What has happened to my excitment?

[OldCatFan]

I have been a lifelong fan of UK basketball.

I remember during the 65-66 season, listening to every game on the radio and keeping stats for both teams. I remember the heartbreak ateenager feels when his team loses the NCAA championship against Texas Western. I remember being awed by Louie, Pat, Tommy, Chad and Larry. I remember big Dan Issel and all the others over the years. I remember being overseas and waiting for the local paper to come in batches so I could read about the Cats while lying in a foxhole waiting for another attack. I remember lying in a hospital in D.C. asking for a radio so I could listen to games with other patients. I remember when Coach Rupp retired and Coach Hall stepped in. I remember the loss in 1984 in the Semi-Finals. I remember the down years and the shame under Sutton, the resurgance under Rick with his championship and reaching the finals the following year, and Tubby's national championship.

During all these times, before every game, my heart would start beating faster and I would pace the floor waiting for the game to start. When we would get behind, as we did at LSU before the great comeback, I always expected a big comeback and a win. I never doubted.

Sadly, I realized during the Mauigames that the old excitement is just no longer there. When I realized this, I felt heart-broken that I had came to this point. I still do and will always love the Cats and UK Basketball. However, I have come to realize that for the last 3 or 4 years, the thrill is no longer there. Maybe this is just because I am getting older and no longer have the energy that I once had. Maybe I am just resigned to the fact that we are not the UK of the past and just have to learn to live with the present and the future.

Please don't misunderstand me, I still hold the Cats dear to my heart and will until the day that I die. I will continue watching and attending games when I can, but I don't know if the excitment will every return.

I don't reallyblame any one person and this is not a Coach Smith bash. Hopefully, one day things will change and I can get excited again and get that old nervous feeling in the stomach before games.

[delkfor3]

My excitement has been dashed as well. You know maybe I set the bar too high for this team, but on the other WE ARE KENTUCKY, our hopes for our team should never be dashed. like you, I am a KENTUCKY fan for life, win or lose....

[ukfanman]

As a person who has shared the same basketball memories as you, this is exactly how I feel.

I'm getting old and my priorities have changed. My parents arenow gone, my wife has survived cancer, a grandaughter died when she was 18 months old, have 2 other grandchildren to whom I spoil rotten, have a son who survived Iraq. Now that is important to me.

I now sit down watch a game and accept it as just a game. Don't hit the wife, kick the dog or punch the wall when we lose. There's always next game to enjoy.

Somewhere on my list of things in life, Kentucky basketball, and football,probably comes in around pretty close to the bottom of my priority in things I consider important. It's just a game and we should all remember that.

[Spanish Moss]

OldCatFan, age and energy are not the problem. The day before my dad died we were talking UK basketball and he was as anxious to see the new season start as he had been all the years in the past.

What you explained and illustrated is also seen in many fans who are 30 years old. The excitement is gone for them and they are apathetic. Many of the young posters may not understand what you are saying and may not relate to it.

I think the excitement will return when the fire is rekindled. We are going through a period that is strange to many of us but Tubby Smith will have a chance to turn this around and bring excitement back to Kentucky basketball. He may not be able to do it because he does not have that charismatic personality but winning will still cure all.
We really need a hero along with an elite team. We miss the star player that all the world knows about. A Dan Issel type All American. Someone who is on Sports Center over and over again. We have not had anyone like that in a long time.

Keep the faith.

[Wildcatcrazy11]

Spanish Moss wrote: What you explained and illustrated is also seen in many fans who are 30 years old. The excitement is gone for them and they are apathetic. Many of the young posters may not understand what you are saying and may not relate to it.



Coming from a young poster, who has witnessedthe two titles in 96 and 98, i think it might be the age/energy that is causing a lack of excitement. That feeling that oldcat explained, heart beating faster, andhaving no doubt of a comeback is the best way i can describe how i feel watching a game. Ive struggled through thelast couple years as a fan, but the excitement isstill there.

There's something about UK basketballthat for me will never change regardless of if we are a national title contender or a top 30 team, or a team looking to jsut make the tourney (i hope it never reaches this point, but ill still love em to death). Maybe its my energy, but for me this season and every game it includes is still just as exciting as pitino in 96, tubby in 98, tayshaun prince, watching the respect UK gets in "Glory Road." I still get that excitement wakingup in the morning throwing on a UK shirt and being proud to call myself a wildcat.

[Spanish Moss]

Wildcatcrazy11 wrote: Spanish Moss wrote: What you explained and illustrated is also seen in many fans who are 30 years old. The excitement is gone for them and they are apathetic. Many of the young posters may not understand what you are saying and may not relate to it.



Coming from a young poster, who has witnessedthe two titles in 96 and 98, i think it might be the age/energy that is causing a lack of excitement. That feeling that oldcat explained, heart beating faster, andhaving no doubt of a comeback is the best way i can describe how i feel watching a game. Ive struggled through thelast couple years as a fan, but the excitement isstill there.

There's something about UK basketballthat for me will never change regardless of if we are a national title contender or a top 30 team, or a team looking to jsut make the tourney (i hope it never reaches this point, but ill still love em to death). Maybe its my energy, but for me this season and every game it includes is still just as exciting as pitino in 96, tubby in 98, tayshaun prince, watching the respect UK gets in "Glory Road." I still get that excitement wakingup in the morning throwing on a UK shirt and being proud to call myself a wildcat.

Do you think the excitement can ever return for fans like OldCatFan?

[Wildcatcrazy11]

Spanish Moss wrote: Wildcatcrazy11 wrote: Spanish Moss wrote: What you explained and illustrated is also seen in many fans who are 30 years old. The excitement is gone for them and they are apathetic. Many of the young posters may not understand what you are saying and may not relate to it.



Coming from a young poster, who has witnessedthe two titles in 96 and 98, i think it might be the age/energy that is causing a lack of excitement. That feeling that oldcat explained, heart beating faster, andhaving no doubt of a comeback is the best way i can describe how i feel watching a game. Ive struggled through thelast couple years as a fan, but the excitement isstill there.

There's something about UK basketballthat for me will never change regardless of if we are a national title contender or a top 30 team, or a team looking to jsut make the tourney (i hope it never reaches this point, but ill still love em to death). Maybe its my energy, but for me this season and every game it includes is still just as exciting as pitino in 96, tubby in 98, tayshaun prince, watching the respect UK gets in "Glory Road." I still get that excitement wakingup in the morning throwing on a UK shirt and being proud to call myself a wildcat.

