KSR - 2026-03-05- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

KSR is Live in Middlesboro talking all the latest news, the upcoming SEC Tournament, and SGA's coat.See 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.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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 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 Sports Slice on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your 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 IHart Women's Sports. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th.

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 weigh better.

What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. From Netflix and Hulu, Comedy of Broadway and Lexington, welcomes Ashley Gavin, February 27th and 28th. Then from TV and the movies, he's one of the kings of comedy. Catch D.L. Hugley March 6 through the 8th. And from the Nateland podcast and the Grand Ole Lopry, don't miss Aaron Weber. March 12th through the 14th, four tickets to all comedy off Broadway shows.

Call 859271 joke or visit Comedy OffBroadway.com. This is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones. Welcome, everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Thursday, March the 5th. I'm Matt Jones here live at my house in Middlesboro, Kentucky. I don't know why my mom is listening on headphones when it's right here in front of you. Well, we're not having any calls yet. Clark's Pullman Shop phone line is 859-280-2287.

A-Vision Auto Glass Text Machine is 772-7754. And this is sponsored by the T.J. Smith Law of us call T. We call T.J. O'May. We are in Middlesboro at my... We got Ryan, we got Drew, and Mario and guys, good to see you. And Middlesboro, we welcomes you. I have had the best day so far. Your mom made breakfast, and it may be the best breakfast I have ever had.

Explain what the breakfast was because we get asked this a lot when we're down here. You love my, it was great. You love my mom's breakfast. Explain what it is. She basically had three entrees and a bowl of fruit. And the entrees, her breakfast casserole is famous, not just. is Millsboro, but in the state of Kentucky. Then she had cheesy potatoes.

But the Grand Slam was this French toast casserole thing she had today that was like this melted in your mouth. She doesn't know this. I'm going to ask her if I can take some home with me. Oh, are you? Well, she might not let you. Get it a little to go by. Oh, look, she got mad. Yes, she will let you. It was very, very

good, Drew. And you got up this morning. We were in Corbyn last night. You got up this morning from Lexington. Was it worth the drive? Oh, absolutely. Didn't even need an alarm. I woke right up to the smell of French toast, you know, two hours away. We've been able to do this a few times on trips and stuff, and we're not just saying it because we're in the living room. Karen and Larry, hey, just very hospital.

That breakfast is a legendary breakfast. The ladies of KSR, I already know on their Facebook page, they're going to want the recipe for the French toast. Will you share it or is it a no share? Okay, so she'll share it. So I'll have her give it to me and I will post it because. I thought maybe it was a family secret. No secret. No secret. Yeah. So it was very good, very light breakfast to get us ready for the day. And we're here. And part of why we're here is Larry is up here as well. And it's good to see him and be down here to say hello.

Of course. They've popped in the bar. Occasionally throughout basketball season. We get moments here and there, but it's good to be in Middlesboro at your old house and hanging out with your parents. We do this a couple times a year at the house. Yes, this is from Mario's first trip to Middlesboro. As we were driving through town, he said, so this is where you grew up. And the only thing he pointed out in town was, oh, there's a Kroger. So, I mean, I guess that's what you need in order for Mario to feel like it's a good place to grow up. He made it to pine of the last summer when we did the show there, so we saw the floodgates and the chain rock. But we were all into Middlesbrough. That's a whole new experience.

They call it Crater City for a reason. What is the reason? A crater fell from the sky, landed on Earth. Not a crater. Craters don't fall from the sky. A meteor fell from the sky and created a crater. And Middlesbrough was building this hole, this crater that the meteor left. But you see it? Like, you drive?

No, I don't. I don't see it. What do you mean you don't see it? I don't see the hole. Do you know when you're driving into town and how we're coming downhill? And then when we leave, we go back uphill when we're in Tennessee, we're in a crater. Okay, pointed out to me so I don't miss it this time. No, it's not a whole city is the crater. The whole city is a crater.

Do you remember as we're coming from Pineville, we're at the top of a hill, where my sign is. Yes. And then we come down a hill and you're there. And then you've been to Tennessee. When we go up, we go up the mountain. That's because it's a crater. So what happened to this meteor after it hit the earth and made this huge?

This wasn't like 1974. I mean, this was many, many thousands of years ago. I mean, I guess it bounced. Where did it go? Like, why can't we find it? It broke up. Okay, where are the little pieces of it? Why don't think those include mountains?

It made the mountain. I didn't say that. I'm not a geologist. I'm just saying to you, like, this is not the only crater that ever was created. But this is the only crater city. Well, we claim that. They didn't use to call it that. But we saw the sign that said home of Lee Majors and Matt Jones.

