I feel like was it was for those fans this season that have been down on them.

You know, if you're, I'm 33 years old. If you look back, we always tend to have a couple of those big blue magic moments in a season. Last night was our big blue magic moment. So hype for it. That was, Otega hit that shot. Sorry. And number one, he traveled before he got that last shot before the miracle. shot he traveled but let's not talk about that this is for the fans that need to yep they need to

the big blue nation needs to get behind them we got the magic the magic's coming go get your tickets appreciate the call so i i would say to you that it this is well do you think this will be a shot that's on the montage before the game yeah you know for people who go to the games they have that montage of clip i feel like this one's going to be on there do you Definitely. I mean, I wrote a post yesterday in the day, ranking like top LSU moments, quickly updated that. And then, you know, when we write those 10 years from now, and not just LSU, just regular season, shots, and games, that will be in the conversation. Have we ever won on a full court pass before? I heard you discuss that last night.

And then nobody really responded because I don't think we ever have. I don't think we've ever won on a half-court pass before. I heard you talking about that. So I was trying to think, too. I don't remember any. Some old-timers were saying there was a time in like in the 70s. They tried it. and the ball, Reggie Warford, I guess at William.

They didn't count the basket maybe or something like that. But I don't think it's ever happened. I don't think we've ever had it, which makes it even more exciting. Like that's a historic. I mean, we've had a lot of buzzer beaters, but I don't think we've ever had a full court all the way down the court past. But to answer your question, I think it definitely is on the montage because not just because he hit the shot, but the way the team celebrated,

like they all ran to him and celebrated on the court like that on an opposing court. You think it can be a unifying moment? For the team? I think so. I think they've had some unification issues. Yeah, Ryan, I noted Diabate is one of the first ones to go up by the which I think is a big statement. That was a big statement.

I think you can. I agree. 859-280-22807. We're here at KS Bar. You can come have lunch with us. Say hello. Tonight is trivia. You got your team?

All my team's doing something tonight. I've been trying to hustle up my team and they're all doing stuff. Why don't we get you a team? Well, no, I'd rather do my own team. But if you don't play, there's no team. Yeah, I'm still efforting. I got two right now. Just you and one other person?

Crystal. Yeah. So you need two more people? Yeah, I'll work on that. Where's yoga girl? She can't join you? Why can't she play? She's smart.

She's a lot smarter than me. So why doesn't she come? Maybe I'll have to convince her to come. You didn't ask her? I did. And she said no. She goes, no, she's got too much other stuff to do. Well, why don't you tell her she needs to play?

I need you in the content. What can be more important in the trivia. I mean, come on. This is trivia. Agreed. And you are the standard by which people measure themselves. You just like the Mendoza line. I'm trying.

I can't not finish last. My whole goal each week is just don't finish last. You're playing tonight. Even if it's just you and Crystal, you're playing. All right. Big news for our listeners in the Buckeye State. Cornbread hemp is now available at fresh time and select retailers across Ohio. Seltzers, gummies, relaxation, restful sleep.

It's all there at cornbread hemp. There's no waiting for shipping, ordering online. Just walk in. Cornbreadhemp.com. You can go visit at cornbreadhemp.com. or use a store locator to find one nearer you. Cornbread him. This is the good life.

We'll take a break and be right back. It's KSR. 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo SlicLife 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast. the hard way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear 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, Dustin 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's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing,

growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back.

Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levan this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life.

Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 WMBA 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. Don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeki. The ability to show 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, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Welcome back, Tegie Sports Radio 859-2-80-2287. Text Machine 772-7-7-4-4 here at KS Bar and Grill. It's actually turned out to be a beautiful day after all that snow last night.

It's really nice outside. After our pregame show, we came out of the studio and it was like a blizzard. There's like a whiteout in downtown Lexington. Well, now it's here. Now it's here. It's good. And Mario's going to be taking pictures of all the new food today, aren't you, Mario? Yeah, good.

So that means you get to eat it. Rule of 71 held up. It did. It did. Don't think I didn't think that either when we hit 71. I think everybody was watching that last bucket. It was a Cam Williams dunk, and I was like, all right, we won. Yep.

Talked about my house, too. We're all counting down. It was a race to 71. We celebrated getting 71. Still didn't feel like the game was over at that point, but it was good to get there first. I was never worried. I knew we were going to win the whole time. 71 doesn't fail.

We were collecting data in the first half. We were collected data in the first 39 minutes, 58 points, 4 seconds. That was the worst data we've ever collected. Like if you read it, it was not good data. What's crazy about last night? The starting five he had came out so sluggish and slow, but yet that same starting five started the second half and we're playing lights out. Same group, two different halves, just two the way they played two different levels.

