KSR - 2026-03-09- KSR - Hour 2

Episode Date: March 9, 2026

Matt, Ryan, Drew, and Shannon are joined by UK Football Coach Will Stein and take your calls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Welcome back, Hour 2, Kentucky Sports Radio. Now, happy to be joined for only the second time since he's been coached, and first time since he's been sort of around to know the job, is head coach Will Stein. Will, people can't see this, but I'm looking at you through these cameras and love the hat. You're wearing. How's everything going?

It's going great, man. I'm so excited to be on the show. Thanks for having me. We actually just practiced our practice for tomorrow. What does that mean? Practice your practice. It means like, dude, there's so many moving parts in a football practice. If we were to go out there tomorrow and

have not have walked where we're going to be, the spots on the field, what are these transitions look like, it would have looked like a hot pile of dog, S-H-I-T. So what do you do as a football coach? You plan, you prepare. And now I believe the kids are going to go out tomorrow and be able to take all the anxious energy out because they know where they're going and those spots, they know what the drills look like.

And so, yeah, we just, we practice the practice today. How much of a change is it? I mean, you haven't been a head coach. There's a sort of CEO management part of that. Is that something that, how much of a change is that from what you've done up until this point? I would say it's been definitely a change. You know, I'm used to being in the offensive staff room with just the offensive coaches, recruiting really the offensive side of the ball.

So now when you're a head coach, you deal with every facet of the program, strength and conditioning, nutrition, training room, you know, donor relations, more media. But, you know, I get to be a head coach, like how cool is that? and to do it here in Kentucky where, you know, I'm so excited to be and just ready to get wrong with these guys in Spring Bowl. I know they're eager to get out on the football field. They've been working now eight weeks straight and what we've called the hunt to get prepared for this phase two of our all season. So tell me what do you mean the hunt? What does that mean?

You know, it's it's the grind, you know, it's everything leading up to spring football. It's the early winter workouts. It's just the drills that are combative and make you strain and make you want to tap out, which is the mental warfare of playing football. But one of our core DNA traits is toughness. And that's really what winter phase one or the hunt, as we called it, was all about. Well, let's talk about your team and specifically how you built. I mean, you had to essentially create a team from scratch.

You obviously are keeping a number of guys. I look at the class you brought in in the roster, and it seems to me that you spent a lot of your rev share money, but also your attention on building this core offensive line. Am I correct in that? 100%. Yeah, when I got the job, it was December 2nd and December 3rd was signing day. Think about that. Yeah. You have no, you can't build a 26 class in 12 hours. It's absolutely impossible. So, you know, I like a lot of the kids that we kept on. I mean, all of them. We kept them.

And I think there's actually some really good players in that group out of the 10 that we signed. And I believe it was 34 portal guys. And think about this, we had 66 official visits in a 12-day span. That was freaking unbelievable, man. Like the work of Pat Beando, Pete Nocta, Joe Sloan, Jay Bateman, the guys that were here boots on ground while I was going back and forth between Oregon and Lexington. I mean, it's really incredible. There needs to be some sort of book or something written or documented about how they were able to be here working with me and Oregon and us all working together on different time zones to assemble what we believe is a really strong class. And you mentioned the offensive line.

I think O-line D-line in this league, man, that's where it starts. And the winning football in November, December, January is up front. Like you think about Indiana and what they were able to do. their run. I mean, Fernando Mendoza, phenomenal player. But how did they beat Miami? They ran the freaking football. They ran the ball. How did Miami get to where they were? They have a dominant offensive line and running backs that are big and physical. So that's where it's one. The Georgia Bulldog teams of old Alabama, Saban teams. It's a common denominator. It's having big, giant human beings that are physical up front on the O-line and D-line so we can throw the ball down the

field, so we can run the ball in the fourth quarter of wins, so we can stop the run, so we can affect the quarterback. That's where it's won, and that was a major, major piece of this puzzle. And I think that surprised some people, because we have this stereotype of Oregon as throw it around and there's athletes everywhere. And you did that. You played Indiana twice last year and they handled you guys fairly well. Do you see the way you build this Kentucky program? Is Indiana a model? I mean, Indiana was maybe the worst program in the major conference in the country? Or is it kind of a model? How do you see that? Well, I mean, I think any team that wins at all is obviously doing

