KSR

2026-03-20- KSR - Hour 2

23 min
Mar 20, 20262 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

KSR's Hour 2 pregame show focuses on Kentucky basketball's NCAA tournament matchup against Santa Clara, with hosts analyzing player performance, discussing recent college basketball games, and building confidence for the tournament run ahead.

Insights
  • Fan sentiment and media criticism correlate with on-court performance; winning resolves narrative tensions and improves overall fan experience
  • Backcourt reliability (O.A. and Aberdeen) provides foundation for tournament success, but perimeter shooting from role players like Colin Chandler becomes critical variable
  • Historical context matters: Santa Clara hasn't been to tournament in 30 years and lacks Hall of Famers, positioning Kentucky as clear favorite despite recent struggles
  • Defensive intensity and execution against quality opponents (A&M, St. Mary's) demonstrates Kentucky's capability to compete at highest level when focused
Trends
College basketball tournament momentum building through entertaining, high-energy team performancesImportance of role player consistency in tournament settings beyond star player performanceFan base confidence recovery dependent on early tournament success and narrative resetDefensive versatility becoming differentiator in tournament playBackcourt experience from previous championship runs (Aberdeen's Florida championship experience) as competitive advantage
Topics
NCAA Tournament First Round StrategyCollege Basketball Defensive PerformancePlayer Role Specialization in Tournament PlayFan Sentiment and Media Criticism CorrelationBackcourt Reliability and ConsistencyPerimeter Shooting Variance ImpactTournament Momentum and Narrative BuildingHead Coach Job Security and Performance PressureHistorical Tournament Context and Seeding AdvantagesSt. Louis Venue and Fan Turnout Logistics
Companies
iHeartRadio
Podcast distribution platform where KSR and other shows are available for listening
DraftKings
Sports betting platform sponsoring daily parlay predictions during the broadcast
Stockton Mortgage
Mortgage services company sponsoring the Kentucky Sports Radio pregame show
Bluegrass Home Center
Manufactured home retailer with online design tools, advertising during the broadcast
Take-Two Interactive
Video game company CEO mentioned in Math & Magic podcast advertisement segment
People
Matt Jones
Primary host conducting pregame analysis and managing caller interactions for tournament coverage
Mark Pope
Kentucky basketball coach whose job security and success is central to tournament narrative
Otega Oweh
Kentucky guard identified as most reliable player with only two bad games all season
Aberdeen
Kentucky guard with championship experience from Florida, trusted backcourt partner
Colin Chandler
Kentucky player whose three-point shooting identified as critical variable for tournament success
Malachi Moreno
Kentucky big man expected to step up and provide scoring in tournament games
Mitch Barnhart
Departing athletic director who caller Chester thanks for his service to the program
Hubert Davis
UNC coach whose tenure discussed as disappointing despite championship game appearance
Strauss Zelnick
Gaming company executive featured in Math & Magic podcast advertisement
Bob Pittman
Media executive hosting Math & Magic podcast about marketing and business strategy
Quotes
"We are Kentucky, and I just want to encourage everybody to not listen to all this junk about our program and remember who we are."
Chester (caller)Mid-show call segment
"Chandler hits three threes, we win. Two threes, we probably win. Less than two, I think we probably lose."
Matt Jones
"It's time to go out there, exert our will, get the victory, and then get ready to play a second-round game where we are the underdog and we shock everybody."
Matt Jones
"The law of averages. I got all four wrong yesterday. You got all four right today."
