What if the schedule was like it was for years?

[Rainmaker]

What if to this point on December 9th we played the typical UK schedule and our only loss was the State Farm classic and we got handled by MSU by 17. We beat down the quad 4 teams like we have been and also sprinkled in one quad 2 one and a few quad 3. Not playing any of the tougher OOC games yet and we’re sitting at 8-1 instead of 5-4 coming into the same upcoming games and adding the typical new years time game against Louisville. Would your outlook of the team and season be different?

Historically we would be 8-1 even with this years team and most likely be top 10 ranked still and looking forward to the Indiana and Louisville upcoming “challenging” games before conference play. The fact the games fell in a different order than normal and our OOC schedule includes 2-3 extra tough games than it normally would has really hurt the expectations and outlook on this years squad. Don’t get me wrong we’ve looked like absolute dog and I’m as let down as any that Pope hasn’t seemed to make any adjustments and that players effort has been non existent. The fact they don’t seem to be bothered by losing and have that competitive mindset kills me to watch. That being said though, in a typical UK schedule we’d be 8-1 or 7-2 and heading into the rest of December in the top 10 or top 15 or better and with a much better attitude and outlook on our ceiling as a team.

This post in no way excuses our awful play but just putting into perspective is all. If we want to save this season we have to win the next 4 games. It’s possible, but Pope must take charge and lead his team.

 

[Goingfor9]

The season started earlier that’s all that happpened. And I would say this team loses some quad 2 games. UNC for instance is probably quad 2. It shouldn’t matter when these games are played when you cane tune up vs Purdue and Georgetown in October. And look if you can’t play the schedule don’t schedule it. I have yet to read where any team has an advantage as everyone started at the same time. I think pope is afraid to lose to a cupcake so he schedules all quad 1 and quad 4 that’s the way it was last year and he’s done it again.

 

[Rick Honcho]

You talking UKIT-the-way-it-used-to-be?

 

[megablue]

With all the NIL$$$ involved now, fans and boosters are demanding the big match-ups and top-tier games. It just make sense.

 

[MegaBlue05]

On one hand, Kentucky has prided itself in “any time, any place.” On the other, most years recently was a cupcake heavy November + champions classic. Then by second week of December we play marquee OOC games every Saturday until conference play.

In the past, this was to let Cal’s young teams play together before facing their bigger OOC tests. That approach might’ve helped here a little this season. I do think playing a rivalry game of the road in early November is not a good idea.

I assume this year’s schedule was mostly locked in beforehand. A loaded OOC is a double edged sword - win all your big games and have a very nice resume, lose them all and risk missing the tournament. Unfortunately for this team, the latter appears to be the case.

 

[BlueBomb]

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Oh we're back on the "Cal didn't schedule tough" take? lol.

Last year we played Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Clemson, OSU... and mostly nobodies for the rest
Year before that we played Kansas, Gonzaga, Louisville, UNC, Miam.. and mostly nobodies for the rest
Year before that it was MSU, Gonzaga, Louisville (almost like a ******* pattern, right?), Kansas, Michigan, UCLA.
In 2002 Tubby played: UNC, Duke, UofL, IU.
In 1996 Pitino played 4 ranked teams


I don't see any real difference here. And if you want to talk about the addition of cupcakes in the last 15 years.. thats across the entire sport. Duke this year played: Army, West Carolina, Niagra, Howard, Lipscomb, Indiana state.

 

[Drogon]

Maybe the home schedule was never what some wanted, but Kentucky absolutely did play tough non-conference neutral court games under Cal(from my recollection anyway)

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Maybe the home schedule was never what some wanted, but Kentucky absolutely did play tough non-conference neutral court games under Cal

It doesn't matter what he did, to fans like the OP. He could have scheduled the 2017 Golden State Warriors and they'd have bitched about it.

 

[akaukswoosh]

What if to this point on December 9th we played the typical UK schedule and our only loss was the State Farm classic and we got handled by MSU by 17. We beat down the quad 4 teams like we have been and also sprinkled in one quad 2 one and a few quad 3. Not playing any of the tougher OOC games yet and we’re sitting at 8-1 instead of 5-4 coming into the same upcoming games and adding the typical new years time game against Louisville. Would your outlook of the team and season be different?

Historically we would be 8-1 even with this years team and most likely be top 10 ranked still and looking forward to the Indiana and Louisville upcoming “challenging” games before conference play. The fact the games fell in a different order than normal and our OOC schedule includes 2-3 extra tough games than it normally would has really hurt the expectations and outlook on this years squad. Don’t get me wrong we’ve looked like absolute dog and I’m as let down as any that Pope hasn’t seemed to make any adjustments and that players effort has been non existent. The fact they don’t seem to be bothered by losing and have that competitive mindset kills me to watch. That being said though, in a typical UK schedule we’d be 8-1 or 7-2 and heading into the rest of December in the top 10 or top 15 or better and with a much better attitude and outlook on our ceiling as a team.

This post in no way excuses our awful play but just putting into perspective is all. If we want to save this season we have to win the next 4 games. It’s possible, but Pope must take charge and lead his team.