Do you think the excitement can ever return for fans like OldCatFan?


I sure hope so... like you said its going to have to come with a new spark, a clutch player, maybea new coach... which honestly isnt as far away as some "bashers" might like to think. I think it can happen under tubby and that clutch player might be jasper, meeks, PS, even carter or harris who we havent seen yet, who knows really.

All I can say to fans like oldcatfan is THANK YOU. people like you have eat slept and breathed blue your entire life, and have had a huge part in the rich tradition of kentucky basketball. Personally i hope to do the same.

[ukcatfan]

The tipping point of the program began March 31, 1998.

[KapitalCat]

I think this years version of KY ball can be exciting with guys like Meeks, Jasper, and Stevenson. These guys play hard and love the game. However, I understand where you are coming from. The program does feel just a tad stale. A couple of things would help. It would truly help if KY brought in Patrick Patterson. This kid is a stud and would start on THIS years KY team. Jai Lucas would bring excitement to the program too. I also think, it would not such a bad thing if Rigot or Hobbs found head coaching jobs. An infusion of new ways of looking at the game and the program might also be a good thing.

[Littlemeyer]

Spanish Moss wrote: What you explained and illustrated is also seen in many fans who are 30 years old. The excitement is gone for them and they are apathetic. Many of the young posters may not understand what you are saying and may not relate to it.

Maybe its different down south than it is here. I know MANY 30-year old fans who 'get it'. I'd like to think I'm one of them. Just because we're not old enough to have lived through many of the program's bright spots doesn't mean we're not aware of them, and respect the hell out of them. Having parents and grand-parents who are fans helps a lot too.

There are already quasi-battle lines being drawn between the "Tubby Apologists" and the "Bashers". I'd hate to see that line extend to divide us by age. :cool:

[Stretch]

Time has a way of glossing over some extremely disappointing episodes in the "good old days" version of the history of UK Basketball. Granted, UK fans were deeply committed to the Rupp's Runts team that was so close to a national championship. What is often forgotten, however, is that Coach Rupp never returned to the Final Four and the remaining years of his tenure were plagued by spotty recruiting and underachievement. The very next season, with the All-Americans Riley and Dampier returning for their senior year, the record was a dismal 13-13. The record improved in subsequent years but there was little post-season success to show for it:

losing in a rare tournament home game to unranked Ohio State in 1968

losing in the first round to Marquette in 1969

being ranked #1 in 1970 but losing to Jacksonville

blown out by Western Kentucky in 1971

blown out by Florida State in 1972

Our selective memories sometimes play tricks; those golden years weren't quite so golden after all.

[ukfanman]

Stretch wrote: Time has a way of glossing over some extremely disappointing episodes in the "good old days" version of the history of UK Basketball. Granted, UK fans were deeply committed to the Rupp's Runts team that was so close to a national championship. What is often forgotten, however, is that Coach Rupp never returned to the Final Four and the remaining years of his tenure were plagued by spotty recruiting and underachievement. The very next season, with the All-Americans Riley and Dampier returning for their senior year, the record was a dismal 13-13. The record improved in subsequent years but there was little post-season success to show for it:

losing in a rare tournament home game to unranked Ohio State in 1968

losing in the first round to Marquette in 1969

being ranked #1 in 1970 but losing to Jacksonville

blown out by Western Kentucky in 1971

blown out by Florida State in 1972

Our selective memories sometimes play tricks; those golden years weren't quite so golden after all.






And had we had the internet, and all these wonderful sports forums that we now enjoy, there would have been among the "faithful"who would have beencalling for Rupps head on a silver platter.

[wade31]

Wildcatcrazy11 wrote: Spanish Moss wrote: What you explained and illustrated is also seen in many fans who are 30 years old. The excitement is gone for them and they are apathetic. Many of the young posters may not understand what you are saying and may not relate to it.



Coming from a young poster, who has witnessedthe two titles in 96 and 98, i think it might be the age/energy that is causing a lack of excitement. That feeling that oldcat explained, heart beating faster, andhaving no doubt of a comeback is the best way i can describe how i feel watching a game. Ive struggled through thelast couple years as a fan, but the excitement isstill there.

There's something about UK basketballthat for me will never change regardless of if we are a national title contender or a top 30 team, or a team looking to jsut make the tourney (i hope it never reaches this point, but ill still love em to death). Maybe its my energy, but for me this season and every game it includes is still just as exciting as pitino in 96, tubby in 98, tayshaun prince, watching the respect UK gets in "Glory Road." I still get that excitement wakingup in the morning throwing on a UK shirt and being proud to call myself a wildcat.

Man I am 34, about to be 35, and I am just as excited about UK basketball as I was when I was 10.

[FrogtownRoadCat]

Stretch wrote: Time has a way of glossing over some extremely disappointing episodes in the "good old days" version of the history of UK Basketball. Granted, UK fans were deeply committed to the Rupp's Runts team that was so close to a national championship. What is often forgotten, however, is that Coach Rupp never returned to the Final Four and the remaining years of his tenure were plagued by spotty recruiting and underachievement. The very next season, with the All-Americans Riley and Dampier returning for their senior year, the record was a dismal 13-13. The record improved in subsequent years but there was little post-season success to show for it:

losing in a rare tournament home game to unranked Ohio State in 1968

losing in the first round to Marquette in 1969

being ranked #1 in 1970 but losing to Jacksonville

blown out by Western Kentucky in 1971

blown out by Florida State in 1972

Our selective memories sometimes play tricks; those golden years weren't quite so golden after all.
And to think UK has, this season,already matched the longest Final Four drought in school history (will exceed the longest drought in school history assuming no Final Four this year); this time, without the influences of probation or a coaching change.

