KSR - KSR Postgame UK MBB vs Arkansas 02/02/25

Episode Date: February 2, 2025

Matt and Billy recap the Cats' 89-79 loss vs Arkansas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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You just need to understand yourself a little bit better. Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome everyone. It is the local toy dealers KSR post game show. I'm Matt Jones. Kentucky takes a pretty terrible. at home, 89 to 79 against John Calipari and Arkansas on their return trip to Rupp Arena. We'll open up the phones, 859-280, 2287.

I'm sure a lot of you, I'm sure a lot of people are actually probably sitting this one out because they don't want to think about it, but a lot of you are listening and have thoughts, I'm sure. You know, look, what can you say? I think this is a really tough loss for, really more for the, the fans than for this particular season or Pope. I really just think its fans really wanted this one a lot and they don't get it. And in a year when we got huge wins over Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida, Tennessee,

I mean, pretty much the list of the teams you would want to beat. If Kentucky fans were honest, they probably would have said this is the one they wanted the most. I mean, it would either be this or Louisville, but it's probably this and considering the circumstances and you lose and of those teams i just mentioned this is probably the worst of the teams and they come in and they win and pretty much dominate the second half uh i thought first half i thought both teams actually played really well i i didn't really i mean Arkansas hit a bunch of shots i thought kentucky played well too i mean it was just one of those things and If the game had stayed like that and we had lost, don't get me wrong, I'd still be disappointed.

But you would have said, well, I mean, if they're going to shoot like that, what are you going to do? But in the second half, Arkansas played well again, and Kentucky just kind of didn't answer the bell. And that was disappointing. So let's talk just a second about, just the night. All right, so the night, I thought the atmosphere in Lexington was better than any atmosphere that I can remember in Lexington. in terms of leading up to the game, everything going into it. You know, the city was on fire. The restaurant was probably as busy as it's ever been.

And then the atmosphere, I mean, the stadium was full. The arena was full 45 minutes before the game. People were on their feet 30 minutes before the game. The moment that he was going to walk out was going to be the biggest moment of the year. And then he came out and, of course, got booed. and there was a lot of, there were a lot of, there was a lot of commentary about that and a lot of sort of, was that good, was that bad.

I will tell you having been there, and I think the people there would say, there were a lot of people clapping, okay? There were a lot of people clapping. It's just they were politely clapping, and then the booing is just louder. As to what percentage was doing, which I don't really know, to be honest with you.

I think there were more booze than I thought. there would be, but the noise was clearly very loud. And then it was even more so when the announcements came. But then once the game started, I thought Kentucky handled it fine. They got up 1812. Pope, in my opinion, made a strategic mistake. We were up 1812. We were rolling.

And then he put the subs in. And I, you know, I think the story of this game to me is that our after the Butler injury, after the Creesa injury, with Carr kind of hobbled, our reserves are, it's just a huge step down. And I wonder if Mark's just going to have to say, look, even if they're tired, those top five or six just got to go. Because it was a huge step down, especially offensively when the reserves came in. I actually thought Colin Chandler played okay defense, but Brandon Garrison wasn't good. Perry made some turnovers. Colin Chandler offensively struggled.

I thought our top guys played well. Mari Williams was awesome. Jackson Robinson, I thought was pretty good. Brayett couldn't hit a shot. Almanor and O'Way, fine. But, you know, they just wanted it more. At the end of the day, Arkansas wanted it more. They shot, yes, they shot 52%.

Yes, they made more threes than they've made all year. Yes, they scored the second-omost points they've done all year. But they also hustled more. They got the loose balls. They got the steals. They got out in transition. They closed out on shooters a half a step quicker than we did. And they wanted it more.

And they wanted to win that game for John Cal Perry. And, you know, Cal for all the X and O criticism he's taken over the years from me and others, One thing he's never had a problem doing is getting his players to love him and getting his players to want to play hard for him. And those dudes, especially the guys that played here, they just did. They played as hard as you could, and they all played probably their best games of their career. Wagner had a poor first half, but was awesome in the second half. And Adieu and Z were good the whole game. John L. Davis decides to get hot.

And we let it, we let it beat. So it's a big disappointment. Now, there are some more concerning things after the game. Pope, you couldn't tell if he thought Butler is done for the year. He said he'd probably give him one more go in a couple weeks. But, you know, we might have to sort of perceive this team as a team without Butler or Cresa, which means really no point guard. And that I do think changes the trajectory of the team if that happens.

I also think that what we saw from last year's BYU team, which is they could beat anybody, but they could lose to anybody. That's this Kentucky team. I mean, it wouldn't shot me if they go down and win at Old Miss Tuesday night, right? Like, that's what they've done. But we also could lose any of the games left on our schedule, with the exception of maybe the one we play Saturday at when South Carolina comes here. We

We just This is a good team I don't think it's a great team But it can beat great teams And tonight's loss stinks It's going to hurt us on the seed line But it also just hurts the morale

Of the fan base And I think ultimately that's the thing You know I've been in Rupp Arena For pretty much every big game since 2005 or whatever year. There have been some awesome ones. There have been some awesome environments. And we've won almost every game

where the environment was awesome. But tonight was different. I mean, I'm not going to say it was like more energetic, but it was so much more, there was just so much emotion in there. There was so much excitement, nervousness, happiness, worry. you know, cheering, booing.

