This is all feels very deliberate, and very smart.

[MachineHead1]

Is it just me, or does feel like (for those of us here old enough to remember) we have traveled back in time? All of the messaging, calling back the vibes of when Kentucky was KENTUCKY, and not just some NBA farm full of mercenaries whose names and faces you’d have to learn every year?

All the former players, using language like “we”, “us”, we will do whatever it takes, etc. It is very difficult to find the words to describe the vibes that this hire, and the collective messaging around it, has called back, but it feels like the whole Cal thing is almost a distant memory. It feels like we are KENTUCKY again, and not just a business model. Does this make sense? Am I just imagining this?

 

[ORCAT10]

Old enough as well. Completely agree. Kentucky first. Wish we could fast forward to Midnight Madness.

 

[BlueRunner11]

Not imaging it all.

It’s similar to a trick used in cinema by purposefully adding nostalgia to invoke emotion to compensate for a poor or lacking product to subdue criticism.

That being said, I don’t care. I’m rooting for Pope, hope he kills it, and love the 90s Pitino team vibes.

 

[Swifterz]

He’s literally the anti-Cal. I couldn’t be more excited.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Weird times. You will see all these guys that came through here while Cal was here vanish pretty much and see all the Pitino-era guys in Rupp.

 

[CB3UK]

I'm ready for it. The Pope is here!

 

[kywildcat41086]

Old enough as well. Completely agree. Kentucky first. Wish we could fast forward to Midnight Madness.

Me too man I’m so Damned pumped I can’t wait for basketball season again…

 

[RunninRichie]

Me too man I’m so Damned pumped I can’t wait for basketball season again…

Been a damn while since I said that. Had to be what. 2019?

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Weird times. You will see all these guys that came through here while Cal was here vanish pretty much and see all the Pitino-era guys in Rupp.

This! And it’s longgggggg overdue! I’m giddy af! LFG!

 

[SemperFiCat]

Old enough as well. Completely agree. Kentucky first. Wish we could fast forward to Midnight Madness.

I wonder if Midnight Madness gets a face-lift?

 

[kywildcat41086]

Been a damn while since I said that. Had to be what. 2019?

Yea somewhere around there to be honest!

 

[RunninRichie]

I wonder if Midnight Madness gets a face-lift?

Start by seperating the women. Keep it men's only and it booms again.

 

[kywildcat41086]

Apathy has finally left the damn state……

 

[SemperFiCat]

Start by seperating the women. Keep it men's only and it booms again.

Actually, the women might be good to keep. Now anyway. Keep the hype train going for them. It's the entire format of the night that needs fixed.

 

[kywildcat41086]

Start by seperating the women. Keep it men's only and it booms again.

They should especially since Brooks will have a helluva squad too!

 

[bluecoon1]

Will be nice to see some kids playing for the name on the front of the jersey.

 

[Farsight]

What excites me is that the atmosphere of the TRUE UK is back. What does that mean? The 90's great get to come along, Rajon Rondo, Chuck Hayes and all of those players UK fans loved will be apart of the program again. They won't be an after thought of Cal's version of UK, which only included his tenure. He didn't include the ones before him. I am excited to see John Wall and hopefully other UK players under the Cal error... I mean era will get to experience the TRUE Kentucky!

 

[SemperFiCat]

Will be nice to see some kids playing for the name on the front of the jersey.

I mean, you can do both. Just at least pretend the name on front matters too.

 

[kywildcat41086]

What excites me is that the atmosphere of the TRUE UK is back. What does that mean? The 90's great get to come along, Rajon Rondo, Chuck Hayes and all of those players UK fans loved will be apart of the program again. They won't be an after thought of Cal's version of UK, which only included his tenure. He didn't include the ones before him. I am excited to see John Wall and hopefully other UK players under the Cal error... I mean era will get to experience the TRUE Kentucky!

Exciting times ahead I have that feeling ….

 

[STL_Cat]

All the comments about Pope being all about the name on the front of the jersey “KENTUCKY” by both Pitino and Barnhart today were no accident. That’s exactly what they’re doing. And I like it.

 

[SemperFiCat]

All of the comments about Pope being all about the name in the front of the jersey “KENTUCKY” by both Pitino and Barnhart today were no accident. That’s exactly what they’re doing. And I like it.

Correcting the Cal culture. It was definitely intentional.

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

Cal really wore on me. He is a good guy, but he always placed himself above the brand and program. Not sure I’ve watched more than 25 games over the last 6 years. Keep in mind, I’m a basketball dude, heavily involved in the AAU scene. Just couldn’t watch the nightly auditioning of players to the NBA and him selling out the program and promoting himself..

 

[Bkocats]

Weird times. You will see all these guys that came through here while Cal was here vanish pretty much and see all the Pitino-era guys in Rupp.

Did you see John Walls post? He said he will always be a fan and hopes we hire a great coach and that he’d be back
May have been BS but I think he meant it

 

[KYCAT78]

Start by seperating the women. Keep it men's only and it booms again.

