Must Win Tonight?

[CatDaddy4daWin]

Tonights game is a must win for a few reasons

1. Top 25 - a loss probably drops us out of the top 25
2. SEC standings - loss puts us at 3-3 in the SEC. Not where we wanna be for SEC tournament seeding. And we still haven't played the top 3 teams in A&M, Florida and USC - have 5 games coming up with those 3 plus LSU.
3. Tournament seeding - loss probably drops us down to the 6/7 seed range
4. Confidence - these kids need to win this game to get their confidence back heading into these next few games. A loss puts even more pressure on the Vandy game, a team that is starting to put it together.

A loss, while not season ending, is devastating for our chances at a top seed and hopefully getting into the Louisville region. The one year Louisville has a regional we're gonna screw up and not get there.

My hope is to see the Cats come out, shoot well and get some solid contributions from the frontcourt. Skal, Lee and Poythress have the hopes of our season on their shoulders and we need them to come through for us.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

The 2011 Kentucky Wildcats had 9 losses and played in the Final Four. The 2014 Kentucky Wildcats had 11 losses and played in the Championship game.

I hope that provides some context for when a game becomes a 'must win.' On the other hand, for me every game is a 'must win.'

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

The 2011 Kentucky Wildcats had 9 losses and played in the Final Four. The 2014 Kentucky Wildcats had 11 losses and played in the Championship game.

I hope that provides some context for when a game becomes a 'must win.' On the other hand, for me every game is a 'must win.'

I get what you are saying but I'd rather us not be a 8 seed or squeek into the tournament and hope that we can get to the FF by upseting every team we play.

I want that Louisville regional and for that to happen tonight is a MUST WIN. A Louisville regional makes the prospect of getting to a FF much more probable. It has sure helped Duke in the past.

This team is talented enough to get a 2 or 3 seed. We just need the frontcourt to show spurts of consistency. Seeing the light come on for Skal would enable us to reach our potential.

 

[Smashcat]

I get what you are saying but I'd rather us not be a 8 seed or squeek into the tournament and hope that we can get to the FF by upseting every team we play.

I want that Louisville regional and for that to happen tonight is a MUST WIN. A Louisville regional makes the prospect of getting to a FF much more probable. It has sure helped Duke in the past

Can't disagree.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

We have a lot of tough games coming so a win would be big. Two with Vandy, LSU, A&M, Kansas....we have to steal another road win or two and win all home games.

 

[jrpross]

Technically, there is not really such a thing as a must win unless you're looking at the NIT and playing in your conference championship game. But if there is one, this would be one.

 

[Kycatspaws]

It's certainly a very important game now and a win would on the road could be a tremendous benefit.

 

[kybassfan]

I agree with the seeding comments, top 25, etc. I see another impact. At some point we all want to see the team turn the corner in terms of playing quality basketball and displaying that "fight" that everyone wants to see. Unless they demonstrate that they can right the ship, the questions of seeding and ranking are relatively pointless.

 

[BoulderCat]

I wouldn't call it a must win, but it's an important game. Each loss now is just going to push us further out of the SEC race and polls, and further down the seeding list. We've got some even tougher road games ahead, and we really need to win this against a 9-8 team. I think they are better than that record suggest though, and it's always tough to win there. It would certainly be a big game to win.

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

I bet if we went and looked it up you'd see a Duke team getting a close regional as a 2 seed. But then again, we aren't Duke so we wouldn't get the benefit of the doubt on that one.

A loss tonight puts UK in a bad spot, there's no way around that. Hopefully we're not debating that after the game though. We just cannot keep losing these road games to marginally talented teams.

My hope is that the bleeding stops tonight and we start to see our frontcourt play like we know they can. We have to start getting consistency from those positions.

 

[BBUK]

I'd sure sleep better tonight with a win. All I have in the house is three Michelob Ultra's but they will most assuredly be gone this evening.(Darn I have some Diet Pepsi too but no......spiced rum. I kilt that chump bottle in the pantry.) Hopefully my sleep will be peaceful this evening if I make it that far...(Not promised this evening.)

 

[yoshukai]

I get what you are saying but I'd rather us not be a 8 seed or squeek into the tournament and hope that we can get to the FF by upseting every team we play.

I want that Louisville regional and for that to happen tonight is a MUST WIN. A Louisville regional makes the prospect of getting to a FF much more probable. It has sure helped Duke in the past

Can't disagree.

