Reasons for optimism, in my opinion

[davekersey]

1. I think Zman will happen and be here soon
2. I think the team will be full strength come season opener
3. Have some elite players attending Madness...Peterson, Acuff, Wilson, maybe Quaintance, also Perry and Jasper. No reason to believe UK is not solidly in the running for all of them.
4. Word from a manager at pickups and practices.....Reeves is unstoppable, playing the best.

Once we see how the bigs fit in with what we've already seen in Canada, there might be no stopping us and serious contender for the SEC championship.

So yeah, I'm optimistic. Fire away.

 

[downthehatch]

Great post, I love to start my day with something optimistic. Can't wait for the season to start.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

We Good

 

[blue cincy]

Thanks DK! Hope you are doing good.

 

[dlh331]

I truly believe it will be our best team since 2017 and deepest since 2015

 

[davekersey]

Thanks DK! Hope you are doing good.

Thanks for your concern. I found out early June that my bladder cancer was put in remission it also reached my prostate and it is good to go as well.

 

[Catluv]

Thanks for your concern. I found out early June that my bladder cancer was put in remission it also reached my prostate and it is good to go as well.

DK love your optimistic thoughts in life and to our season. Prayers that all these things go well!!

 

[ruppcat]

1. I think Zman will happen and be here soon
2. I think the team will be full strength come season opener
3. Have some elite players attending Madness...Peterson, Acuff, Wilson, maybe Quaintance, also Perry and Jasper. No reason to believe UK is not solidly in the running for all of them.
4. Word from a manager at pickups and practices.....Reeves is unstoppable, playing the best.

Once we see how the bigs fit in with what we've already seen in Canada, there might be no stopping us and serious contender for the SEC championship.

So yeah, I'm optimistic. Fire away.

There's still a known liability on the bench that has not righted itself thus far.

 

[davekersey]

DK love your optimistic thoughts in life and to our season. Prayers that all these things go well!!

Yeah well my optimism is sometimes far-fetched I still think we're getting Darius rice. Survived cancer twice now first time I celebrated by driving from Southwest Florida to Montana and this time I flew to Costa Rica in Late July

 

[davekersey]

As far as the spectrum of life it's like I'm finished putting out the 17th green and taking my time to play 18. I want to see the 2025 Kentucky Wildcats hit the hardwood cuz I think they will be powerful

 

[TopCatCal]

1. I think Zman will happen and be here soon
2. I think the team will be full strength come season opener
3. Have some elite players attending Madness...Peterson, Acuff, Wilson, maybe Quaintance, also Perry and Jasper. No reason to believe UK is not solidly in the running for all of them.
4. Word from a manager at pickups and practices.....Reeves is unstoppable, playing the best.

Once we see how the bigs fit in with what we've already seen in Canada, there might be no stopping us and serious contender for the SEC championship.

So yeah, I'm optimistic. Fire away.

Hope you're right Dave. But I don't share your optimism. I've read this book before. Come tournament time Calipari will have his team playing tight as a banjo string & we will have that game were we go 3-23 from 3 point range and or 8-19 at the foul line & lose a 2 or 3 point game. Seen it too many times.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

1. I think Zman will happen and be here soon
2. I think the team will be full strength come season opener
3. Have some elite players attending Madness...Peterson, Acuff, Wilson, maybe Quaintance, also Perry and Jasper. No reason to believe UK is not solidly in the running for all of them.
4. Word from a manager at pickups and practices.....Reeves is unstoppable, playing the best.

Once we see how the bigs fit in with what we've already seen in Canada, there might be no stopping us and serious contender for the SEC championship.

So yeah, I'm optimistic. Fire away.

Have you heard anything about ugo, his situation has gone really quiet

 

[davekersey]

Have you heard anything about ugo, his situation has gone really quiet

Still in boot and will be for a while he's hanging around the guys doing some workout gaining some weight that's about all I know

 

[WildcatFan60]

My son works at UK, and this morning and saw Bradshaw going to class without a boot on.

 

[deplion]

Yeah well my optimism is sometimes far-fetched I still think we're getting Darius rice. Survived cancer twice now first time I celebrated by driving from Southwest Florida to Montana and this time I flew to Costa Rica in Late July

lol on Rice.

Love the post Dave and am so happy you are doing well!!

 

[Uncle Adolph]

Thanks for your concern. I found out early June that my bladder cancer was put in remission it also reached my prostate and it is good to go as well.

Prayers for you

 

[YardCat]

Thanks for your concern. I found out early June that my bladder cancer was put in remission it also reached my prostate and it is good to go as well.

