This team IMO better poised to win it all

[Wildcats1st]

than last year.
1. The field is wide open.
2. From 1-7 no holes. Not going to get too deep into last seasons problems but our front court is solid. Our guard play lacks the superstars but we have great guards for college play.
3. Upside. These guys keep getting better each game. Even though we weren’t great tonight it was just 3 weeks or so ago we struggled to beat vandy. We haven’t yet peaked
4. Due to this teams unwillingness to buy in early it’s like it woke cal up and he’s coaching like I haven’t seen at U.K. like he said they have to do it like when he was at UMASS and that John Calipari is why he’s in the hall of fame.

I’m not gonna make any predictions but with cal going Carl Jung on these guys we have a helluva a chance to win it all.

 

[bigblue_07_rivals]

I said this early in the year before the season started. This team ever got together and started firing they would go to final four

 

[Xception]

 

[new era cat]

Good God...

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

Let's see 2 more impressive wins in a row before pronouncing them as world beaters.

Then we'll know they can play well for 6 straight games.

In what year ever would the Cats not be expected to beat Bama, Mizzou, and Ole Miss at home. Win at Arkansas though was quite impressive.

 

[CatColumbia]

The only thing that kept us from winning it last year was UNC and Higgins. I knew that the winner of that game was going to take it home. Didn't like the fact that both were put in the same bracket. You might have a case depending on the seeding and where they put us. Come back to us in two weeks.

 

[STL_Cat]

Come on man. I’m happy with how we’re playing right now but last year we had one of the best backcourt we’ve seen at Kentucky, along with Bam who rounded into a beast by March. That team was primed for a championship run. Got a tough break in the UNC game in a few ways. I’m as happy as can be with where this team is today and I agree the field is wide open. Just pump the brakes a mite.

 

[Cardsstink]

Good God...

 

[meteordealer]

We just beat the worst team in our conference and now everyone is annointing us national champions.

2 weeks ago we were an NIT team.

 

[BassProCat]

We are def playing our best ball of the year hands down. Can we play better? Yes. But def like how we are playing coming into tourney time. Basically it comes down to what kind of tourney draw we get. Once we see our matchups then we can start making tourney run predictions.

 

[kyjeff1]

This thread happened about a week later than I thought it would.

Look, I can't blame the OP for feeling the way he does, but this team was hot garbage just 2 weeks ago and now we're talking about a final four run.

Cal has done a heck of a job and this team looks really good right now, but just remember, these are freshmen and that tournament has a habit of making good veterans pee down their leg.

If this team makes it to the sweet 16, Cal has done an A+ job.

If they make it to the elite 8, it's his best coaching job ever.

Anything after that is just crazy. These guys are definitely capable of getting to a FF and doing damage if they get there, but don't be that spoiled fan that thinks we deserve to be there just because we're UK.

No, no, getting to a FF is incredibly hard for veteran teams. This team is the youngest ever recorded and it's not as talented as most of Cal's previous UK teams. The deck is stacked against us here.

However, I might start to get a little giddy if UK wins out through the SECT. If that happens, I might have to go rent Kermit the frog and his lube.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

than last year.
1. The field is wide open.
2. From 1-7 no holes. Not going to get too deep into last seasons problems but our front court is solid. Our guard play lacks the superstars but we have great guards for college play.
3. Upside. These guys keep getting better each game. Even though we weren’t great tonight it was just 3 weeks or so ago we struggled to beat vandy. We haven’t yet peaked
4. Due to this teams unwillingness to buy in early it’s like it woke cal up and he’s coaching like I haven’t seen at U.K. like he said they have to do it like when he was at UMASS and that John Calipari is why he’s in the hall of fame.

I’m not gonna make any predictions but with cal going Carl Jung on these guys we have a helluva a chance to win it all.

I call BS. Last year's team had veteran players on it and Kentucky was playing the best basketball of anyone in the country heading into the NCAA tournament. It took horrendous officiating and a miracle shot from Luke Mayes to stop that team from winning the national championship.

 

[Bluegrassking]

I wish Baker could give us some clock. Having another pure shooting guard would really help.

If Diallo can give quality minutes in relief of 1-3 then I think we can really make some noise though.

 

[CalipariCapo]

We just beat the worst team in our conference and now everyone is annointing us national champions.

2 weeks ago we were an NIT team.

In fairness to the OP he did not annoint us as national champs. He said we have a more complete team 1-7 than the teams we've had in the last few years which I agree with. What hurt us last year was the lack of an efficient wing scorer and defender (Charles Matthews would've helped TREMENDOUSLY in this aspect). We put a 6'3" Briscoe on every other teams 6'7" small forward. We have the personnel to not get beat like that this year. We can score and defend from all 5 spots and we do not lose much at all if we have to go to our bench (we actually gain some positives going to the bench this year). What could come back to bite us this year though is the lack of a true post presence that we can throw the ball to down low and get an easy guaranteed bucket (PJ Washington and Richards are way too loose with the ball). BAM was supposed to be that guy last year but he had a very subpar game in the elite 8 against UNC.