Mario did not know who Lee Majors was. Very educational trip for Mario. Yes, he learned about the $6 million man, the fall guy, married for a while to Fair Fawcett. Went to high school with Larry. What going on? Yeah. I like a lot of the billboards are still, the baby face.

Yes, baby faces. Anybody who's been in the mountains, they know. And I don't think it's just in East Kentucky. I think what's odd is I think that baby face billboard is used for other businesses. It's like you don't want your cabinets to have funny faces. Is that what is? It's so creepy. Ugly baby face is definitely prevalent down here in this part of Kentucky.

It's everywhere. And then you have the, if you're in pain, call Shane, they're everywhere. All those. Down here. I knew I was close because I saw Blake Bowling's. Blake Bowling. That's when I'm getting close to Middlesbrough, all the Bowlings. So we were on the 13th Region tournament last night.

Loved it. Ryan already has his free t-shirt. Yep. Grace Hospital, 13th Region tournament. Got all the schools. What's great about Ryan is. What's great about Ryan is when he goes to something like that. I've said this before.

No one is more famous than Ryan at a high school basketball tournament. Every, every. town's media member knows who he is and chances are he's been on all their shows. Absolutely. So last night I look up, Bell County is playing Clay County. All right?

How many, Drew, do you think broadcast teams would normally be calling a Bell County, Clay County game? One for each team. One free team, so you think two. Home broadcasts. There were seven radio broadcasts going on. Big game. Seven.

And I could, where were they all broadcasting? Or did every radio state, they maybe, maybe they don't have media rights. So anyone, because there were seven. And Ryan went on every one of them. I picture him doing the radio road tour. You get 15 minutes with Ryan, then he goes to the next one. So Ryan was on all of them. And that's what he does.

He's like, Mr. and it's a great quality to have. But he is, you want someone booked on your local radio station? Ryan Lemon is you got. Well, we think of Ryan as, you know, the co-hosts on the, show and the pep talks and getting out of control. But there was a time where if Ryan Lemon showed up your house or your high school with a news camera, you knew you were a big game. Well, there was a guy that came up to him and said, I watch you on TV.

And Ryan was like, well, I haven't been on TV in 15 years. But Ryan knows when you all would show up in a high school gym, even though you might only be there five minutes to get one play and move on to the next one. That's a big moment. That's probably how you know everyone. But down here, that's what high school basketball is all about. These people love it down here. Well, I went on so they have an official video stream.

that I guess is being syndicated around. So they asked me to come on in between the two games, and I did. I got more text for that than when I've been on ESPN. This whole 13 must be watching it. They streamed it in every town of the 13th region. I couldn't believe how many people were writing me saying, they saw you on the, and there were people who, like a guy wrote me I went to high school with who's never written me about anything, and I think it was at that moment he thought I made it.

He was like you were on the 13th region high school stream. Really? I thought you were a lawyer. So. Did you say you ask him in the middle interview? No, what's, where am I on right now? I had no idea what station I was on. And then they were like everywhere.

Wow. And so, you know, I tell you, if you want to be, if you want to run for office, you need to find your way on the 13th region stream. They're not going to get more publicity than that. Center of sports media, right near the mountains. Seven different broadcast, live streamed, and even a student broadcast from Pineville. They had a couple students streaming the broadcast. And Bell County won.

Was it close? Did you get a good game? It was an okay game. Clay County was down double digits most of. Bell County, we hear, has like the best freshman in the state. What was his name? Braxton Ferguson. Braxton Ferguson.

I got Braxton Ferguson's dad, who, by the way, at 65 years old, has any man ever looked better at 65 years old? He literally could pass. I'm not saying this for 35. Yeah. Easy. Easy. He said, we're going to win the state in three years. Oh, wow.

He called his shot three years in advance. He did. So, Shannon, I want you to write that down. All right. Bell County wins the state in three years in basketball. 2029, I got it. 2029. Place your bets now on draft kings.

Take Bell County to win the state. That keeps calling it three years in advance. Also committing to Bell County for the next three years. Well, we know the portal. You don't know what's going to happen. You were Middlesboro, like, you know, you move away. Do you still have a robbery? The Middlesbrough, Belk County thing's not as bad as Kentucky, Louisville.

Like, I still, I'll still root for the Bobcats. And, yeah, it was good. You were rooting for Bell County in the first game and Pineville in the second game. I did. We introduced Mario to some people from Clay County. That's a culture shock. Mario and Clay County. Buck Stivers, who's hosted this show, Shannon.

