Season you've most looked forward to and/or excited about?

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

'84, '96, '97 and this past season. I wasn't expecting Tubby to pull it of in '98, and I never liked Cal enough to fully enjoy the success he did have here. I was thrilled to see what Pope was doing from the git go and couldn't wait to see the results. And I wasn't disappointed.

 

[Fox2monk]

I've seen lots of people on here asking can we fast forward to basketball season, is it November yet, etc? I'm curious to hear a season or multiple in your lifetime you've been most excited about? I CANNOT stop thinking about this 2025-26 team.

I was born in 98', barely remember the Tayshaun years, my first heartbreak was OT after the Sparks buzzer beater, and I really got engaged with KY hoops during the Ramel Bradley/Joe Crawford years but never was able to truly process everything year in/out until JVC got to town.
2010 and 2015 are the only teams I can remember knowing the level we would probably be at and having that giddy feeling all spring and summer; Davis and Fox/Monk teams IMO we had an idea they could be good, but not to the full extent. Curious to hear other answers! Apologies if previously posted at some point...

It will never surpass 1996, 2009, 20111-2012, and 2015 for me.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

In order, for me:
1996
1997
1998
2010
2012
1993
1992
1991
1994
2015
2026

 

[dvillecatfan]

2017 Raiders

 

[JDHoss]

The 69-70 season. I thought Issel, Pratt, Mills and company were going to end UCLA's reign.

 

[Kybluedude]

1978. I gambled in the summer prior and bought 4 Mideast Regional txs in Dayton. We got seeded there.

Played Mich St in the finals. Thought we would murder them. They had a great forward in Greg Keller plus a freshman named Magic Johnson. We prevailed in a close low scoring grinder with Kyle Macy hitting clutch free throws and advanced to the Final Four.

Won it over Duke after nipping the Arkansas Tripletts coached by Eddie Sutton,

Still think that 1978 team could have handled our 96 team, big tough skilled and experienced driven group,

 

[UKBlueBlood]

Just repeating here, but 1996. Everyone knew we were going to be ridiculously good before the season ever started, and frankly that team even outperformed those expectations, in my opinion. There should have been a mercy rule imposed in many of the games they played. The night was often over for the other team by the first TV timeout, and frequently that wasn’t at the 16:00 minute mark, but rather a timeout called in desperation by the opposing team after they got blitzed with a 15-2 run immediately after tip off.

 

[littlecreek]

1978. I gambled in the summer prior and bought 4 Mideast Regional txs in Dayton. We got seeded there.

Played Mich St in the finals. Thought we would murder them. They had a great forward in Greg Keller plus a freshman named Magic Johnson. We prevailed in a close low scoring grinder with Kyle Macy hitting clutch free throws and advanced to the Final Four.

Won it over Duke after nipping the Arkansas Tripletts coached by Eddie Sutton,

Still think that 1978 team could have handled our 96 team, big tough skilled and experienced driven group,

It's 1978 for me also after the Dean Smith cussing Rick Robey, running out on the floor, 4 corners crap to end the 77 season. And THANK YOU for believing like me that 78 could handle 96.

 

[cordmaker]

1970, we could possibly won the championship in 70, but Mike Casey got injured and had to red shirt that year after suffering a broken leg in a car wreck! 70 had Issel, Pratt, Parker, Mills and Steele if I remember correctly!

 

[ruppcat]

I've seen lots of people on here asking can we fast forward to basketball season, is it November yet, etc? I'm curious to hear a season or multiple in your lifetime you've been most excited about? I CANNOT stop thinking about this 2025-26 team.

I was born in 98', barely remember the Tayshaun years, my first heartbreak was OT after the Sparks buzzer beater, and I really got engaged with KY hoops during the Ramel Bradley/Joe Crawford years but never was able to truly process everything year in/out until JVC got to town.
2010 and 2015 are the only teams I can remember knowing the level we would probably be at and having that giddy feeling all spring and summer; Davis and Fox/Monk teams IMO we had an idea they could be good, but not to the full extent. Curious to hear other answers! Apologies if previously posted at some point...

I might say the 91-92 season. First time eligible for post-season play. Had finally gotten back on tv.

Those games got me through some tough times after a break up.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

The '77-78 season coming off the Elite 8 the year before and following it up with the National Title over DOOK. It was only a matter of time when Pitino would finally win it all at UK after the Elite 8 run in '95 and followed it up with a title in '96 like the 1977-78 team did under Joe B. The 2004 class Tubby brought in with Rondo, Morris, Crawford and Bradley had a lot of preseason hype, along with Chuck Hayes (SR) and Azubuike (JR). Regardless how we feel about him now, excited about Cal's '09 class bringing in Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe. Landing Davis, Gilchrist and Teague along with Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb coming back during lockout had me pumped about 2012. Then the 2014-15 team with all of the returning players, and the 2014 class coming in with Towns, Booker, Lyles and Ulis.

Other years I was really excited about but wanted to see first how Kentucky would play under a new coach. Tubby's first year which ended in #7 after going to the Championship Game the last two seasons under Rick. Pope's first year ready for the change. Several big wins over Florida, DOOK, beating Gonzaga, Louisville, the wins over Tennessee in the regular season and the Oklahoma wins going down to the wire with Oweh's game-winners.

 

[CastleRubric]

I might say the 91-92 season. First time eligible for post-season play. Had finally gotten back on tv.

Those games got me through some tough times after a break up.

Excellent answer

The first season with Tubby felt great too
I remember looking forward to seeing what he could do

🫣

 

[runt#69]

1978-1984-1994-1996-2012-2015-2025

Twin Towers with SKY could not wait, 96 could not wait, 2012 for Davis to see if he was the deal.

this for me

but it all started with 78 for me.

 

[blue cincy]

this for me

but it all started with 78 for me.

75 was one of my favorite years but I did not expect and anticipate the year. I was 10 in 75

 

[littlecreek]

1970, we could possibly won the championship in 70, but Mike Casey got injured and had to red shirt that year after suffering a broken leg in a car wreck! 70 had Issel, Pratt, Parker, Mills and Steele if I remember correctly!

One of the biggest "What ifs" in Kentucky history

 

[CatAlum2016]

I started at UK in 2012 after moving from Illinois. I was a new fan, excited to be at the university after the championship season. My excitement quickly dwindled as we went on to lose to Robert Morris in the NIT my freshman year. The following off season leading to the 2013-14 season was my first taste of true anticipation. One of the best HS recruiting classes ever on paper: "Keep calm the twins are coming", Julius Randle leading the way, James Young, Dakari, Marcus Lee, with WCS and Poythress returning. I even remember waiting on pins and needles for the big Andrew Wiggins announcement day thinking we were gonna pull that off.