This one is harder to get over... A week and still not over it.

[xtra12]

Now since the one and dones, the last loss has gotten understandably harder as we are having to say goodbye to so many great kids. Even with that, usually after our last loss of the season, I turn ESPN off for a day or two and focus on something else, then come back and I can focus on recruiting news and our kids draft positions.

This year seems a bit different, I'm not sure if it's the way we lost with the last second heartbreak or Higgins-gate, but this is a lot harder to get over. Anyone else feel the same way, or just another good year that didn't make it all the way.

 

[JimboBBN]

I'm just about over this season. Give me the weekend and I'll be fine.

I was over last season probably the day after.

I'm still not over 2015.

 

[Roe07]

Yeah i'm kinda with ya. I told my wife Sunday morning that if UK lost I wasn't going to be upset but I'm still pretty bitter about this one. I've always thought that losing in the Elite 8 was the toughest one to handle, but losing to UNC, with all the garbage that has occurred there, has made it much worse; especially since the media seems to not give a damn about their scandal and still acts like UK and Calipari are everything wrong with college athletics while acting like Carolina is the holy grail of honesty and integrity. It's sickening, but it is what it is! I just need to get out on the golf course a few times now and I'll forget about it.

 

[dezyDeco]

losing to UNC, with all the garbage that has occurred there, has made it much worse; especially since the media seems to not give a damn about their scandal and still acts like UK and Calipari are everything wrong with college athletics while acting like Carolina is the holy grail of honesty and integrity. It's sickening .

^Well put.

This year, it's the WHO (the UNCheaters) and the HOW (NCAA/Higgin's help) that is making it worse. Just waiting on this weekend's results to see just how much more it'll bother me.

 

[*CatinIL*]

Was I bitter how UK's ending went down? YES. But it's Friday and the History channel is running their Morning/Afternoon Ancient Aliens marathon so all is good. I'll be pulling for USC because they're in the SEC and they have the "Slipper" on right now. Hopefully they make it to the end...how GREAT (only because UK isn't in it) would that be to see another SEC school hanging an NCAAT banner? Good Luck USC. I Higgins isn't your official for any game.

 

[Mojocat]

Yep. This was a tough one. Which is honestly surprising in several ways.....

 

[Montana81]

It was easy for me to get over. I'm not over the Wisconsin loss. Probably never will be.

 

[docholiday51]

I'm getting there,we really never got to see what this team was until the last 12 or so games of the year.It was a great group of kids and it is a sad thing because of the way things ended for them.A level playing field is not too much to ask or expect,it will always seem to me that this group left with unfinished business that was beyond their control.

They represented UK well both on and off the court,in the climate of college basketball today (KU,UL,UNC and others)that is important.It seems like this season went by more quickly than usual,good things have a way of doing that.32-6 ain't too bad,I'm glad I was along for the ride.

 

[katwest]

I haven't been on since the day they lost and it still bothers me and as long as Carolina doesn't win it I will be fine. It was a great group of kids and they laid it on the line. I doubt I watch any more unless someone calls and sez Carolina's going down, then I will watch that.

 

[docholiday51]

I haven't been on since the day they lost and it still bothers me and as long as Carolina doesn't win it I will be fine. It was a great group of kids and they laid it on the line. I doubt I watch any more unless someone calls and sez Carolina's going down, then I will watch that.

Agree if UNC wins this thing it will start the healing process all over again,if they go down I will feel better knowing that UNC and the NCAA got what they deserved.If UNC doesn't win it this yrar maybe they will fall off the map a little.

 

[McCantsTranscript]

Took a day or two and I was over it. Life doesn't really change that much for us fans other than just our emotions.

 

[Cardsstink]

It's hard to get over because that was the National Championship game.

 

[Cardsstink]

Was I bitter how UK's ending went down? YES. But it's Friday and the History channel is running their Morning/Afternoon Ancient Aliens marathon so all is good. I'll be pulling for USC because they're in the SEC and they have the "Slipper" on right now. Hopefully they make it to the end...how GREAT (only because UK isn't in it) would that be to see another SEC school hanging an NCAAT banner? Good Luck USC. I Higgins isn't your official for any game.

I was all for that until a USC fan came over here right after we lost and called us inbreds, an embarrassment to the SEC, Martin a better coach, etc. He was banned almost immediately but I want them to get murdered by Gonzalva.

 

[McCantsTranscript]

In the Cal era, I'd probably rank the losses like this (hurts the most to the least and 2013 doesn't count).

1. 2015 Wisconsin
2. 2014 UConn
3. 2017 UNC
4. 2010 WVU
5. 2011 UConn
6. 2016 Indiana

 

[McCantsTranscript]

I was all for that until a USC fan came over here right after we lost and called us inbreds, and embarrassment to the SEC, Martin a better coach, etc. He was banned almost immediately but I want them to get murdered by Gonzalva.

They will. There's always a Cinderella or surprise team who gets to the Final Four and then looks like trash once they're there.

2016- Syracuse
2015- Mich State
2013- Wichita St (didn't look bad but lost)
2011- VCU
2010- WVU
2006- George Mason, LSU
2003- Marquette

 

[docholiday51]

In the Cal era, I'd probably rank the losses like this (hurts the most to the least and 2013 doesn't count).