[UKManGillispieFan71]

I beleive that any of the loss of excitement a fan of any age may experience is not due to any changes in our program so much as a change in the landscape of college basketball and sports in general. I canvividly remeber sitting in my mothers lap while listening to Cawood paint a mental image of KY battling on the hardwood in Tuscaloosa or Knoxville. We did this because we did not have the luxury of watching every game on televisionin Hi Def. We went to Midnight Madness in Memorial Colliseum to see who the new players were. Now we go to see if they are as good as they looked on their MySpace Videos. We used to take great pride in sending off a cherished player on Senior Day in Rupp and then watching the NBA Draft to see if they were selected. Now we get a great player and hope they are not too great imediately in hopes of having them for at least two years. The best high school talent used to select their college team based on the tradition of the program and the pride they would feel being able to wear that jersey. Now players choose based on the availability of playing time (Starting) as Freshman and coaches that allow them the freedom to "Showcase" their skills for a year or two in hopes of cashing in sooner rather than later. We are all victims of the transition to an instant gratification based society that values a "win at all costs" mentality where hanging Championship Banners is the only true indicator of success. I see all of the rants on these message boards bemoaning the downfall of UK Basketball under Tubby's watch and yearn for the return of the "Glory Days" that we had before he came. The saddest part is that the "Glory Days" most of these posts refer to are limited to the success of a span of 5 years in the90's. Before our Championshipin 96, the previous one was in 78. Before our Final Four of 93, the previous was 84. What has always made KY Basketball great was the passion of the fans and players, and the tradition that was built before most (not all) of the current group of "fans" were born. I may be a bit old school, but I loved the 92 team much more than the 96 team. To me, a great UK team is measured by the heart of the players andthe pride and love for the program they display.Any time I catch myself feeling let down by the performance of a current squad, I remember the thrill of watching Roger Hardin sink a game winning shot from half court or Rex Chapman almost single handedly dismantle Louisville. Great players and great teams are short lived, but the memories and the passion last a lifetime.

[FrogtownRoadCat]

UKManTubbyFan71 wrote: I beleive that any of the loss of excitement a fan of any age may experience is not due to any changes in our program so much as a change in the landscape of college basketball and sports in general. I canvividly remeber sitting in my mothers lap while listening to Cawood paint a mental image of KY battling on the hardwood in Tuscaloosa or Knoxville. We did this because we did not have the luxury of watching every game on televisionin Hi Def. We went to Midnight Madness in Memorial Colliseum to see who the new players were. Now we go to see if they are as good as they looked on their MySpace Videos. We used to take great pride in sending off a cherished player on Senior Day in Rupp and then watching the NBA Draft to see if they were selected. Now we get a great player and hope they are not too great imediately in hopes of having them for at least two years. The best high school talent used to select their college team based on the tradition of the program and the pride they would feel being able to wear that jersey. Now players choose based on the availability of playing time (Starting) as Freshman and coaches that allow them the freedom to "Showcase" their skills for a year or two in hopes of cashing in sooner rather than later. We are all victims of the transition to an instant gratification based society that values a "win at all costs" mentality where hanging Championship Banners is the only true indicator of success. I see all of the rants on these message boards bemoaning the downfall of UK Basketball under Tubby's watch and yearn for the return of the "Glory Days" that we had before he came. The saddest part is that the "Glory Days" most of these posts refer to are limited to the success of a span of 5 years in the90's. Before our Championshipin 96, the previous one was in 78. Before our Final Four of 93, the previous was 84. What has always made KY Basketball great was the passion of the fans and players, and the tradition that was built before most (not all) of the current group of "fans" were born. I may be a bit old school, but I loved the 92 team much more than the 96 team. To me, a great UK team is measured by the heart of the players andthe pride and love for the program they display.Any time I catch myself feeling let down by the performance of a current squad, I remember the thrill of watching Roger Hardin sink a game winning shot from half court or Rex Chapman almost single handedly dismantle Louisville. Great players and great teams are short lived, but the memories and the passion last a lifetime.My alltime favorite post, right here. Well said.

[joneagin]

OldCatFan wrote: However, I have come to realize that for the last 3 or 4 years, the thrill is no longer there.

You werent excited 3 years ago when we had a #1 seed going into the tourny? You werent excited when our top ranked freshman class and Sparks beat Louisville in a great comeback and then went all the way to the Elite 8 to lose in DOUBLE OVERTIME two years ago? I can understand not being excited last year...even though we played a fantastic game against UConn, but to say you havent been excited the past 3-4 years? Have not been watching?? I am just as excited now as I have ever been. How can you not be excited watching these freshman? I guess I just dont understand. I must be to young.

[bleedblue79]

UKManTubbyFan71 wrote: I beleive that any of the loss of excitement a fan of any age may experience is not due to any changes in our program so much as a change in the landscape of college basketball and sports in general. I canvividly remeber sitting in my mothers lap while listening to Cawood paint a mental image of KY battling on the hardwood in Tuscaloosa or Knoxville. We did this because we did not have the luxury of watching every game on televisionin Hi Def. We went to Midnight Madness in Memorial Colliseum to see who the new players were. Now we go to see if they are as good as they looked on their MySpace Videos. We used to take great pride in sending off a cherished player on Senior Day in Rupp and then watching the NBA Draft to see if they were selected. Now we get a great player and hope they are not too great imediately in hopes of having them for at least two years. The best high school talent used to select their college team based on the tradition of the program and the pride they would feel being able to wear that jersey. Now players choose based on the availability of playing time (Starting) as Freshman and coaches that allow them the freedom to "Showcase" their skills for a year or two in hopes of cashing in sooner rather than later. We are all victims of the transition to an instant gratification based society that values a "win at all costs" mentality where hanging Championship Banners is the only true indicator of success. I see all of the rants on these message boards bemoaning the downfall of UK Basketball under Tubby's watch and yearn for the return of the "Glory Days" that we had before he came. The saddest part is that the "Glory Days" most of these posts refer to are limited to the success of a span of 5 years in the90's. Before our Championshipin 96, the previous one was in 78. Before our Final Four of 93, the previous was 84. What has always made KY Basketball great was the passion of the fans and players, and the tradition that was built before most (not all) of the current group of "fans" were born. I may be a bit old school, but I loved the 92 team much more than the 96 team. To me, a great UK team is measured by the heart of the players andthe pride and love for the program they display.Any time I catch myself feeling let down by the performance of a current squad, I remember the thrill of watching Roger Hardin sink a game winning shot from half court or Rex Chapman almost single handedly dismantle Louisville. Great players and great teams are short lived, but the memories and the passion last a lifetime.

Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I have been searching for the words to say something along these lines for a while now.

I, as a fan, was in as much of a funk last season as the team was. I had become such a Chuck Hayes fan over his four seasons that it felt like something was missing for me last year. I got to thinking about it and remembered that this had happened to me before, after the 1975 Final Four season. Jimmy Dan Conner, Kevin Grevey, Bob Guyette, and Mike Flynn they were my team. I was a freshman, I went to all the games, my Dad and I went to Dayton to see them beat Indiana, it was a magical season. What could ever live up to that?

