WE DID IT!!!! KENTUCKY SHOCKS THE SHOCKERS!!!!!!! Yay, yippie skippie!!!!!!

Estil

Not that anyone is gonna mention this on the TV but we knocked off an unbeaten in the tourney for the first time since 1975!

Not that we hardly ever get say this, but Cindy's glass sneakers (in our quadrant anyway) belong to Big Blue!! Bring on Loserville!

MGLICKER

Estil

And as if us taking on Loserville (the defending champs) isn't enough, we would most likely get to face Michigan for a trip to Final Four and I would love for us to get back at their FAKE Five for what they did to us in 1993.

frankhardy

Great game. Wichita State is a lot better than I thought. Kentucky played their best game of the season. They are starting to gel. Go CATS!

CNote

Not a big follower of college basketball, but how big of an upset is this, really? Wasn't Kentucky the #1 team in the country when the season started? Seems like it's more of a "this is how they should have played all year" type situation than an upset.

SanctionII

The prior undefeated National Champions (the 1976 Indiana team, the 1964, 1967, 1972 & 1973 UCLA teams, the 1957 UNC Tar Heels and the 1956 USF Dons are safe for another year).

Go UK.

Estil

THAT was all the more reason I was so excited about if we could pull this off...because Bob Knight had VERY sour grapes about us blowing his undefeated campaign in 1975 (he wouldn't even shake Coach Joe B. Hall's hand!) so I was quite eager to see if we can crash the undefeated party again this time (and I can't believe no one on TV even brought that up).

Estil

<< <i>Not a big follower of college basketball, but how big of an upset is this, really? Wasn't Kentucky the #1 team in the country when the season started? Seems like it's more of a "this is how they should have played all year" type situation than an upset. >>



No one cares or remembers how you were ranked at the start...it's how you finish that counts.

perkdog

Hey Estil, congrats on your teams big win

Estil

<< <i>Hey Estil, congrats on your teams big win >>



And congrats to both you and my old lady for having a championship once again to defend this year (too bad her AFC runner-up Patriots though; we would've loved another SB party). Interesting how you guys had to wait 86 years between championships (but remember the other 'Sox had to wait 88 years and only managed ONE trip to the World Series during those 88 years) but now you're up to three since that magical 2004 title. Only bad thing about that is though you can't play the underdog card and you guys might now be seen in the rest of the MLB universe as Evil Empire-lite.

And you know what else is most interesting about our two teams? In both of our cases we have in consecutive years a team that is arguably among the most beloved in our histories but in both cases they had to settle for silver that year...your 1967 Impossible Dream season (that was a great, GREAT pennant race that year wasn't it?) and our 1966 Rupp's Runts...both of those teams in back-to-back years!

jdip9

<<<Great game. Wichita State is a lot better than I thought. Kentucky played their best game of the season. They are starting to gel. Go CATS!>>>

Having watched a total of 3 minutes of college basketball prior to filling out my bracket, I picked Kentucky to advance to the Sweet 16. After watching that game yesterday, I came away thinking that there is no way I would have picked against Wichita St. if I saw them play earlier in the season. That is a good team that Kentucky beat.

That is a game that Kentucky teams of the past would never have won - hitting FTs down the stretch, playing smart against a more experienced team, keeping their composure when they got down 9 pts, etc. Best game of the tournament so far, IMO, well played by both teams.

Estil

That's the way you win ANY tournament game. Now I know Dick Vitale HATES the possession arrow and the intentional fouling near the end of the game but I think they are both vital in the college game and its single elimination NCAA Tournament because it gives college b-ball a more distinctive strategic chess like flavor. And of course the commentators did indeed comment that the game was in fact like a chess match.

And I know some may think it's a joke (I bet even some, perhaps the majority of my fellow Big Blue Nationers may feel this way) that I'm calling KY a Cinderella team, but why the heck not? I personally like KY better when we're the underdog. I mean look what happened to us when we were ranked pre-season #1 and some bozos (no doubt graduates from Clown U upstate) thought it'd be cute to sell 40-0 shirts before the season barely started...we fell off the charts and lost three out of our last four regular season games. But then look what happens when the opposite occurs. Just like we looked too far ahead to start the season and got burned, most everyone was burying KY before we were dead and paid the price...BIG TIME.