1. 2015 Wisconsin
2. 2014 UConn
3. 2017 UNC
4. 2010 WVU
5. 2011 UConn
6. 2016 Indiana

I think you are correct.When we see it in black and white there is a lot more hurt there than one would think,no wonder we don't take much crap around here.

 

[Montana81]

In the Cal era, I'd probably rank the losses like this (hurts the most to the least and 2013 doesn't count).

1. 2015 Wisconsin
2. 2014 UConn
3. 2017 UNC
4. 2010 WVU
5. 2011 UConn
6. 2016 Indiana

1. 2015 Wisconsin
2. 2010 WVU
3. 2014 Uconn
4. 2011 Uconn
5. 2017 UNC
6. 2016 IU

I put WVU at #2 because I was sure that we were winning it at that point.

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

I'm not over it. And I'm not over Wisconsin. The common denominator for our post-season's end (as well as 2005 and 2011) is John Higgins. I'm not judging his motives, but for whatever reason, he does not officiate well in UK games. We have it "all on tape" as Cal said. And now, more people are paying attention.

Since the Wisconsin loss, I have griped about everything that happened. After this loss to UNC, I want to move beyond words and am more convinced than ever that something constructive must be done. I want to get past Wisconsin and now UNC. And that means keeping referees accountable for their actions.

 

[docholiday51]

You get clarity while on a treadmill at the gym,while I was there I found out that I'm not over 1966 yet

 

[loucatfan]

Now since the one and dones, the last loss has gotten understandably harder as we are having to say goodbye to so many great kids. Even with that, usually after our last loss of the season, I turn ESPN off for a day or two and focus on something else, then come back and I can focus on recruiting news and our kids draft positions.

This year seems a bit different, I'm not sure if it's the way we lost with the last second heartbreak or Higgins-gate, but this is a lot harder to get over. Anyone else feel the same way, or just another good year that didn't make it all the way.

I'm with you. It actually has been about the worst five days in UK basketball history. Cheated out of a win against UNCheat, IU hires the best young coach out there and will be back, and UL snookers the state legislature into giving them a permanent 15 million dollar a year advantage over all other NCAA schools (they take about 30 million out of YUM. Instead of redoing the lease the idiots in Frankfort agreed to pay part and have local gov pay 10.8 million yearly) .

 

[TnRustyCAT]

38, and Wisconsin made me to GET OVER any tournament game faster than I did before the 2015! I realized it's just a game, not life or death!

 

[barryn2000]

Took a day or two and I was over it. Life doesn't really change that much for us fans other than just our emotions.

That's it...managing emotions. I love the big blue nation and UK BB but it really doesn't impact my real life. I still fly my UK flag, wear my UK gear....win or lose.

 

[KMKAT]

Games are tough to get over ESPECIALLY when the refs are in the middle of the equation.

Wisconsin (shot clock) and UNC (1st half) refs didn't do their job they were hired to do. And the NCAA does what? They assign Higgins to the Final 4.

These refs don't get penalized; they just get more games!

You cannot tell me the NCAA ref system is a system based on non-biased referees who do not make themselves the focus of the game.

We should not have even had to pay attention to the referees, similar to the UCLA and Wichita State games.

But because of Higgins, and even one or 2 overrules he engaged himself in on, this one was not played without bias.

 

[HenryMuto]

We all won't be over it until next season begins.

 

[bigbluedon]

I think this one has been tougher for me to get over than Wisconsin. This one led to the Final Four where we would have been the favorites more than likely. But as the man above said, the fact that we were playing a school that shouldnt have been in the tournament and then get a ref that basically screwed us for 40 minutes, this one is tougher..Final Four's are very hard to get to and we always get the tougher road. This would have been awesome for this group of kids and us fans.. I am pretty disgusted still.

 

[mattrudd]

Have to agree with the Op. Still struggling with this one.

 

[darrellswift]

i was at the game. i still feel devastated. it honestly bothers me how much it bothers me, because it's a basketball game. a college kid takes a jump shot and the ball went inside a cylinder, so i'm crushed. had it bounced out of the cylinder, i'd be (possibly) excited and happy right now. that's how crazy this is.

 

[loucatfan]

i was at the game. i still feel devastated. it honestly bothers me how much it bothers me, because it's a basketball game. a college kid takes a jump shot and the ball went inside a cylinder, so i'm crushed. had it bounced out of the cylinder, i'd be (possibly) excited and happy right now. that's how crazy this is.

Yep

 

[Wildcat Sheli]

Agree. I had someone say, "it's just a game." But it's not. Not to me. It's the BBN. It's the dreams of those young men who put on the uniform and gave their all. (And to know it was affected not only this year, but 2015, 2011 and 2005, is hard to take). It's the little man with the basketball net on his head at the Tournament who reminds us of our Pops who taught us to love UK Basketball. It's the friends you love to talk with about UK basketball. It's the bond you feel with people you've never met but when they're wearing UK gear, it's like you already know them. It's the indescribable feeling of being there to witness UK beat Louisville in the 2014 Tournament. It's special.

