Per KSR: The Thrill Is Gone?

[Joneslab]

We did beat Duke the last time we got them head to head, so there's that.

And while Duke is ahead of us because of the two titles, there's some gray area. It's not like they're so far out ahead that you couldn't make a case for Kentucky.

Unfortunately they've assembled a beast this year...but so have we. This Kentucky team is going to be hellaciously good.

[DA#23]

^ Depends a lot on Giles' health, too.

[Joneslab]

^ Depends a lot on Giles' health, too.

Yes.

And if they can find a point guard.

I'm hoping Duke runs into a "not enough shots to go around" situation, but I fear they're going to basically hammer almost everybody on their schedule.

Coach K is tremendous. IMO the best who ever coached in the college game. But he got some luck with this team. Jefferson's injury, Allen's sketchy NBA marketability...it's sort of what happened with Billy Donovan when he got his entire team to return after they won a title.

Cal hasn't been lucky in that regard at UK, but they don't come to UK so they can maybe come back to school.

[Spiritof96]

The Wisconsin loss kind of broke me. I couldn't generate any interest last year... To be that good, so close, and see it go up in smoke.... made me not want to be so invested.

I still hope they do well; but I'm done letting ball dominate my attention like it did before.

[Westtncat]

UK can get you to the pros. Duke can get you a national title, a gold medal and get you to the pros.

[Blue Heaven]

Some of those Tubby teams were my favorite UK teams ever. I've loved Cal's run more than anything, but I still count that Tubby team that lost to UAB as my favorite ever.

Duke and a bunch of other programs were well ahead of us back then. We couldn't even make it to the Final Four.

I don't have to have Kentucky as a larger-than-life juggernaut to be pumped about the team.

I'm with you with favorite team ever. I have never seen a team that played so well together. It was the best passing team I have ever witnessed as well as one of the best defensive teams. They just got after you. That season was, IMO, how basketball was supposed to be played. It was five guys running as a well oiled machine and it was beautiful to behold. To this day I still wonder what the hell happened.

[KevinHall]

Duke is a little ahead of UK but not by that much. If you are bummed out by that then you may never be happy with UK basketball. All it would take would be another championship to catch them or Coach K to retire . Enjoy the Cal years because we will never see another period like this again.

I have scaled back a lot myself. It comes with age and wanting to do other things while I can. I will still watch every game. Most will be off the DVR but I am not letting it keep me up at nights worrying about them.

[Spiritof96]

I'm with you with favorite team ever. I have never seen a team that played so well together. It was the best passing team I have ever witnessed as well as one of the best defensive teams. They just got after you. That season was, IMO, how basketball was supposed to be played. It was five guys running as a well oiled machine and it was beautiful to behold. To this day I still wonder what the hell happened.

Dewayne Wade happened... I loved that team. Still breaks my heart they didn't win it all.

[Joneslab]

Actually I was referring to the team after the Suffocats (still the best team nickname ever). But I loved all those teams during that three- or four-year streth.

The team that lost to Marquette I still think was Tubby's best team. I think they would've beaten the '98 title team.

[Wonderstruck]

The influx of social media has allowed us access that we never had before to the program. There is no off season any longer. As such, the excitement and buildup towards the season isn't as massive as even a few years ago. The game has evolved beyond the five months of the season.

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[Joneslab]

The influx of social media has allowed us access that we never had before to the program. There is no off season any longer. As such, the excitement and buildup towards the season isn't as massive as even a few years ago. The game has evolved beyond the five months of the season.

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I think this is a good point.

I've argued before that the one-and-done thing is complicated by the fact that we know these players now more than we ever did. We get four years' worth of material and insight into who they are.

There were players--good players--who were here for four years in the past who I felt like I didn't know at all.

[J.Jennings]

Still excited, but I won't lie: the Wisconsin loss and Duke's surge in popularity have bummed me out over the last couple years.

I was in the same boat as you but I am actually more excited about this season that I have been in a while now.