Kentucky's run of postseason slip ups continues with loss to Kansas State
Kentucky had their chances in the Round of 32 against Kansas State this afternoon. The Wildcats led their opponent by as much as eight both in the first half as well as the second. However, now that the outcome went in favor of Jerome Tang’s team, the recent run of postseason shortcomings for UK has added yet another installment.
Over the last three seasons where a postseason was played, Kentucky has won just a single game in the NCAA Tournament. They missed the field in 2021, were upset by Saint Peter’s in 2022, and leave 2023 with only a win over Providence to show for it. Combine the last eight seasons together and the results have been quite frustrating to those in the Bluegrass.
From 2015 to 2019, Kentucky was at least consistently making it to the second weekend. Those four years featured one loss in the second round, one in the Sweet 16, and two in the Elite Eight.
Since then, though, John Calipari and his Wildcats have been unable to get over the hump. While there’s nothing they could have done about the canceled tournament in 2020, the last three seasons have come up far short of expectations in Lexington.
From here, they’ll head into the offseason, search their souls, and once again retool for another season. That campaign will have just as much pressure placed upon it though, if not more so now, considering UK’s recent stretch come March Madness.
LOOK: Oscar Tshiebwe dejected following Kentucky’s loss vs Kansas State
Not all losses are created equally, and Kentucky suffered from a tough one on Sunday. The Wildcats were defeated by Kansas State in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Sunday’s loss marks the third straight season Kentucky was unable to reach the Sweet 16. However, it could also mark the last game in the blue and white for star center Oscar Tshiebwe.
Tshiebwe returned to Kentucky this year after a stellar season with the Wildcats last season. In 2022, he took home the Naismith Trophy, the Wooden Award, and won National Player of the Year unanimously. He likely returned with a deep NCAA Tournament run heavy on his mind and heart. Still, unfortunately for him, that became a lost cause on Sunday.
He still had a classic Tshiebwe signature performance, ending the afternoon with 25 points and 18 rebounds. But his impressive performance was shadowed by the heartbreaking loss. Then, in the locker room, he was seen completely dejected following the game.