Rex Chapman takes over for Matt Jones and Oscar Combs on UK basketball pregame show
The University of Kentucky men’s basketball radio pregame show will open the season with a new lineup in 2016-17.
UK legend Rex Chapman was named the new co-host of the UK Radio Network’s “Texas Roadhouse Countdown to Tipoff” show, JMI Sports announced Tuesday evening.
Chapman will make his UK Radio Network debut Sunday for Kentucky’s exhibition game against Clarion in Rupp Arena. Along with returning host Dave Baker, Chapman will join Tom Leach and Mike Pratt throughout the season in the live pregame coverage 90 minutes before tip-off to preview the upcoming matchup, discuss UK basketball news and take questions from the Big Blue Nation.
Previously, Baker was joined by Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio and Cats’ Pause founder Oscar Combs. Combs announced his retirement from the radio network over the summer. JMI’s announcement did not provide a reason for Jones’ departure, but the popular radio host recently launched a new nightly TV show on WLEX-18 called “Hey, Kentucky.” Jones also still hosts the pregame show for UK football in addition to his daily radio show.
“As a kid born and raised in the western part of the state, I was incredibly lucky to play my college basketball at the University of Kentucky. It was, is and has always been a privilege,” Chapman said in the UK news release. “My earliest basketball memories are of the legendary Cawood Ledford calling Kentucky basketball games on the UK Radio Network. When Paul (Archey, president of UK sports and campus marketing) asked me to help bring Cats games to our Big Blue Nation family over those very same airwaves, it was a no-brainer. I came to Lexington in 1986 as a long and skinny kid with a mullet — as excited as could be for the opportunity. In 2016 — as an old bald dude — I'm even more pumped for this opportunity. And I'm certainly more grateful and appreciative.”
“There’s no one that I’d rather see in that position than Rex,” UK head coach John Calipari said in the release. “He’s an icon in this program and in this state and is well-deserving of this opportunity. I couldn’t be happier for him and for us. This is what families do.”
Chapman was a prolific scorer during his two seasons as a Wildcat (1987-88). King Rex, as the fans liked to call him, scored 1,073 points in his two years in his college career, including 609 during his sophomore year, tied for third-most in school history among sophomore players.
Chapman went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA. He is a member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame.
The hiring of Chapman, 49, marks a bounceback for the Owensboro native and 1986 Mr. Basketball.
Police in Scottsdale, Ariz., arrested Chapman in September 2014 on suspicion of organized retail theft and trafficking in stolen property. Chapman was alleged to have used the Apple Store’s self-checkout and then left without paying. He plead guilty to four felony counts of theft and was sentenced to community service and paying back more than $15,000 to the Apple Store.
Chapman, who turned 48 in October, subsequently entered a 28-day substance-abuse treatment program at The Brook Hospital in Louisville. He later spoke of a longtime addiction to pain medication he linked to injuries during his NBA career.
The UK pregame show is broadcast in Lexington on WLAP-AM 630 and WBUL-FM 98.1 and across the state on UK Radio Network local affiliates, online at UKathletics.com and through the official UK Gameday app.
“I've known Tom, Mike and Buzz (Baker) for some 30 years and couldn't be more excited to now be working alongside them,” Chapman said. “From Joe B. (Hall) to Cal and from The Big Horse Dan Issel to Big Bam Adebayo, I can't wait to share UK friendships, experiences and stories from the past four decades.”
This story was originally published October 25, 2016 at 7:57 PM with the headline "Rex Chapman takes over for Matt Jones and Oscar Combs on UK basketball pregame show."