KSR - KSR Postgame UK MBB vs Tennessee NCAAT 03/28/25

Episode Date: March 29, 2025

Matt, Ryan, Drew, Shannon and Billy recap the Cats' 78-65 loss to Tennessee in the Sweet 16.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome, everyone. It is the local Toyota Dealer's KSR postgame show. The Cats, see their season end, 7865 in the Sweet 16,

with a loss to the dreaded Tennessee volunteers. We are here in Indianapolis. I got Ryan and Shannon. and Mario and my mom sitting around the table. Drew will join us here in a little bit. The cats were kind of never really in this game from the beginning. It had one lead, but for most of the game were behind and got down 10 early and just never really were able to get it close again.

Tennessee dominated Kentucky on the boards out rebounding them. Tennessee had 11 offensive rebounds, and Kentucky had 12 defensive rebounds. rebounds, which is not a recipe for success. Add the bench points where they got 26 points off the bench, and we got six, and there is the game. It was a tough performance in what was otherwise a pretty amazing night here with a ton of Kentucky fans who made the trip. It was like old school Kentucky NCAA tournament games in terms of how many people were

here. Crowd was ready. They wanted to be able to explode, but they just never really got a chance as the cats were never able to get back in and get the game. If 859-280-2287, I'm going to bring Ryan and Shannon in, but I just want to say something sort of big picture. We can talk about the game, but honestly, you know, the season's over. What else is there really to say?

Big picture, I think, still an awesome season. Disappointing way to end, not the loss, but just the fact that we weren't really in it most of the game. But overall, a great season. And we're going to play a little bit later a couple of clips from the postgame press conference. But, you know, Ryan, I'm going to remember this year, hopefully as the start of something great. But I'm going to remember it as a year that sort of Kentucky kind of got the joy in basketball back a little bit. Last few years have been, it seems like sometimes like a tedious march. you know, there was some

lot, there were some fun with some of those dudes last year, Reed, Rob, and Reeves, but there was still, it was like, it was just fans were always at each other's throats, and it seemed like disappointment was around the corner. This was a team that I thought sort of brought the joy of Kentucky basketball back, and a group of guys that, you know,

I don't know if we'll have a group of guys like this again, like a group, because I think Pope is going to go. We saw this with his commitment today from Cam Williams. You're going to get a new set of really athletic guys who can, you know, play defense and get them down the court. This is like, you know, not the kind of guys we have in Kentucky a lot, but I love them. I mean, I loved watching this group. Lamont Butler, Kobe Brea, Oway, who hopefully comes back, Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, you know, just a special group and a season that I will look back on very fondly. I really think these guys will be beloved by our fan base for the rest of their lives.

I do too. I mean, I really do. Like, Yoga Girl sent me a text. You know, they persevered through injury. They gave everything they had. Jackson Robinson, too. He's hurt, but yes. Absolutely.

So I think the program is in much better shape today than it was at this time last year. And these kids deserve all the credit for getting the fan base back in touch with the team. Totally agree with you. And, you know, look, they perform to their seed, which is something we haven't done in the last few years in terms of, I mean, if you're a three seed, this is where you're supposed to lose, is in the Sweet 16. And they did. I think they overperformed their talent. I do, too. I genuinely, I mean, I, you know, I took some criticism early in the year for saying, I mean, I don't think there's any NBA players on this team.

Maybe one of them will, but I'd be surprised. but they overperform their talent, which I think is part of what made them Shannon lovable to me in some ways. Yeah, no doubt about it. I stuck around for the press conference. You don't do that a lot. I don't. The first time I've ever done it. It was kind of sad, you know, the finality of all of it.

But, you know, I think Mark Pope has a lot to be proud of. I think this team has a lot to be proud of. I think the fans have a lot to be proud of. And Pope said, you know, these guys will be talking about 10 years from now because they laid the foundation for what's to come with Mark Pope as the head coach here. I agree with that. You know, Drew and I used to always say, because I've been in a lot of last game of the year locker rooms, and it's a really sad place often.

You know, you've been in more than me. Like, it's a really sad place. I can still remember John Wall balling, you know, Darren Fox and Malik, or Jim Fox and Bamadabio crying. Brandon Knight crying. I mean, I've seen all these dudes cry over the years. And, you know, the picture of Amari Williams. on the sideline while the game's still going on. I don't think mom saw it because she was up in the stands,

but they showed him on TV crying in the last couple minutes sitting on the sideline. Picture of Mark Pope and Lamont Butler walking backstage, which is a great shot. That'll be one that I think people remember for a long time, Ryan. Like, you know, those are tough scenes, but it also shows how much the guys really, you know, really cared. I just showed it to my mom.

She's like about to cry her. Well, that's what led us to love these guys so much, you know. We grew to love them as not just a player, but as people. If we saw what they were doing for us, giving everything they had every night, all the, you know, the ups and downs they had this season with the injuries and who's going to play, who's not going to play. But like I said, now Coach Pope is in a better shape to recruit. You call him Coach Pope? He's my coach. Oh, is it?

He's my coach. All right. That's a time. Coach Pope. Coach Pope. Coach Pope is in a better position for recruiting now because of what these guys did. Yeah, Andrew Carr said in the post-game press conference, hey, last thing he said, this is the last thing any of the players said.

Shannon, I guess you heard it. Hey, if you're in the portal, you should come here. That's right. Yeah. You know, Pope gets it. We've said that so many times, but he's a guy who has put on that jersey. He knows what it means to wear that Kentucky jersey. And I think that rubs off on the players.

You see that. You know, they mentioned they're going to have a hard time taking this jersey off me. See, I think those are great quotes. Billy, pull those up. I tweeted those two out. I'd like to play the car and Brea comments. Let me know when you have them. But, you know, that is, it's we want, and let me just say, I think the guys during the

Cal period, I love being here. Sure they did. I mean, I think in general, that was something I really give Cal a lot of credit for. He had all these guys who were here for a year, but he did get them to love this place during the year. I agree. But this is a little bit. of a different kind of thing because for a lot of these guys, this will be the biggest basketball

they will play from now on. I mean, most of these guys will probably play professionally somewhere if they want to. Overseas. Overseas. I mean, maybe in the G League, like, I could see, I mean, I could see Bray on a G league team, you know, maybe Amari. I don't know. But in terms of basketball that really matters and that gets your blood going. This will be a last time for a lot of these guys, even if they, I hope I'm wrong, but that's probably true. And so there's something about, you know, when you hear which will play, Carr and Brea saying, like, I don't want to take this jersey off.

There's something that pulls at your heartstrings about that. Sure, it does, because, you know, every one of us listening right now wish we had the opportunity to be them, be playing basketball. I think you still think you are. I think I can still hoop a little bit. I'm about the size as a Kai Ziegler, so I think we and I'm about the same guy. Yeah, by the way, that was a big thing tonight. Those guards who really had not played well against us, they all played well.

