Tournament bound?

[catszoom54]

There is still an outside chance we could make the tourny, and i think we will, so what do you all think? Remember, beating some of these SEC teams would really raise our RPI and our strength of schedule could help alot

[BamaCat86]

As we have seen over the past 12 games, you have to take one game at a time. The execution and effort on Monday against FIU was great, but that was not a good team. We will know more about our progress after Saturday.

[Radiated]

Win the SEC torney and you are in.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

well, worst case we go into sec play at 6-7. at that point we would proabably need to go at least 9-7 in sec reg season and then win 2 in the sec tourn. we finish 17-14 and slip in based on our schedule and our name. or we could go 10-6 in conference and win 1 in the sec tourn. or we could stink up the reg season and then win a wide-open sec tourn.
or we beat lou, which we will, go 12-4 in conference and spend march laughing about how crappy we started !

GO CATS !

[Rockober]

There is still an outside chance we could make the tourny, and i think we will, so what do you all think? Remember, beating some of these SEC teams would really raise our RPI and our strength of schedule could help alot

Its too early to say but UK must first beat a NCAA Tourney Team. Until I start seeing that, I will start believing.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

Its too early to say but UK must first beat a NCAA Tourney Team. Until I start seeing that, I will start believing.
I think you might be mixing up your cliches in that last sentence. The good news though, is that we finally have our whole team. As of right now, it's a new season, it's a new calender year, and fittingly, we're .500
Now it's time to show the country what we were supposed to look like this year.

[Rockober]

I think you might be mixing up your cliches in that last sentence. The good news though, is that we finally have our whole team. As of right now, it's a new season, it's a new calender year, and fittingly, we're .500
Now it's time to show the country what we were supposed to look like this year.

I agree that I worded that last sentence wrong. The CATS need to start winning and playing more competetive and consistent. Health has been a issue for this team and hopefully this team will build some steam by being able to play their best players.. I really think UK must go 1-1 in the games against Louisville and Vandy. Going 0-2 is a mighty big hole to get out of.

[catfan043]

Since SEC play hasn't started yet, we still have a wide open shot at the tourney, beat Louisville saturday and get a good non-conference win then make some noise in the SEC and we will be fine.

[Got_Billie_G?]

I agree, it's a new season if we can keep Jasper/Meeks healthy and on the court. The SEC is tough, don't kid yourselves. Just because we don't have a "championship contender" (some could argue UT I guess) doesn't mean the conference is down, in fact it's better overall than last year...Ark, Ole Miss, UGA, Vandy, UF, UT...all SOLID team and tough wins. At this point I still think we'd have to win the automatic bid at the SEC tourney, just not enough quality wins and I don't see us going above .500 in the SEC.

[catszoom54]

Its too early to say but UK must first beat a NCAA Tourney Team. Until I start seeing that, I will start believing.

you better tune in saturday and getcha' popcorn ready, cause its gonna be a show

[Rockober]

you better tune in saturday and getcha' popcorn ready, cause its gonna be a show

Seeing is believing and I hope you are right. My gut says that UK will play their best game this coming Saturday. By the way, I have a pretty big gut.

[billoliver40]

Don't see any type of tourney except the SEC. No NCAA, no NIT. I think
that there is too far to go right now and far too tough a road ahead with the SEC meat grinder season.
.500 would look remarkable to me today.

[Wildcat_Fan98]

you guys just gotta remember ONE GAME AT A TIME with our team healthy we could go somewhere and i'm not talking bout title bound but I think we can beat louisville go 11-5 in sec play and be lookin at 17-11 goin to sec tourney if we win 2 games make it to title we would be 19-11 id say we would be close depends on other teams and how many losses...but on a radio show yesterday they did say they thought the committee would look past our 5-6 start and go from our pt when were healthy so youd be lookin at 13-5 and depending on what happpens come sec tourny time we would be ok....WE JUST GOTTA TAKE ONE GAME AT A TIME

[AugustaDan]

There is still an outside chance we could make the tourny, and i think we will, so what do you all think? Remember, beating some of these SEC teams would really raise our RPI and our strength of schedule could help alot
One thing to keep in mind is that the committee does factor in injuries. If UK plays significantly better with Jasper/Meeks back, that should matter in the end.

[cosmonaut]

I would say if we can pull off 18 wins, we will probably get in because it's Kentucky. Our schedule is fairly tough, and we always bring huge crowds.

[catszoom54]

and as you can see, Jasper makes the lineup so much better

[Wildcat_Fan98]

I think we will be ok guys we just gotta take it one night at a time...it was awesome to see gillespie patting everyone on the back and giving them high 5's...jasper was runnin the show bradley was at his true SG we will be alright and I cant wait till saturday.

[catszoom54]

louisville is ripe for the picking and its uk's perfect chance to get the W and go on a role

[poodoo]

I think we will be ok guys we just gotta take it one night at a time...it was awesome to see gillespie patting everyone on the back and giving them high 5's...jasper was runnin the show bradley was at his true SG we will be alright and I cant wait till saturday.

My answer, too, is ONE GAME AT A TIME. I have NOT given up on this team's chances.

Also, I LOVE reading that Coach Gillispie was patting everyone on the back :icon_biggrin: (and I did not get to see it as my son messed up on taping it, and it's my first televised UK game to have missed :icon_sad:). I only like to post positively, but I have so wanted to see positive reinforcement from our coach when players had done well. Too, it's nice to read that he himself was so happy!

That's GREAT to read, and may it continue Saturday!

[Doug Hardin]

No SEC team in recent years has gone 11-5 in the league and not made it in. I think if they can do that, they'll certainly get in. Things will get hairy if they lose to Louisville and go 10-6. I don't think 9-7 will be good enough.