Matt Jones
Full Transcript
I'm Daniel Alarcon, and this is my friend who's much more famous than I am. I wouldn't go that far, but I'm John Green, co-host of the podcast The Away End with my old friend Daniel. On our podcast The Away End, we'll share with you the magic of international football, all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer is the most important. Listen to The Away End with Daniel Alarcon and John Green on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Daniel Jeremiah. And I am Greg Rosenthal. I know that, Greg. We're teaming up on 40s and free agents, the podcast that owns the NFL offseason. This is where teams are built. Free agency, combine, pro days, trades. Every move matters. From my draft boards and mock drafts. To my vaunted top 101 free agents and how rosters come together. Quarterback movement. Surprise signings. We'll tell you what it means and who really wins. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search 40s and free agents, and listen now. Hi, I'm Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, and I'm kicking off a brand new season of my podcast, Math & Magic, Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing. Math & Magic takes you behind the scenes of the biggest businesses and industries while sharing insights from the smartest minds in marketing. Coming up this season on Math & Magic, CEO of Liquid Death, Mike Cesario. People think that creative ideas are like these light bulb moments that happen when you're in the shower. Or it's really like a stone sculpture. You're constantly just chipping away and refining. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnik and her own chief business officer Lisa Coffey. Listen to Math & Magic on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. On paper, the three hosts of the Nick Dickens poll show are geniuses. We can explain how AI works, data centers, but there are certain things that we don't necessarily understand. Better version of play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Yes. Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift who said that for the first time. I actually, I thought it was. I got that wrong. But hey, no one's perfect. We're pretty close, though. Listen to the Nick, Dick, and Paul show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Looking for a mortgage bank to help you make your next major mortgage move? whether it's a refi or a home purchase, regardless of whether it's your first one or one of many, consider our friends at Stockton Mortgage. But don't just take our word for it. Stockton Mortgage has over 70,000 five-star reviews and counting, just like this review from Joshua, who says this about his experience with Stockton. They were super professional, always answered my questions I had, and streamlined the process. I could not ask for better people to help me and my family get our first house. I feel blessed to be able to go through them. Be like Joshua or the 69,999 others just like him and get started with Stockton Mortgage today by going to Stockton.com and get started. I've even used Stockton Mortgage myself on my own home loan. For your home loan needs, Stockton.com and click get started. Stockton Mortgage, NMLS 8259, equal housing lender, NMLS, consumeraccess.org. Welcome to Hour 2 of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now, here's Matt Jones. Welcome back. Hour number two or half hour number two of the Kentucky Select Chevy Dealers KSR pregame show. If you missed the first hour, we started early because the game in 30 minutes, the official pregame show will come on. For those of you that don't have the official broadcast, you will get the replay of what we just did after this so you can stay tuned. 859-280-2287. Text machine is 772-774-5254. One person writes, Matt, did you think Georgia made the conference look bad with their loss to St. Louis? Well, not the conference. The conference went undefeated other than that. Right. But they made themselves look bad. I mean, they were down 40 at one point in that game. They just did not show up to play. They were not mentally ready to play. And to St. Louis' credit, they were. Yeah. I think St. Louis got a lot of fans last night rooting for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and them because they were bombing them everywhere. He's making behind-the-back. He made the behind-the-back pass that one time. It was great. It was great to watch college basketball teams yesterday that were just a lot of fun. Yeah. You know, I mean, Miami of Ohio Wednesday night, High Point, Siena, even though they lost, St. Louis. Even Kennesaw State last night. Even Kennesaw State was fun, yeah. Just watching teams that are, like, having fun and playing an entertaining style to watch. You can't help but enjoy that. Now, North Carolina lost. Hubert Davis, you know, I kind of wonder what they're – you know, he had that run where he went to a championship game, but otherwise been a very disappointing tenure, I