Next game is always the biggest for Kentucky -- but Wildcats crave revenge with next ranked foe: 'It definitely matters.'

The Kentucky Wildcats have stuck to the script since Mark Pope first arrived in Lexington, treating every game as if it’s the biggest on their schedule. Last year, Wright State and Bucknell were the same as Duke and Louisville. You can’t overlook teams when you have a target on your back playing for the winningest tradition in college basketball history — Evansville sure made the most of that in 2019, despite coming in ranked No. 294 nationally by KenPom.

Growing up in Kentucky, Trent Noah knows exactly why you respect every team that comes through that door, because you’re always going to get their best. An old friend once said it was everyone’s Super Bowl when you got a shot at the Wildcats, because it’s true.

Even Tennessee Tech, ranked No. 322 nationally with a 3-3 record on the year and losses to Western Kentucky, Charlotte and West Georgia, deserves this program’s respect. They are led by an Unforgettable in John Pelphrey, after all — he sure knows how to win in that building.

“Well, they’re a good team,” Noah said Monday. “I mean, we always say that our next game is always our biggest game, and that’s what we’re all trying to lean into and buy into, because it is the truth. And once you play those games, you kind of realize that they’re coached by a great coach. They’re very skilled, especially on the perimeter. So we’ll have to go in, do what we do, and come out with a win.”

Asked the same question a few minutes later about his early thoughts on the Golden Eagles? Same answer.

“They’ll be a well-coached team,” Noah added. “I mean, they’ll know what’s going on. They’ll come in with an agenda to win. So, like I said, our next game is our biggest game and we’ve got to go in with that mentality.”

Even Andrija Jelavic, who is just six games into his time as a college basketball player and learning the landscape — he didn’t grow up watching Tennessee Tech, admittedly — is learning quickly.

“I don’t know much about them. I mean, I know the players, I know the scouting,” Jelavic said. “But it’s definitely going to be — the game is a game, the opponent is an opponent. I heard their coach is a famous Kentucky player, an ex-Kentucky player, so they’ll definitely be motivated coming here to Rupp Arena.

“We just have to answer from the first second, show them that they got nothing on us here and that we’re going to show our dominance and play our game and win that game, and then prepare the best way possible for the next game — which we know is really important for us.”

Wait, what was that? Ah, yes. No. 16 North Carolina comes to town exactly one week from today, led by former Kentucky target Caleb Wilson, averaging a double-double with 20.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per contest. The Tar Heels are undefeated at 5-0 and tied for first in the ACC, the next chance for the Wildcats to prove themselves on the big stage after failing in both opportunities up to this point at Louisville and in the Champions Classic vs. Michigan State.

There is a balance there, understanding the non-negotiable that is taking this season one step at a time and, again, treating every game as the biggest of the season — but also obsessing over getting the bad taste of those two losses out of their mouths. It’s both.

“It can be a trap to think ahead of some opponents. We need to focus on Tennessee Tech,” Jelavic continued. “But, of course, like I said, we all know we’re not going to lie to ourselves that the Tennessee Tech (game) is the same as the North Carolina (game). We really want to beat ranked opponents and show our value that we can do it. It definitely matters. But, like I said, we want the best record we can have and that’s winning your games no matter who the opponent is.”

Part of it is knowing they have let the most passionate fans in the sport down up to this point after so much hype throughout the offseason. They came in with legitimate championship expectations and, as of today, the Wildcats haven’t looked the part.

With that has come critics growing louder and louder about roster management and cost — “This is what $22 million gets you?” is a common one.

They want to prove they’re worth every penny, and they’ve done that plenty against the low-majors.

“There is, of course, outside noise, but I just like that. I mean, it just shows that people care about Kentucky. They care about us, care about the results, and that’s the beautiful thing. I know that you’re as good as your last game, and if you win the next game and you win against North Carolina, you’re back on top instantly. It’s just like that. 

“We don’t take anything personally. We don’t take anything personally from the outside, but these losses we take personally.”

It’s not about proving they’re worthy to the national media and outsiders, but rather backing up their own optimism for fans craving the program’s first Final Four in a decade. They deserve it, and this team wants to do it for them.

These Wildcats can feel it with every win and loss — exactly how it should be.

“I was warned about it,” Jelavic said of the fan reaction to the highs and lows. “It’s like ten times even better and bigger, and I just like that. You play for something like that, you live for something like that, and that’s why I hate losing here because it’s just disappointing these fans.

“It’s painful, and we just can’t wait for these games to make it up to them and celebrate big wins for them.”