KSR - KSR Special Edition: Calipari Leaves Kentucky

Episode Date: April 9, 2024

Matt and Billy react to the news that John Calipari is leaving Kentucky and they take your phone calls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This is KSR, Kentucky Sports Radio, a special edition. that we're going to do here from three to five with the end of the John Caliperi era and what is next? The last time we did a show like this, I believe Billy was when the twins were coming back, right? It wasn't that the last time? Well, you weren't even around back. I wasn't even around for that.

But when the twins decided to return in the spring of 2014, I think that's the last time we've broken in and done one of these. But we're going to do it because this is a historic moment. in UK basketball. So we're going to, first of all, we're going to take calls. I'm going to do an intro, but this is going to be like the postgame show. I really want to focus on you guys. I want to hear what you all think, meaning the UK fan base. What do you think about the end of the Calipari era and what's next? That's really what this show is about is a chance, just like at the end of a post game, it's a chance for you to talk. Calipari made a statement today this afternoon

around 2 o'clock saying he was resigning. The thought is that he will join Arkansas. It will potentially be announced by Arkansas, probably while we're on the air, honestly, but certainly in the next few hours. But most importantly, for our sake, he will not be the coach at Kentucky. I want to play for you his statement in total.

It's about four minutes. It was filmed at his house, and he's sitting in front of a camera, and to be honest with you, I think he looks sad. If I'm just being real, I think that's what it looks like. But we're going to go ahead and play it here. Billy, go ahead and play. This is Cal's statement saying goodbye to the Kentucky fan base.

Since our season ended, Ellen and I have spent a lot of time thinking about our time here at Kentucky. What it means to us, the friends we've made on that court, regional championships, conference championships, final fours, the national title in 2012. It's been a beautiful time for us. This is a dream job. It was my dream job. Anybody in our profession looks at the University of Kentucky in basketball and said that is the bluest of blue. The last few weeks, we've come to realize that this program probably needs to hear another voice, that the university as a whole has to have another voice giving guidance about this program that they hear. And the fans need to hear another voice. We've loved it here, but we think it's time for us to step away and step away completely from the program.

There have been opportunities that have been presented to us. So we're discussing them as a family. I love coaching. I love coaching young people. I love this year's team. I loved every day walking in. They've invigorated me. I love the chase for championships.

I love bringing the kids together. It's what I do. It's who I am. Let me start, though. I've got to thank. the players and the families that I've had the privilege of coaching because they've entrusted me with their son and their son's career. What they've done in the classroom, over 30 of the guys have graduated six in three years, what they've done in this community to give back to the state of Kentucky. They gave all of us everything they had on the basketball court and off the basketball court.

And I am indebted forever until the wheels fall off. And I think they all know that. I'm not going to bring up names because if I bring up one, I've got to bring up 50. And lastly, thanking staff, all the people that worked to help us have the success we've had. all the people in the university as a whole in all the things that they did the friends i'm looking right into the camp we've made lifelong friends that will be close with the rest of our lives and the fans the b bn all that you've done to build this program the people that traveled with us i want to thank you um hopefully it was an experience with you

your kids that you can look at and say, man, this is something that we'll remember the rest of our lives together. Those memories and what we're able to do together is what this is all about. Again, it's been a dream, what we've been able to do. But 15 years, time for another voice, and you know I'm always going to be a fan. Thank you. So that was Cal Perry's. final statement to the Big Blue Nation. I thought it was really well done. You know, if you listen to KSR, I say all the time. I think the most important days of your working life are your first day and your last day in everything you do. And this is a good last message. We will talk over the course of these two hours about how we got to this point in the last 48 hours, because I think it's been a lot.

But at the end of the day, he's leaving, and I appreciate what he said in it about how he thinks it's time for a new voice. I agree with that. I think it is time for a new voice, and I think it's big of him to recognize that and say it. I think that was probably hard for him to do, but I appreciate that he did it. And he's right. There were some great memories. It's impossible to not feel sad. If you had affection at any point for the man as I did, and I did,

as I would say, the vast majority, if not all of you listening did, you cannot help but feel a little bit sad about it. At the same time, I think it needed to happen. It was the right time. And I think both parties will be better off next week. And I say that because Kentucky needs a coach first, but next week than they are today. So we'll talk over the course of this about what I think happened in the last couple days, because I do think there was a lot more that went down than we thought.

But ultimately, the end result is he's going to be coaching at Arkansas. He'll come into Rupp next year with different colors on, and we're going to have a new coach. And so part of what it now is is what's next. Who does Kentucky get? I think there are a number of names, but I think the three names that are at the top of the list for UK, are Danny Hurley, Billy Donovan, and Scott Drew,

but I also think that there are going to be a lot of, I am confident that Mitch Barnhart knows how important this is, and he's going to check in on every lead. I think for me, I would be surprised if the list goes lower than Scott Drew. And what I mean by that is not that he's the worst choice, but I think Mitch Barnhart sees a level of coach that he's interested in, and Scott Drew is in the fan's eyes the bottom of that level. And I think Kentucky gets someone that is Scott Drew or better.

And to me, that will be a positive result. If you end up with Scott Drew, then I think he can do very well here. If you end up with Danny Hurley, I think you can crush it. And if you end up with Billy Donovan, I think he can do very well. And pick the name of your dreams, you know, Jay Wright, Brad Stevens. I'm not saying those dudes are going to come here. But you sir would be excited if they did. But if you tell me today I get Scott, Drew, or better,

then I'm excited and happy about the future UK basketball. But it is also important to remember what's ending a great run by John Calapani. John Calgary, 10 years of absolute excellence and a totality of a 15-year career that really was a great time. It's the right time for it to end, but it also doesn't mean it really wasn't a wonderful time. And they're right, initially are going to be a lot of sadness and hurt feelings. But over time, I think this will work out for the best for everyone. So with that said, I want to just take your calls, like a postgame show. We're going to be on until 5 o'clock, 859-28027.

I want your thoughts on it. I also want to know what you think should be next. And if you have questions about what went down, it got confusing in the last 48 hours, all that. This is the time to do it. We will take an early break. Billy's in Lexington. I'm actually in Louisville in studio.

We didn't necessarily expect to do this, but we are. And we'll take your calls and be right back on a special edition. Oh, by the way, for those of you tuning in for Sean Hannity, sorry, a special edition of Kentucky Sports Radio coming up. Welcome back. I want to say it's the local Toyota Dealer's KSR postgame show, but it's not, Billy. It is a special edition of KSR 859-280-2287. We'll take calls real quickly over the last, what happened over the last 48, hours. There's all kinds of reports. Here is what I think is the best, the best summary of what I

believe to have occurred. I think Cal Perry started having communications with folks around Arkansas on either late Thursday or Friday. I think he decided on Sunday in his mind that he sort of had a tentative deal with Arkansas. I don't think he necessarily wanted it to get out because, under his contract, he has to tell the University of Kentucky before he negotiates with another school. I don't know that he did that. It gets out. It is what it is at that point. And then on Sunday night, you get the report, you get to Monday,

and then what happened next is going to be debated for a long time. But I think it's clear, and it's been reported now by multiple folks. that a couple people from the university met with Cal. Dick Gabriel, who is a U.K., longtime U.K. sports network person, said that he, Cal made a counteroffer to UK. I have not heard that, so I'm not confirming or denying it. I have no idea. I do think they met, and I do think there is something to the effect that there was a little

bit of cold feet, maybe second guessing going on. But I think the University of Kentucky's position was fairly clear that they believed he had violated the contract and there was no coming back. And at that point, that is what led to those conversations, what led to the cancellation of the team meeting. It's what led to the postponement of the Arkansas press conferences, et cetera. And by today, they were just waiting for Arkansas to finally approve the contract with the Board of Trustees that happened. and now Cal Perry is no longer at Kentucky. So we may always wonder what occurred in that meeting at Cowell's House, but either way, it ends up in the same result.

There will be a new coach at Kentucky. All right, let's get started, Billy, who's up first? David is up first. David, go ahead, David. Yeah, guys, I'll try to make this really quick. A lot of things you said I agree with, Matt, a couple things. And I do have a question as far. as the news about him shopping us in February with Ohio State.

