Interesting

[Cawood86_rivals]

I'm sure they exist. But they are far from the norm. I protect Kentucky's name like no other.. but I never thought this was some automatic 1-seed.

And why are you celebrating that they're wrong?

Covid has ****ed this team like no other. We are going in totally blind. What can you do? What do YOU suggest we do?

What does covid have to do wiht UK's PGs not being able to get by their man or stop their man on defense? Does covid prevent Cal from teaching offense in those 42 days he's been talking about? If anything, this team should have been more polished because they have had a lot more practice than any other Cal teams excepth for the ones that went to the Bahamas.
You cannot lose every player from your previous team and have all new guys on a regular basis.
The team looked lost from the tip. Askew and Mintz could not initiate the offense or stop Richmond from running theirs. If Richmond could shoot better, UK loses by 20+ points on their home floor.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

Fire Cal, bring back Billy G or Tubby. So sick of this crap, Jesus could bevour coach and people here would say he is to nice or doesn't blow out teams. Typical responses when we lose ever time.

You'll think I'm crazy but I think beard would do a good job here.

 

[king of cali]

What does covid have to do wiht UK's PGs not being able to get by their man or stop their man on defense? Does covid prevent Cal from teaching offense in those 42 days he's been talking about? If anything, this team should have been more polished because they have had a lot more practice than any other Cal teams excepth for the ones that went to the Bahamas.
You cannot lose every player from your previous team and have all new guys on a regular basis.
The team looked lost from the tip. Askew and Mintz could not initiate the offense or stop Richmond from running theirs. If Richmond could shoot better, UK loses by 20+ points on their home floor.

That’s the thing that some are missing. It’s not like they played over their heads to pull off an upset. Their guards shot 9/32 from the field and 3/18 from 3, and they still outplayed UK by a wide margin. That should be alarming to anyone.

 

[kyjeff1]

Really. UVA has one final four in decades. UVA is the one that needs to step it up big boy.

We're not UVA fans.

But, to shut you up, I'll just say this, UVA has been better at winning college basketball games the last 5 years than UK has. UVA has the more recent FF and the more recent title.

The only category UK is beating UVA in, is draft picks. That’s okay I guess, it seems to be what Cal is most passionate about.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Cool, we'll just keep losing to mid majors in Rupp and coming up short in the NCAAT.
Is that what "the pinnacle of college basketball" is to you?
looks like a Louisville resume to me. You good with that? I'm not.

I am cool with this.

Record since 1938-39: 1,984-540 | Regular-season titles: 47
NCAA Tournaments: 59 | Final Fours: 17
Weeks ranked: 918 | Top-60 NBA picks: 100
POINTS: 1,931.8

Kentucky is blowing away this field with 1,931.8 points. The difference, really, is the SEC championships and the NBA talent John Calipari has recruited to the Bluegrass State for the past decade. It's astounding. Kentucky is unequivocally the most successful and consistent program in college basketball in the past 10 years, the past 20, 30, 40, 60 and even 80 years. UK's 131 NCAA Tournament wins: most ever. Its 2,320 wins in history: most ever. How about this: it has made 21 Elite Eights NOT including the years it also went to the Final Four, which adds another nine to that pile. By far the most ever. Kentucky's 102 top-60 NBA picks since 1946: most ever. It's been ranked for 919 weeks, tops in college basketball history. The 59 NCAA Tournament bids outpaces No. 2 North Carolina by NINE. Its domination of the SEC is silly; those 47 regular-season titles, in addition to 17 Final Fours, catapulted Kentucky past the competition.

Adolph Rupp won 876 games and built Kentucky into a college hoops colossus. When he retired in 1972, he'd won four national titles and had UK as the No. 2 program in the sport behind UCLA. Joe B. Hall took over, won a title in '78 and got to 297 wins. Eddie Sutton had success that was tarnished by rule-breaking, and so in swooped Rick Pitino to provide college basketball with its most entertaining team of the 1990s. The 1995-96 Kentucky team that went 34-2 and won the title is on the Mount Rushmore of greatest teams in history and is probably the best non-undefeated team to ever win it all.