Go ahead CBS/ESPN/etc, you all just go right ahead and tell us we got no chance against the defending champs. You just go right ahead. Because in the end the forty minutes of basketball still must be played and it's clear that we do way better when everyone's counting us out.

Dboneesq

Yes, they played a great game ... the kids never gave up. Two really good teams. I felt bad for Wichita State ... but someone had to lose.

I had Kentucky in my bracket, so I am happy for that win. However, I don't think your Kentucky team will be smiling at the end of their game with "Winnerville".

Estil

*nods head* Yep, that's just what our guys need to hear. I mean I gotta be kidding myself, why Loserville is the defending champs, they got much more experience, far more experienced and now HOF coach...oh woe is us, we are just doomed...DOOMED I tells ya!!

But if that's true, why did they have so much trouble against little ol' Manhattan? The moral of the story boys and girls...in the end you still gotta play the whole forty minutes, regardless of things like seeds, Vegas odds, etc.

Guru

<< <i>*nods head* Yep, that's just what our guys need to hear. I mean I gotta be kidding myself, why Loserville is the defending champs, they got much more experience, far more experienced and now HOF coach...oh woe is us, we are just doomed...DOOMED I tells ya!!

But if that's true, why did they have so much trouble against little ol' Manhattan? The moral of the story boys and girls...in the end you still gotta play the whole forty minutes, regardless of things like seeds, Vegas odds, etc. >>



First things first....UL struggled against Manhattan because their coach was trained by Pitino and knew all of his moves. Not only that, but they had the same play book.

Secondly, Loserville? Let's look at the picture below...



I don't know how this translates to everyone else, but it seems to me that both schools are about on the same level of playing field.

Third, if UK does win tonight it will only be because of their size, not because they play good team ball. It hasn't been since the last few games that they finally started playing team ball period. Coach Calamari is all about the one and done. UK is reaping what they sowed. If you guys make it and win this year it will only be because of the size of your players. I'm pretty sure the only reason you guys won two years ago was because of Anthony Davis. Not to mention, every time Coach Calamari gets a chance to blame someone else for his poor coaching skills he'll throw them under the bus.

In conclusion, congrats on your team winning and going to the sweet 16 after losing the first round of the NIT to Robert Morris last year. I just know how this game is going to end tonight...



P.S.: I'm a die hard UL fan if you hadn't notice and truth be told, this is just some plain ole ribb'in. Either way, one of our teams is going and in the end a Kentucky team winning would be great for the state. Best of luck, and please know that this was all in jest.

Estil

Well the rivalry is no fun if we don't do plain ol' ribbin, ya know (speaking of which I hope we get our Indiana rivalry back and I'm really peeved that we lost our Indiana/Kentucky football rivalry due to nothing more than stupid political correctness...google/wiki for details)? I bet if you look at our entire history (where you guys before Denny Crum came along?) you'll see a VERY different picture.

I will agree with you mostly on thing...Anthony Davis and his awesome blocking was quite handy for 2012 but you are right we do need to work on our teamwork and unselfishness (which if you remember were the biggest factor in our 1996-98 near-three peat) and while I don't mind a few one year wonders, I hope Cal doesn't forget about good ol' fashioned homegrown KY talent! And perhaps we could try a little harder to persuade the one year wonders to stick around another year or two?

Finally I have no doubt Benerick is feeling a bit of sour grapes for what we did to him and his crew two years ago so I know he'll be hungry for revenge...but we're gonna be just as if not more hungry for silencing all those doubters who had us buried for dead after we finished the season with three out of four losses. So I guess something's gotta give you know? Bottom line, we had a classic nailbiter/chess game last time and I have no doubt this game will be no different...but hey just so long as we have at least one more point than you guys when the red light goes off, no?