Continued prayers

 

[Disappointed Cat]

1. I think Zman will happen and be here soon
2. I think the team will be full strength come season opener
3. Have some elite players attending Madness...Peterson, Acuff, Wilson, maybe Quaintance, also Perry and Jasper. No reason to believe UK is not solidly in the running for all of them.
4. Word from a manager at pickups and practices.....Reeves is unstoppable, playing the best.

Once we see how the bigs fit in with what we've already seen in Canada, there might be no stopping us and serious contender for the SEC championship.

So yeah, I'm optimistic. Fire away.

So now the bar is so low that being an SEC contender justifies storming the court??? The program continues its downward spiral under the over paid coach.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Well I think all the UK optimists have chimed in. Good luck with those predicitons.

 

[Catluv]

Well I think all the UK optimists have chimed in. Good luck with those predicitons.

All the negative people could start their own thread. Kinda the way it works.

 

[rabbitTown]

1. I think Zman will happen and be here soon
2. I think the team will be full strength come season opener
3. Have some elite players attending Madness...Peterson, Acuff, Wilson, maybe Quaintance, also Perry and Jasper. No reason to believe UK is not solidly in the running for all of them.
4. Word from a manager at pickups and practices.....Reeves is unstoppable, playing the best.

Once we see how the bigs fit in with what we've already seen in Canada, there might be no stopping us and serious contender for the SEC championship.

So yeah, I'm optimistic. Fire away.

Reeves was certainly stoppable most games last year.

 

[sk73]

Well I think all the UK optimists have chimed in. Good luck with those predicitons.

I agree with and appreciate Dave Kerseys original post . I too, think this will be a great season and I am excited for it to start. Your side will have a quiet season until April and, maybe even next year.

 

[2Dope15]

Hopefully we will have the injuries out of the way early. With UGO and Bradshaw. That's what has hurt us the last few years.

 

[Wayne washburn]

I'm a new member here I have always read your post always informative glad you are doing OK dave Kersey

 

[jrpross]

Yeah well my optimism is sometimes far-fetched I still think we're getting Darius rice. Survived cancer twice now first time I celebrated by driving from Southwest Florida to Montana and this time I flew to Costa Rica in Late July

Darius Rice is the first recruitment I remember following on this board. Or what this board was at the time anyway. Man, good times…

 

[weatherbird]

Hope you're right Dave. But I don't share your optimism. I've read this book before. Come tournament time Calipari will have his team playing tight as a banjo string & we will have that game were we go 3-23 from 3 point range and or 8-19 at the foul line & lose a 2 or 3 point game. Seen it too many times.

So basically like 67 of the 68 teams that enter the tournament. The last few years have definitely been a disappointment, and I get that, just not sure why we have to venture to an extreme that is more outliers than rules. Cal has had more final four teams than teams that fit the narrative you are describing. Don't want to start a back and forth, as everybody is welcome to their opinion, but just know that Cal has played to his seed line better than any other coach during his time here. Doesn't give him a pass for the last few years, and deserves criticism for those years.

But there is more reason for optimism than just what Dave posted. Cal needed to change assistants. He's done that. He needed better talent for his system, and he's done that. He needed more than 7 players, he now has 12-13. He needed to change his offensive philosophy, and from their play and his interviews in Canada, it looks like he may have done that. The one thing he has yet to do that we have been asking for is win big, and we won't know the answer to that til the season really gets rolling. I choose to be optimistic because it brings me a little joy now, and if it crashes and burns by seasons end, everybody will be disappointed, including the ones that will say they told everybody so.

 

[westerncat]

I feel like Dave that this is the year we will see UK having a really good team . There is no way to go but up. Stay positive ! Dave glad you are doing well. I have many friends and family members who are battling cancer. Just keep the faith.

 

[blue cincy]

Thanks for your concern. I found out early June that my bladder cancer was put in remission it also reached my prostate and it is good to go as well.

Just keep listening to your body, hard battle you have had for sure.

 

[Disappointed Cat]

I feel like Dave that this is the year we will see UK having a really good team . There is no way to go but up. Stay positive ! Dave glad you are doing well. I have many friends and family members who are battling cancer. Just keep the faith.

It takes performance to win ....hope and perpetual sunshine pumping won't carry the team very far...just look back to Cal's performance since the Wisconsin loss in 2015.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Dave, glad to hear about remission. Enjoyed the OP until it said SEC champs. I was like wait what? We are now getting hopes up for SEC Champs? Enjoy your post either way, glad your doing good.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

I think winning the SEC is a given.

I expect far more from this team.

Can’t wait!!👍👍