There was just, there was so much in there before the game. And to walk away with that loss, I mean, it just really stinks for people. And especially to walk away with cow winning, in some ways, with all the criticisms we've made,

he answered them. He did make second half adjustments. He did stop shooting long twos, right? He did, I think, kind of out-scheme Pope, little bit. Pope said he wished he had been more aggressive and more of a risk taker. We used to always say that about Cal. Like why can't he? And they played loose because they had nothing to lose. And the once a year over the last five years where we've seen John Cal Perry when he was at Kentucky

and he was struggling, they would always go on the road and they would get one win that they had no business getting. A couple times it was against Tennessee. Once I think it was Auburn, once it was Arkansas. Well, this year, he got it against us. And we give them a lifeline to maybe make the NCAA tournament. They still got a long way to go. But that's the kind of win that could get you into a first four game if they could win some more conference games. And it's a game that will sting for this fan base for quite some time. Do I think it changes the over? the overall trajectory of the program? No. Do I think it changes the fact that a separation needed to happen? No. Do I think it really changes anything big picture? No. But does it

really sting? And is it the worst loss of the season? Kind of no matter what happens the rest of the way? Yeah, for sure, for sure. And on a year where the vibe, had been immaculate all year. To have this be the ending tonight with still a month and a half, at least left of the year. It's just a tough one for Big Blue Nation to take. I know there's a ton of Arkansas people listening because I see it on social media.

You guys deserve that one. Like, you deserved it. And Kentucky fans, myself included, have taken, you know, there was trash talk both ways during the off season, but certainly taken some enjoyment out of our success and the difficulty they've had, and they get it back, some of it tonight. I still wouldn't trade places with them, but I certainly would like to have traded the result tonight with them.

So I thought Kentucky fans were at their best tonight. They were at their most emotional tonight. but they're also probably in their most sad era tonight because this is a tough one to take. 859-280-2287. Lots going on, Billy. There was a massive NBA trade, Luca for Anthony Davis. I can't believe. Yeah, what is that trade?

Who knows? That comes out of nowhere. Then we got the Reed Shepherd thing, which I don't get at all. So a lot of stuff to get to. We will take your calls. Cats with a very disappointing loss to Arkansas. This is the local toy dealers KSR post-game show. Welcome back.

It is the local toy dealers, KSR post-game show. You know, some interesting, interesting, the plus minus for tonight. I don't know that it tells you a lot about the main guys because they had to play most of the games. so like, you know, like Robinson played 35 minutes, so his is going to be basically what the score is. But Williams, Amari, was plus four in 25 minutes, Garrison minus 14, Billy, in 14 minutes. Wow. That's a big difference.

That's a big difference. And then Oway was minus 16. Now, he played 31 minutes, but that's, you know, six points worse than the score. Carr was actually not bad. car was minus one, Brea was an even. So, you know, it's clear that we really struggled figuring out what guards to play, that the minutes, any minute Amari wasn't in crushed us, and he only played 25 of the 40 minutes, and we just couldn't find a guard.

I almost wish you could combine. I actually think Chandler plays decent defense. Not great, but decent. and Brea, he was off tonight, but as a pretty good offensive player. I wish you could combine those into one guy because they both have huge deficiencies on the other side of the floor. So real quick, Billy, before we go to the phones. Yeah. The Reed Shepherd picture.

So he put out a picture, he walked into the Rockets game. You know, they now do, the NBA is basically a runway when you walk into the games. And he comes in with an Arkansas t-shirt and a, Kentucky shorts. Then, of course, we lose. And Arkansas tweets out the picture and says, Razorbacks on top. You know, look, he's a young kid.

And so, like, people make mistakes, and it is his coach. So, like, I get it. But I don't really get that. I mean, he had to know. This is not the case that he's like, I mean, he's from here, right? He had to know.

Like, I mean, he grew up in London. Like you can't wear an Arkansas shirt The day Kentucky's playing. If you want to wear a shirt that says, John, I love cow or whatever, I'm okay with that. But you can't wear an Arkansas. And if you're going to wear it,

wear a Kentucky shirt in Arkansas shorts, you can't wear an Arkansas shirt in Kentucky shorts. I'm with you. I don't think people forget that one. Reed is beloved. I mean, I just said the other day that I think read and Oscar

and like John Wall and Anthony Davis were like the four most popular players of the Cal era. I really, and I think that's true. Maybe Ulyss as well, five. But like, you know, if we won, I think people would,

I don't think people would remember it, really. But now that we lost, I don't know, man. There are a few former players online talking about it. Yeah, I didn't get that. Taita. I mean, all right,

Reed is from Kentucky. So it hits, I think, extra hard for people for him. The tie tie had a line that was like, come into your trap, take your trap. Is that what he said? That's it. That was almost verbatim, yeah.

Yeah, but he's acting like this isn't his house. This is who, this is where you played. And then Jacob Toppin had a line. Now, the thing you have to remember about those guys is, because of how their careers ended with very disappointing losses, you know, I don't know. Maybe they don't feel that same love. I don't know.

But, you know, Cal is not going to be the coach of Arkansas forever. And as Willie said when he was on our show, you got a long life of wanting to return to a college home. You know. But even with Taita and Toppins, like that's a tweet, that picture, Billy, pictures last longer than words. Right? Yeah. And I don't get that one. That seems.

Reed has made almost no mistakes. that one I don't get. All right, who's up first? Brandon. Brandon, go ahead, Brandon. Hey, Matt. First time, long time. Who are?