And the reason I ask this is for me, I've taken up for Cal a lot. And I mean, truly, like you said, you know, for 15 years, I've enjoyed it. I think we had a great run. But, you know, at that time, we was having a pretty tough time. And he was having to defend itself, you know, about March. And I know he always says he puts these kids first. And I really believe that. and I really believe that he put the kids above the program a lot of times, and that's fine.

And I might not have agreed with it, but I did understand it. But at that time, it just doesn't feel to me like that the kids were first if he was doing that. So people know that was a Matt Norlander of CBS Sports Report. Matt, I will say, has been very connected to this story from the beginning. I would say if you were looking at the totality of this story, Matt's been the closest to anyone. I used to work with Matt at CBS. I think he's a great guy. So he said that Cal had looked into Ohio State in February.

I did not hear that when it happened, but I'm with you. That would be disappointing because that's disappointing. If that is true, and I have no reason to say it's not, it's disappointing. Well, yeah, that bothered me because I never ever. questions as a character and I'm not now I'm not I'm just saying for me you know that you know on our dime I feel like the offseason is long enough that that you can do that and I don't have a problem with him doing it I don't have a problem with him leaving I think he he left us fine how he left us in better shape that he found us I really truly believe I think we got some vixies we got

to do and one other question I did have and I know you're an attorney and you can probably answer this and what really blew my mind was that that there was no bias out. You know, I wasn't surprised we didn't fire him. I mean, personally, I didn't think we could with the buyout. But how in the world was there no buyout? Well, I mean, you got to go back to when that contract was signed, and I appreciate the call. It's right after UCLA once him, and Cal had all the leverage. And, you know, if you listen to my show, I always say, life's all about leverage. Cal had all the leverage. Cal Perry had a offer from UCLA for the for the more money than he was making at the time from Kentucky.

He asked Cal for what became the lifetime deal and said he wanted no buyout. And Mitch either had to agree or Cal would leave. And in hindsight, it's easier to say, well, they should have let him go. But in 2017 or 2018, when that was, I think it would have been very unpopular for Mitch Barnhart to allow Cal Perry to go to UCLA. So I don't blame him. I mean, I don't. All right. It's easy in hindsight to say, well, he shouldn't have done that. But if you put yourself in this shoes at that moment, I don't know. I don't know how you could have done it. Who's next?

Christian. Christian. Go ahead, Christian. Hey, Matt. I was the guy that called in 2017 with Big Cat and PFT and jokingly put cow on the hot seat. Oh, really? Wow. Okay. Yeah, it only took seven years, but here we are, right? So I'm 34 years old when we live. We live. lost to Oakland. I got really emotional. And just kind of like you and Drew feeling that it had ended and even that like I wanted him gone at that point. But I just have such special memories like with my brother at the Sweet 16 and 2014 and just so like my core years in my 20s. And I can't thank Cal enough for that. But man, like the way that he looked at the camera the other week and talked

about finishing well and legacy, like the way that all this has played out in the last few weeks, weeks, it's just going to take a while for me to get over it with him. So I want to hire Dan Hurley, and when Cal comes to wrap next year, I want to be with one of my best friends who is an Arkansas fan and is losing his mind right now. Shout out Ryan Belcher. And I want to run them by 30 and everyone's chant built for March and tell him to eat it. So thanks for taking my call. Well, there you go. So that's the other side of it. I will always wonder about that video with Cal and Mitch. You know, I will always wonder about that.

You know, in hindsight, that's a really odd thing to do. My guess is, at that moment, Cala Perry thought he was staying, probably because he didn't think he would have any other options. But to look and go, I want to be here. This is what I want. And then nine days later, talk to another school and agree to go somewhere else is, it's odd. and how you interpret it is probably just how you look at this situation in general. But it is odd without a question.

What's next? Luke is next. Luke, go ahead, Luke. Hey, guys. So kind of leading back to that first caller about the contracts and everything, if we whiff on the first three big guys is, like, is Mitch savvy enough to not, like you use the marriage analogy a lot. But why do we have to, like, why do we have to get married to coach?

Like, if he's savvy enough to not, like, stick us with somebody for a long time where we're going to be in this situation again at some point, you know? Well, I mean, I don't know what you mean. Like, you've got to have a coach. No, no, I mean, I just, I worry. So I, this is too long, but, like, I watch a lot of soccer. And, like, soccer coaches in Europe, they mean, they come and go a lot. Yeah, they come and go a lot.

No, they'll sign somebody to a five-year deal. That's what will happen. Whoever this new coach is, it'll be five years. That's what it'll be. That's the kind of standard. They deviated that from that from Cal, and I'll make you a prediction. Mitch ain't doing that again. I'm fairly certain.

Yeah, I just, like, if the guy's good, like, if we have to end up with Chockelsmart or the guy at Iowa State, like, let's give them a trial run, give them three, four years, see how it goes. Like, let's not. Well, whether or not the deal is five years or not, the reality is if you don't win within three years, he's not going to be here. I mean, let's remember he got rid of Billy in two years. So he's not scared to do it, you know? So like I'm not really worried necessarily about, I mean, you know, Drew always has that line like it's not my money.

I don't care. But there is a sense in which the next coach, and I appreciate the call, we'll have probably three years to do it, four at the most. And if they don't, they'll be another one. That's just the nature of this job. If they're really bad like Billy was, they'll have two years to do it. Who's next? Jeremy's next.

Jeremy, go ahead, Jeremy. Hey, Matt. Man, I don't know. I was sitting here on a whole thing and like, how do I put it the nicest way possible? Because I am appreciative of everything that Cald done. I mean, I was there in 2012. I remember that. It was magical.

I'll never forget that. And what happened after that, the 2015 team and all that, even up until COVID, everything was great. in my mind and then the COVID happened, NIL happened, the Transful Portal, all this stuff happened and kind of changed the landscape under Calgary's feet. We saw what happened there. I mean, I'm not making excuses for anybody. I'm not, you know, I'm thinking, I just want to say I'm thankful for everything he brought us and all that. But I, you know, I'm ready to get over the breakup quickly. That's how I am. Yes. I agree. By the way, this show for me, this show and

probably tomorrow morning is kind of the end of talking about Cal, right? Because no offense, it's time. I want to do this show to recognize his time. I'm sure we'll talk about him tomorrow. But I think after that, it's now time to go what's next because you can't sit and cry over spilled milk. That's it. That's me. And so I guess that really brings my question to you, Matt.

What's next for you? I mean, I remember back 2008, 2009, when I found Kentucky SportsRadio.com. I thought it was like, all right, this is cool. Like we have a hub here that we can all kind of get sources of information. And Matt Jones was the guy. And I remember when Cal Guy here, we were looking at Matt Jones for the answer. So what's next for Matt Jones? Well, I'm going to keep doing this.

Whoever the next coach is, I mean, I don't care who the next coaches. I appreciate the call. Whether it's somebody I would pick or whether it's somebody I would not pick, I'm going to do all I can to cover them fairly. be as supportive as I can. It's better for all of us if Kentucky wins. And I'm a fan, right? Like, I'm a fan. And so I think whoever's next, we need to do all we can to help them succeed. But we also have to, like, evaluate them fairly. And that's always been a tough balance for me, especially when you get to know people. It's hard. But whoever's next, I want them to work.

And if they pick the guy I would pick, great. If they don't, no reason not to hope they still succeed. You've got to try to help them as well, and that's what I will do. What's next? Oklahoma, Jared. Jared, how are you, Jared? Hey, I'm good, guys. Quick comment and a question.

So, I mean, it's super bittersweet. This is how this is going down. Looking back, I remember where I was when Cal Perry was hired on spring break in Florida and seeing all the recruits that Cal had recruited that were coming to our school and just thinking about how we were going to be cool again. It was fun. And just also realized how bad Billy G was because I'd never heard of any of these guys. So, but between the 2011 year, the 2015 year, just look back fondly Han Cow and choose to

remember those memories as opposed to the last five years. I think that'll happen over time. That'll happen over time. Yeah. It's going to be hard with him being in conference. You know, because he's going to be in our face, right? Like if he had gone to USC, we could kind of forget he exists, but it's going to be harder with him in Arkansas.

Right. So not sad that it's over, but happy that it happens for sure. But one question. So some rumors going around that Dwayne Peavy was the warning. I don't believe that. Matter of fact, I don't believe that at all. It's not true. I know what you're talking about.