Ziegler played well, Ganey played well, and Lanier played well. They all three played well. And just like from the opening tip, it just seems like we were not in it. This was just not going to be our night from the opening minutes. Why do you think that is? It didn't feel, I didn't feel like they weren't hustling. It just felt like they were just tougher than us. I think so.

through a lot of it. It reminded me that old miss in Georgia games that we played earlier this year, where it just felt like from the first moment, we just kind of weren't there. Sometimes it's just not your night. And Tennessee came out, and they set the tone immediately. And it felt like the entire game, we were down 15. And every time you come down and try to cut it to 12 or 13, they had an answer every single time.

And every loose ball Tennessee got. Probably the way Illinois felt the other night. It was almost the reverse of that. Like, every time you go well, now if we can get a stop right here, and then we wouldn't. So since you're talking big picture, how do you view the season? Is it a success? It's an A to me.

Yeah. I mean, I said if you wanted a day, it would be A plus. But it's still an A because I think you played your seed. I think you also played to your talent or above your talent. I mean, you know, you got to take a step back and think about. Mark Pope got this job a year ago next week, right? Like it's not even this week. So think about where we are.

with the portal. We already have a portal commitment, right? Yeah. We didn't even have a coach this time last year, right? And then he gets the job. And in five weeks, four weeks, he has to get a staff. Yes. Right?

He has to get a roster. And unlike, you know, the only other person that was in this situation is Pat Kelsey at Louisville. They're the only two guys who had to build it from scratch. I mean, Cal had seven or eight of his Arkansas guy. He had all the freshmen, and he had the guys that transfer. And even Dusty May at Michigan, who they're still playing, they had five or six guys stick around. Pope and Kelsey had to start over, and they both did.

And Pope gets to the Sweet 16 with guys that besides Travis Perry, not one of the dudes on this roster was going to be on this roster until Mark Pope got here. Right. And to do that and have them come together and, you know, think about the portal. I don't think we got one guy that was ranked in the top 15 in the portal, right? So not only, like, he went and got dudes down the slots in the portal and then had success with them. I just think that's really impressive. The way he built the roster by getting the guys he needed. Yeah, Jackson, I guess, was in the top, but most of them were not.

Yeah. Getting Bray as a shooter. Again, Lamont Butler was a point guard. Get Amari's a big guy. He strategically went out to the portal and got the guys to fit his program the way he wants to play. Well, think about Amari Williams. I remember when he committed. And I remember thinking, so our big is going to be this random dude at Drexel, the average 10 points a game or whatever it was, 11 points.

And then, I mean, he might have been the most important player on the team in some ways. Pope knew exactly what he wanted in him, and he went and got it. And, you know, Lamont Butler was his point guard immediately. Went after him. Went after him immediately. And so, you know, to take that group, go to the Sweet 16, have all the injuries we have. I mean, remember, we had Jackson Robinson. I mean, our best players out.

Like, that's another, Jackson Robinson on paper should be our best player, and he's out. And they still were able to do this. Yeah, and not doing it the way that we've been used to seeing rosters put together. Not a bunch of one and duns. A bunch of transfers from mid-major programs, and Pope taking all these guys and somehow making it work. Dudes that were never even recruited to come to Kentucky out of high school, never thought they'd ever play at Kentucky, end up getting to the Sweet 16. That's a huge success.

And you can tell they like appreciate. Yeah. I think that's another thing. I do think that people were a little, some of Cal's critics were a little harsh on the, I think the players that were here appreciated. Oh, I do too. But I also think it was a stop along the way to another destination. Right. Like, I mean, that was, and that was part of what they sold.

For these guys, this was the destination. And I think our fans really appreciated. that this was the destination, that Kobe Brea said, I never thought I would be here. You know, Andrew Carr said I never, I mean, Ansley Almanor is built like Ryan and he was here. You know, I mean, the fact that those guys did that, I just think it makes it more.

I mean, Marry Williams grew up Nottingham, England. Yeah. Right? I mean, he has the whole state eating wheat. Like, like, you know. Drew pulled a wheat of wheat, what were they called? Weed a big out of his pocket earlier today. Evan Washbourne ate some on the side.

line during the broadcast. And like Drew, he got choked, I think, when it was happening. You don't have that warm milk, you get choked on it. It gets dry in your mouth. But to your point, though, wherever these guys go to play, if they go play professionally, it's never going to be as special as it is. You get 35,000 people in there, and all these Kentucky fans show up. There's nothing like this.

There's not. And you, I mean, even dudes who have amazing NBA careers, like DeMarcus Cousin talks about that. Right. He never had more fun than the year he was here. Right. Right. And I think they're, you know, but these dudes, I don't know about you. Like, I was a different person when I was 22 than when I was 18.

And like the fact that they're 22 and they can appreciate what they're going through. It's not just looking back in hindsight and going that was awesome. They're appreciating it while they're doing it. I just think our fan base is really, it needed that shot in the arm. Yes, it did. And they gave it. And so, you know, you can focus on, well, you know, they had a poor performance. We lost to Tennessee.

VAL fans are going to Big picture If you had told me when I got the phone call It 1040 at night on a Thursday night that Mark Pope was going to be the next coach If you had told me one year later I'd be sitting in this ballroom Having gone to the Sweet 16 and had this year I don't know how you couldn't be happy You got to be happy with that

Because I used to say you remember I used to say on this show The day Cal leaves Cow's been a great ride but the day he leaves this is going to be a long rebuild. Yeah, yeah. Now, some things have changed, the portal and all that, but I thought, listen, that's the trade-off with him. You're going to have a great time, but when he leaves, you've got to start over.

Well, if you tell me starting over is this year, that's pretty good. And you get to the Sweet 16. And you get Sweet 16, and you have this run. And remember, in arguably the best conference ever. Yeah. And by the way, if we've gotten a draw where we didn't have to play another team from this conference, who knows? Right. I mean, we unfortunately had to play one of the teams from our conference. What if we were played Marylanders, you know, on this?

Well, I mean, if we, you know, I don't know. I mean, Old Miss took Michigan State down to the wire tonight. You know, who knows? But regardless, I think we got what we deserved. Had we won some of those games like against Texas and, you know, some of those regular season games, maybe we were a two seed and we get a different game, whatever. But still overall success. Yeah.

And if rebuilding is going to the Sweet 16, I'd say that's a pretty good start, you know. Been there since 2019. Long six years. And you know, along with a lot of fans, I think it was critical of the hire with Mark Pope at the very beginning. But, I mean, he's grown on me. I mean, there's no doubt in my mind now that he's the right guy for the job. And now can you not like him? I mean, that's, you know.

You can call him Coach Pope? No, he's Mark Pope. He's not my coach. You're the only person. He's my coach. Although I guess we called Coach. We said Coach Cal sometimes. Yeah.