But before our boys lace up their sneakers once again, I'm gonna be a good sport for a change. Here's a nice peppy song for all you Louisville fans/natives out there; enjoy!

Eight More Miles Until Louisville by Grandpa Jones

Estil

Well, things looked very bleak for us at first...at one point we were down thirteen. BUT, at intermission we are within three and not only is Loserville not doing so hot at the free throw line so far, but they really goofed letting one of their guys (one of their main guys I hope...) get three fouls in the first half. Now guys, let's try a LOT harder this second half!

MGLICKER

Loserville appears to be winning by Fiverville with 6 minutes remaining.

Estil

Wow, for most of that second half we were staying within 4-5 but then just when Benerick and his gang were least expecting it...BOOM! I am so very proud of our guys for sticking with it and not panicking or quitting, and in the end we did it!! And as if those previous two wins weren't exciting enough...Sunday is our chance to get back at Michigan for what their FAKE Five did to us in 1993. GO BIG BLUE!!!! Just one more to go and we add another giant blue banner in Rupp Arena, baby!

Dboneesq

Congrats on your Kentucky win. I know you are a HUGE fan.

Estil

<< <i>Congrats on your Kentucky win. I know you are a HUGE fan. >>



I'm not just a fan, I hold two BA's from there. I would've really LOVED to have seen what the UK campus was like when they go to the Final Four...but I didn't get the chance (1999-2003)...we sure came close in 2003 (I graduated two months or so later) where we had run the table in the conference (just like in 1996) and Tubby was named national coach of the year (got to meet him too...I was in the minority of Big Blue Nation who stood behind him till the end; great coach/ambassador for our program...just a bit unlucky in the Tournament) so that was by far our best chance...but DeWayne Wade and his Marquette crew had other ideas.

Like I said before, I am really excited about not only us getting a chance to go for our sweet sixteenth giant blue banner for Rupp Arena (what happens the two games afterwards determines what the center of the banner reads) but the fact that we had to do it the hard way (spoiling an unbeaten team, knocking off the defending champs) and again I know some don't like me referring to Kentucky as an underdog but considering our last two opponents and now Michigan are all in the top ten and we fell off the charts I think the label fits. I think it's more fun though when we're the underdog...since for a program like KY we can't say that very often!

And I am really, REALLY looking forward to us getting back at Michigan for what their FAKE Five did to us in 1993 (the year after our Unforgettables, "Monster Mash" was our leader at the time and we had really cut through our first four games like a hot knife through butter (look it up) but then we ran into those PLAGIARISTS who STOLE our Fab Five nickname from our '48 Cats ). And what is this...why did they have so much trouble against little ol' TN? C'mon Michigan, you think they were tough what do you think we're gonna be like?

larryallen73

Props on beating Louisville.

Estil

Thanks! But in just a few minutes we still got more work to do!

stown

Estil and Guru exchanged smack?!?

This very well could be my favorite thread of all time.

larryallen73

Props on another win. Amazing run by KY. Not too many people picked them for the final 4.

Even though they are favored by 2 over Wiski that's going to be a tough game.

Estil

Oh I have no doubt...and it's good to hear at least some people here have some class (I am getting slammed by haters over at the other topic I made just because I goofed and put it in the wrong forum; it happens). Thanks for the kind words...you have no idea how excited Big Blue Nation must be right now. But (and forgive me if this is becoming cliche) we still got more work to do in Texas! Kentucky is gonna go for the gold baby! And why shouldn't we? It only takes two wins after all...

Estil

<< <i>Estil and Guru exchanged smack?!?

This very well could be my favorite thread of all time.

>>



At least Guru knows how to do it right...I actually had a co-worker once who did that whole "here kitty kitty" thing as well...and you know what? I'm gonna come right out and admit that that along with their "Uck" nickname for us (like we call them Loserville) is actually quite clever/cute! Now we just need a nickname for this team like we've given for other great UK teams of the past...I was thinking either the Unstoppables or the Undoubtables?