Do we win the national championship this year?

[screwduke]

I say yes.

2 months ago I would have laughed at the idea of us getting to the sweet 16, let alone winning it all.

This team reminds me a lot of the Napier/Walker UConn team that won it all against us a few years ago. And our guards are just as good as they were, if not better.

No team scares me. When Willis comes back and we can stay healthy, we can beat anybody. I see Cal getting us #9 this year.

The ONLY thing that can prevent us from winning it all will be our front court. If we have a game where we get terribly beaten up on the boards we can lose to anyone. That's why Willis Humphries a healthy Poythress and Lee will be huge come tourney time, because we know our guards can bring it.

 

[GOING FOR #9]

It depends on the draw I'd say odds are 20-1

 

[Kentucky fan 1989]

Call me crazy but...

 

[docholiday51]

If we can close the regular season with three wins everybody had better take this team seriously.Go to a couple of tough places and win and we take on a different mindset These next three will tell us much,there is a corner this team has yet to turn but if they do.....buckle up.

 

[Big Cat fan]

Yes. Our offense has all the tools, but once you get into the Sweet 16 you got to pack your defense.

I love the style of play we use. Cal is doing a good job in putting the players in position to make plays.

My main thing is our bigs, they need to play without fouling, and jump and try to get blocks instead just throwing arms up. Make the forwards on the drive stop and shot on a contested shot. Murray has to guard his man better and force him out of the lanes.

We have to hit the open looks from inside once it's open.

 

[throatpoker]

Wrong bunch to ask, we all pick uk to win every year

 

[Shawn (uk7spd)]

If healthy, I think this team has the tools to reach the Final Four given the parity this year, at which point the title is up for grabs. I just hope we get Louisville as our 1 or 2 seed because that is a guaranteed win. Oh wait...

 

[Supafuzz75]

With a completely healthy roster,, plus a few luck draws.. Sure we can.. But the key is everyone healthy going into the tournament..

 

[HICATFAN]

Short and Long answer: YES!

AlohaCat

 

[lonewildcat]

Not now, freakin jinxed us...

 

[sluggercatfan]

I say yes.

2 months ago I would have laughed at the idea of us getting to the sweet 16, let alone winning it all.

This team reminds me a lot of the Napier/Walker UConn team that won it all against us a few years ago. And our guards are just as good as they were, if not better.

No team scares me. When Willis comes back and we can stay healthy, we can beat anybody. I see Cal getting us #9 this year.

The ONLY thing that can prevent us from winning it all will be our front court. If we have a game where we get terribly beaten up on the boards we can lose to anyone. That's why Willis Humphries a healthy Poythress and Lee will be huge come tourney time, because we know our guards can bring it.

IF we can get everybody healthy n kerp them that way why not...luck of the draw maybe

 

[Tyblue22]

dead on in your comparison. The best point guard, and elite scorer at the 2 that can go off in bunches, and a bunch of athletic serviceable bigs that are more role players. But, the main difference is that UCONN team killed people on the offensive rebounds, and we suck there

 

[cacats]

Have we won 5 in row this year? (except some crap teams at season beginning). If not, then how can we win in tournament?

 

[Fancatstik]

Anyone that thinks UK will win the NC should bet it right now. We are 10 to 1 in the futures odds to win. Amazingly enough Michigan State is the 15/2 favorite.

 

[mebeblue2]

we have as good of a shot as anyone
when we get to the s16 the match-ups are going to be the deciding factor

 

[michaeluk26]

Let's just put it this way, I'm not scared of any team on a neutral floor. Oh yeah, we also have some really good guards. I say bring any team on. I want another shot at Kansas particularly.

 

[Estil]

I think we got just as good a chance as anyone. I know you guys are sick of me saying this by now but look at how in 2014 we were left for dead and we came just six points short of the championship. We all know anything can happen in the Big Dance so yeah, why can't we win the title this year? Only takes six in a row!

 

[jwhite123]

We could win or we could be out the first weekend. It's going to be a fun March.

 

[BlueSince92]

This team hasn't shown me yet that it can gut out a win once it's been put on the ropes. We have everything else, at least when all our bigs are healthy. But it will take really gutting it out at least once, probably twice, to win six games.

 

[kydan64]

We have a realistic chance. I believe there are only a hand-full of teams that would be favored over the Cats on a neutral court, and you should only have to play two or three of those, at the most. Great guard play is hard to beat in the tournament.
My fear is running across another glory-ref that puts Ulis and/or Murray in foul trouble early. It seems that too many of these guys in stripes see it as their opportunity to make their mark when they get assigned a KY game. Hopefully, things will be better outside of conference.

 

[southvillecat]

Hold on, let me pull my crystal ball out of my ass. Who the hell knows? Just watch and enjoy

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Depends on who we play and what happens to some of the other legit schools. I am not a big fan of the idea of a UK-UNC matchup due to their interior depth. If UK can avoid an abundance of teams that feature high-level interior player, I like their chances.