something right. So the model of consistency has always been Nick Saban and what he was able to do at Alabama and that really transitioned into Kirby Smart. And so I've learned that model per se in the vision and eyes of Dan Lanning that's going to translate to now my vision and model for us here at University of Kentucky. So, you know, I look at Kirk Sidney and what he was able to do there. obviously they're aligned from the top down but I still remember looking at visuals of the first game at IU in that tenure and it was a half full stadium so you know they got momentum they had you know big wins early and they've they've done it not just offensively but defensively special teams and you can see just as a program that they're extremely aligned and they have a plan and

they're going in and attacking that plan so that's what I'm excited about is is given the resources that we have at our disposal. I think we've done an excellent job so far, but it's potential. It's everything that we're not. And that's what I've always learned about that word, is potential, is everything that you're not. So how do we take the narrative of what Kentucky may have been in the past

and push the envelope forward? And that's what we're doing right now. And I think we have great coaches, number one, phenomenal players that are bought in right now. And I'm just excited to get rolling. All right, let's talk about the team, because we're all going to have to learn this team. Quarterback didn't know who he was until I heard he was about to come here, Kenneth Minchin.

So tell everybody, this is going to be kind of for a lot of people, their first real description from someone they trust about who the quarterback is going to be next year. Tell me about Minci. Well, he went to Notre Dame, so we all know he's not very smart if he went to. No, he's extremely intelligent, right? extremely intelligent, can fit in any room, just talking about him as a person. Old, young, white, black, rich, poor, it doesn't matter. You put Kenny Minchie in the room, and he's a glue guy.

So when I have glue guys as my quarterback, to me, that makes the locker room better, makes the locker room more connected. So I'm really excited about him just as a person. He's extremely competitive. And then as a player, like, we all watch the tape. And you could say, well, he played a mop-up time. I did it, right? he did that there's truth to that but when you watch the throws there's pro throws all over the tape

there's anticipation there's timing there's touch there's velocity um there's pocket mobility he can throw the deep ball it can throw it intermediate and short so that's what i'm excited about and it's it's been pretty impressive to see him take this offense that we've built up to this point and it was almost like he's been in it for four years so that gives me great um excitement for him his ability to transition and really show his ability to play football at a high level here. And I talked to Mike Denbrock, talked to Gino Goduli, talk to these guys at Notre Dame that have coached him the last four years. And it was really like a coin toss. You know, obviously, Coach Freeman had the final say and who was going to be the guy. And they went with a younger

player. But I'm just excited that Kenny's here with us. And I think our fans are going to be really excited. Has he been all that you hoped? Like, has he been? 100%. He is at, he's at excellent player person and again, ready to see him take the range of this offense over the next 15 practices. All right, let's assume that I was hosting Kentucky countdown to kickoff and Will Stein was not the coach, but he was our expert commentator. Give me a minute to minute and a half. What do I as a fan look for in this Kentucky team?

Who are some people that stick out to you? And when they come to the spring game here in a little while, who's going to be like, okay, that is the basis for who this team will be. Well, I think you just first look at just us holistically, like who we are as a team. We're going to be connected, like connected in every sense possible. Our players are going to be connected to each other. They're going to play their absolute butts off for each other, play relentless football from point A to point D, six, point A to point B, six seconds of hell.

Like, offense, defense, special teams. Six seconds of hell, is that the phrase? Six seconds of freaking hell, man. Get the T-shirts. Six seconds of hell. That's the first time I've heard that. Got it. Yes.

So that's something that we're going to, you know, hang our hats on is just the connectivity of the team. And like I mentioned, player to player, coach to player connection, and then coaches that truly love each other and are passionate about working with each other. You know,

that's one. Like, I want our team to play clean. Like, obviously limit penalties, limit explosive plays, guys that can play, the same call on offense, defense,

and special teams, every single snap. That's huge to us. You know, offensively, too, I think you're going to look at like a modern pro-style offense. What does that mean? Like, we change the tempo up. It's not fast-paced every single snap.

We have the ability to go fast. We have the ability to slow it down, huddle. We can huddle speed break. We can do a bunch of stuff at the line of scrimmage to change the play to get us in the best possible scenario. You're going to see RPO's.

