KSR - KSR Postgame UK MBB vs Bellarmine 12/23/25

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

Ryan and Billy recap the Cats' 99-85 win vs Bellarmine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It wasn't pretty. It wasn't the most prettiest thing I've ever seen. But Kentucky, a winner over Bellarmine, 9985 at Rupp Arena on a rare Tuesday afternoon game here before Christmas. make Big Blue Nation a little brighter for Christmas going into the Christmas holiday. Got some good things to talk about. Got some bad things to talk about. But the main thing is they got the win. Huge crowd.

You heard Coach Pope talk about it in the postgame show. This is the game where all the people who come home for the holidays get to use the family tickets that they never get to use during the season. We had usually when they play a team like Bellarmine or Eastern Illinois or Valpo or something like that, we have a ton of tickets to give away on the pregame show. Today we had none. Zero. The KS Bar was packed because a lot of fresh new faces for people that wanted to go watch the cats play. They saw an exciting offense.

We got some work to do on defense, maybe. But the cats get the win. They now improved to 9 and 4 going into SEC play. Now there's a big break. I mean, now there's 11 days before they play again. January 3rd at Alabama for the SEC opener. It's a long layoff with no game. They used to sneak in the Louisville game.

They kind of scheduled it between Christmas and years, several years in a row there. So they need, if I felt like they needed something, a little warm-up or tune-up before you get into SEC play. Jalen Lowe did not play today, resting that injured shoulder, as he should have rested it. No need to get him out there and get dinged up, banged up a little bit with conference play getting ready to start. Jaden Quaintens played limited minutes, didn't play a whole lot. What do you get, Billy?

He only got like eight minutes or something, I think. Yeah, it wasn't a lot. It was eight. That's what I thought. Very limited minutes. And then, I guess, the only kind of concern is Brandon Garrison kind of tweaked his knee a little bit, didn't play it all in the second half. But now you got 11 days to rest everybody, get ready for SEC play.

So I guess the question for everybody is, how do you feel? I mean, they've won four games in our first. row, right? I mean, they're on a four-game winning streak right now. How do you feel about the team going into conference play? Have they turned a corner? I got a great tweet from somebody. I need to go back and find it because the tweet was, will we look back on this game as where we turn the corner when he comes to shooting? Here he goes, might look back at today as the turning point in shooting from the B-dub 77. And it's possible the way Cam Williams shot the ball, Aberdeen shot the ball, everybody was hitting three. I mean, Billy, the other day against St. John, they only took 16-3-pointers, hit four of them. Tonight, they hit 16-3-pointers. Shooting 16 of 30, just really shot lights out. Going to the game, there were two things. We said, talk about this on the pre-game show.

There were two areas we were going to look at. How did they shoot the basketball? Much improved, 16 of 30, and the assist to turnover ratio. Because they had more turnovers than assists against St. John's. Tonight, 24 assists, 10 turnovers. A lot of guys, great handling the basketball. Jasper Johnson had seven assists, one turnover, playing and running the point. So a lot of good things to talk.

So Billy, we've got the good and the bad. Which one you want to start with? Always at the bad. Start with the bad. You want to start with the bad? Yeah. Belvin did whatever they wanted to do offensively. Our defense was very lacking.

and if you listen to the radio broadcast, you heard Jack Givens over and over and over talk about how Bellarmine is a very efficient offense, and Kentucky can't stop them, and Kentucky needs to make a stop, and they couldn't. Just time after time after time, Bellarmine did whatever they wanted, and no disrespect to Bellarmine, but this is Bellarmine. You know, you played a great defensive game the other night against St. John's, and you couldn't stop Bellarmine.

They gave up 85 points to Bellarmine. that's got to get better. That's got to improve. I mean, Jalen Lowe may be your fourth best defender on the perimeter, but with him out there, the other guys can slide into their natural position and play defensively. Like Denzel Abidina and Otega, I think are great defenders. Colin Chandler's a pretty decent defender.

But for whatever reason today, we had problems the entire game. How did you see it, Billy? Yeah, I mean, the zone was giving them issues. and I mean just one-on-one defense was bad at times. I mean, Goose was screaming for a kill, which is what, three or four straight stops in a row, and Kentucky was struggling to get that. You've got to tip their cap to them, though.

I mean, they executed really well. They had their one player that was shooting from all over the place. So, I mean, I do want to say that they did play well today. The fighting, Shannon the dudes, came to play at Rupp Arena today as Bellarmine and his alma mater played very well. Yeah, their big guy, Karazinsky, 24 points. I mean, he was a load, man. They had trouble with him.

And with JQ, just getting kind of limited minutes, they couldn't find anybody to match up with him. Diabate is your one guy that Bellamond didn't have a matchup for. I mean, he had 20 points, five rebounds, and he's just a, they had nobody to match, excuse me, match up with his strength, most of the game. But, I mean, and, you know, we just talked about it on the pregame show, how could this be that elite defensive team that Pope teased us with all summer long?

praised how good a defensive team they could be. And then we saw against St. John's at full roster, at full strength, what they could do defensively. It kind of took a step backwards today, I felt like, and that's not what you want. I know they got the win, but still, man, you let Bellarmine let you up for 85 points. That's not a good sign.