I don't think Dwayne had anything to do with this. So I think that that rumor, I think is completely false. Do you think that Cal would have stayed if Barnhart came back and said that he was leaving? You know, I don't know. That would just be a guess. I don't know. I mean, I think their relationship was poor. But I also think Kentucky was not unhappy to get out of a $33 million deal, to be honest with it.

I think that's, I appreciate the call. I think, I'll be honest, I think Cal Perry made a mistake. Calgary's been one of the great tacticians of PR, his first decade here. I think he made a mistake. I think he made a mistake for the last three or four years in thinking, especially the last two years, that he had like universal support, and he dismissed any critics as being like a tiny minority. and I don't think he realized how much of the fan base he had lost.

So then when he lost to Oakland and it kind of hit him in the face, he was a little shocked. And I think he thought that he had more leverage with UK than he did. And I think when he talked to Arkansas, now, maybe he wants to be at Arkansas, and maybe that's what he's wanted the whole time. I don't know. but if the hinting that maybe he had some second thoughts was true,

I think he made a big tactical error talking to Arkansas because he gave Kentucky the out that they didn't have. I don't think Mitch Barnhart was going to spend $33 million on a buyout or 35 or whatever it was. I think it was there for him, but I don't think he wanted to do it. And when he talked to Arkansas, he technically violated the contract, and I think it gave Kentucky an out if they needed it. And while I think Mitch would have been fine and UK would have been fine with him coming back,

I don't think they're crying that they got out of this deal that has been difficult for him in the last year or two. We'll take a break. 859-28027. We're going to be on until 5 o'clock. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back.

It is the KSR. I will keep wanting to say local toilet dealers. It's a KSR special edition show. 859-280-2287. Go ahead and give us a call. The Ark, John Cowell Perry's lawyer has chimed a. Uh-oh. So Dick Gabriel, of course, had the report that Cal counteroffered UK. I put out Gabriel's report. Arkansas fans act like that I am the one who did it. That was Dick Gabriel's report. But the, um, Cal's lawyer responded with text messages from UK, according to him that say he didn't have a counteroffer. But it's also interesting Cal Perry's lawyer is in Arkansas and is from Arkansas. I guess his name's Tom Mars. Sometimes,

Billy, the truth is right in front of your nose and you never hear it. Like I always had heard that Cal's lawyer was named Tom Mars. I did not know he lived in Arkansas. That's too strange to be true. So how crazy is that? Cal's lawyer is, is, uh, was an Arkansas guy. So, you know, like I said, I think the details of that meeting yesterday at Cal's house will be debated for a long time. And I, I feel pretty confident Cal had second thought slash cold feet. I'm not confident in saying that he like definitely wanted to come back.

back, but I'm pretty sure that, you know, he had second thoughts. But I think Mitch Barnhart said, you don't get second thoughts. We're all going to have to move on. So that's what happened. What's next? John is next. John, go ahead. Hey, guys.

Thanks for taking my call. A couple things. One, you know, that was a pretty good video that Cal came out and said. but if it's your dream job, where's the results in the last five years? You know, like, to me, you know, you've had a lot of chances. Even in, what, 2020, when they were like 9 and 16, a coach could have been fired if it was anybody else.

I mean, he'd had multiple years to perform better. No, I mean, listen, the only reason he kept the job as long as he did was because of the success he had at the beginning. By anyone's standards, the last four years have not been Kentucky standards. Right. Yeah, I saw a video, Patino came out and said, and I know a lot of people like Rick Patino, but he said, play for the name on the front of the jersey, and then on the back, your name on the back will prosper.

If you play for the name, you will prosper. And that kind of has stuck with me throughout pretty much my whole life being a UK fan. and I think they kind of just went away from that. I think they did. No, Cal's philosophy was different. Cowell philosophy was play for the players, do everything for the players, it'll work out for the team.

And I'm not saying that philosophy is wrong, but it's a very different philosophy than, for instance, what Danny Hurley said, where he said, you guys are pros now. I expect you to, sort of produce and work like pros. Those are two completely different philosophies, and both philosophies have been successful,

but the question is, in 2024 going forward, which one is the best one? I agree. Just hopefully we can get somebody that's planned for the name on the front. I think you will. I think you will. I appreciate the call. You know, it's a natural, I think, inclination.

when something ends, that people will look for the opposite the next time. And I think that Mitch is going to be very, very careful in his next coach to make sure it's someone who is Kentucky first instead of players first. Not that I think players first is wrong. I've defended that for many years. But I think there was a exhaustion at UK kind of with that rhetoric. and I think they're looking for something, something different this time. What's next? Brad.

Brad. Go ahead, Brad. Hey, what's some fellas? I want to preface this by saying I have the utmost respect for both of these men. But if we're sitting at the boardroom table, convince me how, how Drew is not tubby 2.0. If you extrapolate his career. All right. Let me give you the case.

Scott Drew, let me give the case, and then you tell me if you buy it or not. Is that fair? So let me. Sure. And I'm the guy that called in maybe a month ago and made the whole Scott Drew's screwfuffle, if you remember. Let me just give you the case. I mean, I think Danny Hurley is more of a slam dunk. But here would be the case for Scott Drew.

Scott Drew came to Baylor in 2005, I believe. there was a murder investigation where one of the players Let me make the case, okay? And then you respond. There was a murder investigation where one of the players was alleged to have tried to kill the other.

I don't even remember the details. In the history of Baylor basketball before 2005, they had been to one NCAA tournament. One. One. Sure. In Waco, Texas, which ain't the best place in the world. Over the course of the next 20 years,

he builds them into a consistent NCAA tournament. participant. He wins the national championship in 2021. He had a shot at winning it in 2020 when the tournament was canceled. They were the number one seed and the second overall team in America. He was the number one or number two overall seed in 2022. And he's contended for the Big 12 every year. And he has been a one, two or three seed the last six years. Now, here's the counter to it. He has a lot of first weekend losses. He has a lot of first weekend losses.

So that's the case. If I were making the case for Scott Drew, I would say he's done all that at Baylor, which before he got there was probably along with Northwestern and Vanderbilt, the worst Power 5 job in America, and he ended up winning a national championship. Imagine what he could do at Kentucky. all right now so my counter to that would be that i will give you those early years and i would say

that he did a he did a great turnaround but to my to my knowledge we have what eight years of of missed tournaments and um all in the early years though all in the early years he doesn't he had missed a he i don't think he's missed a tournament in the last eight and i guess from a budget standpoint, I guess here's it will be where I would go. You're going to, you're going to, you're going to overpay for my opinion, a guy that's on. You don't even have to overpay. He only makes

$2.7 million right now. I mean, I still think, I still think he's going to ask. He's going to ask for five. He's going to ask for five or six, but that's probably four or five less than you're getting paying right now. I think, I mean, this is just my humble opinion.

I think, I think if you can't get the two, the two home run here, I think you go with young Tommy Lloyd at a at a ballpark base. Okay, but what has he ever won? I mean, he's doing great at Arizona. How did they do it? How did they do in the tournament this year? I mean, they've done about it.

They did about as good as Baylor did. Yeah, but he's never won a national title. Has Tommy Lloyd ever even been to the second weekend of the tournament ever? He has with Gonzaga. he was an assistant at Gonzaga yeah but he was there for 20 years I mean he's a market well listen if you want Tommy Lloyd more than Scott Drew

that's reasonable if that's your opinion but don't act like it's based on performance if you're worried about Scott Drew's performance then you can't want Tommy Lloyd because his performance is not nearly as good yet I'm just I'm saying off potential that's all I'm saying I mean he does have potential yes I would agree with that like I'm saying

and I'm not trying to I'm not trying to despair to Scott Drew I want to get that out there. I mean, I think, and Tubby Smith, I vehemently respect both of those gentlemen. I appreciate your time. Thank you. Appreciate the call. Tommy Lloyd is not a bad thing, but you're taking a huge risk with him. You are. But that's probably going to be true of anyone after Donovan, Hurley, and Drew. You're probably taking risk with anybody else, to be fair to the caller. Who's next? Zach. Zach, go ahead, Zach. Hey, what's up, Matt? I got one question for you, boss. Yes.

If we strike out on Hurley and we strike out on Donovan State, why is Drew the number third option? Well, who would you pick instead? Well, because I think the question is who would be better? Bruce Pearl, and I'll tell you why. But what is Bruce Pearl ever want? Okay, let me, okay. He will bring excitement back to the program for more.