It was alliteration. But you just call everybody coach. Don't you want to call him? If you saw Rick Barnes, would you go Coach Barnes? Absolutely. Absolutely that's what I thought. 859-280-2-807. We're going to take a break.

We are here in Indianapolis after a long but fun day. Take your calls. It's the local toy dealers' KSR post-game show. Welcome back. It is the local toy dealers' KSR post-game show. Auburn leads Michigan by one with 10 minutes to go. Purdue leads Houston by two at halftime in the 859-280-2287. One person writes, Matt.

This team was great. They have the heart to know in. It was an honor to have them to wear the jersey. I agree with that. Another person says, Matt, why do you think we couldn't rebound well this year? Do you think that'll be a worry for Pope teams? No, I think, again, I think a lot of our problems ultimately come down to we just, we didn't have many athletic guys. I genuinely think that was our biggest problem this year.

We just didn't have a lot of athletes. and, you know, I think we probably had three guys. Well, four. I don't even put Garrison because he didn't play enough. I think Amari's a really good athlete, always a really good athlete. Jackson is a pretty good athlete. Butler's tough, but not the best athlete in the world. Carr's not a good athlete.

Kobe's not a good athlete. So, like, we just didn't have the athletes. And that hurts us in rebounding because we just had dudes. Like, I was watching in the first half when I was, when you sit right there on the court, which I did for a little while, the athleticism pops. You know what I mean? When you're sitting there, we talked, Mario and I talked about this during the games in Milwaukee. When you're on top of the court, the athleticism pops, and you could just tell, Tennessee's just more athletic than we are.

Every team in the SEC was more athletic than we were. I think we were the least athletic team in the SEC and still were able to have success. Yep, but, you know, that's when Pope goes out. He hits the portal. He gets some of these dudes. Well, that's not going to happen next year. I mean, Jasper Johnson's a great athlete. Malacomero is a great athlete.

late athlete, Caden Lewis is a great athlete. This kid they got from Tulane is a great athlete. Always coming back. He's a good, you know, I mean, it's, this will be a much more athletic year. Now, will they be able to shoot as well? That's what we'll have to see. But they will be much more athletic. He'll probably go out and get a shooter. Looks like he went out and got Kobe Bray. He'll find one of the portal. Bring him in. One person writes, Matt, one of the things I'm the happiest about is knowing your mom is sitting there listening. Hello there to your mom. My mom was people just taking pictures of her everywhere today. Like the current Larry was rock stars.

I mean, people at Tin Roof, like they're all taking selfies. Larry, come here. Something, Larry. A man just grabbed Billy, grabbed Larry, put his arm around him and took a selfie with him. And I just wanted to be in Larry's brain when that was going on, going, what is happening right now? It was a nice crowd at Tin Roof. It was a crazy crowd. Well, you said you were walking them down to the arena.

People were coming up. The only time since I've been doing this that I thought, we need security. But it wasn't because of me. It was because of my parents. Does Larry know that he's talked about on the show? I don't think so. I'd like to have been in his brain as this was all happening as they were playing, you know, the songs at Tin Roof. It was really loud in there.

It was really loud. He was taking it in stride, though. 87 years old. He had to be the oldest person at the pregame show, don't you? Oh, there's no doubt. If I make it to 87, I hope I'm partying at the Trenoof. Just like Larry Blonde. I wouldn't say he was partying.

Oh, he was partying. I looked over and he was in the corner. His head was bobbing. Okay. All right. Who's up first, Billy? Matthew. Matthew.

How are you Matthew? I'm good, guys. By the way, it's, by the way, Path you with a P. Called in after the Gonzaga game, so I want to bring the season full circle here. I've never heard of that name before. Well, there's a story behind it, but that's okay.

For sure. I saw where Rick Barnes, I think, said something about Tennessee becoming the new Blue Blood. So I got two questions for you. Given a recent history, do you think we're facing some competition as the blue butt of the conference? And also all year long, I said sweet 16 was our ceiling. So I'm happy before we ended. But I'm going to put you on the spot here.

What do you see as our ceiling next year? Well, I need to see what the roster is first. I mean, you know, I don't know. I think if we, it's all going to be about who they get over the next few weeks in the portal. You know, they did. The one kid from New Mexico, he ended up picking UCLA. I would have really liked that kid, but I was worried we were going to spend too much of our budget on him. And he's going to UCLA.

They got to get a good point guard. The number one thing for me is they got to go get a good point guard. When we get the good point guard, then I'll make a judgment then. But I think there's more people still to come in the portal. I'm going to assume we're going to get a really good class. And then it becomes, can one of the, if is one of these freshmen great, you know, do we get, we'll see. As far as the Blue Blood, I appreciate the call. Blue Blood, by its definition, is not about what's just happened in the last few years.

True. Right? Like, it's historic. You know, when I think of Blue Bloods in college basketball, to me there's five. There used to be six in Indiana dropped out. Yeah, fair. So for me, the Blue Bloods are still Kentucky, Duke, Carolina, Kansas, and UCLA. You say waivers, but they're still good.

Can't ignore that. And then Yukon's in it now. Yukon is the new one. And I think now you have to have UConn in there. Michigan State's close. Illinois is probably close. Yeah, but I wonder how much of that's Jay Wright, you know. Now, if you're talking, though, about New Bloods,

Auburn is one. Yes, they are. Alabama is one. Yes. And you could argue Tennessee is one. Yeah. Like, so I think it's in Florida. I think it's good for the conference that I think we have a solid five basketball schools.

now. I think I'm not saying over football, but Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida are basketball schools. Arkansas, we'll see what happens with Cal. Maybe they become one. We'll see. But I think we have five really solid ones. And it wasn't, you know, the last 25 years, you could probably say there's one or two solid basketball schools. Oh, it was Kentucky and then when Bruce Pearl was there, Tennessee, and when Billy was there, Florida. But like, we got, we have five programs that I think will go into every season expecting to be good. And that's a really good quality to have. And, I mean, I would expect the SEC to be just as tough next season as it was this year.

You get 14 teams into the NCAA tournament. It looks like Buzz Williams, though, may take the Maryland job. Really? Yeah. That's probably a resources thing. Like, he probably is like, you know, A&M, they just can't get them to care. Yeah. You know?

But I think he's a really good coach. I do, too. I think he's a good coach. Who's up next? James. James, go ahead, James. Hey, you got me? Yes, go ahead.

Hey, Matt, long time, first time. Who are sitting here? I can't believe that we got our ass beat so bad by the boss tonight. And to be honest, how do we feel about Mark Pope moving forward because he's a more? I appreciate the call. I appreciate the call. You got to get a goober in here within, within, that was a Tennessee fan. No, I mean, we did get beat, though.

Like, we got beat down. They whooped us, man. They did. I mean, they were better than us. Yep. They whooped us. That just, you know, it is what it is. You do wonder how, like, you have those two performances in the regular season and then this.

