Honest Question

[Loosey101]

When do you realistically think we will hang #9?

It’s been nearly 15 years since 2012 and in that time, we’ve seen our rivals all win and close the gap on our 8. I absolutely LOVE Pope, don’t get me wrong, but within cal’s first couple of years it seemed like a title was absolutely inevitable given how he took over college basketball when he came to Kentucky.

So my question to you, as Kentucky fans, when do we realistically think we will win #9?

Unfortunately, im going to say somewhere close to the 20 year mark of ‘12.

 

[the dopester]

Next year. Always next year.

 

[ukfan1622]

When do you realistically think we will hang #9?

It’s been nearly 15 years since 2012 and in that time, we’ve seen our rivals all win and close the gap on our 8. I absolutely LOVE Pope, don’t get me wrong, but within cal’s first couple of years it seemed like a title was absolutely inevitable given how he took over college basketball when he came to Kentucky.

So my question to you, as Kentucky fans, when do we realistically think we will win #9?

Unfortunately, im going to say somewhere close to the 20 year mark of ‘12.

Realistically, I'd say next year.

 

[etowncatfan]

I think it gets harder and harder every year. Too many good teams who are out there that on a given night can knock you out of the Tournament.

You have to be Lucky. Like Florida was tonight. If Texas Tech doesn’t miss the 2 one and one’s, and then Florida hits their last 4 three point shots. Those things usually doesn’t happen.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

I don't see why Kentucky couldn't make a run next year. It will depend on who comes to UK in the portal, retain Oweh, Chandler, BG so forth and continue to develop. Staying healthy will be key.

 

[BlueSince92]

My guess is most likely either three years from now or four years from now.

The 98 thing happened in 98, but other than that I've never seen us win a title without at least one superstar and we don't seem to be able to recruit superstars now.

So hopefully we can build to that. Every year get a little more hype, which makes boosters a little bolder, also makes businesses get a little more bang for their buck in terms of advertising and therefore more likely to meaningfully impact the NIL bottom line. Also there is room for some rule changes in the intervening time; maybe we'll get something like NIL contract caps and that will allow Pope to recruit based more on his personality, the program feel and atmosphere, and his offense, results, and basketball savvy. All of which would help us.

In that time we can also be building up experience, hopefully laying the groundwork for a UConn '24 / Kentucky '98 type of program-grown title contender.

If we go past four years from now without doing it though, the natives are likely to start to get restless.

So it could happen before then or it could happen after then. But my guess is it is most likely to happen in '28 or in '29.

 

[UKfan215]

The truth is, nobody knows. And that's what makes it so interesting. All you can do is to put yourself in a position to win and circumstances will dictate the rest. If we are consistently in the conversation, then sooner or later we're gonna get #9. And the team that does it may end up being a team you don't really expect to do it. I thought we had the best team in the country in 2003 and 2010, but we didn't win it all in either of those years. I didn't think we had the best team in the country in 1998, yet we did win it all that year.

Pope had us in the conversation in his first year, despite all the challenges we faced. I see nothing that suggests he won't consistently keep us in the conversation in the years to come. If we can consistently field top 5 or top 10 type teams from season to season, the law of averages says we're gonna make our share of Final Fours and occasionally win a national championship. But national championships are quite difficult to come by, no matter how good you are, especially in a single elimination tournament. Otherwise we would have a lot more of them. And it has gotten even tougher with parity being what it is today.

 

[312CAT]

Who knows. Kentucky won 4 championships in 10 years from 1948-1958. Since then we've won 4 championships in 65 years. 2 of those happened in a 3 year span. It could be a long time before we win again.

 

[megablue]

I know and will not say, as I want to keep it interesting for everyone. We will have three (3) international players, from three (3) different continents, play major roles … along with a 4-year in-state player.

 

[Fancatstik]

 

[michaeluk26]

I'm honestly more sick of the final four droughts after 98 and 15. Been to 8 in my lifetime and won 3 titles. Believe me I desperately want another title but we gotta quit going on these FF droughts. Gotta make it there to win a title. It sucks cause it could be next year or 15 years from now.

 

[Seth_C]

Honestly? I think we never will. At the very least, not until Doug Shows and Brian Dorsey have both retired. Until then I guarantee it will not happen.

 

[AbbieLex]

2048

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Not till there is a salary cap or some nil equalizer. Until then we wont really have a chance.

 

[TucsonCat]

I'm honestly more sick of the final four droughts after 98 and 15. Been to 8 in my lifetime and won 3 titles. Believe me I desperately want another title but we gotta quit going on these FF droughts. Gotta make it there to win a title. It sucks cause it could be next year or 15 years from now.

66-75
79-84
85-93

Final four droughts have always been a thing. That's why im quick to forgive Cal because of all the ones he brought

 

[W1LDCAT22]

I'm honestly more sick of the final four droughts after 98 and 15. Been to 8 in my lifetime and won 3 titles. Believe me I desperately want another title but we gotta quit going on these FF droughts. Gotta make it there to win a title. It sucks cause it could be next year or 15 years from now.

