i can't wait for the Duke game this year!

[bigc45157]

The natural rivalry with UK and Duke, along with the budding possibilities of us meeting in important games in the next 2-3 years makes this year's matchup intriguing.

I also think its a great chance to "get them" before they are the favorites in our match ups.

I REALLY hope we can get them this year. I like our chances.

 

[Nick Horvath]

I honestly liked our chances in this game before UK landed Jamal Murray. Now with Murray at UK, I think it's basically a toss-up. Should be a great game.

 

[RamHard]

The natural rivalry with UK and Duke, along with the budding possibilities of us meeting in important games in the next 2-3 years makes this year's matchup intriguing.

I also think its a great chance to "get them" before they are the favorites in our match ups.

I REALLY hope we can get them this year. I like our chances.

This game will not affect recruited, teams have already form relationships with players.

 

[Bigblueforever]

Its time for Kentucky to put Duke down like 1978 & 1998 teams did those years.

 

[bigc45157]

This game will not affect recruited, teams have already form relationships with players.

I don't think I said anything about it changing recruiting. I just simply would like to see the cats beat Duke before it "gets out of control".

 

[mkasten25]

I wanted the April 6 game with Duke...

 

[ArmyWildcat81]

Kentucky has blown every shot at duke when we had superior teams(2010, 2015). Duke went on to win titles. It's our own fault.

 

[Hoskins21]

Kentucky has blown every shot at duke when we had superior teams(2010, 2015). Duke went on to win titles. It's our own fault.

Yep, I agree.

 

[lobstersgopinchpinch]

This past season, UK had the superior team through mid Feb. From then on and through the tourney, which team was better is very debatable. I posted earlier that based on Kenpom data Duke was playing significantly better than UK in the tourney, adjusting for schedule strength, etc.

It's interesting that some folks on here talk about being better than Duke in 2010, 2015, etc., except for the minor inconvenience that you lost to teams we subsequently beat. I mean, erase any team's worst 10 minutes of any game and they'd probably all be undefeated. Lack of consistency isn't just bad luck or whatever you want to call it.

 

[Hoskins21]

This past season, UK had the superior team through mid Feb. From then on and through the tourney, which team was better is very debatable. I posted earlier that based on Kenpom data Duke was playing significantly better than UK in the tourney, adjusting for schedule strength, etc.

It's interesting that some folks on here talk about being better than Duke in 2010, 2015, etc., except for the minor inconvenience that you lost to teams we subsequently beat. I mean, erase any team's worst 10 minutes of any game and they'd probably all be undefeated. Lack of consistency isn't just bad luck or whatever you want to call it.

UK would have beaten Duke this past season. You're not going to change anyone's mind about that. Winning 38 straight in a Power 5 conference isn't easy and can only be accomplished by a great team.

 

[ArmyWildcat81]

UK vs Duke 2010 would've been a beat down of epic proportions. 2015 would've been a good game, but UK by atleast 8.

Again though, our own fault for not getting there.

 

[lobstersgopinchpinch]

UK vs Duke 2010 would've been a beat down of epic proportions. 2015 would've been a good game, but UK by atleast 8.

Again though, our own fault for not getting there.

When you actually use data for 2010 (http://kenpom.com/index.php?y=2010) it's pretty clear that a beat down was possible but not for UK. You guys looked terrible against WV, I'm baffled you ignore that as an indication of how good that team was.

 

[CloverforkCat]

Its time for Kentucky to put Duke down like 1978 & 1998 teams did those years.

Agree, Coach K has owned us in his time at Duke something like 5-1. We used to lead that series pretty big, but not any more !

 

[Hoskins21]

When you actually use data for 2010 (http://kenpom.com/index.php?y=2010) it's pretty clear that a beat down was possible but not for UK. You guys looked terrible against WV, I'm baffled you ignore that as an indication of how good that team was.

Stats go out the window when teams meet face-to-face, especially in the tournament. UK would have won last season, but it's done and over with.

 

[n8lbs]

Agree, Coach K has owned us in his time at Duke something like 5-1. We used to lead that series pretty big, but not any more !

6-1, but UK still leads 11-9 overall. Hopefully Duke can beat you in the regular season and tie it up in the NCAAT.

 

[Hoskins21]

6-1, but UK still leads 11-9 overall. Hopefully Duke can beat you in the regular season and tie it up in the NCAAT.

Nah. UK will win this fall.

 

[Bigbluetrue]

There is no doubt (2010 & 2015 drafts proved it) that UK had the teams with superior talent. However, history tells us that the team with the better talent doesn't always win the National Championship. Some of it is match ups leading up to the final game, some of it is coaching and some of it is just luck. Unfortunately, in 2010 and 2015 all those factors combined to beat us. Duke right now has slightly better momentum than us since coming off a National Championship and winning some big time head to head recruiting battles. I do like our chances against Duke this year. Although not the end of the world should we lose, I feel it would go a great way to slow the perceived Duke momentum by beating them. Coach K is a great coach but so is Cal. Bring it on!