What's up? Hey, probably a bad first call. But I got a bone to pick with a lot of people. So, first off, you all were mentioning Reed. I mean, I'm not from Kentucky, but I've lived here for about 10 years at this point. I mean, what is that kid doing? his dad played here his dad was roommates with the guy who's the coach of kentucky his mom played here there's no reason for wearing that shirt like that would unacceptable to the absolute end i mean

there's no reason for wearing that cal didn't do him any favors he was well i but i can understand why he likes him i mean yeah but i can understand i mean like this coach i understand i just you can't the night you're playing arkansas wearing arkansas shirt you just you're playing arkansas shirt you just can't. What was your second? I mean like what was what was your second? Yeah so my second thing is is is is with cow. I mean this man did nothing good for us for the last five years. He came in here. This was his Super Bowl. That team shot the best they've shot the whole season by at least six threes and at least and if you just take that out we win the game. And we didn't play great. The lineups were kind of questionable. I'm kind of

kind of mad at Pope, but some of the lineups, but you can't be too mad. I mean, it's just one of those games, but like, if Cal would have just coached like this and his entire career here, or at least a couple more games, he'd still be here. So, like, why,

in my mind, is he, this game, he's crazy. Well, let me put a different way. Oh, yeah. I appreciate the call. Let me read you the minutes for their guys. Just to give me an example. DJ Wagner played 38 minutes. John L. Davis played 38 minutes. The Arrow played 34, Knox played 34. Our top guys played 34, 32, 29, 26, 25. We're going to have to play. I mean, we're just going to have to suck it up, I think, and play those guys more. I mean, I just, there's a huge drop off right now between the top five. I'll put Carr in that group as he gets healthy, the top six, and everybody else. There's just a huge drop off. And we can't, I mean, we can't play.

we can't play these guys double-digit minutes. I mean, Noah does, I'm not saying Noah would have been great, but he didn't get off the bench. Like, how do you play Chandler 17 minutes and Noah Zero? I don't, to me, I'm looking at this and going if I'm Pope. He knows what this means. I'm going all out here. I'm playing Robinson Oway, you know, Williams.

I'm going 35 minutes. Like, these guys, he can rest Sunday. I mean, that's what I'm doing. That's what Cal did. Cal played this game like their pants were on fire. And I don't think we did in the second half. I thought the first half we played well, but in the second half, we did not play like our pants were on fire, and they did.

And they won. And now, they did hit shots. Once again, Billy, these teams shoot more threes than us. They shot 25, we shot 23. I mean, I don't understand. Now, Williams was kind of dominating now, so I don't mind some of those shots. but I don't know

I sit here and look at this and I go I mean do we really want Garrison Chandler and Perry taking 10 shots and making two I mean I don't know

I'd much prefer to have Robinson who only took nine shots and made six how's he not taking more shot I don't really understand the distribution tonight I really don't not a single minute for the

and Mamba either? Well, I'm not saying he would have done. Like, this isn't a great matchup for him because of their athleticism. But, like, give it a shot. Not one minute. You know, I mean, like, if we're going to, I feel like he could have at least, I mean, defensively, Chandler, I don't think was bad. But he really heard us offensively, and so did Garrison.

And it feels like you could have, like, at least tried Trin out there because he could make some shots. Who's next? James. James. What's up, James? Hey, Matt. First time, long time.

Bua. Thank you, sir. Two questions. Really, I just want to ask two questions, and then I'll hang up. So the first question is, you know, it seems like a tale of two seasons. Five and one against top 15, one and five against P5s that are unranked. That's the first question. Say it again.

Say it again. Top five. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, this was how he was. This was how Pope's teams were at BYU, too. Now, you know, maybe when he gets, assuming he gets the elite, elite talent, that won't be the case. But at BYU, they did that too. Like, I think they beat, I know they beat Kansas on the row by like 20.

I think they won at Baylor. I think they, and then they would lose at home to Central Florida, right? So, like, this has just been how it is with him, and this is how it's been this year. I mean, it's bizarre. You look at our wins and long. is they don't make any sense, really, who we beat and who we lose to. But this is the worst loss. Ohio State loss was bad, but this is worse because this is at home.

And I don't care who's coaching on the other side. You don't lose to one in six teams in the SEC at home. I don't think you lose at home at Kentucky unless you're playing a great, great team. The Alabama loss, you know what, they scored what, 100, we scored 95, that happens. But you can't lose this game, and we did. Yes, sir. second question is my son has told me that he had heard maybe you say or someone else say that if Cal came back your radio show would be canceled just I mean I didn't say it would be

canceled I said I said he tried he was going he tried to get me uh fired I don't know that that would have happened but I think there is a decent chance I might have decided not to come back for reasons that are not really worth getting into tonight we've talked about it before for but um but i appreciate the call but but even before that like i my plan had been to take this summer to decide if i wanted to keep doing it and i almost didn't even get a chance to make that decision because um but that obviously didn't happen and uh you know i'm glad but yeah we've talked about that on the show so you can listen in the archives if we'll try to keep it to the game tonight who's next john john go ahead john

How's it going, Matt? I'm doing good. Yeah, so I just want to talk about, like, so this game tonight, it kind of felt like, you know, like a, we used the analogy of the breakup. It kind of felt like, you know, it reminded us of the things we loved about Cal, where he was, you know, coming into the game as an underdog coming in and winning when nobody expected him to. But at the same time, it really kind of reminds you of why you fell in love with your new love.

So, yeah, I kind of just, you know, I don't think this is necessarily a Mark Pope issue, but I think it is more of, you know, like Cal got his team ready like he always did. Well, he didn't always do it, but he did it a lot. And he, you know, I mean, he didn't do it against St. Peters. He didn't do it against Oakland. I mean, he did it a lot. He didn't do it all the time or he'd still be the coached. But he did do it tonight.

And it's, I mean, it's clear. Those guys in the Arkansas locker room, especially the guys that played here, they wanted that win more than anything. and they probably wanted it for him. Because say whatever you want else about Cal, his players have always adored him and played for him. I mean, there's a reason why Reed would wear that t-shirt. He knew it was going to make people mad, I assume.

