KSR Today: Mark Pope on KSR, NBA Conference Finals, Shai wins MVP
Good morning, BBN. If you looked at the Kentucky sports calendar, there isn’t a ton happening today, but we’re preparing for content overload because Matt Jones’ interview with Mark Pope airs in a few hours. On Wednesday, the two sat down for over an hour, a conversation which will be played starting at 10:45 a.m. on today’s show.
Pope spoke to the local media for over thirty minutes last week, so surely, some old ground will be covered; however, this will be Pope’s first media appearance since four-star forward Braydon Hawthorne committed to Kentucky. If he’s already signed, we’ll get to hear Pope’s thoughts on the 14th member of his 2025-26 roster. Hawthorne, one of the fastest rising prospects in the 2025 class, is expected to be a developmental piece for this season, but considering he chose to play for Kentucky, his dream school, over immediate playing time at West Virginia, I’m looking forward to hearing all the beautiful things Pope has to say about him.
So, that interview airs at 10:45 a.m. ET on 630 WLAP, affiliates across the state, and iHeart Radio. We’ll be rolling out highlights all afternoon. Here’s a sneak peek, along with Pope’s press conference from last week, if you really want to get in the mood.
ICYMI, Kentucky scheduled an exhibition vs. Georgetown (University, not College)
Another new piece of Kentucky Basketball news that Matt and Pope will discuss: Kentucky’s exhibition vs. Georgetown. On Wednesday, the program announced that it will host Ed Cooley’s Georgetown Hoyas on Thursday, October 30. That’s the week after preseason No. 1 Purdue comes to town for the first exhibition on Friday, October 24.
Neither game will count towards Kentucky’s 2025-26 record, but it’s further proof that Pope ain’t scared when it comes to scheduling. Shout-out to the NCAA for easing the rules when it comes to preseason exhibitions. While we loved having Georgetown Tigers come to Rupp, the Georgetown Hoyas will present a much bigger, more entertaining challenge ahead of the regular season opener. As Pope told Matt, he wants all the smoke when it comes to the non-conference schedule.
Love it. Here is the non-conference schedule as we know it:
- Oct. 24: vs. Purdue | Rupp Arena (Exhibition)
- Oct. 30: vs. Georgetown | Rupp Arena (Exhibition)
- Nov. 11: vs. Louisville | Louisville
- Nov. 18: vs. Michigan State | Champions Classic (New York)
- Dec. 5: vs. Gonzaga | Nashville
- Dec. 13: vs. Indiana | Rupp Arena
- Dec. 20: vs. St. John’s | CBS Sports Classic (Atlanta)
- Dec. 23: vs. Bellarmine | Rupp Arena
- TBD: SEC/ACC Challenge | TBD
- TBD: vs. NC Central | Rupp Arena
Jayden Quaintance also moved in (early)
We already have a Wildcat on campus. Jayden Quaintance was the first player to move in, arriving yesterday to settle in and continue rehabbing from his ACL surgery. He combined his move-in with his official visit, going to Jeff Ruby’s with his family and the Popes to enjoy some delicious food and the famous shoe cake:
That’s a far cry from the sad cookie cake he had on his first official visit back to Kentucky as a high school recruit in 2023:
The rest of the team is expected on campus by June 6 ahead of camp season. The season will be here before you know it, folks.
Donate to UK’s Tornado Relief Drive today and tomorrow
Recovery efforts continue in southern Kentucky following Friday’s deadly tornado and storms. Today and tomorrow, you can donate supplies for the victims at Kroger Field at UK’s Tornado Relief Drive, which was spearheaded by Kentucky natives Jager Burton and Trent Noah. Donations will be accepted in the stadium’s Blue Lot adjacent to Alumni Drive on Thursday, May 22 (4-8 p.m.) and Friday, May 23 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.).
Here is the list of needed items:
- Rakes and shovels
- Trash bags
- Cleaning supplies
- Paper goods (toilet paper, paper towels)
- Flashlights and lanterns
- Non-perishable foods
If you’re interested in making a monetary donation, consider giving to the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund at TeamKYStormReliefFund.ky.gov. Additional resources can be found here: Laurel County Resources, Pulaski County Resources, and Animal Shelter Supplies.
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NBA Conference Finals Update: Knicks choke away Game 1, Shai wins MVP
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 35 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, but it didn’t matter because the New York Knicks choked away Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks led by 14 points with under three minutes left in regulation, but Aaron Nesmith pulled the Pacers back into it, and Tyrese Haliburton hit a jumper to force overtime. Haliburton initially thought it was a three, and after it bounced down into the net, he replicated Reggie Miller’s famous choke gesture to the crowd. The Pacers went on to win Game 1, 138-125. Game 2 is Friday night in New York.
Tonight, the OKC Thunder will look to take a 2-0 lead vs. the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals before the series moves to Minnesota. Shai Gilegeous-Alexander, the new MVP of the league, led Oklahoma City to a 114-88 win in Game 1, scoring 20 of his 31 points after halftime. On the flipside, Julius Randle scored 28 points for Minnesota, but just eight in the second half, and Anthony Edwards was limited to 18 points, zero in the fourth quarter. You can see Game Two at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
On Wednesday, Shai became the first Kentucky Wildcat to ever win NBA MVP, which is kind of hard to believe. He beat out Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo for the honor, which he accepted alongside his teammates and family. He got choked up while paying tribute to his wife, Hailey Summers, a very sweet moment to start your day with.
New episode of ‘Here Comes The Boom’
If you’re in the mood for some basketball recruiting talk, a new episode of “Here Comes The Boom” will drop on the KSR YouTube Channel later today. Jacob Polacheck will share his takeaways from the EYBL Memphis stop, including which players stood out to him and who Mark Pope and staff were watching the closest. Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel and turn your notifications on to find out the minute the show is available.
A TV Recommendation
Unfortunately, there is some rain in the Memorial Day weekend forecast. If you’re looking for some television to keep you entertained outside of the NBA playoffs, I’ve got just the thing. Season four of Clarkson’s Farm debuts tomorrow on Prime Video. If you’re new to the docuseries, it follows British TV personality and host Jeremy Clarkson as he purchases and attempts to run a 1,000-acre farm in the Cotswolds. Obviously, as a very rich man with zero farming experience, this proves to be a challenge.
There’s no way I can do it justice with a few sentences, but it’s my favorite show on television right now, and I’ve been counting down until its return. It’s wholesome in all the right ways.
A Podcast Recommendation
“The Matt Jones Show” tipped off last week with special guest Bomani Jones. This week, Matt interviewed ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee about NASCAR and college football. That episode is now available for your listening pleasure on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. His conversation with political commentator and TV show host Krystal Ball will air tonight at 6 p.m. ET on 840 AM WHAS.
100 days until Kentucky Football’s season opener
I can smell the tailgates at Kroger Field now.
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