You're going to see shots. You see vertical passing game. Different run schemes. I believe we put an exciting product on the field on offense. And then defensively, I mean, we're going to be extremely sound, but attacking. Like a team that will put pressure on the quarterback, calls havoc on the quarterback. A third down package to me that is the best in college football with what Jay was able to do at Texas A&M with him and Coach Elko. So that's really exciting as well.

And then special teams is all about changing the game. That's our mantra on special teams. How do we change the game? You know, I'm a real. risk taker. Like, I want to get the ball back for offense. What does that look like each game? It can differ from, you know, surprise on sides, fake punts, punt block situations, you know, gate formations on special teams and extra points. Like, I want to put pressure on the opposing team through special teams. It is one-third of the game. And you're going to see our best players playing on special

teams. It's not just an opportunity to take a play off. It's an opportunity for us to really change the game. So I'm really fired up. The players are. are doing a great job, you know, not to single out one person or two. I'm just excited for our fans that got out and watch the product that we're going to put on the field and make them proud. All right. So I know nothing. So I admit that to start.

But I look at the roster and I go, okay, love what he did at offensive line. I'm excited about this quarterback. I wonder do they have, you know, one thing Oregon always have. We're playmakers at receiver. Do you feel like you have the playmakers at receiver you need? I love Nick Anderson. I really do. I love DJ Miller. I love, you know, JK in the slot. I love Kenny Darby, who we signed. It's true. I love a lot of our guys. I mean, I think we've got a strong core of receivers.

I really do, especially some younger guys, too, I think are going to show out. I love Willie Rodriguez at tight-in, Mikkel Skinner, Henry Boyer. What about Willie Rodriguez? People know him. What have you seen with him so far? He's got a ton of talent, a ton of talent. He's extremely willing in this year to put his face on people on block, but I think he can be a real matchup problem for teams in the slot and even on the perimeter. So, and a Kentucky kid, this place means a lot to him. So I obviously had Kenny Sadiq at Oregon.

It was a special rare talent. We also had Terrence Ferguson there. And, you know, this past season, we even had Jamari Johnson. So tight-ins in our offense have really traditionally done really well. So I'm excited about him. I was glad that he really glad that he decided to come back. be a wildcat, and that was somebody we definitely wanted to keep. All right.

Now, I look at this. I can't be the first person to say, man, this schedule next year. I mean, I've been, Kentucky's football schedule is always hard, but you may have inherited the hardest one I've ever seen. So you look at it. See, you love it, though. You're like, let's go. You're being scared, man.

I'm not scared. If you're scared, go to church, bro. Come on. Come on. See, I love it, though. What are you supposed to do? You know, you'll be a call at schools up. and say, hey, can you please not play us?

I'm so scared. Ghaly, man. I love it. We signed up for it. I love it. And I would assume that's partially why guys would be excited to play here, right? We get to play Alabama, LSU, Texas, A&M. Any given Saturday.

Yes. I watched the freaking Wildcats. I mean, it should be Texas last year. I mean, come on. Yes, we should have. Ole Miss. I mean, I just think about when we had Will Levis and we had Liam Cohen calling plays, won 10 freaking games, like, on a tough schedule. Like, we got to score points, right? We have to

score. We have to stop people when it matters. That's not just true for Kentucky. It's true for everybody. You know, I mean, shoot, you could say all these teams are assembled well. Everybody's got players. We have the starting left tackle from Tennessee plan for us right now. Think about that. Yeah, we got played at Ohio State playing left guard, starting center for Baylor playing for us. We have good players and we have good coaches. So, like, cut it loose, man. Don't be scared. Cut it lose. See, I love. Whatever happens happens.

I'm not being scared. Drew, I'm done being scared now. We have a process. Yeah. We have a process. I love it. We go through that process throughout the week. We're doing it right now.

And like when you have a great process, do the results always happen the way that you want it? No, that's football. Even at Oregon, we had the most elite process in the, you know, that I've been a part of that I'm building here. And we got our asses kicked in the semifinal. Like that doesn't mean we were a bad team. That means that we had a bad result.

didn't play well. So it's up to us to create competition, real competition and practice. Practice has to be hard. Football is a tough freaking game. It's hard to win. You've heard that from every coach, and it's so hard to win. It is hard. It's real because every team, especially in this league, has great players. So you have to be able to run the ball. It matters. You have to have great quarterback play. And you have to affect the passer. You have to. So that's the plan. It's our job right now to build that plan out to get real confidence with our guys. And then when we step foot in Kroger Field on September 5th against Youngstown State, like, let's see if our process is what we thought it was.

