2025-04-10- KSR - Hour 1

Drew, Adam and Billy talk Masters and UK Sports.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
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catch rising comedy stars Sam tallon April eleventh and twelfth.
Comedy Up Broadway open then Downtown Lexington in nineteen eighty seven,
and they're still bringing the best and stand up comedy

(00:21):
to the area at thirty eight years later. Call eight
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Up Broadway dot com com Off Broadway.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Welcome into a new morning of Kentucky Sports Radio. I
am not Matt Jones. I am Drew Franklin. It is
Day four of Drew Palooza. We're excited with lots to
talk about today and as always, we are brought to
you by TJ Smith, personal injury lawyer. Call TJ and
he will make them pay. We love TJ. If you're
listening out there, thanks for being a longtime sponsor. Everyone

(00:52):
give TJ a call if you need him. Also, give
us a call on the Clark's Pumping Shop phone line
eight five nine two eight h two two eight seven
want to hear from you today. We got some yesterday.
I'd like to have even more today. I haven't done
as many callers as I wanted this week. We've been
busy with news, but we'd love to hear from you. Also.
We'll give one of them a Whiskey Thief call of today.
And if you feel like texting, you can text Matt

(01:12):
Jones over at Amsterdam on the a Vision Auto Glass
text machine. Again, I don't know what hour it is.
I assume he's still looking at tulips and doing that
fellowship things he does, but it looks like he's been
having a good time. Ryan and Shannon are still on
their vacation in Panama City having a good time. Mario's
visiting family in Florida. I got guys everywhere, but we've
had fun so far this week. And today I brought

(01:34):
in my dear friend Adam Luckett. You know him from
KSR on three a KSR plus eleven personnel, all the
things you do covering UK football. Yeah, I'll going. He's
a proud of Saint X High School, the team that
might have collapsed in the state tournament. He's still getting
over that one. But everyone loves Adam Luckett, and we're
excited to have him today. We're gonna talk a little

(01:55):
UK football. It's been basketball all week, but spring football
has been going on. They have a big Saturday coming
up and no one knows it better than Adam Luckett.
So Adam, we'll get to the football later, but thank
you for making the trip from Louisville and joining me here.

Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah, it's the one of my favorite weekends of the year,
Kentucky Football Master's double Dip. And now we throw in
the trio Adam Luckett on KSR Withdrew Franklin.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
I mean, what more could you want as a sports fan?

Speaker 3 (02:18):
We're how lucky are the listeners right now to get
us by ourselves just talk ball and some other shenanigans.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
Congratulations to all the listeners for having Adam luckin to
day and for the Masters. And since you set me up,
I'm just gonna start with the Masters. We do have
a few news pieces to go before we get to
our football breakdown. But I did my annual tradition of
waking up way too early to be in my seat
an hour ahead of the seven thirty am start time
this morning to watch everything down at Augusta National on that.

(02:45):
By the way, some people called me out yesterday. I
didn't know I did it, but I went back and listened.
I was saying Augusta. I guess I turned on my
redneck there for a little bit. So Augusta National not
all Augusta as I was saying yesterday. But I woke
up this morning to watch the honorary the what do
you call him? Starters? Honorary starters? Correct, it's up early.
My guy Fred Ridley, he welcomed us all to the tournament,

(03:07):
the best tournament in golf. Had my guy Gary Player,
Jack Nickols, and Tom Watson start off. They always hit
the three t's to get things started. And were you
up early? Did you watch it or were you preparing
for our show today?

Speaker 3 (03:22):
I was up early, but I didn't get eyes on
the honorary start this year. Unfortunately. It's one of my
favorite parts of this weekend is watching that.

Speaker 2 (03:28):
Typically, well, I mean, just for three guys hitting a
golf shot into the fairway and then walking away, it
shouldn't be that exciting. But this morning, I gotta tell you,
I was pretty impressed by Gary Player eighty nine years old.
You know, he hits a good drive. They all do.
They still got it. But my man at eighty nine
high kick where his foot was at like eye level.

(03:48):
I tweeted a photo of it. I'm not even half
of his age and I can't do anything like that.
I mean, truly remarkable athleticism by the eighty nine year
old Gary Player. And then Jack followed him, and this
bro my heart. Jack could barely get the tea in
the ground and I was nervous, thinking like is he
gonna fall over? I mean, it was bad. He even
said I don't know if I can do this, and

(04:08):
there was like an awkward silence. It took him a minute,
but that part of the morning actually hurt me a
little bit. He did get it, he did get it
teed up, but it was it was touch and go
there for a second. That would have really killed the
vibe to start the Masters if Jack Nicholas, a legend,
couldn't have even gotten the ball on the team right.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
And it like what's the What's the Master's without Jack?

Speaker 4 (04:24):
Right?

Speaker 3 (04:24):
Like that's he's the iconic figure of the event, and
so yeah, I could definitely see why you well you
had that, But Gary Player has got us cover.

Speaker 4 (04:32):
He'll be here a thirty years.

Speaker 3 (04:33):
Gary's gonna help Gary kicks until twenty fifty two. Gary
player is gonna out last gym Nance.

Speaker 2 (04:38):
Oh of course, Jim. Jim's almost retired, only eleven years
to go. Jack hit it well. I don't want I'm
not here to just you know, Jack still got it.
But the act of bending over again the tea in
the ground. Next year, maybe let's go ahead and have
the ball teed up for all three of them.