The excitement did come back, for me it always does. Kentucky Basketball survives the loss of coaches and favorite players, it survived the loss of Cawood(though he is still sorely missed). My passion for Kentucky Basketball has survived the deaths of both my parents, who instilled that passion in me when I was a child. I have tried my best to pass it on to the next generation of my family. Only time will tell if it has taken their hearts as it took mine.

The excitement came back to me this season with these freshmen. Wow these guys leave it all on the floor. I think they are going to be special. They just have that look about them. It probably won't be this season(they are after all freshmen), but I think they are going to take us places. Just my basketball lovin', blue bleedin' heart, big blue tinted glasses wearin' opinion.

GO BIG BLUE!!!

[Catdaddy]

[ukcatfan]

Stretch wrote: Time has a way of glossing over some extremely disappointing episodes in the "good old days" version of the history of UK Basketball. Granted, UK fans were deeply committed to the Rupp's Runts team that was so close to a national championship. What is often forgotten, however, is that Coach Rupp never returned to the Final Four and the remaining years of his tenure were plagued by spotty recruiting and underachievement. The very next season, with the All-Americans Riley and Dampier returning for their senior year, the record was a dismal 13-13. The record improved in subsequent years but there was little post-season success to show for it:

losing in a rare tournament home game to unranked Ohio State in 1968

losing in the first round to Marquette in 1969

being ranked #1 in 1970 but losing to Jacksonville

blown out by Western Kentucky in 1971

blown out by Florida State in 1972

Our selective memories sometimes play tricks; those golden years weren't quite so golden after all.







Stretch, you may be too young to remember, Riley hurt his back water skiing during the summer of 1966 and should have red-shirt instead of plaing.

Sorry to say that was a the end of Rupp's coaching career. It was embarrassing to hear him on the radio, he could not remember his players names and Cawood would have to tell him who he was talking about.

So sad, there was a mandatory retirement age at that time and Rupp departure was not friendly.

The loss to Marquette was on their home floor and did Al have the players and crowd worked into a frenzy. Al was the most hated man in Kentucky. Later found out that the reason he acted the way he did against KY was that he admired the UK program so much.

Remember Strecth, if it was not for Rupp, KY would not be where we are today.

[ukbob]

I guess excitement is what you make of it. I still get excited to watch the Cats play.

But I think there are factors which may contribute to your malady:

There is likely too much information about them. We have instant stats, "insiders" telling us all sorts of things about them, recruiting as a 2nd sport, message boards (good and bad), etc. We are overloaded with our Cats and every flaw is magnified. Fans are split on coach support and have been for years. We probably had negativity during other coach's tenures as well, but we never got up close and personally about them like we are able to these days.

But the telling stuff is really happening. We are 15-12 in our last27 games. That takes away momentum for fans to remain confident and excited about our future.

Sometimes it is hard to be a UK fan. And often times, these days at least, is is fatiguing.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

wade31 wrote:


Man I am 34, about to be 35, and I am just as excited about UK basketball as I was when I was 10.


:cool::cool::cool::cool: GO BIG BLUE!!!!

[lribookend]

OldCatFan,

I share your memories and feelings. I still watch every UK game I can, many I tape and watch a second time. But, there is a difference. I too have dealt with more serious things in life than a college basketball team's success. And although I still hate to lose (LOL), I don't let it get me down for days the way it did when I was younger.

I used to think that we had the best team, the best coaching and the most pride of any program in America. So, I always went in to each season thinking we would find a way to compete at the highest levels, and advance far into the tournament...and always had a legitimate chance of beating every opponent, and winning the national championship, even though thatseldom happened.

After a few games last year, my expectations changed. I began hoping that we would just play well, and not be totally blown out and embarrassed on national TV. I didn't think we could beat UConn last year, I only hoped we wouldn't bedestroyed. We lost, but I thought we played great and almost won. I was tempted to get excited again....new players, new S/Ccoach, etc.Beat DePaul, played very well against UCLA. Then, Memphis comes along and I began to see a tired team, unforced turnovers, over dribbling, poor spacing and passing, inability to defend the fast break, the three point shot or the lane, lack of rebounding,NBAish offense, lack of desire.Unfortunately,I am beginning to feel that same way this year, also. We play North Carolina next Saturday, and after watching Wright and Hansbrough (two players we had a great chance to sign on to UK), slice and dice the competition, I am notexpecting to trounce UNC, or even beat them. I am just hoping that we don't lose by 20 points. So for me, at least, there is a different level of emotional involvement and excitement last year and this year.

Over the past 3 or 4 years, even when we have had a great year and earned a high seed, we haven't had great NCAA tournaments. We no longer own the SEC tournament the way we used to. Much of the excitement is gone. I enjoyed watching Butler play basketball in the NIT almost as much as I enjoyed watching the 'Cats lose an uninspired game to Memphis. My, how times change.





When your confidence is shaken that badly, it is difficult to get too excited about the team.

[BigblueDrew]

What is important during this short period we roam this planet. Most of can agree on a few things, family, God, carreer, etc. Most important things are simply choices we make. For years I've chosen UK basketball as a place to invest my time and passion. Should I do it, who knows. It is fun, exciting and fills a need I have. After years of doing it I now have a lot of memories and traditionto bolster my passion for our game.Is it as exciting as it was ten years ago. The answer is NO, the reason to put it simply is Orlando Tubby Smith. With that said Has my passion for UK basketball waned . The answer is NO. I get up for our games just as much at 48 asI did when I dreamed of being Mike Pratt shooting baskets in the back yard. This is kind of like a marriage. Some years it is very exciting exhilarating, other years it's somewhat sedate or even difficult because of whats going on in your lives at the time. Regardless of your level of excitement you still feel the love. I wish we were riding the crest of that wave like ten years ago, it was marvelous. Alas we are not, in fact we are down in a trough. It not going to get better soon unfortunately(and will not until we summon the fortitude to make some changes), butI will still support my Cats just as passionately. Till death do us part, a choice I've made.

[nkycatsfan]

OldCatFan wrote:
I have been a lifelong fan of UK basketball.

I remember during the 65-66 season, listening to every game on the radio and keeping stats for both teams. I remember the heartbreak aÂ*teenager feels when his team loses the NCAA championship against Texas Western. I remember being awed by Louie, Pat, Tommy, Chad and Larry. IÂ* remember big Dan Issel and all the others over the years. I remember being overseas and waiting for the local paper to come in batches so I could read about the Cats while lying in a foxhole waiting for another attack. I remember lying in a hospital in D.C. asking for a radio so I could listen to games with other patients. I remember when Coach Rupp retired and Coach Hall stepped in. I remember the loss in 1984 in the Semi-Finals. I remember the down years and the shame under Sutton, the resurgance under Rick with his championship and reaching the finals the following year, Â*and Tubby's national championship.