And wherever it wasn't, wherever it lacked, we adjust, we make changes, and then we go attack the next week. So there's no guarantees in football at all. All I know is like hard work, building a roster, and then going out and cutting loose and not being afraid to fail. Like just go cut it. freaking loose. I was saying that I look at, in that week three, you play Alabama, and I know you got two games before that, but week two, week two or three, anyway, but play them at home. And I was

thinking, that's going to be one of the coolest days in Lexington. Like, it really is. That's going to be one of the coolest days in Lexington. When you thought about doing this job, is part of it thinking about that opportunity to have days like that where you're playing these great programs in your home state? Well, I think the coolest day in Lexington is going to be September 5th, number one. Youngstown State. Gotcha. 100%.

I know that's coach talk, but that's real. What I don't need to do is give those guys who are tough as hell a soundbiter from the Matt Jones show about me thinking

about the second game in the year. Gotcha. Fair enough. I'm so focused on freaking spring, dude. I am. And like,

I'm so jacked up for tomorrow getting on the grass, get on the turf. Like, like we got two practice fields out here. I'm looking on them right now. Like, it's beautiful.

I'm in Lexington and Kentucky. I get the coach to Wildcats. That is what I'm so fired up about and really being, entrenched in that process. And when we get to those games in our league, man, it's going to be awesome. But what I can't wait is for Krogerfield to be packed, sold out for that first game against Youngstown State.

What has been the part of the program since you've been here that has surprised you the most or maybe been the thing that you didn't know about Kentucky football that you've come here and going, oh, okay, that's a little different than I thought. I mean, shoot, man, there's so many to talk about. I will say this, the support from our fans and the people that help us out on a day-to-day basis has been incredible. It really has been. I mean, Big Blue Nation is even more than I could have ever known. I was a part of Big Blue Nation as a fan, but to see how dedicated they are to the Wildcats, all of our sports.

I mean, shit, I'm at the gymnastics meet, and there's 2,000 people in there. I'm like, golly, this is freaking unbelievable. Women's basketball against South Carolina. It's packed a memorial coliseum to the brim. That's what I'm just so thankful to be here to represent them. I mean, I'm at the legislature. I'm there with our president, Dr. Capiluto, and meeting people there. And, like, I mean, there's wildcat fans everywhere.

It's really cool to see how big of, of a poll we have throughout, not just the state, but the entire country. I have two listener questions, well, listener friends slash questions, and then we'll get you out here. One is from a former KSR member, Max Duffy, Ray Guy winner, here just a few years ago, and he goes, I got one question for Will. Does he like Australians punning? We got one. Yeah, we have Mazzis. Heck yeah. Big Aussie guy then. Hey, whoever can change the field, I'm good with. We have.

we have it Ozzy right now. And lastly, this comes from a listener of the show also who says, how does Will see recruiting in the state of Kentucky? Obviously, it's important, but how important is it going forward in terms of who he will recruit out of high school? Yeah, I mean, recruiting always starts within your state, no matter where I've been. You have to win the state always. So obviously, I mean, not to mention name, we,

we got uh you know you know the news I know we heard it yeah right so um that's something that uh you know can't allow to happen we can we have to win the state especially when you have extremely talented players which I'm excited about in this 27 class you know guys that are here so but here's what I'm going to tell you to right I'm not going to beg man I'm not you either want to be a part of this or you don't we have every resource

as possible to go sign great players. The way that you recruit is still old school. It's still communication. It's still waking kids up in the morning and putting on the bed at night. Still touching everybody in their life that matters to them. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, coaches, trainers, now agents, that's still the way to recruit. So it's our job to always start within the confines of the Commonwealth and then we'll go

wherever we need to. I've said it before. I'll go to Alaska. I'll go to freaking wherever. to get the best players possible for us to go win and win the way that we want to. You've created two sayings that will outlive this interview. Six seconds of hell. And if you're scared, go to church.