I think the difference between the teams is smaller than what it was in all three games. But, you know. So, we haven't seen too many games where Kentucky's just handily beat. I think the Auburn game comes to mind. and then this one tonight. Well, we've had a few. I mean, we had the Old Miss game, the Georgia game, Auburn, Bama. But tonight I never felt like we were even in the game.

Yeah, this reminded me of the Old Miss and Georgia games. If you remember, we fell down quickly in both those games and we're just never in it. Can you buy anything into the fact that maybe some of the guys weren't ready for the moment? No. I mean, no, yeah. I mean, these dudes are all experienced. Like what? I just think we were down 27.

17 or, you know, whatever. And we just never, 17, 7. Like, we just never. If they weren't ready for the moment, they would have lost Detroit in the first round. I agree. You know. Yeah, and if they weren't ready for the moment when Illinois cut it to six. Right.

But what about tonight? Sweet 16, a little more bigger prize at stake. So all I can think about is the first six or eight minutes. And it felt like me in the first six or eight minutes. They just out rebounded us and just got the ball. You know, Andrew Carr had two open threes. He just missed them. Yeah.

Now, if he makes them, maybe it's a little different. Maybe it's different. You know, I mean, like that stuff he had, but they were wide open. He just missed them. We missed, like, two layups. We missed a layup to start the game, you know, I mean. Every loose ball went to Tennessee. Every loose ball.

I mean, I mean, when they had one less offensive rebound than we had defense rebounds. Like, that's the stat, isn't it? And, you know, we wanted a Mario to dunk one. He goes in the dunk one and clangs it off the back of the room. That's what I said to Mario when that happened. I said, you know, we've been saying, Mario, why don't you dunk it? That's why you don't. Yeah, who's up next?

Brock. Brock. Go ahead, Brock. First time caller, long time listener. Who what? Okay. Well, anyways, I just want to kind of get your input on, like, what, like, what you think Mark Pope's expectations are for next year. Like, because, like, I'm not going to be my friends.

Like, honestly, I'm very disappointed up, like. But what are you disappointed? I mean, are you really disappointed? Like, you really thought a team that they. put together at all. Let me say that. Like, sweet 16 this year, they have exceeded all of my expectations by far. And like, even after the last time, I'm here, I'm here for the sweet 16 some of my friends tonight. I was like, next year we'll be the Empire Strikes Back. And like, I mean, but again, the tournament, and I appreciate the call, the tournament, you got to remember,

there's a random. That's why I always hate when people go, are we a sweet 16? team or we have the lead 18. There's randomness in the tournament. Oh yeah. Like like Rick Patino had an amazing season at St. John's. Then they got beat. Now was that not a good season because they got beat? Still a great season. They just got beat like it happens. I mean, Auburn could lose tonight to Michigan. They were the best team in the country for most of the year. Most of the year. And if they lose to Michigan, well, you know, that happens. When you say what's Mark Pope's expectations for next season, what do you think he's going to say? He's going to say national championship. By the Auburn's up,

Auburn's up nine, so maybe they're going to... Well, I flip the switch pretty quick. Yeah. But he's not going to put a team together and go, this is going to be our sweet 16 team that can only reach the sweet 16. The goal is to win a national title. I think we're going to know, I mean, this is going to go quick. Like, we talked about this on the show. I mean, because the judge

meets on April 7th, and could that day enact the settlement? I've read that there's some thoughts she might say it's enacted, it goes into place in two weeks or three. But in theory, she could say it's enacted. A lot of these dudes are going to make their decision before that.

Yeah, they will. So that it's not like the deals are not structured by the settlement, meaning they can be paid to play before August, before April 7th, which means a lot of these dudes are going to sign in the next week. Yes. So Mark Pope's like got to get out immediately. He can't feel sorry for himself because he's got like eight days to go get a team. My guess is tomorrow they're in the office on the phone,

talking to people in the transfer portal the next day after losing yeah Houston's up four Auburn's up six who's up next Thomas Thomas Thomas go ahead Thomas hey he's going to crush it in this portal I guarantee it and here's the other thing you guys gave this guy an A minus are you kidding me it's an A plus I gave him an A minus in the regular season I give him an A when you consider the fact that we beat Illinois made the sweet 16 my A minus was I mean we was just based on some losses that I didn't think we should get. With the loss to Texas, there was a handful.

You're right, Ohio State. Yeah, there was a handful. But otherwise, I mean, mine is still a good grade. The injuries, though, the injuries, really? No athleticism. You all make the case. No athleticism. Injuries, I think it's A plus plus,

but I'm reading tonight. But I just say, I just love this guy. Yeah, I do too. I appreciate the call. Don't, I'm finishing the year with an A. You know, when I teach, I've told you. I usually go into the final with my students, and I kind of know they're between two grades. I hate Georgetown's grading system.

That's what you said before. Because they should have A, A, A, minus B plus B, and they have A, A, A, B. I hate A, B. What does that even mean? Because there's a big difference between an A minus and B plus, and I always think I hate A B. But anyway, I used to go in the final, and I'm like, if this kid has a good final, A, if they don't, A, B, etc. right for me we came into this i was like between a and a minus and even though this game tonight was disappointing i think getting the sweet 16 for me gives him a solid a i'm not giving him an a plus

because we lost double-digit games and like you know i mean i can't you got to save a pluses for like the you got to win a title for that we're final four i mean you know but an a is still really good i mean that's not quibble when i went to school i got an a minus i was happy i was thrilled the death. I would even take a B plus. I mean, you know, the reason I can't give a high A, because they did lose the cow at home. That was a bit, yeah. Yeah, you can't get an A plus if you lose the cow at home. You're right. So that's probably my biggest hesitation. But I do think, you know, when that bracket came out, if we're being honest, I thought we were going to lose Illinois. I think most people thought they were. I did. I thought we were going to lose Illinois. I thought

we were going to, I wanted Xavier or Texas to win because I thought if we play Illinois, they're going to beat us. Because my view is when two teams are normal, you've heard me say this a lot. When two teams are equal, give me the team that's got the two best players. And I thought they had the two best players. And we basically shut those dudes down. And we won the game. So I think that makes it in a road environment, too. In a road environment, yes.

Illinois fans were really loud when they, you know, trying to make a rally. So it was an impressive win over Illinois just to get here tonight. That's right. Let's do one more and we'll take a break. Who's next, Bill? Doing good. Doing good. What's up?

Gentlemen, I'm doing good. I hope, as always, you're going well. Wish we would have pulled out the win tonight. But I think overall, as far as the season went, I'm a huge fan of how it turned out. We had some great victories early in the year that I don't think we would have if we had kept our previous coaching staff intact. I was a huge fan of Cal when he was here, but I think it was definitely time for him to go. I think Pope is absolutely the right person to lead us for the next 10 to 15 years. Cannot wait to see what happens.