Do you agree? Yeah, I agree, but, you know, Jane Quaiton's definitely didn't play as much as he would in a normal game, right? Just getting him back into shape. Brandon Garrison went out early with a knee injury. but you know that's that's his own right and we knew kentucky was going to see that at some point so now let's get to the good yeah and there's one storyline and it's cam williams the dude took 10 three-pointers only took 10 shot didn't take a two-pointer took 10 three-pointers and hit

eight of them you'd be hard-pressed to find most guys that can't hit eight out of 10 just standing by yourself out in the driveway or in practice he hits eight of of 10 in a game and that's the Cam Williams we kept hearing about all summer long all ever practicing he never misses he shoots lights out dude was on fire one more three-pointer would have tied Tony Ducks 30 year record of nine three-pointers in a game at Rupp Arena I mean he shoots like that everything else offensively is just going to open up for that basketball team he was he was on fire today billy yeah and we and he's kind of been waiting for a shot to go down and defense has allowed him to stay on the floor

right and so in his interview with jack he said he was rushing his jump shot in these early games and he finally calmed down and and scored 26 points in 22 minutes Ryan that was a great performance wasn't it good point 26 points in 22 minutes just like felt like every time he let it go he was going to he was going to hit it gave a little tachian prince that one time after he hit like maybe his fourth one like put his hands up in here like yeah what are you going to do I'm going to hit it so they also it's a heat check too I love heat checks amen the whole arena one wants you to shoot that ball. And it kind of overshadowed,

overshadowed, Denzel Aberteen shooting performance. Dude hit four three-pointers. Hit a couple early in the game right off the bat. Where's that been? I mean, he's kind of been shooting since December hit. He's been shooting really poorly. But nobody's going to remember him hitting four three-pointers

because Cam Williams hit eight. Yeah, I wanted to get that record too. But Kentucky doesn't get 100. They don't get the record, but it's still, like you said, in the pregame, probably a feel-good win despite the defensive issues, right? Yeah. And the other thing

that probably nobody's going to really talk about because Cam had such a big game, Otega O'A almost had a triple double. Ten points, 10 assists, eight rebounds. He floated with, I thought he was going to get it. I mean, because they kept the guys

in there, you know, even towards the end of the game, the final minutes. I thought, man, all he needs is two more rebound to get a triple double. you know, 10 points is not his the average, but they didn't need that. He did the other things with Jaylon Lowe out. 10 assists. Good to see, isn't it, Billy?

It is. It is, man. And it just gives so much credence to that. He can be the second or third best option on the team. But if he's the first, you know, it's, I don't know if that's his role. And so hopefully he can continue to continue his play to get better and better. So the cats get the win. The crowd, the good crowd, gets a little Christmas bonus after the game.

If you heard Coach Pope's comments. He had the players go into one of the suites there at Rupp Arena and all the fans who stayed to hear him doing his postgame show, which apparently a lot of fans were there, didn't know this. But when he finished, they took all the fans in. They were going to get autographs and the players. Players weren't going to sign until everybody got every autograph that they wanted. Just a little Christmas bonus for those fans that not only went to the game, but stuck around for his postgame comments. I loved it. I loved everything about it.

The Pope Girls, as he calls them, were handing out some special kind of books made of pictures. They must take, you know, a lot of photos and then put them in a special book. Just going to randomly give them to some fans, another little nice Christmas bonus. So everybody leaves Rupp Arena probably feeling a little happier. Yep. And Bellerman was one free throw away from breaking a record in Rupp Arena for consecutive free throws made to start a game by opposing team. They were 15 of 15 and then missed the record breaking one. I kind of lost track.

The guy missed two in a row. Fans still got the chicken fillet sandwiches. Do they still do the Chick-fil-A promotion? I don't know, but they all clapped. They all got really loud. Like maybe they thought they were going to, or maybe they put it up on the Jumbotron or something. You know, here's a little secret.

What? You don't have to be at the game if somebody misses two free throws. I'm just telling you. You got the Chick-fil-A app, and you go by Rupp Arena Oh, that's good enough. I just show up. You could probably do it from the IHeart building right there.

Just open up your app, and if it happens, you can get the free chicken sandwich. Oh. Just keep that between you and me. All right. Kentucky's got 11 days off now until they play at Alabama on January 3rd at noon, and now we want to hear from you. 859-280-287, 8-5-9-280 Cats.

By the way, if you're leaving Rupp Arena right now, don't go down Leastown Road. There's a water main break on Lees Town Road, like around, what is that, Forbes Road, that intersection right there at Forbes Road. Do not go down there. The road is closed both ways because of a water main break. And all those people that are like going back to Western Kentucky

or Louisville that are going down Leastown Road to get on I-64, go a different direction because it's all traffic. It's a mess right now. So there's your little traffic tip from Officer Don here on. the postgame show. All right, well, take our break.

Come back. 859, 280, 2287, Ryan and Billy here on the local total leaders, KSR postgame show. We'll be right back. Welcome back. This is the local total leaders KSR postgame show. Katz a winner at Rupp Arena, 99, 85,

kind of a little pre-Christmas gift for all Big Blue Nation, improving to 9 and 4 on the season. I mean, probably most people had them, maybe, what, 10 and 3, maybe 11 and 2? I mean, despite their four kind of ugly, Well, a couple really ugly losses. Nine and four kind of feels like, Billy, that's kind of where most people kind of probably thought

they were going to be going into the conference season. Yeah, maybe. Some of the showings in the non-conference haven't been great, namely that one in Nashville. But look, there's a lot of positive momentum after these last two games, right? Yeah. I think I had them in 11 and 2. I was a little more optimistic,

but I had them winning against Gonzaga and losing to St. John. That's why I remember picking it that way. So they still got some work to do, especially on the defensive end. All right. 859-280-2287. That's our phone line if you want to call and get on board. Who we got first, Billy? Matt and Nola.