We shall see. As much as college ball is down this year, I think it's faulty to assume UK matches up well with everyone, because they don't. That said, this team has the best backcourt in America (sorry, Oklahoma). With two elite guards, a third scorer (Willis) and some adequate rebounding/defense, anything is possible.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

This team hasn't shown me yet that it can gut out a win once it's been put on the ropes. We have everything else, at least when all our bigs are healthy. But it will take really gutting it out at least once, probably twice, to win six games.

I feel like the Brandon Knight team had the same M.O. leading up to the tournament in 2011. Then, they knocked off four straight teams in games that were decided in the last minute (the 2nd round game against WVU was a bigger spread, but still featured a nice 2nd half comeback from UK). Obviously, the same could be said of the 2014 team, which had not proven to be a clutch team until they won four straight games that were also decided in the last minute of each game from the 2nd round to the Final Four.

Cal's younger teams seems to learn on the fly as the season progresses, and then put it together in March. I think this team could do the same.

 

[ThroughBlue]

We are definitely winning the national championship

 

[EnglandWildcat]

I just looked at Vegas insider.

Michigan St - 15/2
UNC - 8/1
Kansas - 10/1
Kentucky - 10/1
Oklahoma - 10/1


So, the money says we have a very good chance relative to the other favorites.

Only two teams in kenpom are ranked higher than us in both offensive and defensive efficiency…Michigan State and UNC. There are other teams with better Pythagorean ratings, but just in terms of raw offensive and defensive rank, only those two are ahead of us.

When we get Willis back, we will be excellent on offense. Just have to maintain good defensive intensity and rebound.

We've got a shot, and since nothing is guaranteed in a single-elimination tourney, that's all you can ask for.

Go Cats!

 

[qwesley]

So, the money says we have a very good chance relative to the other favorites.

Betting lines aren't exactly how they view odds of winning it. That said, 10% seems about right.

While not generally an optimist, I have never had more blind faith in a player as I do TU. And I think after player in the cesspool of road SEC play, neutral courts will be extremely energizing.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

No. I doubt it. Last year's team did not win it...too much luck involved.

 

[kyjeff1]

As was said earlier, this team hasn't shown the ability to win tight games. That can still change but I'm going to take the field on this one.
I do think we have a good shot at it though. When you have guards like we have you definitely have a good shot at it.

Also depends on the whistle. Hopefully we don't get any SEC refs in the NCAAT.

 

[TIE543]

No. I doubt it. Last year's team did not win it...too much luck involved.

Well, somebody's gotta win it. Why not us?

 

[UKDC80]

This team hasn't shown me yet that it can gut out a win once it's been put on the ropes. We have everything else, at least when all our bigs are healthy. But it will take really gutting it out at least once, probably twice, to win six games.

I disagree slightly sir. I think the A&M game we definitley gutted it out. I truly believe if Humph doesn't spike that ball down, he goes down, knocks down his shots and we walk out with that win. That was the text book indicator type game for me to see for this team to say, "yeah they are ready". Our next couple road games will be the ultimate indicators also. Granted Willis might not be 100% yet either. I'm ready and confident in our teams grit and fight, especially with T. Ulis at the forefront, Go Cats.

 

[jrm693]

If Cal will move Skal to point guard and move Ulis into the Center slot no one can touch us.

 

[CatInNC]

dead on in your comparison. The best point guard, and elite scorer at the 2 that can go off in bunches, and a bunch of athletic serviceable bigs that are more role players. But, the main difference is that UCONN team killed people on the offensive rebounds, and we suck there

That UConn team lost 8 games that year, including going 0-3 against looieville. All just a matter of getting hot at the right time and getting a good draw on Selection Sunday

 

[stenchymouse]

I wouldn't be surprised if we were to win it all.

I wouldn't be surprised if we were to lose in the first round...

I have NEVER seen a more wide open year going into the tournament!

 

[StubbornPenny]

This team last year? Not a shot in heck. This team this year? Why not? Even the top teams have major, major holes. I'd never expect this team to win, but I won't have one ounce of shock on my face if we win the title or if we lose in the S16. It's just that kind of year.

I personally think we're due to steal one out of nowhere, ala UConn.

 

[jrpross]

I am 100% sure we will win the championship every year until we don't.

So yes. We will.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Well, somebody's gotta win it. Why not us?

Indeed. For the record I'd answered the same for if you asked about msu, Ku, UNC, etc. This year is so hard to predict.

 

[uk78]

Kentuckyfan1989, you do realize the picture you posted from that movie.......they end up losing!

 

[jedwar]

This year is so open. I don't recall a more open and balanced year as far as teams 1-8 or so are about the same. We have as good a shot as anyone. Hope we get Louisville region for an edge, but I don't think we will.

 

[ZenCatFan73]

 

[blubo]

It depends on the draw I'd say odds are 20-1

actually vegas likes us better than that, along with kans:

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/odds/futures/