Yes, he would. All right. He would run through a wall to be a coach of Kentucky. Yes, he would. We need somebody at head coaches as hungry as the fan basis. And I don't see Scott Drew being that guy. I mean, it's pretty much just like a unseasoned Raymond noodle to me. All right.

You take away that national title he's got. But that's a pretty big thing to take away. Because you're right. How many coaches have ever won a title that still coach? It's like seven. No, you're right. you're absolutely right i mean i'm not knocking scotger i'm just talking about for kentucky bruce pearl would bring the excitement back to the fans he interacts with the fans

he does i mean that i do agree with that i do agree with that i do agree that off the cord i appreciate the call nobody would get this fan base more than bruce pearl off the court and if bruce perl's a coach i'll be all right with it so i that's also a reasonable opinion i don't want the first guy that called for me to act like like Tommy Lloyd's a reasonable opinion too I'm not saying he's not I just it's it's odd to me how quick we dismiss a guy who won a national title I mean who's still coaching Billy that has a national title Cal Rick iso hurley yeah I mean who else who am I missing self yeah bill is that it I think I can't think of another one there's only six dudes besides Scott Drew who have a title.

It's pretty good. Unseasoned ramen noodle is probably my favorite line of the week. Who's next? Christy. Christy. By the way, do we, let me ask you about commercials here. Do we have to take these? I mean, I know this is an unscheduled show.

Like, how many do I need to take? Well, we need to break about now if you want to. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Hey, my question is about Scott Drew, so it works out pretty great with the conversation

spent. Basically, I feel Scott Drew is just a Cal 2.0, so I was shocked when the other caller said tubby 2.0. He's really good at recruiting. He has a lot of freshmen's coming in who have a lot of talent, and I just want to know how that's going to be any different than what we've been experienced. Well, first of all, he doesn't just do freshmen. When he won a national championship, I believe he started five transfers.

Oh, interesting. No, he is a good recruiter. But like in this year's class, to just give an example of his difference in philosophy, Cal, I think, has six freshmen that we're going to come here. Baylor, I think only has three. So, like, he goes and gets two or three guys and then has transfers. So it's just a difference in philosophy. But go ahead.

And then my other thing is completely unrelated. How would you feel about Lance Ware in the portal coming back? Love Lance Ware. I mean, I appreciate to call. If he ended up coming, that'd be awesome. I mean, I doubt he would because his coach isn't here anymore, but I'm a huge Lanceware fan. I think he's great.

We'll take a break. 859-280-2287. Billy's making me go to break. Yell at him. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back, Techie Sports Radio. 859-280-2287. Some folks writing them.

One person writes, Matt, well, first of all, Tony Bennett was the other one we didn't name. Tony Bennett's the other coach. So only seven coaches right now besides Drew have a national championship. Tony Bennett is the other one. One person writes, Matt, I think Scott Drew's resume is not very good, but I would say to you who has a better one, and that's what makes it hard. Yeah, I mean, that's the thing. So somebody said this I saw on a message board,

I think they're right. There's a strong case to be made that if we hired Scott Drew, he'd have the best resume of any coach to ever be hired at Kentucky. Wow. I mean, Rick had been to one final four. Tubby had been to none. Joe B had never coached. I don't know if Eddie maybe had been to one.

Cal had been to two but hadn't won the title, and Cal had missed the tournament seven of his first 17 years. So you do also have to recognize that this job makes the coach better, right? I mean, this job makes you better. So, you know, one person writes, Matt, you're talking like Scott Drew is already the coach. I'm not. I'm just, look, I'm just giving you my opinion. Of the choices out there, Danny Hurley's my first choice.

Well, first of all, Jay writes my first choice. choice, Danny Hurley's my second choice, Billy Donovan's my third one. But as of now, the names I've heard, the fourth choice for me would be Scott Drew. But the first three choices to me should have universal approval. One person writes, Matt, would you rather have your first choice of coach or president? Great question. If I get to pick who the president is, like not between the two choices we have, but in general, then give me present. I'm not going, I don't know about the other ones. One person writes, of the names you've heard, Matt, who would you not want?

That's a great question. So here are the names who someone has mentioned to me in the last 48 hours. These are all the names that have come up in conversations I've had. you know, I've already told you, I think Hurley, Drew, and Donovan are the top choices. But here are the other names I've heard. I've heard Jay Wright. We'd love to have it. Heard Chris Beard.

Have some reservations, but I'd be all right. I've heard Shaka Smart. Don't love that one. But, you know, I could be talked into it, but I don't love it. The only name I've heard associated that would worry me and that I wouldn't be excited about is Sean Miller. But like, if he's a coach here, I'm going to rally behind it. I have yet to hear a name that I think is like definitely a disaster. I think, I hate to say this, but like I've heard Mark Pope, I don't know about that.

Like, you know, I think you got to do some stuff before. Like, Mark Pope would not be a guy that would be considered if he hadn't gone to Kentucky. And I don't think you hire guys because. they went here. I'm strong believer of that. Who's next? Did you mention Patino? Yeah, I mean, look, Rick, it would be exciting if Rick was here, but I think you need to go younger than that. So who's next? Chris. Chris, what's up, Chris? Hey, Matt, thanks for taking the call. I just want to give my quick input on Cal's error and then just ask a real quick question about coaching. So in general, you know, when at the end of Tubby and Gillespie years, you know,

our biggest struggle was having with talent. And when they hired Cal, they brought in the talent. He brought in the talent. It really elevated us to the top of the mountain, but again, bringing in those premier players and also helping that national championship. But, you know, as the years went on with his lacklust of results, you know, the fan base was getting aggravated with his coaching style

and also just, like I said, just not producing in the tournament. So, you know, in my mind, I'm going to be appreciative of the Cal, Al kind of summed up as the years of like what could have been with Cal, yes, we did win that in a hessian championship and it really helped us out a lot. But I really think he could have done a lot more. Two things would have been way different if they had happened to Cal. One is if we won it in 2015, because we should have. And the second was if we had made the final four in 2019 against Auburn.

If those two games go differently, if you beat Wisconsin, and you beat Auburn, we look, Cal's probably still the coach here today. Those two things, I think, made a huge, huge impact on how we view all of this. What's your next thing? Second thing is, I kind of agree with some of the coaching. I would say Hurley would be my first pick followed by Drew. I don't think Jay is an option just because he's in broadcasting,

and we've seen this before many times. Once these coaches getting broadcasting, it's really hard for them to leave. Billy, I just don't think he's had this option before with Kentucky, and he's turned us down twice already. I don't think he's going to do it again, even if something happens with Chicago. I just don't see it happen with Billy. But beyond, like, Hurley and Drew, what I'm curious about, let's say that both of those fall through. I think Hurley might have a chance just because the money could be there for us.

you kind of doesn't I don't think What are you going to say besides I mean less than your thinks of the thought of it will happen What do you want about the other ones though Well uh drew I think is okay but I'm curious about if those fall through what what is going to be our options Because I don't know I think then the net gets very wide and the three names I've heard are Sean Miller Chris Beard and Shaka smart those are the names I've heard But I actually think they would look much farther than that But those are the three names that I have.

heard. So I appreciate the call. Who's next? Lance. Lance. Go ahead, Lance. Hey, what's going on, guys? You're doing all right? Doing good. Hey, so, you know, my thing is a big cow supporter. Hey, hate to see this day come, but I understand the fan base has been a little divided. But, you know, my thing is I wanted to call. I hope this kind of whole thing sets us on a new track. Even as far, I've listened to you, you know, for 10 years. years. But I kind of lump KSR and Kentucky basketball kind of in the same space here lately. It's, you know, the attendance is good. People are going to the games, watching the games, people are listening. But the product just hasn't been the same. So hopefully this whole new thing where you and him didn't have a relationship,

it can kind of turn a whole new role for everybody and maybe even the product of KSR gets a little better. Just because I kind of missed the whole thing being fun, man. And it just hasn't been. Well, what do you mean? Do you mean like, it's not been as good because people haven't been as good a mood because we've been losing. Is that what you mean? Yeah, and I think you kind of always said Cal got really condescending towards a fan base. I completely agree with that. But as much as he had, I think you even got condescending towards him.