Tubby Smith took over after Pitino left for the NBA, won a championship with Pitino's players in '98, and kept Kentucky atop the sport for most of his time. And now we have Calipari. I said UNC has the best 1-2 coaching combo ever, and that's true. But Kentucky by far has the best trio of elite coaches in basketball history: Rupp, Pitino, Calipari. Since 2009, Calipari has redefined how to recruit and thrive in college hoops, peeling off the greatest run of pros in college basketball history. Including Wednesday's draft, 44 players have come out of Kentucky the last 11 seasons and been drafted. UK has made more Final Fours than any school in Calipari's tenure and won the national title with another all-time great team in 2011-12. The list of absurd talent to play in the Commonwealth would require a chapter unto itself, so here's a dollop: Alex Groza, Ralph Beard, Cliff Hagan, Dan Issel, Jamal Mashburn, Tony Delk, Ron Mercer, Tayshaun Prince, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and Tyler Ulis. While college basketball has an impressive group of blue bloods sitting at its table, only program belongs at the head: Kentucky.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

Resume A (5 seasons)
131-40 record
2 Elite Eights
2 Outright SEC Titles
9-5 NCAA Tournament Record
2 SEC Tournament Titles

Resume B (5 seasons)
140-39 record
2 Elite Eights
2 Outright SEC Titles (3 Overall)
9-4 NCAA Tournament Record
2 SEC Tournament Titles

Resume A: Tubby Smith’s Last 5 Years at Kentucky
Resume B: John Calipari’s Last 5 Years at Kentucky

This is the most damning Cal stat I've ever seen. Hot damn.

 

[John Henry]

You are a solid poster but I’ll never ever accept this attitude towards home court losses . Never .

It is one thing to lose on the road in front of a hostile crowd. It is unacceptable to lose in Rupp against a mid major city school . This is happening too often

 

[kyjeff1]

What does covid have to do wiht UK's PGs not being able to get by their man or stop their man on defense? Does covid prevent Cal from teaching offense in those 42 days he's been talking about? If anything, this team should have been more polished because they have had a lot more practice than any other Cal teams excepth for the ones that went to the Bahamas.
You cannot lose every player from your previous team and have all new guys on a regular basis.
The team looked lost from the tip. Askew and Mintz could not initiate the offense or stop Richmond from running theirs. If Richmond could shoot better, UK loses by 20+ points on their home floor.

Not only that, but Cal even said the other day that he has not been able to go in recruiting trips, so he has had the advantage of being at practice every day. IMO, Covid19 has given this team an advantage.

Not only that, but Covid isn’t just happening in Lexington, KY, it’s happening all over the world. All programs have been affected.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

Resume A (5 seasons)
131-40 record
2 Elite Eights
2 Outright SEC Titles
9-5 NCAA Tournament Record
2 SEC Tournament Titles

Resume B (5 seasons)
140-39 record
2 Elite Eights
2 Outright SEC Titles (3 Overall)
9-4 NCAA Tournament Record
2 SEC Tournament Titles

Resume A: Tubby Smith’s Last 5 Years at Kentucky
Resume B: John Calipari’s Last 5 Years at Kentucky

You are what your record says you are. Cal seems to be leaning toward thinking he is above the program and can say things toward fans because has this lifetime contract deal.
Not a good look by him imo. These fans are part of what makes UK the job that it is. Pitino always felt he was better than the fanbase. Cal is starting to drift in that direction.

 

[somersetcat]

I'm critical of some of what Cal does offensively and think that he is in real danger of the game passing him up in a few years if he doesn't adjust, but yeah it's hard to ask for much more. We're in a position to contend practically every year and win 80 percent of our games. In a format that requires six single-elimination wins, it's hard to ask for much more than that. If your bar is set at championship or bust every year, there isn't a coach alive that would meet those expectations.

Here’s the problem I see developing, the home court advantage or what I like to call the fear factor of Rupp Arena is almost extinct. Teams are no longer afraid of playing at Rupp !
That has happened under Cals watch !!

 

[kyjeff1]

I am cool with this.

