Am I alone in feeling like

[DerekMcPwn]

Kentucky is always “up” in “up years” for college basketball and “down” in “down years?”

Two examples of the inverse that strike me are Louisville in 2013 and Villanova in 2016. Those were, in my opinion, good teams but not great teams that turned up-years for their programs into national championships during down years for the rest of the sport.

Conversely, every time we field a dominant roster, other teams are also in historic ascension, and we end up in a slugfest. It was that way in 2014-15, and it’s looking to head that direction again. Duke with the top three recruits, Kansas ridiculously loaded with experience and talent, Auburn, Tennessee, Gonzaga, and UNC all returning huge portions of their production (or all of it) and adding elite freshman talent?

I could also be suffering from recency and confirmation bias.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Not sure about that. 2014 was a down year, we seemed down, yet we came together at the end of the season and wound up in the championship game. Probably would have won it all with WCS.

 

[lkc1021]

Kentucky is always “up” in “up years” for college basketball and “down” in “down years?”

Two examples of the inverse that strike me are Louisville in 2013 and Villanova in 2016. Those were, in my opinion, good teams but not great teams that turned up-years for their programs into national championships during down years for the rest of the sport.

Conversely, every time we field a dominant roster, other teams are also in historic ascension, and we end up in a slugfest. It was that way in 2014-15, and it’s looking to head that direction again. Duke with the top three recruits, Kansas ridiculously loaded with experience and talent, Auburn, Tennessee, Gonzaga, and UNC all returning huge portions of their production (or all of it) and adding elite freshman talent?

I could also be suffering from recency and confirmation bias.

Your memory must be fading. I don't remember Louisville winning anything in 2013. I just checked the record books and couldn't find anything.

 

[BBUK_anon]

Kentucky is always “up” in “up years” for college basketball and “down” in “down years?”

Two examples of the inverse that strike me are Louisville in 2013 and Villanova in 2016. Those were, in my opinion, good teams but not great teams that turned up-years for their programs into national championships during down years for the rest of the sport.

Conversely, every time we field a dominant roster, other teams are also in historic ascension, and we end up in a slugfest. It was that way in 2014-15, and it’s looking to head that direction again. Duke with the top three recruits, Kansas ridiculously loaded with experience and talent, Auburn, Tennessee, Gonzaga, and UNC all returning huge portions of their production (or all of it) and adding elite freshman talent?

I could also be suffering from recency and confirmation bias.

U b obfuscating....

 

[Jayrodt]

It's almost like Kentucky is at the mercy of the overall quality of the recruiting class...

 

[Xception]

Last year was dreadful, unfortunately we were part of the problem. Just bad luck but that’s not always the case, the 1996 team won it in what I would consider a down year. It wasn’t that we were so good that it made everyone look worse either, Umass and Mississippi State went to the f4.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

2012 was a relatively down year, to be honest. UNC-CHeats was the second best team on paper, but that was a team that got blown out by Florida State. And it got crippled late by a PG injury. Duke was down. Louisville and Indiana were rising but not really elite teams yet. The Cats advanced to the FF by beating Baylor. Baylor. Kansas was a flawed team that the Cats had beaten in November when the freshmen were really green.

2011 was somewhat down. Ohio State was the #1 overall seed, but I'm not sure I'd call them a great team. UNC-CHeats was a year away. Butler and VCU made the Final Four.

2014 was definitely down. The Cats made the championship game beating no one great. Wichita State was very good. Loiusville was down from the year before. Duke and UNC-CHeats were down. Kansas lost to a 10-seeded Stanford after Embiid was hurt.

So one could just as easily argue Kentucky won a championship and made some Final Fours in down years.

 

[Nuke99m.]

U b obfuscating....

You do and you’ll clean it up.

 

[BBUK_anon]

You do and you’ll clean it up.

He do...

Doo?

 

[Kennycat11]

I’ve thought the same thing as OP. Seems like when we’re loaded, there’s 2-3 other teams that are loaded. When we are down, it seems like college basketball is down across the board.

 

[drew_ukfan_rivals]

It's almost like Kentucky is at the mercy of the overall quality of the recruiting class...

This exactly

 

[LadyCaytIL]

You feel basketball is down when UK is down just from your point of view since you're a UK fan. Taking my blue tinted glasses off and trying to look at it unbiased...... Last year was not a down year for college basketball........ Duke, KU, Arizona, Nova and MSU were all outstanding... UNC was ranked in the top 12 like all year....SEC was the best its been in forever....

