Thank God we hired Mark Pope...

[SouthernINcat]

I feel good about our chances tomorrow in our first big test, but I will sleep at night knowing that if we do lose it will not because our staff didn't scout, prepare, or care.

I expect a win, but I will be thrilled as long as we compete and show we belong with the best.

 

[Phil_The_Music]

I feel good about our chances tomorrow in our first big test, but I will sleep at night knowing that if we do lose it will not because our staff didn't scout, prepare, or care.

I expect a win, but I will be thrilled as long as we compete and show we belong with the best.

Same here man. I really want to win. But if we lose, I know the staff and players gave it all they had and will continue to give it all to improve. And, because of Pope and how he is, I want the win for him and the players more than I do for myself. I haven't felt that way in a long time.

 

[bbncal02]

Same here man. I really want to win. But if we lose, I know the staff and players gave it all they had and will continue to give it all to improve. And, because of Pope and how he is, I want the win for him and the players more than I do for myself. I haven't felt that way in a long time.

I've always loved/hated this game.

It's always a great matchup, but people try to sell a season on it. Duke waxed the crap out of us the year they had Zion....and then that "unstoppable" team didn't even make the FF.

Win or lose, we just need to play our game and not beat ourselves.

 

[NociHTTP]

It'll be nice knowing that Cal isn't using the game for a draft night warmup for his precious little sheets.

 

[Phil_The_Music]

I've always loved/hated this game.

It's always a great matchup, but people try to sell a season on it. Duke waxed the crap out of us the year they had Zion....and then that "unstoppable" team didn't even make the FF.

Win or lose, we just need to play our game and not beat ourselves.

Same man it's definitely a love/hate relationship. Love to win but man it stings to lose.

 

[bbncal02]

It'll be nice knowing that Cal isn't using the game for a draft night warmup for his precious little sheets.

What will be really nice is not playing with the damn lineups. Should've beat Kansas last year but Cal just couldn't help himself and started tinkering. Cal was ever the teacher (which I do respect) but he would sometimes put a lesson over a win. Can't be doing that.

 

[YardCat]

We have enough talented older players who have played for a long time. They want it just as bad as we do and they want it for Coach Pope and for the fans. It’s been a while since the team played for UK and not for the scouts!

 

[bbncal02]

Same man it's definitely a love/hate relationship. Love to win but man it stings to lose.

If we lose by 4-5, it sucks, but we keep going. Losing in a blowout or by a last second shot? Those are the ones that hurt the most.

 

[rick64]

Tomorrow night will tell BBN and college basketball a lot.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I've always loved/hated this game.

It's always a great matchup, but people try to sell a season on it. Duke waxed the crap out of us the year they had Zion....and then that "unstoppable" team didn't even make the FF.

Win or lose, we just need to play our game and not beat ourselves.

Because making the final four and winning a title relying on frosh is tough. They were like a one score game away from making it. They choked. To be fair they were living on borrowed time since the round of 32.

 

[bbncal02]

Tomorrow night will tell BBN and college basketball a lot.

It will and it won’t. That’s what I mean. March is a clip aways but we will get some questioned answered.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Im not gonna lose sleep, This team is incredible for only having 1 month to put together a brand new staff and roster outside of Perry who isnt going to play much until he adjusts to college ball and its speed/athleticism of opponents.

I just want us to to play with heart and fire and not get blown out . if our shots arent falling so be it, I have hope for the future again so a loss to the top 10 player talent that Duke has isnt upsetting.

 

[ChicagoCat1990]

I'm just excited to see what our guys have in them in a big time prime time matchup. Will they look scared and antsy or will they be loose and confident. My gut tells me Pope is going to have them ready to go!

 

[TheDude73]

I have a real good feeling about tomorrow night. And I don't usually have confidence, at least not in a game like this during the last 6 years of the Cal era. I would predict we'd win, like I did both times against Gonzaga, but Cal always found a way to ruin it for me.

This time, though, it just feels different. I think we win handily -

88-72 Good Guys.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

If we lose by 4-5, it sucks, but we keep going. Losing in a blowout or by a last second shot? Those are the ones that hurt the most.