It kind of got personal a little bit or at least felt that way much more than basketball. And that's human nature. You know, that's going to happen whether you realize it's happened or not. but I just think it's kind of overshadowed a little bit of all the fun and the good things of KSR. It kind of turned much more into just negative, not just what was happening on the court, but just the feel of the entire show. So I just hope this whole thing, man, we appreciate Kyle. I wish him the best moving forward. I'm excited for the search.

But I just hope this can kind of re-energize and bring back everybody because I see you catching a ton of heat online. even people that I know personally that are huge fans of yours in the show have kind of turned against it a little bit and kind of turned against you I just want to see the whole thing just kind of kind of move into a new direction well well I appreciate the call I mean I don't know exactly what to say about that except they won't have a choice but to you know look I mean I see the negativity out there I don't know I feel like I do the same thing every day that I've always done.

I feel like I just say what I think and I try to have fun. It's less fun after you lose to Oakland. I don't sort of know what people expect you to do in those circumstances. What I do think has happened is that there's a huge group of people that blamed me personally for, I don't know what for exactly, but for being negative. and, you know, I don't know how you, I don't know what you do about that. I'm not going to lie, though. It's not been hard.

I don't have been not trying to be personal at all, but it is what it is. And now it is a new age, and I'm excited about it. I'm excited about whatever happens. It was for the fan base, I think people were ready for a new voice, and I think that's probably true for me as well. We'll take a break. 280 2287. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

Welcome back. It is special edition of Kentucky Sports Radio. 859280 2287, the end of the Caliperi era. I'm here with Billy, a little almost like a postgame show. And then what's next? Who will the next coach be here talking about names, et cetera? I just want to, you know, I don't want to make this show about me. So I'm going to say this quickly, but I want to respond to.

what that caller said there because I had like five minutes to think about it. You know, I'll be honest, the last four years especially, really last three, have been extremely difficult to do KSR. Like how do you, a fan base that's divided, there's literally not one thing you can say that will please everybody. As a matter of fact, any position you take will by its very nature not please people. And so there's only one other time I've ever been in that situation, which was the end of the tubby era when it was kind of like that too. But I was like, nobody followed us then. We had a very small audience in 2007.

So like I had my position. I was kind of pro tubby, but like I wasn't big enough to where anybody cared. But now you have this platform that's literally the largest college sports platform in the country. There's nobody, there's no other show. There's no other website that has the reach that KSR does. and I don't really know what people want you to do. And this has been a very difficult three years.

How do you make losses fun? My goal on this shows to have fun. How do you make losing to St. Peter's fun? Losing to Oakland fun. It's hard. And as has shown when I take up sometimes for the football program with Mark Stoops, when you're losing, if you try to be positive, that also makes people mad. And so we got to a point that it's been so large

that it's hard to even, people hate the show that don't even listen now. So like it's become tough and it's been very draining. I think I have been as fair as I knew how to be, including as fair as I knew how to be with some stuff that people don't know that we had to deal with behind the scenes. and on a personal level, you know, that was exhausting. So I'll admit, I am excited about a new era.

But I'm also nervous about it because the one thing you knew with Cal is that it was always going to be exciting. There was always going to be stuff going on. You know, you talk about Scott Drew. One of the things that worries me is what if it's boring? He's kind of a vanilla guy. What if it's boring? but to the caller's point, I don't know how you can do a show like this and not make people frustrated, but what's different about this one is it's gotten so big, it's kind of hard to contain.

And I have said this over and over, and if you listen, you know this, I have the utmost respect for Cal Perry as a person. He is a wonderful human being. he's done wonderful things for this state and I appreciate his time here and I thank him for that and on a personal level I'm still a lawyer probably if that dude doesn't become coach

so I'll always thank him for that with all of that set I think it was time for a change and now we'll see what the next step is who's next well quickly Matt let me thank you for being as open and honest as you are I can't speak for BBN but that's not

common and honestly I think you do a great service to this day well I appreciate that you know for Ryan and Drew and Shannon and me and Billy recently like it's hard to put yourself out there as who you really are and I think we do but that also means that the barbs hurt sometimes and I'm not going to act like it doesn't It's just a reality. What's next? Sarah. Sarah, go ahead, Sarah.

Hey, Matt, to your previous comments, I want to say that there's a whole slew of people that think that you're single-handedly responsible for Cal's exit. But I'm not going to want you to think about what that, but think about what you just said. Like, that sucks. I know. I don't want people to think. Like, I didn't make them lose these games. But like that, like, I am a radio host.

Like, that sucks. And I love this. I mean, I grew up with Kentucky stuff all around. The idea that people think I wanted John Caliperi to leave is insane. But like it is what it is. There's nothing I can do about it. For sure. I have two questions for you.

The first one is I know that we still haven't heard a lot about Reed's future plan. Do you think that Cal's exit influences him to go onto the draft? Or do you think it has a good? I don't know. I mean, I think he was probably going to the draft either way. So, but I don't know. The thing is, UK, until Cala Perry officially resigned this afternoon,

they couldn't contact the players, or at least they were choosing not to contact the players. Now I'm sure someone at UK is reaching out to Shepard and basically saying, hey, any way you could hold off till we make a decision, and then I don't know how those conversations will go. Rob Dillingham, by the way, did just declare for the draft, but I think that was going to happen either way.

And then my second question is, you know, there's talk that Calipari was looking at Ohio State in February. He flew out as soon as they lost in the tournament. And a lot of people, including myself, had a lot to say about the fact that he wasn't at the Kentucky High School basketball state tournament to see Travis Perry. Do you think he knew he was on his way out and his staff knew they were on their way out so they weren't worried about seeing Travis play?

I don't know. I don't know. I appreciate the call. I thought that was a, again, because I don't talk to Cal now, I don't know what they thought. But I was really surprised they weren't. there was no UK presence at the Travis Perry games. And it might suggest that he thought, I mean, he was going to get fired, but then he didn't.

And so, yeah, I don't know. There's been a lot of stuff. There's a lot of stuff about the last three weeks that is odd. But if I'm not going to say confidently what his mindset was when I don't, didn't talk to him. So there's no way for me to know. What's next? Brandon. Brandon.

What's up, Brandon? Hey, guys, how's it going? Doing good. Okay, so my first thing is, I think that the consensus three coaches should be your three that you've put out and been saying all along. But outside of those top three, I want to talk about that. I think that Rick Patino would be one of the biggest mistakes we can make. And I think Shaka Smart would be a great hire.

I want to know what you think about those two and why you don't think Shokka. I think Pettino would be a mistake. I mean, I don't think it would be a disaster. but I think it would be a mistake. Shaka, it's, Shaka's one of these dudes. It's in the eye of the beholder, right?

So, like, he took VCU to a Final Four. That's pretty amazing. But then he went to a school in Texas where he had all the resources in the world, and it didn't really work. But then again, it hasn't really worked for very many people at Texas. So I don't know why.

Then he goes to Marquette, and they've done a pretty amazing job in a short period of time. with Shaka, you see what you want to see. So I'm not convinced it would work, but I'm also not convinced it wouldn't work. So I would probably say, let's see what happens, you know? Okay, I got you. And outside of those, who do you think that you said the net would get wider after that? Well, the only names I've heard outside the top three are Chris Beard, Shaka Smart, and Sean Miller. But I am sure there are other names. Those are just the only

ones that I have heard. Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you guys. So I appreciate the call. Look, here's what will happen. I think Mitch Barnhart

wants to by Friday have a coach. And I think he wants it to be one of those three people I told you. If we get to the point that we start hearing they've talked to other names, then that tells me it ain't going to be one of those three. And then the process probably takes longer. The other part of it is Billy Donovan has a playing game on April 17th.

What day of the week is that, Billy? April 17th. I think it's a Wednesday? Well, what's today? Yes. Yes, it's a Wednesday. Next Wednesday. So today is the 10th? So today is the 9th.

So a week from tomorrow, he has a playing game. If he loses that game, it's over. So you only have to wait a week. But if wins that one and then wins the next one, it'll be another two or three weeks. So if Danny Hurley says no, And Scott Drew says no. And all of a sudden, we're waiting until next week with not a no from Billy Donovan,

then it might be Billy Donovan. Because you can't hire Billy Donovan until at least the 17th, because he's got a playing game that night. What's next? BJ. BJ. What's up, BJ? Yeah, what's up, Matt?