IMO the only way we're able to play in Louisville is to be a 1 seed . And that ship has sailed . There is NO way the NCAA selection committee sticks a higher seeded team in Louisville with the possibility of meeting us in our back yard . They just won't let that happen . It's not like we're Duke of North Carolina .

 

[Mojocat]

Nah, no such thing as a regular season "must win" in college basketball, unless it's late February or early March and you are firmly on the bubble.

 

[ukfan79]

IMO the only way we're able to play in Louisville is to be a 1 seed . And that ship has sailed . There is NO way the NCAA selection committee sticks a higher seeded team in Louisville with the possibility of meeting us in our back yard . They just won't let that happen . It's not like we're Duke of North Carolina .

I could see it happening if we are a 6 seed or lower. But not as a 5 or higher for sure.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Its not a must win but if we lose I think we are on the bubble.

I do think its a must win if we have aspirations for a top 4 seed.

 

[BigAbe4UK]

Everybody else is losing games too. With the way things are going this season...we could potentially lose 2 more and still challenge for 1 seed if we close strong. I could easily see the 1 seeds having 5 losses or more this season. It's just an odd year. I read the other day that this is the 1st time in D1 basketball history that the current top 5 teams have 19 losses by mid Jan. Insane.

With all the losses this week - I'm not so sure we would even drop out of the top 25 as long as we beat Vandy Sat. We certainly would not be on the bubble with a loss-- not yet anyways. Let's just win tonight so we aren't worried about it!

 

[ganner918]

The 2011 Kentucky Wildcats had 9 losses and played in the Final Four. The 2014 Kentucky Wildcats had 11 losses and played in the Championship game.

I hope that provides some context for when a game becomes a 'must win.' On the other hand, for me every game is a 'must win.'

Agreed. It's not a "must win" but it is a very important game.

 

[stenchymouse]

All the home games are must wins.

I don't expect to win many of the road games, so no it's not a must win.

We just need to steal a few on the road.

 

[armchairpg]

I think win or lose we need to show we are making strides. I feel like we have taken too many steps back and it is time for the whole team to step it up a notch (especially the frontline). Just play hard and make the smart play and we will most of the games during the next stretch.

 

[kyjeff1]

Kentucky is probably only getting the Louisville region as a #1 seed -- why would the NCAA penalize another #1 seed by putting Kentucky in that region as a 2,3,4, or whatever? Can you imagine the whining by Self or Roy if they were the #1 seed and had to play a lower seeded Kentucky in front of 20,000 UK fans?

And the ship has probably sailed on getting a #1 seed. The Cats would have to win out to have a chance, and I don't see that happening.

With the exception of the west coast, and maybe even then, it doesn't matter where the game is played, there very well might be as many as 20k UK fans in attendance.
Honestly, if we get the Louisville region I fear we might get too many of the normal people we see in Rupp that sit on their hands. Give me the die hards that will go through hell to go to a game, those fans bring the noise.

 

[kyjeff1]

Its not a must win but if we lose I think we are on the bubble.

I do think its a must win if we have aspirations for a top 4 seed.

On the bubble? No.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I think everyone can agree that with how we've played so far and how tough our upcoming schedule is going to be that a win tonight is VERY important. Must win? Maybe so.

 

[screwduke]

While every game is technically a "must win" this one is different. Lose this one and we are out of the top 25 and the team could lose confidence. Losing tonight won't put them out of the tournament, but UK can't afford any more slip ups. UK has to win tonight for more reasons than one.

 

[JC for 3]

I see tonight as a must win for the following reasons:

• Confidence- the team needs a boost here. An SEC road win will definitely provide that
• Calm the waters.... the players as well as most of BBN are getting too close to panic mode.
• Restoring optimism for the remainder of the season- A win tonight is a big step in that direction for the team, the fanbase, and the media that is trying to throw dirt on the coffin
• To restore trust in Cal- With the lineup changes we see tonight...if those work and lead to a win, those who doubt Cal will see how futile it is to do that

 

[wildcatwelder]

I think everyone can agree that with how we've played so far and how tough our upcoming schedule is going to be that a win tonight is VERY important. Must win? Maybe so.

Agreed, which is why it's paramount we see improvement from here on out.

 

[wldktz8]

The 2011 Kentucky Wildcats had 9 losses and played in the Final Four. The 2014 Kentucky Wildcats had 11 losses and played in the Championship game.

I hope that provides some context for when a game becomes a 'must win.' On the other hand, for me every game is a 'must win.'

So 13 losses guarantees us a championship!