Game Thread Cats vs Cats

[UK8STL11]

I think this was Cal’s best and worst coaching season at the same time.

I still think this season can’t be viewed as anything other than underachieving and a disappointment. 11 losses, losing to a 9 seed in the Sweet 16, only having an 11 seed blocking your path to a Final Four, and the overall lack of improvement by the team makes it a major disappointment, IMO.

This isn’t KSt, or Dayton, or some other random school. This is UK and this season was subpar.

[KCKUKFan]

All things considered, the season was about a B-.

The good news is that the sun has risen and life continues to roll on. Basketball season is over.

[KCKUKFan]

It truly is bizarre. I’m a big believer in Cal, but if there’s an obvious knock on him it’s that he’s let a few significant games get away.

Add this to the list of banners we should have claimed.

Final Four banner, sure. But I'm not entirely sure we should have been claiming any championship banners, even with the breaks we got. Michigan would've been brutal in the Final Four, and then I'm not sure if we were ever going to beat Villanova, Kansas or Duke.

[George]

Final Four banner, sure. But I'm not entirely sure we should have been claiming any championship banners, even with the breaks we got. Michigan would've been brutal in the Final Four, and then I'm not sure if we were ever going to beat Villanova, Kansas or Duke.

The FF banner is all I was talking about. I didn’t expect us to win the championship, had we made it.

[KCKUKFan]

The FF banner is all I was talking about. I didn’t expect us to win the championship, had we made it.

And while I agree, you and I both know that if we had made the Final Four and lost to Florida State/Michigan, there would be all that ********************ing and moaning about how we blew the opportunity for a championship banner.

In ways, social media and the Internet has ruined a big chunk of Kentucky basketball for me; it's like I'm incapable of not going to message boards or checking the net after losses like last night's, even though I know what I read is just going to infuriate me. I never heard or saw any of that back in the day, and it made losses much easier to handle.

[Dwight Schrute]

And if the logic here is that tonight’s worse because of what we didn’t accomplish, then I don’t know how any loss could be worse than Wisconsin.

Ever.

The funny thing here is that game is the reason I can't feel real feelings involving UK anymore.

[George]

The funny thing here is that game is the reason I can't feel real feelings involving UK anymore.

Same. It changed everything for me as a fan.

[Dwight Schrute]

And while I agree, you and I both know that if we had made the Final Four and lost to Florida State/Michigan, there would be all that ********************ing and moaning about how we blew the opportunity for a championship banner.

In ways, social media and the Internet has ruined a big chunk of Kentucky basketball for me; it's like I'm incapable of not going to message boards or checking the net after losses like last night's, even though I know what I read is just going to infuriate me. I never heard or saw any of that back in the day, and it made losses much easier to handle.

Eh, I don't think so. I believed in January and I believed in early March that the Sweet 16 was this team's ceiling. It got a very lucky break and had as open of a path to the Final Four as you're ever gonna get at Kentucky, though, and it sucks that we couldn't capitalize on it.

I don't think any reasonable human could've expected a championship. Duke or Villanova, who I believe will be in the Final Four on the other side, likely would've slaughtered us if we'd gotten past a Final Four opponent.

[J.Jennings]

I can point the finger at Cal,PJ for missing free throws, or SGA for his eratic play. The call on Knox that took away a And one that led to a technical that led to a 3 was the game changer. Questionable call and i thought the defender moved under him, bad game changing call..

[UK8STL11]

Eh, I don't think so. I believed in January and I believed in early March that the Sweet 16 was this team's ceiling. It got a very lucky break and had as open of a path to the Final Four as you're ever gonna get at Kentucky, though, and it sucks that we couldn't capitalize on it.

I don't think any reasonable human could've expected a championship. Duke or Villanova, who I believe will be in the Final Four on the other side, likely would've slaughtered us if we'd gotten past a Final Four opponent.

Totally agreed. It would have taken something special to beat Michigan, Duke, Nova, KU whoever... But to implode and blow the easiest path to a Final Four I have ever seen is hard to stomach.

Cal's done a ton of great things, but I can't help but struggle with all the lost opportunities as well.