 

[n8lbs]

Nah. UK will win this fall.

You're ballsy, I'm digging it.

 

[RamHard]

UK would have beaten Duke this past season. You're not going to change anyone's mind about that. Winning 38 straight in a Power 5 conference isn't easy and can only be accomplished by a great team.

How do you know this? The ACC was much stronger then the SEC, you would have lost some games in the ACC , everyone knows that.

 

[Hoskins21]

How do you know this? The ACC was much stronger then the SEC, you would have lost some games in the ACC , everyone knows that.

It's an opinion. Name me the last team to win 38 straight in a Power 5 conference.

 

[RamHard]

It's an opinion. Name me the last team to win 38 straight in a Power 5 conference.

You got to admit the Sec was really bad, look how bad they did in the tourney. Notre Dame was the hardest game Kentucky had all season before Wisky. I think it hurt Kentucky playing in the SEC, BECAUSE they were so much better then the other teams.

 

[Hoskins21]

You got to admit the Sec was really bad, look how bad they did in the tourney. Notre Dame was the hardest game Kentucky had all season before Wisky. I think it hurt Kentucky playing in the SEC, BECAUSE they were so much better then the other teams.

So you couldn't name me 1 team? Is it that hard to admit that UK's 2014-2015 was a great team?

 

[RamHard]

So you couldn't name me 1 team? Is it that hard to admit that UK's 2014-2015 was a great team?

They were a very good team, Great teams win championships

 

[Hoskins21]

They were a very good team, Great teams win championships

I disagree. The great teams don't always win it all. You know that.

 

[n8lbs]

Kentucky should join the ACC. Football would be middle of the pack, with an upward trajectory. Would play Louisville twice a year, and also play faux rivals UNC and Duke at least once a year in basketball. I'm pretty sure it would be fun for you to actually play in a big boy conference in basketball.

 

[jb3676]

It's also an opinion that Kentucky would've beaten Duke if they played one another in the tournament.

 

[jrpross]

Kentucky should join the ACC. Football would be middle of the pack, with an upward trajectory. Would play Louisville twice a year, and also play faux rivals UNC and Duke at least once a year in basketball. I'm pretty sure it would be fun for you to actually play in a big boy conference in basketball.

The sec has admittedly been down lately, although not as piss poor as some people have claimed it to be. But they also forget that it wasn't that long ago that it was arguably the strongest conference out there around the time Florida won back to back titles. There's some serious talent coming into the sec this year. My hope is it will be on the upswing again.

 

[n8lbs]

The sec has admittedly been down lately, although not as piss poor as some people have claimed it to be. But they also forget that it wasn't that long ago that it was arguably the strongest conference out there around the time Florida won back to back titles. There's some serious talent coming into the sec this year. My hope is it will be on the upswing again.

LSU* and UK should be top ten, and MSU has Newman. If nothing else, you'll always be better than the PAC 12.

*LOL, Johnny Jones.

 

[ukdesi]

When you actually use data for 2010 (http://kenpom.com/index.php?y=2010) it's pretty clear that a beat down was possible but not for UK. You guys looked terrible against WV, I'm baffled you ignore that as an indication of how good that team was.

The game vs WVU was an anomaly. UK wasn't a great shooting team, but hadn't been that bad all season. One game is one game.....use the whole season as an indication of UK's team.

Also.....matchups probably matter more than stats in any given NCAA tourney game. I'm not gonna say UK was better than Duke in 2010 or 2015, but I'd take my chances with UK in any single game due to matchups.

 

[lobstersgopinchpinch]

So you couldn't name me 1 team? Is it that hard to admit that UK's 2014-2015 was a great team?

UK 2015 was a great team. Kenpom rates every team over the past 14 seasons and UK's score of 0.9757 is the best of any team (http://kenpom.com/index.php). In fact, only 1 team (KU in 2008 with 0.9753) is even close.

It's true that the best teams often don't win it all. And, imo, 2 things hurt UK this year: Weren't playing their best ball the last month of the season, and a really bad matchup with UW.

 

[TUL]

You guys aren't giving that 2010 Duke team enough credit. There were something like eight or nine NBA prospects on that team, including an eventual Pete Newell winner (Singler, Smith, Plumleex2, Thomas, Dawkins, and Kelly played in the league at least a bit, and Zoubek and Scheyer both would have gotten a chance if not for injury), with three guys who have been discussed as potential to have their jerseys retired at Duke in Singler, Smith, and Scheyer... All three of whom were all Americans... And who are three of the toughest and craftiest SOBs to ever play at Duke. So you can call that team weak all you want... As a Duke fan, I think it was one of the best teams we've EVER had. Each guy knew their role, and played it as well as it could be played, and defensively it was one of the best Duke teams in history.