 

[Wildcats1st]

Hahaha who was loaded in 2015?? I mean duke and wisky had decent teams but were no better than this years Villanova team imo. How about 2009? We were head and shoulders the best team and that duke team wouldn’t have beaten this past years Villanova. Even the 2012 team the only team that could have competed for a natty was UNC that year. This upcoming season SEEMS like 3 or 4 heavyweights but no one will know until it plays out.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

I think the predictions that THIS YEAR is a loaded year are premature, at best.

I believe in the Cats and Calipari.

Do I think Duke, having lost its entire starting five, and replaced it with three small forwards is a juggernaut? No. Weak at PG and in the middle, with a coach rapidly being exposed as not freshman-friendly.

Do I buy the 40-0 hype on Kansas? LOL. Lost everything that made it a special team last year. The Lawson brothers are a BOLO waiting to happen, as is Lagerald "@#MeToo" Vick (When are the self-respecting women of Kansas going to protest letting this multiple-time woman abuser return to school?) De Sousa's bag o' cash will have to be dealt with eventually. And name me the last freshman point guard Bill Self had humming by March? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Whose next after that? Nevada? Gonzaga? Tennessee? Decent teams of the type that are around every year. Not the definition of a "loaded year."

 

[thebluestripes]

Wished we had this years team last year. Still wouldn't have beaten villanova, but runner up would've been a real possibility.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Last year was dreadful, unfortunately we were part of the problem. Just bad luck but that’s not always the case, the 1996 team won it in what I would consider a down year. It wasn’t that we were so good that it made everyone look worse either, Umass and Mississippi State went to the f4.

I usually agree with your posts. I'll have to disagree on this one. There were several really good teams in 1996. Also, that UMass team was very, very good. They would have been really good no matter what year it was. JMO.

 

[Big_Blue79]

Hahaha who was loaded in 2015?? I mean duke and wisky had decent teams but were no better than this years Villanova team imo. How about 2009? We were head and shoulders the best team and that duke team wouldn’t have beaten this past years Villanova. Even the 2012 team the only team that could have competed for a natty was UNC that year. This upcoming season SEEMS like 3 or 4 heavyweights but no one will know until it plays out.

2015 Wisconsin had the best offense in KenPom's database. 2015 Duke and Arizona were also elite teams. 2010 and 2011 were down years overall; the 2010 UK team was worse than its record.

 

[kevcat]

Hahaha who was loaded in 2015?? I mean duke and wisky had decent teams but were no better than this years Villanova team imo. How about 2009? We were head and shoulders the best team and that duke team wouldn’t have beaten this past years Villanova. Even the 2012 team the only team that could have competed for a natty was UNC that year. This upcoming season SEEMS like 3 or 4 heavyweights but no one will know until it plays out.

You're out of your mind if you don't think Wisconsin, Duke, and Arizona weren't great teams in '2015. They were loaded.

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

I wouldn’t say 14-15 was a down year for college basketball. But we were so loaded that, on paper, UK made it look like a down year for everyone else, even after Poythress went down.

When Poythress went down it did change the rotations late in the season and it threw the team off a bit. That and 3 straight shot clock violations. But it is March and it is Mad and sometimes the ball doesn’t roll your way.

There were analysts theorizing how that roster would perform in the NBA. The theories weren’t too positive, but I’ve never seen the media even have that conversation about an active squad before.

 

[Kizzy]

Kentucky is always “up” in “up years” for college basketball and “down” in “down years?”

Two examples of the inverse that strike me are Louisville in 2013 and Villanova in 2016. Those were, in my opinion, good teams but not great teams that turned up-years for their programs into national championships during down years for the rest of the sport.

Conversely, every time we field a dominant roster, other teams are also in historic ascension, and we end up in a slugfest. It was that way in 2014-15, and it’s looking to head that direction again. Duke with the top three recruits, Kansas ridiculously loaded with experience and talent, Auburn, Tennessee, Gonzaga, and UNC all returning huge portions of their production (or all of it) and adding elite freshman talent?

I could also be suffering from recency and confirmation bias.

I can see it.

 

[kevcat]

I wouldn’t say 14-15 was a down year for college basketball. But we were so loaded that, on paper, UK made it look like a down year for everyone else, even after Poythress went down.

When Poythress went down it did change the rotations late in the season and it threw the team off a bit. That and 3 straight shot clock violations. But it is March and it is Mad and sometimes the ball doesn’t roll your way.

There were analysts theorizing how that roster would perform in the NBA. The theories weren’t too positive, but I’ve never seen the media even have that conversation about an active squad before.

We should have lost to Notre Dame in the Regional finals. Totally outplayed in that game.

 

[WildMoon]

This year is pretty trashy

2015 was absurdly good year actually.