During all these times, before every game, my heart would start beating faster and I would pace the floor waiting for the game to start. When we would get behind, as we did at LSU before the great comeback, I always expected a big comeback and a win. I never doubted.

Sadly, I realized during the MauiÂ*games that the old excitement is just no longer there. When I realized this, I felt heart-broken that I had came to this point. I still do and will always love the Cats and UK Basketball. However, I have come to realize that for the last 3 or 4 years, the thrill is no longer there. Maybe this is just because I am getting older and no longer have the energy that I once had. Maybe I am just resigned to the fact that we are not the UK of the past and just have to learn to live with the present and the future.

Please don't misunderstand me, I still hold the Cats dear to my heart and will until the day that I die. I will continue watching and attending games when I can, but I don't know if the excitment will every return.

I don't reallyÂ*blame any one person and this is not a Coach Smith bash. Â*Hopefully, one day things willÂ* change and I can get excited again and get that old nervous feeling in the stomach before games.

Â*


I'm 39 years old, been following the CATS since I was 7, and I must admit I feel the exact same way. My passion has slid over the past 5-7 years, team turmoil, the fighting between teammates, last years fiasco, its all just getting to be the same old news year in and year out. I'll always love the Wildcats and root for them til the very end, but the passion and excitement I've had for 32 years is slowing slipping away.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

:cool:Anyone who has the misfortuneto see me within sixty minutes of a tip knows something is going on with the weird dude...the excitment is still there for me...IMHO we need a big victory to recharge some of those batteries in WildcatNationville.

[RP_McMurphy]

Hard to get excited when you have more ten loss seasons than Final Four's over the last decade. Then add in Kentucky fans get bashed over the head every time we try to say anything about the decline of the program. So it's because it's easier to look the other way and not watch the decline of our beloved Wildcats.

[Stucat]

I hate to say it but I think I enjoyed Kentucky basketball more before we had the internet. There is so much information now that it is hard to absorb it all. I know I need my batteries recharged for a variety of reasons. Putting down Adolph Rupp after he got old is no way to make people feel better about Kentucky basketball. Just remember four of those seven National Championships that we love to brag about were won while he was Kentucky's coach.:wildcatface

[ukjp72]

UKManTubbyFan71 wrote: I beleive that any of the loss of excitement a fan of any age may experience is not due to any changes in our program so much as a change in the landscape of college basketball and sports in general. I canvividly remeber sitting in my mothers lap while listening to Cawood paint a mental image of KY battling on the hardwood in Tuscaloosa or Knoxville. We did this because we did not have the luxury of watching every game on televisionin Hi Def. We went to Midnight Madness in Memorial Colliseum to see who the new players were. Now we go to see if they are as good as they looked on their MySpace Videos. We used to take great pride in sending off a cherished player on Senior Day in Rupp and then watching the NBA Draft to see if they were selected. Now we get a great player and hope they are not too great imediately in hopes of having them for at least two years. The best high school talent used to select their college team based on the tradition of the program and the pride they would feel being able to wear that jersey. Now players choose based on the availability of playing time (Starting) as Freshman and coaches that allow them the freedom to "Showcase" their skills for a year or two in hopes of cashing in sooner rather than later. We are all victims of the transition to an instant gratification based society that values a "win at all costs" mentality where hanging Championship Banners is the only true indicator of success. I see all of the rants on these message boards bemoaning the downfall of UK Basketball under Tubby's watch and yearn for the return of the "Glory Days" that we had before he came. The saddest part is that the "Glory Days" most of these posts refer to are limited to the success of a span of 5 years in the90's. Before our Championshipin 96, the previous one was in 78. Before our Final Four of 93, the previous was 84. What has always made KY Basketball great was the passion of the fans and players, and the tradition that was built before most (not all) of the current group of "fans" were born. I may be a bit old school, but I loved the 92 team much more than the 96 team. To me, a great UK team is measured by the heart of the players andthe pride and love for the program they display.Any time I catch myself feeling let down by the performance of a current squad, I remember the thrill of watching Roger Hardin sink a game winning shot from half court or Rex Chapman almost single handedly dismantle Louisville. Great players and great teams are short lived, but the memories and the passion last a lifetime.
Well put! :thumbup:thumbup

[bluegrassking]

Stucat wrote: I hate to say it but I think I enjoyed Kentucky basketball more before we had the internet. There is so much information now that it is hard to absorb it all. I know I need my batteries recharged for a variety of reasons. Putting down Adolph Rupp after he got old is no way to make people feel better about Kentucky basketball. Just remember four of those seven National Championships that we love to brag about were won while he was Kentucky's coach.:wildcatface

AKA



The Tubby Smith era.

[TrueblueCATfan]

ukcatfan wrote: The tipping point of the program began March 31, 1998.
that is BS:X:X

[UKManGillispieFan71]

This questionis for anyone that has posted a comment on this thread about their decline in excitement during the Tubby Smith era. How many UK games do you vividly remember BEFORE the 1992-1998 era? If you answeredthis question honestly with a count in the hundreds,then I will concede (with puzzlement) your right to complain. If you are one of the many fans that dream of getting back to the "Good Old Days of 1996", then you need to somehow gain a firm grip on reality with the aid of prescription medication or stop posting ridiculous comments that are derived from your delusions of this program. In case some of you need a healthy dose of the power of truth, UK had great basketball before Rick Pitino arrived in Lexington. Did we win every single game and destroy all opposition that we faced? Certainly not. Did we win the majority of our gamesand control the SEC more than all other teams combined. A resounding yes.Pitino came to Lexington with a reputation of being a masterful architect in regard to rebuilding, and he exceeded all expectations. I will never diminish what he achieved during his tenure here, but could he have accomplished the same results if he had gone to a school that did not have the tradition and fan support of the University of KY? That support did not materialize when he stepped on campus, it was there LONG before.I enjoyed the rocket ride as much as anyone, and probably more than most because I was a fan long before he arrived. Pitino had no where to go but up, and he played thatsong like a Maestro. He built his foundation around a sleeper of a recruitwitha reputation of being "lazy" by the recruiting gurus standards. That recruit was Jamal Mashburn, and where would his efforts have gone without him?Without Mashburncarrying the92 team towards its collision course with Duke and the exposure we received as a "Cinderella" team that nearly took out the Juggernaut from Durham, you never would have seen the 96 team on the floor together. For that matter, I seriously doubt you will ever see the collection of talent that was assembled on the 96 squad ever again on any college team.Great talent in the numbers that this team had does not congregate in one place any more. The next two years were a ripple effect of this phenomenem and then we resumed our traditional role as one of the countrys' top programs. Are we #1 every year these days? No, but in all honesty when you look at thebig picture, we never have been. Are we a team to reckoned with every time we step on the court? Yes, and we always have been.