Speaker 4 (04:51):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Tom Watson also hit it good and then they were off.
We're watching it here at KOs Bar where we have
Master's specials. Come get your uh your sampler that Monique
works so hard on to copycat the guy to Pimento cheese,
egg salad sandwich and the pork sandwich. We've got holes four, five,
and six streaming on the broadcast. Since it's not on
TV yet, we're going through Masters dot Com onto the
big TV. Got that going on. We won't I know,

(05:14):
not everyone loves golf, so we won't do two hours
of talking about golf. But Adam and I are both excited.
I got my Amen Corner T shirt on, got a
Master's hat. As you said, it's just one of the
best times of the year. You were there last year, right,
I was there last year. Speaking of that, Billy is
going to join us in the second hour. Billy has
also been We both have a few Master's memories. Last year, especially,
it was kind of awkward for both of us as

(05:35):
some UK basketball news hit while I was on the
golf course without a phone and Billy had to fill in.
But we'll break that down later. For now, let's get
to a little bit of the news. We've started with
basketball every show. It's been so newsy this week, so
I'll stick with that. We're finally gonna get a visit
from from Wilkerson. The Sam Houston transfer dead period today

(05:55):
so we can't visit yet, but after today it's looking
like he will come and visit. Lexington R. Pope is
considering him to fill that shooter spot. As we went
over a couple times already this week. Average twenty and
a half points, four rebounds, two assists on forty seven
point seven percent from three. That's that's pretty good. Yeah,
excuse me, no, forty four point five. Got my numbers.
They're forty seven point seven from the field, forty four

(06:16):
point five from three, made nearly ninety threes at that clip.
You know, we were kind of yats. It was looking
like might work with him from USC. That's kind of
gotten a little more in Washington's direction. But Wilson's gonna
come to campus and that's that's big as the mark.
Pope's looking to fill that shooting role.

Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yeah, he was a two time All USA performer seventeen
to twenty plus point games last year. Just can really
fill it up. And he's got size six five two guard.
I think you kind of look at what Kentucky's looking
for size athleticism plus the shooting. I think he checks
a lot of boxes. There was a lot of Indiana
buzz with him. Yeah, so there's a chance for Kentucky

(06:52):
pull one over on the Hoosiers with their new coach
Darren de Bryes and of course Indiane. But don't think
they come to up next year.

Speaker 2 (06:58):
Do Yeah? We don't want to play against this guy.
I gotta lock him up. He's also looking at Auburn
and Old Miss. You know, Bruce Pearl just being desperate
down there, trying to call everyone we're calling. We already
took Jaden Quaintans out of Bruce's hands. He thought he
could pull that one off, but good chance to add
maybe not the final piece, but maybe the most important
piece of shooting there with Wilkerson. You're known as the

(07:19):
football guy. But you know you know it all mentioned
this yesterday, Ky, Sorry, you gotta know everything. Just at
any moment you could. You could get a text, hey
can you post this? And you gotta be knowledgeable? Uh
what did we haven't had you on? What are your
thoughts of how the portaling has gone so far for
Kentucky and how the roster's shaping up?

Speaker 4 (07:36):
Yeah, I think it was.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
Obviously there was a slow start and you felt like
they missed on some guys. It felt like the DIT
and losing Donovan did it felt like a big one,
you know. So they pivot to Jalen Lowe. But ever
since then, I think you have to really be a
fan of the process and where they're at. I think obviously,
like the Quaintance development, I have some issues or not issues,

(07:57):
but worries about just how healthy is he gonna be?
But if he's healthy, he's one of them. He could
be an All American. I think next year, I think
Diabante kind of fits what they want to do or
what they're looking for, and I think Wilkerson really all
three of these guys are kind of in on the
two guard. Wilkerson, Wesley Yates, which is kind of trending
in the other direction, and then Drawn Druan Pierre Junior.
I believe all of those guys they have size of

(08:19):
two guard and they can all shoot it, and so
that's kind of what they need that they they want
more athleticism, they want more size, want more links, but
they can't.

Speaker 4 (08:26):
You gotta have the shooting as well.

Speaker 3 (08:28):
And I think it's really important to get a knockdown
shooter at the two and I think they have some
good options.

Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, I'd love for it to be. Wilkerson also yesterday
on three put a prediction in our got Pete, he said,
calling my shot. The confidence level was listed as low,
but he at least put a prediction in for Alvaro Foguerrez.
I believe we're saying it El l Popo. I think
I learned yesterday.

Speaker 4 (08:49):
Spain is what I'm calling the big the.

Speaker 2 (08:50):
Big Spaniard, the big Tariff, That's what I'm calling him.
We got to get him from from across the pond.
I still don't know if he's over there or has
made it over here yet, but now is uh Kentucky's
adding the Wilkerson visit and the dead period ends today
where they couldn't visit. Maybe he's gonna speed that up.
But heck, I wonder is there a world where you
add Wilkerson and al Varo. I mean, I'm dreaming dreams
if they're able to pull that off.

Speaker 4 (09:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (09:11):
I think al Varro is kind of the Andrew Carr
replacement four, who can shoot a little bit, who can pass,
give you some rebounding shop blocking, but mainly gonna with
his offensive versatility, can post, can step out, hit threes,
and can play some five for you in a pinch
if you need it. And so that I think would
be a big one. I think, you know what's going
on with Brandon Gayarrison, that's something we're gonna have to

(09:32):
figure out. I think that's everyone kind of waiting on that.
That feels like the next Domino, figuring out what happens there.
And then Alvarro is out there and he's been linked
to Kentucky. Really seems like since the beginning there.

Speaker 2 (09:42):
Is Brandon Garrison online speculation. This is not Drew Franklin
ks are reporting this, but the internet went wild because
you know, we freak out on social media. I guess
he changed his his bio on Instagram and it doesn't
say Kentucky. I don't. I mean, I guess that could
be an indicator. I'm sure he is reconsidering his position
with Kentucky after they added acquaintance. I mean, if I'm Garrison,

(10:04):
I would also say, hold on, what's going on? Wait
a minute. But last night there was a lot of
speculation about his social media profile changing. So I guess
that is one thing we'll have to watch.

Speaker 3 (10:12):
As a man who dabbles in high school football recruiting,
I would not put too much stock into what's going
on on some of these social accounts, whether ig, Facebook, TikTok.

Speaker 2 (10:22):
Maybe the man just wanted to change his profile.

Speaker 3 (10:24):
Yeah, who knows, But yeah, you feel like it feels
like maybe some smoke with everything else when you kind
of add all the pieces together.

Speaker 4 (10:31):
But we'll just have to wait and see.

Speaker 2 (10:32):
And it would make sense if he wanted to reconsider.
I hope he stays. You know, I wanted him to
go shopping in the portal at that spot. I don't
know if he can be the guy because if he
doesn't take the next jump, I don't know if you're
championship level. If that you're starting five. But I would
still like to have Brandon Garrison on the team. Nothing else,
just when we play Oklahoma. He's gotta let him know.
Again he's got wave at somebody.

Speaker 3 (10:52):
Well the law. I mean, he embraced the rivalry.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
That's right.