I will totally admit that my "UK Fandom" has continued to decrease the past few seasons. I gave up my season tickets at Rupp, don't make UK games appointment viewing, don't stay up for the late UK games, don't go to hardly any games anymore. Not sure if it's because I am getting older and care less, too many other things going on or what.

I still care and things like last night will eat at me but I think after 2010, and then 2011, and then 2014 and then Wisconsin, and then last year and then last night it becomes harder and harder for me to see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow anymore. Just doesn't seem like it's meant to be for UK basketball.

[George]

And while I agree, you and I both know that if we had made the Final Four and lost to Florida State/Michigan, there would be all that ********************ing and moaning about how we blew the opportunity for a championship banner.

In ways, social media and the Internet has ruined a big chunk of Kentucky basketball for me; it's like I'm incapable of not going to message boards or checking the net after losses like last night's, even though I know what I read is just going to infuriate me. I never heard or saw any of that back in the day, and it made losses much easier to handle.

I guess not having social media and the net made losses easier to handle in that I focus on losses for a lot longer now. Before, I’d talk with dad or a couple friends about a loss for a day or two after, then it wouldn’t really come up again until the following season.

But on the other hand, all this stuff makes something that I really like last a lot longer. I can’t stand the national media and dislike and ignore most FB posts about UK, but here there are people whom I enjoy talking to year-round. It’s give-and-take for me.

[J.Jennings]

Would be nice to think our young team took a tough loss but will be back next year on a mission, that's not happening. Some will leave that absolutely have no business leaving for the pros. .

[KCKUKFan]

Totally agreed. It would have taken something special to beat Michigan, Duke, Nova, KU whoever... But to implode and blow the easiest path to a Final Four I have ever seen is hard to stomach.

Cal's done a ton of great things, but I can't help but struggle with all the lost opportunities as well.

I will totally admit that my "UK Fandom" has continued to decrease the past few seasons. I gave up my season tickets at Rupp, don't make UK games appointment viewing, don't stay up for the late UK games, don't go to hardly any games anymore. Not sure if it's because I am getting older and care less, too many other things going on or what.

I still care and things like last night will eat at me but I think after 2010, and then 2011, and then 2014 and then Wisconsin, and then last year and then last night it becomes harder and harder for me to see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow anymore. Just doesn't seem like it's meant to be for UK basketball.

Based upon how hard you take it when we screw up or lose, I'd hate to have seen you when you were truly invested.

Doesn't seem like "it's meant to be for Kentucky basketball?" HAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, you mean the winningest program of all time with the second most championships? Oh, woe is us. It must REALLY suck to be every other college basketball program in America.

[Dwight Schrute]

Totally agreed. It would have taken something special to beat Michigan, Duke, Nova, KU whoever... But to implode and blow the easiest path to a Final Four I have ever seen is hard to stomach.

Cal's done a ton of great things, but I can't help but struggle with all the lost opportunities as well.

I will totally admit that my "UK Fandom" has continued to decrease the past few seasons. I gave up my season tickets at Rupp, don't make UK games appointment viewing, don't stay up for the late UK games, don't go to hardly any games anymore. Not sure if it's because I am getting older and care less, too many other things going on or what.

I still care and things like last night will eat at me but I think after 2010, and then 2011, and then 2014 and then Wisconsin, and then last year and then last night it becomes harder and harder for me to see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow anymore. Just doesn't seem like it's meant to be for UK basketball.

For me it happened when I moved away from Lexington. If I still lived there or in Louisville, I'd probably be a lot more into it. Up here in Cincinnati, the interest in college basketball isn't as high, and you're more likely to run into Xavier or UC or OSU fans than UK fans.

I think in a lot of ways, we're our own worst enemy - if Tubby had Cal's record in March, we'd name a street in Lexington after him. Success has made us less happy. I know when Cal's gone and we come back to earth, we'll pine for the Calipari days again.

[Dwight Schrute]

Would be nice to think our young team took a tough loss but will be back next year on a mission, that's not happening. Some will leave that absolutely have no business leaving for the pros. .

I think we ought to wait and see, but I agree with this post.