[wildcat74]

UKManTubbyFan71 wrote: I beleive that any of the loss of excitement a fan of any age may experience is not due to any changes in our program so much as a change in the landscape of college basketball and sports in general. I canvividly remeber sitting in my mothers lap while listening to Cawood paint a mental image of KY battling on the hardwood in Tuscaloosa or Knoxville. We did this because we did not have the luxury of watching every game on televisionin Hi Def. We went to Midnight Madness in Memorial Colliseum to see who the new players were. Now we go to see if they are as good as they looked on their MySpace Videos. We used to take great pride in sending off a cherished player on Senior Day in Rupp and then watching the NBA Draft to see if they were selected. Now we get a great player and hope they are not too great imediately in hopes of having them for at least two years. The best high school talent used to select their college team based on the tradition of the program and the pride they would feel being able to wear that jersey. Now players choose based on the availability of playing time (Starting) as Freshman and coaches that allow them the freedom to "Showcase" their skills for a year or two in hopes of cashing in sooner rather than later. We are all victims of the transition to an instant gratification based society that values a "win at all costs" mentality where hanging Championship Banners is the only true indicator of success. I see all of the rants on these message boards bemoaning the downfall of UK Basketball under Tubby's watch and yearn for the return of the "Glory Days" that we had before he came. The saddest part is that the "Glory Days" most of these posts refer to are limited to the success of a span of 5 years in the90's. Before our Championshipin 96, the previous one was in 78. Before our Final Four of 93, the previous was 84. What has always made KY Basketball great was the passion of the fans and players, and the tradition that was built before most (not all) of the current group of "fans" were born. I may be a bit old school, but I loved the 92 team much more than the 96 team. To me, a great UK team is measured by the heart of the players andthe pride and love for the program they display.Any time I catch myself feeling let down by the performance of a current squad, I remember the thrill of watching Roger Hardin sink a game winning shot from half court or Rex Chapman almost single handedly dismantle Louisville. Great players and great teams are short lived, but the memories and the passion last a lifetime.



Wow. Thats deep stuff, well said.


Although I can't go back nearly as long as some fans, I do remember alot before the 92 season. I started following UK basketball when I was 7, 1980. Never saw a NC until 1996, put some of the best times as a fan for me were pre-93, the final four year. I remember halls and suttons teams vivily, and remeber well King rex my boyhood idol, as well as turpin, davender, sam et al., those guys never won a national champioship but I was sucked in for whatever reason as a youngster living in KY, in particular in Louisville.

When I recall who won the NC in 1980 and the fact that my whole family followed UL, as my uncle was going there at that time, and its really amazing that I became such a big UK follower -to this day, when my own 3 year old who hasnever been to KY, can see the UK logo and say "Kenpuky Wildcap".

THe point of the story, for me, is that there was something thatdrew me to UK basketball as a kid-something fun and entertaining, something I looked forward to with fervor, somethingthat has stayed with me for 26 years - I didnt have any ties to UK, no family there or anything. Yet, Iwatched and watched, andremember listening and taping during the probation years. Anyways, I guess my point is that if I was akid today, I don't think there'd be a chance in hell that I would be a UK fan -its just not fun or entertaining anymore. Maybe Im jaded. Sorry for the rant.

[bleedblue79]

UKManTubbyFan71 wrote: This questionis for anyone that has posted a comment on this thread about their decline in excitement during the Tubby Smith era. How many UK games do you vividly remember BEFORE the 1992-1998 era? If you answeredthis question honestly with a count in the hundreds,then I will concede (with puzzlement) your right to complain. If you are one of the many fans that dream of getting back to the "Good Old Days of 1996", then you need to somehow gain a firm grip on reality with the aid of prescription medication or stop posting ridiculous comments that are derived from your delusions of this program. In case some of you need a healthy dose of the power of truth, UK had great basketball before Rick Pitino arrived in Lexington. Did we win every single game and destroy all opposition that we faced? Certainly not. Did we win the majority of our gamesand control the SEC more than all other teams combined. A resounding yes.Pitino came to Lexington with a reputation of being a masterful architect in regard to rebuilding, and he exceeded all expectations. I will never diminish what he achieved during his tenure here, but could he have accomplished the same results if he had gone to a school that did not have the tradition and fan support of the University of KY? That support did not materialize when he stepped on campus, it was there LONG before.I enjoyed the rocket ride as much as anyone, and probably more than most because I was a fan long before he arrived. Pitino had no where to go but up, and he played thatsong like a Maestro. He built his foundation around a sleeper of a recruitwitha reputation of being "lazy" by the recruiting gurus standards. That recruit was Jamal Mashburn, and where would his efforts have gone without him?Without Mashburncarrying the92 team towards its collision course with Duke and the exposure we received as a "Cinderella" team that nearly took out the Juggernaut from Durham, you never would have seen the 96 team on the floor together. For that matter, I seriously doubt you will ever see the collection of talent that was assembled on the 96 squad ever again on any college team.Great talent in the numbers that this team had does not congregate in one place any more. The next two years were a ripple effect of this phenomenem and then we resumed our traditional role as one of the countrys' top programs. Are we #1 every year these days? No, but in all honesty when you look at thebig picture, we never have been. Are we a team to reckoned with every time we step on the court? Yes, and we always have been.

Spot on great post!

GO BIG BLUE!!!

