2015 Wisconsin

[CBK2018]

is why we are all still so sensitive after a tournament loss. If we finish that season off like many expected, it would make things a lot easier to stomach now.

Fans, including myself are still anxious and pessimistic that we will win another title.

I don’t think our fan base will put that loss and sting behind us until we can see Cal exorcise the demons to win another.

It’s kind of like dating a smoking hot women, and she becomes the one who got away. You don’t ever truly get over it until you find another better to replace her.

It’s hard and it stings, still to this day on each tourney loss...

 

[JerseyCat84_rivals57050]

if anything it made me numb to these kind of losses.

 

[bookerfan66]

We haven't even made the final four since.I thought this team would make it.

 

[kydmb99_rivals103809]

That loss was a turning point in the Cal era. Haven’t been the same since.

 

[Seckatz]

That loss was a turning point in the Cal era. Haven’t been the same since.

That is the truth. Cal ears has been on a downward swing the last 4 years.

 

[CBK2018]

100% agree!

 

[Crawfords Corner]

It sucks we lost today, but Im not mad about it. Auburn was supposed to fight with UK for the SEC this year. For whatever reasons they struggled. The beauty of the NCAAT is everyone starts over at 0-0. You need great guard play and Auburn has that. Last year's loss is the one that still stings. Golden opportunity to win it all.

 

[K_TIME]

That loss was a turning point in the Cal era. Haven’t been the same since.

True point. It does not feel like the trajectory of the program has been the same

 

[arenk]

It sucks we lost today, but Im not mad about it. Auburn was supposed to fight with UK for the SEC this year. For whatever reasons they struggled. The beauty of the NCAAT is everyone starts over at 0-0. You need great guard play and Auburn has that. Last year's loss is the one that still stings. Golden opportunity to win it all.

And you think last year's team would have beaten Nova? Guess again.

 

[keefsopeng]

is why we are all still so sensitive after a tournament loss. If we finish that season off like many expected, it would make things a lot easier to stomach now.

Fans, including myself are still anxious and pessimistic that we will win another title.

I don’t think our fan base will put that loss and sting behind us until we can see Cal exorcise the demons to win another.

It’s kind of like dating a smoking hot women, and she becomes the one who got away. You don’t ever truly get over it until you find another better to replace her.

It’s hard and it stings, still to this day on each tourney loss...

you're right. You couldn't get me to say a single negative word about Cal until 2015. A lot of things went wrong that night. But Cal yelling at the twins for the last 5+ minutes to pass the ball to Karl and when they just repeatedly blew him off including a timeout where he got in Andrew's face big time and he didn't bench them and their gaffes cost us the game I lost a lot of respect for Cal the coach that night. A lot of guys on that years team weren't exactly fond of the special treatment the twins received either.

 

[jnewc2_rivals30628]

is why we are all still so sensitive after a tournament loss. If we finish that season off like many expected, it would make things a lot easier to stomach now.

Fans, including myself are still anxious and pessimistic that we will win another title.

I don’t think our fan base will put that loss and sting behind us until we can see Cal exorcise the demons to win another.

It’s kind of like dating a smoking hot women, and she becomes the one who got away. You don’t ever truly get over it until you find another better to replace her.

It’s hard and it stings, still to this day on each tourney loss...

I mean, what you’re saying is true. But Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and a lot of people on this board keep saying, “well we’ve had 7 elite 8 finishes in 10 years” and we’re being selfish or what not. And hey don’t forget, it’s better than the Billy G years. I just can’t understand the mindset of Alabama football fans or Kentucky football fans being okay with finishing in the elite 8 when you consider all of the resources put and tradition behind the program. I mean Alabama fans aren’t ok with it, but a lot of our fans seem to be. They actually kind of laugh at us on the Finebaum show for being so accepting of less than championship standards in this narrow window of elite players we’ve had.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

And you think last year's team would have beaten Nova? Guess again.

In the FF anything can happen. As unlikely as it might have been. I don't know if UK could have beaten them last year, but neither do you.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

The 2015 loss is one I can't get over. Just no excuse for losing that game. Way too much talent and depth on that team. It's the one time I have really been disappointed in Cal. He let one slip away that has lingered now for 4 years.
I will say this and I love Cal being at UK and want nobody else, but if he fails to get another one while at UK, I will view his time at UK as a disappointment.

