Anyone else indifferent for the coming basketball season?

[Catastic5]

Usually I’m excited for this time of the year. Last year, I was elated for the coming season, especially after beating Purdue, but now? I wouldn’t call it dread. I know some people are probably dreading this year. But with the football team doing much better than expected, I can’t muster up much to care that college basketball is a month away.

 

[nicky]

Usually I’m excited for this time of the year. This time last year I was elated for the coming season, especially after beating Purdue, but now? I wouldn’t call it dread. I know some people are probably dreading it. But with the football team doing much better than expected, I can’t muster up much care that college basketball is a month away.

Taking a wait and see but there better be some major strides (Sweet 16 minimum...? ) or the natives are going to be much more than restless....MOO

 

[Catman100]

I am waiting to see on it all. I never get fired up about recruits or won/loss record or expectations until I see the team play a real game or two.
With that said, Pope gonna have to have a real special season to keep his job.
IMO

 

[JwUKFan11]

I’m getting to be that way. Looking at what some of these other programs built, it’s hard to understand what UK basketball was thinking.

 

[Bill_the_cat]

I don’t think the guard play is good enough

 

[mhs1964]

Usually I’m excited for this time of the year. Last year, I was elated for the coming season, especially after beating Purdue, but now? I wouldn’t call it dread. I know some people are probably dreading this year. But with the football team doing much better than expected, I can’t muster up much to care that college basketball is a month away.

It’s hard to get excited about basketball when it’s still summer weather. The program used to build up with a true midnight madness with the camp out for tickets. All of these have vanished (and it occurred before Pope so don’t blame it on him)

 

[BBNinSCar]

I am always pumped for the upcoming season and have gone through this many times

 

[Bowfreak.]

I'll be glad when it is over and we can move on.

 

[vhcat1970]

Sure. Been true for 15-20 years.

 

[KapitalCat]

I'm very excited for the season because I see it going two possible ways . One this turns out to be a team that competes for the SEC regular season and gets to an elite 8 and Pope has a monster fall recruiting haul. Or it's more of the same, 12 losses, middle of the pack SEC, key injuries that provide excuses and a 7 seed and early NCAAT exit and in that case Batt will make the right call. So lets let it play out.

 

[Ednunn]

Les Miserables just keep being miserable

 

[MdWIldcat55]

Ronald Reagan perfectly describes a large segment of the Kentucky basketball fan base represented by the OP, today and the way they've always been since I started following the Cats in 1966...Hint: They're the kid with the toys.

 

[ScWildcat3]

I’m as excited as I am every year.

 

[Starrcade]

Les Miserables just keep being miserable

They set up strawmen and knock them down and start new threads to find company for their misery........or they are just a-hole trolls like the OP who is using a side account.

 

[BookofMormon]

This is called post-Calolitis.

Right about now, Cal would have his next fleet of 5stars walking in the door that everyone would be craving practice reports on hoping they were the next John Wall and Anthony Davis, meanwhile shopping for his next brood of future studs everyone is hoping to hit. And he's doing it with ease whereas you could expect him to land everything, and the best at it. Better than Duke, UNC, Kansas. And as much as Cal's system flunked the other pieces of coaching, recruiting will always be the most important course. So it gave entertainment and hope annually, and you could flex this part of year.

Cal keeps it interesting all year, then March hits.

Meanwhile Pope hasn't really made much of a dent with the top HS kids, backed into Milan, no one thinks he's landing anything and a laughing stock on the recruiting trail other than chucking bags at kids.

 

[Anon200440]

This is called post-Calolitis.

Right about now, Cal would have his next fleet of 5stars walking in the door that everyone would be craving practice reports on hoping they were the next John Wall and Anthony Davis, meanwhile shopping for his next brood of future studs everyone is hoping to hit. And he's doing it with ease whereas you could expect him to land everything, and the best at it. Better than Duke, UNC, Kansas. And as much as Cal's system flunked the other pieces of coaching, recruiting will always be the most important course. So it gave entertainment and hope annually, and you could flex this part of year.

Cal keeps it interesting all year, then March hits.