[UedK]

wildcat74 wrote: UKManTubbyFan71 wrote: I believe that any of the loss of excitement a fan of any age may experience is not due to any changes in our program so much as a change in the landscape of college basketball and sports in general. I canvividly remember sitting in my mothers lap while listening to Cawood paint a mental image of KY battling on the hardwood in Tuscaloosa or Knoxville. We did this because we did not have the luxury of watching every game on televisionin Hi Def. We went to Midnight Madness in Memorial Colliseum to see who the new players were. Now we go to see if they are as good as they looked on their MySpace Videos. We used to take great pride in sending off a cherished player on Senior Day in Rupp and then watching the NBA Draft to see if they were selected. Now we get a great player and hope they are not too great immediately in hopes of having them for at least two years. The best high school talent used to select their college team based on the tradition of the program and the pride they would feel being able to wear that jersey. Now players choose based on the availability of playing time (Starting) as Freshman and coaches that allow them the freedom to "Showcase" their skills for a year or two in hopes of cashing in sooner rather than later. We are all victims of the transition to an instant gratification based society that values a "win at all costs" mentality where hanging Championship Banners is the only true indicator of success. I see all of the rants on these message boards bemoaning the downfall of UK Basketball under Tubby's watch and yearn for the return of the "Glory Days" that we had before he came. The saddest part is that the "Glory Days" most of these posts refer to are limited to the success of a span of 5 years in the90's. Before our Championshipin 96, the previous one was in 78. Before our Final Four of 93, the previous was 84. What has always made KY Basketball great was the passion of the fans and players, and the tradition that was built before most (not all) of the current group of "fans" were born. I may be a bit old school, but I loved the 92 team much more than the 96 team. To me, a great UK team is measured by the heart of the players andthe pride and love for the program they display.Any time I catch myself feeling let down by the performance of a current squad, I remember the thrill of watching Roger Hardin sink a game winning shot from half court or Rex Chapman almost single handedly dismantle Louisville. Great players and great teams are short lived, but the memories and the passion last a lifetime.


Wow. Thats deep stuff, well said.



This is good.

I feel lucky to have been a student at UK that bridged the years between Rupp and Hall. I also was lucky to have come from a high school that in BBall won two state tittles and lost one during my middle and high school years. (Throw aState football title in there too)So I am used to winning.

It usedto be that the only thing there was THE GAME. We waited for it almost like we waited for Christmas. The wins were so sweet and the losses, and there were losses, were bitter. But when the game was over we sat back and waited for the next one.

Today, and I admit I perpetuate this situation, there is no break. There is so much information and so much to absorb and to try to ignore. Years gone, we just talked to our friends, read the paper and listened to the radio, with the game mixed in, sometimes on TV, sometimes not.

Then all of a sudden, BOOM, it's non stop.

Your point is well taken. It is a different world. It effects the players, the fans, the coaches and the media. Itmay never be likewe think itwasbut the fact is UK will always be a contender.

[nkycatsfan]

UKManTubbyFan71 wrote:
This questionÂ*is for anyone that has posted a comment on this thread about their decline in excitement during the Tubby Smith era. How many UK games do you vividly remember BEFORE the 1992-1998 era? If you answeredÂ*this question honestly with a count in the hundreds,Â*then I will concede (with puzzlement) your right to complain. If you are one of the many fans that dream of getting back to the "Good Old Days of 1996", then you need to somehow gain a firm grip on reality with the aid of prescription medication or stop posting ridiculous comments that are derived from your delusions of this program. In case some of you need a healthy dose of the power of truth, UK had great basketball before Rick Pitino arrived in Lexington. Did we win every single game and destroy all opposition that we faced? Certainly not. Did we win the majority of our gamesÂ*and control the SEC more than all other teams combined. A resounding yes.Â*Pitino came to Lexington with a reputation of being a masterful architect in regard to rebuilding, and he exceeded all expectations. I will never diminish what he achieved during his tenure here, but could he have accomplished the same results if he had gone to a school that did not have the tradition and fan support of the University of KY? That support did not materialize when he stepped on campus, it was there LONG before.Â*I enjoyed the rocket ride as much as anyone, and probably more than most because I was a fan long before he arrived. Pitino had no where to go but up, and he played thatÂ*song like a Maestro. He built his foundation around a sleeper of a recruitÂ*withÂ*a reputation of being "lazy" by the recruiting gurus standards. That recruit was Jamal Mashburn, and where would his efforts have gone without him?Â*Without MashburnÂ*carrying theÂ*92 team towards its collision course with Duke and the exposure we received as a "Cinderella" team that nearly took out the Juggernaut from Durham, you never would have seen the 96 team on the floor together. For that matter, I seriously doubt you will ever see the collection of talent that was assembled on the 96 squad ever again on any college team.Â*Great talent in the numbers that this team had does not congregate in one place any more. The next two years were a ripple effect of this phenomenem and then we resumed our traditional role as one of the countrys' top programs. Are we #1 every year these days? No, but in all honesty when you look at theÂ*big picture, we never have been. Are we a team to reckoned with every time we step on the court? Yes, and we always have been.Â*Â*Â*

I couldn't disagree more with this post. I'm one of those that posted earlier about the passion I have for UK b-ball has slipped over the past 5-7 years. If you want to know how many games I vividly remember watching, well it started for me in the 1974 season. I've watched almost every single UK game since I was 7 years old, missing 1 or possibly 2 games a year at most since then. So, before the 92-98 era, I'd say I've watched at least 400-500 games. I've traveled as far as Puerto Rico and as close as Tennessee to watch UK play as well as being a season ticket holder, so I'm a fan of all fans of the UK basketball program.

So, I could go on and on, but just to knock some of your points, one being never seeing as much talent as the 96 team on one team again, you're probably right. However, it seems our "elite" program competition are getting more than their fair share of top talent, UK not being one of them. Why that is I have no idea, Tubby, Hansen, Hobbs, Rigot, who knows, I just know we aren't getting the top talent that KENTUCKY should be getting. We have the facilities, the fan support, the history, the playing time, the CATS program to help student athletes, what else is there to offer?

As for being a team to reckon with, I'm not so sure anymore. I think we are the feared team when we play the Miss. Valley States and the College of Charlestons, but when we play the UNC, Kansas, Florida's, Dukes of the world, we are no longer a team to be reckoned with. I used to never compare UK with these other schools because I always thought we were a level above them all. But I find myself lately comparing and wondering how they all seem to be staples in the top 10 and we are struggling to stay in the top 30. In the past few years when we play games against some of these other schools, I no longer expect to win, I now just hope we don't get embarrassed. You have no idea how difficult it is for me to say that, but that is honestly how I feel as of late.

I know winning cures all, so I'm hoping that this talented young group of freshmen we have will help turn my passion back around. Its a long season, so I'm hoping for the best.