 

[SkyPrince1]

Everybody wants to talk about Wisconsin but Notre Dame outplayed UK and should have won.
Another hero shot from Aaron and a foul call that was 50/50 late helped us escape.
We really labored with a very mediocre Cincy team in the second.

 

[nookam]

I love Coach Calipari at Kentucky. He and his family have been positive influences.
I’m not a coach, my observation in 2015 we were so deep and could run all game long. Wisconsin players were leaning forward and holding their knees at the foul line. The grind it out style allowed them to catch a 2nd wind. I felt had we ran the piss out of it, we win.
Wisconsin players afterwards said they were fatigued and it helped. Probably had nothing left for Duke to back into a championship. Our region was murderous for the overall 1 as well.

 

[nookam]

Everybody wants to talk about Wisconsin but Notre Dame outplayed UK and should have won.
Another hero shot from Aaron and a foul call that was 50/50 late helped us escape.
We really labored with a very mediocre Cincy team in the second.

That Notre Dame team won 32 or so games. Had pounded Duke a few times. Out 3 seed? . Kansas was our 2.
We should have won on 2015. Lost to another 1 seed. Our region was ridiculous.

 

[keefsopeng]

Everybody wants to talk about Wisconsin but Notre Dame outplayed UK and should have won.
Another hero shot from Aaron and a foul call that was 50/50 late helped us escape.
We really labored with a very mediocre Cincy team in the second.

We handled Cincy without issue, we were up 7 at the half up 10 most of the second half including being up 18 with a minute to go. We shut it down and Cincy scored 5 meaningless points to lose by 13 instead of 18. Notre Dame kicked our *** all night and while Aaron hit 1 3 at the end we rode Karl and his 25 points including all the way down the stretch whenever we needed a bucket Karl touched the ball. That's why freezing him out at the end of Wisconsin is so unforgivable.

 

[KatforLife56]

I mean, what you’re saying is true. But Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and a lot of people on this board keep saying, “well we’ve had 7 elite 8 finishes in 10 years” and we’re being selfish or what not. And hey don’t forget, it’s better than the Billy G years. I just can’t understand the mindset of Alabama football fans or Kentucky football fans being okay with finishing in the elite 8 when you consider all of the resources put and tradition behind the program. I mean Alabama fans aren’t ok with it, but a lot of our fans seem to be. They actually kind of laugh at us on thes are Finebaum show for being so accepting of less than championship standards in this narrow window of elite players we’ve had.

You are one hundred percent correct. How or why so many sunshine pumpers on this board are ok with settling for sweet 16's and elite eights is pathetic. However, they are the same ones who will blast Indiana for celebrating a sweet 16 appearance. Cal makes 10 million a year and can not even get us to a final four anymore.

 

[Wildcats1st]

is why we are all still so sensitive after a tournament loss. If we finish that season off like many expected, it would make things a lot easier to stomach now.

Fans, including myself are still anxious and pessimistic that we will win another title.

I don’t think our fan base will put that loss and sting behind us until we can see Cal exorcise the demons to win another.

It’s kind of like dating a smoking hot women, and she becomes the one who got away. You don’t ever truly get over it until you find another better to replace her.

It’s hard and it stings, still to this day on each tourney loss...

I agree after that 2015 loss uk basketball became unfun for me especially at tourney time. Before that I was having a blast with cal as our coach. I could give a crap less about being undefeated. We had a team that should have won the tournament hands down screw luck. We may need to start fresh unless cal is ready to revamp everything:

 

[Wildcats1st]

It sucks we lost today, but Im not mad about it. Auburn was supposed to fight with UK for the SEC this year. For whatever reasons they struggled. The beauty of the NCAAT is everyone starts over at 0-0. You need great guard play and Auburn has that. Last year's loss is the one that still stings. Golden opportunity to win it all.

Good grief they were without their best player. We held them defensively. Make no mistake auburn didn’t win this game we gave it to them by turning the ball over and missing free throws. elite8 is ceiling for cal from here on out.

 

[NoDef]

The bad thing is that our run of playing in chalk brackets has ended the last few years. The bracket fell apart in the sweet 16 this year and opened up with an injured Auburn team who didn't play that great yesterday. Just threw in two bad games at the wrong time.