I can just go ahead and tell you, I know this fan base, both of those you're going to be hearing for a long time. Will, thank you very much for taking the time. Look forward to being out there at some point during spring practice and go give them hell. Well, I appreciate them, Matt. Thanks for having me. Big fans, and we'll talk soon. All right, Will Stein. We'll take a break.

Be right back. 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.

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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 iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slice Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast. Learned. 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.

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So I love that. I thought he was great. I think he's going to, I love the mentality. That's exactly what this program needs. I mean, I love Mark Stoops, but his youth and enthusiasm and excitement just came through the interview. Great job. It was great.

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That was awesome. I mean, I know it's March Madness, and I've got my eyeballs on getting to the SEC tournament. But heck, I'm ready to go kick off football season now. Man, if you're scared, go to church. I love that. And also, yeah, I mean, he meant it. He was, people can't see because we didn't, we weren't able to show the video. But he looked at me like, dude, I'm not, what would mean we play good thing?

Good. Like, the look on his face kind of was like a little bit like, why did you have? Of course we're going to, we're ready. This is the SEC. That's what you got to say. If you're going to play that schedule, you might as well be excited about it. 100%. No reason to dread it.

Nope. Love it. All right. We will now take some calls. 859-280-2287. Talk Stein and basketball. Next. 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. Let's do a couple news tidbits here first. I think this is what Will Stein was referred to. Seneca driver committed to Oklahoma. Tough loss for Kentucky. Number one, tight-in in the country.

Will says we're not going to beg. I appreciate that. Tough, though, to lose him. He could be a star. That's tough. He is a star. Kentucky's been recruiting him for a long time. Soles everybody else.

Just a superstar player going to be a senior at Boyle County next year. Remember Jason Whitten is the tight-in coach at Oklahoma now. You know, I don't like to lose a recruit. But when Jason Whitten, a Hall of Fame tight-end is the tight-ins coach, you can understand why Seneca might lean that way a little bit. maybe he can change his mind by time. Remember, it's a long road. Got another year before he plays

college football. Also, we've learned in a year or two might end up in the portal. They don't quit recruiting these kids just because you verbally committed to somebody. That's right. So, long road. Braden Hawthorne told the Herald leader this morning he will return to Kentucky. So we have one player

next year. There we go. Build the roster now. Seems early. We have a portal hadn't him open yet, but I like it. I hope that stays firm. if he can put on a little bit of weight. This year, I mean, I think the red shirt was silly, but he was so thin. I don't know that he could have helped. But if he can bulk up, he's very skilled.

I like it. I wonder if he hadn't gotten hurt if he would have played this year because they were kind of, you know, maybe. Maybe. But it's good. We now certainly have one player. I think that kid can be good. So I think that'll be a really positive addition.

So with that, let's go through here. Mike, go ahead. take me off speaker go oh my bad so anyway um the reason i'm calling is uh thanks for letting me let me come on but uh i i appreciate your guys this show been a long time listener for a long time um so so i guess me as kentucky fan for i'm 51 years old since i was you know probably seven eight years old and seen a lot of great things, a lot of bad things, whatever. My fear, and I guess, you know, maybe I need to go to church, and I do need to go to church. Go for it.

Give me your point. Go ahead. So my point is this, is that next year, this is what I'm looking at right now is next year, you know, with what we, we're standing with anybody right now. You know what I mean? And I'm just like, you know, with Pope, you know, this year, I mean, I mean, it was. is just a disaster next year. I mean, recruiting-wise. I mean, normally we have a stack team, and I mean, now we have nothing.

It's a completely, and I appreciate the call, completely reasonable worry. Next six weeks will tell it. I mean, I can't say anything that's going to make you feel better, Drew, because there's nothing really to say. I don't know who they might get. I don't even know if they know who they might get. So it's hard to say confidently anything. Completely agree with you.

If I were to give you a little optimism and this. is a stretch, but they seem to be in good communication with Dink Pate. Our guy, Jacob, said they're going to talk to him again this week. I know people are conflicted on the G-League thing, but we need bodies. Yeah, and if he can come help out, that's a 6-7 guard averaging 16 points for the Westchester Knicks, and I don't know if he'll end up here, but Pope's at least pursuing that. I'm not conflicted. If he's allowed to play, get it.

