KSR - 2026-03-10- KSR - Hour 1

Episode Date: March 10, 2026

Matt, Ryan, Drew, and Shannon talk SEC Tournament, Mark Pope's press conference, and Matt's new house.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I am Matt Jones. Shannon and I are in Louisville. Ryan and Drew are in Lexington and you can give us a shout. It is one of those days where I can see the phone line. So I can put you on. Clark's Puppet Shop phone line, 859-28022. 87, the text machine, A Vision Auto Glass, 772-774-5254, and this edition is sponsored by the T.J. Smith Law Office. If you call T.J. He'll make them pay. It is the day before the SEC tournament. One of my favorite events of the year begins in Nashville. And for the very first time, it begins with Kentucky in the opening game. Kentucky has not played on the opening day of the SEC tournament

since 1979. But they will do it tomorrow against South Carolina to start the whole thing off. Ryan and Drew in Lexington, it is not something we're used to to playing at 1 o'clock on Wednesday, but we are. And just got to hope we definitely get a victory, right?

I got to admit, it's very embarrassing when you look at the brackets and right there in the top left corner, the first team you see is Kentucky playing the first game on Wednesday. to me that just kind of stings and hurts a little bit. Well, but it's here. And so now they need to win.

Mark Pope said yesterday that they are going down there to win five in five. That was his phrase. Can they, Drew, any confidence you could win five and five? No. But I will say, and I think it stinks as much as anyone,

I'm sad. Once I get in the state of Tennessee, I'm leaving all this negativity back. I'm excited for the team. Well, no, I'm still going to complain today, and I complained a lot Sunday. It is outrageous that we're the first game. That is embarrassing. I even wrote that it's gross.

But I'm not going to take that energy into Bridgestone Arena. But at the same time, I just don't see a world where they win 5th Street or even 4th Street. Yeah, I mean, look, it'll be very, very difficult to do that, if not impossible. But I do think, you know, I think Kentucky can easily win to get to the, game on Friday, play Florida. You've got a third chance at it if you win. And, you know, for their NCAA bracket, Joe Lenardi said yesterday, if they were to win two and lose to Florida, they might even go back up to a six seed. So that's good. What you can't do is take a loss to LSU because if you do, you might end up in that eight, nine game and stare at a one seed in the

face in the second round if you were to get there. So the LSU game and even the Missouri game, I mean, I think there's some pressure on Kentucky to win a couple games. I got excited, though, this morning because Daniel Hager, who works for On 3, used to does stuff for KSR, he put together a 30-minute package of the most exciting Kentucky highlights of the SEC tournament in history. And I watched about half of them this morning. And I'm going to watch the other half this afternoon.

I highly recommend it. Now, you could get nostalgic and go, man, we haven't had some of those. Because I will tell you, there aren't many Ryan since 2020. Not surprised about that. Most of them are before 2020. But man, I was just sitting there watching. And he starts it with maybe the most famous,

which is the Wall and Cousins one. But there are things I'd forgotten. Like Winnion going seven for seven from three against Alabama. Alabama. Yeah. Right? How about Steve Masiello hitting back-to-back threes against Arkansas to finish a game? Don't remember that one. How about Patrick Sparks throwing a pass between his legs against Tennessee, a bounce pass? Do you remember that one? Don't remember that one either. How about Corey Sears on a fast break going behind the back to Gerald Fitch for a dunk? Come on, that had to be AI. Corey Sears behind the back. Corey Sears behind the back. It's the only living proof that Corey Sears played at Kentucky, I think is that clip. So there were,

it's, it's very exciting. It's, it's on Daniel Hager's Twitter, but I'm hoping, Ryan, that we get one or two of those memories this weekend, because we really haven't had any memory in the SEC tournament since 2020. And we all know, remember what happened when, when Cal's last game against Texas A&M and he's walking off the floor and that fan is leaning over the rail screaming at him. Is this the gold standard cow? Is this the gold standard cow? Is this the gold. standard because it used to be that was our tournament. We owned it. We went down there. We took over the town and then we cut down the nets when it was over. That was what Kentucky basketball was all about. And I missed those days. We've lost six out of eight games in the SEC tournament.