think, for Hubert Davis at North Carolina. I don't know. You think they – I guess they'll probably keep him, but you could make an argument that they should go in another direction. You know, they did lose Caleb Wilson. They did, yeah, and that's a big deal. But still, you're still North Carolina. You've still got a lot of great – Still got enough players to beat VCU. Yes, exactly. Did you like my Russian accent I was doing during the game? You used to do a great Wukash. Yeah. Now you've added to your repertoire, got a great Russian accent. I'm adding more accents, Shannon, to what I do. It used to just be Polish. Give me a little sample. I need to hear it. I have to be in the mood. Their center I don't even think was Russian. Henrik Venir or whatever. I don't even think he's Russian. But I started acting like he was Russian. Yes, you were. And I was narrating the game as a Russian, and I feel like you two enjoyed that. Especially when he missed the big crucial free throw there at the end. Yeah, well, I was sad for Mother Russia. But I don't think he's Russian. I don't think he is either. I think he might be like Swedish. He's a foreign player, but I don't think he's a Russian. See what country he's from, Shannon, the guy in North Carolina. His name's like Henrik Veneer. He missed the free throws at the end of the game. He's not Veneer. What is it? Veneer's what you put on your teeth. What is it? It's in the night. Vassar? Vassar? Vassar? Oh, he goes by veneer. He goes by veneer. Yeah, I think you're maybe right. Maybe Vassar or Vassar or something. Yeah. He tried to intentionally miss that second free throw, didn't even hit the rim. No. We made a horrible turnover before he missed a couple free throws. He let down Mother Russia. He did let down Mother Russia. I wonder what he would say about that. Shannon, where is he from? Did you see? Yeah, I'm trying to find it here. Okay. Well. Estonia. Estonia. Well, that's close. It's Eastern Europe. They're cousins. Well, isn't the guy – no. Is the guy we had last year, Kirk Kreese, was he from Estonia? I believe you might be right about that. I think he was. Yeah? Yeah. Whatever happened to that guy? I didn't hear anything from him all year. He was in Cincinnati. Did he get hurt again? I think he got hurt. I think he did. I think he got hurt during the year at some point, if I'm correct. Yeah, I think you're right about that. 859-280-2287. One person writes, Matt, you guys took a lot of criticism online last night for posting the Pope video. What do you think of that? I mean, I understand. So the question that was asked, Pope, people act like I asked the question. I wouldn't even at the press conference. But I saw the video and posted the video. I mean, I get it. I think there's a reasonable argument to be made that that question shouldn't have been asked. It was not asked by me or a KSR person was asked by the Herald. during the pregame press conference. But one of the things that has been consistently true, and this goes back 20 years, this goes back to when I was saying we needed to replace Billy Gillespie in like 2009 When fans get mad at the media or specifically KSR that usually because something not going right with the games You know what I mean? Like, there's a correlation. Usually when we're losing, that's when, that's when, so there's a correlated, like, thing to when Kentucky loses, the people who don't like us criticize us more. And it's in part because we're criticizing. The play on the floor. The play on the floor. So it is what it is. One of the reasons I so want us to win is it makes all of our lives more fun. Because then people are in a good mood. Yeah. And so that's another reason this weekend. Man, I hope we win. Because I want everybody to have a happy weekend, happy week, et cetera. And I hope it happens. Another person asked if I was going to be able to stay in the gym. No. Well, if they jump out to a big lead, maybe you can kind of relax and enjoy some of the game and stay in there. Yeah. Then they'll cut it to seven in the second half, and you'll get up and leave. Yeah. No, I'll probably end up walking the streets of St. Louis at some point during the day. Well, it's a half mile to Ballpark Village, and you said that's where you ended up last night. That's where I was for Wichita State game. I walked to Ballpark Village. I'll probably do that again. Probably do that again. We walked the streets yesterday, saw really nice, It's like the Dred Scott decision where it was. The courthouse where they did Dred Scott, the courthouse where when slaves would cross the Mississippi River in order to try to get their freedom, they would then file for freedom in a St. Louis courthouse. And they had the names listed. And then the St. Louis City Hall, which was majestic. Oh, that was really impressive, actually. That was majestic. I have a big thing. Government buildings should look like that. That looked like, okay, you're in something. I don't know if you know this or not, but at one