40-0 and all that jazz..

[SituationBlue]

One thing that this season has given me to calm my nerves is that I won't take regular season losses all that hard anymore. It's really just unrealistic to think that a team can keep up that level of intensity every game to pull off an undefeated season. Now, this isn't a post to say that this team needed a loss heading into the tournament, I in no way thought that was necessary. Kentucky just ran into a tough team and had a tough game. It happens in the Final 4. But that being said, it IS all about the tournament and dropping a game will not be the end of the world pre-tourney. Hopefully next year we can temper expectations and enjoy the season for what it is and gear up for a title run come March.

 

[Davetucky]

I agree. I wouldn't say I think a loss would have helped the team. That being said, it seemed to me that along with the sadness of losing, the players were genuinely shocked. Hopefully with time we will appreciate this season more and more. As for "temper expectations", it would be nice but highly improbable with the BBN

 

[JasonS.]

Originally posted by SituationBlue:
Hopefully next year we can temper expectations and enjoy the season for what it is and gear up for a title run come March.

This lesson will be entirely forgotten in approximately 6 months.

 

[harlanhomeboy_rivals210142]

I don't know necessarily if a loss would have helped the team. But I know a loss would have made the pain of losing in the tourney less........

 

[TigerMoving]

I think a loss definitely helps a team get better. Helps with the competitive drive too, even if just a small amount.

 

[minjo]

When a poor man is about to die it is much easier for him to let it go, where for a wealthy man is much harder to die.

 

[mkasten25]

Originally posted by SituationBlue:
One thing that this season has given me to calm my nerves is that I won't take regular season losses all that hard anymore. It's really just unrealistic to think that a team can keep up that level of intensity every game to pull off an undefeated season. Now, this isn't a post to say that this team needed a loss heading into the tournament, I in no way thought that was necessary. Kentucky just ran into a tough team and had a tough game. It happens in the Final 4. But that being said, it IS all about the tournament and dropping a game will not be the end of the world pre-tourney. Hopefully next year we can temper expectations and enjoy the season for what it is and gear up for a title run come March.

Except to Louisville, UNC, Kansas, Duke, IU, Ohio State, Florida, LSU, Arkansas.

Big games/rivalry games (especially UL) would get to me. But yes. 40-0 should never be mentioned again.

 

[UKfan2151]

This team needed a loss around the beginning of SEC play. I think the fact that they managed to survive a number of very close games that could have easily went the other way made them complacent. They started to think they could turn it on when needed and pull out the win. That worked against mediocre SEC teams. But it didn't work against a quality team like Wisconsin.

 

[jte123]

I always feel a loss late in the season or SEC Tourney is the best thing. It just takes some pressure off a team and most importantly refocuses them. I mean there is a reason no one has done it since the 70's.

 

[Vossler22]

nothing was greater than being undefeated but then again nothing was more stressful.

 

[GridCats]

Jimmy Dan Conner was quoted as saying he never got over the jitters the entire game in the loss to UCLA in 75. No matter what we saw or read about this team there was a great amount of stress dealing with the streak and everyone saying they would win. These are kids just a year or two out of HS, how many seniors can handle this, I think the number is very few.