Most heartbreaking moment as a fan

[mjj_2K]

I see your point but going from one of the highest of highs in my sports fandom after Woods hit that shot to the lowest of lows in a matter of seconds was a pain that could never be topped for me.

I will say, it took years but I have changed the way I view the game from disappointment to pride. But that level of pain stuck with me much longer than 84 or 2015.

The OP did say "moment", and in that respect, you're 100% correct. I was thinking of it more in terms of overall disappointment level.

And I guess some of it depends on what you choose to focus on. I got over the Duke game pretty quickly because the trajectory was up up up. In some ways the Michigan loss the next year was a longer downer, because that UK team had been on such a tear and Michigan, despite all their talent, had half-assed their way through the tournament and was very lucky to make the FF.

 

[CatFanMan66]

Losing to Duke in 92 was absolutely heartbreaking for me.

Losing to Duke was certainly heartbreaking but that loss against Wisconsin was worse because they should have won that game.

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

I see your point but going from one of the highest of highs in my sports fandom after Woods hit that shot to the lowest of lows in a matter of seconds was a pain that could never be topped for me.

I will say, it took years but I have changed the way I view the game from disappointment to pride. But that level of pain stuck with me much longer than 84 or 2015.

100% I have walked that road.


Number 2 for me is 2015. I’ve chewed on a wild conspiracy theory that that game broke Cal because he knew or later learned that Kentucky was not allowed to win and consequently he quit caring. Doesn’t explain everything but kind of bridges the gap between the coach who win big at UMASS and drove John Chaney to a murderous rage and the coach who lost to Oakland, Evansville, etc, while sitting on his hands.

 

[mdluk1]

66 Rupps Runts

 

[FLBBNFAN]

For me its the 92 loss to Duke. After Woods hit his shot I thought we had it in the bag. 2015 FF loss is right behind the 92 debacle to me.

 

[LongliveWildcatDon]

100% I have walked that road.


Number 2 for me is 2015. I’ve chewed on a wild conspiracy theory that that game broke Cal because he knew or later learned that Kentucky was not allowed to win and consequently he quit caring. Doesn’t explain everything but kind of bridges the gap between the coach who win big at UMASS and drove John Chaney to a murderous rage and the coach who lost to Oakland, Evansville, etc, while sitting on his hands.

2015 broke me as a fan. I remember going to the Wisconsin open practice and watching them run off the court acting liking airplanes thinking we were going to smoke those goofballs. Only to watch us play their game all night and it solidified to me my theory that Cal could win another but it was going to take luck or a special player to do it.

I could count on one hand how many games I had missed before that game and couldn't tell you how many ive missed since. Watching games in backrooms during birthday parties, weddings and family functions. The year before I spent a night at Disney walking around watching the UCONN game on my phone. On my honeymoon we got to the hotel late that afternoon and sat on the edge of the bed watching the ending to UK vs Holy Cross in the 2001 tourney while my wife reconsidered our marriage.

Since 2015, I forget when we even play a lot. Get online see the game thread, go to our theatre room and see the 18-11 score with 4 minutes to play in the second half and turn it off and check the score later. I spend half the season going the high school games to watch my daughter cheer and it doesn't bother me a bit that UK is playing at the same time.

Pope gave me some new energy at first but that has faded.

 

[BlueSince92]

1A Laettner from the free throw line.

1B Watching Chuck Hayes cry after the double overtime loss to Michigan in EE ‘05.

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

2015 broke me as a fan. I remember going to the Wisconsin open practice and watching them run off the court acting liking airplanes thinking we were going to smoke those goofballs. Only to watch us play their game all night and it solidified to me my theory that Cal could win another but it was going to take luck or a special player to do it.

I could count on one hand how many games I had missed before that game and couldn't tell you how many ive missed since. Watching games in backrooms during birthday parties, weddings and family functions. The year before I spent a night at Disney walking around watching the UCONN game on my phone. On my honeymoon we got to the hotel late that afternoon and sat on the edge of the bed watching the ending to UK vs Holy Cross in the 2001 tourney while my wife reconsidered our marriage.

Since 2015, I forget when we even play a lot. Get online see the game thread, go to our theatre room and see the 18-11 score with 4 minutes to play in the second half and turn it off and check the score later. I spend half the season going the high school games to watch my daughter cheer and it doesn't bother me a bit that UK is playing at the same time.

Pope gave me some new energy at first but that has faded.

This is brutal stuff and I can relate to all of it. Here's hoping 2026-27 puts us on an encouraging trajectory one way or the other.