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

We should have lost to Notre Dame in the Regional finals. Totally outplayed in that game.

You’re not wrong

 

[catfanblu]

Let's not worry about who we can beat and who can beat us until we see these teams on the court...chemistry can smoke talent.

 

[docholiday51]

It's almost like Kentucky is at the mercy of the overall quality of the recruiting class...

It isn't almost like it,it is exactly like it.If we don't have to start from scratch we are scary good (2012 National Champs and 38-1)the problem is we start from scratch more than a good southern cook:cookie::bread:

 

[Xception]

I usually agree with your posts. I'll have to disagree on this one. There were several really good teams in 1996. Also, that UMass team was very, very good. They would have been really good no matter what year it was. JMO.

I didn’t say there weren’t any good teams but a down year and when you have Mississippi State in the f4 it’s down. We played a 4 seed in the finals, who played a 5 seed MSU, Duke was way down, UNC was down. Why do you think it was strong?

It really doesn’t matter and you can evaluate however you like but I can’t be convinced that year wasn’t down in relation to seasons featuring more depth and strong blue bloods in the same era. Today’s game is much weaker due to early entry but 96 in relation to its peers was weak, 98 imo was strong and a much better over quality as compared to 96.


Kansas was good but lol it’s touching Kansas, auto flame out engaged

 

[bucsrule8872]

Here is some interesting information concerning this season.

There are only five active college coaches who have won a championship in the OAD era:

Self
Williams
K
Cal
Wright

All five coaches are expected to start a Freshman PG this season.

Only one coach has won the title in the OAD era with a Freshman PG, and that's Cal.

(Now I know K won with Jones in 2015, but he ran a two PG lineup with Senior Cook as the other guard, so that disqualifies him in my book).

So, I think that gives us a distinct advantage over our top competition.

Everyone is playing with a Freshman PG and nobody does that better than Cal.

UK under Cal is 22-5 with a Freshman PG in the NCAA tourney (if I did the math correctly). That includes five Elite Eight appearances, three Final Fours, two title games, and a title.

Those other coaches needed upperclassmen running the show to win it all.

Probably means nothing, but it seems like a good omen of sorts.

 

[caneintally]

2012 was a relatively down year, to be honest. UNC-CHeats was the second best team on paper, but that was a team that got blown out by Florida State. And it got crippled late by a PG injury. Duke was down. Louisville and Indiana were rising but not really elite teams yet. The Cats advanced to the FF by beating Baylor. Baylor. Kansas was a flawed team that the Cats had beaten in November when the freshmen were really green.

2011 was somewhat down. Ohio State was the #1 overall seed, but I'm not sure I'd call them a great team. UNC-CHeats was a year away. Butler and VCU made the Final Four.

2014 was definitely down. The Cats made the championship game beating no one great. Wichita State was very good. Loiusville was down from the year before. Duke and UNC-CHeats were down. Kansas lost to a 10-seeded Stanford after Embiid was hurt.

So one could just as easily argue Kentucky won a championship and made some Final Fours in down years.

Yeah 2012 was a very down season . One of the real lucky things for us that season. I contend that the 38-1 team was better then the 2012 team but simply they had to run into a wisconsin team who was way better then anyone they ever saw in 2012. Also in 2012 the only other team who had a chance to beat us was UNC and thier pg broke his arm during the tourney and that put them out of the running .

 

[bucsrule8872]

I disagree with 2012 being down. UNC was loaded. Ohio St. returned a lot of talent. KU had a veteran squad. IU had a good team, we just killed them in a revenge game. UofL was good that year.

I don't think it was as bad as some remember it, we just had a once in a lifetime talent (AD) leading an incredibly dominant team.

Just my opinion.

 

[morgousky]

Kentucky is always “up” in “up years” for college basketball and “down” in “down years?”

Two examples of the inverse that strike me are Louisville in 2013 and Villanova in 2016. Those were, in my opinion, good teams but not great teams that turned up-years for their programs into national championships during down years for the rest of the sport.

Conversely, every time we field a dominant roster, other teams are also in historic ascension, and we end up in a slugfest. It was that way in 2014-15, and it’s looking to head that direction again. Duke with the top three recruits, Kansas ridiculously loaded with experience and talent, Auburn, Tennessee, Gonzaga, and UNC all returning huge portions of their production (or all of it) and adding elite freshman talent?

I could also be suffering from recency and confirmation bias.

You have no idea how much I've bitched about this.

I think the reason is we rely on great recruiting classes. Other programs benefit from those classes like we do but they will have upperclassmen as well. We don't

Hope that helps.