People know Buck Stivers, Richie Farmers, for you. He comes over and he starts talking to us and then I get distracted. He's only talking to Mario. He's been talking to Mario for five straight minutes. He walks away and Mario goes, I didn't understand a word he said. He's just mad at your head. Yeah. He's like, we don't have him.

And Mario said, yeah, man, you got it. He was serious. He did not understand the word. So it's very nice to be home and to see everybody. and part of the reason came home was I wanted to see my folks, but also, you know, Larry got a good report. And Larry has, you know, he's sitting over there. We've had our whole listening audience been praying for you. I get messages about it all the time about your health.

And he says he appreciates it. And as a matter of fact, on that, I wanted you to have a chance to say that. So here, I want to give you this microphone for just a second. I don't think this has ever happened before on this show. Mom has been on the show. But I think in all of these years, I don't think Larry has been on the show. So we're going to give him just a second here, the microphone. Getting him set up.

There we go. Larry? Yes. Look at you on the radio. Oh. This is a first. This is a first. Now, you are 88.

Almost 89. Almost 80. Wow. I grew up in Middlesboro, right? Back where you are. Now, you've been dealing with some health stuff. Yes. How are you feeling?

I feel great. You do? Yes. And what about these guys coming all the way down here? Well, I appreciate that very much, and I appreciate all of the good thoughts, and especially all of the prayers that I've heard have been asked and offered. I appreciate that very, very much. I got a good report here, well, this last week from a CT scan that I had taken.

So I'm just doing great, and I appreciate it, and I thank everybody for their good thoughts. How does it feel to know all these people you don't even know? I don't even know. Who pray for you. Had a lot of people send you cards? Yes. How did that feel? Well, it felt great.

It felt great. I've never had well I've never had this problem before but I never had that kind of response and I'm so grateful now you you watch the UK games

you were for Trent Noah right yes he's from Harlan yes he is he hasn't been making a lot of shots right but then he didn't in the last game made two I think he did that's exactly right why do you like him so much Well, he's one of us. That's exactly right.

He's from Harlem. Yes. Well, I just wanted to say to you on the air, mom's been on before, but you had not. I love you, and it's great to, it's been great to spend time with you, and I'm proud of you, and I hope you know how much the listeners and all of us have been praying for you and rooting for your good hell. Well, thank you. Thank all of you very, very. much. I am truly

thankful. I'm truly grateful. And thank you for this opportunity to say so to everybody. I appreciate it. So there you go. Larry Blondell, ladies and gentlemen. Very good. Can I ask him tell a story? All right.

Go for it. My favorite Larry Blondell story. Can you tell the story? Tell it quickly. When Matt always wears hoodies and the strings on the hoodies, how did you try to get him to quit from biting on the strings on the hoodies? I just, I don't remember how I got him to, but I told him about it several times. You walked into my high school with your hoodie in your mouth to embarrass me.

That's exactly right. And you were like, this is how you look. That's so long ago I forgot. I love that story. Well, we are going to take a break. It's great having now. Both my parents have been on the show. We will take a break and be right back from Middlesbril.

Talk a little UK. Hey, this is 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 SportsClice 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 SportsClyce on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and 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, Kear 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 Levin 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio here in Middlesboro. Remember at 1041, we will be going to WSFC again as Kentucky women play Georgia today. They won the first game in the SEC tournament, so they will play the second. That will start at 11 a.m. So we will switch to WSFC and we will remind you as you get close. People are saying really nice stuff. One person writes, I believe Larry was my teacher at Butler. High School in Louisville. And he's shaking his head.

Yes, he taught at Butler High School in Louisville. How about that? You have one of your students listening. They said he was a hard teacher. He did teach him a good teacher. He taught. He taught. He taught.

Yes, he did teach. He taught. He taught. And then he came back here. Was he a guidance counselor here? He was guidance counselor, yes. You could have asked him when he was on. He was just automated.

We didn't have the headphones on now. 859-2-80-2287. So let's talk a little bit about the basketball and situation. We've spent a lot of time with Mitch Barnard. Let's talk basketball. Kentucky can be anywhere, Drew, from the fourth seat in the SEC tournament to the 10th seed, depending on what happens on the last day. If they beat Florida and a couple things happen, they could get to 4.

If they lose, 10 is the most likely scenario. It's not certain, but it's very likely. Kentucky could be a 10 seed in the SEC tournament. And as far as I know, is this will be the first time they've ever played on Wednesday. Do you ever remember them playing on Wednesday? Never. No, this would be the first time. I think this would be the first time.