Speaker 4 (10:55):
He's over there with Pat Kelsey mixing it up.

Speaker 3 (10:57):
So from that aspect, yes, and again in the portal,
like there's not like if Brandon Garrison enters.

Speaker 4 (11:04):
The portal, he'll be one of the top rank centers.

Speaker 3 (11:07):
Of course, so I think that's something to keep in
mind too, Like if you're gonna lose a player, where
would he end up? If he enters the portal, He's
gonna get probably a good offer to go play somewhere.

Speaker 2 (11:16):
Isn't he the one that was at Arkansas when he committed,
Like on his visit last year.

Speaker 4 (11:21):
He was somewhere.

Speaker 2 (11:21):
I can't remember where it was Arkansas.

Speaker 3 (11:23):
Yeah, they pivoted from Osibor Or Great Ossibor ended up
at Washington vollowed as coach from Utah State and it
was kind of out of nowhere. And that's the thing
with Pope, he really does keep things button up, so
like reacting in real time, it's kind of hard because
you don't know really which direction they're leaning. I'd like
that all of these recruitments, it feels like.

Speaker 2 (11:43):
Of course, Pope's been very good at keeping this quiet.
I think last year when they were I and Jeremy
roach and that leaked out and then they end up losing them,
I think he learned a lesson there, and he's keeping
those lips sill. Speaking of Pope, he was in Washington,
DC yesterday. We'll just pivot into that with a random
cast of characters. There was Mitch Barnhardt and then your
boy Josh Katis. I mean, did they just load up

(12:04):
the UK Athletics playing and head that way with Kenny Brooks. Yeah,
Kenny Brooks not a Kentucky person. But there is an
image of Pat Kelsey standing next to Mark Pope in Washington, DC.
We just need those two standing next to each other
as much as possible.

Speaker 4 (12:17):
Some one bout Pat Kelsey a step stal geez, if
I'm man.

Speaker 2 (12:21):
Out, if I'm Pat, I refuse to go anywhere near
Mark Pope. I don't even shake his hand before the
rivalry game, but they were up in DC. I guess
is this tied to the House settlement a little bit
up there campaigning for something.

Speaker 3 (12:30):
Yeah, it's interesting the Wilkerson recruitment because what you're seeing
in this basketball portal like it moves slower last year.
But players are wanting to lock in deals before the
settlement's passed. Because once the settlement is passed, which is
looking like it will be next week as of right now,
it could change. You were not gonna be Basically, the
collectives are gonna have to go through a clearinghouse, which

(12:53):
Mitch Bonnhart's gonna be involved in, and you're gonna have
to fair mark right, So you're gonna have to prove
it's not pay for play like you're doing a serve
is kind of So it's gonna be harder to get
nil pay for play. Essentially deals pass, So a lot
of players are locking in deals right away to get
paid right now.

Speaker 4 (13:10):
Now.

Speaker 3 (13:11):
What they were there in DC for is once this
settlement gets past, the NCAA still wants help and they
want a bill pass that protects them from anti trust
lawsuits for this clear now, So then they're gonna set
up so That's what that was about. There they were
hobnobbing essentially with members of Congress and be like, we

(13:32):
need we really need your help and support on this.
And so that's what that essentially was about.

Speaker 2 (13:38):
You and ralsh on eleven personnel have been Josh Kattis
fan since he got on campus. You call him the
ass kicker. I'm sure they just needed a student representative there,
But I did feel like that was a that was
kind of a surprising personality in that group heading up there,
that Josh Kattis joined the group. I assume maybe stoops.
You know, he's in the middle of spring ball. Maybe
he couldn't take off, so they had to send someone.
And do we know how Josh Kattis ended up there.

(13:59):
I love that he was tweeting or posting pictures from
the White House. Looked like he had a good time.

Speaker 3 (14:03):
That is a great question, is Justicatus want to be
a politician? You see the next governor of Kentucky? Who knows?

Speaker 2 (14:08):
Could he have been hired by dose? Who knows? But
a unique day yesterday with UK up in Washington, DC
trying to get things done. Is this house thing gets
to its seems like its final hour? The hearing was
on Monday, and they say by next week, we should
should know exactly what's going on.

Speaker 3 (14:22):
Yeah, basically they they came for six hours and basically
what that hearing was for. They had four hundred thousand,
four hundred thousand people involved in this law or the
class action lawsuit that was gonna get paid from the NCAA, Like,
there were six hundred objectors, and some of the objectors
came and kind of gave their reasons why they objected.
The judge was like, okay, and then she wants to

(14:43):
see kind of roster limits how they set that up.
So they have to go back and kind of work
on some things, but it's expected. She even said it's
a good settlement, like I want to pass this essentially
without saying that, but that's kind of what she said.

Speaker 2 (14:55):
I've read a story about her just as seventy five
year old woman has it all in her hands.

Speaker 3 (15:00):
Right, and she was the one on the obeyonon case
which kind of started all of this over a decade ago.
It's the same same judge in Oakland, and so the
guy expectation is that this is going to pass and
they can happen as early as next week.

Speaker 2 (15:12):
Yeah, that'll unfold soon. We'll break it down when that happens,
but for now, we'll take a break here on KSR.
We'll start with the spring football talk after this, and
later in the show, we're gonna be joined by Todd
Bryant taking a break from spring practice over there to
chat with us. Be interesting to see what he has
to say about probably taking on a new leadership role.
Even though he's only a junior, he's already played a

(15:33):
lot of football for that team that's full of new faces.
So we look forward to hearing from him. It's Drew
Franklin with Adam Luckett. Billy will be joining us soon
to add to the master's conversation. We'll be right back.
Welcome back to Goodek Sports Radio. Drew Franklin here with
Adam Luckett. Billy Rutlis just walked in quick timing from
downtown after you did the pre show with Officer Don
this morning.

Speaker 5 (15:53):
So guys, count Paris, it's good to see you.

Speaker 2 (15:54):
Thank you. Actually, someone asks I'll ahead and address that.
I've been getting questions in my Twitter DMS at Drew
Franklin KSR. That'll be my text machine. Hit me up
if you have any questions for the show. But a
couple of people this morning wanted to know if I've
opened my script, and I will just be very quick
and let you know. No, I have not.