 

[BookofMormon]

While not the best of the UK teams, UConn was pretty much the only thing that stood in the way of two more titles in 2011 and 2014, two games UK was favored in. Easy to forget, but a title is a title. Team would have easily beat that Butler team.

 

[AJBlue]

All these games mentioned above are “list worthy” and each has its own unique sting.

One of my earliest recollections of extreme disappointment was the 1970 game against Jacksonville. Cats were top rated and my still favorite player of all, Dan Issel was going up against Jacksonville’s center, Artimis Gilmore.
Late in the game and Cats were coming from behind, Issel scores and starts backpedaling on defense after a bucket…Jvill’s little point guard stops right behind Issel, and Issel runs him over. Fifth foul on Dan and Jacksonville goes on to win. Heartbreaking end to a tremendous career at UK.

Another is UKs loss to Western in the NCAA tourney…Rupps last game as our coach.

As with many other of my fellow fans:
Duke (I still hate Laetner)
Wisconsin (I’ll never get over it)
75 UCLA (Wooden’s last year in coaching - incredible hype for this matchup with the Bruins)
Georgetown (We had ‘em on the ropes in the 1st half)

More…but getting depressed thinking about them.

Appreciate the thread even though it brings back some disappointment. You know though, all these memories are a testament as to our great (the greatest) legacy of all time in college basketball.

GBB!

I was just about to say the 70 Loss with Issel and Co. was a hard one to take. That one was more heartbreaking because it seeme like that teams time. 1984 was more demoralizing the way we lost it getting a little intimidated. And 2015 just deflating. Throw in the first Dream Game too losing in OT to the evil empire.

 

[P. Fanning]

2003-When Bogans hurt his ankle.
2004-Losing to UAB
2005-Michigan State loss.

Should have been a three peat.

Also, can't pinpoint the exact moment, but when the landscape of college basketball changed and UK's great tradition wasn't the recruiter that it was. I think that was Tubby's downfall and it was tragic.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

- 2002 Blue Grass Miracle (lucky play and it took 16th ranked LSU a miracle to beat us)

- OT game vs Tennessee. They blocked a field goal and won next possession.

- 1993. Doering. Need I say more?

- Curry years in general.

- 1987 Higgs can't get over the pile.

 

[Rick Honcho]

Maybe the 1983 loss to Louisville in Stokely.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Maybe the 1983 loss to Louisville in Stokely.

I don't understand ..why that venue??

 

[will1976]

Without a doubt Cawood signing off after the Puke loss in 92.

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

- Strangely, 2001 Sweet 16 loss to USC hit me hard. That team struggled so much early and really became a very good team late in the year and I thought we were going to the Final Four.

- 2003 loss to Marquette destroyed me. I thought we had the title on lock until Bogans injury.

- 2004 loss to UAB. I’ll never forget the name Squeaky Johnson,

- 2005 killed me. I didn’t get over the Michigan State loss for a long time.

- 2010 West Virginia. Literally couldn’t believe we lost that game. Felt like a layup going into the game.

- 2011 UConn. We beat better teams in Ohio State and North Carolina to get there, only to get Kemba’d.

- 2014 UConn. Probably my personal saddest. That should have been our title after beating everyone we went through to get there. Then, it was deer in headlights.

- 2015 Wisconsin. Second saddest probably. I remember walking away from my family who were all huddled together watching the game and just staring at the wall for like an hour in disbelief. It was shock more than just pain though. Couldn’t see it coming.

- 2017 North Carolina. The Drew Franklin shot wasn’t fair. Not after what Isaac Humphries did to get us to that point.

- 2019 Auburn. We absolutely handled them in the regular season and it was a certainty that we were headed back to the Final Four…until it wasn’t.

- 2020 cancellation of the postseason. I was beyond sad.

- 2022 Saint Peter’s. The most shocking loss I’ve ever watched. And this was a sleeper national title pick Kentucky team with the nation’s best player and a borderline 1 seed level squad. An early SECT loss put us on the top 2 line and we lost to St. Freakin’ Peters.

 

[mjj_2K]

I don't understand ..why that venue??

?

Because it was an NCAA Tournament game and that's where the Regional was played.

 

[Uncle B.S.]

Issel fouling out on a BS call and the subsequent loss to Jacksonville. It was the only time I have ever cried over a UK loss. Of course I was only 10 years old. I have automatically distrusted anyone named Rex since.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

?

Because it was an NCAA Tournament game and that's where the Regional was played.