Matt in Nola. Matthew, how are you doing down there? I'm well. I'm standing on the sidelines of the historic New Orleans Bowl and the Superdome. And getting ready, we are one hour away from a kick. And ready to rock for the first ever. play-by-play experience. Now, you seem to, when you were here in Lexington,

I'm starting to get a little concerned, maybe a little anxious about doing the game. Have you settled in a little bit? Yeah, a little bit. I mean, I'm still a little anxious, but I'm much better. You know, I did a lot of preparation about the teams. We met the coaches yesterday,

so I feel like I know a little bit more about it. It's cool to be here, you know, to be in the Superdome. I haven't been here since we won the national championship in 2012. and, you know, I'm looking forward to it. I'm not going to lie and say that, like, I feel as easy as I do for most radio shows, but I do think I think I have a better grasp, and it's amazing how much, I want to say,

like how much help you have for this. I have a spotter. I have a stats guy. I have two producers. So they'll help me get through it, I think, over the course of the time. Can you share with us, kind of what your conversations were like with the coaches? Yeah, you know, it's interesting.

I've never done that, obviously, and the coaches will tell you a lot. They'll tell you, like, the trick plays they're going to run so that you can be ready to see them. So I know both teams. I know some of the trick plays they're going to do. Clearly, you have to commit to not telling the other team. And it's interesting because one coach will tell you something. Like, because you ask them, what do you think the other team? team's going to do. And then you ask the team, the other team, what are you going to do? And sometimes

what the coach thinks is true. And sometimes it's not. And you can't say it, right? It's right. So that's kind of interesting to me. Like, you know, you go, okay, well, there's something special you're going to do. And they tell you. So that makes sense to me when you watch a game, like when Tony Romo or those people kind of predict the plays, I'm not saying like, it takes a little of a magic away because especially if you know football like they kind of told you when we line up like this this is what's happened well the the the i think most of us are kind of listening to going to listen to the game to see how you actually handle the uh the play by play part like the professional part of it are you going to do it ksr style or you're going to be professional style um probably a mix right

i mean they are very big on time down score time down score they tell you say say the uh the time the down yard line, like every play, score, you know, every drive. So, I mean, that's one of the things they kind of pound in your head. You know, making sure that I say people's names. Yes. Some of these dudes have difficult names. It's hard to express how high up in the air I am. I mean, we are at the app, I'm on the field right now.

But when we call it, we are so high up in the air that it's going to be hard to see. And I don't like using binoculars because it doesn't give your field of vision right. So that's going to be tough. But, you know, you've got people who spot and say, that's that guy, that, that, that's that guy. So hopefully it works out. It's going to be weird because the Louisville Toledo game apparently is running long. So we're going to have to call the game at the beginning, even though no one's listening. I'm actually kind of think that'll be very awkward.

Yeah. Well, it kind of helped you maybe settle in a little bit, and then once you take, they come to you. Maybe. but like I don't know. You know, these people I'm working with, I'm now away from them so I can say it. They're all very skeptical. I can just tell. I can tell because they all are like, really, this is your first game?

So we're going to win them over, buddy. Well, Billy has done nothing but cry because he wanted to be down there with you as part of this bowl game experience. Yeah, Billy would have been good. I mean, like, he, you know, they have a setup where everybody stands. Billy would have been right next to me. I would have made him do a lot of work. I have a spotter sheet like we talked about, got it laminated this morning at the FedEx that was in the hotel. Nice.

So I'm running to a lot of KSR listeners even here. Brian Macy, who I went to college with, is the team doctor for Western. You remember Bill Jones, Ryan, that played on my Caliperi Fantasy Camp team the first year? I know the older gentleman that was on my team. You love him. He was from Paducah, wasn't he? Yes, he's down here. He's a Western booster, so it's been kind of fun.

Were you able to keep up with the Kentucky game? Do you have any thoughts on it, what you saw today? I just saw that it was close. I would look at the score. I think at one point I looked at it was 26, 24, and I was going crazy. I saw Cam had eight threes. I'll watch it probably tomorrow on the flight home, but give me the short of it.

Why did we allow so many points? Our defense kind of stunk. I mean, Bellerman did whatever they wanted the entire game. We could not get a stop against Bellarmine and gave up 85 points. So people kind of alarmed about that part of the game today. Well, that is alarming. I mean, now, we did play great defense against St. John's. And it's weird with Jalen Lowe out, the defense actually arguably better, you know,

and the fact that it was worse, that's a little troubling. But, you know, first, last game before Christmas, people probably want to go home. So I won't be too concerned. But that's a, allowing 85 points to a Belmont team is not good. Isn't really a great sign. Yeah, hopefully they found them. The shooting eye, they found it, but now they've got to figure out how to do something on the other side on the defensive end.

I mean, they could not stop Bellarm. Belmont did whatever they want. I will say to everybody listening, I'm not allowed to take calls, which is probably a good decision now that I'm here. I can kind of see how it would have been weird. But I can use the text machine. So if people text during the game, I'm going to read some on the air. And, you know, it should be pretty good.

I've enjoyed it so far. And hopefully, I think I'm going to be nervous when we start. But I think when I settle into the groove, we'll be okay. Myron is odd because Myron normally is the most nervous person for everything. And he's like, he's acting like, you know, Troy Aitman here. He has no concern in the world. and he's never done it either, so I'm just going to follow his lead. He's trying to relax, keep you relax.

He's trying to be that guy. I think he is. I think he is. He just keeps looking at me and going like, you're going to do great. And I go, well, now you're making it worse by continuing to say that. But it'll be fine, once you get started. You'll be fine. Like I said, once you get going, you'll settle in, kind of get in the groove,

and then you'll get the flow of it, and you'll be just fine. I have some really good Haddysburg and Bowling Green facts. So people from Bowling Green, you're going to hear a lot about you, including some history I didn't know, so it should be great. But thank you all very much, everybody listening. Thanks for, you know, people sent really nice messages. And I will not be back on a KSR show until after Christmas.

So Merry Christmas, everybody, including Ryan, you and Billy. Yeah, Merry Christmas to you, ma'am. Safe Travel's coming back, and we're all in the kickoffs at 530, correct? Eastern time? It is at 5.5. I think our broadcast might start a little bit late, but the kickoff is scheduled. The kickoff will be at 530. I don't know when we will actually go ahead.