Speaker 4 (16:11):
What do we do it?

Speaker 2 (16:11):
I mean, I'm watching the Masters? What do you do it?

Speaker 6 (16:13):
It's only a couple weeks away, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (16:16):
It's two weeks from Friday costume fittings tomorrow, right after
our show. I got to rush out of there. You
and I are hosting tomorrow. Gotta go get my account
Paris outfit on. I don't know what that entails, but
I'll be looking forward to it. Our guy Paul here
is holding up the flyer has my name on it.
Look at that. Look how official I'll look on that program.
This is gonna be the beginning of something special or
it's gonna be an absolute disaster. There's no in between.

Speaker 6 (16:38):
Oh, I'm excited for you. And we need Mario to
come back so we can get some video.

Speaker 2 (16:42):
No, we don't need video, please Mario. We're gonna it's
gonna be like Augusta National. No phones, We're gonna leave
your phones in your car. Just be there and enjoy
the moment. When I'm on stage absolutely bombing or becoming
the next few jackmen. Uh, let's talk a little football.
I know everyone's excited about Kentucky football. They've been going
for a couple weeks now. This upcoming Saturday, what we
call on it? Is it a spring showcase? Is that

(17:03):
officially what I'm supposed to say it is?

Speaker 4 (17:05):
That is the official term?

Speaker 2 (17:07):
All right? Well, ten am, This Saturday free and open
to the public. You can go watch Kentucky football. And
I'm gonna say it's like an open practice. I don't
know if that's what they're wanting to call it, but
you will be able to see the team in person.
Won't be televised or live stream. So if you want
to see the new team that has like thirty something
new pieces on it, get out there this Saturday. Do

(17:27):
we know a format?

Speaker 4 (17:28):
Do we know?

Speaker 2 (17:29):
Do we know anything?

Speaker 3 (17:30):
Will you not specifically, But the assumption we're kind of
working with is that it's gonna be the same as
last year, which was essentially a practice, but they gave
you they had an extended eleven on eleven scrimmage, so
if you got in there late enough, it would just
feel like a normal spring game. But the first kind
of thirty minutes is stretching in individual drills, kind of

(17:50):
getting like what they do in the pre before it
get gotcha and then the game starts. It would be
kind of similar to that. It is what I'm what
kind of the working assumption, I think is probably what
we'll see.

Speaker 4 (17:59):
It wasn't tackled the ground.

Speaker 3 (18:00):
It was more kind of what football terms they call thudding,
which is just kind of like you go up and
hit somebody, but you don't complete the tackle.

Speaker 4 (18:07):
And so that's what kind of we're working. Well, what
we'll see.

Speaker 2 (18:10):
I'll be out there. It starts at ten am. It's
at Krogerfield. I don't think I said that. The said
there's gonna be a few limitations as they're getting ready
for the Tyler Childers concert. I guess certain areas won't
be open, not that they need the whole place, but
it'll just be open seating. Like I said, doors open nine.
Get out there if you want to watch the Cats.
Weather should be good. You can go meet the new team,
which brings me to my first question for Adam. Looktt, Adam,

(18:31):
I pride myself I've been a Kentucky football fan going
way back. I've even said I like it a little
more than basketball. It's like fifty point five percent to
forty nine point five percent. I've just always loved UK football,
even in their worst years. I used to know the
three deep, the four deep, the five deep, I knew
the walk ons. I went to that media practice last
week with you all. I was only able to stay

(18:51):
about thirty minutes because I had to get to the show.
I didn't know anyone who that is out there, and
it was just fresh faces across the board. So I
kind of want to start with just who's on the team,
But let's start with at least the position that everyone
will be most focused on. I did get a look
at Zach Calzada, and what are we hearing about him
in camp? I know there's been conversations with him. Just
brush us up to speed on what's going on with him,
and then we'll just go through the whole roster and

(19:13):
what's ahead for the team.

Speaker 3 (19:14):
Yeah, first things first, I think there's gonna be a
lot of people that ask, like, who's gonna start at quarterback?

Speaker 4 (19:18):
With Cutter Bowley.

Speaker 3 (19:20):
Again, the working assumption is that Calzada will be the starter,
So he will be your starting quarterback this year. This
is a guy who will turn twenty five years old
in November. During the season, he will turn twenty five.

Speaker 2 (19:30):
We got our own Chad Baker Maszari we do.

Speaker 3 (19:32):
This is an old guy, older guy who's played a
lot of college football. It's played a lot of snaps
to kind of rap on the kind of rap on him.
He's more athletic than you think. He can do some
things running the football, but I would say it's mostly
gonna be kind of his like Levis type runs QB
power where he's getting downhill game yards that way, and
then in the pocket he's known for having a big arm,

(19:55):
can stretch the field vertically, but no one when to
like take some gas off the ball. It's kind of
something he's gonna have to work on. But he and
in carnate word, he showed that he can create kind
of make some plays with being an athlete, which is
something I think Kentucky like when they scouted him and
evaluated him. And so again he's a guy who's played
played quarterback in the SEC is one games in the SEC.

(20:17):
So he's a guy that in theory should bring a
much higher floor than what they've had in the past,
where there was kind of the big variant swings with
some of their starters at quarterback, and so that's what
they have in Calzata. And then I think they have
a backup that they probably feel the best about that
they've had and probably, I would say a long time
with Cutter.

Speaker 2 (20:34):
You mentioned Kalsada being twenty five. This is his seventh
year of football.

Speaker 3 (20:38):
That is correct, twenty nineteen high school graduate, Mercy. How
does that even happen?

Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yeah, I know it was it Auburn. He missed part
of the year most of the year and was able
to get red shirt for that.

Speaker 3 (20:48):
He got a medical red shirt for a season at Auburn.

Speaker 2 (20:50):
Yes, and you know they'll call it an open competition.
You don't think Bully can push him at all. I'm
a big Bowley guy. I wanted him at Texas even
though it didn't go well. I thought he was putting
a bad situation at Florida. You mentioned it'll be a
great backup, But is there any chance he can he
can make a run at taking the job before fall
gets here.

Speaker 3 (21:07):
I think the only situation where Bully becomes a starter
this year is if Calsuda gets hurt or if things
are not going well and they just need to make
a change. I think the plan all along with Cutter,
was to getting for two years and then starting year
three like that was the working blueprint, and I think
that's still that's still the plan moving forward.