Granted, the RPI is terrible right now. The best win is over #236 Texas Southern. But I think if this team plays fairly well in the SEC, the Committee will forgive the early season struggles due to the new coach and the injuries. One thing they look at closely is a team's last ten games, and I think if this team improves and stays healthy, they can go on a little run over the last ten and make a strong case for the Tournament.

[UFWildcat]

I think it is basically down to winning the SEC tournament.

We have dug ourselves into too deep of a hole.

[billoliver40]

I just don't want the fans to get too wrapped up in the idea of going anywhere. This is a team where (as many have already stated) we'll
have our heartaches one game and be ecstatic the next.
Right now this team is on an edge between coming together and absolutely disintegrating. A good game against Louisville, and I don't even mean a win, will go a long, long way to building up this bunch. The worst thing that could happen is the team go through a game where it had
no confidence and went into hiding.
Good luck, cats....this could be interesting, because Louisville isn't all that
and a bag of chips this time, either.

[lribookend]

While Saturday's game with UofL is just one game against an unranked competitor, I have to feel it could be very important for the rest of the season. A win against the 'cards might just pump up the team enough to knock off Vandy, which is flying precariously high at the moment. But a bad loss to UL might bury us just a little too deep to make the big dance without winning the SEC tourney. Interestingly, I thought the football game vs UofL was critical for the football wildcat's season, now I am feeling the same thing in basketball. GO CAT'S!

[catszoom54]

i hope jasper and aj will be ready to go because saturday really could determine the direction of the season, but with a win over u of l this year is of more need than ever cause if we can beat them then we'll be emotionally high going into sec play and let it carry us with a win over vandy

[DCWildcat]

I honestly think we'll need to do much better than some of y'all are predicting to get an at large bid.

Specifically, I don't think anything less than 11-5, with wins including Tennessee, Florida, and Vandy, and two wins in the SEC tourney, will get us in.

I know that's a higher standard than most other folks are talking about, but before you disagree with me, take a look at our RPI numbers. They are atrocious.

Keep in mind that we got a low at large bid last year. This year we haven't beaten a single team in the top 200. . Prior to SEC play last year, we beat four top 70 RPI teams. And that got us an 8 seed. We have much work to do.

[JWORLD]

It's going to feel really really weird if we don't make the NCAA.Hopefully our players now realize that every possesion, minute, and every second will be very, very important from this point on.I feel good with our starting five (JASPER,MEEKS,BRADLEY,CRAWFORD,PATTERSON) if healthy.

Hopefully the rest of the team can step up it's play and be productive in relief.I think the first five could press and pressure to make up for being thin up front as long as the other seven can help keep us close in a game.

As of right now, i feel we are going to have to win the SEC Tourney to get in.At the same time, stranger things have happened and im very hopeful we get on a roll starting this Saturday against Loserville.

[caliparifan]

Yeah, it will feel weird if we don't make the tournament. Would we even accept a bid to the NIT? Eww, I don't even want to think about that. The thought is giving me cold chills and heartburn.

[SamKat]

I am just happy that I can say I am for the Kentucky Wildcats! I have been for a long time and I don't intend to stop ever.

Go Cats!

Go Coach G!

Go WCN!

[Matt Dillon]

i hope jasper and aj will be ready to go because saturday really could determine the direction of the season, but with a win over u of l this year is of more need than ever cause if we can beat them then we'll be emotionally high going into sec play and let it carry us with a win over vandy

Has Stewart been cleared to play?

[cnice11]

There is still an outside chance we could make the tourny, and i think we will, so what do you all think? Remember, beating some of these SEC teams would really raise our RPI and our strength of schedule could help alot

at this point i would say no. we havent won any games against the top teams, that seems to bother a lot of college bball "experts". But how many cupcakes do other tournament teams play before conference play? In our conference, I saw that Ole MIss has a great record and alot of "experts" are talking them up, but they play a whole lot of cupcakes. I know we have played a lot of cupcakes, but the conference always has a few great teams. Have we stooped to the levels of college football? Lose a few games at the beginning of the year and your out of the national title picture? Just a thought

[DCWildcat]

Ole Miss may have played those cupcakes. But unlike us, they beat all of them.

[catdmd]

I think the only way we're going to the NCAA tournament is if we win the SEC. We are so beat up and in my opinion we lack the talent this year to go. However, maybe by the grace of God we will turn a corner, get well, and win some games.
We just have to somehow remain positive, support our team unconditionally, and wait for BG to get some help here. This year we'll be tested to see if we really love our cats. Don't worry, if not this year, then soon the big blue nation will rise. Keep the faith. Pull together "brothers".

[catszoom54]

Ole Miss may have played those cupcakes. But unlike us, they beat all of them.

they're ranked but i look for them to fall, it won't last just like our troubles, things will change and order will straighten out

[billoliver40]

Yeah, it will feel weird if we don't make the tournament. Would we even accept a bid to the NIT? Eww, I don't even want to think about that. The thought is giving me cold chills and heartburn.

As fans who got used to the idea of acting like we were competing for the big prize, we wouldn't want to accept it. For kids who want to continue to play ball and work on their game in some form or fashion, the NIT ain't a bad gig.

We better not turn our noses up at ANYthing, cause last time I looked, the season will be over after the last loss in the SEC tourney UNLESS quite a few things come together....and quick.

[catszoom54]

As fans who got used to the idea of acting like we were competing for the big prize, we wouldn't want to accept it. For kids who want to continue to play ball and work on their game in some form or fashion, the NIT ain't a bad gig.

We better not turn our noses up at ANYthing, cause last time I looked, the season will be over after the last loss in the SEC tourney UNLESS quite a few things come together....and quick.

just wait, and after the game vs. u of l then you may have concern for sticking to this point