Meanwhile Pope hasn't really made much of a dent with the top HS kids, backed into Milan, no one thinks he's landing anything and a laughing stock on the recruiting trail other than chucking bags at kids.

Well said

 

[Jamal Mercerr]

I feel about the same as I did in Cals last 4-5 years. Except Popes voice and comments don’t sound like nails on a chalkboard like Cal’s did.

Kentucky will be “back” at some point. It’s inevitable. Unfortunately I don’t think Pope can do that. There will be a homerun hire in the coming years just like Pitino, just like Cal.

 

[sefus12]

I would love to explain the complaining about trying to buy kids by Pope. What the hell else do you think every other coach in the country is doing? Complain his coaching or bad losses or whatever, but using “paying players” as some sort of reason to dislike him is straight up idiotic.

 

[theKybluedude]

This is called post-Calolitis.

Right about now, Cal would have his next fleet of 5stars walking in the door that everyone would be craving practice reports on hoping they were the next John Wall and Anthony Davis, meanwhile shopping for his next brood of future studs everyone is hoping to hit. And he's doing it with ease whereas you could expect him to land everything, and the best at it. Better than Duke, UNC, Kansas. And as much as Cal's system flunked the other pieces of coaching, recruiting will always be the most important course. So it gave entertainment and hope annually, and you could flex this part of year.

Cal keeps it interesting all year, then March hits.

Meanwhile Pope hasn't really made much of a dent with the top HS kids, backed into Milan, no one thinks he's landing anything and a laughing stock on the recruiting trail other than chucking bags at kids.

I think Mason Williams is going to prove you wrong. I get Tyler Ulis vibes from him as a 6 2 200 lb guard.

Pope’s got a top 2027 recruit in Ryan Hampton and in on several more plus I wouldn’t say he backed into Milan.

Let’s see what he can do with this squad and hope it’s an injury free season. Looks to have the pieces and chemistry.

I’m excited and optimistic. I like my team and coaching staff. Riding for the brand!

 

[ORCAT]

Not as excited as I used to be this time of year. We have gone through numerous seasons of mediocrity recently and this year doesn't promise a great change in that. Had Mitchell stayed and was able to play at UK that might have made things more interesting. Honestly, for me, it's been more about the changes with NIL and the transfer portal that has killed the excitement for college sports more than anything.

 

[ORCAT]

I think Mason Williams is going to prove you wrong. I get Tyler Ulis vibes from him as a 6 2 200 lb guard.

Pope’s got a top 2027 recruit in Ryan Hampton and in on several more plus I wouldn’t say he backed into Milan.

Let’s see what he can do with this squad and hope it’s an injury free season. Looks to have the pieces and chemistry.

I’m excited and optimistic. I like my team and coaching staff. Riding for the brand!

Well, as for hoping for an injury free season we've already had a number of injuries and we haven't even started the season yet so there's that.

 

[BookofMormon]

Not as excited as I used to be this time of years. We have gone through numerous seasons of mediocrity recently and this year doesn't promise a great change in that. Had Mitchell stayed and was able to play at UK that might have made things more interesting. Honestly, for me, it's been more about the changes with NIL and the transfer portal that has killed the excitement for college sports more than anything.

Going to be 7 years into the decade and 6 tournaments and UK has won 4 tournament games total and peaked out at a S16, one of those wins being a buzzer beater against Santa Clara in the first round.

 

[NociHTTP]

They've been mercenaries for awhile, but now I just don't care about the players anymore. Not anymore than they care about playing for UK.

 

[ThePrinceIsKing]

No

 

[Im The Village Idiot]

No. If you aren’t ready for basketball season, we aren’t the same. Even in the case where the roster WASNT expected to be good, I’m still absolutely EXCITED for basketball season, which has a regular season that lasts only four months of the year. Not claiming to be fan of all fans but I can’t empathize with being nonchalant about basketball time in the bluegrass, regardless of how good/bad the team is expected to be. Did some of you not get passed the fanship generation to generation, through the ups and downs, the good times and bad times?

Can’t wait until basketball season!! LFG!!!

