KSR Today: Memorial Day, Selection Monday, SEC in Destin, and more

It’s the last Monday in May, better known as Memorial Day around the country. Today, many Americans will enjoy an extra day off from work to spend time with friends and family, celebrating the unofficial start of summer. Though fun in the sun, it is important to remember the reason for Memorial Day: to honor and mourn the U.S. servicemen and servicewomen who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. So, take a pause at some point today to recognize their sacrifice so you can enjoy the freedoms you have today.

Now, some news and a preview of what’s ahead in sports from your friends at KentuckySportsRadio.com:

NCAA Baseball’s Selection Monday

On Sunday, the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee revealed the 16 regional sites for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. They are:

• Athens, Georgia – Georgia (42-15) 
• Auburn, Alabama – Auburn (38-18) 
• Austin, Texas – Texas (42-12) 
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana – LSU (43-14) 
• Chapel Hill, North Carolina – North Carolina (42-12) 
• Clemson, South Carolina – Clemson (44-16) 
• Conway, South Carolina – Coastal Carolina (48-11) 
• Corvallis, Oregon – Oregon State (41-12-1) 
• Eugene, Oregon – Oregon (42-14) 
• Fayetteville, Arkansas – Arkansas (43-13) 
• Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Southern Mississippi (44-14)  
• Knoxville, Tennessee – Tennessee (43-16) 
• Los Angeles, California – UCLA (42-16) 
• Nashville, Tennessee – Vanderbilt (42-16) 
• Oxford, Mississippi – Ole Miss (40-19) 
• Tallahassee, Florida – Florida State (38-14) 

Today, we will learn if Kentucky Baseball will be among the 64 participating teams. The NCAA’s selection show will air at 12 p.m. on ESPN2.

Yesterday, Baseball America had Kentucky in the field, playing in the Oregon regional as the No. 3 seed in Eugene. However, Kentucky is one of the Last Four Out in today’s update.

Here at On3, the Field of 64 projections include the Wildcats in the tournament as a No. 3 seed, playing in the Oregon State regional in Corvallis.

Kentucky will learn its actual tournament standing in three hours.

Why was James Franklin celebrating Vanderbilt winning the SEC Baseball Tournament?

Vanderbilt won its fifth SEC Tournament title on Sunday, beating Ole Miss in the championship game in Hoover, Alabama. However, many SEC fans were much more interested in the James Franklin sighting in the Vanderbilt dugout during the game.

James Franklin pulled up to the SEC baseball tournament to support his long-time friend and Vandy head coach Tim Corbin 🤝 @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/Ud9MRmJVSg

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) May 25, 2025

Franklin left Vanderbilt for Penn State in 2014 after leading the Commodores to three straight bowl games. He was there to support his longtime friend, Vandy head coach Tim Corbin. Still, it was a bizarre move by the head coach of another university.

SEC Spring Meetings in Destin

Coaches and administrators from the Southeastern Conference will spend this week in Destin, Florida, for the annual spring meetings on the beach. This year, the hottest topics include the House settlement, revenue sharing, a nine-game football schedule, and, if Mark Pope has his way, the expansion of the college basketball season. Pope told KSR he plans to lobby for a 40-game college basketball schedule at his second trip SEC spring meetings.

Also, Pope and Mark Stoops will have media interviews while in Destin, potentially even on the Paul Finebaum Show, for everyone unable to attend. KSR won’t have boots on the ground, but we will cover the event and everything that comes from it from afar. (Note to On3 accounting: I’ll happily attend next year, if needed.)

KAT led the Knicks back from the dead in Game 3

Led by former Kentucky star Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks climbed back from down 20 points to Indiana in Game 3 of the Knicks-Pacers series. The Pacers were ahead for the majority of the game, leading by as many as 20 points, until New York stole the road win in the end.

KAT EXPLODED ALL OVER INDIANA 😱 pic.twitter.com/I2UyaixLdh

— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) May 26, 2025

Towns scored 24 points with 15 rebounds, with 20 of his points coming in the fourth quarter comeback. Jalen Brunson added 23 as New York found life in the series. Indiana still leads 2-1.

Minnesota trying to even the series in the West

Tonight, Game 4 of the Thunder-Wolves series will play out in Minnesota, where the Wolves won Game 3 over the weekend to make it 2-1. They’re back in the Target Center tonight as Julius Randle and Rob Dillingham try to even the score with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace in the Western Conference Finals.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. Oklahoma City is a 3.5-point road favorite.

On the grill

For all of my fellow Memorial Day grillers out there: yesterday, I tried my hand at a homemade Sriracha bourbon BBQ sauce for baby back ribs. If you’ve ever had the ribs at Carson’s in Lexington, that was my goal. Baked beans and bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers on the side.

Today, a tomahawk steak from KSR sponsor Noche Linda Farms awaits. Happy grilling to everyone out there.

KSR’s morning show is a replay on Memorial Day

It’s a company holiday at iHeart, so KSR’s morning radio show has the day off. Producer Shannon The Dude has a replay episode dialed up in place of the live show from 10 a.m. to noon.

Here on KentuckySportsRadio, the work never stops, so check back with us throughout the day, especially early in the afternoon, for the NCAA baseball draw and KSR’s reactions to it. We’ll have lots of other UK content–including a new KSR Happy Hour live stream on YouTube–for you, too.

Go Cats.