Oh gotcha. Didn't realize it was a tournament game. Thought it being the "dream game" it was a neutral court OOC

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

…- 2005 killed me. I didn’t get over the Michigan State loss for a long time.
….- 2011 UConn. We beat better teams in Ohio State and North Carolina to get there, only to get Kemba’d.
….- 2015 Wisconsin.
- 2017 North Carolina….

These games had a common denominator on the whistle. Those head-scratching, heartbreaking losses where there were too many what ifs.

 

[Littlecreek10]

Issel fouling out on a BS call and the subsequent loss to Jacksonville. It was the only time I have ever cried over a UK loss. Of course I was only 10 years old. I have automatically distrusted anyone named Rex since.

I was too young to remember this game but I assume the referee’s name was Rex?

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

When I found out the legendary Oliver Simmons transfered to FSU I was nearly inconsolable for a month.

 

[L.O.D.]

Im only one that will say this likely but it was the 1994 home game vs Arkansas . Still for me stands as loudest I ever heard Rupp get. Was a back an forth game we lost late. I remember the emotional let down took a minute.

Game had no real stakes was reg season they were 1 i think we were in top 5. Just imo most energy i ever felt in the many times I been to Rupp. Was my 2nd year at UK.

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

…Number 2 for me is 2015. I’ve chewed on a wild conspiracy theory that that game broke Cal because he knew or later learned that Kentucky was not allowed to win and consequently he quit caring. Doesn’t explain everything but kind of bridges the gap between the coach who win big at UMASS and drove John Chaney to a murderous rage and the coach who lost to Oakland, Evansville, etc, while sitting on his hands.

After watching ESPN’s 30 for 30 “One and Not Done,” I do feel like Cal realized there were factors beyond his control in some losses. Games they should have won that just didn’t happen due to a “little” call here and there that made a difference. And that’s why maybe his focus wasn’t always on that final win, though I’m sure he desperately wanted it. I think he cared. In the documentary, I sensed his frustration with that system (like after the 2016 loss over a Pat Adams T when Isaac bounced a ball in celebration, telling the team, “You got cheated!” and encouraged them to move on).

 

[rick64]

1. '92 E8 vs Duke in Philadelphia. The Laettner shot. Should've gotten ejected for stomping on Timberlake.

2. '84 F4 vs GTown, 3-33 FGA in the 2nd half.

3. 2015 F4 vs Wisconsin

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

2015 vs Wisconsin and 2017 vs UNC profoundly affected me.

I was so sure we would win the title in 2015, and when we didn’t it was devastating as a fan. I can only imagine how it affected the team and staff.

2017 made me mad at a broken system. I thought we had a great chance to win it all. We should have, but didn’t. Again. And I wasn’t quite the same after.

 

[Uncle B.S.]

I was too young to remember this game but I assume the referee’s name was Rex?

He‘s the guy on the chair. Along with the A-train and another name I have never forgotten, Pembroke Burrows.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Losing to Duke in 92 was absolutely heartbreaking for me.

If you were alive and old enough to remember and be a fan, I’m not sure how this isn’t the answer. This one is mine and there isn’t remotely a close second place.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

View attachment 1371732

He‘s the guy on the chair. Along with the A-train and another name I have never forgotten, Pembroke Burrows.

I can't believe these were actual uniforms.

 

[megablue]

1) Watching the Cats lose to Texas Western on my 13" Admiral B&W TV in my bedroom on 03/19/66. I was 13 years old, having bought the TV with money saved from my Courier-Journal paper route. I kept turning it on and off, hoping we'd come back to win it. I cried myself to sleep that night.
2) Hearing the news that Wes Unseld was not coming to UK, but was going to stay home to play for Louisville. I was totally crushed.

Kentucky vs. Texas Western (March 19, 1966)

www.bigbluehistory.com

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Several good answers in this thread, but the complete shock of Luke Maye hitting the shot to put UNC back up after Monk tied it was a real kick in the nuts for me.

Yeah, after we were railroaded by dickface and his cronies the entire game.

 

[Littlecreek10]

View attachment 1371732

He‘s the guy on the chair. Along with the A-train and another name I have never forgotten, Pembroke Burrows.

Is he the guy that took the cheap charge on Issel?

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I feel like that game doesn't get talked about enough. I use it a lot to talk about Pitino's greatness in that era. Look at those lineups and tell me how we were even close in that game. Insane how he had his teams playing back then.

Also, that was the first time I cussed in front of my mom. Demanding the ref call a freaking charge that Delk drew at the end. Only, I didn't say freaking.

Yep! Jalen Rose plowed right over him! Was absolutely a charge! Remember my Dad and I being livid! Also, remember Pitino clapping, thinking, that a charge was gonna be called. Was a bunch of BS.

