2 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

UK Final Four? What team have you all been watching this year? 

There are four teams in UK's bracket that are ahead of them in the net rankings, including Houston, who is number one in the net rankings. And you guys think this is an easy bracket and an easy path to the final four?

If UK doesn't make the Sweet 16, go at Cal and this team with both barrels blasting. But anyone thinking this defensively pathetic team should walk to the elite 8 or final 4 has me bewildered.

Our fanbase is tiring.

16 minutes ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

And maybe Houston...whose only the best defensive team in the country. All this hyperbole about how far the Cats should go is just premptively setting people up to crucify Calipari if they don't make the Final Four, or even the Elite 8.

I like their chances to make a nice little run here. But so many people are acting like they've never watched this tournament before, which is named for its "Madness".

Exactly.

I am not saying I am happy with where things are with UK basketball, as a whole. But you would think the '23-'24 basketball team was a preseason top-5 squad the way some are acting. Based on pre-season rankings and national buzz, this team is about where we thought they would be if not a smidge better.

3 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

UK Final Four? What team have you all been watching this year? 

There are four teams in UK's bracket that are ahead of them in the net rankings, including Houston, who is number one in the net rankings. And you guys think this is an easy bracket and an easy path to the final four?

If UK doesn't make the Sweet 16, go at Cal and this team with both barrels blasting. But anyone thinking this defensively pathetic team should walk to the elite 8 or final 4 has me bewildered.

I don't get the reaction to UK's bracket at all.  Especially with the way the team has performed this year.  I have them bowing out to Marquette in the Sweet 16.

UK somehow gets a 3 seed from the selection committee and faces 14 seed Oakland. Any chance for Oakland? Can UK get a lopsided win in round 1? Or will it be another layup line defensive effort by UK and a closer than expected game?

UK wins because they have a more explosive offense. I cannot trust them on defense to stop a High school team so I say it stays under 20.

Kentucky 90-72.

If anyone was curious, NKU and Oakland split this year:

NKU 65 at Oakland 70 on 1/10/24

Oakland 89 at NKU 99 on 2/8/24

Here is my tweak for UK in the tournament. Double down on who you are - great offense, terrible defense. Go all offense to start the game. Starting lineup is Sheppard, Reeves, Edwards, Mitchell and Big Z. Put Dillingham with the defensive lineup of Wagner, Theiro and Ugo.

6 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Here is my tweak for UK in the tournament. Double down on who you are - great offense, terrible defense. Go all offense to start the game. Starting lineup is Sheppard, Reeves, Edwards, Mitchell and Big Z. Put Dillingham with the defensive lineup of Wagner, Theiro and Ugo.

I like it!

Fun fact. UK would be 34-0 had Sheppard started every game this season.

12 minutes ago, bugatti said:

I like it!

Fun fact. UK would be 34-0 had Sheppard started every game this season.

If Sheppard would have started every game this season, we would have won every game last year too.  Keith Bogans wouldn't have hurt his ankle, Pelphrey would have intercepted Grant Hill's pass to Laettner, & the air express package would have remained sealed.

41 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Here is my tweak for UK in the tournament. Double down on who you are - great offense, terrible defense. Go all offense to start the game. Starting lineup is Sheppard, Reeves, Edwards, Mitchell and Big Z. Put Dillingham with the defensive lineup of Wagner, Theiro and Ugo.

Just for the heck of it, I want to see the four guards and Thiero start.

3 hours ago, Randy Parker said:

If Sheppard would have started every game this season, we would have won every game last year too.  Keith Bogans wouldn't have hurt his ankle, Pelphrey would have intercepted Grant Hill's pass to Laettner, & the air express package would have remained sealed.

Wouldn't have gone like 3/23 in 2010, so Wall and Boogie would've brought us home a title.

3 hours ago, Randy Parker said:

Just for the heck of it, I want to see the four guards and Thiero start.

If there was a team to do it against, it's probably Oakland. Let Theiro guard Townsend.

Everyone that wants to, go ahead and joke about Shep, but him not starting on this basketball team will be the biggest joke in UK basketball history!! Bringing him off the bench 2-3 minutes into the games this season is absolutely stubborn, stupid and ridiculous and most people that know anything at all about basketball realize this especially with Wagner and Edward’s doing absolutely nothing for the better part of this entire season, so go ahead and have a great time with it.

I agree but it should have been done weeks ago. I don’t think now is the time for a lineup change.