Go kill it. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays to you guys and Karen and Larry, and we'll see next year then, I guess. Sounds great. See you guys. All right. There's Matt and Nola. How about that? Our lead off caller, Billy,

from Matt and Nola, giving us a little shout out. The Superdome is the highest press box in the NFL, I believe. So it is high up there. Good thing he's got a spotter. Well, I worry about him because he said he didn't. He doesn't like using binoculars. I think that's one thing Tom Hart told him, man.

Make sure you get a good pair of binoculars. because you're going to need them. Yeah, how else are you going to be able to see the people out there? But that's odd that we may not be able to hear it until the game is like in the first quarter or second quarter, you know, so we'll have to see. Yeah, all right. So Matt from Noah, our first caller, kickoff for his game is at 5.30. Let's get back to our calls now. Who we got next, Billy?

Let's go to Ethan. Ethan. Go ahead, Ethan. Hey, Ryan. I appreciate y'all taking my call. I just wanted to say I'm glad see Cam got going. Although the defense was a little concerning today, I don't know how big of a deal it's going to be long term. They just did a lot of ball watching today, and I hope they can figure that out over the Christmas break.

But Merry Christmas to you. I appreciate you all. I appreciate it. Yeah, he's right. They did do a lot of ball watching today. I mean, I really don't know what happened to the defense today. They look so good against St. John's, and really you just take Jaden Lowe out of it. And Matt, like Matt said, you take Jaden Lowe off the floor.

You think you'd get maybe even a little better. defensively and they got worse. Maybe they overlooked Bellarmine. Maybe they were looking ahead to the holidays. Maybe they wanted one of the Pope books from the Pope girls. I mean, I don't know, Billy, what was the answer? Why the defense was poor today? Do you have an answer? Well, Jack said

they didn't look very motivated or interested out there on defense, which is entirely possible, right? Bellarmine, before the holiday, maybe they just didn't lock in like they needed to. And Pope, I'm sure, is going to grill them for that and have them run at practice, I'm sure. Because it was just

the Gonzaga game, just a couple weeks ago, Jack said he could tell during pregame they were not focused, they were not ready, they were not energized. I don't like that. I don't like the fact you can't get up for a game, even if it is Bellarmine. You still got to bring your A game

because Bellarmine kind of made you look silly on that end of the floor. Who's next, Billy? Sean is next. Sean, go ahead, Sean. What's up, guys? Hope everybody has a Merry Christmas. I've got a couple comments and I've got a question.

All right. My comments are, guys, listen, we have got to have low on the floor, especially on the offensive end. He just creates more shots. He opens up the floor. I mean, I could probably take JQ and Lowe and bring JQ up to the top and let him roll to the basket and get all I want on the offensive end, man. Just throw it up to him and then let everybody else just crash the boards.

And another thing, the defense, man, just like you guys said, 85 points to Bellarmine. Come on, we've got to be more engaged on both ends. And I'm telling you right now, it just scares me to death. I just hope that Jay Leno, his shoulder, stays healthy, and we've got to have him, man. If we ain't got Jaylon Lowell, we're just not very good at all. And I've got the question is,

will you think their record of being the SEC when they start play? And I'll get off here. Merry Christmas and everybody, and go Big Blue. I appreciate it, Sean. You know, the thing about the SEC is it's not near as strong as it was last year when like what what 14 teams make the NCAA tournament or something ridiculous number nowhere close to that right now but they've got some tough games you know tennessee has shown signs they could be really good florida kentucky has to go play calipari

at arkansas that's going to be a tough game i mean there's going to be some tough battles but it's not near as strong as it was last year so billy what do you think their record will be in the SEC uh when they play their 16 games yep sorry i was on the phone oh that's all right we were just talking about wanted to know what we thought the SEC record was going to be this year. Okay. Well, I'm going to go, I'm going to go 11 and 5. 11 and 5. See, they're on a roll now, so like I don't know what my expectations are.

So I'd say probably a little less than that, 10 and 6 for me. I almost went 12 and 4. You went the other way. Yes. I just feel like Jalen Lowe, they're going to miss him a game or two. He's just going to get bumped, get heard, and they're going to just, that's just, just, expect that that's going to happen. You hope it doesn't happen a big game when they're playing Florida,

or Tennessee, or Arkansas, or Alabama, their first. Well, it should be ready to go by the Alabama game. And what is it? The tough teams are on the road this year? Yeah, that's another thing. And the easy teams are at home. Yeah. So they're going to drop a few.

I'll go 11 and 5, and hopefully I've underrated the team a little bit. All right, well, take our break, come back, go back to the phone lines, 859-280-2-287. Ryan and Billy on the local Toyota dealers, KSR Postgame Show. We'll be right back. All right, welcome back. local Toyota leaders KSR postgame show Ryan and Billy

859-280-2-87 that's 859-280-80 cats couple corrections we've got to make Billy imagine that we made a boo-boo Yeah They don't do the chick-fil-a promotion at Rupperin anymore when the opposing team misses two back-to-back free throws Hmm

So they haven't done it all year That stinks But the crowd cheered today Like they didn't know Like oh they missed two They thought they were going to get the free chicken fillet sandwich Boopoopi do

Don't get it And they play 18 SEC Games now instead of 16 I knew that So what do you So from an 18 game schedule I'm gonna say I'll say Golly

I want to say 13 and 5 13 and 5 or 12 and 6 I'll say 11 and 7 then You're going 11 and 7 Why aren't you a little more optimistic About the team with Quaton and low back Well they just gave up 85 points to Bellarm Fair.