As for the game this year, should be great, although both teams will be super young. I expect Skal to be the best player on the floor, but Ingram is insanely physically gifted. Ullis should be hard to handle. It will be interesting to see the guards guarding each other... The game will certainly give me a lot of anxiety, and I hope we win!

 

[jrpross]

LSU* and UK should be top ten, and MSU has Newman. If nothing else, you'll always be better than the PAC 12.

*LOL, Johnny Jones.

Texas A&M has a top 10 class as well. It should be better this year, though not top notch but like I said, I just am hoping its on the upswing.

 

[n8lbs]

It's really going to be a battle between two unknown teams. Duke will still have Amile and M. Jones, and UK will have Ulis. Everyone else is basically brand new, even Poythress.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I think it is much more of a given that 2010 UK would have beat Duke than 2015 UK beating Duke. 2015 UK would have been coming off an emotional/tough win over Wisconsin, same as Wisconsin over UK. Duke still had the advantage of resting its gues and scrimmaging Saturday against a cupcake MSU team. I'd say the title game would have been a toss up. Now 2010 UK would have had a whole week to prepare, and would have shot normal or close to it against Duke and would have won and then beat down Butler to win the title.

That didn't happen though, and the rest is history sadly for UK fans and happily for Duke fans. Make no mistake, Duke fans can talk all they want, but maybe one of them will admit they got better match ups in WVU and Wisconsin than they would have against those UK teams.

 

[crazyqx83]

I honestly liked our chances in this game before UK landed Jamal Murray. Now with Murray at UK, I think it's basically a toss-up. Should be a great game.

There is absolutely nothing that gives any evidence that you will be competitive in this game. Unless you think we're bringing in Nigel Hayes to guard Grayson allen.

 

[Hoskins21]

It's really going to be a battle between two unknown teams. Duke will still have Amile and M. Jones, and UK will have Ulis. Everyone else is basically brand new, even Poythress.

I wouldn't say Poythess is brand new. He's more of a question mark.

 

[TheKentuckyKid]

We can not beat our chest proclaiming we would've beat Duke last year, that is Louisville fan talk.

 

[n8lbs]

I wouldn't say Poythess is brand new. He's more of a question mark.

That's what I meant, but he's a youngin, he'll be fine.

 

[Neue Regel]

I think it is much more of a given that 2010 UK would have beat Duke than 2015 UK beating Duke. 2015 UK would have been coming off an emotional/tough win over Wisconsin, same as Wisconsin over UK. Duke still had the advantage of resting its gues and scrimmaging Saturday against a cupcake MSU team. I'd say the title game would have been a toss up. Now 2010 UK would have had a whole week to prepare, and would have shot normal or close to it against Duke and would have won and then beat down Butler to win the title.

That didn't happen though, and the rest is history sadly for UK fans and happily for Duke fans. Make no mistake, Duke fans can talk all they want, but maybe one of them will admit they got better match ups in WVU and Wisconsin than they would have against those UK teams.

Just my opinion (which is worth what? Maybe a cup of coffee? lol) but I totally see your argument in reverse.

2010 Duke was incredibly tough, experienced and defensively allowed the fewest points of any Duke NCAA Champ. Zoubek was the leading rebounder in the tournament. Rebounding, defense and shooting were all strengths. That team was efficient as hell. I don't think they wilt against a Freshmen laden UK team one iota. TUL is correct about that team not getting enough credit. They only won 35 of 39 games and lost one game in Feb/March/April.

With 2015 I worry about Kentuckys plethora of big men, the height of the Harrison's and overrall defense. It would be a hard fought game but I like Kentucky in that matchup. I don't think Kentucky gets denied if it had gotten to the last game. I also think that the Wisconsin camp was obsessed with wanting to beat Kentucky and that game took a little bit out of them.

 

[crazyqx83]

This past season, UK had the superior team through mid Feb. From then on and through the tourney, which team was better is very debatable. I posted earlier that based on Kenpom data Duke was playing significantly better than UK in the tourney, adjusting for schedule strength, etc.

It's interesting that some folks on here talk about being better than Duke in 2010, 2015, etc., except for the minor inconvenience that you lost to teams we subsequently beat. I mean, erase any team's worst 10 minutes of any game and they'd probably all be undefeated. Lack of consistency isn't just bad luck or whatever you want to call it.

no it wasn't. We had 1 loss the entire season. You all got absolutely bitched by the team we beat in the elite 8 two weeks earlier.

You all played ONE decent team all tournament (seriously, you all need to go look at who the teams you beat in the tournament beat all season... the answer is no one).

It's easy to win 1 game when you get 5 byes to get there. Our regional final opponent was better than every team you played in the tourney, besides Wisconsin.