Since we have a new women's Coach maybe we should keep them together next year.

 

[ORCAT10]

I wonder if Midnight Madness gets a face-lift?

Needs one.

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

Is it just me, or does feel like (for those of us here old enough to remember) we have traveled back in time? All of the messaging, calling back the vibes of when Kentucky was KENTUCKY, and not just some NBA farm full of mercenaries whose names and faces you’d have to learn every year?

All the former players, using language like “we”, “us”, we will do whatever it takes, etc. It is very difficult to find the words to describe the vibes that this hire, and the collective messaging around it, has called back, but it feels like the whole Cal thing is almost a distant memory. It feels like we are KENTUCKY again, and not just a business model. Does this make sense? Am I just imagining this?

No. I even did a one time NIL contribution lol. Glad it's about tradition and legacy again. I hope all former players feel a sense of pride like the fans so we can unite to make BBN an unstoppable force. Come to UK and accomplish great things and the program will undoubtedly give back.

 

[ShyCat99]

I couldn’t stand Cal more than the next guy but who the hell only watches 25 UK games in six years. What the hell else is there to do.

 

[stuway]

My wife is younger than me and all she has known as a coach is Cal

I was trying to express what OP typed to her today. It does, it feels like old times, like we have our program back. We became the university of Cal on accident and lost our way

Not anymore. We have our beloved basketball program back. Rejoice BBN. And those questioning or bitching about Pope will eat crow

 

[crxohio]

The sellout is gone. And it feels like a long time ago. Especially after Sunday. Cal Era will only be remembered as one highlight year and 14 wasted opportunities. Even Pope could do that. Fact!

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Is it just me, or does feel like (for those of us here old enough to remember) we have traveled back in time? All of the messaging, calling back the vibes of when Kentucky was KENTUCKY, and not just some NBA farm full of mercenaries whose names and faces you’d have to learn every year?

All the former players, using language like “we”, “us”, we will do whatever it takes, etc. It is very difficult to find the words to describe the vibes that this hire, and the collective messaging around it, has called back, but it feels like the whole Cal thing is almost a distant memory. It feels like we are KENTUCKY again, and not just a business model. Does this make sense? Am I just imagining this?

There is no doubt in my mind Mitch called in a careers worth of favors to rally the fans. The irony is we wouldve supported him no matter what. It's Mitch everyone was furious at.

 

[Fox2monk]

Weird times. You will see all these guys that came through here while Cal was here vanish pretty much and see all the Pitino-era guys in Rupp.

Exactly, I was happy to hear from guys like Hayes again. He’s a real Wildcat to the core. I wanna see my dude Gerald Fitch back at UK!

 

[Fox2monk]

Did you see John Walls post? He said he will always be a fan and hopes we hire a great coach and that he’d be back
May have been BS but I think he meant it

I do too, Wall is a real Kentucky dude.

 

[Fox2monk]

The sellout is gone. And it feels like a long time ago. Especially after Sunday. Cal Era will only be remembered as one highlight year and 14 wasted opportunities. Even Pope could do that. Fact!

We had 4 highlight years. About 4-5 really solid years.

 

[kennyskywalker34]

I wonder if Midnight Madness gets a face-lift?

Yes. It will have a coach who cares about winning at Kentucky and not about being a NBA farm team.

 

[Marleydogg]

Actually, the women might be good to keep. Now anyway. Keep the hype train going for them. It's the entire format of the night that needs fixed.

The first thing ahould be to time it so we fans can actually watch the practice scrimmage. At 11pm, we got guys playing and ESPN switches to sportscaster. Absurd.

Cut down a lot of the crap, and get to a practice.

 

[Jazzycat]

What is really surreal is the video by Rick Pitino to BBN and all the reconnection with the fans, contributing money to the NIL……that is twilight zone stuff…..🤣….

 

[crxohio]

We had 4 highlight years. About 4-5 really solid years.

Tru, tru. Just one 6 win run. I meant

 

[MachineHead1]

I couldn’t stand Cal more than the next guy but who the hell only watches 25 UK games in six years. What the hell else is there to do.

Honestly that’s more than I watched. I’d catch extended highlights if they won, and ignore it completely if they lost. I followed it closely, just never watched them live

 

[crxohio]

What is really surreal is the video by Rick Pitino to BBN and all the reconnection with the fans, contributing money to the NIL……that is twilight zone stuff…..🤣….

Cause as it seems, slick Rick can't retire as ky coach... but can ride off into sunset knowing he did something close enough. Pretty awesome time right now, there is hope being restored. Us fans matter again! Cannot wait until Sunday, pope won't be saying I'm not that guy. Watch n see.

 

[westerncat]

Been watching UK basketball for 50+ years and I hope that we do get back to playing like KENTUCKY BASKETBALL AGAIN ! The last 5-6 years was not how Kentucky Basketball was to be played. This past year was one of he best teams we have had for a while but Cal screwed that up by not playing any defense.