Emotional Response to the Season

[Caveman Catfan]

Taking basketball talk out of the equation, no Xs or Os, how did this past season impact you emotionally?

I have to admit that I realized that I was enjoying basketball more than I had in years. Under Cal, and I supported Cal, I started to ignore college basketball and started to only watch UK games. My emotions became a rollercoaster and it became frustrating seeing UK alums in the NBA reaching their potential, but knowing we were unlikely to see anything close to that potential at UK, even though very good.

This past year, my enjoyment for UK basketball bled into the sport, as a whole. I watched more non-UK games this past year than I have over the past 5-7 years combined. I actually cared about the NCAA tournament. I think the cause for that interest came from my satisfaction with the Cats and the fact that I knew Pope and his team were all in.

I am caring about off season basketball news much more and have a since of confidence about the next season that I usually did not have under Cal for the past decade.

Emotionally, as a fan, it has been good. It’s just one year, but it was healthy.

 

[W1LDCAT22]

Taking basketball talk out of the equation, no Xs or Os, how did this past season impact you emotionally?

I have to admit that I realized that I was enjoying basketball more than I had in years. Under Cal, and I supported Cal, I started to ignore college basketball and started to only watch UK games. My emotions became a rollercoaster and it became frustrating seeing UK alums in the NBA reaching their potential, but knowing we were unlikely to see anything close to that potential at UK, even though very good.

This past year, my enjoyment for UK basketball bled into the sport, as a whole. I watched more non-UK games this past year than I have over the past 5-7 years combined. I actually cared about the NCAA tournament. I think the cause for that interest came from my satisfaction with the Cats and the fact that I knew Pope and his team were all in.

I am caring about off season basketball news much more and have a since of confidence about the next season that I usually did not have under Cal for the past decade.

Emotionally, as a fan, it has been good. It’s just one year, but it was healthy.

It was refreshing because of the season being a new start and a new era. I've always cared deeply about basketball and UK, so I didn't necessarily care more or suddenly have more enjoyment. I will say that the season definitely had it's up and downs emotionally, as we did have some really good wins while also having some really awful losses. Like the OP stated, it was the first year for this new era, so I am confident we can build off of last year and get back to Final Fours and title contention.

 

[docholiday51]

A Cat fan for more years than I care to admit. The last few Cal years had taken a toll and changed
my perspective a bit. I never stopped being a fan but I began to just roll with the flow, I came to believe
that I was more invested in the program than was Cal. Some will scoff at that but that is how it appeared
to me.

There is a downside to my renewed emotional investment, I took each loss harder than I had in recent years
I believe Coach Pope will build on the success he had this season, I think he has a better team in place than he did at this time last year. Will that translate to more than 24 wins? We will have to wait and see but old
feeling about UK basketball is back(at least for this old Cat fan)

 

[know1]

Joy was my primary emotional response. And relief that the dark years were over.

 

[MegaBlue05]

I agree, Caveman.

I had grown apathetic during late stage Cal, wasn’t interested in the sport as a whole and sometimes forgot UK was playing, especially during 9-16.

This past season felt like a modern version of Pitino’s Bombinos to me but with modern rules, resources and no probation. I know this team was way more talented than the 1990 team, but the feeling around the program was similar.

We started over from nothing, and a bunch of lightly coveted transfers came in and played a fun brand of basketball and were beyond grateful to wear the Kentucky uniform. I felt more connected to this group than the last several seasons.

I am excited about the future of the program and probably watched more non-UK games this past season than I had in the last 5 years.

 

[CRZ4UK]

It was a refreshing because of the season being a new start and a new era. I've always cared deeply about basketball and UK, so I didn't necessarily care more or suddenly have more enjoyment. I will say that the season definitely had it's up and downs emotionally, as we did have some really good wins while also having some really awful losses. Like the OP stated, it was the first year for this new era, so I am confident we can build off of last year and get back to Final Fours and title contention.

The good thing is age and the final Calipari years dulled the pain of those losses. I used to be upset for a day or longer after a big loss. Now it’s an hour.

 

[BlueBloodedCat96]

Taking basketball talk out of the equation, no Xs or Os, how did this past season impact you emotionally?

I have to admit that I realized that I was enjoying basketball more than I had in years. Under Cal, and I supported Cal, I started to ignore college basketball and started to only watch UK games. My emotions became a rollercoaster and it became frustrating seeing UK alums in the NBA reaching their potential, but knowing we were unlikely to see anything close to that potential at UK, even though very good.

This past year, my enjoyment for UK basketball bled into the sport, as a whole. I watched more non-UK games this past year than I have over the past 5-7 years combined. I actually cared about the NCAA tournament. I think the cause for that interest came from my satisfaction with the Cats and the fact that I knew Pope and his team were all in.

I am caring about off season basketball news much more and have a since of confidence about the next season that I usually did not have under Cal for the past decade.

Emotionally, as a fan, it has been good. It’s just one year, but it was healthy.

First season without my OG (granny) rip so was pretty emotional from the season introduction to the final game. Pope brought Kentucky back not just winning and losing but the vibes around the program and excitement. Maybe too much truth but I cried a couple times this year. Kentucky basketball is bigger than just a game to me. It’s the one thing that always brought my family together no matter what. Kentucky is playing and Granny is cooking a country dinner🥹. So yea very emotional and good season in my books. I’ll never forget that team. “We are here to win banners!”

 

[WeWant9]

Emotionally, I don’t think much changed for me. I can admit, I live and die with every moment of UK basketball. The biggest thing though was my dad was fully invested again. He had stopped caring the last 5 or so years, so it was nice to see his passion back.

 

[chroix]

Last season brought back the love. Cal’s first seasons were excellent, but they were more about style and brute force approach to recruiting that was fun as hell when it worked, but it lacked the love. Pope brought it back. Glad to see you on the basketball board again @Caveman Catfan

 

[AshWilliams]

Pope brought some hope and energy. Frankly we were a FF team before the injuries hit.

The injuries dashed our immediate hopes and brought down the energy.

But this new team's depth reminds me of Pitino's teams. We could be headed for another golden age.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

Had a great time.

Wish ppl would stop obsessing over Pitino tho, mark pope is not pitino...and pitnos style of play is to wear ppl down the whole game. Its always been said, like with nolan Richardson, if you can survive 30 minutes you have a chance to win, many didnt, and if you did still doesnt mean you will but thats when you could implement adjustments against them. Shooting 3s is only one end of the floor.