We're talking about it last year, how we were heading for the first time. They snuck out of it by beating Missouri at Missouri. I know the injuries and stuff. Just this sentence that Kentucky could be the 10 seed in the SEC tournament honestly makes me want to throw up. That's sad. I know the conference is better, but the 10th. seed for Kentucky basketball in the conference If they lose to Florida, then they'll either

be the 8, 9, or 10. The way to think of it is if they win, they'll either be the 4, 5, 6, or 7. If they lose, they'll be the 8, 9, or 10. And if you look at who plays who and whatever, the 10 is probably the most likely scenario if they lose. To get the 8, you would need both Texas

and Vandy to lose in order, or excuse me, Texas, Vandy, or Georgia, two of those to lose. Who do they play? Vanney plays Tennessee. The problem is Georgia. Georgia has the tiebreaker on us. Yes.

And the problem is Georgia is very likely to win. I think they play like Ole Miss. Mississippi State. Mississippi State. If Georgia beats Mississippi State, we're playing on Wednesday. That's the best way to watch. If we lose to Florida and Georgia beats Mississippi State,

we're playing on Wednesday. It is incredibly embarrassing to even have to talk about this scenario plus playing in the opening round on Wednesday. We used to make fun of the teams and the fan bases on Wednesday night. now we're right smack down in the middle of it. For years, I've said Wednesday is my favorite day because we don't have work obligations. There's bad basketball, hang out my friends.

It's just a day of fun, and then we lock in and go try to win the tournament on Friday. And the game that will cost us is the Georgia game at home, a game that we should have won. Yeah. That game will be the one that cost us. And I said that when it happened.

I was like, this is a game that will hurt us. I didn't think it would hurt us on the SEC tournament, but then they beat Alabama on Tuesday night. Upset Alabama. so now it will have an impact. You don't want to ever write off your team. Like they can't go and win something. But to start on Wednesday, to ask them to run that gauntlet when they can barely

– When they can barely even put together back-to-back games in the season, it's just such an ask. It's hard to believe that anything has. The most likely scenario, if it plays out the way we're talking about, would be Kentucky as a 10, opening with LSU. What game of the day is that one? Seven o'clock on Wednesday night.

Open with LSU. Then you would probably play Texas or Vandy in round two. And then you would play Alabama on Friday. Do you like that road? You basically would need to beat LSU. Let's just say LSU, Vandy, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida. Oh, well, I don't like that how it ended. I like how it begins.

What, LSU? LSU. Would you like us against Vandy a second time? Texas or Vandy? I ain't scared of those two. How about Alabama? I scared Alabama a little bit. How about Arkansas?

I don't want to play Arkansas. I want to stay far away, far, far away from Arkansas. See, and if we'd won against A&M, we would either be the four or the five and would actually have a decent shot to the semifinals, but that's not what we ended up doing. Yeah, of course you want to avoid Florida, but I'm looking at Alabama, where you've already played back-to-back days. Alabama has had our number lately. I mean, if we play Alabama, we would have had to play back. Yeah, back-to-back days, and we've lost four straight.

And last year, they could have won by 100 in Nashville. I don't remember the final score, but it felt like 100. So I feel like we'd be, even if you do win the first two, we're still got to do that. I think we'd be walking right into getting our teeth kicked in on Friday. So Mark Pope yesterday spoke, and it was the first time, Ryan, where I felt like he was very honest about the team's deficiency. I mean, I always think he's honest, but I think he was like, you know, he seems to say all year, it's coming. Like, it's coming. And this was the first time where he kind of said, you know, we're just inconsistent.

We just are. And he was almost saying what we've said for a few weeks. It was almost like he was accepting it and going, okay. And he said Jasper and Noah needed to play more, which I, you know. At least are hit shots. I'll give them that. I don't know how many more minutes. they need, but the last week we saw both of them.

They did. They scored. Yeah, they got some points. How disappointing is it to hear your coach in the first week of March talk about they still haven't got it figured out? Well, he didn't say they didn't have it figured out. He just said they were inconsistent with effort. But this is the time of the year we stick out our chest and say bring it. That's what's fun and being a Kentucky fan. Like this is not the experience any of us grew up on. No, it's not. And it hasn't been for a few years.

That's what stinks. So you and I, we had this discussion last night. Is there an argument for Coach Pope that he's had to adjust here in the middle of the SEC season and try to change things and try to figure it out? Is that a credit to him? Okay, so one of the things that is said a lot, and I think it's fair, is, look, they have injuries. But somebody made a point that I thought was pretty good, which was, I mean, we've said all along the biggest injury was to Jalen Lowe.