But like, he has that loyalty and, like, that's what they are. Like, that's everything with Cal is a trade-off. Like, you get these great players, you get all this, but the thing is going to be about him, and it's not going to be about your program. And, like, that's the trade-off of a cow thing. That's just what that's the business you're in when you're with Cal. To me, at the end, the tradeoffs were not on the pro side anymore, whereas they were early.

But tonight was a reminder that even towards the end, when he got it going, he still could have something magical. The problem is it was just too far in between. And by the way, that's the problem for them this year. I mean, they're still two and six in the conference. but tonight he made it happen. Yeah, I totally agree with you. And second thing, I just wanted to touch on, why do you think that in so many of these SEC games,

there are more teams that are taking more three-point shots than we are. And we know we are a good three-point shooting team, but why does not – I don't know. I don't know. I don't understand – And it wasn't like this in the non-conference. I appreciate the call.

they're not getting threes off like they did in the other and i don't really know i mean i know teams are adjusting the teams we're playing are more athletic which makes it harder to get the shots off so that's part of it but i can't imagine that they look at these games and say i only want to shoot 20 i just can't imagine and he is so smart like why are we not finding what i mean i don't understand how jackson robinson only takes nine shots especially when he's having a good game. You know, I don't get that. I don't understand how that happens,

especially when you're losing. But that's what happened. Who's up next? Jordan. Jordan. Jordan. Hey, Matt, how's it going? Doing good.

So 15th, the region fellow here. I can't understand why Reed decided to do the Arkansas shirt. Yeah, I don't think people are going to, I don't know if, I don't, I don't think they realize. He's trying to get some money out of it and publicity and get it in the news and a picture of him shared around. I think he wanted to do something. It makes no sense to wear that shirt.

I think he wanted to do something for a T-a-Sirt shirt. Yeah, I think he wanted to do something for his coach. Okay, so. That's fine. I get that. I get that. That's probably the simplest explanation, but he didn't think it through because that that'll stick with him. It will.

And like there's not, when you say publicity and much, money, what money was he going to get? I mean, you think, I mean, Arkansas people are not going to all of a sudden loving for. With money, you know how that. But like, but from who? Who's giving him money for that? Like, who came like? I mean, like, he's getting dollar paid signs to wear the church.

But like what I'm saying is, Reed Shepherd, Reed Shepard. He's all over the internet right now in that. Yeah, but only in Kentucky. And it's not positive attention. Reed Shepard could, he could end up not being good. I think he will be good in the NBA. let's say he's not. Let's say he never does anything in the NBA.

He could still come back to this state and be just like his dad, who still is beloved. I don't think he's. Let me finish. I appreciate the call. I appreciate the call. He's not Shaden Sharp. He could have been. I'm not saying that's ended.

People do have short memories. I mean, all you got to do is look at the news every day. People forget things quick. But pictures do last, Billy. They do. And I saw he was asked about it after the game. And he was just like, I did it for Cal. Okay.

I mean, I'm, you know, again, if we had won, I don't think people would care as much, Billy. But the fact that we lost is going to make it stick more, you know? Yeah. Yeah. It was just discouraging to see, honestly, with the Arkansas shirt on top of the UK. Shorts. You got to do the opposite. He got at least do the opposite. Yeah.

And they did. Who's next? Dale. Dale. Go ahead, Dale. Hey, I'm not going to get him to Reed Shepard or anything like that, but I'm not real upset about this loss, Matt, because guess what? We're going to get them in the tournament, and I think Lamont Butler is going to be back. Would you like to play them in the tournament?

Like, would you, let's say we were to draw them. on the Thursday of the SEC tournament. Let's say they win on Wednesday, and we're the eight seed, and they're the nine, or we're the seven, and they're the ten, or whatever, and we end up playing them. Would you like to get a second chance, Adam? Absolutely. Are you kidding me?

Because you know it's going to happen. You know the way this thing is set up. We're probably going to play them in the tournament. We're probably going to get in the same bracket as Louisville. Well, the SEC tournament is not. The SEC tournament is just done by your record. It's not like, there's no community. I'm telling you, they're going to play Arkansas on the SEC tournament.

UK is going to beat Arkansas in the SEC tournament. Goodbye, Cal. Hey, it was fun times. But, hey, they're going to beat them in the SEC tournament. Let's be realistic. Let's have realistic expectations. This is probably a two-to-three-round team at the most. Okay?

Well, that would still be really good. I mean, everybody, when people say, yeah, but when people, but like, when people say, and I appreciate the call, like, this is just a sweet 16. A sweet 16 teams really good when you don't have one NBA player, right? I mean, I hope we get to the sweet. First of all, I need us to win one more really good game just so that I feel 100% confident that we're good with the tournament. Because this was a bad loss. Now, we make the tournament, I don't know what's going to happen.

Literally, Billy, you could put us against Maryland, who might be like a 12 seed. I don't know if we're going to win. At the same time, you could put us against, you know, Auburn or Duke, and I wouldn't say we can't win. Well, it happened again. I mean, you beat the team you thought you'd lose to in Tennessee this week, and then you You lost to Arkansas who you said you had to win. So, I mean, that's like the fourth week. It's really a baffling, it's really a baffling thing the way they lose to these.

So what are we? Are we 15 and 6? I believe so, yep. 15 and 6. I mean, you know, I think we're going to probably finish like, if Butler's out, if we're being honest, if Butler's out, we're probably going to finish like 20 and 11 or 20. 21 and 10, which is probably going to get us like a six seed, maybe a seven. A 21 and 10 would probably get us a five or six, 20 and 11 probably get us a six or seven.