Call him from New Orleans. I was called, ironically, the last time before the Arkansas game, and here we all losing Cal to Arkansas. Yeah. But I was just, like, picking back off the lady that I heard a couple of minutes ago, I was wondering the same thing about Cal because if you go back and listen to the press conference before when the bracket came out, he kept throwing it out what they're going to do, fire me. The worst thing happened is going to get fired.

And then I listened to the reaction show with Drew and sources say about the bracket. And Drew said he heard Cal was talking about the buyout and he can go buy an island if he get fired and stuff like that. I just wish I was Drew with you Well that wasn't Drew that wasn't Drew that was somebody else That was Drew was yeah that was not But it wasn't Drew it was another guy It was the it was a different person at KSR

I don't really want to get into that But there was somebody that overheard him say that At the Bracken thing yeah Yeah so I was just one that I don't I ain't gonna say he checked out or whatever But it was just weird I was just thinking about that the last couple days Those comments and stuff

But you know I love Cal I'm glad he got the soldier he needed and wanted and I'm ready for the next chapter. Like I'm here from New Orleans. I'm just, I'm just watching from afar. Yeah. And just the comment on the other caller, shoot, I love KSR. This is my main source of information because I'm way over here, you know, just watching from the outside. Yeah. I think you guys do a good job.

Well, that's very kind of you. Thank you. And I'll see you. I'm going to probably come to New Orleans see a friend of mine in the near future. Hopefully, maybe I'll run into you. We'll take a break. 859-280-2287. Be right back. It's Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back. Techies Sports Radio. 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-7-4-5-25-4. One-person writes, Matt,

do you think you will miss Cal once he's gone? Well, yes and no. I mean, I'm going to miss how fun those years 2010 to 2019 were. But, you know, from 2010 to until COVID, I probably talk to Cala Perry once every two or three days. And I missed that. Like that was, you know, that was, listen, you're a kid who grew up a Kentucky fan. How could you know I love that?

That's not been like that since the COVID year when we were critical of the way they played. And so I do miss that. But I've actually, the last 48 hours, for people who know Cal well, and are not involved now. So people in other places and people who used to work at UK, a lot of us have been texting each other just with sort of good memories. And I have a ton of great memories of the Calera, not just on the court, but off the court.

And he did a ton of great deeds that people don't know about. And yeah, so I'll miss that. I mean, of course, you can't help it. But you also have to be ready for the future. And my guess is whoever's next. I mean, you know, Billy Gillespie when he was here. There's a lot of negativity about him, but he also had some really sweet moments.

Billy Gillespie did things people won't ever know off the court. Tubby Smith did. I wasn't around, but I'm sure Rick did. So, you know, I will choose in the long run to try to remember the good of the Calera, and there's been a lot, a lot of good. What's next? Zach.

Zach, what's up, Zach? Hello, Matt. Hello, Billy. Thank you for taking my call. Thank you for doing this extra two hours for BBN. We appreciate you. Matt, I've got two things. But first up, I want to give a shout out to your mom and to Larry for raising an awesome human, awesome human being.

You're a great dude. I've got back to the few callers ago. I don't, I listen to you every day and I don't ever want to think you were disparaging, nasty towards cow or anything. You simply spoke the truth. And some people can't handle that I don't like that. So you're an awesome dude. Thank you. And, yeah, you're welcome.

And I'll tell you, you know, I grew up with taking my son, Ethan, to the father's son overnight camps with Cal. It was absolutely wonderful. Great memories. We're both very sad. It's the only coach he's ever known. And it's, you know, it's going to be sad. But I'm like you. I'm going to choose to enjoy the times we had, look forward.

And like you guys see on the show, there's not one person that is bigger than Kentucky basketball. We'll be here. And again, a shout out to my son, Ethan. and our puppy Millie who watch every single game with me. And Matt, we love you and keep fighting the good fight. And thank you everything you do, brother. Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

No, the, yeah, things like the father-son camp, those were awesome. Like, those were awesome moments during his time here. The thing about what's funny about anyone in the public eye, and this is very true about Cal, it's like, Everything is more complicated than you think because everyone in the public eye, including Cal, is just a human being. So, like, they have great moments and they have tough moments. But he had some great moments.

And when you go back and think from Hoops for Haiti to the flood relief efforts to the tornado relief efforts, Cal did a lot of good. And I tell this story a lot. But the thing I'll remember, especially in those early years, he was in love with being here so much we would go to public events what I always loved about Cal is he'd go look at the person

who was like you know serving food at the banquet hall or cleaning the bathroom and he would go be kind to them and that's a lesson my mom does that and Cal did that and that's a lesson I've always tried to take he would reach out to people

who knew he would never get credit for reaching out to. And that's part of the reason, regardless of how things ended, I will always have an affinity for him as a human being off the court. What's next? Chad is next. Chad, go ahead, Chad. Hey, Matt. No, I just wanted to say real quick,

I figured out in the last 48 hours that my wife has been listening to KSR podcasts. We'll tell her, thank you. You got to be sneaky about it because if you don't, people get upset. Well, she gave herself away because Sunday night when the news was breaking, and I was on your Twitter space, and she was like, hey, what's going on? And I told her, I said, well, it looks like cows leaving. And she said, and this is what gave it away, she said, is that scoop or scuttle buck? Oh, then that's how you knew, of course.

And I knew, but, you know, this is an interesting time, you know, for our fan base. because we don't go through this like other schools do. No, we don't. And, you know, Kentucky's going to be fine. You know, I never thought that I would look back at what something that Billy Gillespie said, and this is the University of Kentucky, not the University of Calipari or the University of any coach. He's right. He's right.

He said the University of Jody Meeks or whatever, I think it was his line. But he's exactly right about that. This university, everybody who does something at this university is a placeholder. Right. Like the players are placeholders. They're important placeholders, but they're placeholders. They change. Rupp, Hall, Sutton, Patino, Tubby, Gillespie, Cal, now there's another.

In the president's world, right? I don't know all of them, but Weddington, Todd, Capiludo, you know, Newton, Barnhart. There was Oscar Colt, Cawood Lefford, Oscar Combs, You know, whoever. Rob Bromley, Matt Jones, you just go through, like, we're all placeholders. But the one thing that's the same is the front of the jersey in the program, and we will be fine no matter who's next. Yes, we've won, what, eight championships with five different coaches.

This program is bigger than any coach, and it always will be. That's exactly right. Appreciate the call. Good stuff. Who's next. Mike is next. Mike. Go ahead, Mike.

Hey, Matt. Thanks for taking my call. Before I get into what I actually want to talk about, just a little side note. He doesn't have the resume yet, and it's not somebody that I think that we would consider. But I'm interested to see what Todd Golden does on down the road. There's something in him that I see, a potential I see. Yeah, I agree with that. He doesn't have the resume yet for this job, but I agree.

I think he could do well. Yeah. So while I was waiting on hold, you actually touched on some things that I was going to talk to you about. You know, I do think that we would agree that we need somebody that has the university and the betterment of the program in mind. However, you know, some of our greats were good at this, but they were also good at things we're doing, you know, for the city of Lexington, for the state of Kentucky. And I think that that's important for the state of Kentucky is to have somebody in this position that would be an ambassador for the state. You know, you look at what Cubby Smith did with the Smith Foundation, all the telethons and stuff that Cal done. out of these candidates, who would be the best when it comes to plan?

They're very, very different people. Okay, so they're very different people. That's a good question. Let's take the three main guys. Okay. So they're all very different personalities. Danny Hurley is a northeastern, in your face, sarcastic, confrontational person. But I've heard people say that behind the scenes, he's one of the kindest people you'll meet,

and he is down to earth and great with all the fans. Billy Donovan is very reserved, very quiet. He's somebody that it's hard to get to know, but he's very involved with charity. He and his wife have done a ton of stuff over the years at the University of Florida with various charitable missions. So he goes another way. Then Scott Drew, he's very religious.

Faith is very important to him. He, I think, is another one. I've heard he's really engaging one-on-one, not necessarily the most dynamic person in a group. So they are three completely different personalities who would handle this platform three completely different ways. But I think they all can work. You know, Cal and Tubby and Rick, Cal and Rick have some similarities. Cal and Tubby have very few similarities, but both handled this platform very well. they just approached it a different way.