That's what I was going to say. So what have we won? Last year we beat Oklahoma. Yes. And then... That was a last second shot to do that, though. That was exciting. And then we turned around a loss by 30. Okay. Everybody let... Okay. I'm serious now. I'm decreen. We can have these conversations, but the gloom and doom, Ryan, like the gloom and doom, it is what it is at this point, right? I mean, we can't, like I am just as frustrated about all this as anybody else. But this is the most exciting month of the year.

Do we not have any positive energy in us? I'm already packed and excited. I thought we were listing how bad the last few years ago. No, I'm excited. That's not what I was talking about. I talked about how exciting these highlights were. I thought we just said we won last year we beat Oklahoma, but then we lost by 30. I'm happy.

I thought. I didn't say it. Well, I mean, that happened. I'm trying to paint the excitement because it's been so bad lately. Carry on. My bad. So the... It is the reality.

We did lose by 30. I know, but you can't say it and then go, I thought somebody said it. You're the one that said it. O.A had the shot last year. I'm trying to think, what's the other game we've won since COVID? We won the first one in Tampa And then saw the dogs Before we lost to Tennessee

And then he went home to see his dogs That's right That was Vandy I think we beat you Shannon You beat me Yeah because you all were like up 20 in that game Yeah And then we came back

Yeah Scotty Pippin had a crazy good game And we came back and won So I'd like to see us Can we match our last six years Win total with two wins true. I think we get two. I think we just run into a bus saw on Friday. That's just, I don't care if you think Kentucky has turned a corner and they're a great team. To win three straight with Florida being the third just waiting for you, I think is a tough challenge. But I

feel good about getting two on Wednesday and Thursday. LSU, of course, had a big lead on us earlier this year. I think that would be the disaster if you found a way to lose that game. Shannon, how do we feel, or excuse me, Ryan, how do we feel? do we feel about LSU? I'm a little scared just because we all watched that game. They jumped out on us from 19 points. We had to have a miracle shot by Malachi to win that game. But here's my positivity.

We get down there. You can't get the buzz, the big blue nation rolls in. You get a little buzz and then you get a little excitement. Then you win one game. Do our big show on Thursday morning. More excitement win that second game. Then you get a party Thursday night going to Friday. Everybody's excited and feeling a little optimistic because you're riding that big blue wave high.

That's my optimistic for it. So I wonder how many people are going tomorrow? That's because most people usually make the decision to make the trip sometime during the day, Wednesday. Or early Thursday. How many people do we think we'll be going to that game tomorrow? Like, I mean, LSU will have no fans there. So will we, will it be a crowd there tomorrow? Do you all think?

I think it's going to set. the record for the most attended first game of the SEC tournament in history. Well, that one year, remember, they opened it up free. It was packed. It was packed. That was the one year in Nashville. They just had it be free. And it was packed.

It was like, people were just like, oh, we can go somewhere. Let's just walk in there. That was the night game, though, right? It was a night game, I think, yeah. For the first game, for an 1130 central time start, usually there's, you know, only the vendors and the guy sweeping the floors in there. Yeah. I mean, last year was the first time they did that.

I don't even think we went last year. So this will be, this will be, I mean, we're not even going to be down there yet. So, Drew, what do you think we're going to have fan-wise? I think the, oddly, the upper level general mission will be pretty full. Because it's $10, right? But then the people that bought the lowers won't come. That's interesting. For me, I usually know a billion people going to this.

I've been getting mostly knows. and the handful of people I know that are going aren't going for the game, they're going Wednesday night and hoping we're in it Thursday. Now that's just my circle. I mean, you know, I can't speak for the fan base, but I'm expecting record low turnouts, at least, of what I'm used to seeing.

Well, I don't know what it's going to be like Wednesday. I do think if they get to Thursday, because it's looked all year like we might play on Thursday, I do think you'll get a lot of Kentucky fans there Thursday. You know, our show will be at 10, roof on Thursday. And so I hope everybody plans to come. Here, here's the show schedule tomorrow and Thursday. Because the game is at 1230, our show ends at 11. So what we're going to do is we're going to combine KSR and the pre-show into one show from 9 to 11. So KSR tomorrow will actually start at 9 a.m.

go nine to 11, and then it will go into the official show at noon. And that's what we'll also do at 10 roof on Thursday. So we'll actually be going very early on Thursday morning. So I, look, I hope we have a lot of people there. For me, this is how I'm approaching SEC tournament. And for that matter, the NCAA tournament. We have had plenty of time this year to be bummed. plenty of time.