time, St. Louis was the fifth largest city in the United States. I said that to you. Why do you keep bringing that up? Because you had that fun fact. I think it's a very nice fun fact. Do you not like facts? I do love fun facts. I'm a fun fact guy. Yeah. That was one of the Mississippi. You know, it used to be everybody lived on the Mississippi River because that was where commerce was. I'll tell you a fun fact about the arch. When the engineers built it, there was no guarantee it was going to meet in the middle. They were kind of hoping and just guessing that when they were building it up, it was going to meet in the middle, and it did perfectly. What do you mean they were guessing? They just started building, Shannon, and hoped it would work? I don't believe that at all. Their figures and their diagrams. You don't think they knew when they started building that it would meet at the top? There was a chance it could be a centimeter off. Where did you hear this? I read it on the Internet. It's got to be true. So you're saying they just decided to undertake this massive project To build an arch that probably at the time was consumed all kinds of labor. Yeah, definitely. And they just were going to hope that it matched up. Well, they hoped their plans were accurate. They wanted to be accurate. And it was. Brilliance. They were just brilliant engineers. Okay. But somebody maybe had a bad day, could have been off just a little bit. Then what are you going to do? Sand it down. he acts like they were just up there going all right here we go let's hope it looks like it's straight hey hey shannon just move it a little bit to the left yeah there was no plan at all we're just gonna start building and see what happens try to meet up there in the middle yeah all right who's up chester chester go ahead chester hey matt i ain't got to call in since uh about the news about mitch barnhart but i just would like to start by just saying i want to personally thank him for all his years serving the commonwealth and serving the program i personally think he's a great man and i think he's done a great job at leading this university i wish him nothing but the best he's going to be an ambassador for our program going forward and that's fine by me he's done an awesome job top to bottom minus this little lull that we've had here in this tournament which i can't fully blame that on him and by the way is going to end starting today Matt, Santa Clara is not running Steve Nash out of that tunnel today. We are going to beat them, and it will be convincing. And I don't even know that we're going to play Iowa State tomorrow because there's usually a number two that loses. And when I got that bracket, I looked at it, and I thought, yep, we're going to be one of these. This bracket's going to open up wide for us. And I just really just want to say that the Big Blue Nation right now, all this nervous energy, you need to stop what you're doing, take a deep breath and remember who we are. They've had to sit here and listen. We've had to sit here and listen to these announcers talk about all these years that we've not made it to how many tournament games we've lost and all of this. We need to remember who we are. We are Kentucky, and I just want to encourage everybody to not listen to all this junk about our program and remember who we are. go into this tournament with all the confidence in the world. Mark my words, we are going to be in this final four, Matt. And when we do, all the money talk, touching the money, that's going to be our mantra. We're going to be happy about touching it. And all these fans and all these people that want to talk crap to us, that we're going to be eating our own words. That's right. Tell them that it, Chester. Nice. I like it. Well done. I don't know why Mario was on the other side of the room talking during that whole time. Who are you talking to? There is a show going on. Chester, that's the kind of speech. If we win today and Sunday, that's a speech that might go viral right there. That's that optimism and excitement that we've been missing in this program for a long time. I like when Chester has that excitement. It's usually been pretty good record over the years when Chester's given one of those intense moments. I think we needed this as our fan base to pick us up a little bit and forget about some of these things that have happened in the Gonzaga game and the Vanderbilt game and pick up. We have breaking news. I don't know if I need to hit the breaking news button. Okay, what is it? But Chuck Norris has passed away at the age of 86. Way to bring the whole show down. We could have gone through the commercial break before you say that. Well, I'm sorry to hear that. This guy just tapped me on the shoulder and told me like I'm supposed to announce it or something. I'm really sorry to hear that. Well, so 87. Do we know it's true? That feels like one of those things that goes viral sometimes. I mean, it's coming from the 840 WHS news guys. Yeah, it is. It's