I agree. I do. I just think that that's going to be something that's important going forward. You know, I know that that's not a job requirement necessarily, but it's something that we've come to know. And I want to see somebody that is there for the entire state of Kentucky, the city of Lexington. And, you know, it helps us to kind of personalize that coach and make him feel like he's our coach, he's our guy.

But listen, thank you for taking the time to talk to me, keep pressing on, and I appreciate everything you do, Matt. Have a good day. Thank you as well. Let's take a break. 859-280-2287. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back.

Is this? Oh, this is real. So a new graphic in the Arkansas Arena. Wow. It's a graphic of John Cal Perry and a red coat in the Arkansas arena. That's surreal to see, isn't it? Yes.

Really? Yeah, yeah. It's surreal to see. I just tweeted it out. That's, uh, you know, it's going to be tough. It's going to be tough seeing him. And, uh, you know, that's the way, that's the way change is. It's probably always tough when you see your ex with somebody else for the first time.

Um, but in this case, it's like you're still, some of you all have dealt with this. Your ex still lives in the same town and you got to see them at the local steakhouse. Well, that's what's coming. But, um, you know, what, what do you left? I've just local steakhouse. You grew up in Tampa. That's not how you look at it.

In small towns, there's a steakhouse. Now it's all Mexican restaurants, but when I was growing up, everybody had a steakhouse. Now everybody's only got Mexican restaurants. But I'm just saying, like, that's what it's like. You walk in, and they're with the new woman that works in the clerk's office, right? And you started, you know, and, you know, the wife, she started dating the, new guy that's like the in construction.

And then you all run into each other at the prime surloin, and it's not necessarily easy. That's the way it goes, really. What's the reception like when Cal comes in a red place? I think it'll be mixed, but more positive than negative. That's the way I'm going to predict. Now, with one caveat, let's see what he says over the course of the next few months. Like a lot of it's going to depend on how he acts. If he acts the way he did in that video, it'll be more positive than negative.

If he acts differently, then that'll be a different thing. But if it happened tomorrow, I think it'd be more positive than negative. The good thing about the way this ended is it allows people to remember the good moments. Assuming, now again, using my marriage analogy, if you walk up and flaunt yourself to the new lady, that might be different. So we'll see what happens. What's next? Kevin. Kevin, go ahead.

Hey, first time, long time. Who are? Yeah, I was listening to Jay Williams and Stephen A talk, and Jay Williams was talking about how all these losses in the tournament are all fluky. And I just, I really honestly think the downfall of Cal is not just the tournament, but the SEC as well, because we're not even dominating our own conference. And I know you all talk before about how all these other teams are a conference have achieved all these things.

And I think if Cal had been more successful in the SEC but then lost first round, I think would be a little more, you know, understanding. But I just think that with the next coach that comes in, where we're comparing their current resume to like Cal's resume, and they don't have the facilities we have. They don't have the Rupp Arena crowd. They don't have the ability to recruit like we have. Correct.

They don't have the fans that travel like we have, and they don't have the Rupp Arena ice cream. There's just so many things that we can often. offer these coaches. So I think if we're just a little patient and realize, hey, they're bringing this resume without everything, everything that the university. I totally agree with that. I totally agree with that. You can't, again, that's a great point. Appreciate the call. Let's just take Kentucky and Baylor or even Kentucky and Tommy Lloyd at Arizona or Kentucky and whoever. Kentucky is a better program than those schools. So you can't sit there and say because they only did this at this school,

they will at Kentucky. Every coach, think about this for a minute. I want you to think about every coach that's ever coached this school and then gone somewhere else. They were better at Kentucky than they were everywhere else. Rip Petino was better at Kentucky than he was at Louisville, and Louisville's a really good program. Tubby Smith was better at Kentucky than he was at Minnesota, right? John Calipari was better at Kentucky than he was at Memphis and UMass. Why? We're Kentucky. So the next coach, there's a really good chance, will be better here than they were wherever else. And I'm going to give you a secret.

Cal ain't going to be as good at Arkansas as he was here. He might be better than he was the last three or four years, but he ain't going to be as good as he was the first 10. So Kentucky's different. And we need to have confidence. Some of these fans online to act like everything's over, come on. We've won five national, we've won eight titles with five different coaches. There's not another school in the country that's won titles with more than three.

We've won five. Stop. We're going to be fine if we hire the right person. Who's next? How about J-Rock? Jay Rock, what's up? Hey, Matthew, I can't tell you how excited I am to be on the local Toyota dealer post-cow show. Really, our sports show, of course.

Yes, of course. Hey, I got a few things. First off, my heart still breaks for Shannon. and I hope he's all right, and we miss you, buddy. And you think you was going to New Orleans? At some point, yes. What's her name? Well, actually, it's a friend of mine from the – it's not dating.

It's a friend of mine from the fellowship thing I did. I told her I'd visit her in the next year. Yeah, I think what's her name, Matt? But anyhow, what is the three coaches you want to see in the coaching search? And Matt Jones lost those games far, Matt Jones, Jude Diner is soft and he sucks, hollow. What's that? Jayrock sat it out of breath, didn't he?

Yeah, he's excited for that guy. I think he was excited. Who's next? Jimmy. Jimmy, how are you, Jimmy? Good, good. Can you hear me, Matt? Yes.

I just want to highlight two key events. One's a game and one with a decision made by Calipari that made me just realize we really need to move on. The first one. It is a game that is the best. most underrated of the terrible Kentucky losses that I saw in person. But the 2018 Sweet 16 loss to Kansas State. That bracket completely opened up and up front. Loyal or loyal or whatever went to the final four that year.

And we had a guy in that team that will be the greatest player in the everywhere in history or the history of Kentucky basketball, Shay Hillais Alexander. He should win the MVP this year, but he's going to go on to win multiple and probably win titles of the Thunder will never see the like. of a guy like that ever again. Slow down. Slow down. He got a long way to go to be Dan Essel or even Anthony Davis.

He's great, but he's got a long way to go before he called the greatest player. He got and he should win it this year. Whether to give it to him or not is a different story. Yes. And what was your second point? I've never heard anybody made this and I'm just shocked me. But the fact that we did not recruit the most important player in the history of our program's son, Jamal Mashburn Jr., he was a.

top 75 kids from Brewster Academy that is a great combo guard. He's had a great career at Minnesota in New Mexico. But Jamal Mashburn is the most important player in the history of Kentucky basketball for a multitude of reasons. The fact that Cal didn't recruit him, that was the nail in the coffin for me. Because Roy Williams, he made North Carolina family. Kenny Smith's son got a spot of the bench. Luke may get a spot of this bench because his dad plays quarterback. How do you not offer a scholarship to the son of the most important player in the history of the program. He is available in the transfer portal. Whoever's the coach, go get him.

That would be interesting. I disagree with the first part of that. I appreciate the call that like that somehow was the worst thing in the world. I think you've got to go with who you think will play. And I think bringing Jamal Mashburn's kid here and then not playing him is not necessarily the right thing anyway. But yeah, bringing him in the portal, that's not the worst thing in the world. Who's next? I mean, that would be a good, you know, I think getting Travis Perry to stay here is going to be big for the next coach, too.

I think that whoever that is, that's going to be important. Who's next? Jay and Lyndon. Jay and Lyndon. How are you? Good. Hey, you know, I think it's important to thank Cal for a lot of great memories. And, dude, there's a lot of them. While I was in hold, man, I won Wichita State tournament ticket to the KSR remote and took my son, one of my best memories. But look, we should have been on to this. When Cal City was coming back, He's been a master. It's staying in front of the media and everything. When he went silent after his, years ago, what he would have said is,

hey, I've already landed the top two or three guys in the portal. We should have known. But, Matt, I feel compelled to call and take up for you. I hear online people that don't know what they're talking about, blaming you for stuff. And I want to say this, to all of our fans, you listen to these national pundits, I promise you, I know more what's going on than 90, percent of the national pundits about UK basketball in the search, and I know you know 90% more

than I do. So don't listen when these people say, Kentucky's not going to come back. They said it after Tubby left. They said it after Gillespie left. We're going to be back. Yeah, the national people don't know. And I appreciate it, Jay. The national people don't know. The national people that throw disparaging comments at the Kentucky fan base, my view is all of them, even if they're good people and some of them are. All of them just, I don't care what they say. They don't know. Nobody nationally knows what people locally do. Now, there are some people nationally have been all over this story, Matt Norlander,

and I think Pete Thamble being the primary ones, but just in terms of like, oh, Kentucky won't recover. They just shut up. I mean, that's, you don't know what you're talking about. You're not here. Just remember the story I always tell Billy about me doing the NFL every Sunday. I don't know anything, right? You turn that NFL show on ESPN radio on Sundays.