If we had gone with any other solution, which would have included Cal being here through this season, we would not have had the year that we did this year. No, we wouldn't. And then we would have had two years of somebody else trying to come in, build up the program, etc. For Pope to take us to the Sweet 16 in year one, I think is absolutely amazing. He had April 9th of last year, he had no returning players whatsoever. We've already got a good base of what we hope will be a fantastic returning core. We've got some really good recruits coming in, and you're giving him a full cycle through the transfer portal.

Oh, my gosh. I'm excited for what is going to come in the future. Yeah, and I appreciate the call. I mean, like, he's already got a kid. So clearly they had a plan if he's already got a commitment. You know what I mean? Clearly, they knew who they wanted to go get because they went and got one immediately.

So, yeah, I agree with everything he just said. And we both know that they've been talking to people for the past month. Oh, yeah. I mean, look, these conversations are not official. I mean, it's not Mark Pope talking these people. Right. But, you know, they've got one guy. I think they are, I think there's a big guy.

I think they're going to either get, this is just my prediction, they're either going to get the kid from Davidson or the kid from Robert Morris. I don't know which one it'll be, but they'll get one of those two guys. That'll be their Andrew Carr next year. Right. Is one of those two dudes. Then they're going to go try to find a big man, like an Amari type, although I don't think there's anybody like him.

Like he's a very unique talent. Then they're going to go find a shooter, and they're going to find a point. And then that's going to be, you know, that's going to be what they get. Add that to the guys we got it. I think I feel pretty, I mean, I could be wrong. I never thought we were going to get the Donovan Dent kid. And then all of a sudden yesterday, people were telling me who were, and then it switched. Yeah.

Right. I think basically Kentucky offered a substantial amount of money. Everybody else ran away. UCLA decided today to match it, and that's where he wanted to go to school. So that's where he's going. but I do think either the Davidson kid or the Robert Morris kid ends up here and then we'll see I think they'll get a shooter maybe it's a kid from Sam Houston State maybe it's like I said I think there's a kid that's in this crown thing or whatever

and I think there's a kid they're considering that's was in the sweet 16 and we'll we'll see what happens it's going to happen fast we'll know it is going to happen fast that's exactly right we're going to take a break Drew Frankl just walked up we'll bring him on I also will play when we come back. I want to play the clips from Car and Brea. This is the local toy dealers, KSR, postgame show. Welcome back. It is the Kentucky Slake Chevy Dealer's KSR.

No, it's not. It's the local toy dealers, KSR post game show. One person writes, Matt, the tourney only feels random for us. Look at Tennessee. They've been to three elite eights in a row. Yeah, but I think the year before that, what they lose to, like, Loyola in the first round? and, you know, they've not been to a Final Four yet.

It is random. Now, it's not random. I've said this all the time. It's not random over history, but it's random in a given year. So, for instance, when Cal lost to St. Peter's, there was a little bit of randomness. But then when he lost to Oakland two years later, it stops being random. Yeah. Right.

Look at Arkansas this year. If Hunter Dixon doesn't turn it over, maybe they're out in the first round, and it's a completely different narrative. True. or if the New Mexico guy or excuse me, a Texas Tech guy misses the three, they're in the elite. You know, there's a lot of randomness. Drew Franklin's there. We gave our takes on the year as a whole. What do you think?

First, I just want to say, I hate this city. And if it were closer to an ocean, I hope it would fall in and just sink to the bottom. Maybe with some Tennessee fans with it. I hate Indianapolis. I don't want to come back here. I know the final four is here next year. I hope they move it somewhere else. But it's good to see you guys.

This place sucks. How do you really feel about it? I saw like half the game. I hate this place. Anyway, why did you only see half the game? I'm not going to complain about media seat. I ended up watching with Rick Bosich on a TV with no sound in the back. That's where I watched it with him.

We were at the back in the back of the media room. I don't even know why I'll go back. And you're going to sit with Peyton Manning. He can fall in the ocean to him. How many times they're going to show Peyton Manning during the broadcast? They showed him more than trailer Swift and a chief name. Trailer Swift. Trailer Swift and a Chief game.

Is that like a, is that the country version? Yes, it is. Yeah, but yeah, you don't seem very happy. No, really the game's not, I'm fine with the game. I think it helped that it was just a butt-whooping. It wasn't like you get beat at the end or you question, should we have called a timeout or should this have happened? I mean, Tennessee just whooped them.

So it kind of, it feels even though all season-ending losses suck, it doesn't feel like Oakland or St. Peters or Wisconsin, or the real devastating ones. It hurts to lose to Tennessee, but it was pretty clear with 30 minutes left in the game. I mean, they were better than us this year. I know we beat them twice, but like we were just, saying, Auburn looks like they're going to beat Michigan. There's going to be four SEC teams in the elite eight.

The reality is those were the four best teams. Yeah. Like they were. Now, you could argue maybe we were fifth, maybe Ole Miss, maybe Arkansas at the end of the year, whatever. The four best were the four best. They were all ranked number one of the country at some point. Good. And so it's probably how it should be, to be honest.

Go ahead. You're on a roll. I pause so you could talk. I think that this year, for us to even beat Florida the one time was amazing. And Tennessee twice. And Tennessee twice, amazing. Yeah.

Because really those four teams are just better. Their dudes are just better than our dudes. It is worth noting that when you get to the elite eight, of those eight teams, we've beaten three up. Yeah. What does that tell you? You know, we're going to, we've beaten three of the elite eight, and we're, I think, well, I guess we lost Alabama three times.

So we're like three and five or whatever against the elite eight, but we've won three games against them. Probably nobody else can say that. Yeah, not many. maybe Auburn or Alabama, that would be it. Who's next? Oh, wait a minute, before you do this, let's play, I'll separate these. Let's play, this is Andrew Carr talking about his last time playing for Kentucky.

Yeah, it's certainly very difficult. Don't want to untie my shoes. I don't want to take off this jersey. You know, definitely shout out BBN and all of the fans. It's like nowhere I've ever experienced and really have just had the most fun playing basketball this season. And, you know, I really appreciate them welcoming all of us in with open arms and really caring about all of us more than just a basketball player and being a fan. They really, you know, you're welcome into the Kentucky family and it's a family for a reason.

So definitely is an amazing experience that. you know it hurts right now but as we continue to get older just look back and be more and more proud as time goes on see that's what we want our players to say right what a great sound bite I could that had everything I can add to that there was a cool moment they they uh the moderator said any other questions in the room was silent and Lamont beller said can I can I say something and they're like of course you can say something and he said uh this group set a high bar for pope moving forward kind of raved about pope said Kentucky's just getting started and then Andrew car chimed in it's a little more direct was like if you're in the portal come to Kentucky but I thought it was

very cool you know the press conference is over we're all about to wave and Butler lean forward is like I want to get this off my chest knowing it's the last time he'd be there speaking on behalf of Kentucky so that was pretty cool that is very cool who's up next this city still sucks though really you really do not just people screaming at me vols fans yelling at me on their scooters I want Big Daddy. I'm with a stick if I could find one. Anybody want some Wheatibix? You still got in your pocket?