 

[catfanlou]

In fairness to the OP he did not annoint us as national champs. He said we have a more complete team 1-7 than the teams we've had in the last few years which I agree with. What hurt us last year was the lack of an efficient wing scorer and defender (Charles Matthews would've helped TREMENDOUSLY in this aspect). We put a 6'3" Briscoe on every other teams 6'7" small forward. We have the personnel to not get beat like that this year. We can score and defend from all 5 spots and we do not lose much at all if we have to go to our bench (we actually gain some positives going to the bench this year). What could come back to bite us this year though is the lack of a true post presence that we can throw the ball to down low and get an easy guaranteed bucket (PJ Washington and Richards are way too loose with the ball). BAM was supposed to be that guy last year but he had a very subpar game in the elite 8 against UNC.

Anybody remember the “fiddling five . “ Stranger things have happened

 

[kafka0117]

Waiting to see how we fare at Florida. If we're in the game under 5 minutes, then we're pretty good. If we go down there and win convincingly, then we're really good. Right now, I'm not sure we can play well several games in a row. Last night, it was anybody's game midway thru second half.

 

[etowncatfan]

There is no team that will be in the Tournament that on a given night this team could not beat. Now with that being said, this team could lose their first game in the Tournament as well. That is how close our margin of error is. Most having never played in an NCAA game scares he you know what out of me. Yet they may be so young that they don't feel the pressure. Going to be interesting how they respond!!

 

[CalipariCapo]

Waiting to see how we fare at Florida. If we're in the game under 5 minutes, then we're pretty good. If we go down there and win convincingly, then we're really good. Right now, I'm not sure we can play well several games in a row. Last night, it was anybody's game midway thru second half.

We didn't bring that passion and intensity that we've played with the last three games but it's a little harder to get up for a 12-17 Ole miss team at home than playing for a National Title in the NCAA tournament.

 

[CatsPaws270]

It almost seems like losing Zion and then the losing streak lit a fire under Calipari.

But then again we have seen this before

2011-We just could not get it done on the road and we questioned the 1-and-done. We got hot late, won the SECT, and lost in the de-facto national title.

2014-Cal made his bed, according to Forde. Tweaked in the SECT, and then faced one the toughest draws ever as a 8 seed and went to the title game.

2016-This team was not very good overall to be honest. Cal inserted Willis in conference play and it seemed to click. Willis goes down and hurts our momentum, but Cal found a way to make Skal useful. Won the SEC-T, but lost to Indiana because of a BS 5-seed. Still made progress late even though they had no front-court at all.

2017-Remember that loss at Florida and UT? Remember how we gave up? Then they started winning late. Won the SECT and lost on a last second shot to the national champs.

It follows a script. Freshman come out hot with hype. Then the physical grind of their first SEC schedule makes them struggle a bit, and then they finally get their mojo around the first week of March. Does it not seem like Cal's teams peak at the right time?

 

[Elliott Tim]

We just beat the worst team in our conference and now everyone is annointing us national champions.

2 weeks ago we were an NIT team.

The days of our lives of RR.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Let's see 2 more impressive wins in a row before pronouncing them as world beaters.

Then we'll know they can play well for 6 straight games.

In what year ever would the Cats not be expected to beat Bama, Mizzou, and Ole Miss at home. Win at Arkansas though was quite impressive.

It’s a comparison to last years team. He didn’t say world beaters or that we would win it all. Not to mention every team has multiple crappy losses.

 

[BBallin23]

If UK plays like they have these last four days, they’re winning it all. Don’t tell me to pump the breaks either. Everyone knows UK is the most talented team in the nation with more potential and upside than any team. Cal also agrees that we have the most upside. Anything less than a final four is a disappointment.

 

[BBUK_anon]

than last year.
1. The field is wide open.
2. From 1-7 no holes. Not going to get too deep into last seasons problems but our front court is solid. Our guard play lacks the superstars but we have great guards for college play.
3. Upside. These guys keep getting better each game. Even though we weren’t great tonight it was just 3 weeks or so ago we struggled to beat vandy. We haven’t yet peaked
4. Due to this teams unwillingness to buy in early it’s like it woke cal up and he’s coaching like I haven’t seen at U.K. like he said they have to do it like when he was at UMASS and that John Calipari is why he’s in the hall of fame.

I’m not gonna make any predictions but with cal going Carl Jung on these guys we have a helluva a chance to win it all.