Record since 1938-39: 1,984-540 | Regular-season titles: 47
NCAA Tournaments: 59 | Final Fours: 17
Weeks ranked: 918 | Top-60 NBA picks: 100
POINTS: 1,931.8

Kentucky is blowing away this field with 1,931.8 points. The difference, really, is the SEC championships and the NBA talent John Calipari has recruited to the Bluegrass State for the past decade. It's astounding. Kentucky is unequivocally the most successful and consistent program in college basketball in the past 10 years, the past 20, 30, 40, 60 and even 80 years. UK's 131 NCAA Tournament wins: most ever. Its 2,320 wins in history: most ever. How about this: it has made 21 Elite Eights NOT including the years it also went to the Final Four, which adds another nine to that pile. By far the most ever. Kentucky's 102 top-60 NBA picks since 1946: most ever. It's been ranked for 919 weeks, tops in college basketball history. The 59 NCAA Tournament bids outpaces No. 2 North Carolina by NINE. Its domination of the SEC is silly; those 47 regular-season titles, in addition to 17 Final Fours, catapulted Kentucky past the competition.

Adolph Rupp won 876 games and built Kentucky into a college hoops colossus. When he retired in 1972, he'd won four national titles and had UK as the No. 2 program in the sport behind UCLA. Joe B. Hall took over, won a title in '78 and got to 297 wins. Eddie Sutton had success that was tarnished by rule-breaking, and so in swooped Rick Pitino to provide college basketball with its most entertaining team of the 1990s. The 1995-96 Kentucky team that went 34-2 and won the title is on the Mount Rushmore of greatest teams in history and is probably the best non-undefeated team to ever win it all.

Tubby Smith took over after Pitino left for the NBA, won a championship with Pitino's players in '98, and kept Kentucky atop the sport for most of his time. And now we have Calipari. I said UNC has the best 1-2 coaching combo ever, and that's true. But Kentucky by far has the best trio of elite coaches in basketball history: Rupp, Pitino, Calipari. Since 2009, Calipari has redefined how to recruit and thrive in college hoops, peeling off the greatest run of pros in college basketball history. Including Wednesday's draft, 44 players have come out of Kentucky the last 11 seasons and been drafted. UK has made more Final Fours than any school in Calipari's tenure and won the national title with another all-time great team in 2011-12. The list of absurd talent to play in the Commonwealth would require a chapter unto itself, so here's a dollop: Alex Groza, Ralph Beard, Cliff Hagan, Dan Issel, Jamal Mashburn, Tony Delk, Ron Mercer, Tayshaun Prince, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and Tyler Ulis. While college basketball has an impressive group of blue bloods sitting at its table, only program belongs at the head: Kentucky.

That’s old news. I'm not sure why you're highlighting all the draft picks, that's just showing that Cal has had the most talent and has done very little with it.

Yeah, he went to 4 final fours, but nothing since 2015. He also is responsible for the 2018 loss to Bruce Weber, the epic 2010 loss to west Virginia (who then got hammered by Duke), he went to an NIT in 2013, he lost to Tom Crean in 2016 in the 2nd round, coached the team that lost to Evansville in Rupp (who went on to lose the rest of their games and go winless in league play, this is probably the worst loss ever in Rupp Arena) and is responsible for the 2015 debacle against Wisconsin.
Now, our downhill slide continues with another loss to a mid major in Rupp. Wow.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

You are what your record says you are. Cal seems to be leaning toward thinking he is above the program and can say things toward fans because has this lifetime contract deal.
Not a good look by him imo. These fans are part of what makes UK the job that it is. Pitino always felt he was better than the fanbase. Cal is starting to drift in that direction.

At least Pitino coached AND recruited here thats the big difference. If Cal had Pitino level coaching he would be so far above K. Cal is basically Pitino first years combined with tubbys last years. Pretty crazy honestly. Also Pitino brought this program back from dead far greater than Cal. Cal just signed John Wall, Bledsoe and Demarcus paired with Patterson and failed to keep the key piece Meeks for a championship. How do you not keep Meeks? He would've went top 10 probably.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

That’s old news. I'm not sure why you're highlighting all the draft picks, that's just showing that Cal has had the most talent and has done very little with it.

Yeah, he went to 4 final fours, but nothing since 2015. He also is responsible for the 2018 loss to Bruce Weber, the epic 2010 loss to west Virginia (who then got hammered by Duke), he went to an NIT in 2013, he lost to Tom Crean in 2016 in the 2nd round, coached the team that lost to Evansville in Rupp (who went on to lose the rest of their games and go winless in league play, this is probably the worst loss ever in Rupp Arena) and is responsible for the 2015 debacle against Wisconsin.
Now, our downhill slide continues with another loss to a mid major in Rupp. Wow.

