For you guys that havent been fans for 20 years

[billoliver40]

Or fifty, like me....

This kind of basketball...team is greater than individual...is what a lot of us Grey beards have been talking about.

Yes, the game has changed. There are absolutely freakish young guys playing today.
But this "team" stuff is a Lotta fun.

 

[SemperFiCat]

I saw Kentucky basketball last night. I haven't seen that in a long time.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

I like that we have a bruiser backcourt and depth.

I trust Pope will have an outstanding first season. He already has in my view as its absolutely nuts that he put that roster and staff together on the fly.

 

[YardCat]

I’m excited for the future of UK Basketball again, this style of play, passionate coach and the new updated facilities. And that isn’t including the Big Blue Nation following wherever they play. I think we will have great players knocking on the door to play for UK!

 

[BlueBomb]

The best Kentucky "team" I ever saw? 1992

 

[STL_Cat]

I wasn't in the building, but on TV there seemed to be a different type of energy in Rupp Arena than I've gotten accustomed to feeling in the early season games against the so called "cupcakes". Appreciate the success Cal had here especially the first half of his tenure, but the fans have been hungry for this.

 

[runt#69]

Fifty years.... seen a lot since the 75 season here ..... It's great to witness another season !

This year, this game, it feels totally different. I've seen all the coaching changes since Rupp left. I never understood why Kentucky fans were so hard on coach Hall, but I do understand he had the biggest shoes to fill in history for any basketball coach anywhere, ever. Through all these years, it makes me feel really grateful we got Pope as our coach now.

He brings with him a modern, fun philosophy, based on hard work, and every aspect of the program and university working to get better, incrementally, day by day. That's how you do it.

Not by ending generational poverty.

I look at the leadership and where he has been. Coach Pope was cheered on by many of us all his time as a player, we loved him then, as we do wholeheartedly now. we're in great hands. He has united the fanbase where there was divisiveness before.

I give a tip of the hat and thanks for the Coach Cal era at Kentucky. They were fun times, but it got frustrating, and the game changed in his long tenure here. But I'll not nitpick on the past. He delivered a title and final fours. We wished more, but it's so difficult to do, for many reasons.

In the end, we do well by moving on, parting ways, and breathing new life back into our program!

We are Kentucky Basketball.

Forget being the "gold" standard.... Kentucky is pure platinum, make no mistake about it !

Go Big Blue!

 

[Titpwhami2014]

The best Kentucky "team" I ever saw? 1992

Honestly this team has greater overall talent. We don’t have a Mashburn level guy (Reed would have been that had he stuck around) but that’s okay. Alabama didn’t last year either. Wouldn’t shock me to see 5-6 of these guys play in the NBA someday. None will be All-Stars but could become solid role players.

 

[blue cincy]

This team will ferment, marinate and will show the young guys what we have been talking about for years. This system needs players, shooters, defenders, drivers, cutters, passers. It does not need one guy dribbling the ball and taking that last second shot. It needs a facilitator or three to move the ball and either get to the basket, open 3, draw a foul to make that play, it has to have 3 to 4 guys on the court all the time that can get to the right spot to make that cut to open it up for the other guy. It truly need unselfish players. Look at Robinson last night, 8 points, smiles. He did not have to hit a bunch of clutch shots. He cut, drew multiple guys, passed to open players, then look at Oweh and Butler, out physical-ed guys, reached in, caused havoc and got rewarded. This will teach some of these young guys what it means to have 5 guys play as one.

 

[BlueBomb]

Honestly this team has greater overall talent. We don’t have a Mashburn level guy (Reed would have been that had he stuck around) but that’s okay. Alabama didn’t last year either. Wouldn’t shock me to see 5-6 of these guys play in the NBA someday. None will be All-Stars but could become solid role players.

All the more reason that 1992 was the best "team." Look what they accomplished with just one great player.

 

[jrpross]

The best Kentucky "team" I ever saw? 1992

I still say 1996. Their chemistry actually matched their talent.

 

[BlueBomb]

I still say 1996. Their chemistry actually matched their talent.

Negative! The '96 team never ran one single play around the white picket fence, which is the pure definition of "team."

 

[StubbornPenny]

I wasn't in the building, but on TV there seemed to be a different type of energy in Rupp Arena than I've gotten accustomed to feeling in the early season games against the so called "cupcakes". Appreciate the success Cal had here especially the first half of his tenure, but the fans have been hungry for this.

It was a feeling of relief really. Everyone just felt a little more loose. Not grit our teeth and grind through a game.

 

[NociHTTP]

I saw Kentucky basketball last night. I haven't seen that in a long time.

