The 2015-16 Cats looking a lot like the 1984-85 edition.

[Robcatt24]

For those of us old enough to remember, the 84-85 season is starting to look a whole lot like this 2015-16 team.

Both teams lost a ton of talent off of the previous year's Final Four squads.

Both teams appear to be led by a strong willed player. Kenny Walker then, Ulis now.

The 84-85 Cats struggled mightily during the regular season. So much so, that I believe it was Walker who said later that he was surprised they got an NCAA Tourney bid.

That team went into the tourney as a 12 seed, and proceeded to knock off Washington and UNLV before losing to Chris Mullin and St.John's in the Sweet Sixteen.

I really believe this team could do something similar.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

For those of us old enough to remember, the 84-85 season is starting to look a whole lot like this 2015-16 team.

Both teams lost a ton of talent off of the previous year's Final Four squads.

Both teams appear to be led by a strong willed player. Kenny Walker then, Ulis now.

The 84-85 Cats struggled mightily during the regular season. So much so, that I believe it was Walker who said later that he was surprised they got an NCAA Tourney bid.

That team went into the tourney as a 12 seed, and proceeded to knock off Washington and UNLV before losing to Chris Mullin and St.John's in the Sweet Sixteen.

I really believe this team could do something similar.

Remember it well

 

[Aike]

That team was 16-12 after losing the first round of the SEC tournament. They shouldn't have gotten a bid, but I'm glad they did.

Joe B.'s last hurrah.

 

[Jkwo]

Nah. Cal invented the concept of losing games to mediocre teams. Not happy with your revisionist history.

 

[KA4Prez]

Reminds me a lot of the 2010-11 team more.

The good thing is...great guard play and all neutral games in the NCAA Tournament.

 

[brianpoe]

Reminds me a lot of the 2010-11 team more.

The good thing is...great guard play and all neutral games in the NCAA Tournament.

Not again....

https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/...010-2011-its-scary.160253/page-4#post-3581493

 

[brianpoe]

For those of us old enough to remember, the 84-85 season is starting to look a whole lot like this 2015-16 team.

Both teams lost a ton of talent off of the previous year's Final Four squads.

Both teams appear to be led by a strong willed player. Kenny Walker then, Ulis now.

The 84-85 Cats struggled mightily during the regular season. So much so, that I believe it was Walker who said later that he was surprised they got an NCAA Tourney bid.

That team went into the tourney as a 12 seed, and proceeded to knock off Washington and UNLV before losing to Chris Mullin and St.John's in the Sweet Sixteen.

I really believe this team could do something similar.

Walker and Bennett would be a load to handle for this year's team.

The back to the future matchup would be interesting though...

Master Blaster v Alex

 

[gojvc]

For those of us old enough to remember, the 84-85 season is starting to look a whole lot like this 2015-16 team.

Both teams lost a ton of talent off of the previous year's Final Four squads.

Both teams appear to be led by a strong willed player. Kenny Walker then, Ulis now.

The 84-85 Cats struggled mightily during the regular season. So much so, that I believe it was Walker who said later that he was surprised they got an NCAA Tourney bid.

That team went into the tourney as a 12 seed, and proceeded to knock off Washington and UNLV before losing to Chris Mullin and St.John's in the Sweet Sixteen.

I really believe this team could do something similar.

I don't agree with this comparison at all. That team had to pull off two pretty big upsets just to get to the Sweet 16. Some writers speculated that were UK not hosting the Final Four we wouldn't even had gotten a tournament invite. It was arguable that we didn't deserve it based on our record, as you point out with what KW said. This year's team is a legitimate Final Four contender and will not be a 12 seed or anything close to that. Just not a comparison I would have thought of.

 

[brianpoe]

I don't agree with this comparison at all. That team had to pull off two pretty big upsets just to get to the Sweet 16. Some writers speculated that were UK not hosting the Final Four we wouldn't even had gotten a tournament invite. It was arguable that we didn't deserve it based on our record, as you point out with what KW said. This year's team is a legitimate Final Four contender and will not be a 12 seed or anything close to that. Just not a comparison I would have thought of.

Field is wide open but if we are a legitimate Final Four contender that list of contenders is really long..

 

[Dirk2Bowie]

I remember Walker nearly getting his eye scratched out. That was an aggravating game.

 

[Robcatt24]

I don't agree with this comparison at all. That team had to pull off two pretty big upsets just to get to the Sweet 16. Some writers speculated that were UK not hosting the Final Four we wouldn't even had gotten a tournament invite. It was arguable that we didn't deserve it based on our record, as you point out with what KW said. This year's team is a legitimate Final Four contender and will not be a 12 seed or anything close to that. Just not a comparison I would have thought of.

Agree to disagree.

I'm kinda projecting a little bit, but I think this year's team is going to take probably 3-4 more losses before NCAA Tournament time. So I think by the time the tourney does come around, they are not going to be thought of as Final Four team.

Just think that this team will be much like that 84-85 bunch in that they will probably be very much an underdog come March.

And while I don't think it affects either team, both of those teams came after two of the most bitter losses in UK history.

That 1984 Twin Tower team seemed destined to win the title. Before that season, there was undefeated talk then, too.

Then came that unholy loss to Georgetown. Still the most bitter of my UK fanhood.

Of course, that Wisconsin game last season is still raw.

 

[gojvc]

Agree to disagree.

I'm kinda projecting a little bit, but I think this year's team is going to take probably 3-4 more losses before NCAA Tournament time. So I think by the time the tourney does come around, they are not going to be thought of as Final Four team.

Just think that this team will be much like that 84-85 bunch in that they will probably be very much an underdog come March.

And while I don't think it affects either team, both of those teams came after two of the most bitter losses in UK history.

That 1984 Twin Tower team seemed destined to win the title. Before that season, there was undefeated talk then, too.

Then came that unholy loss to Georgetown. Still the most bitter of my UK fanhood.

Of course, that Wisconsin game last season is still raw.

They both sucked but Wisconsin was worse I think. The Georgetown loss was terrible for how it went down but I can't really say that I know we were better than Georgetown. And there was certainly no guarantee we would have beaten Houston, although we had beaten them earlier in the year at Rupp Arena. But it is what is is. I've seen my favorite team win 4 national championships which is 4 more than some fans have.

 

[martinsm30]

I remember Walker nearly getting his eye scratched out. That was an aggravating game.

Man, I was mad at Chris Mullin. Thought he had done it on purpose.

 

[Dirk2Bowie]

If he did fo it on purpose it was smart and worked great! Amazing how many single incidents have cost us big games and even banners...

 

[kennywalker34]

Man, I was mad at Chris Mullin. Thought he had done it on purpose.

He did do it on purpose. I will never be convinced otherwise. I loathe Chris Mullen.

 

[JasonS.]

We pushed our coach out the door that year even without message boards and Twitter. I think I learned every profanity I know from listening to people in my family talk about Joe B. Hall that season.

 

[martinsm30]

We pushed our coach out the door that year even without message boards and Twitter. I think I learned every profanity I know from listening to people in my family talk about Joe B. Hall that season.

So true. I lot of people don't understand the stuff stated on this board about UK coaches has been talked about for almost 50 years.

 

[UKnCincy]

Not again....

https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/...010-2011-its-scary.160253/page-4#post-3581493

Was wondering if anyone else was going to notice that.

I was thinking this thread was satirical. At least I hope it was.