Our Next Opp. is the Defending D2 National Champion

[bbnkat02]

Minn St. Mankato, the Mavericks won the D2 National Championship back in March.

They also became the first D2 program in FOURTY years to win both the men's and women's national title in D2 Basketball.

So, while it won't be elite competition like Bama or Duke, we will be playing a very very good team.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

They better guard the three

 

[ftp000]

119-55 Cats

 

[Montana81]

I watched some of their game against NW Missouri State in the D2 S16 as i was tracking Ben McCollums career. They should have lost. They were down 1 and NW Missouri was at the line for a 1 and 1 with 5 seconds left. Missed the front end and Mankato grabbed the rebound and came down and Luke Mayed them.

Mankato got the 1 seed and played their first 3 tourney games at home. That’s how it works in D2. NW Missouri was a 2 despite being ranked in the top 4 and their being 8 1 seeds in D2.

#2 vs #4 in the S16. Game was very low scoring. ended up 43-42 I think?

 

[ukwildcatwildfan]

I watched some of their game against NW Missouri State in the D2 S16 as i was tracking Ben McCollums career. They should have lost. They were down 1 and NW Missouri was at the line for a 1 and 1 with 5 seconds left. Missed the front end and Mankato grabbed the rebound and came down and Luke Mayed them.

Mankato got the 1 seed and played their first 3 tourney games at home. That’s how it works in D2. NW Missouri was a 2 despite being ranked in the top 4 and their being 8 1 seeds in D2.

#2 vs #4 in the S16. Game was very low scoring. ended up 43-42 I think?

Interesting… I don’t know what to make of that for the UK game but all I know is I want to see 100+ again.

 

[bbnkat02]

I watched some of their game against NW Missouri State in the D2 S16 as i was tracking Ben McCollums career. They should have lost. They were down 1 and NW Missouri was at the line for a 1 and 1 with 5 seconds left. Missed the front end and Mankato grabbed the rebound and came down and Luke Mayed them.

Mankato got the 1 seed and played their first 3 tourney games at home. That’s how it works in D2. NW Missouri was a 2 despite being ranked in the top 4 and their being 8 1 seeds in D2.

#2 vs #4 in the S16. Game was very low scoring. ended up 43-42 I think?

Yeah very low scoring game and a last second shot for them to get to the E8. That's part of it though.

It took luck for Virginia to win their title
Shoot, a couple of UCONN titles have been by luck (they were a last second shot in their own conference tourney from missing the big dance altogether).

All that to say, that we don't need to overlook them. We SHOULD easily win but remember this is a world where UofL lost to Wesleyan and 16 seeds have beaten 1 seeds, not once but twice now. Every opponent is worth giving your best.

 

[Montana81]

Yeah very low scoring game and a last second shot for them to get to the E8. That's part of it though.

It took luck for Virginia to win their title
Shoot, a couple of UCONN titles have been by luck (they were a last second shot in their own conference tourney from missing the big dance altogether).

All that to say, that we don't need to overlook them. We SHOULD easily win but remember this is a world where UofL lost to Wesleyan and 16 seeds have beaten 1 seeds, not once but twice now. Every opponent is worth giving your best.

Absolutely. Cant overlook anyone. Especially not a reigning champion.

I’m assuming they’ll try to make this game as ugly as possible. Theyll do whatever they can to keep us from getting out and running.

 

[AJG-15]

How many players from last year team are they bringing back?

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

I watched some of their game against NW Missouri State in the D2 S16 as i was tracking Ben McCollums career. They should have lost. They were down 1 and NW Missouri was at the line for a 1 and 1 with 5 seconds left. Missed the front end and Mankato grabbed the rebound and came down and Luke Mayed them.

Mankato got the 1 seed and played their first 3 tourney games at home. That’s how it works in D2. NW Missouri was a 2 despite being ranked in the top 4 and their being 8 1 seeds in D2.

#2 vs #4 in the S16. Game was very low scoring. ended up 43-42 I think?

It's not really Luke Maying them unless Higgins cheats for your team all night first.

 

[CRZ4UK]

Yeah very low scoring game and a last second shot for them to get to the E8. That's part of it though.

It took luck for Virginia to win their title
Shoot, a couple of UCONN titles have been by luck (they were a last second shot in their own conference tourney from missing the big dance altogether).

All that to say, that we don't need to overlook them. We SHOULD easily win but remember this is a world where UofL lost to Wesleyan and 16 seeds have beaten 1 seeds, not once but twice now. Every opponent is worth giving your best.

A couple of UCONN titles have been gifted to them by the officials.
I fixed it for you ……

 

[SemperFiCat]

I’m assuming they’ll try to make this game as ugly as possible. Theyll do whatever they can to keep us from getting out and rurunning.

I bet they focus on running what they normally would run. They are preparing for their season too. They'll focus on their own bread and butter, and figuring out their own lineups.

