KSR Today: All-SEC portal addition, Mark Pope's radio show, and more Monday things

Good morning, friends. It’s a Monday, but excitement is still high throughout Big Blue Nation after the Wildcats beat Louisville over the weekend. If you’re lucky enough to have a Louisville fan around the office today, be sure to give them an Ls down to start their week. They’ll love it.

It’s a relatively quiet week moving forward, though. There are no midweek games. Kentucky doesn’t play again until Saturday’s CBS Sports Classic in New York. Kentucky’s women’s team also has a long wait until its next game, when Belmont heads to Historic Memorial Coliseum on Friday.

While we wait, some news and notes to lead off the week:

Hear from Mark Pope on his call-in radio show

Mondays were action-packed during football season. However, the busy routine has changed now that Mark Stoops and his Wildcats have moved their work behind the scenes for the offseason rebuild (more on that in a moment). Still, you’ll want to be in your usual place near a radio on Monday evening because Mark Pope continues the Monday radio tradition with Tom Leach.

Pope’s fourth installment of his call-in radio show airs tonight from 6-7 p.m. on the UK Sports Network. Pope will chat with Leach and the callers about the big win against UofL, from what he saw on tape to his team’s status since the win and more. Tune in live, or check KentuckySportsRadio.com to learn what he said.

[Mark Pope wouldn’t go home until he signed every autograph]

UK Football added an All-SEC offensive lineman

As I wrote that blurb about Pope’s call-in radio show, news broke of a Monday morning addition to Kentucky Football‘s roster. Joshua Braun, one of the top offensive linemen in the portal, has signed and committed to Kentucky, according to On3.

Braun moves to Lexington from Fayetteville, Arkansas, where the 6-foot-6, 340-pound offensive guard started every game for the Razorbacks in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Braun earned Second Team All-SEC honors as a redshirt junior in 2023.

Arkansas starting offensive lineman Joshua Braun has signed with Kentucky, @On3sports has learned. https://t.co/wMrfFrdlE6 pic.twitter.com/GWSKixzvht

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) December 16, 2024

Before his two starter years at Arkansas, Braun spent three years as a reserve at Florida. He signed with the Gators as a consensus four-star prospect in the 2020 class.

More on his commitment to the Cats.

Kentucky’s offseason transfer portal additions

Braun is the third portal addition since the portal opened last week:

• Joshua Braun | OL | Arkansas (12/16)
• Sam Greene | EDGE | USC (12/14)
• Landyn Watson | LB | Marshall (12/14)

Other transfer portal news:

• Former UK WR Barion Brown landed at LSU
• Former UK WR Dane Key visited Ole Miss over the weekend
• ULM running back Ahmad Hardy is high on UK’s wish list ahead of his visit later this week

The Will Levis era is likely over in Nashville

In NFL news, I am afraid the Will Levis experience is nearing its end, or is already at its end, in Nashville. The former Kentucky QB was benched in the Titans’ loss to the Bengals on Sunday after he threw three interceptions against Cincinnati, including his fourth pick-six of the season.

GENO STONE PICK-6 FOR THE BENGALS

📺: #CINvsTEN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/3SmT93tZ9n

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024

Jaxson Robinson met the fans at KSBar and Grille

On Sunday, UK star Jaxson Robinson held a “flash” meet-and-greet to celebrate Saturday’s victory over Louisville. Robinson signed autographs and met the fans during the Titans-Bengals game. Look for more “flash” events after big wins the rest of the season.

College Basketball on TV tonight

It’s a quiet night for college basketball without any ranked or SEC teams in action. You can watch Billy Gillispie’s Tarleton State Texans versus UTEP on ESPN+. Otherwise, it might be a good night for a Christmas movie, the NBA, or Monday Night Football. Tonight’s game is Chicago at Minnesota.

Where to find KSR this week

KSR is at KSBar and Grille from 10 a.m. to noon and throughout the rest of the week, except for Tuesday’s show, which may be moved to the studio. Find the crew at KSBAr today, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

Happy Birthday, Freddie Maggard!

Finally, join me in wishing a Happy Birthday to our good friend and former colleague, KSR’s quarterback, No. 18, Freddie Maggard. Happy Birthday, Freddie!