I can't wait until Cal leaves and you get another Billy G. I know you love Jay Wright and thinks he never has lost to a team not ranked. Oh my mistake. Villanova ranked number 3 lost to Va. Tech. Time to Farr Jay Wright.

 

[Blue Wildcat]

You are what your record says you are. Cal seems to be leaning toward thinking he is above the program and can say things toward fans because has this lifetime contract deal.
Not a good look by him imo. These fans are part of what makes UK the job that it is. Pitino always felt he was better than the fanbase. Cal is starting to drift in that direction.

He can be that guy when he’s winning...the fanbase will just view it as Swaggy Cal and look the other way. However, for the last few years he has openly mocked the fanbase-he lacks the humility he started at UK with. He believes he’s above the program and that he is the program. His approach plus Tubby like results have turned a large faction of the fanbase off.

 

[kyjeff1]

I can't wait until Cal leaves and you get another Billy G. I know you love Jay Wright and thinks he never has lost to a team not ranked. Oh my mistake. Villanova ranked number 3 lost to Va. Tech. Time to Farr Jay Wright.

First, where are you getting Jay Wright from??? While I might like his system, but I don’t recall ever saying I wanted Jay Wright as UK's coach. It looks like you're making crap up so you can act like I said something I didn’t.

Secondly, did you just say you wished Cal would leave and be replaced by Billy Gillispie? I thought you were a fan

 

[kl40504_rivals]

At least Pitino coached AND recruited here thats the big difference. If Cal had Pitino level coaching he would be so far above K. Cal is basically Pitino first years combined with tubbys last years. Pretty crazy honestly. Also Pitino brought this program back from dead far greater than Cal. Cal just signed John Wall, Bledsoe and Demarcus paired with Patterson and failed to keep the key piece Meeks for a championship. How do you not keep Meeks? He would've went top 10 probably.

Look what Pitino coaching got Louisville. 16 years and 0 titles while cheating and getting fired and leaving Louisville with vacated wins and on probation. if you hate Louisville then Pitino was the best thing to ever happen to Louisville for UK.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

As someone else said earlier, I am a fan of UK. I do not care about the NBA. I want UK to win. I want them to win titles. These kids getting mega NBA deals is great for them and I am glad they do, but it does nothing for me as a fan of UK.
I don't recall talking about how much he wants to win for UK and the fans. He constantly talke about the NBA Finals (which barely anyone watched) NBA draft, contracts, etc.
UK managed to win 7 titles and almost 2,000 games before Cal got here without everything being about the NBA.
His mentality is wearing thin on fans. This is a poor state on average. People do not relate to 150million dollar contracts or 10 million a year coaches salary.
They do relate to hard work, passion, enthusiasm, dedication, heart. Cal talks over their heads on purpose I believe.
Mocking fans in a press conference about the schedule looks bad on him, not them. Fans for decades have saved their money, vacation time, etc to go to games and cheer for the Cats.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

We're not UVA fans.

But, to shut you up, I'll just say this, UVA has been better at winning college basketball games the last 5 years than UK has. UVA has the more recent FF and the more recent title.

The only category UK is beating UVA in, is draft picks. That’s okay I guess, it seems to be what Cal is most passionate about.

Then go be a UVA fan. No reason for you to hang around.

 

[kyjeff1]

Then go be a UVA fan. No reason for you to hang around.

Because I stated facts?
Sorry, but you aren't controlling things here. If you don’t like what's being said, get off the internet.
I was a fan of UK long before Cal got here and it's quite obvious that I have far better self awareness than you. I started calling this crap out years ago, you’re that guy that waits until there's nothing left before you realize something is wrong. Sorry if that hits close to home for you.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Because I stated facts?
Sorry, but you aren't controlling things here. If you don’t like what's being said, get off the internet.
I was a fan of UK long before Cal got here and it's quite obvious that I have far better self awareness than you. I started calling this crap out years ago, you’re that guy that waits until there's nothing left before you realize something is wrong. Sorry if that hits close to home for you.