Speaker 2 (21:24):
How much will help Bush Hampden his second year. You know,
we coordinators don't come back very often around these parts.
Last year he was putting a little bit of a
bad spot. It was a very late addition when Liam
Cohen disappeared in the night to go to Florida. Do
you think we got some confidence in Hamden it'll be
up help out with Calzada, knowing that Bush at least
has a year behind him and in behind the eight
balls starting his time at.

Speaker 3 (21:44):
UK this year right, Like, it's hard to kind of
have player continuity in this age, so many moving parts.
Kentucky specifically leaned in to a new having a new team,
but they're selling big the coach continuity. It's not just Hamden,
it's every coach is back except for the receiver coach.
So they believe that that's going to help them get
off to a faster start that and I think the
big thing for Hamden is he wasn't familiar with last

(22:06):
year's team. He got the hand pick this roster. Essentially
the entire roster. Quarterback, offensive lineman, receivers, tailback like these
are his players. So you have to hope that that
leads to better results. If it doesn't, they're going to
be in trouble.

Speaker 2 (22:18):
Yeah, Cohen built the plan last year, then left you
had Hampden and he had really no control of the roster.
I think he added Gavin Wimsy, but it was what
it was when he took over, so at least he's
in a better spot. We're in a better spot now
that Billy are Sports is here. Got your master's hat on.

Speaker 6 (22:30):
Oh, it's just one of the best days of the year, Drew.
I know we're on the same page and even Adam too.
So I've got nothing played later today except sit on
the couch.

Speaker 2 (22:37):
And watch them. Well, we'll share some memories we've both
been and we had a unique Monday last year. But
for right now, we'll take a quick break. It's Drew,
Adam Luckett and Billy Rutledge at ks Bar watching the
best tournament sports on TV. We'll be right back. Welcome
back to KSR. We're here on a Thursday April tenth.

(22:58):
People have noted that I haven't been given the date
or the weather like Matt does. I guess they want
some continuity with the show while he's gone. So, uh yeah, Thursday,
April tenth, and it looks like blue skies. Yep, we
go there, Billy. Is that is that how it works?

Speaker 5 (23:10):
Sunshining?

Speaker 6 (23:12):
I you know, I do the pre show before KSR
and I naturally have a routine to start the show
now and I find myself giving weather reports too.

Speaker 5 (23:18):
I don't know what it is, but Matt does such
a good.

Speaker 2 (23:21):
In our brains. Sorry, I didn't do it the first
three days. You mentioned how you're going home and just
watching the Masters. After this, my Master's Thursday's really been
thrown off. What's going on last weekend? Not only did
my AC go out, my dishwasher broke, I've got moles
tearing up my yard and my ice maker, my freezer broke.
I mean all at once. So when I go home,

(23:41):
I'm just gonna have repair people everywhere. I'm gonna be
in the backyard with a shovel going at war with
these moles.

Speaker 3 (23:47):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (23:47):
You know, I want to sit on the couch, put
my feet up and listen to the fake birds and
look at the Azelias on TV, and I just have
an absolute war zone at home.

Speaker 5 (23:56):
It sounds like a stressful weekend, Adam, don't it.

Speaker 4 (23:58):
They say bad things happen in threes. I got for
Dree Frankly four.

Speaker 2 (24:03):
Five and six. Yeah, I asked. I think I mentioned
this on Friday, maybe Monday about the mole problem. Yes,
that's it's not going away. Those little those little critters
are hard to catch.

Speaker 6 (24:13):
Well, the advice was sound, at least what I heard.
You got to get one of those traps.

Speaker 2 (24:16):
I have a trap.

Speaker 6 (24:17):
I think that's going to work here because my dad
and I have fought the moles before, and it's it's
an ordeal.

Speaker 5 (24:22):
There's no doubt.

Speaker 2 (24:22):
Someone wrote me and said they live in eastern Kentucky.
I don't remember the exact part. And there's a ninety
five year old woman in their neighborhood that will just
get a shotgun and take care of moles. So if
the trap doesn't work and all my repair people can't
fix things, might have to call her up to come home.

Speaker 5 (24:37):
Bring your shotgun.

Speaker 4 (24:38):
I need the help, please.

Speaker 2 (24:40):
Rick, let's knock out some phone calls. Who's Who's up first,
got Shawn up first, Sean, thanks for calling in.

Speaker 7 (24:48):
Hey, Uh having a good day. Uh just wanted the
pile and think that you haven't that about and uh
just want to flagging blay, I said, and uh, just

(25:17):
one of those how you guys?

Speaker 4 (25:20):
All right?

Speaker 2 (25:20):
Thank you. I appreciate the call. I heard he wanted
to be a part of Drew palooza. I don't know
if that was my headphones. Did you all get much
of that?

Speaker 3 (25:27):
I think portal scuttle, but he was wondering if you
had any scuttle to share with a good listeners case.

Speaker 2 (25:32):
Okay, yeah, I'm sorry. I couldn't hear your call very well.
I was trying to let you go there. I wasn't
just me. I guess we shared what we know. We're
just watching Wilkerson Hill. His visit be coming up soon.
He's looking at Indiana, Old Miss and Auburn. You'd love
to have him as the shooter you got. Al Varo
will eventually come over from Spain. I assume they will
get him on campus. I don't think that's been reported,
but on three is put in a not the not

(25:53):
the official prediction, but in a in a blog post,
wrote confidence level low, but calling my shot Kentucky. So
I'd say those two are the watch and then whatever
Brandon Garrison wants to do. If he wants to be
a part of this final four run next year, there's
a spot for him. But if he sees the writing
on the wall and once more minutes or can get
more opportunities somewhere else, maybe he goes. But I think
that's the current state of the roster.

Speaker 6 (26:13):
You guys talked about the Instagram thing already, we did. Yeah,
I don't know how much that matters. I mean, these
kids today will change their social media profile for anything.

Speaker 5 (26:22):
But do you want Brandon Garrison back.