 

[IYAOYAS1]

I probably fall into this category more than anything. I took my family to Indy to watch the 38-0 team, and spent more money than I care to admit. It was my third and last post season game I’ve ever attended. The others being the loss to WVA up in Syracuse and the game against UCONN in Philly while Tubby was coaching. I prefer to watch at home now and $ave my $$$$

Anyway, I’m not devastated after losing now like I used to be. Not sure if it’s because I’m getting older or if I’m becoming more immune to being disappointment in the post season. I saw the marketing and greed side of this while in Indy and it’s been a huge turnoff for me.

Regardless, we need upperclassmen like Darius Miller to stabilize the team, because without him we don’t win the NC IMO

Cal needs to change up a few things in regards to loyalty of his staff and try keeping players at least two years.

 

[Blue Wildcat]

We get elite athletes but don’t turn them loose and let them run. Told my wife halfway through the game that the pace of the game was going to bite us. Turn them loose, swap 2/3 at a time and out athlete the competition. Might as well be playing 4 corners sometimes, beats the weave, weave, weave and drive offense we often play.

 

[MadaboutBlue]

For us to come away empty with that kind of talent and getting off to that kind of start, was numbing, and while I don't think it effects my mindset personally about yesterdays game, it did make me much more cautious about how much I invest in the current system. I'm afraid it will stamp the entire Cal era, unless something spectacular happens pretty soon.

Had things turned out a little different that night, the fan base would probably be more forgiving about no final fours or championships in the following years. As it is, our last really great year turned out very sour for most of us, and there hasn't been much upside after that.

 

[KyFaninNC]

2015 changed a lot of things. Lots of fans, like me, have apathy and refuse to get our expectations too high because, in our hearts we know that we are going to literally give a game away in the tourney. So far, that is exactly what has happened since 2015. Fact is, no one is going to win that title with mostly freshmen. So, unless Cal changes his tune and gets guys to stay more than 2 years, this is our ceiling. Yes, he will win a lot of games, and flame out early.

Cal needs to become UK first, not player first, untill he does that, his one title is all he will have. I think Cal is the perfect fit for UK, but he needs to change a few things because eventually the fan base, which is a huge base, will turn on him, and I don't want to see that happen.

 

[MO_Blue]

And you think last year's team would have beaten Nova? Guess again.

you're right. You couldn't get me to say a single negative word about Cal until 2015. A lot of things went wrong that night. But Cal yelling at the twins for the last 5+ minutes to pass the ball to Karl and when they just repeatedly blew him off including a timeout where he got in Andrew's face big time and he didn't bench them and their gaffes cost us the game I lost a lot of respect for Cal the coach that night. A lot of guys on that years team weren't exactly fond of the special treatment the twins received either.

I have not thought about "the Twins" in a while.
"On February 27, 2019, Andrew Harrison signed with Russian club Khimki for the rest of the 2018–19 season."
"On September 5, 2018, Aaron Harrison signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroCup."

Is this the pinnacle of their careers, or are they just gearing up for a major run at the NBA?

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

I love Coach Calipari at Kentucky. He and his family have been positive influences.
I’m not a coach, my observation in 2015 we were so deep and could run all game long. Wisconsin players were leaning forward and holding their knees at the foul line. The grind it out style allowed them to catch a 2nd wind. I felt had we ran the piss out of it, we win.
Wisconsin players afterwards said they were fatigued and it helped. Probably had nothing left for Duke to back into a championship. Our region was murderous for the overall 1 as well.

ND was really good that year. Beat UNC and dook in the ACCT to win it. They were no slouch.

 

[Cats192]

I think that up until that point--I believed in this sort of Kentucky Manifest Destiny.

We had the best team in 2010. We went to the Final 4 despite not having the best team in 2011. We won it 2012. Injuries ruined a 2013 team--and even though we weren't that good--Cal gets 'em going in March. 2014--Final 4. 2015--we had the best team. We had the deepest team. We were winning it all.

Then it happened. Even having the best team, you can lose. You can't always control college basketball. You do the best you can, and you hope the ball bounces your way.

 

[FrankUnderwood]

You are one hundred percent correct. How or why so many sunshine pumpers on this board are ok with settling for sweet 16's and elite eights is pathetic. However, they are the same ones who will blast Indiana for celebrating a sweet 16 appearance. Cal makes 10 million a year and can not even get us to a final four anymore.

[laughing]

 

[MegaBlue05]

That game was the worst thing to happen to this fanbase.

It made people expect to go 38-0 every year. It also has become this black cloud a lot of fans can’t shake like 66 title game or 84 Georgetown.