But somebody said to me, Matt, let's just say Jalen Lowe is as good, as you, meaning me, think he is. I mean, Aberdeen's been pretty good. Yeah, he has. So the drop-off between what Jalen Lowe was supposed to be and Aberdeen, his point was, it can't be that big a drop. I mean, ultimately, we just aren't good. I would push back to say, if Aberdeen was at the two and Chandler was the sixth man,

you'd have more depth. But I do think it's a fair point to say, honestly, our problem is. hasn't even really been the point guard. It was early in the year, but I don't think it's been an SEC play because I actually think Aberdeens played pretty well. And I think Aberdeen's actually a better defender than Jalen Lowe. I think the problem is you just didn't create a team that could consistently score and consistently defend.

That's why I rarely mention injuries. I mean, Quayton's, I don't, we knew that when you signed him. So Lowe and Cam Williams are what I'm basing it on. And I just don't know that the record would be that different with as well as Aberdeens play. and even though Cam Williams was turning the corner just got in the starting lineup, it's not like he was just some world beater you lost these crazy stats. Maybe you win another game. Maybe you win two more games.

I think if you had low, you wouldn't lose these games like we do where we get blown out. But would your record be that different? Maybe not. I mean, I don't think we would just quit like we've done in some games. But our record might not really be all that different. 859-28027. We will take your calls and be right back. Kentucky Sports Radio.

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, Tucky Sports Radio, air live in Middlesboro. The reality in Kentucky right now, people can't afford child care a place to live. Then businesses can't grow. Housing is what matters to communities.

And if you can't find housing or child care, company struggle to hire. Add your name to a group of legislators in Frankfurt, fix the basics. child care and housing, go to Opportunity Startshere.com. That's Opportunity Starts Here.com. One person writes, Matt, I love when you get to go home.

It was neat hearing Larry. Do you think he should get his own regular segment? Oh, yeah, for sure. Life with Larry. Life with Larry. It would be gets up, hangs out,

doesn't worry about anything, doesn't get on his phone. Have you ever You never sent a text message, Larry? No. Have you ever been on the computer once? You sold your car on there? He had a job, that's right.

He did have a job where he did that. But, see, he's still going. He's got some of the strongest hands of any man I've ever shaking hands with. I think you said, because he used to play the bass guitar. That's like these strong hands. Base fiddle. Base fiddle? Bass violin.

Right right there. Huge strong hands. Yes. What read the text you got there. I thought this was funny, true. Yeah, it was a submission from Chin Coleman's glasses. That's a good account. First I thought it was a complaint.

He said, guys, I listened yesterday, and I'm really trying to give it all today to listen again, but I'm so fatigued, listening back-to-back days is a quick tournament. Laughing about the Pope Saturday to Tuesday. Glad he's powering through. Yeah, well, we better get used to that. That's going to happen in the NCAA tournament. Did you see Shea Gilges-Alexander's coat last night?

I checked it out online just now. That is a coat. That is a coat. It looks like an Eskimo coat. You think we can pull that off? No. I like, Shagil Jus Alexander will wear anything. But that coat, that's a heck of a coat.

For people haven't seen it. It does look like an Eskimo. It's fur. It's all the way up to his chin. It's got like a scarf slash hoodie. I don't even know how he? Have you seen the coat, Shannon? Do you know what we're talking about?

It looks like he's wearing almost like a bear costume, like a mascot costume. He does. It just looked like he looks like he is a bear mascot but without the head. Yeah. I would wear it, but that looks like something I couldn't even afford to even get near. That looks very expensive. Do you think about that in Oklahoma City? I think so.

It's got to be warm, though. I mean, look how warm that thing looks. It does look warm. Yeah, it would be nice. All right, who's up first? Shannon. Let's go to Rob. Rob, go ahead, Rob.

Hey, Matt. Thanks for taking my call. And I'm happy that Larry, you got a good CT scan report. I just want to make some comments on Pope, and I think Drew really has the best summary. And I listen to you guys daily. If you go back and take notes on what you say, we go back to Pope at BYU.

He was very inconsistent. Beak Kansas, came home and got beat by nobody. That's kind of what he does here, very inconsistent. Yes. We talk about how he does not, his substitution pattern is crazy. We don't do, we have this. same inbound play as Cali Perry did. When we get pressed, we don't bring five people to get the ball.

So it seems like there's lots of mistakes in coaching. I have no reason to believe that's going to change. When you look at this year, we probably should have taken the kid that went to Villanova. Low is liability on defense. I'm not sure he can shoot to three. Pam Williams was coming on, whether that would have made a difference. Clayton's was probably the best he could do. and then when you look at next year, we have no recruits.