Agreed. All fans could ask for is just getting to the Final 4 and see what happens. You just got to get your team there and give them a chance. Our expectations should to atleast get to the Final 4 every year imo.

 

[jwphelps]

When do you realistically think we will hang #9?

It’s been nearly 15 years since 2012 and in that time, we’ve seen our rivals all win and close the gap on our 8. I absolutely LOVE Pope, don’t get me wrong, but within cal’s first couple of years it seemed like a title was absolutely inevitable given how he took over college basketball when he came to Kentucky.

So my question to you, as Kentucky fans, when do we realistically think we will win #9?

Unfortunately, im going to say somewhere close to the 20 year mark of ‘12.

Well Cal won one with all that talent, I think with the portal Pope has a good as chance as anyone, he has the NIL money, a good staff and a better coach than Cal so Pope will get us there.

 

[JDHoss]

When do you realistically think we will hang #9?

It’s been nearly 15 years since 2012 and in that time, we’ve seen our rivals all win and close the gap on our 8. I absolutely LOVE Pope, don’t get me wrong, but within cal’s first couple of years it seemed like a title was absolutely inevitable given how he took over college basketball when he came to Kentucky.

So my question to you, as Kentucky fans, when do we realistically think we will win #9?

Unfortunately, im going to say somewhere close to the 20 year mark of ‘12.

Could be next year, or it might be 5, 10, 20 or more years. The ONLY honest answer is that no one knows.

 

[Edgarman]

I don't see why Kentucky couldn't make a run next year. It will depend on who comes to UK in the portal, retain Oweh, Chandler, BG so forth and continue to develop. Staying healthy will be key.

Realistically, how can we say next year other than hoping? We don't have a clue who will be our starting 5. We certainly can hang our hat on true freshmen right out of HS. Neither of our HS recruits are on Flagg's level. Few are ever on that level. Secondly we really don't know our portal additions or if they can really compete in the SEC. I appreciate the hope that we win it all but to actually think we should win next year is painting Coach Pope into a corner. My wish and hope next year is that we are better than a middle of the pack SEC team.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Realistically, how can we say next year other than hoping? We don't have a clue who will be our starting 5. We certainly can hang our hat on true freshmen right out of HS. Neither of our HS recruits are on Flagg's level. Few are ever on that level. Secondly we really don't know our portal additions or if they can really compete in the SEC. I appreciate the hope that we win it all but to actually think we should win next year is painting Coach Pope into a corner. My wish and hope next year is that we are better than a middle of the pack SEC team.

How can you say Kentucky won't have a shot not knowing who all will come in yet? That logic runs both ways. Don't twist my words around when I said Kentucky could make a run. That is not the same as saying they will. Clearly you just skipped right over the part that says it will depend on who comes in the portal and who all stays on this current team.

It pisses me off when 'fans' try to sell Pope short without giving him a chance and say things like just hoping to be better than a middle of the pack SEC team. Very dismissive of the fact this was only year one and constantly adjusting on the fly due to the injuries. You don't know who all is going to transfer in. In this portal era, any team coming together makes anything possible if done right.

I could have easily seen this team still playing today had Robinson and Kriisa stayed healthy. Butler and Carr not banged up down the stretch. 12 Quad 1 wins, beat DOOK, Gonzaga, Florida, Tennessee twice, Louisville, A&M, Miss. State, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and go to the Sweet 16. What basis do you have for it being any worse of a season after that kind of roster built on short notice and that Pope won't be able to construct any better next season? Injuries to other schools can happen too and impact their season.

Let the man do his job now that he doesn't have to worry about assembling a staff and has already started adding from the portal. Won't have to wait past mid-April to start for next year's team. Another thing that pisses me off is how dismissive some 'fans' are of freshman because they did not meet their asinine expectations in year one and played like true freshmen with ups and downs. Give them another offseason to continue developing, especially Collin Chandler and that will benefit this team too. Johnson, Moreno, Lewis, along with another season of Oweh, BG if they all return gives this team more depth.

 

[docholiday51]

The portal has made it a year to year thing. You have to luck into the right mix of players. A team can go from the outhouse to the penthouse(or vice versa) in a years time. Even in the best case of possible returners for next season we may not have enough to pull it off unless we can get EVERYONE we want out of the portal
The following year the process starts over again. The one variable that might change things is, what if
Pope has enough influence to retain 3 or 4 really good players for 2 or more years. We had 15 years of
a coach running them out the door maybe Pope can change that

 

[MrHotDice]

Next year. Always next year.

its always next year if your from Kentucky. Those that say that is unrealistic are just partial fans Pope knows the assignment and it to win every year. To expect to win every year is fine but what we had under Cal. was not. The real fan could give a rats ass who UK gets in the pro. Thats why everyone loved Cal wheen he won, it will be the same for whoever is UKs coach. your expected to coach, recruit, and play to win it all, period.