I've been as bummed as anybody. But you got three weeks, really, this week and the first couple weeks of the NCAA tournament, where you could turn your entire season around. You could even make an argument. You turn the entire narrative of Mark Pope around. Ryan, I'm going to spend the next three weeks rooting for that. Because to some extent, what other choice do we have? We don't really have any other choice.

So why not try to enjoy it and hope it works out? And we've seen it happen before. You keep, you know, we talk about the 2014 team, even the 2011 team, kind of struggled through the SEC season and then caught fire in March. I mean, it could still happen. The 2011 team went and I, did they win the SEC tournament? I think they did. I think they did. And the 2014 team went and got to the finals and lost when James Young slipped against Florida.

Yes, that's right. But that was a Florida team we didn't think. we'd have any chance of beating. No. And they played them right down to the final play and lost. That was in Atlanta, I believe. So, you know, I don't know that that's going to happen, but it might. And so kind of that, Drew, is how I'm, how my mindset is going.

Yep. And again, I feel pretty confident about Wednesday and Thursday. And, you know, we want more. But that can still be fun winning those games. We just need to flip the switch on national. That city has been cursed. So if we can get a couple and you get to that Florida game, we'll at least have the excitement of playing the SEC champ and taking that shot and then we'll see what happens.

But one game at a time and hopefully it goes well. I do wonder if Shannon, you know, we were there when COVID like kind of officially broke. Right. I still remember we were sitting in that suite watching, you know, two random teams play. And then you go, did you see this? Tom Hanks has COVID. Tom Hanks. I remember Tom Hanks has COVID.

Within like 30 minutes, Tom Hanks has COVID. They canceled that Oklahoma City game because of Rudy Gobert. Yes. Right. And then Trump closed the airspace around the country. Like you couldn't fly in and out. It felt like that night the world was ending. It did in like 30 minutes.

Yeah. It felt like the entire world was ending. And then since then, Drew's right. We've been awful in Nashville. Every time we've gone there for anything, it is time to break the Nashville curse. Ryan, do you still have the sage from Seattle? I've got some sage we can get out and burn it. Do you want to bring the sage?

I'll bring it. If we're going to burn it and burn this curse. Is this the sage you got wet, though? That went in, that's still in a state in Seattle. Yeah, that flower pot. It's in a flower pot somewhere in Seattle. All right. So we will burn the sage.

Well, we'll start in Bowling Green tomorrow. and then burn it the rest of it in Nashville. Is that a deal? Perfect. You should just roll the window down and just go down the highway with Sage Burd. His arm and the Sageburn around the window. 859-28027. We'll open the phones.

You all, we're going to, this is kind of a ask anything or say anything Tuesday as we get ready for the weekend. It is, you know, it's a chance to salvage the season. And it's also a chance to sort of salvage the narrative. And what is happening with the phones, Shadda? Yeah, like I got plenty people on and they hang up immediately. Why are they all hanging up? Do they get scared? I don't know.

If you're going to call, don't be scared. If you're scared, go to church. That's exactly right. Will Stein told us that yesterday. You're scared, go to church. We've had like four people call. Shannon puts them on hold, then they hang up. Yep.

We'll tell them to stop. We'll take a break. Be right back. KS.I. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending. Opinions are flying.

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Welcome back. We are, it's Kentucky Sports Radio. it looks like there also could be a problem technological wise, Shannon, which is not abnormal. No way. That's never having a case. It looks like lines 2, 5, and 6 will just hang up on people. Right. One, three, and four.

There goes. Yeah, it's like literally. So just put Drew on the phone really quick on line two. All right, there you go. All right, Drew are you there? Drew, all right. I want you to start talking and let's see if it hangs up on you. Go ahead.

Yep, there it goes. It hung up on it. How do we have these problems? That's a good question. Our tech is like Kentucky's SEC tournament performances. It really is. It's unpredictable. All right.