Period. End of story. That's it. If the rules allow it, you've got to adjust, and if you can get somebody like that, you do it. If he's allowed to play, you do it. How does that work if he comes here and he looks good, but the Knicks still own him? Can he just leave college and the Knicks sign him? We've never seen anything like that before because they own his rights.

Yeah, I don't know. So could in like October them calling him and be like, well, it was a fun month. I'm heading to. I'm just wondering that. I don't know. I honestly don't know the answer to that question. We've never seen anything like that before. it, I don't know if they'll still own his rights next year.

I'm not sure, to be honest. Mike, go ahead, Mike. Hey, guys. I hate that I'm where I'm at right now. You know, I've kind of got a take on the basketball, and I was going to try to convince you guys to come on with me here. But I really feel like, and I hate to say it, because I was hoping it would work out that we need to make a switch.

And I know everybody says they won't do it. We need to make a switch after this year because I feel like we're too far behind, and he looks desperate. I don't think he can, he doesn't look confident like he's going to fix it. And even if he does get a GM, who's coming in here with a sitting-up coach? Tachon Prince ain't leaving to come here to get fired in one year? I think they can get a good GM. I do.

I think, and I think you can even go further, and I appreciate the call, a GM could get hired and could keep the job even if the coach changed one day. Could. You know, in general, in other sports, a GM is hired by, like, the president of the team and the coach reports to the GM. Now this is going to be kind of weird because you're going to actually have that structure flipped. The GM works for the coach, which is not how it is in professional teams.

Right. So I think that's an interesting odd dichotomy that I'm not exactly sure how that's going to work out. We've talked about Will Stein brought his GM. He was here before Will even got here. But those GMs were. If Will Stein wants to replace him, he can. Whereas like in the NBA, the GM is the one who hires the coach.

I'm a big Titans guy. We've had GM coach drama the last few years just rotating through all of them. It is a weird dynamic. It is different, though. The GM is under the coach here, which is different. Peggy, go ahead, Peggy. Good morning, guys. Good morning.

First of all, they should have never let Dave Baker go. but my thought for replacing him, and I'm sure we'll never get him, is Tom Hart, and they still need to get rid of Cameron. And I never, ever want Dickie V to call a Kentucky Florida game because all he did was talk about Florida. Well, they were beaten us. They were beaten us pretty bad. Yeah, they were.

all he did was about Florida. He never mentioned Kentucky. And all he talked to out was Florida and his foundation. His foundation is a great foundation.

But you don't hog up the whole time talking about Florida. Yeah, I understand, Peggy. I appreciate the call. What did you think about Dickie V with a strong, Dickie V with a strong comment

about our roster saying, if they're going to spend $22 million, they should have better players than this. You hear our fan base say it even. We may say it on this show. But to hear Dickie V. But Dick Bytele doesn't say things like that very often. Yeah, when he says something like that on a national broadcast, it kind of resonates a little harder, I think.

He's not usually very critical. It's usually, oh, Mark Pope will turn this. You know, he's putting belief him if he doesn't truly believe it, just because he's not really that critical of people on broadcast. So that was another layer of just throwing your hands up in the air with this team and how this season's gone. I said hi to him right before the game. I reached over, I took a picture, and he goes, are they going to win? And I said, I don't know.

And he goes, no one knows, which I thought was like, well. That's true. That is kind of true. Donnie, go ahead, Donnie. Yes, my thoughts are for every postseason game, we should start Mo Diabonte and set Yelovich and come out physical and punch them in the mouth for, every postseason game for the rest of the season,

and I still haven't given up on the cats. Appreciate the call. Do you agree with that? Oh, yeah. Appreciate the call. Do you agree with that? What are you all met there at the end? Yeah. Yeah, about not giving up on the cats?

