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Posted by ukman (Member # 3032) on 09-18-2013, 10:45 AM:
 
I hope no one else talks about a perfect season, or like a championship is in the bag. Yes this years class is amazing, but they are freshmen. Look at last years results. Yes we have a highly rated pg, but he is a freshmen. Do I think we could win a national championship? Yes. Do i think we could go out in the first or second round? That is a definite possibility. I just hope everyone will have realistic expectations and just enjoy seeing the season play out. Each season will be a gueessing game as long as we have this many freshmen coming in each year. The expectations were high last year. At this time last year people were talking about a final four run and how good our class was, but it never happened. The 2012 team was a very unique team. You had high level talent that all bought into the team first, and it started with your 2 best players (MKG and Davis). MKG was the difference. He was a leader like no senior I have seen before, the kid was the key to that whole championship. We also had key uppercalssman, and returners. We do have a few returners, and hopefully they will lead. We will have to have leadership like that if we are to win another championship with this many freshmen. I am so excited to get the season going, and to see the Cats play; but I personally am just expecting to see a team that plays hard every possession, plays as a unit, and plays with passion and fire. I will not be surprised if we lose 7-8 games this season, and I will not be dissapointed if they lose while playing their butts off. You just never know with Freshmen. I will be dissapointed if they do not play hard, don't have passion, and they don't play as a unit. I am looking forward to a great season, but I am going to enjoy it game by game, and then look at the overall result. I sure hope we are cutting down the nets in March, and I believe we can, but I am not going to look too far ahead. Let's just enjoy the ride as we go and hopefully we see more ups than downs, and it ends with number 9.
 

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Posted by PaulCat (Member # 513) on 09-18-2013, 10:54 AM:
 
My expectations are the same every year - I expect to have fun watching UK play ball. That's as far as I go, although I like to see the team win every game. And if they win it all, i'll be happier than a camel on Wednesday. Anything other than that and I'm always a little depressed to see the season end. Not because of wins or losses or anything like that. Just becuase of the 6-7 month wait until the next season.
 

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Posted by handycat (Member # 2323) on 09-18-2013, 11:49 AM:
 
ukman quote - "I will not be surprised if we lose 7-8 games this season, and I will not be dissapointed if they lose while playing their butts off. You just never know with Freshmen."

I will be both surprised and disappointed if we lose 7-8 games while playing their butts off. If this class is any where near as good as advertised, this should not happen.
For this to transpire, we would have to lose 3 games in our non-conference schedule, 4 in the SEC and one tournament loss or something along those lines. I personally don't know a UK fan that would be happy with those numbers unless the lone loss in the tournament came in the final four. Of course I was thinking along the same lines this time last year. My opinion on this along with 5 bucks will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

I wish I had your attitude Paulcat, I get depressed after every UK loss. You would think after 67 years I would grow up.
 

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Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 09-18-2013, 01:55 PM:
 
I am with you Handycat, 7 losses may occur but if it does, most Cat fans will be very disappointed, especially with all the hype about this group going undefeated etc. I sure hope we don't get a repeat of last season, if we do, I would think Coach would have to rethink his one and done strategy. I know I am expecting another 30 win season and anything less than that will be very disappointing to me.

[ 09-18-2013, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: SCWC ]
 

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Posted by PaulCat (Member # 513) on 09-18-2013, 02:15 PM:
 
I think over the last five years I've just come to realize that there are very few things worth getting upset about in life. Sports is not one of them. And I live for UK basketball. I'll miss my brothers wedding before I miss a televised UK game. Even in losses, I try to find something in the game to pick my spirits up.

The joy of just watching UK basketball is worth more to me than the misery of them losing.



[ 09-18-2013, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: PaulCat ]
 

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Posted by ukman (Member # 3032) on 09-18-2013, 04:21 PM:
 
If we have 7 losses, I will be disappointed (didn't use the best word) because I hate to see us lose. I just mean if we play as hard as we can and still lose, I can handle that. I have just begun to temper my expectations with all of these freshmen. In 2012 I thought we would go far because of our returners. I am just like a lot of you where I take losses hard, but I am not going to come out with undefeated dreams and a lock for the final. I do expect to have a great season, and a good showing in the tournament. It's just way too early to really know what this team will do. It hopefully will be fun to watch them grow and perform. Can't wait for October 18.
 

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Posted by Ol' Blue (Member # 2317) on 09-18-2013, 06:03 PM:
 
UKMAN, is your real name Grinch?
Growing up in eastern Kentucky I was one of seven children. Christmas usually meant getting something we all would share and maybe a new sweater. I would still hope for that new bike to be beside the tree (it never was) but the joy of sharing Christmas day with the people I loved far outweighed any disappointment I might feel.
UK basketball is almost the same for me. I always hope to win it all, but am not disappointed because I share my love of UK basketball with so many others. And when we do win...aahh what joy!
I know what you were saying, but to reach that exhilaration of winning you have to weather the lows of losing. It makes the winning that much sweeter!
And by the way, just kidding about the Grinch remark, it just tied in with the Christmas analogy.
Cat's will rule this year! Undefeated NCAA Champions! There I said it.
 

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Posted by ukman (Member # 3032) on 09-18-2013, 07:48 PM:
 
I hope your right ol blue. And no offense with the grinch remark. I am not being pessimistic, just trying to be fair to these young kids. i am like every other fan where i expect for us to be in contention. Cant wait for the season to get started. I am ready for some basketball. It has been way too long.
 

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Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 09-18-2013, 09:23 PM:
 
I'm with Paul. I enjoy every minute of every game. SOme nights when the games are close you's swear I was marching the sidelines along with the coach. Sweating like a horse and loving every minute of it. SOmetimes we lose a tough close game. (UL last year) Sometimes we win a tough close game. (UNC two years ago) Either way they have the blue and white on their backs and I flollow them through thick and thin!
 

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Posted by Cat Fan In The Mill (Member # 2756) on 09-19-2013, 08:21 AM:
 
I think expectations for this year team are no different than the expectations for every team in the history of UK basketball and that is to win a National Title.

UK fans are rabid, loyal and most of all hungry and we are hungry for another title this season.
 

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Posted by Ol' Blue (Member # 2317) on 09-19-2013, 03:58 PM:
 
Going undefeated would be a real kick in the pants to IU. It's the only thing they have left. Would make me smile.
 

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Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 09-20-2013, 09:45 PM:
 

quote:

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Originally posted by PaulCat:
I think over the last five years I've just come to realize that there are very few things worth getting upset about in life. Sports is not one of them. And I live for UK basketball. I'll miss my brothers wedding before I miss a televised UK game. Even in losses, I try to find something in the game to pick my spirits up.

The joy of just watching UK basketball is worth more to me than the misery of them losing.

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