 

[Catastic5]

Not as excited as I used to be this time of years. We have gone through numerous seasons of mediocrity recently and this year doesn't promise a great change in that. Had Mitchell stayed and was able to play at UK that might have made things more interesting. Honestly, for me, it's been more about the changes with NIL and the transfer portal that has killed the excitement for college sports more than anything.

What really sucks is a number of teams have gotten better thanks to recent 5th year players added to their teams. Kansas went from a “we have a good opportunity win this game” to a “yeah we’re getting blown the f*ck out” real quick.

 

[Artlaibesghost]

No surprises here

 

[BlueSince92]

Nope.

To be clear, I have said since midsummer we don’t have the guard firepower we would have needed to play Pope’s system to advantage.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not excited AF to watch every game and hope to be proven wrong.

 

[WallMash]

so much misery and whining in the comments. I'm a realist. Pope has to prove he's more than he is - a life time 60 percent winning coach.

But I always feel hopeful at the start of a season. And don't a have a dead heart about the team.

 

[DonAndy]

The feeling i got is maybe we overachieve..that isn't supposed to be the UK basketball brand.


How much longer do we have to deal with being a joke of a program. Hope the new AD is here to win and not pass out buddy cards.

A coach like Stein or Sumrall is what we need for UK basketball. Young proven up and comer. Stein might not of been a head coach before but his name comes with respect and swag. Which is important when you have to recruit a whole new team of young players every year.... (Jai Lucas)

 

[JimboBBN]

I’m always excited for Kentucky basketball. But combine the start Stein has had on the gridiron and the fact that our roster has a big hole or two that will keep us from being elite yet again, my excitement has been put on a short hold.

 

[Mad Max]

Am I excited for college basketball? Honestly, no. I used to watch hundreds of games. I’d watch Drexel vs Hostra if it was on. For about 4 years, Ive only watched UK games, and for the last two, actually missed a few (used to NEVER happen).

for me it’s not UK, it’s college ball. I miss the “beautiful basketball” of the 90s. 40 minutes of hell, etc. But after the one and dones, the transfers, the NIL, the streaming, it’s just robbed the joy for me.

Will watch UK, and hope like hell we win.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I feel about the same as I did in Cals last 4-5 years. Except Popes voice and comments don’t sound like nails on a chalkboard like Cal’s did.

Kentucky will be “back” at some point. It’s inevitable. Unfortunately I don’t think Pope can do that. There will be a homerun hire in the coming years just like Pitino, just like Cal.

Have you listened to Popes voice and comments? Super cringe.

 

[Cats_2010]

My excitement level and expectation levels run hand in hand so my excitement level for this upcoming season is down several notches.

 

[seccats04]

I'm right there with most in this thread in that I'm not super enthused about our chances of winning anything this year but I'll always love UK and will not miss a game.

 

[CUJO_1970]

Kentucky basketball has lost it's way. It came out of the Covid Pandemic broken and dysfunctional, thanks to Mitch Barnhart and John Calipari. This era coincides with a large influx of soft fans that will tolerate and make excuses for mediocrity to time indefinite.

I saw everything I needed to see by the end of the Alabama game last year. The remainder of the season was an ugly, humiliating confirmation of what I already knew, culminating in the absolute disgrace that was the Iowa State game.

Now, injuries are piling up on a team that already looks below average by Kentucky standards.

 

[Jamal Mercerr]

Have you listened to Popes voice and comments? Super cringe.

I have. Nothing compares to Cal’s drivel the last few years.

 

[RunninRichie]

I'm looking at this upcoming season as a root canal. Just get it over with, so we can move on. Hopefully Batt can convince Oats to come here.

 

[BookofMormon]

I feel about the same as I did in Cals last 4-5 years. Except Popes voice and comments don’t sound like nails on a chalkboard like Cal’s did.

Kentucky will be “back” at some point. It’s inevitable. Unfortunately I don’t think Pope can do that. There will be a homerun hire in the coming years just like Pitino, just like Cal.

I think they're different. Cal was frustrating. Pope feels inevitable and hopeless and like you're burning time.

 

[3 Putts]

Let’s see what he can do with this squad and hope it’s an injury free season. Looks to have the pieces and chemistry.

Don’t we already have more guys injured than the entire football team?