Well, we have three people who it hasn't hung up on. So we'll do them. I'm not even going to answer these others. Yeah, I don't answer them because they're just going to end up. It comes Gus. All right. Hopefully Gus will fix it. One person writes, Matt, we are going because we pay so much for

the SEC tournament, but I've never been excited about it less. I'm hoping I get down there and feel the energy. I mean, you will. There is a sense in which there is energy that happens as soon as you get down there. And I do think that'll be good. One person writes, Matt, we've gone 13 straight years. It's not even so much the way we play. It's just now Nashville is so expensive. Drew, that is an issue. Although I will tell you, I looked at price when my group decided to go. I think it's actually much cheaper for this than it's been the last four or five years because I think they just overbuilt everything. Do you agree?

Yeah, they've added, certainly going back to when it first got to Nashville. There's so many more hotels. I also think, you know, there's teams are better, but like with Kentucky fans, we kind of knew every Friday, one o'clock, that's our game. I think might not be as booking things as early as it has in the past because especially this year, a lot of teams didn't have a clue where they'd be until the last moment. So some stuff was still open and maybe people decided not to be. even go. This probably will Ryan be the return of a bajillion Arkansas fans going. You know?

Like they used to do that for years and then they kind of stopped and they're good and they've been good all year. Whereas that last time they kind of weren't, I think you're going to see a ton of hogs people down there. You know, I hadn't thought about that, but that's a good call because they're I've always felt like they were the second best SEC fan base to travel to the SEC tournament. Without question. And so now that they're kind of rolling again, Cal's got him going. I bet you're right. I think there will be a big crowd of Arkansas fans. All right. Well, hopefully this starts working. We have Gus Allen on line too.

If it hangs up on him, then we know. We're testing it with Gus. Yeah, 859-280-2287. I want to note something from yesterday. Did anyone but me watch the Oklahoma, the Thunder versus Nuggets? I didn't see it. I caught the Sports Center highlights, but didn't see it live. I watched it live. Shay Alexander and Yokic was an amazing battle. Like, if you like basketball, both, I mean, obviously Shea played for us, but Yokic and Shay are so much fun to watch. And they just went back and forth and back and forth.

Shea hit two threes down the stretch to win, which were crazy shots. But in the process, Shea Gilgis Alexander broke the all-time NBA record for most 20-point games in a row. It was held by Wilts Chamberlain. Golly. And Shea has scored 126 in a row 20 point games. A hundred and 26 in a row.

That blows my mind to hear that. That's crazy. That's crazy. And he's our guy. And he didn't start when he first got here because of Quaday Green. He kind of became a star here at the SEC tournament. Didn't he win the SEC tournament MVP? He did.

He started being good. in SEC play and then he was the SEC tournament MVP. But Drew, is he going to finish his career the best Kentucky NBA player of all time? Yes, because I think

in a few months he's going to have his second MVP trophy in his second NBA ring and he's still young, which is outrageous. And we know that team is probably not done. So yeah, I mean, we think of Anthony Davis, unfortunately injuries got him. I think Shay's on a fast track to be that guy.

I mean, if you're ranking the best NBA players at Kentucky today, ISEL is one, AD is two. But I think even today, Ryan, Shea is three. And I think in two years he's going to be won. Yeah, I'm trying to think of guys. Nobody's obviously won an MVP, but there's some All-Star guys. Rondo's got a ring. But he's not on the level of Issell, Davis, or Shea. Yeah, I agree.

Max Burn and Rex are probably in the top. Tashon had a good run. Yeah. But I think, She's the MVP. That's, I know what. If Shea stopped his career today, I think he's probably number three. And he's going to be number one. And the, Kentucky fans when he was here would just have never fathomed that could be true.

And Cal just kind of took him as a late edition just as the backup point guard. Like not really was no fanfare about the guy or anything. He wasn't even a McDonald's All-American in that time. everyone we had was, he was not. And he's going to end up being the best player to ever play here in the NBA. Jason, go ahead, Jason. Good morning, guys. Thanks for taking it. Good morning. Jason Wade. I hope you're doing well. I am wondering what you guys think about roster construction last year versus this year. It seems like last year, all of the guys were kind of the man, where they came from. You know, Amari was three-time conference defensive player of the year,

first team all conference. Butler was a Final Four hero. Jackson Robinson was an NBA prospect. And it kind of feels like all the guys we took this year were the six, seventh, or eight men on their team. You know, no offense to Zell. He played great. No offense to Mo. He's played great the last month. But other SEC schools kind of just let those guys go. So not sure that- Well, they didn't let him go. They wanted to keep them. They wanted to keep them. But I do think you're right. I think the way I would articulate it is in the first year, Pope tried to find a bunch of guys who could score and play what he thought his system was.