Or starting Diabate. Yeah, I'm a big Yellovich guy, and I think he has so much more, but he just can't get in the groove when he plays the first half, then it just goes to Diabate. So I'd rather – if Diabate is going to play like he has lately, I think yeah go ahead and let him start and get the most minutes it ends up being him most of the game anyway I agree I kind of think now Diabate is more of a starter yep I do bring Yelovich off the bench potentially to hit threes etc and add a spark I wish yellowvich had more

opportunities in November to get a little more comfortable I think his ceiling's a lot higher than what were you ever going to get near here yeah he made this switch I thought I thought it needed to start now I think it's flipped I do think Diabate probably needs to start now. Let's talk about that. Yelovich made comments after the game where he said, we've just got some guys that get away from the team basketball and if they haven't gotten the ball in two or three minutes, they just shoot. Who's he talking about? Well, if we're going on on the game, O.A. did it. Aberdeen did it. Deaubate did it. Jasper. I mean, when Jasper comes in, it's... There is a sense with all four of those guys

that they will take... I actually don't think Aberdeen does it as much. he usually does it after he hits a shot. When he hits one shot, he's got to... And O-A, it's hard for me to get upset at it because... He's our best player. Yeah. But he's right. That does happen.

He was talking about guys that go a while without the ball, though. I mean, O'A and Avery and they have it a lot. It was guys that go two or three minutes without it, then think it's their turn. Yeah, there is a little bit sometimes you can feel it of. Okay, I've... Okay, now me, there is a little bit of that. It was also great to hear of someone. I wish Chandler would do it sometimes.

say he's got to get the ball on his hands, man. I've shot him down two straight games. He's got to find a way to get open and get to get a shot. It was also great to your Yellovich, or someone, it was him say, fatigue is not a problem. It was Yellovich. He did say that. Fatigue is not a problem. That's not an excuse versus what he said.

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It's K-O-R-T.com. We'll take a break. 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 Slic 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.

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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 a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile,

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Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. 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 extreme, ordinary 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 podcast. Welcome back, Tech Sports Radio, Cornbread Hemp. We'll be one of our sponsors on the road. Go to cornbread hemp.com.

Promal code KSR, full spectrum flower-only hemp CBDs and the seltzers, and they're all there for you. They help me rest. I hope they will do the same for you. Try cornbread hemp. Cornbread hemp.com promo code KSR, our longest, along with T.J. Smith, our longest sponsor. Yeah, for a long time, it was Boone's Butcher Shop. You say that.

They haven't been on this radio show in a decade. When we first started, though, they were like they stayed with you all the way for like 10 years, it seemed like. Yeah, it was not. I love Boone's But we should really support the ones that are doing it now. Absolutely. And not always Shannon bringing up Boone's Butcher Shop, even though I like Boone's Butcher Shop. But you keep bringing that up, and it has been a decade since Boone's Butcher Shop has been on. TJ's been with us for a long time.

TJ's been with us for a long time. Right here in Louisville at the studio. We're going to have a lunch later on. Oh, good. All right. So schedule. Wednesday, we play at 1 o'clock. We play at 12.30 in Nashville.

We're going to talk a lot more about this tomorrow. But what we think the crowd will be like, we're actually not going to be there yet. we're going to be getting, we're going to be on the way. So here, we would like to come watch the game. So we're going to do the show, leave here at like 11, get in the car, and then we're going to drive to Bowling Green and watch the game there and do this postgame show there. So if there's somebody in Bowling Green would like to have us watch,

I guess it'll be more like the second half of the game. And do the post game show there. Not in front of a crowd. Just host us. If you have like a sports bar or something like that, let us know because we're going to get there, stop and watch the game. I have a feeling this early start, a lot of fans that have plans might not make it for the game. Even with only $10 tickets?

I mean, I don't know a lot of people going, but the few I've reached out to are like, we're going to get there Wednesday at like five and just hope we're still in it. I hope it's still a good turnout. But playing before noon local time, I think. is going to have a big impact. It will. So many people have got their hotel reservation. They don't even start until Wednesday night.

And I looked up what it was to add Tuesday night. My goodness. Tuesday night isn't on discount. So, but we will do, now we are going to do our tin roof show Thursday either way. Now, if we win, it'll be a lot of fun, shit. Yeah, that'll be good. If we lose, that will be interesting. Group therapy.

Yeah. morning beers hangover party yeah morning beers with drew right several if they win on becoming a pregame show for the next game too right yes that's the ideal situation that's the ideal situation well we got we're not going to lose are we we should win don't talk it into existence one thing i hate and i don't even want to say this out loud but if you lose you could be leaving Nashville as arkansas saw Tennessee and Florida are coming in. I mean, you could pass them on your way out. No, UK could pass your fans coming to the time.