He won't get a GM. I have no reason to believe that next year is going to be any better than this year. And, you know, we did go to the second game in the tournament last year. That's not Kentucky. And this year... We went to Sweet 16 last year. We went to Sweet 16 last year. I mean, we made the second weekend, and, you know, I'm not saying that that's ultimate success.

but Sweet 16 is not a bad year. Now, they did, you know, they did not have the best regular season. I think this year is a perfect complaint. I don't really know if you can complain about last year when you consider that the five years previous, we had not gone to the Sweet 16. I actually think last year was successful. This year, I'm with everything you said,

but I don't think that's fair to say last year was not successful. No, no, I'm not saying it wasn't successful. It was better. I just think we thought that this year we would move on and maybe be better. We had the Ferrari, but we don't have a Ferrari. We've got, you know, an old Toyota of some sort. But in any case, I don't have any next year. We have no recruits.

I understand. I appreciate the call. You mentioned all that. I mean, you're right. I mean, you're right. These are all legitimate to concerns. But we're also going into March and we'll have a different, we'll have a stronger view here in a few weeks probably one way or the other.

Yeah, and this sport, we grade the year on what you did in March. So here in a few weeks, we're going to know exactly how this year went. That's true. And what if they go on a run to the second weekend? What if that happens? It could. I would be, as a fan, be very happy if they ended up doing something like that.

Yeah. I would be happy. I would still say, though, the year as a whole was a little, a little disappointing. 859-280-22. Now, we're going to be switching to W. SFC. So get on your phones. Go to WSFC

if you want to continue to hear the game. We're going to talk about the revelations on the Mitch Barnhart thing have gone even more odd and we need to discuss that. But first, from Draft Kings before we go, Michigan at Iowa. Bet five get $200 from

Draft Kings. Michigan, this is the only big game tonight. Michigan's at Iowa though. I was good. Michigan's an eight and a half point favorite on the road. That's a lot of point. I still take Michigan Michigan and cover. You're not an Iowa guy? Do not like Iowa guy.

Although they gave us a nice tour, we were up there. We've been in that gym. Yeah. You've been in that gym. Stood on the Caitlin Clark spot where she hit that long shot. Still not pick up. Michigan. All right.

I'm trying to talk myself in Iowa, but I can't. I'm going to Michigan too. I was doing the hole. We've been there, saw the locker room, that nice manager that showed us around. Oh, yeah. Michigan is just a juggernaut. The problem is the game's on peacock. See, I'm a peacock guy.

Does it change the spread for you because it's on peacock? It does. I'm taking Iowa. I would have cover because it's on Peacock. I don't go to cable. I go to the apps. I do too, but I feel like when a game is only on Peacock, it doesn't feel real. See, I wouldn't even know if it's on cable or not, because I go straight to the ESPN app.

Peacock is no. But I'm still going to take Iowa to cover because it's on Peacock. All right. We will take a break. When we come back, we're going to talk about the Bart Hart situation. WSFC on streaming. The rest of you will be right back. KSR.

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One person writes, short of a national title. What could Kentucky do in the NCS? tournament to make you completely forget about the regular season. Well, I mean, you make the Final Four. Think about 2014. We never talk about that regular season. Who even remembers that regular season? They struggle.

What are the biggest memories of the 2014 regular season? The putback by Julius Randall against LSU, the Harrison twin, Aaron saying it'll be a great story after the South Carolina game. But can you remember anything else about that regular season? No. Not really. I really can't. It all gets blocked out to me, and for me, the memories of that team just start with the

Wichita State game and then go on. Well, that goes to the importance of March. I can say the same about, like, Oakland and St. Peters. Those teams are associated with that one game, and it's not fair to them, but I probably couldn't even run through what they did. So, yeah, so if you went on a run, I don't think anybody would go, well, you lost to Missouri at home. But the problem is, I thought about this the other night with Kavis.

You remember back in the day, Cal used to always say it's all about March. When we would struggle during the regular season, what would you say? It's all about March. And we all, myself included, kind of bought into it. And then when he lost to St. Peters in Oakland, he goes, well, we can't look past the fact we had a great regular season. And I remember saying, well, you tell me that the regular season doesn't matter. And now you're telling me March doesn't matter. Something has to matter.