Speaker 3 (26:24):
I've learned for thirty somethings like me, it's not a
good practice to try to play the mind games with
social media with teenagers. No so, but I will point
out with Wilkerson, Joe Tipton has reported a visit is
expected this weekend. Okay, the dead period just ends today
Tomorrow's Friday, So Kentucky's gonna get one of those first visits. Typically,

(26:45):
these portal recruitments, they move fast. That's typically not a
bad thing. If you get one of the first visits
for Kentucky, you would hope you get him on campus
first and maybe you can wrap that up.

Speaker 2 (26:54):
And then they've been in fact since the beginning, I
mean the dead period. You can still talk, you just
can't write in person.

Speaker 3 (27:00):
Yeah, but you cannot take visits in Pope can't go
to wherever Wilkerson's training are, where he's staying and talked
to him.

Speaker 2 (27:06):
And Pope doesn't sleep, so he's probably been up at
like two am zooming this kid over in Spain. I
don't know how time zones work, but I'm I'm Pope's.
Pope's been in talks with him. It's the report on
the kid's always been that he before he does anything,
he wants to actually get to campuses, so that that'll
be big this weekend.

Speaker 6 (27:21):
Well, what was he driving a stick in South America
last year trying to get to recruits? So I mean
I forgot about its exactly good.

Speaker 2 (27:27):
Good call back there, Billy.

Speaker 4 (27:29):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (27:29):
Let's go back to the phone line.

Speaker 4 (27:31):
Rick got Alan up next.

Speaker 2 (27:33):
Alan, thanks for calling in. Hey, I'm a wonderful we're
having a great time.

Speaker 4 (27:41):
Good.

Speaker 8 (27:41):
I had a question have you I don't know if
you mentioned it earlier this week, but have you heard
anything about Travis Perry. You haven't mentioned him in as
a contributor for next year, and I was just curious
to see if you knew it something that the fans
didn't have.

Speaker 2 (27:56):
All Right, I appreciate the call. I uh, you know,
he's he's He and I are from the same dirt
as a Bloodsoe and cousins used to say, we're reaching
two guys. I know several Lion County people and when
I've asked them, they don't. They haven't heard of Peepe.

Speaker 4 (28:11):
Really.

Speaker 2 (28:11):
They just think he's gonna be right back on the team.

Speaker 5 (28:14):
You know.

Speaker 2 (28:14):
As far as being a contributor, I don't think he'll
have the Rollie did this year when half the team
got injured and he had to step in. I think,
you know, with Lowe coming in and pieces they've added,
he might slide down the bench a little bit. You
could still use him for shooting when called upon, But
as far as him actually leaving or hitting the portal,
at least the Lion County Lions, I know they haven't
heard anything around town or expect that. So as far

(28:36):
as I know, I expect Travis Perry to be on
the team. I don't know if you guys have any
expectations otherwise.

Speaker 3 (28:41):
Yeah, I think we got a week left until the
portal closes. I believe it closes the sixteenth. That could
be wrong on that. Maybe it's in the week after,
maybe it's two weeks. So he's got a little bit
of time. I mean, I think the expectation would probably
be he has a role similar to what he had
this year.

Speaker 6 (28:55):
Yeah, well, I don't think the expectation was for him
to play this much last year. I mean you had
Kirka get hurt, Lamont Butler hurt at times. I mean
he was really thrust it into a role that maybe
some didn't expect for him to be.

Speaker 5 (29:05):
So I expect him to come back, And part of
it is that he hasn't entered into the transfer portal yet.

Speaker 3 (29:10):
Right, And there's also gonna be more just year by
year player development that you're.

Speaker 4 (29:15):
Gonna have with Pope that he just didn't have with
Cali Perry.

Speaker 3 (29:18):
Not saying one is right or wrong, it's just a
different way to build your team. I mean ross constructing.
I think Travis Perry the plan for him always similar
to Cutter Bowley, I think was developing for a couple
of years and then when he's a junior, he can
be a real piece of your team.

Speaker 4 (29:32):
He was just forced to be a real piece this
year when they probably wasn't really read.

Speaker 3 (29:36):
It was probably maybe unfair to him to play him
as much as they did, but they had their handless
forced because of the injuries.

Speaker 2 (29:41):
Yeah, Pope's made it clear right away he's gonna be
big on retaining guys. He'll get a couple of freshmen
that are highly ranked, a couple of portal guys, and
try to keep the player players he has. And I'd
say Noah, Chandler and Perry are a big part of that.
Let's get back to football real quickly, like it, since
that's where your big brain operates. This Saturday Spring Showcase,
Let's say I'm a fan. I drove an hour from

(30:03):
from an hour away to be here. I'm excited. I'm
looking forward to this new team, but I'm like Drew
Franklin and I don't know the roster. Who are some
new pieces that people should be looking out for on
either side of the ball. Just someone you think could
be an impact contributor right away?

Speaker 3 (30:16):
Kin trick Law Alabama receiver transfer number one. He's probably
gonna be Kentucky's leading receiver this year, so I definitely
get eyes on him. He's gonna be a guy they
want to feature, and he's gonna his usage is gonna
be similar I think to how they tried to use
Barry and Brown last year. Jet sweeps quick game screens
and then scheming up when to take vertical shots with him.

(30:37):
He's gonna be a big piece, so I would definitely
watch him. David gusta number sixty defensive tackle, is gonna
play some nose for them. He was a really big
win out of the portal Tennessee. Some other SEC squols
were involved, who was a high dollar player for them
to get. Was one of the best defensive tackles available
in the portal. They're gonna need him to be a
playmaker along with mcquee. Humphrey Race defensive end number fifty.

(31:02):
So those are two guys I would really watch on
defense law I think is kind of the big one.
And then just how they handle a running back. I
think it's gonna be a committee approach. Everyone knows Jamarian Wilcox.
They went and got Dante Daldell, got him to get
in the portal from Nebraska and landed him and then
Jason Patterson. It sounds like he's having a really good
spring practice a red shirt freshman till back. So those

(31:23):
were kind of like just watching those we all know
Kentucky wants to run the football outside of the obvious,
which I think is Calzada, and just how does the
offensive line look? Those are kind of a few peat
players I would watch in all of those those three guys.
I name, they're gonna need all of those guys to
be really good players for them this year to max
out to reach their potential.