The previous coach never cared anything about Kentucky basketball, he was here to promote player brands. I don't care to ever see him step foot in the state of Kentucky again, other than playing a game at Rupp.

 

[NociHTTP]

It was a feeling of relief really. Everyone just felt a little more loose. Not grit our teeth and grind through a game.

There definitely was a different vibe on TV. I don't remember the last time I saw UK students really getting into the game.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Or fifty, like me....

This kind of basketball...team is greater than individual...is what a lot of us Grey beards have been talking about.

Yes, the game has changed. There are absolutely freakish young guys playing today.
But this "team" stuff is a Lotta fun.

And will win you games more often than not.
A 360 dunk counts 2. A 3 pointer counts, well, 3. Lol

 

[TeoJ]

Some of you guys missed out not getting to see the 66 team.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Some of you guys missed out not getting to see the 66 team.

I was in my Moms belly about 2 mths along when UK lost the watershed final to Texas Western.
She said after the game her and my Grandpa both cried and cried and that that game marked me as a UK fan for life.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Definitely how basketball should be played. This is just the beginning, but it sure has been fun through the 2 exhibitions and Wright State.

 

[bigbluedon]

The best Kentucky "team" I ever saw? 1992

Did u sleep thru the 96 season or were you in the Himalayas or something? 🤔🤔

 

[Fox2monk]

I like that we have a bruiser backcourt and depth.

I trust Pope will have an outstanding first season. He already has in my view as its absolutely nuts that he put that roster and staff together on the fly.

He put together a hell of a roster when he had 0 players. Ptretty amazing.

 

[Mozzie]

Did u sleep thru the 96 season or were you in the Himalayas or something? 🤔🤔

I think the quotation marks there are key. 1996 was a juggernaut and an amazing assembly of talent -- and did play incredibly well together -- but to do what it did, '92 had to be as well-oiled a TEAM, individuals functioning as one cohesive unit, as possible, and they did. Not to speak for him, but that's how I took that, and I agree.

 

[trueblujr2]

Definitely how basketball should be played. This is just the beginning, but it sure has been fun through the 2 exhibitions and Wright State.

We will find out what kind of chops we have next week against Duke, but yeah, I'll take the 30 assists to 7 TO's over the 10 assists to 12 TO's Arkansas had against Lip Scum.

 

[littlecreek]

Fifty years.... seen a lot since the 75 season here ..... It's great to witness another season !

This year, this game, it feels totally different. I've seen all the coaching changes since Rupp left. I never understood why Kentucky fans were so hard on coach Hall, but I do understand he had the biggest shoes to fill in history for any basketball coach anywhere, ever. Through all these years, it makes me feel really grateful we got Pope as our coach now.

He brings with him a modern, fun philosophy, based on hard work, and every aspect of the program and university working to get better, incrementally, day by day. That's how you do it.

Not by ending generational poverty.

I look at the leadership and where he has been. Coach Pope was cheered on by many of us all his time as a player, we loved him then, as we do wholeheartedly now. we're in great hands. He has united the fanbase where there was divisiveness before.

I give a tip of the hat and thanks for the Coach Cal era at Kentucky. They were fun times, but it got frustrating, and the game changed in his long tenure here. But I'll not nitpick on the past. He delivered a title and final fours. We wished more, but it's so difficult to do, for many reasons.

In the end, we do well by moving on, parting ways, and breathing new life back into our program!

We are Kentucky Basketball.

Forget being the "gold" standard.... Kentucky is pure platinum, make no mistake about it !

Go Big Blue!

Well said. Also, 75 is the first Kentucky team that I can remember much about (1st grade at the time).

 

[runt#69]

I was in my Moms belly about 2 mths along when UK lost the watershed final to Texas Western.
She said after the game her and my Grandpa both cried and cried and that that game marked me as a UK fan for life.

Rupp's Runts was my poppa's favorite team of all time. I wish I coulda' seen them live !

 

[Slowwalker]

It is a very nice change of pace and good to see these guys being unselfish and having fun. It appears to be the beginning of a great season. Let’s hope they continue to progress and make a deep, deep run. We are due.

 

[ORCAT]

I wasn't in the building, but on TV there seemed to be a different type of energy in Rupp Arena than I've gotten accustomed to feeling in the early season games against the so called "cupcakes". Appreciate the success Cal had here especially the first half of his tenure, but the fans have been hungry for this.

I was at the game and you are definitely correct. The energy was different and exciting than the past 5 years and it was from start to finish. The crowd is ready for this type of basketball as much as members of this board. It was very exciting to be in Rupp and it wasn't even a big game opponent. Can you imagine what the crowd will be like for UL, UT, etc.? Can't wait for those games.