Four and four in conference now. Yeah, I mean, you know, we've got, I hesitate to pick the games we're going to win because who knows. Because, you know, I mean, the way we've played, we can win any of them, we can lose any of them. 859, 28027. We'll take a break, come back. It's the local toy dealers, KSR post-game show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers, KSR post-game show.

One person writes, Matt, I know I don't really feel like this, but is it weird to me to feel like we made a mistake in making the change? Yes, it is weird for you to feel like that. Because this is one game, and even though it's a game that stinks, and that is obviously a really negative feeling, it doesn't change anything about the overall trajectory. I mean, let's just be real for a second. Let's say John Caliperi was the coach here, Billy,

and we went into tonight 1 and 6 in conference. You think Rupp would have been excited for that game tonight? No. I think this would have been a positive environment around here. No, but they've won a lot of regular season games in the past, and that hasn't gotten them anything, right? I don't. What's your point? I don't understand. I mean, you can get excited for regular season wins if you want.

want, but it doesn't matter if you lose to Oakland. Yeah, but I mean, they wouldn't have even had regular season. They were won and say, if John Caliperi was here, he would have the exact same team he has at Arkansas, basically. Maybe wouldn't even have a do, because a dude was leaving if he was here for whatever reason. So we would have been 12 and 8, 1 and 6 in conference. Do you think this would have been a positive environment?

No. And even if they won tonight against, let's say, a really good team here, do you? do you think this place would have been a happy, do you think this shows would have been fun with us being two and six? So like, no, the overall trajectory is still the same. But it doesn't mean that tonight doesn't stink.

It does. Is the honeymoon over? No, I don't think so. I mean, this is bad, a bad week for him. This will sting, but at the same time, a lot of goodwill's been, built up by the other earlier wins.

You know, my worry is if Butler is out, then I think that does change the ceiling for this team. Because I don't, you know, if you don't have a point guard and you have to completely change how you're going to play, I think that's going to be tough. I'm not saying it's impossible to have success, but it's going to be tough, I think. So, no, I don't think it, the honeymoon is over. you know the two questions i've always had about about pope were two very simple can he go get great players and i think he's gone and gotten really really good players i don't know if

anyone's great yet but maybe they will be of these recruits and we'll see what he does in the portal and then can he win NCAA tournament games just because he hasn't yet and we haven't played one yet so who knows who's next farmer farmer go ahead farmer yeah we may have have lost the battle tonight, but we're going to win the war. We're way better off over a year ago, and we're way better off over the next couple of years than Arkansas will be. Let's see what happens in the SEC tournament. Let's see what happens in the NC Devils tournament. Also, anyone who cheer for Cal's tonight should be disappointed themselves. He came in as the opposing coach, not a guest of Kentucky like Tubby did

tonight. Go Cat. By the way, great reception for Toby. I appreciate the call. When he came out as a Y and he came out at the worst time. We had just given up a huge run. He still got a great reaction. But I will tell you, it was really interesting. When he walked onto the floor, like when he first got there, I don't think people even noticed him. The entire arena, their eyes were fixated on when is cow going to walk out?

Like that was all anyone was looking at. No one was looking at anything else in the arena. And it was interesting to me to look around the crowd. I saw a couple of faces that were very prominent in UK world during the CalPerry era wearing Arkansas gear, which says to me that they were cow people and not Kentucky people, which is totally fine. And there were also a lot of faces that I hadn't seen in a long time that were there, that were kind of back. Robic. So, yeah.

he was there i didn't seem but i heard he was in the building somewhere i i didn't i did not seen but i heard he was there uh somewhere so um yeah who's next kathy kathy go ahead kathy hey um i have a question do you think that there's a chance that the amount of adrenaline that they ran off in that very first period when nobody could miss anything on our side just like suck the life out of them. Well, I mean, Arkansas wasn't missing anything either and they came back. I mean, maybe that had an effect, but like they were able to do it. So we have to do it.

You know what I mean? I mean, their guys played 35 plus minutes. So why can't our guys? I mean, there's a sense in which I would say, yeah, the pre-game hype didn't let anybody down. They came out. What was the score? 15 to 12 after. four minutes or 18 to 12. I mean, like, it was crazy. Everybody was hitting everything.

Our problems started in the second half. The first half, we gave up 46, which is too many, but they were hitting some shots there. I do have to shake their hand. The second half, we just got out played, and we did dumb things. And to me, we lost that game after half time, not in the first half. Okay. And then I have one more question. Why did the SEC network and ESPN Spotlight Cal like no other with Arkansas more than they did ever when he was with us? Yeah, I don't think that's fair, though. I mean, you got to remember, like in 2015, Kathy, we had they moved. What was the woman's name?

She's now on, like, Good Morning America. remember I used to always say I had a crush on her. What was her name? Kaylee Hartone. They moved her here. Oh, yeah. She lived here for two months because they did reports on us every day, like every game.

Like she came and lived here, right? I mean, they, you know, we were, when we were winning, we were huge. And tonight, objectively, if you're looking at this objectively, cow was the story. This was all cow. It was like this thing was cow. otherwise it's a one and six team against the number 12 ranked team in the country this was a cow thing and ESPN covered it honestly kathy how i would have as well okay well i was thinking more

it should have been the kids i guess yeah but that's not why people were tuned in people were tuned in and i appreciate the call they were tuned in to see that moment that you walked in you know they were using i don't know if you saw it billy they were using like movie grade cameras for that entrance which I found really. Were they? Wow. Yeah. So, like, from the Netflix show, there's a different quality.