And then in the second year, he tried to adjust it to the realities of defense in the SEC, and it didn't work. I mean, it didn't work. It turns out that when you get a bunch of guys who in theory are there for defense and hustle or whatever, you still got to have dudes to put it in a basket. And I appreciate the call. I think that was the thing to me, Drew, is he adjusted because of how bad Alabama

beat us last year in every game. And in adjusting for Alabama, we ended up making ourselves susceptible to be beaten by everybody. Yeah, he overcorrected a little too much with the defense, especially Diabate, who I love, but at the four, with the way Pope plays, they need a shooter there. And even though Diabate nailed that three against Florida, we know it's not exactly his strength. That was an amazing three to it. It was like it almost died in the basket. But yeah, go ahead.

I almost died when he was shooting it. Then it went in. That was one of those no, no, no yeses. But I also think he put way too much faith in some guys to make a jump. And then they didn't make a jump. And then they didn't. It'll be interesting to see now. What way does he go this time?

Because it'll be, you know, which where you're going to go? We hope the phone lines will work. It's hard to know, Shannon. Probably not. We'll take a break. Be right back, KSR. Call me. 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. All right. Let's do a couple things here. First of all, is Mark Pope having a press conference right now? At this moment. Okay.

Because there's some quotes coming out. Then we should talk about it. First of all, I mentioned last week they had posted a job opening on the, website for UK's athletics that made it look like it might be a GM. But then the more you looked at it, it looked like it probably wasn't a GM. So at his press conference, Shannon, I want you to do Mark Pope speak here. Okay? Yeah. I'm going to read you, he was asked about the job opening. And here's what he said. We need somebody that can model for us 24-7. that can do salary cap models, that can do wind share models that can do comparison research

in terms of us trying to have some just get as deep in the details of managing the roster construction as we can. It's important to have somebody that literally 24 hours a day, seven days a week is going to be just, you know, war gaming and modeling over and over and over again. So we need a GM or a model. I'm not sure which one we need. I don't think that sounds like a GM. That sounds like a computer nerd. Right? Somebody's going to run the numbers and do the somebody that can model for he uses the word model four times. Yeah. So this goes with I had a conversation yesterday with someone that has talked to him about the job over the last little while. and they said to me

that at the time they kind of thought Pope really wasn't looking for a GM he was looking for basically someone to do exactly what he's saying right here run models basically looking for an analytics person

not a GM I thought he was the analytics person well no he's got people to do it but I think he needs a GM to essentially pick the players, not to run models.

But it sounds like to me, if you just read that quote, he's not looking for a GM, he's looking for a science person, Drew, to give him data and then he's going to do it. Yeah, the word is he's already had some conversations looking for a GM,

and those guys, either whichever side, it didn't work out. But if that's what you're bringing to the job interview, I could see why people would be like, what in the world? What am I doing? I'm a GM. I'm here to find players and pay them, not look at spreadsheets 24-7.

Do you think he just doesn't want to call it a GM? Is there like a stubborn streak of I'm not going to call it that? But why would he have it? I mean, that's the trend. That is modern basketball. I think he would embrace it. Salary cap models, wind share models, comparison research. I mean, that's the dorkiest soundy thing.

Is that going to make you win basketball games? I don't know. How about we get some players? Well, I mean, okay. I'm not like, I don't, I don't know. Why can't he just call it a G? Does he just not want to call it a GM, I guess? This is me just guessing.

He seems might be a guy that likes to have a little bit of control. We know some people like that. And maybe just doesn't want the optic. of I am handing off part of this job that I've wanted forever to someone else when the people before me never handed it off. Now, times are different and it's okay to hand it off, but I think maybe in his brain he might not see it that way. And then I also worry, I brought this up before, Petino fired his GM like two months ago. Yeah. And we all know how he leans on Patino.