People are dying everyday and you think the world is going to end when UK loses a ballgame. Get a life.

 

[kyjeff1]

People are dying everyday and you think the world is going to end when UK loses a ballgame. Get a life.

WTF does people dying every day have to do with this? OMG, you’re off your rocker dude.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

WTF does people dying every day have to do with this? OMG, you’re off your rocker dude.

You are off your rocker. If UK losing a ballgame upsets you this much what else bothers you?

 

[-BBH-]

no 1 seeds or final fours since 2015 so no, he doesnt always get them right ..... you have to go back further than 30 years for when KU, Duke or UNC had 5 years in a row without a 1 seed.

Carolina went 14-19 last year and has lost nearly 40 games over the last three years with two early blowout losses in March. All programs, even the blue bloods go through ebbs and flows.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Home court losses? .. talking about what Richmond "could" have done if they made shots? .. and, gasp, not being a 1 seed ever year?

The mental gymnastics going on lolol. Some of you dont deserve Kentucky.

 

[kyjeff1]

You are off your rocker. If UK losing a ballgame upsets you this much what else bothers you?

We're on a UK discussion forum, you’re acting like we're on a corporate email chain talking about sales figures.
News flash, this is the place where you discuss things like this.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

We're on a UK discussion forum, you’re acting like we're on a corporate email chain talking about sales figures.
News flash, this is the place where you discuss things like this.

If Cal is so bad how did we win the SEC by 3 games last year after losing to Evansville? How soon we forget.

 

[kyjeff1]

If Cal is so bad how did we win the SEC by 3 games last year after losing to Evansville? How soon we forget.

The SEC sucks, that shouldn't be a measuring stick.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

probably because this year was going to be different ... this was going to be a SUPERTEAM!

Maybe in your mind but not mine. Anyone with common sense knows this is the youngest team Cal has had. It will take time for these players to become a team. Sorry if you can't recognize that.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

I am frustrated about several things in how the program is ran....but does anybody else honestly think there is another better option out there??? Because looking at the college basketball landscape I don’t think we can do any better then Cal. I’ve extensively looked around and considered all the options and for his faults Cal is still BY FAR the best option at this time.

Best option in recruiting but that’s it. Now recruiting is probably 70% of the game normally but when they mostly leave after 1 year I think that drops to maybe even 50% certainly not more than 60%

 

[kyjeff1]

You suck but I guess that shouldn't be a measuring stick either.

You seem upset, maybe you should go be a fan of Virginia, you know, there are people dying all over the world and here you are, on a message board, getting all upset.

 

[STL_Cat]

Maybe in your mind but not mine. Anyone with common sense knows this is the youngest team Cal has had. It will take time for these players to become a team. Sorry if you can't recognize that.

Read more of what I say. I wasn’t surprised by what happened today. I was not expecting a superteam. This is exactly the kind of basketball I was expecting in November, sadly.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

You seem upset, maybe youvshoukd go be a fan of Virginia, you know, there are people dying all over the world and here you are, on a message board, getting all upset.

I am not upset at all. I love watching people like you get so upset over something you have no control over.

 

[HagginHall1999]

Yep. I hate arguing with some of these guys because they are genuinely good dudes and posters. But I'm not ever going to sit back and say stuff like today, or Evansville etc is totally cool and OK. It's not.

In what way? Genuinely curious...

Evansville and this are not on the same equator.

It is a loss, second game of season...in all honesty I think the game has passed fans by. These upsets happen all over the country, doesn't matter who you are. Parity is at an all time high.

I'd rather get it out of the way early and be rolling in the Spring. Everyone thought the world was crumbling last November and our team was more than fine at EOY.

 

[HagginHall1999]

The head coach of the team we all pull for litterally tells us we are going to take licks and still people react this way...it is a freaking sideshow...lol.

This team will be more than fine.

 

[STL_Cat]

The head coach of the team we all pull for litterally tells us we are going to take licks and still people react this way...it is a freaking sideshow...lol.

This team will be more than fine.

I’m sure you’ve been a Kentucky fan long enough to understand that if Kentucky loses to Richmond at home, not everyone is going to high five and say it’s all good. People in the state are passionate about the game, and the door swings both ways.

and “getting it out of the way in November” doesn’t guarantee anything in March. It does hurt your seeding, though

 

[CB3UK]

In what way? Genuinely curious...