Just don't understand the defeatist mentality.
Think positive.
This is the winningest program in the history of CB we are talking about.
Don't let the haters and the naysayers ie the media and pollsters try to diminish the fact that Kentucky is LOADED with experienced, talented players and now have a real coach leading them and a former Ky Champion player at that!

 

[jedcat]

Going into the Champions' Classic the last several years, I felt like inexperience, and Calipari's in-game coaching, almost guaranteed a loss. And losing six out of the last seven bears that out. I believe this year, because of: 1) our experience; 2) good players, even if we're not loaded with future draft picks; 3) depth; 4) and our coach's strategy and actual coaching, we can win.

 

[SemperFiCat]

Tomorrow night will tell BBN and college basketball a lot.

You aren't wrong. But tomorrow isn't going to be the biggest judge for me. I just can't believe we are close to a finished product yet. I think how we look against Gonzaga will be a far better example of what this team is gonna be. And if you want to extend that out, we'll darn sure know shortly after that against UofL and Ohio St. By then, we'll know what we got.

 

[Kyhoward]

Coach Pope, his staff, and these players seem to be a perfect match. We don’t know who will win tomorrow night, but we do know that the coaching staff will have given 100% in game planning and the players will give 100% effort as everyone’s objective is to win. This is truly a team and, I believe, they will get better as the season progresses. I have been a fan for 55 years and believe this team will have stolen our hearts by the end of the season.

 

[SemperFiCat]

This is just as big a test for Pope as it is for the team. We're also going to be grading Pope's in game coaching, with scrutiny, for the first time. We'll be able to see how he holds up.

 

[Fox2monk]

I know one thing, if we win great, if we don’t this will prepare us for the season, I know we will improve from this game.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Coach Pope, his staff, and these players seem to be a perfect match. We don’t know who will win tomorrow night, but we do know that the coaching staff will have given 100% in game planning and the players will give 100% effort as everyone’s objective is to win. This is truly a team and, I believe, they will get better as the season progresses. I have been a fan for 55 years and believe this team will have stolen our hearts by the end of the season.

I got news for ya. My heart is already mia.

 

[ccukuk]

I feel good about our chances tomorrow in our first big test, but I will sleep at night knowing that if we do lose it will not because our staff didn't scout, prepare, or care.

I expect a win, but I will be thrilled as long as we compete and show we belong with the best.

You’re absolutely right. He’s night, day, and night again different from the last 17 years of coaching.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Looking forward to this first big-time test for the Cat with Pope on the sidelines.

 

[gbl97]

I just want to see;
1) good shot selection on offense
2) alert, fundamentally sound defense and blocking out

If we do that and lose, fine.

 

[ORCAT10]

I feel good about our chances tomorrow in our first big test, but I will sleep at night knowing that if we do lose it will not because our staff didn't scout, prepare, or care.

I expect a win, but I will be thrilled as long as we compete and show we belong with the best.

Exactly.

That being said, Coach “understands the assignment.” So far, Coach deserves an A+.
Tomorrow night’s result will not change my opinion. It’s great knowing the Cats will be well prepared.

I’m glad that we have a Coach that prepares, scouts, studies the analytics and does not “moderate expectations.”

GBB.

 

[UKAlum84]

You can watch a game and tell when a team wants to win....thats what is great about the first 2 games this year. We show great willingness to do what is needed to win.

But if we lose, so be it, as long as its not a nail biter or a overtime situation where we got our best in foul trouble. Oh btw, fouls could mean a lot tomorrow night. Hopefully flops are gone and real defense is played by both teams.

 

[yabbadabbadoo]

I think the team will be ready and prepared.
Just can’t have one of those games where shots won’t fall at a decent clip. Play disruptive enough defense where the bad guys don’t light it up and I feel a win in our future.

 

[storm1507]

I think this game will show just how important our defensive tenacity will be. It will be another MEN vs. boys, but this time............

 

[chevyman 50]

I think Coach Pope will have the team ready and will be a close game and I hope and think Ky will win.