I mean, now, Jane Quentin's only played eight minutes in this game. Yes. So he will have a bigger impact, but Jalen Lowe's probably going to miss a game, right? Is Cam Williams going to hit eight threes? What does this game look like if Cam Williams doesn't hit eight threes? Man, that's a great point. What if he has a normal shooting game and he only hits three of them? It's not easy to win on the road.

So we'll see, but I mean, I've liked what I've seen from Diabate and Quaitans, but defensively they took a step back today. The development had nobody to match up Diabate, but SEC teams do have people to match up against Diabate. So he won't be able to get 20 points and kill everybody down low like he did today. 859-280-2287. All right, let's go back to the phone lines. Who we got? Before we do, I need to give our Johnny Rocker, personal injury attorney, moneymaker of the game.

Oh, I tell you what, if you don't pick the person who deserves it, I'm coming across the airwaves and hitting you. Injured, get small town compassion with big city results. when you call the Rocker at 270 321-4429. Now, while Cam was great, our moneymaker of the game is the guy that was dropping dimes. That was Otega Owe. He scored 10 points. He had 10 assists and 8 rebounds, just two rebounds shy of that triple double, and led the team in plus minus in plus 14 and 33 minutes.

That is our Johnny Rocker, personal injury attorney, moneymaker of the game. I'll let you slide. I thought you were going to go with Cam Williams with these eight three-pointers, but yeah, Otega just two rebounds away from a triple double that's going to get overlooked because the Cam had such a big game today, you know, with the eight out of ten three-pointers. Yeah, and I don't always like to give the Moneymaker to the best player of the game. We've got to try to highlight some other people, but I think always a big part of that SEC stretch we were talking about, Ryan, and how good he plays will determine how many wins they have.

Speaking of Moneymaker, when are you going Christmas shopping? I did the rest of it yesterday, so I'm actually in the clear, Ryan. What about you? Well, after the pregame show, I went to Kroger and got my Christmas grocery order finally picked out. You know, spent like a gazillion dollars at Kroger on food. But I've still got a couple Christmas gifts I still need to get. Yeah, go out into the chaos. Go out into the chaos tomorrow. That's what it's all about.

Yeah. All right, who's next? Cadence. Cadence. Cadence. Yeah, so I'm called her a couple weeks ago before we played Gonzaga. I talked about Jasper, but I just got to come back with it. good compliments about how Jasper played today.

I thought he played really good. He had some good shots, and I thought he played well today. Obviously, we're not talking about that much, though, because Cam Williams went insane. But, yeah. All right, appreciate it, Cadence. Yeah, we knew, well, Jack and I talked about on the pregame show how this was a Jasper Johnson game.

With low-out, we both felt like they were to give Jasper a lot of minutes at point guard, let him kind of get his confidence back a little bit, kind of let him run the show, and he did. And his assists per minutes played this year are off the roof. I mean, he had seven assists today in 22 minutes. That's the thing that, from a point guard perspective, that's the one thing he can do in Lowe's absence. Now, where Jasper, I think, was kind of hurting himself a little bit,

maybe taking some bad shots, maybe rushing some shots. But that's just, you know, will come with experience and the more he learns and the more he plays and get some time on the floor. Of course, I've been a, you know I'm a big Jasper fan, so I'm going to promote him as much like, hey, but people were getting really frustrated with Jasper. I would say just be patient because that dude's a baller and you're going to need him with low shoulder throughout the season.

Yeah, no doubt. I was one of them being harsh on Jasper in the last couple games. I mean, that's somebody Kentucky paid a lot of money for. So I think he's got high expectations. The team has high expectations for him, but hopefully he can continue to progress, right? Yeah, because I'd be honest, I don't really like Aberdeen at the point. I'd rather he'd play off the ball. That's where his strengths are.

That's where he's a better player. And you need him out there. maybe he's a defender. And the way he shot the ball today, you know, maybe a little more comfortable over there on the off the ball a little bit with the Jasper, getting a lot of minutes at point. Who's next? Wayne.

Wayne, go ahead, Wayne. Got a couple of things on here I was wanting to ask about. I mean, you know, my son, he played college baddest basketball. He said I talked, he went the game. He's more analytical than I am. I talked about Jasper Johnson having six assists, and he goes, Dad, he goes, we were plus three when he was in there. He goes, so what?

You know, I mean, we were only plus three. And also, he says, with the offense that Bellarmine was running, they were on top. I don't know all the words that he says. He says, they're doing these back cuts. He said, why isn't Pope putting us in a three-two defense? He said that would completely stop Bellarmine's offense if we would have been in a three-two. Maybe. Appreciate it, Wayne.

I'm not for sure about that, but it may be, you know, apparently according to the Jack, the, uh, bellman offense was like the old Princeton offense, kind of back screens, running back doors, being very efficient. He talked about how he had like eight passes and the ball and he touched the floor one time, just, you know, really efficient. But like we said before, they did what they wanted to against Kentucky's defense. And really Kentucky couldn't stop them.

They did whatever they wanted. So, you know, maybe you're. sun's right. Maybe going to a three two zone or some sort of zone may switch it up, maybe slowed them down a little bit and, you know, cut that down, but maybe Pope was trying to work on something, you know, I don't know. We have to wait and see what he says of that. What do you think, Billy? I'm just glad Bellarmine didn't win. Shannon the dude would have been insufferable. Oh my goodness. You know, our preseason, our pregame picks, we pick a, you know, Mario puts it out on social media on a graphic. He picks that Karasinski dude to be the

player of the game all Bellarmine, you know, riding the Bellarmine train with Jack Karazinski. Yeah. But he did have 24 points in 30 minutes, four rebounds. Yeah, he played good. He did play good. All right, take another phone call.

Who we got? Sosa. Sosa. Go ahead, Sosa. Hey, what's going on, guys? Merry Christmas to you all. And thank you. Merry Christmas to you.