Evansville and this are not on the same equator.

Maybe. Maybe not. You can't say that until the end of the season. We all heard these same arguments and talking points after that loss. After Duke embarassed us. After South Carolina. After Rick Barnes continued doing what he's done since he's been at Tennessee. And so on.

It is a loss, second game of season...in all honesty I think the game has passed fans by. These upsets happen all over the country, doesn't matter who you are. Parity is at an all time high.

Could be. You make a valid point. Things have changed and the structure of CBB has definitely evolved. Your point has some merit to it for sure.

I'd rather get it out of the way early and be rolling in the Spring. Everyone thought the world was crumbling last November and our team was more than fine at EOY.

I get what you're saying, but we haven't really been rolling in the spring either. The past few years anyway. We've got 2 Elite 8s. A Sweet 16. A Rd of 32. And of course last year doesn't count. It's hard to chalk up days like today when the reward at the end of the season is losing to K State. But, it could also just be one random loss and we roll everyone and have a run like we did with Monk and that epic UNC game. Losing today doesn't guarantee us anything in March.

Other than worse seeding.

People bitching today like me are doing it because of an accumulation of data. But you're right, it doesn't mean anything as far as where we are going this year. But it is indicative of a trend when it's commensurate with what we've seen recently.

Regardless, I'll be cheering Tuesday night for us to beat the **** out of Kansas. Doesn't mean I have to be happy with today.

 

[HagginHall1999]

I’m sure you’ve been a Kentucky fan long enough to understand that if Kentucky loses to Richmond at home, not everyone is going to high five and say it’s all good. People in the state are passionate about the game, and the door swings both ways.

and “getting it out of the way in November” doesn’t guarantee anything in March. It does hurt your seeding, though

Not my point. I am not happy with a loss but after 10+ years I get it. We have always sucked in November and December under Cal Seriously, go to sport reference and look. Hell, it took a John Wall jumper at the horn to beat Miami of Ohio in '09.

If some are tired of Cal, so be it...my point is the chicken little crap is absurd. This team will be good if not great by EOY. Some believe it and some just hate our coach, the system, etc.

Cal tells the fanbase this and they don't listen. It isn't like he says his team is the second coming. Honestly we just have a lot of dumb fans and that isn't directed at you in anyway...I think you are sharp.

 

[anon_013cn8yrfncx2]

The head coach of the team we all pull for litterally tells us we are going to take licks and still people react this way...it is a freaking sideshow...lol.

This team will be more than fine.

Define more than fine right now. Let’s see how much of a prophet you are.

 

[CB3UK]

Not my point. I am not happy with a loss but after 10+ years I get it. We have always sucked in November and December under Cal Seriously, go to sport reference and look. Hell, it took a John Wall jumper at the horn to beat Miami of Ohio in '09.

If some are tired of Cal, so be it...my point is the chicken little crap is absurd. This team will be good if not great by EOY. Some believe it and some just hate our coach, the system, etc.

Cal tells the fanbase this and they don't listen. It isn't like he says his team is the second coming. Honestly we just have a lot of dumb fans and that isn't directed at you in anyway...I think you are sharp.

He does warn us of that. I've made the point today a few times, it's not that those of us don't get it. In fact, it's the opposite. It's that we do get it. He's flat out saying we will probably lose.....and I'm supposed to say oh, OK, cool. [laughing] And we say why should we be happy with a roster that's built with the forehand knowledge that we'll lose a game like this? It's one thing for UK to lose games. OF COURSE we've lost games. But to go into games with an expectation of losing and rationalizing why it's OK? That sounds a hell of a lot more like the discussion I heard this week and last week going into the Florida and Alabama games. That's a problem.

 

[STL_Cat]

The bottom line here is people are reacting more strongly to these shitshow performances in November (which are getting worse than they were, buzzer beater wins over Miami (OH) have become losses to Evansville and Richmond) in part because we haven’t exactly been lighting it up in March in recent years either.

The retorts of “we’re always ready in March!” would fall a little less flat if we weren’t also in the middle of a Final Four drought as well.