[poodoo]

joneagin wrote: OldCatFan wrote: However, I have come to realize that for the last 3 or 4 years, the thrill is no longer there.

You werent excited 3 years ago when we had a #1 seed going into the tourny? You werent excited when our top ranked freshman class and Sparks beat Louisville in a great comeback and then went all the way to the Elite 8 to lose in DOUBLE OVERTIME two years ago? I can understand not being excited last year...even though we played a fantastic game against UConn, but to say you havent been excited the past 3-4 years? Have not been watching?? I am just as excited now as I have ever been. How can you not be excited watching these freshman? I guess I just dont understand. I must be to young.
No, it's not that you are too young, joneagin. I am far past being young, and I, too, "just don't understand" how a UK fan could not have been excited the two (or three) years prior to last year's disappointing season. Go figure.

[poodoo]

The excitement came back to me this season with these freshmen. Wow these guys leave it all on the floor. I think they are going to be special. They just have that look about them. It probably won't be this season(they are after all freshmen), but I think they are going to take us places. Just my basketball lovin', blue bleedin' heart, big blue tinted glasses wearin' opinion. QUOTE by bleedblue79

_________

I agree that something was missing last season with the loss of Chuck Hayes (and I even happen to feel that Tubby Smith himself was deeply affected by the loss of Chuck Hayes). Like you, bleedblue79, I LOVE these freshmen, their potential and their attitudes. The freshmen were what made Big Blue Madness so exciting and special for me. Like you, I have that blue-bleeding heart and wear those big blue-tinted glasses. Yes, this "old lady" is still excited about UK basketball, FWIW.
:cool:

[bleedblue79]

poodoo wrote: The excitement came back to me this season with these freshmen. Wow these guys leave it all on the floor. I think they are going to be special. They just have that look about them. It probably won't be this season(they are after all freshmen), but I think they are going to take us places. Just my basketball lovin', blue bleedin' heart, big blue tinted glasses wearin' opinion. QUOTE by bleedblue79

_________

I agree that something was missing last season with the loss of Chuck Hayes (and I even happen to feel that Tubby Smith himself was deeply affected by the loss of Chuck Hayes). Like you, bleedblue79, I LOVE these freshmen, their potential and their attitudes. The freshmen were what made Big Blue Madness so exciting and special for me. Like you, I have that blue-bleeding heart and wear those big blue-tinted glasses. Yes, this "old lady" is still excited about UK basketball, FWIW.
:cool:


Poodoo,

The day that I am not excited by a UK Basketball or Football game, well they just better go ahead and put me in the ground. Even in the worst of seasons, like the end of the Eddie Sutton coaching era in basketball, or some of our many bad football seasons, I am always excited on gameday!:D

GO BIG BLUE!!!

[ukcatfan]

TrueblueCATfan wrote: ukcatfan wrote: The tipping point of the program began March 31, 1998.
that is BS:X:X
The truth really does hurt you dosen't it????

[poodoo]

ukcatfan wrote: TrueblueCATfan wrote: ukcatfan wrote: The tipping point of the program began March 31, 1998.
that is BS:X:X
The truth really does hurt you dosen't it????
Actually, none of us can define the TRUTH for others. The tipping point of the program for YOU may have been that particular day (orcould have even been, instead, the day Tubby Smith was hired).That is TRUTH for YOU. It is not TRUTH for TrueblueCATfan, me, or thousands of other UK fans. It is only your OPINION, as it is likewise onlyour OPINION that such a statement is ridiculous. Something tells me that most knowledgeable basketball folks in the nation would agree with us, but since we're not doing a survey, we can just leave that as only my opinion, too. :)

[UKManGillispieFan71]

I love it when the haters complain about not having gone to a Final Four since 1998. What I find amusing is, if we had gone to the Final Four 2-3 times since then but did not bring home the championship, the same posters would be complaining that Tubby needed to be removed because he could not win the big games to finish the deal. If he won the championship this year by a single point in triple overtime, they would point out the mistakes he made that "almost" cost us the title. Come to grips with the fact that Tubby is our coach until he chooses not to be, or buy a red sweater. Get on board, or get the f**k out!

[wade31]

poodoo wrote: ukcatfan wrote: TrueblueCATfan wrote: ukcatfan wrote: The tipping point of the program began March 31, 1998.
that is BS:X:X
The truth really does hurt you dosen't it????
Actually, none of us can define the TRUTH for others. The tipping point of the program for YOU may have been that particular day (orcould have even been, instead, the day Tubby Smith was hired).That is TRUTH for YOU. It is not TRUTH for TrueblueCATfan, me, or thousands of other UK fans. It is only your OPINION, as it is likewise onlyour OPINION that such a statement is ridiculous. Something tells me that most knowledgeable basketball folks in the nation would agree with us, but since we're not doing a survey, we can just leave that as only my opinion, too. :)
Ditto! count me in with the opinions of the thousands of others like you poodoo!!!

[keycat41]

Mr. Wade,

As I am just reaching my 30's, my sympathies go out to you for your loss of excitement. I can only remember nuggets of UK history from the 80's, but what I remember most was Rob Locke spending a heck of alot of time laying on the court. Did he take many charges or just get knocked down? Kind of reminds me of Woo and Martinez.:) I remember an undersized big man named Kenny Walker that was great around the basket and a true leader kind of in the mold ofa Reggie Hanson and Chuck Hayes.

To make a long story short, I really love UK basketball! I think it takes a special player to put on that jersey and an even more special man to run the show. I grew up in the inner city of Louisville as one ofvery few African American Wildcat fans. I got to stay up late on school nights to watch delayed telecasts of the Cats with my dad and I never fell asleep on them. Now I live in Knoxville TN and pay for every sports package available to see them play and in my three years here have been able to see them at Thompson-Boling more than I have at Rupp (if you come down this year I will be the obnoxiously loud brother in the blue UK cap).

UK basketball is more than excitment from year to year. If you have been a fan for this long, I know your heart beats a little faster when tipoff time is near and when the score is close with 5 minutes on the clock versus a good opponent I know your pulse is racing like you just sprinted a mile. No matter what style the coach plays or who he is, UK basketball is UK basketball. If you can't get excited about that any more call me at halftime of the UNC game and we can root for the Cats together.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

:cool:keycat41, I believe you have misread Wade31...great fan and check out his frist post in this thread.

[wade31]

Indeed he misread my post. My excitment is FAR from passed...FAR, FAR from it!

[Spanish Moss]

What is truth?