But if you believe what people have said, the agents and stuff, part of Pope's weakness is like dealing with the agents and all of that. Do you think this person who's good at models is going to be good at that? The GM hat, yeah, maybe it is some analytics, but it's also dealing with the agents, the parents, the kids. It's also dealing with people. Right. Now, Duke announces this morning, Caleb Foster, their point guard, is out with a broken foot. That's huge for them. And Duke was going to be my pick to win a national championship, and now I don't think you can pick that.

if they've lost their point card. I think you have to say, you know, they're still good, but I think now without, I mean, he was their, what, second or third best player, they're, I don't think you can pick them to win the title now, Drew, right? No, not with that. I mean, as good as boozer is, I think that's a too big of a hit

with as good as Michigan, Arizona, Florida, other contenders up there with them. They're still going to be really good. And I think they're still probably one of the best five teams, but I don't think you can pick them to, win a title without him. So that's a big deal. That's now a couple teams that had a chance to win the title that have lost their guy.

JT. Topping for Texas Tech. I don't think Carolina was going to win the title, but Caleb Wilson was, you know, he was good. And now this guy, basically three of the top 15 teams have now lost a player that I think is huge. Does Little Boozer now become their point guard? Probably. But he's a drop off. Yeah.

You're basically going to have to see Cam Boozer just go crazy the whole tournament. Which he can, though. He's really, really good. All right. So we still only have three lines at work. We'll try those. Taylor, go ahead, Taylor. Yeah, Matt.

So two things. Comment, it may be the most expensive resale value of the first session in the SEC tournament. What is the resale market look like? The cheapest tickets I saw in game time were $59 for Section 301. Okay. Well, maybe there'll be more people there than we realize, or it might be a lot of people who bought them, assuming Kentucky fans would buy them up

and they won't, we'll have to wait and see. But that's a good sign in terms of people being there. Certainly. Question. And Mark Pope last night make some comments about Cam practicing again. What are your thoughts? Do you think that there's a chance he's available on Wednesday? I'll hang up and listen.

Yeah, so Cam Williams is practicing with the team. I again this was on his radio show I kind of heard it drew as if he might play this week did you it sounded optimistic I mean I'd be very impressed how that could happen because he didn't even start running really it sounds so just recently but if he could get in and just give you a few minutes to spell some one I don't expect him to come in and you know win MVP or anything crazy but I mean if he could just give some minutes he'd be a huge impact huge impact because if you if somebody shuts down Chandler now you can stick him in there and have him get minutes. So if he's going to play, I do, Ryan, feel better.

I don't think it fundamentally changes the team's flaws, but I do think it makes them, I do think it makes them better. It does kind of sound like that they want to maybe play them just baby steps, just play them a little bit early on and maybe that way when they get to the NCAA tournament next week he might be able to put in more time, but not just as a shooter, but just as a defender too on the wing and the perimeter. He was one of our best defenders before he got hurt. Can I bring up one practice concern? Yes. I don't want to be negative, but this actually bothered me yesterday, and I think Pope answered for it today.

The schedule comes out. We get for media. It's like this big pamphlet. And Kentucky is the only team not practicing in Bridgetown. It has the practice schedule. Yeah, I think that's important. So if you play on the first day, the SEC let you do practice in the arena. And seven of the eight teams said they were going to do it, but one said no, and that was

Kentucky. We are not practicing in the arena. So that bothered you. Why did it bother you? Because last time we were there, we went down 19 to 2. So I just figured of all the teams that should prep, maybe it's not a big deal. But I was just, when that schedule came out and it had every team, I was a little surprised. So what did he say today? Tyler just texted me because it's all going on. It says, we want to reproduce the schedule of the day as best we could. So we couldn't do that with our slotted time there. It also recreates our normal travel schedule, so we're trying to have our day before the game as close to proximity.

Analytics. But I would prefer, I'm not an egg, maybe they win by 50. I would hope they'd get shots up in Bridgestone before playing in Bridgeton. The number said keep your schedule the same. Go to bed at the same time every night. Wake up the same time every morning. That's what the analytics say. Yeah, the schedule has worked out so well for them this year already.

Yeah. And we're being positive. I'm not trying to be negative. But when that schedule, I know, but when I saw that. you are. It had seven of eight teams and I was like, is this a typo? Like, where's the Kentucky practice? Kentucky did refuse to do it.