I just don't watch. So, I mean, I think they both. matter. I think March obviously matters more, but I think they both matter. Always look at it as did you win the regular season? Not even close this year. Did you win the SEC tournament? Did you win the SEC tournament? I can't speak for them yet, but it's looking like that's going to be a no. And then as much as I'd like to say Final Four, I say Elite 8 as the third. If you do one of those three, I'm going to think fondly of the year. Well, yeah, we've talked about that. One of those three is good. Then it's a great year. If you win three, it's elite.

And we've done none of them in a long time. That's not one of the three. One person writes, Matt, I saw you all at the 13th region tournament yesterday. I was nervous to come say hello. Who are you and Ryan's best 13th region players in history? Great question. Good question. Richie Farmer.

Yes. Wawa Jones. Wawa Jones. Who else? Charles Thomas. For me, Charles Thomas, would you put him that high? Reed Shepherd, Trent Noah. Yeah, because the Harlan County Central goes to the championship game, right?

Tony Petrowski. Nick Samford. Nick Samford's another good one, yeah. I'm sure there's like ones in like the 60s, 70s, 80s. I can't remember. Do you? I'm trying to think it's one. I think we've-

Who's the best player? Well, best player from Middlesbrough is probably the guy that played in Kentucky, right? The purseful guy? The basketball player? Yeah. He was from Middlesbrough, I think. Yeah, that's a pretty good group. I would say, would you say, Wawa, Richie, and Reed?

That's hard to top those three guys, for sure. Then who's your starting five? Trent and Charles Thomas? Yeah, I mean, Charles Thomas played in a final four for Minnesota. People skip over that. He was the sixth man on a final four team. Wasn't he Mr. Basketball? I think he was, yeah.

What teams from the 13th region have won the state tournament? South Laurel did one year. South Laurel, boys. didn't win. Yeah, they won it when you're with a tie profit. Did they really? Uh-huh. G.G. Smith's signs? Well, Clay County won to that. Clay County one, yes. That might be it.

I don't know. Maybe back in the day when those like towns won, like Trent got to the final game, but they lost to line county. Yeah. Bell County in three years from now, Will. Bell County in three years, we already have it left. Go outside that up. In 2020 29. We'll go ahead and count that one. All right. 859-280, 27. The

women's team. They're going to tip off at 11 against Georgia. They handled Arkansas, rather easily yesterday. They will play Georgia. If they win, tomorrow they get Don Staley again. Tougher battle today. They beat Arkansas by 30 most of the game, but Georgia beat them about a month ago at Memorial Cawson.

It would be good for Kentucky to get a win. They still are kind of in play for hosting. They're probably sitting at a five seed right now. If they could win today, they'd have a shot. If they could win today and somehow beat South Carolina, I think they would get a hosting site, but probably need to win today to have a chance. Yeah, and I don't have an expectation of beating South Carolina,

but I hope they can get to that game because playing them so close, even having, I thought Tiani-Kee had a great look to tie it late in the game last weekend. I'd love to just get one more swing at them, even though it's still unlikely. Yeah, remember, we are at Paul Miller Ford tomorrow. Tomorrow. And if they win today, then we'll be doing that thing again. Although the game tomorrow's at noon, so we'll only lose the last 15 minutes tomorrow. So the game was 11.

It's not, it's noon tomorrow. Paul Miller's setting up for an event, too. Malachi, Jasper. Sissy cakes. A shuttle? There's like a map. There's a shuttle. Yeah.

Nice. All right. So be ready. Be ready tomorrow. Who's next? Grandma Sarah. Grandma Sarah. How are you?

I'm fine. Well, fine. Thank you. This is not a basketball thing. That's okay. I just read in my Kentucky Monthly March magazine, the article, Matt Jones and Kentucky Sports Radio, which was very good. If anyone hasn't read it, I think they would enjoy it.

Yes, they did a feature on me. They interviewed you guys. So it's out. I didn't know it was out yet. Kentucky Monthly Magazine. Nice. I didn't make the cover, but I have like a little headshot. A little box cover.

Well, thank you very much. And I don't know if I'm sure Karen and Larry probably get the magazine, but if they don't, they would enjoy reading it each time. I will tell my mom to get a copy, Kentucky Monthly Magazine. Your son is in. Not only should you get a copy. They should subscribe. It's very cheap and it's very good.

Sarah says you need to subscribe. All right. I will make her subscribe. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. I pray you all had nice comments to say. I appreciate it.

Is your little photo on the front, you and the cowboy hat? No, it's me in that ESPN picture where I'm looking serious. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's that one. We've done those before. This isn't a criticism, the author, but I like, we'll do a 45-minute interview, and it's like one sentence. Yeah, they did use, like, one sentence of yours.