Quick question, kind of random. So I am interested in hearing Matt's debut how do you listen to it because I don't listen to ESPN I hate ESPN How do I listen to the game? Is there an app?

I You know ESPN app As a live radio feature If you can't use that ESPN radio Yeah I don't know if the local affiliates

are playing the game So this is the only your best bet Is that the only way you're going to hear Sosa eye heart. No. Yeah, not I heart. Not I heart.

It's strictly an ESPN broadcast, so that's the only way you're going to hear it's go. Yeah, go through that. But at kickoff at 5.30, so about the time we wrap up here in our postgame show, we can kind of tune in and see how he does. I think he's going to do fine. Billy, you've done play-by-play. I've done play-by-play. I mean, you...

Of course, not on this grand scale when the college football game and everybody's, you know, in your car listening to ESPN radio, you're going to hear Matt call this Western Kentucky Southern Miss bowl game. game. How do you think he's going to do? Yeah. If there's anybody else but Matt, I'd be worried. I mean, Matt will find a groove. He'll use facts from the text line. It'll sound like a KSR show in a game. But it is not easy

to do play-by-play for your first time, Ryan. So I'm not going to just say you can just go in there and do it because it is not easy to paint a picture like that. You know, I've done play-by-play for swimming, tennis, baseball, softball, basketball, soccer? Soccer was probably the heart because there's a lot of kind of time you got to fill during a soccer match, you know? And I don't know the game as well as I should have,

but swimming, can you imagine do a play-by-play for a swimming event? I can't. And is this TV or radio? TV is a lot easier to do. I-high. Remember the old I-high broadcast? They had the contract for the KHSAA, and I did the state tennis finals

and the state swimming finals in the state soccer finals. And actually I called Tom Hammond before I did swimming. And I said, Tom, what do you do when you call swimming? He goes, look, at this level, just make sure you mention every kid's name. Mom and dad just want to hear the kid's name. Go down everybody in every lane and then make sure you call the winner right and you'll be just fine. So that's what I did.

You know, just make sure I get everybody's name got mentioned and then call the finish. Well, you'll hear about it if you don't get the names right. Amen. Yeah. All right, let's get another phone call. Who we got? Graham. Graham.

Go ahead, Graham. You know, I'm checking that stunned me the most. It was Cam Williams. So make them. Pogue needs to be clear that can actually nail three, two of his three. And he was good checking with O-A-2. So I hope you guys have a merry cream. Graham, man.

How about that? I was a call all the day, Billy. We just let Graham cook right there. He was cooking. Praising on the swinging on the Cam Williams train right there. That's right. Great to hear Graham there. Good job, Graham.

Well, I think obviously Graham needs to go back to Rupp Arena. So it was his first game. He needs to go back if Cam Williams is going to shoot the ball like that. Like the one guy I got the tweet from, Billy, maybe this is the game where the shooting turns around. Maybe they can figure out the defensive end, but the shooting in is what's been kind of a problem most of the season. Maybe this is a turnaround. Can you buy that? Maybe, but they did shoot 33s in the game today.

That's the kind of the mark that they've wanted to play. That's right. That's right. All right, let's get another call before we'll go to a break. Who we got? Let's go to Tom. Tom, go ahead, Tom.

Hey, good afternoon, guys. I was just wondering with, I don't know if y'all seen the, heard the show last night, but Mark Pope was talking about he gave his best speech to Reed Shepard, and then at the very end of it,

I'll read was worried about was whether or not he's going to get his socks. And we've all saw the Alan Cutler thing with Mark and his socks. It was kind of funny, so it would be a good play to have a charity event have everybody bring some socks to the Ruppering and maybe we donate it to the homeless shelter or something over there.

Have a sock out night or something over there. But a cat's going to be all right. Tom only has to think Williams is my favorite player on the team. Oh, my, yeah. And you guys have a great show. Hang on, Tom, Tom. Tom, are you still there? Yes, sir.

What kind of bird you got back there? I got a parakeet and two whibbits. What's a wibbit? It kind of looks like a greyhound, but you've probably seen them in a tariff. get commercial. It's kind of in between a greyhound and an Italian greyhound, but they're, you know, they kind of look like a greyhound. They're in the greyhound family.

But the parakeets one making the noise back there. Yeah, when you get on the phone or something, she'll start chirping. She just wants to talk to you too, so all right. Appreciate it, Tom. Have a good holiday. Yeah, you want to get on KSR. Everybody loves KSR. Well, there we go, especially when Billy's running the ship.

That's when everybody wants to call and get on. All right. Appreciate it, Tom. Thank you very much. All right, we'll take our final break. Come back, get it in our final segment. Kat's a winner over Bellerman. Happy holidays.

Big Blue Nation should be happy. Got a little extra win in your stocking as you go into the holiday season. We'll be right back. Wrap it up here on the local total leaders, KSR Postgame Show. All right, welcome back. Final segment, the local total leader is KSR postgame show. This is our last live segment until, what, Billy, till Monday.

Monday, that's right. Because we have a best-of show on KSR for Christmas Eve tomorrow. Christmas Day, Thursday, and then even the day after Christmas, we have a best-of show. So this is our last chance to get on live with us. If you want to call and get on board, 859-2-802-287, we'll get a couple phone calls in. Billy, you know, I got to talk to you about something. What's that? My buddy Phil, who texts me all the time during the show, listen to the show, says this is the text he just sent me.

We can tell it's the holiday season. Billy was actually nice to a kid who called the post-game show. Yeah, I got to rehab my image a little bit with the kids, Ryan. So I try to be nice when they have a good call. Graham had a good call. Yeah, so he deserved it. I'll tell you a little behind the scenes about Billy today, too. We had our Christmas holiday party.

What day was that? Friday? Yeah, Friday. Was that yesterday? My good. Yesterday, yeah. It was yesterday. And there was a luncheon.