 

[nookam]

ND was really good that year. Beat UNC and dook in the ACCT to win it. They were no slouch.

Notre Dame was very good that year. Won over 30 games, the ACC tournament and had beaten Duke a few times. The committee did Duke a favor making sure ND would have a tough route and only possibly face Duke in the final. As overall 1 we certainly had a tough path. I felt much tougher than Dukes.

 

[KyFaninNC]

That game was the worst thing to happen to this fanbase.

It made people expect to go 38-0 every year. It also has become this black cloud a lot of fans can’t shake like 66 title game or 84 Georgetown.

It wasn’t so much that we lost, it was how we lost. A coach that refused to change our defense and slowed the game down up 4 with 4 to go and had 3 shot clock violations, and would not call a TO or make substitutions. That game was pissed away.

 

[Wildcatfan66]

For me, there are a couple of moments where my love and passion of sports was drastically impacted.

Baseball - during one of strikes 20 years ago
NFL - not standing for Anthem
UK basketball - 2015 loss in Final Four

 

[KyFaninNC]

I stopped watching MLB after that strike, and stopped watching Pro football after it went political. I didn’t come back to baseball nor will I return to football.

 

[keefsopeng]

I have not thought about "the Twins" in a while.
"On February 27, 2019, Andrew Harrison signed with Russian club Khimki for the rest of the 2018–19 season."
"On September 5, 2018, Aaron Harrison signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroCup."

Is this the pinnacle of their careers, or are they just gearing up for a major run at the NBA?

Andrew played a lot of wing and off the ball in his cup of coffee in the league. He was never a real strong PG at the NBA level. The twins were 6'4-6'5 in from the time they were sophomores in high school and they played bully ball all the way up the rankings. After scouts watched the first month of the season at UK against other big skilled humans neither of them were close to being on draft boards. But hey Andrew wanted to be a 2nd rounder and Aaron was ready to go be undrafted and they're making more money than 99% of the population ever will playing basketball in the old USSR. So that's great for them. They helped UK make it to the last 2 final fours we were in they also lost the Wisconsin game for us. Take the good with the bad I suppose

 

[Elliott Tim]

is why we are all still so sensitive after a tournament loss. If we finish that season off like many expected, it would make things a lot easier to stomach now.

Fans, including myself are still anxious and pessimistic that we will win another title.

I don’t think our fan base will put that loss and sting behind us until we can see Cal exorcise the demons to win another.

It’s kind of like dating a smoking hot women, and she becomes the one who got away. You don’t ever truly get over it until you find another better to replace her.

It’s hard and it stings, still to this day on each tourney loss...

I knew cats have nine lives. Horses do too?

 

[bnewt]

you're right. You couldn't get me to say a single negative word about Cal until 2015. A lot of things went wrong that night. But Cal yelling at the twins for the last 5+ minutes to pass the ball to Karl and when they just repeatedly blew him off including a timeout where he got in Andrew's face big time and he didn't bench them and their gaffes cost us the game I lost a lot of respect for Cal the coach that night. A lot of guys on that years team weren't exactly fond of the special treatment the twins received either.

thank you..........that is the way I remember it too.............the twins were always trying to be the hero. No way they should have dominated the ball those last few possessions, unless UK was ahead & knew Wi was going to foul. They wasted the entire shot clock & then threw up an air ball or got no shot at all......all the while Wi had no one to stop Towns. After the 1st time they did that, Cal should have called time out & told them if they did it again, they would be watching the final minutes, but he didn't. IMO, the twins pouted most every game of their UK career, unless they happened to have a good game. They also cost UK Wiggins with their attitude.

Yet some will talk about the great careers the twins had..........if they did, I sure missed it

 

[JesusCal91]

It sucks we lost today, but Im not mad about it. Auburn was supposed to fight with UK for the SEC this year. For whatever reasons they struggled. The beauty of the NCAAT is everyone starts over at 0-0. You need great guard play and Auburn has that. Last year's loss is the one that still stings. Golden opportunity to win it all.

Last years team stunk

 

[bnewt]

It wasn’t so much that we lost, it was how we lost. A coach that refused to change our defense and slowed the game down up 4 with 4 to go and had 3 shot clock violations, and would not call a TO or make substitutions. That game was pissed away.

and that is just one of the examples of why Cal is given the tag of not being to make in game adjustments.........I think UK still has a couple of time outs from that game to use...........

 

[Crawfords Corner]

Last years team stunk

Insightful.