unofficial things. Well, that's sad. Rest in peace, Chuck Norris, a man who – Shannon really brought the mood. Well, I didn't tell you breaking news in your ear. I didn't say you had to go to me at that moment. I know, but I didn't know what the breaking news was. What do you think the breaking news was that he beat somebody up? I thought it could have been something positive. Chuck Norris picked the cats. We just had Gavin Chester going crazy for us, and then we get this. Well, that is. I'm sorry. Rest in peace. All right, let's take a break. Shannon has completely changed the mood. It did change the mood, didn't it? And I was so excited. I was too. And Shannon broke in with Chuck Norris. Wow. So we'll take a break. We'll get back to the game. We can eulogize Chuck Norris at another time. Sorry to hear about that. Very sorry. Yes. We'll take a break, and we'll be right back. It's KSR. I'm John Green. You may know me as the author of The Fault in Our Stars, and now I guess also as the co-host of The Away End, a brand new world soccer podcast. I'm Daniel Alarcon, a writer and journalist, and John and I have known each other since we were kids. My first World Cup was Mexico 86. I was nine years old. I watched every game and I fell in love. On our new podcast The Away End we share with you the magic of international football all leading up to the 2026 World Cup For us soccer Football Is a story we shared for over 30 years since Daniel was the star player on our high school soccer team. Very debatable. And I was their most loyal and sometimes only fan. I love this game. I love its history, its hope, its heartbreak, and above all, its beauty. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer is the most important. Listen to The Away End with Daniel Alarcon and John Green on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Daniel Jeremiah. And I'm Greg Rosenthal. And this is 40s and Free Agents. The games may be over, but the NFL never stops. This is my favorite part of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg. Free agency, the combine, the NFL draft, pro days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money. On 40s and free agents, we break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits. To my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move. We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season. Absolutely, it's hope season. And we'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and Free Agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A ambitious, well-intentioned, ferocious, and wealthy mother looks like in the Black community. This Women's History Month, the podcast, Keep It Positive, Sweetie, celebrates the power of women choosing healing, purpose and faith even when life gets messy. Love is not a destination. You have to work on it every day. Keep It Positive, sweetie, creates space for honest conversations on self-worth, love, growth and navigating life with grace and grit led by women who uplift, inspire and tell the truth out loud. I have several conversations with God and I know why it took 20 years. To hear this and more, listen to Keep It Positive, sweetie on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you are. you get your podcasts. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick. If you're unable to take meaningful creative risk and therefore run the risk of making horrible creative mistakes, then you can't play in this business. Sesame Street CEO Sherry Weston and her own chief business officer, Lisa Coffey. Making consumers see the value of the human voice and to have that guaranteed human promise behind it really makes it rise to the top. Listen to Math & Magic, Stories from the frontiers of marketing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back. It is Tuggy Sports Radio. That video I posted of the kids from High Point, that's going to end up being one of the three or four biggest videos I've ever posted. But people love it. It's awesome. It really is awesome. Because it's just pure, raw emotion, excitement for both those guys. The one guy doesn't say a word, but the way he acts makes it fun. Yeah. Your dream home awaits at BluegrassHomeCenter.com. You can choose the siding, the shutters, the kitchen colors, and more and see your kitchen come to life with Bluegrass Home Center's new online home design. Whether you're looking for your first home or upgrading to something bigger, it's Bluegrass Home Center. Two, three, four, five bedrooms available. Manufactured home, beautifully designed. Visit their gallery at BluegrassHomeCenter.com where new homes and new beginnings come together. 