I think I've had eight full bars of Wheatabix. All right, go ahead, Skyler. Skyler, go ahead. Skyler. Hey, Skyler, here. Can I take like 30 seconds, Matt? Is that okay? Yes.

Okay, so 27, 2007, my oldest son was born. Billy Clyde Gillespie led us on. a journey and and it has just been such a joy in my life to be able to watch basketball games with my with my boys we kind of journeyed through the the calipary years that crushing loss to wisconsin my oldest son was 10 years old i think no no seven years old seven years old 10 years ago right and it has been a struggle we moved to california as a family about seven years ago listening to you guys and even calling in we can stay up late and call in we're sitting around a fire right now my entire family and and this year has just been so special um i think uh over the

past five years i called in last year and was worried with my boys are just so frustrated they didn't want to watch they didn't want to listen and uh this year really reclaimed their love for uk basketball and even the andrew car clip that you played i i think like this team is is really, really, really, really special. And my son's going to go to college next fall, and we're sitting around here kind of choked up thinking, like, man, we just, we got to watch 17 years of games together, and you're going to move away, and it's going to be different next fall.

But this team was unique and super special. I want to appreciate, I just want to thank you guys. You know, I know it's a crushing loss, but Drew, Ryan, Dilley. Shout out to South Oldham. Colton Wachterl. What? 10 threes? broke the record in the state final tonight.

So thank you guys, and I'm going to hang up, and I'm going to listen. Appreciate the call. That's a – you know, I do think you could see it. We talked about this, Ryan. There was a re-igniting of big parts of the fan base, including kids. Well, I mean, let's just use the example tonight of just people I know. Right now, I'm sure driving on their way home is my college roommate, Nick, and his wife, Tiffany, and their daughters.

This is the first NCAA tournament that game they've ever come to. Is it? They wanted to get in the car and come up here. I don't know that his two daughters have ever been to a UK game ever, but they wanted to come up here. My parents, they've never been to an NCAA tournament game. They wanted to get in the car and come up here. Like this, there is a whole segment of the fan base that I think got their love of Kentucky

basketball reignited. And that is cool. Like, we needed it. I think that happened in 2010 when John Wall got here. I think it happened in 1992 when the unforgettables were there, and I think in some ways that happened with this as well. We've said it a million times. The fans feel like they got their team back.

And the core of what that caller was saying there, there's something about Kentucky basketball that helps families, just the love they have for the basketball, and you translate that into your dad. or your mom or your grandpa. For you, is your grandpa taking into the games? I mean, there's something special about Kentucky basketball that draws these families' moments and memories together.

And when you see that group of ages, which we could see at Ten Roof today. Yeah. From the eight and nine-year-olds to 87-year-old Larry Blondell. That whole range of people, you know, it's just, it's really special to me that that happens. And it did feel like for the last few years it was slipping a little bit. It wasn't gone, but it just wasn't quite the same. And I feel like it kind of got back to where it was. Definitely felt different.

You know, Tennessee wins the game and they're moving on, but they can't take the pregame fun for me. We met so many people. Lots of people said, I wouldn't have made this trip, you know, if we hadn't had this change, wouldn't be here if things hadn't changed. The excitement in the lead up to this, the excitement in Nashville. Yeah, Nashville was like, that was the biggest Nashville's been since pre-CO. Yeah, I mean, sure, got knocked out of the tournament.

we go down as losers. But, I mean, you can't take those pregame moments from me and all the fun we've had with fans just coming back together and being excited. And it's also worth noting, like, the various moments during the year that we had great. Like, think about what it was like the night after we beat Duke. That was the moment for a lot of fans where I think people said, hey, this is going to work. Yeah. Like, this dude's going to work.

You know, because I'm sure people are like, going to work. Still questioning whether Pope was the guy. It's going to work. Think about in Seattle, the Gonzay. tag a comeback, you know, down 18. Games in the middle of the night, and we end up coming back and win. That game against Florida, which I think was one of the best played games of the year by both teams. That was the last time we were really fully healthy was in that game.

The first time we beat Tennessee, I mean, short-handed. Short-handed. Nobody thought we were going to win that game. Ten-point underdog. Both went, the win against Louisville at the time wasn't as big, but ends up being big because they were good. at the end and then both wins against Oklahoma, right? Both the win on the road and then the win in the SEC tournament with O-A hitting the shots. I mean, those are moments that we will remember from this year, I think, no matter what.

That's what we talked about in our first segment. We fell in love with this team for what they did on the court, this, you know, the land of misfit toys. These guys came from all these different places, and yet they came together, and now we will be beloved forever by our fan base. just on a completely personal level, it also reignited some of the joy of it for me. That had kind of gone away the last couple years. It became, this became more of a job at times than like, I found the games to be slogs. I mean, especially in the last two years.

You know, I could sit in the arena, not because I didn't care, but just because it was like, here we go again. Yeah. Well, I'm back to walking these, you know, bank buildings because I'm nervous again, because I want us to win again. And, I mean, I always wouldn't win, but like, I want it, like, that, that excitement is back even for me personally. And so I think, I said that to Pope a few weeks ago.

I thanked him for that because he did, I sat in his office back in, before I went to, to Europe. And he said, well, no, it was right after I got back when I, and he was like, you got to stay this is going to be awesome i mean he was like he was trying to pump me up and you know what he was right he was right he was right it was one more who's next mary mary go ahead and mary the first time and i'm so happy to be the first time all right thank you i just love this team They are very special. They have done something to bring Kentucky basketball back in the realm and coach Pope.

I have been going to games since Coach Rupp back with Dan Issel and Mike Pratt and Louis Dampier and all them. My dad took me in Memorial Coliseum back in the day. And then when Roperina first opened up, he took me there and said, this is what it is now. And Kentucky basketball is life and blood and a fan base that just cares and wants to be there. you're right I don't like Tennessee I don't like Tennessee I understand

but I like them better than a few other teams in the FCC well we don't have to say anything nice about them but you're right ma'am and it's nice to have it's nice to have that thread through the years

and Mary thank you for staying up with us tonight hey Matt I love you and I hope you keep doing this because it means so much to just listen every night after a game on the radio just to hear you have to listen to everything just to hear you well that's very sweet of you thank you mary and i love all you guys i love all you guys and everybody thank you mary appreciate the call it is the bomb that's very nice uh you know what it was it was those damn birds and the

feeder. Yeah, that's the problem. They went away. He said it on the show. We should have listened. By the way, the SEC had the most teams ever in the tournament with 14. Yeah. They had the most teams ever make the sweet 16 with seven.