 

[mjj_2K]

Oh gotcha. Didn't realize it was a tournament game. Thought it being the "dream game" it was a neutral court OOC

November of the same year is when the regular season matchup started. Which UK has dominated, and did so right from the start, even though the Denny Crum decline didn't really begin until the 90's.

 

[BookofMormon]

- Strangely, 2001 Sweet 16 loss to USC hit me hard. That team struggled so much early and really became a very good team late in the year and I thought we were going to the Final Four.

- 2003 loss to Marquette destroyed me. I thought we had the title on lock until Bogans injury.

- 2004 loss to UAB. I’ll never forget the name Squeaky Johnson,

- 2005 killed me. I didn’t get over the Michigan State loss for a long time.

- 2010 West Virginia. Literally couldn’t believe we lost that game. Felt like a layup going into the game.

- 2011 UConn. We beat better teams in Ohio State and North Carolina to get there, only to get Kemba’d.

- 2014 UConn. Probably my personal saddest. That should have been our title after beating everyone we went through to get there. Then, it was deer in headlights.

- 2015 Wisconsin. Second saddest probably. I remember walking away from my family who were all huddled together watching the game and just staring at the wall for like an hour in disbelief. It was shock more than just pain though. Couldn’t see it coming.

- 2017 North Carolina. The Drew Franklin shot wasn’t fair. Not after what Isaac Humphries did to get us to that point.

- 2019 Auburn. We absolutely handled them in the regular season and it was a certainty that we were headed back to the Final Four…until it wasn’t.

- 2020 cancellation of the postseason. I was beyond sad.

- 2022 Saint Peter’s. The most shocking loss I’ve ever watched. And this was a sleeper national title pick Kentucky team with the nation’s best player and a borderline 1 seed level squad. An early SECT loss put us on the top 2 line and we lost to St. Freakin’ Peters.

2014 - got through a 1 seed (oddly Wichita St, who was 2 in the country going in), 4 seed defending champ and rival Louisville, and 2 seed Wisconsin team that beat the undefeated team the following year. It was an amazing run. 2.5 point favorites and and ran into a hot team with two guards who were on fire.

2011 - beat a 5, 1 and 2 before UConn, pretty much max seeds. Butler was gifted VCU in the semis.

UConn is an annoying program. Don't hate them, they're just annoying.

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

2014 - got through a 1 seed (oddly Wichita St, who was 2 in the country going in), 4 seed defending champ and rival Louisville, and 2 seed Wisconsin team that beat the undefeated team the following year. It was an amazing run. 2.5 point favorites and and ran into a hot team with two guards who were on fire.

2011 - beat a 5, 1 and 2 before UConn, pretty much max seeds. Butler was gifted VCU in the semis.

UConn is an annoying program. Don't hate them, they're just annoying.

What disappointed me the most after that great run in ‘14 was they lost to an “ok” UCONN that didn’t really play all that well. They scored 60. Our Cats scored freaking 54 points. Unbelievable. Missed 11 free throws.

 

[Hitman206]

Ricky Blanton of LSU making a back breaking layup off a backdoor cut to seal the game for LSU in the 1986 Elite Eight and running up the court afterwards making that gay motion with his hands.

 

[BookofMormon]

What disappointed me the most after that great run in ‘14 was they lost to an “ok” UCONN that didn’t really play all that well. They scored 60. Our Cats scored freaking 54 points. Unbelievable. Missed 11 free throws.

And they went 10-10. Really the difference in the game.

13/24. If you shoot even 70%, that's an extra 4 points. They shoot 80%, that's 2. There is your margin. They must have a voodoo doll in Storrs.

They would have won their 7th against Michigan if the refereeing was even moderately fair. Some of those calls on Demary were terrible, very one sided as a whole. 22 fouls to 13 and Michigan outscored them by 13 at the line. And Michigan was clearly the more talented team.

It's at a point where you need the refs to help you beat them in the F4.

 

[Wayne Dougan]

1993 against Michigan, only because I didn't watch the '92 loss to Duke.

I was a little kid in '93, and Mashburn was Superman to me. I still watch Mashburn's 5th foul on Juwan Howard with the hopes that he won't push him in the back.

92 was obviously bad, but I actually think this (93) the right answer. The 93 team was clearly gonna be Mashburn's last year. It felt like a team of destiny - especially the way we won the first four games of the tournament. We were absolutely murdering fools.

 

[KyKevin]

Has to be the Wisconsin game, I still get pissed off thinking about that one