Playing without fear...

[MdWIldcat55]

How satisfying it is to watch a team that, with all its imperfections, with its challenges on defense, with a lack of elite athleticism and a dominating star, plays absolutely without fear.

Mississippi State is a legitimate top 15 team, and is very physical and aggressive. Playing at home on a long winning streak they came back from a deep deficit and appeared to have the game in reach. Many teams -- probably most teams -- playing today, whoever is coaching them, would have tanked.

But the Cats continued to take -- and hit -- clutch shots. I could name a critical shot taken without fear by at least six guys.

I don't know how far this team will go, or how the season will play out. But to be able to back a team that is instilling a Culture of Fearlessness in Lexington has already made this the most rewarding season in a long team.

 

[Aike]

We even had a bad dry stretch from around the 4 minute to 1 minute mark or so.

But JR and LB both stepped up with huge makes at the end.

Love the resiliency.

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

How satisfying it is to watch a team that, with all its imperfections, with its challenges on defense, with a lack of elite athleticism and a dominating star, plays absolutely without fear.

Mississippi State is a legitimate top 15 team, and is very physical and aggressive. Playing at home on a long winning streak they came back from a deep deficit and appeared to have the game in reach. Many teams -- probably most teams -- playing today, whoever is coaching them, would have tanked.

But the Cats continued to take -- and hit -- clutch shots. I could name a critical shot taken without fear by at least six guys.

I don't know how far this team will go, or how the season will play out. But to be able to back a team that is instilling a Culture of Fearlessness in Lexington has already made this the most rewarding season in a long team.

I thought the 6 pt. trip was gonna be a backbreaker for us. Super gutsy display to regroup from that in that environment, and pull out the W. Proud as a peacock of last night's performance, I am.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I thought the 6 pt. trip was gonna be a backbreaker for us. Super gutsy display to regroup from that in that environment, and pull out the W. Proud as a peacock of last night's performance, I am.

Same! I was having flashbacks of past games with played just like that, causing us to eventually lose.

 

[Trinity45]

How satisfying it is to watch a team that, with all its imperfections, with its challenges on defense, with a lack of elite athleticism and a dominating star, plays absolutely without fear.

Mississippi State is a legitimate top 15 team, and is very physical and aggressive. Playing at home on a long winning streak they came back from a deep deficit and appeared to have the game in reach. Many teams -- probably most teams -- playing today, whoever is coaching them, would have tanked.

But the Cats continued to take -- and hit -- clutch shots. I could name a critical shot taken without fear by at least six guys.

I don't know how far this team will go, or how the season will play out. But to be able to back a team that is instilling a Culture of Fearlessness in Lexington has already made this the most rewarding season in a long team.

It is all about the coach, Pope instills a calm demeanor and these guys don't panic, they trust each other.

 

[Myotis]

Proud as a peacock of last night's performance, I am.

Look back on this team with pride, we will.

 

[JumperJack]

Yep. Multiple times this year I’ve marveled at the guts shown in taking and hitting huge shots. Always seem confident.

 

[ukwildcatwildfan]

At risk of looking ahead, I’m excited for Pope to get his first NCAA win out of the way so that isn’t a storyline anymore. Hopefully his first several NCAA wins, in fact. Because with the way this team plays with confidence and, as you say, without fear, it seems like he’ll have teams really well suited for tournament play.

 

[sambowieshin_rivals]

If Cal was still here we would be 0-3 in conference right now. We would have lost big to Duke. Lost to the Zags.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

It is all about the coach, Pope instills a calm demeanor and these guys don't panic, they trust each other.

It's also because you have guys that are 22 and 23 years old

 

[littlecreek]

It's also because you have guys that are 22 and 23 years old

And it's this reason that I have confidence that this team can have a deep run in the NCAA tournament. This is the type of team that always gave our former coach's teams trouble. Also this team plays for each other and they admittedly say that they are playing for the name on the front of the jersey and for BBN. You gotta love this team, very comparable to the Unforgettables.