I am speaking with conviction about the NFL. And all of you that listen to this show know I don't know what I'm talking about. And ESPN, they know I don't know. I tell them, look, man, I don't know. And they're like, just keep being entertaining and don't say anything false. So I never say anything false. I just say my opinion. It's a stupid opinion because it's mine.

But I do it. So the next time you see people opining, you know more about this than they do. Every single person listening knows more about UK basketball than everyone, including Jay Williams, Jay Billis, Seth Greenberg. We all know more about it than they do. They know more about basketball than we do, but we know more about UK basketball than they do. So it's nice to listen to them. It's interesting to hear their perspective, but don't let them ever convince you.

of our inferiority. There's one thing I've tried to project in the last 15 years. In the state of Kentucky, we don't have to be secondary to anybody. Not in basketball, not in life, not in quality of people. The national people can hush in my mind. And if you don't believe me, just turn on the NFL and listen to me, try to talk about Dak Prescott. Who's next?

Well, can I ask a question, Matt? Yes. What is your favorite callism that you're going to miss the most? Maybe the tweak or the... Poop ice cream? Pikeville to Paducah. Haven't seen him. I will, you know, I did this earlier this morning.

I want to go through really quickly. Let's start at the beginning of the Cal area era, and let's talk about the awesome moments. Are you ready? Sure. I'm going to do about two minutes of these. John Wall Dance. Of course.

Up against Yukon and New York with Wall, North Carolina and Rupp Arena, where we knew we were back. Call me at Mississippi State with Marcus Cousin. The SEC tournament with the putback and the hug will go to 2011. Brandon Knight in the NCAA tournament. Layup against Princeton. Jumper against Ohio State. Three-corner three-by-ligans against North Carolina. Josh Harrelson peppers that ball against what was the dude's name in Ohio State, the big guy. Solinger?

Solinger, yes, peppers the ball against Solinger. Let's go to 2012. Anthony Davis blocks against North Carolina. Oh, I'm going to go back to 2010 to Marcus Cousins in the fight against Louisville, where Cal says you messed with the wrong guy, right? 2012, Anthony Davis blocks against North Carolina. Absolutely, we run Indiana off the floor in the NCAA tournament to make up for the regular season loss. We beat our in-state rival in the semifinal,

and then we win the national championship. 2013 wasn't a great year, but before he got hurt, Nurland's Noel, 10 blocks at Old Miss, a good old miss team that won the SEC. And Nerland sets the all-time record for blocks in a game before he gets hurt. 2014, the NCAA tournament run, the Wichita State shots throughout that game. One of the best tournament games I've ever seen, Kentucky and Wichita State in the second round. Coming back against Louisville, hitting the corner three to beat them. beat Michigan in the elite eight, Aaron Harrison with the shot. Final four against Wisconsin.

Aaron Harrison shot where Jim Nance says this is the moment that he always hits it and then he does. 2015. Beed UCLA, we're up like 41 to 6 at halftime in the Champions Classic. The platoon, the way we just absolutely dominated teams in five-minute sequences that was shocking to see. We go win at LSU and Carl Towns does that interview where he comes up behind Cal during the post game interview. The dunk Willie got at Florida that gets Rock Oliver out of his seat going crazy. 2016, Jamal Murray and Tyler Ullis, they win that game at Louisville, the game where Ullis ends up bleeding from his eyebrow. All of the bow and arrow shots when Murray would hit threes. They go win the SEC tournament, I believe against Texas A&M with all of those guys

hitting a ton of shots. 2017, Fox Monk. How about Monk's game in Vegas against North Carolina where he absolutely goes insane? One of the best games I've ever seen an individual player play in the NCAA NCA tournament against UCLA. Fox versus ball, the whole country waiting for it. And Fox cooks him. Cooks him for 39 points in an absolute amazing contest.

2018. Kentucky goes on the road at West Virginia. They're absolutely reeling. They get down like 17, and then Kevin Knox and Shea Gilgis Alexander, bring them back to get a win. In the NCAA tournament that year, they get, I guess, who was it, Arizona or whatever gets upset. They end up playing, of all people, Nate Oates up in, Nate Oates up in Boats. Boise, beat Buffalo, go to the Sweet 16. 2019 with Tyler Hero, how much fun was it watching that kid developed through the course of the year?

The buzzer-beater against Houston that ends up sending you to the elite eight. That game in Rupp Arena where they went absolutely nuts against Auburn and ended up beating them by like 40, even though they lost regular of the year. Even in 2020, the tournament that didn't end up happening, Tyrese Maxie against Michigan State on the night, that I kicked off the radio by Mitch McConnell. That's right. He goes up at the Champions Classic and absolutely dominates in an amazing performance. And then during the season, they get the tip in by E.J. Montgomery at the buzzer to beat Florida

and what would end up being the last game of the year. Go to the COVID year. A lot of bad memories. But what about Dante Allen down at Mississippi State? The kid from Kentucky goes off for 27. We end up getting our biggest win of the year on the road. at Mississippi State when they go and beat Florida on the road that year. Then the next season, Oscar Shibway, we all of a sudden this dude comes out of nowhere,

ends up being national player of the year. We go beat Kansas by 20. The team that ends up winning the national championship, Keon Brooks hits all those shots throughout that season. An absolutely awesome run. Even last year when things weren't going very well, how about Antonio Reeves at Arkansas, scores what, was it 37? 37, yeah.

On the road to get a victory that everyone, I mean everyone thought we were going to lose. We did the same thing that year at Tennessee. And then this year, kid from the 13th region from Kentucky, the fifth of five ranked recruits, comes in and ends up being national freshman of the year. For a while, this team was the most fun team to watch. Antonio Reeves, Rob Dillingham, and Reed Shepard, as good a threesome of shooting as you could ever happen. They go win at Auburn, they go win at Tennessee, they win at Arkansas, and end up having a special year throughout most of it. So all of that, as I

sit there and talked for five straight minutes and gave you all those games, you pictured every single one of those moments. To me, that will be in 10 years what we think of John Cal Perry, and that's really important to remember. And now I'm out of breath. so why don't we take a break and be right back it's KSR. I had to take two minutes there, Billy, to get my breath back. I sounded like one of those mountain hot preachers. You're on a roll, man. By the way, I did all that, Billy, off the top of my head.

That's impressive. I'm just saying. But the thing is, all of you knew what I was talking about, and all of you were there for that stuff, or at least the ones that are old enough to have been there for it. so you know that's those are great memories and i appreciate you all letting me do it let's take a call we just got a couple minutes i'm going to have to go so they can put on more hannity what's next soup bean soup bean go for it i got two things so uh after this i got one more thing well we just got

two things how happy is reed shepherd right now seriously in all honesty because he went from having to possibly be the thing that in the back of his mind, he was the thing the BBN needed to have any excitement next year. Now all that stress is taken off of him. We're going to be pumped up with a new coach. He can go to the NBA now. Nobody's going to, I mean, it's going to stuff like we would want more Reed Shepherd, but it's not like it's going to hurt now.

He literally had all the weight in the world to come back and be the sliver of excitement we were going to have. And now that's taken away from him, man. He should be happy about that. Well, first of all, I'm just have to let you do one because you went long. I don't know if I totally agree with that, but I hope he makes whatever decision is best for him because he deserves it. Thank you all very much. Tomorrow we'll talk more about the new coaches.

Thanks to Billy for coming in on short notice and thanks to folks at WLAP for letting us do the show. Also, on a personal level, I'll say this as well. A big thank you to John Calpere. even in times where it's time for it to end. It was a great time having him as a coach. He made Kentucky basketball cool again, and he brought a ton of excitement and goodwill for this state. I can't say that I'm going to wish him success at Arkansas.

I can't do that because they're in the conference. But I do wish him happiness, and I do thank him for all that he did for Kentucky and on a personal level for all that he did for me over the years. He's a good man, and he's had a great 15 years in Lexington. We will see you all tomorrow. This has been the KSR special show on WLAP. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.

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