241 Rudy Bear Road in London, Kentucky, 606-215-3300. It is bluegrasshomecenter.com. One person writes, Matt, which player do you trust the most going into the game today? Well, I mean, generally speaking, you trust O.A. the most because he's only really had two bad games all year. So he's going to be the answer. But I would say Aberdeen's a close second in terms for me of, you know, Even if the Aberdeen's not shooting well, hadn't missed free throw in the last three minutes of a game all year, very few turnovers in the last ten games, tends to make the right decisions, plays good defense. So I think we have a backcourt we can trust. And then the variable is, okay, well, what do you get from Chandler? Do some of these other guys make shots? That's kind of what you're looking at. Yeah, we forget Aberdeen led one of the leaders of Florida's national championship team last year, played like the final four or five minutes of the game. He was a very integral part of them winning the championship. He's been there before. So you've got to trust him in O-A. But you're right, one of these other guys, Cam Williams or Colin Chandler or Jasper or somebody. Or Moreno. I mean, Moreno has not played quite like he did at the start of SEC play. I think maybe having Moreno step up, Yelovich make a couple outside shots. You know, I don't expect Garrison to get, what, 18 like he did in that SEC tournament game but get more than zero. You know, those things are good. He's one of our better three-point shooters right now. You're talking about DiCapote. Garrison's not. He hit two. Well, he did hit two. He did hit two in that game. That's true. That's true. The only time he's ever going to score 18, and he did it in that game. Who's next? Let's go to John. John. Go ahead, John. Good morning, fellas. How are you? Good. Just want to bring up the fact that we were talking about British basketball players yesterday. Completely forgot about Amari Williams and our Weedabix that we went through last year. We mentioned him in the next segment. We mentioned him in the next segment. Well, I missed it. I apologize. There's also the big member, Mora Quino Williams. I mentioned him in that segment. I mentioned it. I mentioned him right at the beginning and we mentioned Amari in the next segment. I didn't catch it. Hope the Cats win today. Go Big blue and I hope there's a big turnout down there in St. Louis. Yeah, I hope so too. We will find out when we I will put it out as soon as I see. Who's next? Let's go to Brock. Brock, go ahead Brock. Hey, first time caller. What's up? Yeah, I'm walking into the stadium right now. We just got here in St. Louis, I should say. Alright, what's it look like? You seeing blue? You seeing any blue? I've seen a bunch of blue. Yeah, I'm seeing a bunch of blue in the parking lots. Nice. Kind of confident about it. A little scared about the game, but, you know, fingers crossed. I was just curious. Post-game show, are we for sure doing one? Yeah, so where are we going to be if we win? You have a place. Ballpark Village. Ballpark Village. Now, the sound will not be playing, but we will be there at Ballpark Village, which is close to the baseball stadium, and people are welcome to come say hello. We don't have a speaker, so we can't play the sound, but you're welcome to come by and celebrate with us at Ballpark Village. If we lose, then we will not be doing it in public. Awesome. Awesome. All right, well, I'm saying 74-65 cats. Let's go. All right I appreciate it So that Ballpark Village but glad he was able to say It like a half mile from the Enterprise Center the basketball stadium They only like a half mile apart so it an easy walk We go to DraftKings Shannon get ready for that disclaimer Our DraftKings parlay. You can bet what I want, or you can bet the exact opposite. Feel free to – it will not hurt my feelings if you bet the exact opposite, because yesterday that would have won. Yes. I have Kansas covering on California Baptist, St. John's covering on Northern Iowa, UCLA covering on UCF and Utah State beating Villanova. Well, UCLA and UCF, what's that spread? Five and a half. You got UCLA covering? Yeah. UCF is good, though, aren't they? Yeah. But I'm taking UCLA. No, no, listen. The law of averages. I got all four wrong yesterday. You got all four right today. You got all four right today. I see now. And that's what happens with DraftKings. You bet five, you get $200 in bonus bets. Yes, if you have a gambling problem, 1-800-GAMBLER, 18-PLUS, Kentucky-only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. Four additional terms. We're responsible. Gaming resources. See dkng.co slash audio. Limited time offer. I love Jim Higdon, but Kentucky plays in an hour and a half, and he's sending Shannon and I the votes in the legislature for hemp legislation. Jim, Kentucky plays in an hour and a half. See, he's getting it off the tables now. Because he thought I was worried about it when he was able to focus on the game? Yes, exactly. Okay, gotcha. All right, let's go. Cats in the Santa Clara. Broncos. Broncos. Kentucky is now a two-and-a-half-point favorite. First round of the NCAA tournament. A game that no matter what we'll remember forever. Shannon, go first. All right. Kentucky is going to get the win today. I'm tired of everybody being scared of Santa Clara. Kentucky wins it. 77-68. I'm going to say Otega Owe has a big game. He's going to be our MVP. All right. Ryan Lemon. Watching A&M and St. Mary's last night convinced me. Just the defense that Santa Clara is going to see today is something they've not seen all season. Kentucky can really be a good defensive team. It shows up today, 77-63. 