Right. They'll now have four teams in the elite eight. That's only happened twice. 2009, Big East, 2016 ACC. So if one of these teams wins the championship, I think we'll have claimed to be the best league of all time, don't you think? I think so. I know one team I don't want it to be.

Let's not let it be Tennessee. Yeah. Need them to lose. Who do you want to win now? I mean, it looks like Houston's going to, I mean, they're up 10 on Purdue. So let's say they close it out. If you have Duke, Alabama, Florida, Texas Tech, Auburn, Michigan State, who am I missing? Houston and Tennessee.

Who would you like to see win? I'd like to see Houston win, even though it's not SEC. I feel like Kelvin Samson deserves one. That's who I have on my bracket. They're pretty far removed from me. I don't know one single Houston. fan that would rub it in my face, not in the conference, not on the schedule, so it'd be the most harmless, I think.

What if Duke plays Tennessee in the Final Four? Who are you going to root for? I guess I might to root for Duke. It just means more. Yeah, I didn't want to think about that. I mean, I think I would root for Duke as painful as that is to say. I can't root for Tennessee. I think I'm on the Alabama bandwagon now.

That's what I'm going to root for. Do you want an SEC team to win it? Yes, I do. Yep, I do. They've already got a little SEC Dynasty brewing. I don't want to just keep adding to their trophy cabinet. Yeah, you know, I don't know. I think I want, Houston is the most harmless of all these teams, wouldn't you agree?

Or Izzo get another one at Michigan. Because he's the only one won. That would be okay. Houston by a wide margin. I could get a little Matthew Mitchell bump. Yeah. Houston would probably be, would be, that's right, Matthew Mitchell. He could go to the parade.

Can I tell you something kind of funny? Yeah. It's 12.15 at 9, who cares? We were, with Mario and I were driving. Or no, it wasn't Mario. It was Huffy. Hovey and I were driving the Reds game last night. And we leave, and I never listen to Allen Color Show.

But, you know, we were in the car. So I turned it on. He was doing one of his like 40-minute monologues, right? No filter. And he broke in to say that Matthew Mitchell had taken the Houston job. And he goes, Matthew Mitchell is taking the Houston job. Wow. He was like, you know, I used to text with Matthew Mitchell.

And then Matthew Mitchell just stopped replying to my text. And I don't know why he stopped replying to my text. And you know, the thing is, now he's going to Houston. I know people in Houston. I probably know some people that can help Matthew Mitchell. But I don't know if I'm going to text him because he hadn't texting me back. And then he just switched topics. That was his analysis of Matthew Mitchell going to Houston.

And I thought that's the best Alan Cutler analysis. He stopped. He knows some people, Ryan, that could have. help him at Houston. That's why I love Alan Cutler. That's exactly the reason why I love that man. He said it so seriously. He was like, I could help Alan Houston. Or not, however. Whatever. We'll take a break. He can help Alan Houston too. He can help Alan Houston too. We'll take a break. Be right back. Final segment. It's the local toy dealers, KSR postgame show. Welcome back. Final segment, Local Toy Dealers, KSR Postgame Show.

One person writes, Matt, I'd like to ask you guys, what's your favorite memory of the year? start with that. What do you think is your favorite? That's a tough one. I mean, the O-Way buzzer-beater in Nashville was pretty special because it just, it all happened so fast and it was a crazy party afterward. But I think my favorite I'm going to go with

was the 11 a.m. game against Florida. I mean, Rupp Arena. Yeah, that was good. For such unique situation, playing that early, Rupp Arena, that's about as good as I've seen it in a long time. You score 107 points against the team. It's probably going to be in the Final Four.

of all the wins being in that building. That might be the game we played the best, too. On fire. I think that was our best play. It was the last game. We were all healthy. That was last time everybody was healthy. What about you, Billy?

It was definitely the post-game show after the Oklahoma game in the SEC tournament. That was very joyous. Yeah, that was funny. Three o'clock in the morning with Hovey, Brian, and Mario. After they had the blood moon. That was a lot of fun. That's a good one to put in the archives from that one. What about you, Ryan?

I'm going to say the SEC tournament because I took Josiah the first time he's ever been. So it's kind of a father's son thing. And we got great seats for the Oklahoma game. Thank you. Shout out to Stephen Horn. So we got to see that last second shot by O.A. And then we watched the second game against Alabama at Ten Roof. And there was a 25-year-old grinding on my son.

And he thinks that Ten Roof in Nashville is the great. I didn't hear that. Josiah thanks the 10th, Nashville. You've talked about the 25-year-old grinding on your son. Well, after midnight. We can talk about it now. Yeah, they, uh... That's a favorite memory of the season.

It was good. I had to step away. Duke was pretty cool. The kid was pretty cool. I had to step away. I didn't want, you know, to pee in his Cheerios. That is a Ryan living line. His favorite moment of the season was a 25-year-old grinding on his son at 10-roof.

That was a beautiful moment in history. Not Duke. There were some grandmals who were coming up to him and thought he was Dane Key, getting their picture taken with him. And Josiah just played it off. You know, he just played it off. And then I heard one of them say, where are you at now? He said Nebraska.

He and Dane Key look like they could be related. Oh, yeah. I mean, I can see that. So what about the basketball season? I'm going to say, I'm going to put us back to basketball and say, for me, I actually think it's the good. Zagawa, you know, it was just because it was unexpected. I don't know how they still, how they won that game.

I still don't really know how they won. Mario hit me like 10 times. Every time they would score, he would punch me in the shoulder and say we were coming back. And then afterwards at that bar, you know, at 3 o'clock in the morning, Eastern Time, that was a lot of fun. And then we lost Max Duffy to a woman. I'm still not convinced he would back to Australia. I think he's in Seattle. I think he's in Seattle with that woman.

That was a good experience, that trip out to Seattle. Yeah, that was a lot of fun. All right, who's next? Love always finds a way. Mike. We'll do five and call tonight. Number one, go, Mike. Hey, how are you guys doing?

Doing great. A plus, not an A plus, but A on a season, no doubt. Great bunch of guys. They represent the front of the jersey is what they were all about. Totally agree. Lamont Butler, Lamont Butler playing with one arm is amazing. Yep, that's true.

And he played great tonight, by the way. He played great tonight. I mean, this was a good, for Lamont, seven for 10, 18 points, he played great tonight. Yes, sir. That's all I had to say. I love this team, and I'm looking forward to the future. Appreciate the call.

Looks like we're going to hit. This should make everybody happy. Well, no, wait a minute. It looks like we're going to hit Purdue's cut it to four. Oh. I have a five-team parlay that included women's basketball tonight. Who'd you bet on a women's game? I picked UCLA women to beat Old Miss and Duke women to beat North Carolina.

