Am I the only one dreading this game?

theBlues

All-Conference
Oct 18, 2025
848
1,814
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As a 60 year fan I've experienced a lot of big games, like games where the Cats have to win to make the tournament or win or advance in a tournament. I'm normally nervous and excited with generally positive feelings. This game feels different. This one feels like our hopes of making the NCAA tournament will be essentially over if we lose, which is crazy at this time of the year. The main sense of dread is that I really don't want to see the Kentucky Wildcats booed out of Rupp Arena if there is a repeat of the Gonzaga effort. If we win I'll feel mainly a sense of relief.

All that being said, I'll be watching and rooting for UK. Go Cats!
 

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
42,809
76,026
113
As a 60 year fan I've experienced a lot of big games, like games where the Cats have to win to make the tournament or win or advance in a tournament. I'm normally nervous and excited with generally positive feelings. This game feels different. This one feels like our hopes of making the NCAA tournament will be essentially over if we lose, which is crazy at this time of the year. The main sense of dread is that I really don't want to see the Kentucky Wildcats booed out of Rupp Arena if there is a repeat of the Gonzaga effort. If we win I'll feel mainly a sense of relief.

All that being said, I'll be watching and rooting for UK. Go Cats!
I am with you, losing to Indiana is not an option to me and I feel like it’s gonna happen today. I’m sick over this year honestly.

I was so prepared for a dominate year and it went from getting the number one player next year and Collins to now we have NIL issues and nobody wants to play for this staff. They can’t coach a lick, recruit at all, overpay for role players, apparently can’t even determine who to recruit for their own system that they abandoned already. Our season has imploded and possibly ended Pope’s career fast. I’m so bummed out.
 

Old Blue Fart

All-Conference
Mar 23, 2014
1,561
4,027
76
I am with you, losing to Indiana is not an option to me and I feel like it’s gonna happen today. I’m sick over this year honestly.

I was so prepared for a dominate year and it went from getting the number one player next year and Collins to now we have NIL issues and nobody wants to play for this staff. They can’t coach a lick, recruit at all, overpay for role players, apparently can’t even determine who to recruit for their own system that they abandoned already. Our season has imploded and possibly ended Pope’s career fast. I’m so bummed out.
When the chips are down, that old saying, "the truth hurts" is exactly where we are. Good honest post.
 

Farsight Clone

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2025
1,029
1,977
103
I am with you, losing to Indiana is not an option to me and I feel like it’s gonna happen today. I’m sick over this year honestly.

I was so prepared for a dominate year and it went from getting the number one player next year and Collins to now we have NIL issues and nobody wants to play for this staff. They can’t coach a lick, recruit at all, overpay for role players, apparently can’t even determine who to recruit for their own system that they abandoned already. Our season has imploded and possibly ended Pope’s career fast. I’m so bummed out.
Can't lose this game. Its at Rupp. Its the start of the revived rivalry and we have to win.

The primary reasons why we have tow in is to help get into the tournament. The second time is to help quell BBN. Because if we lose today, especially at Rupp, I bet some fans will through stuff on the court.

We better see effort. And Pope better coach his azz off. I don't care if we win by 1. We need a dub.

I was right there with you. After the Purdue game, I thought this was a final four bound team.

I'm 50/50. The less BG plays, the more Pope controls the game from the sideline, calls times outs to stop momentum, no mass subs, and makes in game and half time adjustments while the players give effort, that will help us win.

We clearly have a "good" team. Purdue game showed it. But again, I sound like a broken record, something happened before that UofL game. We will see today. Today is the real test. Pope made some changes in the cupcake win last game, now can it translate to a real team?

I think we come back and win, 81-79.
 

Kyfan27

Junior
Jan 7, 2023
177
306
63
I am with you, losing to Indiana is not an option to me and I feel like it’s gonna happen today. I’m sick over this year honestly.

I was so prepared for a dominate year and it went from getting the number one player next year and Collins to now we have NIL issues and nobody wants to play for this staff. They can’t coach a lick, recruit at all, overpay for role players, apparently can’t even determine who to recruit for their own system that they abandoned already. Our season has imploded and possibly ended Pope’s career fast. I’m so bummed out.
I feel like I was in a trance last year and the fog has worn off for me. The red flags were there last year and I always excused them away with injuries or whatever was the flavor of the day. There were so many games we just came out as flat as can be. Ohio State, Georgia, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas, Auburn, Bama in the SEC tournament, Tennessee in the NCAA tournament. I'm sure I'm missing some. I got blinded by the "positive vibes" assuming we would get more talented players that would naturally raise our level of play. Looks like last year might be the best Pope can hope for.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
42,809
76,026
113
I feel like I was in a trance last year and the fog has worn off for me. The red flags were there last year and I always excused them away with injuries or whatever was the flavor of the day. There were so many games we just came out as flat as can be. Ohio State, Georgia, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas, Auburn, Bama in the SEC tournament, Tennessee in the NCAA tournament. I'm sure I'm missing some. I got blinded by the "positive vibes" assuming we would get more talented players that would naturally raise our level of play. Looks like last year might be the best Pope can hope for.
Same, the same signs were there with a way more likeable team. I do think injuries played a large role in last years problems but the underlying issues are the same.
 