And there was some sandwiches left over from the luncheon. and they told Billy, help yourself. You know, when you come in on Saturday to run the game, there'll be some lunch for you in the refrigerator. So Billy, got a long day today. Game starts at one. He's got to come in about. What did you come in about?

9 o'clock, 10 o'clock to get ready for the game? 9.30. So you're going to be there all throughout the lunch hour. You go hungry. You know, I have my stomach starting to grow a little bit. I need to go get something to eat. Going in the little with the break room. Open up the refrigerator.

crickets. Somebody took your sandwiches, Billy. But it was here. They were there when I got here today. So like in between 9.30 and like 1 p.m., somebody had taken every sandwich out of the fridge. And there was only three people here besides me today. So I messaged each person and they all denied it.

So I don't know what to do. Okay, let's go down the culprits. Who was there today? Is Brandon, Kathy, and Case? Okay, it wasn't Kathy. Kathy's the boss. She, she bought them to start with everybody. So she's out.

So we're down to Brandon or Case. Two highly likely suspects. There's no doubt about it. Yeah, Kay said, no, sir. May have gotten thrown out because of holidays. Who's going to throw it out? They wasn't going to throw it out. That's who it is.

Yeah. And then Brandon said, Kathy may have thrown them out. I didn't touch the sandwiches. So regardless, I didn't have lunch today, but I did have some cookies. We've held over through the Christmas cookies. The Christmas cookies were still there. So, well, of course, now as soon as they show, shows over I'm done for the day you got to load a couple Dick Gabriel best of shows coming up a couple Ksr best of shows a Matt Jones podcast you still got a lot of work to do today here for a while so I'll be tuning into Matt and your stomach's rumbling yeah maybe the game will be over by the time I get out of here all right let's get a couple calls and we'll wrap it up and get out here so Billy can do his other job who we got Billy is next noah go ahead Noah

go ahead Noah Ryan and Billy thank you for taking my call two things for you first off I did recent memory another UK game where we've had a more disappointing 99 point win. Not just getting 99 points, but a 99 point win. And we just, there's a lot of highlights, good thing, no doubt. But just still kind of looking at kind of disappointing as in somewhat overall aspects, especially from the defense. A lot of praise to still get from the offense, but still kind of a bit of a disappointing win.

You know what I mean, getting 99 points. Yep. No, we appreciate it. Yeah, Billy, the spread was Kentucky by like 35 and a half. And they won by 14. Yeah, and they didn't play Jalen Lowe, and Quaintens only played eight minutes. We do have to think about that. This is what we wanted.

We wanted to keep those guys healthy and ready to go for the SEC. But, yeah, it is not the best 99. And no disrespect to Bellarmine. But even without those guys, you should not let them. score 85 points at Rupp Arena. You know what I mean? Yeah. So they had 47 points in the second half, Bellarmine did.

Of course, Kentucky had 53, but Bellarmine, they gave up 47 points in the second half. All right, who's the next caller? Who we got? We got three more here, Ryan. Three more? We'll get out of here and wish everybody a Merry Christmas. Boyce is up next. Boyce.

I'm just wondering. I think Jay Law is going to have to have the surgery. So he'd come back next year. Do we lose boys? I know why he did not play because I don't think the guy from Georgetown and those other two guys not ready to play. And it's wondering if Mark Pope is going to have to tell him, you're going to have to have the surgery.

We're going to medical redshirt you. You cut out, boys. Who you want a medical redshirt to? He wants Jalen Lowe. Jalen Lowe. Yeah, he's gone. Okay, thank you, boys. So I think we've played too many games for him to get a medical red shirt.

I could be wrong, but I think he's a half. And he has proven. He wants to play. I mean, there were some people in his camp that were ready to shut him down, have the surgery, get him ready. I mean, he's still got two years of eligibility left. There were people in his camp on his side that were pulling that way. He himself wants to play, wants to be a part of this team.

and he showed me everything I need to know about that kid in the last couple games. The one game was against Indiana where he dove on the sideline, dove almost crashed into the scorers table. Come on, man. That's just putting his body out there. And then he gets hurt against St. John's and comes back at halftime, pulls on his Superman cape, and comes down and wins the game for us in the second half. That kid, that's a tough, tough kid right there.

And they are so much better when he's on the floor. He wants to be a part of this. There's going to be some games we're not going to have him. And there's going to be games like today where maybe you sit him. But if he wants to play, he's going to end up being a fan favorite. What do you think, Billy? Well, it's easier said than done. I mean, you look at those guys in the locker room, you want to fight for your brothers, right?

So just to hang it up and watch and play the rest of the year without you is probably really tough. So, you know, I'd probably do the same thing if I was Jan Lowe and would want to play with them and fight out, fight through the pain. Who's our next call or who we got? Two more. We've got Casey up next. Casey, go ahead, Casey. Hey, good afternoon, fellas. Hello, fellers.

How are you, fellers? I'm pretty good. I've made seven dozen cookies today. Wow. Well, Billy would appreciate some because Billy's hungry. Playing all day to day. But I just had a couple things. I just, Cam Williams, what a game.

Secondly, Jalen Quaiton, it's going to be just, he's just a different maker and I just think without him playing today is why they scored so many points. I think if he was out there, it wouldn't have been as bad. And I just wanted to say, great job to Maggie Davis. She was on the call in the middle of the games and interviewing the coaches and stuff. That has to be kind of hard. And I want to wish Matt, good luck and tell you all Merry Christmas. Go Cat.

Casey, Merry Christmas to you and your son and you're all your family over there, and we've got to know you guys a little bit, so I hope you have a good break and a good happy holidays and Merry Christmas. You know, Billy, she's right about. KSR pre-show host Maggie Davis. She is a rising star. You're going to have to, she's going to be too big to come on your show anymore and co-hosts with you. She's like a rising star in the business.