I won't "move on" or stay silent any longer when our teams are so close to winning it all, and all they ask is for a fair shot and they don't get it.

Never Again! For our 2005, 2011, 2015 and 2017 Teams. They deserved better. The BBN deserved better.

 

[darrellswift]

i will feel wayyy better if UNC loses though, because i'll have the mentality of "well, they probably would have beaten us too." plus obviously don't want them to win. i'm not one who feels good about losing to a team that is the eventual national champion. that means nothing to me.

honestly this loss hurts so much because i feel like we got robbed. people keep saying we still had a chance to win (and should have) when we got up 5, and let them go on a 12-0 run, and that's absolutely true. but we would have been up more had we not had to overcome all the blatantly terrible calls.

bad calls put the best player left in the country on the bench for a huge stretch of the game. games are won and lost over 40 minutes. that mattered. plus taking 4 points straight off the board on bad calls, then we lose by 2 at the buzzer. and all the head scratching phantom loose ball fouls. i need to stop thinking about it, let alone talking about it. why am i here?

 

[plumdog69]

Not over it. I feel this team was just finding itself.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Not over it. I feel this team was just finding itself.

Please stop

 

[Cardsstink]

I'd feel worse if Gonzaga or SC beat us. I mean that would be a dagger to the heart to lose in the NC to either one.

 

[kev69]

Now since the one and dones, the last loss has gotten understandably harder as we are having to say goodbye to so many great kids. Even with that, usually after our last loss of the season, I turn ESPN off for a day or two and focus on something else, then come back and I can focus on recruiting news and our kids draft positions.

This year seems a bit different, I'm not sure if it's the way we lost with the last second heartbreak or Higgins-gate, but this is a lot harder to get over. Anyone else feel the same way, or just another good year that didn't make it all the way.

Really?

This team achieved a whole lot more than I ever expected.

Great year by the Cats. Definitely overachieved.

 

[kybassfan]

This was pretty much a routine close NCAA tourney loss. Now Georgetown and Wisconsin caused permanent brain damage.

 

[kev69]

This was pretty much a routine close NCAA tourney loss. Now Georgetown and Wisconsin caused permanent brain damage.

Yep.
Add Michigan in '93 also....that one really still hurts.

 

[jrm693]

I guess because I was fortunate enough to be four rows behind Mike Pratt and let go of a lot of my emotions at the game it helped, I was still livid as the ongoing discussions about how Higgins handled the game went on this week on Catspause. What really hurts is more than likely we would have been 10 ahead at the half with Meeks and Hicks in foul trouble if it had been called the way it should have been. Meeks really took advantage of them swinging hips, it would have totally changed the complexion of the game. I agree with above poster the fact that UNC has been involved in so much corruptness and nothing has been done while they have marched to two final fours tells a thinking person a lot...basically we have the right people in the right places and there is nothing you can do about it. To further flex their muscles our boys were made to run the gauntlet and after surviving a very good WSU team we faced a great UCLA team and handled them handily...then just to add a little weight to the schedule the NCAA put our achilles heel John Higgins as a further stumbling block just to make sure, Cal didn't pull off another great feat. Call it confidence but WSU, UCLA,UNC and I imagine they thought Kansas, not a great deal of chance any team could survive that.....but yes I am getting over it.

 

[PowerofPelphrey]

Now since the one and dones, the last loss has gotten understandably harder as we are having to say goodbye to so many great kids. Even with that, usually after our last loss of the season, I turn ESPN off for a day or two and focus on something else, then come back and I can focus on recruiting news and our kids draft positions.

This year seems a bit different, I'm not sure if it's the way we lost with the last second heartbreak or Higgins-gate, but this is a lot harder to get over. Anyone else feel the same way, or just another good year that didn't make it all the way.

 

[kev69]

I guess because I was fortunate enough to be four rows behind Mike Pratt and let go of a lot of my emotions at the game it helped, I was still livid as the ongoing discussions about how Higgins handled the game went on this week on Catspause. What really hurts is more than likely we would have been 10 ahead at the half with Meeks and Hicks in foul trouble if it had been called the way it should have been. Meeks really took advantage of them swinging hips, it would have totally changed the complexion of the game. I agree with above poster the fact that UNC has been involved in so much corruptness and nothing has been done while they have marched to two final fours tells a thinking person a lot...basically we have the right people in the right places and there is nothing you can do about it. To further flex their muscles our boys were made to run the gauntlet and after surviving a very good WSU team we faced a great UCLA team and handled them handily...then just to add a little weight to the schedule the NCAA put our achilles heel John Higgins as a further stumbling block just to make sure, Cal didn't pull off another great feat. Call it confidence but WSU, UCLA,UNC and I imagine they thought Kansas, not a great deal of chance any team could survive that.....but yes I am getting over it.

It wasn't just Higgins, the other two refs were also incompetent.

 

[jrm693]

It wasn't just Higgins, the other two refs were also incompetent.

I would agree that the white referee was in it up to his ears or just following along in Higgins lead but the other ref did a decent job.