14 points. Yeah. Colin Chandler's got to hit some shots, so I'm going to wheel him to a big game today. Colin Chandler's my MVP. You know, I can still remember individual NCAA tournament games from 30 years ago. Yeah. Like, they have that kind of impact. This is a huge game. It's a huge game for our fan base. It's a huge game for Mark. It's a huge game just for kind of momentum on the program. And there's also a level of this where we as Kentucky, right? Yeah. It's been disappointing, understandable, but disappointing to see how scared our fan base has been. I get it. I understand why people are nervous. Yeah. But we as Kentucky, as Marcus Teeke says, and they as Santa Clara, a team that hasn't been to the tournament in 30 years. And that was when they had a Hall of Famer on their team. I just checked, and I don't think they have a Hall of Famer on their team this year. They haven't checked. They wouldn't run out of the tunnel. So for Kentucky now, it's time to be Kentucky. It is time. It's time to go out there, exert our will, get the victory, and then get ready to play a second-round game where we are the underdog and we shock everybody. Yes. Kentucky comes out. They are aggressive. They play well. They hit the shots they need. And even though it stays relatively close the whole game, They keep a cushion, and Kentucky will win 79-71 over Santa Clara and get us to the second round. And we need a big to step up, and I'm going to say Malachi Moreno. Malachi. Has a big game, gets 14 points. Nice. And gets us the victory. Who's your secondary guy that's got to play well today? Chandler's got to hit shots. Yeah. Chandler hits three threes, we win. I'll take it. Two threes, we probably win. Less than two, I think we probably lose. So Chandler, I don't mean to put it on him, but I think it is on him. He's got to hit shots. See, I felt the same way about that. This is his time to step – do that. Be our outside threat. Chandler, you feeling it? I think we got it, yeah. I don't know about Iowa State. When do we go off the air here? I thought we were already – oh, we go to 29. 29 and 40, just like the regular show. Yeah, it's just something about these pregame show things. But nevertheless, I'm ready to go, and I'm ready to see these Kentucky fans in this crowd. I hope there's going to be a lot of them. And if you see me walking the streets, just know that I'm extremely nervous. The fan base needs a big win today. That locker room needs a big win today. And our head coach needs a big win today. He does. For all the rest, we all want Mark Pope to succeed. I think so. Every single person listening to this, we all want him to succeed. And thus, this is a big win for him as well. It will make success here a lot easier if you can get this victory. Get the win, and then we'll worry about Iowa State in the next – We'll worry about Iowa State on Sunday. Thank you guys very much. We will be at Ballpark Village after the game if we win to do a little celebrating. And then St. Louis, we'll see the man, the myth, Ryan Legend out on the town tonight if we get it done. Let's go get this victory for Chester, for Mark Pope, and for Chuck Norris. This has been the Kentucky Select Chevy Dealers KSR pregame show. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. and who really wins. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search 40s and free agents, and listen now. Hi, I'm Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, and I'm kicking off a brand new season of my podcast, Math & Magic, Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing. Math & Magic takes you behind the scenes of the biggest businesses and industries while sharing insights from the smartest minds in marketing. Coming up this season on Math & Magic, CEO of Liquid Death, Mike Cesario. People think that creative ideas are like these light bulb moments that happen when you're in the shower. It's really like a stone sculpture. You're constantly just chipping away and refining. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Selny and our own chief business officer Lisa Coffey. Listen to Math & Magic on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. On paper, the three hosts of the Nick Dickens poll show are geniuses. We can explain how AI works, data centers, but there are certain things that we don't necessarily understand. Better version of play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Yes. Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift who said that for the first time. I actually, I thought it was. I got that wrong. But hey, no one's perfect. We're pretty close, though. Listen to The Nick, Dick, and Paul Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.