Speaker 2 (31:39):
You mentioned Law could be the leading receiver, but you know,
it was exciting to get Macklin back. Kind of quiet
first half of the year, turned it on late. What
are the expectations of him? I know last year he
kind of moved to the slot when he's more of
an outside vertical guy. Is uh getting back to his
natural position? Well he should. We expect a big year
out of him.

Speaker 4 (31:55):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (31:56):
I think one thing you're going to see early in
this show case when levin on leven starts is we've
heard about Kalzak's arm strength and they brought Macklin back
to be kind of their vertical thread. I have a
feeling we're gonna see a vertical shot to Macklin from
Kalzada early in this this spring show case if you're
there at Kroger Field. But yeah, I think with Macklin,
they played him in the slot last year. Didn't really

(32:17):
have a spot for him because they were they had
to play a lot of tight ends because they couldn't block.
Some tight ends were needed to help block, and then
you had Dan Keen, Barry and Brown. There wasn't a
lot of snaps for him, and this slight kind of
experiment didn't work. I think Liam Collen kind of targeted
him to play slight in his offense and they kind
of kept that plan. It just didn't work. But Macklin
played outside receiver at North Texas. He had his best

(32:37):
year was one thousand yard receiver, was one of the
best deep ball receivers in college football.

Speaker 4 (32:41):
And we saw some of that.

Speaker 3 (32:42):
Later in the year against Louisville, against Tennessee, against Texas
him kind of making vertical plays down the field. That's
gonna kind of be I think the plan for him
this year is to play him outside and maybe not
give him a ton of targets when we're going to him.
We're throwing it deep and he's gonna be kind of
their big play target on the outside.

Speaker 2 (32:58):
It's still only two names, say you know, we're reading reports.
You and Raush have talked about it. They're little fin
in the receiver room. Any other names. I guess the
DJ Miller turned heads into practice.

Speaker 3 (33:07):
DJ Miller was a big recruiting win for them. Lane
Kiffin o Miss really wanted him. He's only a true
freshman now, but he's got long term potential. I would
say he's gonna be a guy I think that plays
in a rotational role, like he's kind of this year's
Harley Gilmore, Like you know how they've kind of slowly
put Gilmour in there. I think that's gonna be the
plan for Miller and then for him maybe to be

(33:28):
a starter next year. I don't know how big of
a role he's gonna play. They got a choice do
Lotto from Clemson to play a role, but he sounds
like he's been banged up a little bit. They got
a JJ Hester from Oklahoma to kind of be the
vertical threat. He missed that open practice through we were at.

Speaker 2 (33:43):
He's played a lot of football. He was at Oklahoma
for like three years in Missouri for two.

Speaker 3 (33:47):
Yeah, I think it was two two tour two at
Oklahoma and then True True Edwards was really the big
one that they haven't gotten cleared yet because he's got
the Diego Pavia extra year of eligibility college. He's similar
to Calsada like he's gonna be twenty four to twenty
five next year. He with Kendrick Claw I think would
be there. That would be their top two receivers if

(34:07):
they can get him. But he's not gonna be out
there for the spring game. But that's an important storyline
to watch because he's gonna be a guy I think
potentially can be one of their top top receivers and
can be kind of a go to guy for Calzada
or Bowlie who whoever is that quarterback.

Speaker 2 (34:20):
I was excited about True Edwards when he committed in December,
January whatever it was looking at his highlight DAPE. That's
a playmaker and it was pretty bummed to see that
he wasn't already on campus. I guess he did the
pro day down there in Louisiana, but they're still trying
to get everything cleared. As you said to yeah, get
him another year and get him on campus.

Speaker 3 (34:33):
I think the expectation is he's going to get clear
because he fits just the language that they've released it
to this point, the NCAA about who would be because
you had to you had to play JUCO in a
certain year, and it couldn't just be the COVID year.
But he he played, he'd spent twenty twenty and twenty one,
I believe, or twenty nineteen and twenty twenty in JUCO,
so he should qualify. So I think the expectation they

(34:54):
will get him. But it's one of those things where
they have to get this house settlement through and then
that that ruling will come. But the expectation for all
these teams is that these junior college guys are gonna
be able to get cleared in Edwards fits the criteria
for that BILLI.

Speaker 6 (35:08):
You're writing all those down fill the quickly realizing how
little I know about.

Speaker 5 (35:12):
The team this year. But I do want to ask you.

Speaker 6 (35:13):
I mean, discipline and culture were huge talking points after
the season last year. Have you noticed any changes? Is
there any difference that we could tell on the field
on Saturday? Should I look for Willcox to have his
shoes tied or what like have you sense to change.

Speaker 3 (35:26):
Well, there was a lot of talk or scuttle or
talk about how maybe some players got away with not practicing.
In just using this as example, they haven't maxed out
the practices in the spring in the last couple of years,
like they called they were closing up shop at eleven, twelve, thirteen,
they went the whole spring they're gonna take they did

(35:47):
all fifteen practice. Yeah, so that like just using that,
that's a sample that they're maybe taking it more seriously
over there. Mark Stoops has talked multiple times about how
they changed the off season training program. And so to
answer your question, it's too early to tell, like for
where we sit, but they're saying the right things and

(36:08):
they're doing things differently, like like the spring practice. Just
using that, that's clear like change of we're gonna do
things a little bit differently, and so we'll see how
all that plays out. But they again they've got to
really hand pick this roster in a lot of ways.
They got to go out and pick guys that they
thought fit for them. And so we'll see if that
if that's able to help them flip kind of that
you're talking about, just like the culture and the standard

(36:30):
and how we operate day to day, and we'll see
if how what when once the games start, we'll get
our answers, But so far that it seems like they're
doing things differently, and we'll see if it works well.