It's like, well, you know, maybe I didn't have good things to say. But you think of all these great compliments, you said. I think I told you, after the interview, they asked me a lot of questions about you living here in this house. What your room was like, you know, what the house looked like. They didn't use any of it. I thought I was just throwing fastballs at him. Didn't use any of it. It's okay, though.

It was a good story. It was. I appreciated it. They interviewed me for like two hours, and there's one quote in there from me. My mom is very upset that I didn't tell her about it. but Sarah told you about it. Who's next? Todd.

Todd, go ahead, Todd. Hey, man, tell your mom dead hello, and thank you that Larry got a good report. Thank you. I like, thank you all for you always calling it fair and seeing it like a fan sees it. But I got two comments or questions for you, Matt. I tried a couple years ago to try to get into you when we were looking for a coach. How come when we ran out of the major names, How come that we didn't look at Todd Golden?

Well, I mean, he wasn't a major name at that moment. I think he had just gotten to Florida, right? He'd only been at Florida at that point one year. He had a good start at Florida, because I did a list, and I think I had him second. Yeah, he had done all right, but I think he'd only been at Florida for a year. And, you know, I don't know. I mean, I don't know. At that point, the sort of little controversy about him hadn't happened yet.

So I don't know. You know, I'm not sure the answer today. question but he the Todd golden we know today was not what Todd golden was when they hired mark Pope all right hey another comment I know we have our good times and bad times this year and but I think at most times sometimes Pope is his worst enemy and I think like the other day uh channeler hit three three he took him out we were we were beating Texas A&M by going inside and garrison I'm not a big fan to garrison but he was playing decent, and then we started jacking up those threes,

instead of being up by 12, we were down by 12 at halftime. We did go away from going inside. I mean, we were having, I appreciate the call to all. We were having our way inside early. Now, I also think they changed their defense. They kind of, they were not pressuring the ball as much once we crossed half court. They were, like, trying to keep us from getting shots early, and then they started, and we were going over the top,

and then they stopped doing that. Also, when they take O.A. and Aberdeen out, which he did, we don't have guys who can get off the dribble. We don't have guys who can beat their man off the dribble except those two. Took O'A. and Abedding out, and we're locking up Chandler. Somebody's got to do something, then Tran or Jasper, somebody's got to step up and do something. And they lean on momentum so much.

Once they get you a little bit in that chaos and that pace where you're uncomfortable, they just latch on and it turns into those big runs. I've seen people online sort of trying to have this counter narrative that the substitutions didn't matter. It was an 8-0 run. It was. Now, it had gone from 12 to 7 before that. Fair enough, they hit a 3 and then I think they hit a lay-up. But it was an 8-0 run in 70 seconds.

And when they had cut it from 12 to 7, I'm not sure how the coaching staff would think, okay, how do we stop this? Take all the starters out. I just don't know how you And for me, when I say starters, it's not even the bigs. It's really O.A. Aberdeenian and Chandler. Because the bigs, sometimes

Yellovich and Moreno and good, and sometimes Diabate and Garrison. I mean, DiBate's been playing starter minutes. It's really the guards. And it's really, you, Mark Pope should be put in timeout and made to sit in the locker room

if he ever does not have two of those three guys on the floor. We didn't want to get fatigued for later in the game. But you can't. You cannot, I mean, we had at one point, Jasper, Noah, Garrison, and Yelovich, and you cannot do that. Those are your four worst defenders. They can't all be out there at the same time. And he had them all four out there, and that two of those three guys we talked about needed to be on the floor at all the time. You can't take two of the three out of the game.

You just can't. You just can't. Who's next? Let's go to Mike. Mike, go ahead, Mike. If it's okay, I got to take on the ball and harder than basketball. Okay, I just got like a minute. So, yes, just go quickly.

Okay. Well, Bornhart, you know, everybody says he's the best we've had. And I just think people that say that aren't looking at the big picture. And I think it's funny that he gets a million-dollar deal. Just a few months after JMI gets a 15-year contract, you know, the basketball take, I think I would play O.A. Chandler and Aberdeen, the whole game, unless they're in foul trouble, they call time after they'll be all right.

I mean, come on. The problem, but the biggest problem with this team all year has been the bigs. They're inconsistent as far as, you know, like last year we talked about Brandon Garrison, and that's why we need a GM. I agree with you. I got to cut you off right there. Bell County played their guards the whole game. They did.

If they could do it, it didn't seem to be fatigued. We need to talk about Barnhart, $950,000, and UK changed where the money's coming from. That's next. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite on your. humor 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.

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