 

[mjj_2K]

Hahaha who was loaded in 2015?? I mean duke and wisky had decent teams but were no better than this years Villanova team imo. How about 2009? We were head and shoulders the best team and that duke team wouldn’t have beaten this past years Villanova. Even the 2012 team the only team that could have competed for a natty was UNC that year. This upcoming season SEEMS like 3 or 4 heavyweights but no one will know until it plays out.

You couldn't be more wrong.

Adjusted efficiency margin is KenPom's overall team rating. Anything above 30 is pretty elite.

In 2018, 1 team was over 30.
2017- 1
2016- 1
2015- 6
2014- 2
2013- 2
2012- 2
2011- 1
2010- 2

2015 not only had UK (highest rated team of the decade), Wisconsin, and Duke, but Virginia and Arizona both had their strongest teams of the decade, and the Villanova team from that year was every bit as good in the regular season as their 2 teams that went on to win the title.

 

[morgousky]

2012 was a relatively down year, to be honest. UNC-CHeats was the second best team on paper, but that was a team that got blown out by Florida State. And it got crippled late by a PG injury. Duke was down. Louisville and Indiana were rising but not really elite teams yet. The Cats advanced to the FF by beating Baylor. Baylor. Kansas was a flawed team that the Cats had beaten in November when the freshmen were really green.

2011 was somewhat down. Ohio State was the #1 overall seed, but I'm not sure I'd call them a great team. UNC-CHeats was a year away. Butler and VCU made the Final Four.

2014 was definitely down. The Cats made the championship game beating no one great. Wichita State was very good. Loiusville was down from the year before. Duke and UNC-CHeats were down. Kansas lost to a 10-seeded Stanford after Embiid was hurt.

So one could just as easily argue Kentucky won a championship and made some Final Fours in down years.

2012 was a tough road. That Baylor team was super athletic and dangerous. Indiana in the sweet 16?

One of the more difficult paths we've faced.

 

[kevcat]

 

[Bluegrassking]

Last year was dreadful, unfortunately we were part of the problem. Just bad luck but that’s not always the case, the 1996 team won it in what I would consider a down year. It wasn’t that we were so good that it made everyone look worse either, Umass and Mississippi State went to the f4.

Those were great teams, UMASS one of the better teams of the past 25 years or so period.

It isn't about the brand but the actual quality of the teams and I'd argue it was very high.

 

[Xception]

Those were great teams, UMASS one of the better teams of the past 25 years or so period.

It isn't about the brand but the actual quality of the teams and I'd argue it was very high.

I disagree about umass being that good unless you are counting the paltry seasons when one and done was established. I’m comparing umass to their peers when good players might stay to be juniors and seniors as UK was. Umass played a poor schedule but they were still a good team, I’m not arguing that umass was bad. Put Umass in 98 and they are just another top team among amongst a bunch instead of two good teams running away from everybody in 96. In 98 Arizona, UNC, UK, Utah, Stanford, Kansas and Duke were all strong. That’s what a strong year looks like, 96 had nothing like that or even close.

 

[Mike-D]

Hahaha who was loaded in 2015?? I mean duke and wisky had decent teams but were no better than this years Villanova team imo. How about 2009? We were head and shoulders the best team and that duke team wouldn’t have beaten this past years Villanova. Even the 2012 team the only team that could have competed for a natty was UNC that year. This upcoming season SEEMS like 3 or 4 heavyweights but no one will know until it plays out.

What a stupid take. 2015 Duke, Kentucky, Wisconsin I would take against the field every single year.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

You're out of your mind if you don't think Wisconsin, Duke, and Arizona weren't great teams in '2015. They were loaded.

Exactly. I'll add that two of the three were on UK's side of the bracket. Still makes me sick.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

In 1996, AI was at Georgetown, Ray Allen was at UConn, Camby was at UMass, Pierce was at KU, Fortson was at UC, Duncan was at Wake, etc. there are several other examples of how strong the field was in 1996 but I'll have to do some research. A down year, it was not.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Exactly. I'll add that two of the three were on UK's side of the bracket. Still makes me sick.

And based on seeding that was correct. Because of stupid geography.

 

[BlueBomb]

You couldn't be more wrong.

Adjusted efficiency margin is KenPom's overall team rating. Anything above 30 is pretty elite.

In 2018, 1 team was over 30.
2017- 1
2016- 1
2015- 6
2014- 2
2013- 2
2012- 2
2011- 1
2010- 2

2015 not only had UK (highest rated team of the decade), Wisconsin, and Duke, but Virginia and Arizona both had their strongest teams of the decade, and the Villanova team from that year was every bit as good in the regular season as their 2 teams that went on to win the title.

Mic drop