We're the only team that. But that was his reason. I'm just, that's got my antennas. Kevin, go ahead, Kevin. Of the GM, there was a rumor. It's a TikTok guy, but he's a, he is a, his whole channel is Kentucky. It's not that one guy, though, that's always just stirring stuff up, right? He is annoying.

I don't know. Is he the, is he that I'm talking about, is he the African American kid that just stares in the camera and says we stink? No. Okay, all right. That guy, don't ever listen to that guy, but somebody else, go ahead. So he said there was a rumor that UK is looking at a GM. The guy was, the guy was on a previous coaching staff at Kentucky. He's in the NBA now. He's in the, like, in a, you know, like a, he used to be a scalp. Yeah, I know who they're talking about. I know who they're talking about. And I don't think that, that as of today, that's not who they're, they're looking at.

Okay. All right. And then what do you guys think about the rumors that Tyrant Stokes is heated up again with UK? Well, I mean, that I don't know. I mean, that it sounds like, I mean, he did an interview where he said, I like Kansas better, but I'll go to Kentucky if it doesn't work out. As I've said, I'm okay being the rebound.

You know? Yeah. If the number one prospect, P. Number one prospect, wouldn't you? You take him. You take it. And then you work out the relationship later, Shannon. Like, you know.

Yeah. I mean, he needs to prove that he can get one of these guys, right? Yeah. He needs a big home run recruit. Really needs anybody right now. But, I mean, if you can get the number one guy, you get them. And chances are everyone listening, your wife would have rather gone out with Brad Pitt. But they got you.

Which is Ryan's lookalike. I hear that all the time. So, you know, if you. If she could have had Brad Pitt, she would have done that, but she ended up with you. That doesn't mean you don't have a great life. I did have, say, someone say to me that they didn't think drew my relationship analogies to basketball were very good. You're trying, though. Yeah, that's the question.

Sometimes they're stretched a little bit. I think it's pretty good. To think that you're a second or third choice? To Brad Pitt. I guess. I guess in this analogy, Kansas is Brad Pitt. Yeah. Well, who are we?

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And we'll probably hear more from Pope who's talking. 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. 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 SportsSlice on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife-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, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch

life becomes about wins and losses Steve Burns, Dustin Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid because that's two different intentions bro absolutely and that's two different levels of trust I want you to just really be a good person

Join me, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions. To talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that can't. keeps them going. From the WMBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain.

It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs, Gabby Thomas and Katie Ledecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything.

Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart 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 extraordinary world, he doesn't look back.

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

Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back, Techiesports Radio. 8592802287. Text machine 772-754. I forgot. She didn't remember we had the random text

ter on the text machine and say Bill Self was going to retire. Do you remember that? I do remember that. Yeah. We're going to see if they're right. It would be as first reported on the KSR text machine.

But let me just say this about the KSR text machine. It gets every story. Okay. It had the Mitch retirement story. I found out Mitch was retiring from the text machine. And I put the post up on KS board. Ryan, it was

everything comes first from the text machine. You all collectively have more scoop than any person individually. Now, you have to filter through the fact that sometimes people say things that are not correct. But I've kind of learned how to figure it out if you're right or not. And the text machine gets all. The text machine is the one, remember, that broke it to me that the Padres manager. Remember when I broke the Padres manager story? came from the text machine.

What a bizarre incident that was. So maybe if Bill Self retires Drew another text machine success. Which could indirectly get Stokes here and it could have all started with the text at Paul Miller.

Bill Self was asked about his retirement this weekend. He said as long as he feels okay, he'll keep doing it. But he didn't say whether he feels okay. Who knows how he'll feel? He said we don't know how he feels, do we? No, I think he feels bad. He's been really grumpy lately. He got thrown out of a game last week.

Yes. Now, by the way, I yesterday, Ryan brought up Boone's Butcher Shop. Turns out they do still run ads with us. How about that? So they've got to be your longest appetizer. They only run it in the Louisville market, but they do run it. Get your hair chopped. Get your meat chopped.

Yeah, it's right. Boone's Butcher Shop. Boones, Boone's butcher shop. Yesterday on my Twitter feed, all anyone was talking about, Drew, was that Travis Kelsey's mom is remodeling her house. I saw that too. TMZ had a graphic. TMZ had a story.