I don't know. People who are film people would know with this, but there's a different quality camera that they use for film, right? ESPN for its big events will send a camera like that. They do it a lot on their NFL games and they do it in the college football playoff. They had that. If you go back and look at Cal walking out, it's a different quality of film than the overall camera shot. Like, they clearly were.

treating this, which is even more crazy to me why they didn't bring game day there. But they were treating, they followed him from the back, right? Like, he was the story. And I think that's, and he won. I mean, he got, I would think for him, this would have to be one of the most, if not the most satisfying wins of his career. I bet if he were honest, if he were hooked up to a lie detector, he would say the 2012 title is the most satisfying because he hadn't won one yet.

and then probably this one. I bet he would. And to be honest with you, if I was him, I'd probably feel the same way. Who's next? Jonathan. Jonathan. Jonathan. Hey, so watching Calpterty and I just felt so familiar to me.

I just remember when we had him that he can never count a mid-major out against Cal and pretty much the opposite when it came to AP top 20 teams. So just watching his team be ready for us. Didn't really surprise me. when he won, I guess part of me, since I pretty much grew up on Cal, just said, all right, take the win. Good for you. And that's the only one that I'm going to give him.

But I don't know, he gave us a lot of good wins, so it's probably not a popular opinion. But afterwards, for some reason, I wasn't really angry. I was just like, you know, good for you and enjoy yourself. Is that what you were really? Like, you really were like it's, you were just kind of like it's good for him? I grew, yeah, because I, I'm 34, so it was the lessee when I was a teenager and then adult was Cal. So for me, Cal kind of was everything for Kentucky basketball for my life. So seeing him leaving all that, I'm glad he left.

I feel like he did it to favor. So just him having to win the night. Obviously, I wanted us to win and I never want to see him beat us again. But that was just kind of, I walked away saying, you know, that's fine. Yeah, well, I appreciate the call. It was weird for me, Billy, that twice ESPN used something I said or wrote on the broadcast. Oh, they did. They used my voice to start the intro.

If you go back to the intro of the game, no, it starts with my voice. It starts with my voice going, nobody cares about winning as much as Kentucky basketball. That's like, that's how the intro started. No, I didn't even know that was going to be on there. And then they had the thing right towards the end of the game where they were, showing all the headlines when he lost to Oakland. And the very first one is like the last blog post I've written in the last two years. I've written like one post in two years.

And it was called the Calipari era ends in a whimper. And it was the first thing that came up. So I was like, thanks a lot of ESPN. Were you too nervous to watch the game at times? Were you battling with this? I turned it off a couple times. Yeah. Because I really wanted to win.

But I ended up, you know, I have to, I have to watch it enough to be able to talk about I mean, I turned it off at the start of the second half. I just, I didn't like the vibe right off the top. But I turned it back on and we were down 11. I was like, oh, I guess I was. You could really feel the crowd, though. I mean, how nervous they were in the second half. The crowd was so tight.

Yeah. The crowd was so tight. But I get it, man. The crowd wanted it so much. And they were so tight. But I don't think the players were tight because they came out playing great. But the crowd. I was definitely tight. It was awesome in there, but it was, it was tight. It's hard to describe

what it was. Let's do one more and we'll take a break. Who's next? Casey. Casey, go ahead, Casey. What's going on, Matt? Just telling you, boys, I need some cornbread hemp after that, hell. I'm going to be taking it here in 15 minutes so I can go to sleep. I got a trade to talk about on the ESPN tomorrow. Yeah, I've been watching it. I think our problem was just the lineup, but I want ask you all, would you, after that, would you rather in the tournament, because we're going to make it, they have a chance. Would you rather run into Duke because we won, or would you rather run into Arkansas if they had a chance in the tournament? I'll hang up a moot. Well, of course, I'd rather run into Arkansas because they're going to be easier to be. I mean, Duke's really good, I think.

I appreciate the call. We got them at the perfect time right at the start of the year. And if you remember, their big got hurt in the middle of the game. So, yeah, I'd want to play Arkansas. Now, if we lost to twice that wouldn't be good but yeah I would definitely want to play them they're not going to play this good the rest of the year although I do think they should have been a lot better this year than they were so tonight I said on their podcast I thought they were going to have a night like this I just didn't want it to be against us but then it was so 859 28027 we'll take a break and come back for the final segment the local toy dealers KSR post game show Welcome back. Final segment, local toy dealers, KSR post-game show.

Really was stupid for game day not to be there tonight. Worst Carolina team like ever. And they go to that game. And I just, I don't know how you couldn't have, I don't know how they couldn't have come. I will say for that Vice documentary, Cal has to like that that's episode one now, right? Oh, that's the perfect start to the documentary.

I mean, I'm not watching it. I'm glad I didn't do the interview. Seth has got to feel pretty vindicated right now, huh? I mean, I'm sure he thinks that. But again, I don't think it changes the trajectory at all, right? Like, I still don't think the overall narrative of this divorce has changed. The difference is, again, to use the couple analogy, she got to have like a heck of a date, right?

So you and she broke up. Things have not been going well for her, but she did meet George Clooney on a trip to Hawaii and got to have a heck of a weekend. And that's kind of what happens. And you're like, really? But at the end of the day, it's still the right thing. now for mark pole

this is the first real negative thing that's happened you know he sounded devastated which i would have expected but you know it does make it to where like you know they got to finish strong because this one this one will sit if the season were to kind of fall apart

then that would that would be not positive for him i still don't think I mean, I, you know, I've looked at a lot of the stuff. I haven't seen a lot of negativity towards Pope. There's just a lot of lie. Man, this stinks. You know, and why couldn't Cal? One person wrote and said to me, Billy,

Cal continues to break our hearts in Rupp Arena. Well, there's, you know, there's something to that, at least in the post-COVID years. Who's next? Mary. Mary, we'll do five more. Go ahead, Mary. Four after this.