I like you reasoning...

 

[BBUK_anon]

We just beat the worst team in our conference and now everyone is annointing us national champions.

2 weeks ago we were an NIT team.

Never read about any anointing.

 

[fisherscat]

Nah...no Fox/Monk type of talent that can take over. And no big man similar to last year that can be counted on. But enough pieces that with the right draw we could maybe make some noise.

 

[Rmhall]

There is no team that will be in the Tournament that on a given night this team could not beat. Now with that being said, this team could lose their first game in the Tournament as well. That is how close our margin of error is. Most having never played in an NCAA game scares he you know what out of me. Yet they may be so young that they don't feel the pressure. Going to be interesting how they respond!!

I tend to think the same. They nay just be too young to be as nervous about the tournament as others.
Not saying they wont be nervous at all, just maybe not as much as some of the others.
This team seems to handle road games pretty well for a young team.

 

[BBUK_anon]

There is no team that will be in the Tournament that on a given night this team could not beat. Now with that being said, this team could lose their first game in the Tournament as well. That is how close our margin of error is. Most having never played in an NCAA game scares he you know what out of me. Yet they may be so young that they don't feel the pressure. Going to be interesting how they respond!!

I think the "margin of error" just expanded exponentially. It would take a horrific game for the Cats to lose early. It can always happen. Look at the Wall/Cuz WV game. (No way that should have been the outcome.)

The real "feel" is my margin of anxiety. At least my anxiety has subsided quite a bit. I'll TAKE IT for now and enjoy it!!!

Go CATS! Give them all you have and leave it on the floor. If they do that, I will be as satisfied as I can be with a loss. (If the other team earns it, what can you do except tip your hat.) Be Good

 

[CalipariCapo]

Nah...no Fox/Monk type of talent that can take over. And no big man similar to last year that can be counted on. But enough pieces that with the right draw we could maybe make some noise.

While I agree that there are no superstar talents like Fox or Monk on this years team, the only champion in the last 10 years that had a sure fire NBA superstar was 2012 Kentucky (Anthony Davis). All the other teams had GREAT college players that ended up having serviceable NBA careers. We've had MANY MANY NBA superstars during Cal's tenure here with only one title to show for it. I'm under the belief that you need great college players that play within your team's system and we have that this year with Green, Vanderbilt, Washington, etc. I also believe Calipari has learned this to be true as well and has tweaked his recruiting philosophy to bring in more great college players that will stay a couple years at least.

 

[Panthur]

Last year I liked our chances a little less than everyone else did. I loved those players, but as a team I never really thought they compared to '10, '11, '12, '15, or post-tweak '14. This year I like our chances a little bit more than everyone else does. Say what you want, but I'm going with my gut.

(Right now I still don't think we quite compare to any of the teams I listed. However, we're still pre-tweak on the calendar, and I do feel our ceiling is as high as about half those teams. I didn't feel that way last year.)

 

[jackcarlson]

they are still young. BUT, Saturday's game will be big. A TRUE road game against a very good team, with a lot on the line. Let's see how they handle this. I suspect this will be as tough as any game in the NCAAT. They win easily, their stock goes way up.

 

[Blue Decade]

Waiting to see how we fare at Florida. If we're in the game under 5 minutes, then we're pretty good. If we go down there and win convincingly, then we're really good.

I took the plunge today and bought tickets to the UK-UF game in Gainesville on Saturday. I feel an upset coming.

 

[kyjeff1]

I took the plunge today and bought tickets to the UK-UF game in Gainesville on Saturday. I feel an upset coming.

What if UK is favored?

 

[Blue Decade]

What if UK is favored?

UK won't be favored Saturday. But we can win this game.

 

[STL_Cat]

What if UK is favored?

0% chance Kentucky is favored on Saturday.

 

[kyjeff1]

0% chance Kentucky is favored on Saturday.

It was a joke. He said he felt an upset coming.

 

[STL_Cat]

It was a joke. He said he felt an upset coming.

I got that part. I guess I just didn’t get the joke. Haha

 

[Blue Decade]

It was a joke. He said he felt an upset coming.

I do. It isn't a joke.

 

[Cat78Scot]

We just beat the worst team in our conference and now everyone is annointing us national champions.

2 weeks ago we were an NIT team.

Why are some people so black and white about things? OP didn't say this at all.

There's a nuance to some posts that people don't pick up on. Or don't want to

 

[Snarks]

Let’s not get carried away, I like our team. But, we don’t have any true knockdown 3 point shooters. We will go cold in at least one game from the outside. Our big men also aren’t the best....a guy like Ayton or Bagley would eat us alive!

 

[kyjeff1]

I got that part. I guess I just didn’t get the joke. Haha

You don't need me to explain the funny part to you do you?