 

[P. Fanning]

A couple of UCONN titles have been gifted to them by the officials.
I fixed it for you ……

And they were lucky enough to run into a John Calipari coached team during two of their title runs.

 

[UKAlum84]

As we learned with our prior coach, you can have all the talent in the world...........and not win because your strategy to win is just not good enough.

Let's just keep it cool and play confident. Should win this next one.

 

[bbnkat02]

And they were lucky enough to run into a John Calipari coached team during two of their title runs.

I’m bummed about that 14 title game but man that was a bonus shot. Neither team was thought to be getting there. Nonetheless we still should’ve won it but Napier had to show off. And of course our good friend Shows was also present.

The one that really irks me is the FF in 2011 where freaking Kemba Walker of all people goes off. And we got Higginsed for the very first time. Lost that game by one damn point.

UConn is definitely up in the hate polls. They screwed us out of two titles. And was our last Maui Invitational opponent (which was an L).

Tubby is the only coach to beat UConn at UK. It’s seriously time for payback.

 

[bbnkat02]

As we learned with our prior coach, you can have all the talent in the world...........and not win because your strategy to win is just not good enough.

Let's just keep it cool and play confident. Should win this next one.

Cal had strategies? In all seriousness, when he did use them )and contrary to belief he did) we won some tough good games. Problem was he and the rest of the staff (minus Welch seemingly) were lazy and incompetent. I’ll pay good money to never have Chin around this program EVER again.

 

[UKAlum84]

yeah, i liked when we beat wichita st with the harrison twins. wonder if cal made that 3 happen?

 

[kyboy1998_rivals34276]

A couple of UCONN titles have been gifted to them by the officials.
I fixed it for you ……

A couple of UConns titles are gifted by us.

 

[CRZ4UK]

A couple of UConns titles are gifted by us.

U do remember the out of bounds free throw foul by John Higgins right?? Someone play it for this dude. Smh. It was played on loop for years

 

[RunninRichie]

I’m bummed about that 14 title game but man that was a bonus shot. Neither team was thought to be getting there. Nonetheless we still should’ve won it but Napier had to show off. And of course our good friend Shows was also present.

The one that really irks me is the FF in 2011 where freaking Kemba Walker of all people goes off. And we got Higginsed for the very first time. Lost that game by one damn point.

UConn is definitely up in the hate polls. They screwed us out of two titles. And was our last Maui Invitational opponent (which was an L).

Tubby is the only coach to beat UConn at UK. It’s seriously time for payback.

? Cal beat them in MSG in 2009.

 

[bbnkat02]

? Cal beat them in MSG in 2009.

Ah, my bad. I flipped the 2006 and 2009 games.

 

[bbnkat02]

A couple of UConns titles are gifted by us.

Nope. We lost one of those by one point (the Higgins game in the FF where I believe Napier/Walker flopped like a fish and was awarded 2 shots. We never even touched him.)

The title game in 2014 was the year I believe UConn needed a buzzer beater in their own conference tourney to make it to the dance. So, that was indeed pure damn luck (same for us to be honest). We lost both games by a combined 7 points. Hardly gifts.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Probably only win by 60 then.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Nope. We lost one of those by one point (the Higgins game in the FF where I believe Napier/Walker flopped like a fish and was awarded 2 shots. We never even touched him.)

The title game in 2014 was the year I believe UConn needed a buzzer beater in their own conference tourney to make it to the dance. So, that was indeed pure damn luck (same for us to be honest). We lost both games by a combined 7 points. Hardly gifts.

Agreed.

People also ignore WCS being injured in 2014. We missed him badly that game. I believe either poy or Randle got hurt in the final r game and wasn't 100% either for title game. Injuries matter. See Anderson in 1997, brown n 1993, Casey way back in the day, etc.

And Kanter not being made eligible in 2011 was bs as well.

 

[Anon1658882690]

How many players from last year team are they bringing back?

Lost 3 of their 5 best players think I saw on twitter..

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

And they were lucky enough to run into a John Calipari coached team during two of their title runs.

and Higgins on the whistle.

 

[SandyBell'sFaxMachine]

Nope. We lost one of those by one point (the Higgins game in the FF where I believe Napier/Walker flopped like a fish and was awarded 2 shots. We never even touched him.)

The title game in 2014 was the year I believe UConn needed a buzzer beater in their own conference tourney to make it to the dance. So, that was indeed pure damn luck (same for us to be honest). We lost both games by a combined 7 points. Hardly gifts.

No, they needed the buzzer beater in their conference tourney in 2011. Kemba made it. He wasn't there in 2014.

Louisville won the conference tourney championship in 2014, the AAC. The buzzer beater was in the quarterfinals of the big east tourney.

 

[bbnkat02]

No, they needed the buzzer beater in their conference tourney in 2011. Kemba made it. He wasn't there in 2014.