I mean, our fans will be on the way to Nashville, potentially as we're going home. Most of my friends, you know, I've done this trip for 20 plus years. Most of my friends are arriving after this game. I am arriving after this game. And I'm going no matter what, but we're going to win. Shano. Go ahead, Shano. Good morning, guys.

Morning. And I just, hey, I got a couple things to say about football. And first off, thank you, thank you, thank you for having Coach Will on. Man, I had multiple chill bumpies, as Ryan would say, moments during that interview. I also got so excited. And my mouth started watering and pacing back and forth here at the house. I mean, I'm so excited about that guy. And the fact that they're on the hunt, just, I mean,

And the T-shirts that are going to be made, call Rick at the Kentucky shop right now and get him on it. Because, man, sign me up. And I want to do a little PR, man, because we've been without PR for football far too long. And the spring game, April 18th, BBN, show up, morning beers, afternoon beers. Let's celebrate. Let's make our spring game a celebration. for what it should be. And then my last thing, this week I live in Louisville, and I'm a former player,

and I've already gone by and got me some sissy cakes, but I'm going by to give Miss Debbie a hug and Aunt Blakey another hug for raising a young man with the caliber and the insight and the passion that we really needed for this program, and that's all I need to say, guys. Appreciate it. That's good stuff. Let's go. Thank you, shame.

Appreciate it. I agree with every. thing he said there. We'll get plenty of hype for the spring game as we get closer. Warren, go ahead, Warren. Hey guys, good morning. Love the show. Love the interview with Coach Don. My cousin and I have season tickets and we're so fired up. I wanted to be one to call for a long time and congratulate Drew on expecting the little girl. I'm actually holding my newborn right now. So congrats to Drew.

You guys, I've been the listener for so long. You guys feel like family. So I wanted to tell you, Matt, that I'm excited that your dad had a good report last week. Just like you, I grew up becoming a U.K. fan because of my grandfather and my grandmother and watching games with him growing up. And I actually got to watch the Florida game with my grandmother who turned a hundred. 101 yesterday. Well, that's awesome. Warren, that is very cool. I'm sorry. I'm going to have to go to break here in a second, but

real quick. That's okay. But thank you very much for all of those kind of, kind comments. Thank you. Thank you. Great. Yeah, I appreciate it. 101. Shout out. That's a lot of years. J.C., I got like 30 seconds. Go. Oh, just real quick. A channeled getting off three. We, we, we, He needs to be able to burn that pressure off. He's not going to get open looks. The book's out on him. If you can't get all the way of the rock, he's got to get to the lane and hit the little 10-footer.

I agree. He's got to. You're exactly right. The book is, that's a good way to put it. The book is out on him. And he's got to find a way to get open because that's crucial for us. Let's go to Draft Kings promo code KSR. Bet 5.

You can win up to $200 from Draft Kings. It's your place for. March Madness this year. Tennessee had won. We would have won our parlay. That's what I get for believing in Tennessee. Tonight's Sunbelt Championship, Georgia Southern, has a chance to do something no team's ever done. Six games in six days to win a conference tournament.

Six games and six days. Six games and six days for the Sunbelt final. They play Troy tonight to win it all. Do you think they can do six games in six days? No, we saw Troy last year. We wrote 100 stories on the three. the meeting at Waffle House. Waffle House will carry them to the tournament again. I want the team to win in six games in six days. I'm going to pull for Georgia State.

Georgia Southern. Georgia Southern. And Shannon, I'm taking Georgia Southern as well. Six games in six days. Our team is tired after we play two games in a week. This team's going to play six games in six days. Georgia Southern with the championship tonight. Let's go. We don't like the Saturday, Tuesday turnaround. And Georgia Southern is on their sixth game. You got the Wednesday to Monday turn around. That is really funny. Saturday to Tuesday.

Too much. Too much fatigue. But six games in a row, Georgia Southern. That's tonight, the Sunbelt. We will see you all tomorrow. Thanks to Willside for coming on. It's KSR. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy,

not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman helped make you funnier. This week, my guest, NL'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 a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. And every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicel Life 12 in 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 and 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-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Keir Games. This space is about black men. experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or

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