Yeah, she'll be doing the Katie George track here in no time, I'm sure. Well, she's good at it, you know? Yeah. She knows what she's talking about. She works hard at it. She prepares the right way. So I know all of KSR are very proud of her and her growth. Now Casey talked about Jaden Quaintens.

You know, without him and even without Brandon Garrison, Maybe that's one reason why Bellarmine was kind of able to dominate a lot in the second half, had 47 points because your two kind of your two rim protectors out there, and Marino can't play every minute of every game. I don't they tried Yellivage some. They tried Diabate some, but does that factor into the defensive woes when you didn't have Quatins or Brandon Garrison out there? Yeah, no, it absolutely does, but I don't care.

Like, you got to play better, right? I mean, ultimately, you are supremely more talented than the other team. it's just Bellarmine executed their stuff better than you and you've got to live with that but ultimately you did get the win right I've been waiting to the lane of the show to say this I don't like Bellarmine I don't like him at all when I was at Kentucky Wesleyan they were in our conference and they were like our big time rival USI and Bellarmine were our big time

rivals now Bellarmine thinks they're all high and mighty because they went Division I don't like them I don't like Shannon the dude I don't like Bellarmine I don't like Scotty Wegan I don't like Scotty Davenport I don't like the other coach I don't like anything with Bellarmine I need to get that off there

off my chest all right who's our last caller Bob is finishes it out for us your on Bob all right thanks for doing the post game we appreciate it I could say everything everybody has already been said the defense

scared us JQ is just going to be an awesome thing and we need to get low back in to have a good season. But as we get ready to get into SEC play, let me ask both of you guys. I want your opinion as well, Billy. If you had to pick three players that we're going to develop the most, not counting

low and JQ, which three players are going to evolve and become better or superstars during that 16-game conference portion of our schedule. Great question to end on. I appreciate it. And we again, the callers corrected us. It's an 18-game SEC schedule. So, Billy, let's just take turns. We've got to pick three guys.

We're going to see maybe grow and get better during the SEC season. I'm going to go first. Okay. I'm on the Jasper train. He's guys that's just kind of learning the game. He's got the offensive skills. He's just going to learn the college game. I think Jasper be on my list.

Who you got? Jasper is a good one because you think Lowe might miss some time. Yep. and he'll have to step up. I would give you an easy answer in Cam Williams. I mean, he was the star tonight, but before tonight, his defense has been really good. It's kept him on the floor. It's allowed to space the floor a little bit.

I think he finds himself eventually playing major minutes. So I guess we probably can't say Jaden Quaitens or Jalen Lowe. That was the two. He said you can't. Yeah. Can't say them, yeah. So who you like becoming that next star for Kentucky out of the group? Well, I mean, there's some easy answers.

answers to give, but I'm going to go with Colin Chandler. I think Colin has kind of had been in a December slump. He started out being our best three-point shooter percentage-wise to start the season, then got into a little bit of a funk and a shooting slump, and I think he's a guy that's going to finally get back to that Colin Chandler. We saw it the first of the season, and at the end of last season when he finally got his groove going on a little bit. So I'll go Colin Chandler. Who you got? I would say Aberdeen, just because he's able to play off the ball if Jalen Lowe is playing significant minutes. And to me, that knocks some of Colin Chandler's minutes out of the way. So maybe one of those two, you know, rising would be really good for Kentucky this year.

And my last one, I know it seems crazy, but Jack Pilgrim and I have been tooting the Yelovich horn since this summer. I don't know. And he's a guy that can do the one thing that Pope wants the four guy to do, stand in a corner and hit threes. He's the one guy that can do that between Diabate and Marino and Garrison, the guys that may rotate out in the four a little bit. So there's going to be one, mark this down, Billy. There's going to be a game in SEC play

where he's going to hit like four three-pointers and win the game for us. Yelovich is my answer. That's hopeful thinking. He would be definitely a different dynamic for this team. I just, you know, we haven't seen a lot out of them yet and some of the body language hasn't been great. Who's your last guy then?

Do we, oh, we're doing three each. Okay. you know what if brandon garrison isn't going to be the guy i think malachi merino's got to play some spot minutes every now and then is that crazy ryan i mean if diabette and quaitance are going to be your superstars i mean there's going to be some time some pivotal moments where foul trouble or maybe early on in a game where i think malachi merino can make an impact but this this will be his first cc season so i say that hesitantly but i think i'll throw him as my third you know malachi is a guy that earned the minutes by just doing the doing the right things from the five spot

getting rebounds, playing good post-defense and things like that. He's a guy that I like that answer a lot because I think he can, he's going to see him, him and Jasper both grow as they learn the college game a little bit. So I think we got a pretty good list, but you know, neither one of us said Trent Noah. Yeah, I don't think he's on the outside looking in, don't you? I'm still hopeful, but I think his minutes are going to decrease as these guys get healthy and start playing better. So, you know, three him out there tonight, gave him a good chance to try to do something. Only nine minutes tonight against Bellarmine.

You think this would be the game where you build some confidence. I agree. I agree. Well, Kentucky gets the win and proved to 9 and 4 going into the holiday season and then the SEC season. On behalf of everybody here at KSR, we wish all of our listeners a very Merry Christmas, a happy holiday.

We'll be back live doing the show on Monday. That day is the 29th. Monday, the 29th is our next live show. So, you know, our KSR family is going through some struggles right now with some of our, man, I didn't want to get emotional, but some of our family is struggling right now, and they need us. So hang in there with them, man. This is the holiday season that's when they can use your thoughts and prayers. We've got a couple guys or our families that need you.

So just remember them this holiday season. All right, it's got out of here. What for I get out of here? What a great day it's been. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas. We'll see everybody on Monday. Goodbye. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite.

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