Home renovation. Donna Kelsey is renovating her house. That's how you know you're famous. When your mom can renovate their house, Shannon, and that's what people talk about. Why is it? Why is anybody talking about that? People were into it. Who cares about her house?

Taylor Swift effect. I think people like her. And they want to know what she does to her house. I like you too. But if you renovate your house, I wouldn't care. Well, I am going to be renovating my house. You can't renovate a house that you rent? No, but I'm, I'm under contract now to buy.

He's in. Wow. Yay. He's growing up right in front of our eyes. Breaking news. With Ryan Lemon, the realtor. Wow. You're under contract.

Yeah, so I guess it's not, you know, it's under contract. That's a big deal. Got your home inspection today. Home inspection today. What's your first renovation going to be? Buying furniture. Well, that's not a renovation, really. I have to furnish the whole house.

And I don't know how to do it. I'm going to have to hire like a designer. I don't know who does that. There you get. Who does that? Mario. Somebody listening. Well, somebody listening, I'm sure does, but how do I decide who to pick?

I don't know. You're going to have a shoe room, a room for all your shoes. I mean, the house exists. It's just I have nothing to put in it. Because the stuff I have, Shannon, I can't. I have like two things that are worth keeping. So you're not going to move any of your stuff? I'm going to take that really nice desk I have in my house.

I'm going to take the bookshelves. But probably going to get a new bed. Leave that nasty refrigerator there. Yeah, I mean, most of the stuff is stuff I've had for 15 or 20 years. It's just time to grow up, right? Yes. Wow.

Who are you? And what happened to Matt Jones? I'm going to keeping all the shoes. Well, sure. Your hoodies. But I mean, I have to, this is a decent size house. I have to figure, I got to put stuff in it. You're going to need a lawnmower, tools.

Oh, I'm not mine. Hey, I bet you put a family in it. I think first a couch. Can't make a family without a bed. First account. Then we'll go to family. But I don't know who designs house like interior. I mean, I have the house.

But the interior of it. Yeah, there are companies that don't know. They can help you if you want to do. But how do you pick who to do? You look at their Google reviews. Yeah, but I don't know. People, people, they pay people, right? Well, probably some of them. I need somebody who understands my style. What type of style are you? I don't know. I need somebody to pick my style. Are you more modern? Are you, I think I want to go more modern. This house is modern. This house is contemporary and modern. I have a pool. Don't know what to do with that. Have a pool party.

We're having a pool party. Yeah. We're having a pool. We'll let Ryan grill out and burn your house down. Ryan's not going to get to touch any of that. You're not going to touch the stove. I'll use Pirats to do my electronics. Dude, I mean, the unlimited amount of endorsement opportunities you have here is incredible. That's true, because I have nothing.

Exactly. Except shoes. And hoodies. Because, yeah, I'm not taking any of my stuff, pretty much. I'll probably have a big yard sale one day, shit. Yeah, let us go rummaging through your apartment. No, no, no, no. I mean, I give stuff away all the time.

I put pieces of my house outside. There are people all over this city who don't even know they've got stuff. Like, I just walk down the street like a block down the street and leave a table. I've got Matt Jones Conchard table. Well, they don't know. They just know they have a table. That's called dumping. Yeah.

That's highly illegal. But people take it? Yeah, but you can't just dump your couch outside on the road. It's usually gone within 20 minutes. Yep, they'll refinish it and they'll sell it and make a profit on it. People come, like, if you put stuff outside your house, people will take it within minutes. Yep. You're the big dumper.

I am the best dumper. Who knew that you were just dumping furniture? I think I told you, I saw a man, a homeless man wearing some of my shoes recently that I just put outside. And I thought that actually, well, it was nice. He had, like, they were nice shoes. Was he out there on the corner eating on your table? No, I'm just saying, like, I just have to start again. Yeah.

And I don't really know how to do it. But we will have a pool party. And yeah. So me and Donna Kelsey are in the same spot. You don't even know how to swim. Why do you have a pool? I'm going to learn. This is great.

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

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, in every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports

and giving you the real story behind the headlines. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 in the stuff. the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway

with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's 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 armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability

that does not mean that you need to, Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.