Louisville won the conference tourney championship in 2014, the AAC. The buzzer beater was in the quarterfinals of the big east tourney.

I couldn't remember which it was. Either way, both those years, they lucked into a title.

 

[SandyBell'sFaxMachine]

I couldn't remember which it was. Either way, both those years, they lucked into a title.

You are right about that. I think the 2011 run was the luckiest thing I've ever personally seen. Needed 5 wins in the conference tourney to even get into the tournament then won it all. Meanwhile our luck is being the better team and getting screwed quite a bit.

Hopefully that luck changes now because it seemed like the refs that were active then had a vendetta against Cal moreso than us. Pope is very likeable.

 

[Cleatortoises]

Cats by 90.

 

[bbnkat02]

You are right about that. I think the 2011 run was the luckiest thing I've ever personally seen. Needed 5 wins in the conference tourney to even get into the tournament then won it all. Meanwhile our luck is being the better team and getting screwed quite a bit.

Hopefully that luck changes now because it seemed like the refs that were active then had a vendetta against Cal moreso than us. Pope is very likeable.

Going to be interesting to see how Arky is officiated. That will shed some light I'm sure.

 

[kennyskywalker34]

Minn St. Mankato, the Mavericks won the D2 National Championship back in March.

They also became the first D2 program in FOURTY years to win both the men's and women's national title in D2 Basketball.

So, while it won't be elite competition like Bama or Duke, we will be playing a very very good team.

Charles Ingles and Isiah Edwards are a solid backcourt for them. But UK must stop their big man Jonathan Garvey.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

Yeah very low scoring game and a last second shot for them to get to the E8. That's part of it though.

It took luck for Virginia to win their title
Shoot, a couple of UCONN titles have been by luck (they were a last second shot in their own conference tourney from missing the big dance altogether).

All that to say, that we don't need to overlook them. We SHOULD easily win but remember this is a world where UofL lost to Wesleyan and 16 seeds have beaten 1 seeds, not once but twice now. Every opponent is worth giving your best.

It could be argued that every single one of UConn's titles were lucky as hell...excepting last year's. They've stolen two that should be in our trophy case...

 

[know1]

It could be argued that every single one of UConn's titles were lucky as hell...excepting last year's. They've stolen two that should be in our trophy case...

Is it stealing if they are given to you? Cal was very generous in that regard.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

I guess if you can't play D-1 teams in these things, this is the next best thing. Get the best D2 team LOL

 

[StubbornPenny]

Agreed.

People also ignore WCS being injured in 2014. We missed him badly that game. I believe either poy or Randle got hurt in the final r game and wasn't 100% either for title game. Injuries matter. See Anderson in 1997, brown n 1993, Casey way back in the day, etc.

And Kanter not being made eligible in 2011 was bs as well.

Both poy and Randle were hurt. Poy tweaked his knee in a celebration, which in retrospect was probably a partial tear as it tore the next season. Randle was dealing with a leg injury I think and want as effective.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

It could be argued that every single one of UConn's titles were lucky as hell...excepting last year's. They've stolen two that should be in our trophy case...

UCONN won every game in the 2023 ncaa tournament by double digits. Not much luck the last 2 times they have won. Just domination.

And luck plays a role in many champs. I'm sure if we reviewed our 2011 and 2014 teams ncaa tournament games there were some breaks to advance. Calipari used to be decent at winning close ncaa tourney games. Sadly after Wisconsin that changed for the worse too.

 

[yoshukai]

And they were lucky enough to run into a John Calipari coached team during two of their title runs.

Who refused to play zone.

 

[maysvilleky]

Absolutely. Cant overlook anyone. Especially not a reigning champion.

I’m assuming they’ll try to make this game as ugly as possible. Theyll do whatever they can to keep us from getting out and running.

My daughter attends Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN. Right thru tunnel from Middlesboro, KY.

LMU is a top 10 - 20 D2 school. They are a high volume 3 pt shooting team. Fun team to watch. A UK/LMU matchup would be an up and down game. I guarantee LMU wouldn’t be in the 40s or 50s. Might get beat 110 - 70… but they wouldn’t be shy about getting their shots up.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

And luck plays a role in many champs. I'm sure if we reviewed our 2011 and 2014 teams ncaa tournament games there were some breaks to advance. Calipari used to be decent at winning close ncaa tourney games. Sadly after Wisconsin that changed for the worse too.

This is true but conversely I also feel like we had some unlucky breaks in 2017 and 2019.

I always wondered if those four years happened in reverse, if Cal would probably still be coaching here.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Minn St. Mankato, the Mavericks won the D2 National Championship back in March.

They also became the first D2 program in FOURTY years to win both the men's and women's national title in D2 Basketball.

So, while it won't be elite competition like Bama or Duke, we will be playing a very very good team.

Very good in D2 doesn’t translate well against very good high major teams.