How ‘bout them C-A-T-S, Cats, Cats, Cats?!
It’s been a long, long while since UK basketball fans have had this much to be excited about. Six years ago was our last Sweet Sixteen.
Actually, last year when a bunch of my family and I attended Mark Pope’s “press conference” in Rupp Arena, it was pretty darn exciting, but no one at that time could know what this season would hold.
If you know me, you know I bleed blue. Have since I can remember. All the way back to 1978, I remember, at my great uncle Lowell Autry’s house in Beaver Dam, watching UK beat Duke for the National Championship. I would have been ten-years-old and in the fourth grade.
The next year, in 5th grade, we boys on the Horse Branch junior pro basketball team pretended we were UK players. David House was Kyle Macy; I was Jay “the Blonde Bomber” Shidler. I’m pretty sure Roger Morris (rest in peace, brother) was Rick Robey. Those were the days!
We won’t talk about memories from 1992, except to say I was with Wayne and Rebecca Simpson at their apartment when my heart was broken.
And then on through the years and more NCAA titles to now. I’ll be honest, although we’re definitely capable of winning (already beat them twice this year), I don’t expect us to beat Tennessee this third time around when we play them in Indianapolis Friday, March 28. But I’m okay with that.
When Pope was hired last year, I said I would be satisfied if he just won one game in the NCAA tournament. He’s won two! The way I see it…we’re playing with house money now.
Pope has been a success, not completely, though. I also said last year I would be satisfied as long as he beat Duke, Louisville, and Arkansas. Like Meatloaf sang in 1977, “Two out of three ain’t bad.”
The only loss I might have trouble handling (it’s a long shot) would be if we lost to Arkansas in the championship game. I don’t expect either team to make it that far anyway, so no sense thinking about it.
This UK team has endeared itself to my heart. These young men, with help from Pope, seem to sincerely care for each other, and they care about Big Blue Nation. Pope has masterfully instilled in them an understanding of what the program means to the Bluegrass State, most of the state anyway.
So, come Friday night I’ll be watching closely, yelling at the TV, and loving every minute of it. Even if we lose this one, my head won’t hang, my heart won’t break.
Thanks to Almonor, Brea, Butler, Carr, Chandler, Darbyshire, Garrison, Horn, Kriisa, Noah, Oweh, Perry, Robinson, Tow, and Williams…it’s been a good year for UK fans…No! It’s been a great year!
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