And that all happened. Plus Michigan State, Auburn, and now I need Houston. But now it's a three-point game. So. He need Houston to win. We need Houston to win. We can't have Purdue play in Tennessee to go the final four, Drew. We need to do it.

That needs to not happen. Yeah, we need Tennessee out of here quickly, and Houston can be the team to do it. That's right. Who's up next? Four more. Who's next? Will. Go ahead, Will. Hey, Matt, this is Will from Dallas, Texas. So, quick backstory. I graduated from high school in 2018 and went to SMU. And since I've been here in Dallas, all of my friends have named me is kind of the crazy Kentucky Wildcats fan. for having no valid reasons that I considered you lost to St. Peeves and then of course the recent open loss. So I was hoping this year

that we'd kind of bring that back and have that validation behind my craziness. All that being said, when do you think I can have that that reasoning behind the real catch run when we can win the next year? I mean, I think there's, you know, if I were to make a prediction, and I appreciate the call. I think we'll be really good next year.

I don't think next year is our championship run. I think we are a contender in two years. That's just my guess. I don't know that, but if you're just looking at my guess, I think next year, you know, I think he still needs one more class to go get, he's got to figure out what the mix is of recruits,

returners, portal. I think we're going to be good next year. I need to see the roster first. but I feel like two years from now, you know, that's the, if I were betting, God. I do think they're going to take another step forward this next season, even not knowing the roster. Maybe it could be special if you go out and some of these pieces really pan out, but certainly in the next two years they're going to be in the mix.

The SEC is going to be a lot more getable next year. A lot of these teams are not going to be as good next year. Auburn's not going to be as good next year. You're all very old. Remember, I mean, you got to remember the best players in the SEC are guys that return. for another year. Johnny Broome, Ziegler,

Sears, like those guys are all going to be gone. And the next group are not as good as those guys. So I do think the league will be more getable next year. If you're telling me in two years we can make a run, I think every fan would take that in a second. Oh, yeah.

Three more. Who's next? Michael. Michael, go ahead, Michael. What's that, fellas? Drew, I don't know if you did this or not. Did you end up staying in the same place in Indy from when we lost to St. Peter's? I haven't stayed there yet, but in about four hours, I'll go to my room and pass out.

That's that good. Okay. So my friend Brock said you had mentioned something about that. Do you think maybe that gave us some bad juju for tonight? Yeah, maybe it's your fault. Well, when I checked in, my room wasn't ready. They were doing maintenance on it, so maybe they were fixing something. Maybe they were bringing the curse back.

I don't know. Really, I hate every hotel in the city. He really hates it. I hate everything in the scene. I've always disliked it. Except Tinder. I always used to say it was good. Our record, we've lost five in a row here. Let's never come back. Move the Final Four somewhere. I'll move it to Atlanta. We forget with the 97 national championship game we lost here in Indianapolis. Yes. Thank you, sir. Two more. Who's next? Brandon.

Brandon. Go ahead, Brandon. Hey, guys. First time, a long time. Who up? So, first off, I just want to say, like, what a difference a year makes. I remember. like after the Oakland game like I just like just felt sick like the next day and like it's

going to be nice I think just kind of waking up with some sense of optimism I'm still obviously bummed about the outcome but you know I think everybody is like really pleasantly surprised about how successful the season was and on a really like positive note too I finally converted my wife to you know

to you know being a part of Big Blue Nation I think this team was just really just fun to watch huge Otega Oway fans so I'm really hoping he comes back next season and we can kind of keep his tradition going we're actually planning on starting a family this year and so I think just to echo what you said about

this season reigniting the joy amongst the band base I think what I'm looking forward to is like making this like a tradition that I'm going to like pass on so yeah I think that's I think that's I answer my question you go ahead you answer my question about kind of like the trajectory of the program

kind of where you see it in the next couple of years, kind of making that championship run. So I just had comments, and that was it. So sorry. Well, I appreciate it. And good luck with the family. 859-280-2287. The story, the amount of people who say reigniting their fame,

I mean, I think that really is going to be the story of this year. Let's do one more, and then Mario and I are going to drive to Lexington. So are you and Shannon. Yes, we're headed out of here. So if we pass you on the road, who's next? Going to 10, roof. Hunter. Hunter.

Hey, Hunter. Boys, how are we doing tonight? Doing good. Hey. I kind of echoing what everyone's saying about the reignite. It's definitely re-ignite me. This season will go down as a lot of first for me. I was able to go to my first ever game.

I was able to call in to the show for the first time, able to go to my first remote, both in Kentucky and Utah, which to me, like, I have always been a fan, but I didn't really follow it last couple years until this year, and this year really did kind of bring me back. And so I will always remember this year, and I'm so thankful for, I guess, everything.

And I'm especially grateful for you guys. This show, again, living in Utah, it's amazing that I can, like, feel close to home, and especially with how I work on constant podcast listener, you guys probably won't hear from me until we do, you know, post-game shows in October. And so until then, love you guys. See you guys.

Go cats. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. And listen, thank you all for listening this year. I always try to do something to wrap up after the last basketball game. So let me go through it real quick. First of all, thank you, as always, to my man, Billy, who stays up here with me at night. And we do this late into the evenings.

Thank you, Billy, for all the, what, I guess that's about 50 we've done, if you count football and basketball. Yeah. Thank you, Matt. Appreciate that. Yeah, you seem very excited about that. Billy's like, let's get out of here. Yeah, thank you, Matt.

Big shout out to Mario, first year with us. You were hired like one year ago today, and you've been a great addition. It's been awesome to be with you. Thank you very much. You guys, the three of you, we've done this a lot. I always love this time of year because we get to go places together. We've been in Nashville, Milwaukee. and Indianapolis.

And it's been a blast. Thank you for now what. 16 years with Drew, like 15 years with you guys. It's been awesome. And to all the listeners, you all, you know, I've said it so much, it may sound tripe, but you really have kind of reignited, not just my love with UK basketball, but, you know, I was burned out. And after this year, it's gotten me, you know,

right back to where this job has always been for me, which is a lot of fun. And thank you to everybody. Days like, you know, the ending sucked with the loss, but days like today at Tin Roof, seeing the amount of people, the energy, you know, this thing started 20 years ago, like literally 20 years ago this September and it started like in a basement. And to see what it's become, I just can't think everybody enough. with that. We will be back Monday morning from

KS Bar. It'll be probably talking portal and getting ready, and I got three shows, and then hopefully I will be able to sit up straight on a plane, because I'm going to Amsterdam with a back that's locked up, but you know what?

They got good stuff over in Amsterdam if you need it. They can help you with that. The K&May, well, we'll see. Hey, thank you all very much. Everybody have a safe drive if you're driving home. Cats lose in the Sweet 16, but Kentucky basketball is back. This has been the local toilet dealers, KSR, postgame show. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy,

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