Go ahead. Hey, Matt. It's Mary from St. Martin. It's about 2.35 in the morning down here. Okay. And I'm going to just get on here. Yeah. Besides, you know, all of the stuff that I could get into about the game that

infuriated me, like the fact of we never could play a decent lineup to save our lives or the turnovers or anything like that. The thing that has infuriated me the most is all the former players on Twitter that are deciding to clap back at the BBN. Like, don't do that to the program. that has supported you whenever that you are sucking it up in the G league, don't go against the program that no matter what, we have defended you saying that you are a good basketball player.

And they continue to do that. I don't care if Cal is their coach. You say good game coach. We love you. We're proud of you. And BBN, so sorry. Y'all played a good game to not. Yeah, that is disappointing.

I mean, it's disappointing. There's no doubt about that. And the ones that are sort of talking trash with Kentucky fans, I don't get it. I'm going to chalk it up to people do stupid stuff. when they're young. But yeah, I mean, I saw Taitai Washington did it. Jacob Toppin. Mints.

I didn't think Menses was bad. He just said like good game coach, right? I didn't think that was bad. But, you know, in general, I agree with you, Mary, and I appreciate you staying up. Thank you very much. You know, but again, okay, so that goes back to the tradeoff you make with cow. The tradeoff you make with cow is an underscure.

that these dudes are coming here for cow right they're coming here for cow so what often happens is they fall in love with this place while they're here and that's what's happened with so many of cow's guys over the years but when the kid has a year that doesn't go great and they didn't come here for kentucky they came here for cow they may not leave with quite the whole feeling that's feeling that's we wish. And I wonder if that's the case like with Taitai, who I love Taitai, by the way. Taita is one of my favorite players in recent years. I love the way he played. I think he was underrated good. I think we got hurt. That was something that hurt that team.

But they lost to St. Peters. And he was on that team. And so his experience, if he came here for Cal, then lost to St. Peters and we got all that negativity, like he may look at it differently. And he may be more cow than can't. Kentucky. So I'm not shocked about those tweets. I am shocked about Reed, though, because he's from here. You know, Tata's from like Dallas. He's from here. His dad played here and his mom

play. I just, I don't want to beat the kid up about it. People, but like, I don't, that wouldn't just shocks me. Really does. And I, I do think Billy, it's going to stick with him for a while. I don't know if he'll stick with him forever, but it'll stick with him for a while. I saw him talking about it. He said he thought it would be funny. Well, he read the room wrong. And I could have told him that. You know, I don't know a lot, but I know this fan base pretty well.

And I knew that. When I saw that picture, I thought it was AI, Billy. I did. I thought there's no way that kid wore that. Yeah, bad timing. Yeah. All right, four more. Who's next?

Bradley. Bradley. Go ahead, Bradley. Go ahead, Bradley. Yes. I live out. Can you hear me? I live out in Texas.

You know, I was wanting to win this game. Because Texas A&M and Texas Longhorns join the SEC, you know, I just want to show everybody what Kentucky basketball is about. But it doesn't matter. You know, I was a Cal fan. I love Cal. We went to Arkansas. It's over.

Hope is here now. It's one basketball. basketball games. Yeah. Let's just enjoy these cats. March will come. March is March. We'll see what happens in March.

And let's just support our team. I love Kentucky basketball. Go cats. I don't disagree with what you said. I mean, I really don't. I will say, you know, it's tough. It's tough in this moment. But we play Ole Miss Tuesday night on the road.

That's top 15 team on the road, right? Like, you know, we're going to have to get over it quick. So, yeah. You're right. But this is tough. And I love to, you know, I saw a lot of people there tonight. I talked to a couple of cows close friends who I still remain friendly with. And I hadn't seen them since they left.

And I talked to him and I was like, man, tell me how he's doing. Right. And they all said, look, he's doing good. Like, you know. And basically, I was like, well, I'm good. I'm glad to hear that. Now, I thought we were going to win, Billy. I thought that message would have been like a lot better had we won the game.

Yeah. But, you know, he looked healthy, but I wish he'd lost. Three more. Who's next? Austin. Austin, go ahead. Boy, did DJ look good in that second half, too. Well, he looked awful in the first half and great in the second half.

Yeah. Go ahead. Yeah, can you hear me, Matt? Yes. Hey, yeah, I just got two quick points. It's kind of flip-flop tonight. Like John Caliperi last year, you know, we had subs who needed. needed to come off the bench more.

And this year with Pope, it's different. We have bench players who are kind of playing too many minutes, you know? Yeah. And then the second point was I felt like when we were up 18 to 12, I think we had Garrison Carr and Travis Perry and Chandler in, and Arkansas just started chipping away at that point. And then they just took over the second half, and we can never guard the three from that.

I'm sure he has an answer for this. Yeah, I'm sure he has an answer for this, but I'm with, I don't understand why he feels the need Pope to play all those guys together, right? Like, I mean, you're going to have to play Garrison some. You probably in this game, have to play Perry a little bit because he's a point guard,

you know, whatever. But why do they all have to be in together? Like, I'm sort of of the belief, and I appreciate the call. I'm of the belief that I don't know that I want to see many times. a lineup that does not include at least two of Robinson Oway Embraea on the floor. And honestly, if we're being honest, I think I'd throw Amari in there to say, I need three of those four guys on the floor at all times.

Embraia is a liability defensively. So we have to understand that when he's in, you need to consider who you're putting in with him because he's a liability defensively. you know at one point we had perry chandler braya all manure garrison you're asking to get run out of the gym with that lineup because none of them can guard anybody well chanler can guard a little bit the rest of those guys can't guard anybody and you can't put all those dudes on the floor again amar if you're going to have a guard who can't stay in front of somebody you need amari okay if you're going to have garrison in then you need to have guards who can defend we can't put like we there can never be a moment, in my opinion,

where Perry, Brea, and Almanor are on the floor at the same time. Because if you do that, everybody's going to be open. And that's what happens. Alamara played good. Yeah, but he can't guard. I like Almanor a lot, but he cannot guard. At least he can score better than Kobe.