That's why I think it's between the ears. More urgency. Yeah, I think urgency and maybe even game plan. There was a lot of standing around in the first half. A lot of standing around in the second half. And we got open threes. Now, granted, we made them, but they were open in the second half, which I think makes a big difference, obviously, for this group.

And when you're not one for 11 and you're six for eight, that makes everything else easier for everyone else because they have to respect that. They were just packing the inside in the first half in Dary and Kentucky. And the thing is we didn't even get the best buzzer beater last night. Boopy. Boopy. First of all, can you believe there's a guy named Boopy for SMU, Shannon? Would you name your kid Boopy?

No. Of all the names, that would be the last one. He named Boopy, but I will say this, if you're going to get a half-court shot at the buzzer to lead the Today Show, you want to be named Boopy. Malachi shot made the Today Show. It was number two on ESPN's Top Ten List this morning also. Boopi number one? Boopi was number one. As soon as I saw Boopi's, I knew Malachi was in trouble.

Yeah, Malachi would have been number one. The best part of boopies is the pyro. The pyro guy, did you notice that? The timing was amazing. The second it goes through the net. It's not like a layup where the guy was ready. It was a half-court shot. The flames just go straight up.

Incredible. Give the pyro guy a raise. The timing was unbelievable. He had to have just been sitting there, locked in, finger on the button, waiting for that to go through the rim. Have you seen the way Virginia Tech's five ACC games have gone? Virginia Tech has law is two and three in the ACC. their three losses are all at the buzzer.

Really? Every single one of them. And one of their two wins is triple overtime. And I think on all three buzzer beaters, they weren't just tied, they were leading and then lost on the shot. They've lost on three buzzer beaters in five games. That's tough. That's tough in your locker room and you can't pull one out like that. That's got to be brutal.

859-280-2287. One person writes, Matt, does Mo Diabate play big-time minutes? any more games this year. There's going to be a game they're going to need him, but I think right now Pope has discovered they play better with Yelovich or Cam Williams at the 4. But there's going to be a game they're going to need him. If I told you Kentucky was going to not have Jalen Lowe,

Jaden Quains, and Mo Diabate, you would have thought... We're in trouble. We're in big trouble. Who would have thought Marino was going to play this level he's playing at right now? thought he'd be third string center coming into the season. Now he's a starter and playing great minutes. Yeah, I wouldn't think we'd be two and two in the SEC.

I think he'd be lucky to be that. Yeah. I mean, it's going to be hard. But, again, my number is six wins. Six wins gets us in the tournament. I think six wins sends us to Dayton. It's all we need. Just get us in the door, buddy.

We need eight SEC wins and we go to date. Six more to go. Six more. So I feel like we got six in us, don't you? If they don't get the six, what's that look like? Are we, do we accept any bids anywhere else? Are we at a first round road game in Omaha? There's no reason to have that conversation tonight.

We're winning. All right, we won, we won the game. We'll talk, that's a later down in the year. Six wins, you get into the NCAA tournament. If we'd lost last night, I think that would be a fair conversation. But we won. Who's next? Dan.

Dan, go ahead, Dan. Hey, Matt, Dan from Rocky, out. Yeah, I want that Mississippi State game. So we go from getting booed, win by 24, and win this game last night. Let me tell you what I, what I watch games, like if they get behind or by so much, I'll change the channels, I'll go in another room. I just can't stand it. And anyway, I turned it back on, and it was, they were at the file line. We get, we're behind, 74 to 73, 1.9 seconds. No way I'm going to watch it.

I tell my wife, I said, man, at least the boys came back. Look, my buddy Fred texted me, said, man, what a great game. And I'm thinking, what in the heck game is he watching? So you didn't watch the end of it? You didn't watch the final play? No, I didn't watch it.

I think there's a lot of people like that that didn't watch it. It's good to hear from you, Dan. I appreciate the call. I couldn't turn the game off. You know, I tend to turn it off when we're not doing well. I had friends over. So I had to watch the whole thing, which made me persevere. And then I feel like Ryan I had earned the victory at the end.

So where was your headspace when the guys at the free throw line? Two free throws were down one. I was sitting there thinking about what was I going to say on the post game show. I was already kind of going, you know, how do we deal with this? are we going to make the tournament? There was no part of me that thought that was going to work. No. Did you?

No, we have to do a lot to get ready for the site. And when O'A hit front rim on that free throw, I'm already writing game over stuff. I just thought that free throw ended it. I mean, I was going to kind of write how they just can't make the plays that win. And then we did. And so now it's happy times. 859-28027.

We'll take a break and be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. 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, S&L'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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed the 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 headlines. 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 SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 in the stuff. the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman.

Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway

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