Speaker 2 (36:40):
We got Todd Bryant coming up at eleven. I'm gonna
ask him about the discipline and the culture and how
things have changed behind the scenes. He was one of
the players that didn't shy away from mentioning it. It
had slipped at the end of last year. So I'm
sure we'll get them on record saying how it's actually
going over there. Someone who's actually living it right now
will have those answers, But for right now, we'll take
a quick break. I see my guy Steven Jaeger at
two under just climbing that leaderboard. Love me some Steve

(37:01):
Yeager look out for him, And I got JT posting
another friend of the program with KSR former KSR blogger
Aaron Fleener on the bag. Those are two guys we're
watching at the Masters today now, uh posting birdied number two,
but they I think he fell back to Evan. But
those are two friends of the program. We're watching, and
then we'll keep you updated with the masters and more
football talk. We'll be right back on KSR. Welcome back

(37:23):
to Kentucky Sports Radio Drew Franklin with Adam Luckett and
Billy Relichs. This segment is brought to you by our
friends at No Jay Linda Farms. Might have to break
in my No Cha Linda supply and the freezer this
weekend while I'm home all weekend. If you want to
go to No Chi Lindafarms dot com you can pre
order quarter half and whole beef boxes. Farm pickup and
local delivery for these items will begin on May first.

(37:44):
When you order quarter half and whole beef boxes from
No Jay Linda, you will receive a list of the
exact number of items you receive in texts, even text
you photos that what you will get no surprises. You
can also call the owner, Steve Grissom at eight five
nine seven O seven seven zero zero four. Steve's been
good to us for many years, keeps our freezer full,
and he will guide you through the options and selections

(38:05):
and will even share tips on how to properly prepare
the cut. Steve even like cooked food for Matt since
Matt doesn't know how to just so he could heat
it up. That's how nice he is.

Speaker 4 (38:13):
Over there be direction.

Speaker 2 (38:15):
That's right.

Speaker 5 (38:15):
Valentine's Day.

Speaker 2 (38:16):
Yeah, he helped you on Valentine's Day. So support Steve
and get some locally farmed beef at no Cha, Linda,
that's at no you, Linda Farms dot com. You want
to get back to more football or Masters? Maybe a
little more football, you know, we're getting a little more
sprink excitement.

Speaker 4 (38:29):
I have a Master's question for both of you.

Speaker 2 (38:31):
Okay, we'll go back to Masters then.

Speaker 3 (38:32):
Like I've been to the players, and I've heard stories
about the PGA say, people like to have a good time.

Speaker 2 (38:39):
People do like to have a good time, get a.

Speaker 3 (38:40):
Little maybe someone what one would call under overserved. Now
at the Masters, do you it's like a classy Oh yeah.

Speaker 6 (38:47):
So you don't want to miss and if they are,
they're escorted out.

Speaker 4 (38:51):
So that so that that does happen.

Speaker 6 (38:53):
Oh yeah, there's a decorum to it all, don't you think, Drew.
I mean, there's a lot of cigar puffing going around,
but there's no like teenagers getting routed or anything like that.

Speaker 2 (39:02):
Well, I'm someone that likes to party, I've been known
to put away a few beers, and they're very cheap there.
But when you're at the Masters, you're dialed in, you're focused,
you're just appreciating everything around you. I might have a few.
In fact, I went to a practice round two years
with my dad. It's one of my favorite moments ever.
The players were done at Amen Corners. The last group
went by and they had a little beer shack there
and my dad ran a golf course for many years,

(39:24):
so we just watched the ground screw get Amen Corner
ready for the next day and we just sat there
drinking two dollar beers. We were the only two people
over there, and it was one of the coolest things ever.
So sure you partake, but it is nowhere near the
players where everybody's getting black out and routing. You see
people passing out. This is a classy environment.

Speaker 4 (39:40):
Look, so you're telling me that if you wu that's
frowned upon.

Speaker 2 (39:47):
If security didn't get to you, the person next to
you and will beat you. Boy.

Speaker 6 (39:50):
So like, let's say this, like if you screamed mashed
potatoes after somebody hits a shot, they would come over
and talk to you.

Speaker 2 (39:55):
Like the gallery will handle you first, I think.

Speaker 6 (39:58):
Yeah, you will get the the looks. I mean, it's
more like polite clapping after Drew is on Romeo and
Juliet is what you should expect.

Speaker 2 (40:07):
We're just gonna keep with the Romeo and Juliette di exactly.

Speaker 5 (40:09):
I mean, well, it's not a dig. I mean, I'm
excited for the script reading tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (40:13):
I'll practice it. I might do we were talking during
the break, I might do a couple of different voices.
Test them out on the KSR audience tomorrow. We'll decide
which one I use for the play I mentioned Steve Yeager.
I will tell my story real quick. I threw friend
of a friend, ended up at a bachelor party with him,
and there was this big beach house where we were
all staying. Most of the guys were pro golfers, so
I did not participate in many of the games. But

(40:33):
he dropped a golf ball on the hardwood kitchen floor,
took a range finder and pretended to like, look at
a guy in the kayak and a kayak out on
the ocean. He opens the kitchen door the back door
to go outside. There is just glass everywhere, and we're like, oh,
I don't think we should be doing this. I don't
think we should be doing this. And he takes a
full swing off the kitchen floor hits a golf ball
out on the beach. It was one of the coolest

(40:55):
things I've ever seen. Golf Channel I tweeted the video
back then, Golf Channel even even shared it. But remarkable
golf shots. So as you're watching him in at Augusta today,
just know he could also hit it off your kitchen
floor if needed.

Speaker 5 (41:06):
Was he challenged or did he just decide, Well, you know, just.

Speaker 2 (41:09):
Guys being dudes and getting a little bored, and when
they're all pro golfers, they gotta they gotta show off
their skills. But pretty impressive and he's a he's a
nice guy. So even though he's he's not an American,
we still like him. He might be against us in
the Ryder Cup, but we're rooting for Steven right now,
Stefan if you want to call him, and he's I
think still two under, yeah.

Speaker 6 (41:26):
Rooting for him, rooting for JT, posting Justin Thomas, even
Keegan Bradley who had a hole in one yesterday that
was he is.

Speaker 3 (41:33):
Two under, drew one shot back of Aaron Rai Walking
Neman tied at the top three under but we're it's
early in the day, only one it looks like only
one group has made the turn at this point.

Speaker 2 (41:43):
It's very early in the day for us. I have
so many more football questions for you. But first we're
gonna ask questions to Ty Bryant. He's coming up next.
We're gonna rick call him up over there at the
football stadium. He couldn't join us in person, but he's
taking a break from the practices and the meetings going
on over there as they wrap up spring practice, and
we'll get his thoughts on everything that's going on in
the outlook for the season, his big junior year in
the secondary. So after this break we'll hear from Todd Bryant.

(42:05):
We'll be right back