He can, which is why you got to play him in which he's valuable. But like the three that I thought was the most important shot of the game, game big Z's, Olminor didn't get out and get on him, right? Like, you know, listen, don't get me wrong. Almanor's been a lot better than I thought he'd be, but he can't defend, and neither can bray.

And you're going to have to start them both. So if you start them both, you better be very careful that you don't leave them both in there and then put on another guy who can't defend. And that's what we did, I think, too often. Two more. Who's next? Anthony.

Anthony. Anthony, go ahead, Anthony. Hey, Matt, can you hear me? Yes. Big Blue Anthony era, first time, long time. Who are? I'm just curious, how are you feeling after tonight, and are you feeling vindicated after the result tonight?

What do you mean vindicated? I mean, we lost. How do you feel about the whole cow situation and how tonight transpired? I mean, it stinks. But it doesn't change. I was still right. There need to be a change.

I mean, again, let's say Cal had stayed. You know what our record would be in the SEC? Two and six. Do you think that's better than four and four? No, he won tonight. And Cal, to his credit, Cal has won, Cal's a good winner, meaning like he's classy and wins. He said after the game, this is one game.

He was like, it's the best we've played all year. This is one game. He's right. This is one game. But the overall trajectory of the program, I was correct, as were most fans. So this didn't, I mean, let me ask you a question. You think Cal would have beaten Duke this year?

You think Cal would have had the record he has? I mean, he's got the same team. We would have had that team here, right? So I wish him, now that this game's over, I wish him the best. I want to beat him at some point, but I wish him the best. But the change still needed to be made regardless of the result tonight. I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I think I feel like a lot of the Big Blue Nation does tonight. Who?

Who are these people? I've not seen one person. I mean this. I looked, I looked, because the haters come out when we lose, and they especially come out in my mentions. I looked. I didn't see one person. I didn't see one person say they wished Cal Perry was still a coach here. I have not.

Maybe they exist. No, but who is that? I said tonight's stunk. Of course it stunk. Of course it stunk. But that has nothing to do with the, when you say vindicated. Like tonight is terrible. We can all agree on that.

But the results of where these programs are is exactly what we've said. It's just tonight's stunk. You know, you have a bad marriage. The divorce still needed to happen, whether your next girlfriend works or not. Yeah, I mean, I don't necessarily disagree with you. But I just can I think all the same? It does. I agree.

Appreciate the call. Let's do one more. Who's next? Duane. Dwayne. Dwayne, finish strong. I don't know how strong it's going to be because it's probably negative. Like Reed Shepard, he should have read the room.

That wasn't the best look he could have done. No. And on my next point, Kobe Brea. By the way, before. you do the second point. I didn't know, Billy, he said he thought it was funny. Like, did he really think that was going to go over? He has to know. He grew up in London. He also said three of his teammates went to Arkansas too. That was also part of it. Okay. If he had lost a bet, but this is the night of the game. I did. Like, I'm sorry, man. I don't care if all your teammates

went to Arkansas. I got, I don't get it. Anyway, go ahead. Kobe Brough. Kobe Brayle. I'm I mean, I don't want to trash the kid, but he has a good game, hits sixers, five or six three-pointers, and then the next four or five games, he scores five points, and we keep putting him out there. And, like, everybody says, oh, he's this great three-point shooter. He's this great three-point shooter. And he has four or five games where he hits one or two and one or two. And he's not good on defense. The problem, though, is, okay, so the problem, though, is this is where the injuries hurt you.

Because I agree with you that if Kobe Bray is not hitting threes, he's a liability. But here's the problem. You take him out, who you're going to put in? All right, who are you going to put in? If Butler was healthy or Kerr was healthy, then the answer would be you would take him out and you would put Butler in and you'd say, sorry, Kerr, excuse me, sorry, Braya, this is not your night. And we had some games like that earlier in the year. But when they're hurt, then the question is, okay, now what?

Are we going with Colin Chandler, which they did tonight a lot, and then we lose a shooter, we lose a score, or are we going with Perry as a point guard, and then all the problems with that? Like, there's not an easy answer. So you're right. When he's not hitting threes, he does hurt you. But with these injuries, I don't know what there are other options are, to be honest with you. I mean, I don't know either. I mean, you heard Pope say,

Pope say he might try know it the three. Maybe that'll be an option. You know, I appreciate the call. I hope, you know, the problem was this Arkansas team is, like all cow teams, really, really, really athletic. And so we are really, really, really not athletic. So we've got to hit shots. And if you're playing the most athletic team,

you're going, one of the most athletic teams you're going to play, and you, not only are they more athletic than you, you let them out shoot you, well, you're going to lose, right? I mean, with the athletes they have, if you tell me before the game, they're going to make more threes than us, then I'm like, well, we lost, and that's what happened. So tough night, it is. Pretty terrible loss.

Thank you folks for staying up, or if you're listening on podcast. I'm going to go to bed so I can get up and talk about Luca and AD. I need an opinion, Billy. Give me one real quick. What are the Talus Mavericks doing, Myron? That's what that they'll be. Yeah, worst GM, worst trade of all time in the NBA.

They say they don't like him because he's overweight. What about Yonkis? See, I'm practicing. I'm ready to go. Thank you all very much. Bad loss, but we'll be back to do it again Tuesday. This has been the local toilet dealers, KSR, post-game show. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guide,

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.

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