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*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
42,809
76,026
113
Can't lose this game. Its at Rupp. Its the start of the revived rivalry and we have to win.

The primary reasons why we have tow in is to help get into the tournament. The second time is to help quell BBN. Because if we lose today, especially at Rupp, I bet some fans will through stuff on the court.

We better see effort. And Pope better coach his azz off. I don't care if we win by 1. We need a dub.

I was right there with you. After the Purdue game, I thought this was a final four bound team.

I'm 50/50. The less BG plays, the more Pope controls the game from the sideline, calls times outs to stop momentum, no mass subs, and makes in game and half time adjustments while the players give effort, that will help us win.

We clearly have a "good" team. Purdue game showed it. But again, I sound like a broken record, something happened before that UofL game. We will see today. Today is the real test. Pope made some changes in the cupcake win last game, now can it translate to a real team?

I think we come back and win, 81-79.
I would love to see anything from this team that would at least get me excited enough to watch every game again. I hate not wanting to watch college basketball. My mom and I watch every game together. She doesn’t have much time left most likely and even she has given up watching live for this team. We never do that because it’s just so hard to watch.
 

Ky_Bred_Cat

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2014
2,112
3,915
113
As a 60 year fan I've experienced a lot of big games, like games where the Cats have to win to make the tournament or win or advance in a tournament. I'm normally nervous and excited with generally positive feelings. This game feels different. This one feels like our hopes of making the NCAA tournament will be essentially over if we lose, which is crazy at this time of the year. The main sense of dread is that I really don't want to see the Kentucky Wildcats booed out of Rupp Arena if there is a repeat of the Gonzaga effort. If we win I'll feel mainly a sense of relief.

All that being said, I'll be watching and rooting for UK. Go Cats!
Well said. My feelings exactly.
 

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,009
1,599
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I'm kinda looking forward to it. Things have to start going our way and today is soon enough. And I expect to beat IU. Probably no reason to think that but I do think we win. I don't care if it's by 1 point and even two or 3 overtimes. Just win the damn game!!
 

MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
10,276
19,561
66
I turned down free tickets to attend an extended family Christmas gathering instead.

I’d rather drive a couple hours roundtrip to eat a great meal and see people I love than to drive almost 5 hours roundtrip to watch us potentially lose to IU.

Hoping the Cats pull one out tonight but wasn’t confident enough to invest my time or money into watching it in person.
 

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,009
1,599
113
I’m expecting an ugly close game like the UNC game. Hoping we can pull this one out.

it also wouldn’t surprise me for IU to pop us in the mouth and us fold like a cheap chair.
As much as I hate to admit it the second thing could happen. I think this season lost already but hope to change my mind. That happens and you can stick a fork in it.
 

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,009
1,599
113
I just hope they play hard with a refuse to lose attitude. No such thing as a must win with a team missing three starters
I agree. And if we have the same losses but had been playing our asses off the discussions would be far different. And Pope would get a pass on the injuries if we just played with a passion.

This team quits. That's unacceptable.
 
Jul 30, 2024
4,397
7,846
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Not dreading it, just feel meh about it right now. If our guys show up tonight and we pull out a win, that might re-electrify some of my excitement for this season. The last several games against ranked teams has taken some air out of me
I feel like it would need to be this to get me thinking we CAN climb back to a top five seed:

Beat Indiana by at least 10+
Beat St. John’s

🤞
 

UKortho

All-American
Oct 13, 2015
4,516
8,385
77
As a 60 year fan I've experienced a lot of big games, like games where the Cats have to win to make the tournament or win or advance in a tournament. I'm normally nervous and excited with generally positive feelings. This game feels different. This one feels like our hopes of making the NCAA tournament will be essentially over if we lose, which is crazy at this time of the year. The main sense of dread is that I really don't want to see the Kentucky Wildcats booed out of Rupp Arena if there is a repeat of the Gonzaga effort. If we win I'll feel mainly a sense of relief.

All that being said, I'll be watching and rooting for UK. Go Cats!

This is a game that Pope knows we cannot lose. I imagine we get everyone’s best effort for a change and we win. If we don’t win….then the $5MM man is just collecting checks until he goes back to Utah State.
 

OldRed

All-Conference
Jun 7, 2001
17,925
4,631
113
As much as I hate to admit it the second thing could happen. I think this season lost already but hope to change my mind. That happens and you can stick a fork in it.
The problems have been most of the time they play with minimum effort, and when they decide to try hard, they don't play smart and get totally out of position. It is an incredibly bad combination.
 

UKBB4Ever

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
1,009
1,599
113
The problems have been most of the time they play with minimum effort, and when they decide to try hard, they don't play smart and get totally out of position. It is an incredibly bad combination.
I know all too well. That's what I can't get over with this team. If they are giving effort it doesn't show. If they care if they win or not it doesn't show.
 

bbnkat02

Heisman
Nov 14, 2017
46,033
68,131
113
Not dreading it per se. Win this game and we have a chance to turn the season around and get some momentum going.

Lose it and the season could pretty much be done by 9pm or so.