April 2, 200719 yr With a lot of the press claiming UK fans have unrealistic expectations, what exactly do they mean by unrealistic expectations? Is it unrealistic for UK to get back in the same group with Duke, UNC and a couple of others? Is it unrealistic for UK to get a few All Americans here and there like in the past? Like Duke, UNC and others still enjoy? Is it unrealistic to expect UK to get to the Final Four every few years? Is it unrealistic for UK stay in the top 25 most of the year? As in the past and as other elite programs still enjoy? Is it unrealistic for UK to defeat a few top ranked teams as in the past? Is it unrealistic to ask that UK recruit some of Kentucky's top high school players and not let them get away? (like Lofton) Is it unrealistic to ask that your best possible player on your team wasn't originally a walk-on? The answer I give to all of the above is NO! I seriously wonder how many of these so called basketball experts would feel if their beloved ACC teams like Duke or UNC were in the same position? I don't think they would consider the high expectations to continue as "unrealistic expectations"! Did they make these same comments concerning UNC and Matt Doherty or Bill Guthridge? NO!
April 2, 200719 yr Its not unrealistic to pursue any of these ambitions. It is unrealistic to think that each UK coach should make each of these ambitions a reality each year. Thus, making it unrealistic on the part of the fans.
April 2, 200719 yr Its not unrealistic to pursue any of these ambitions. It is unrealistic to think that each UK coach should make each of these ambitions a reality each year. Thus, making it unrealistic on the part of the fans. :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
April 2, 200719 yr With a lot of the press claiming UK fans have unrealistic expectations, what exactly do they mean by unrealistic expectations? Is it unrealistic for UK to get back in the same group with Duke, UNC and a couple of others? Is it unrealistic for UK to get a few All Americans here and there like in the past? Like Duke, UNC and others still enjoy? Is it unrealistic to expect UK to get to the Final Four every few years? Is it unrealistic for UK stay in the top 25 most of the year? As in the past and as other elite programs still enjoy? Is it unrealistic for UK to defeat a few top ranked teams as in the past? Is it unrealistic to ask that UK recruit some of Kentucky's top high school players and not let them get away? (like Lofton) Is it unrealistic to ask that your best possible player on your team wasn't originally a walk-on? The answer I give to all of the above is NO! I seriously wonder how many of these so called basketball experts would feel if their beloved ACC teams like Duke or UNC were in the same position? I don't think they would consider the high expectations to continue as "unrealistic expectations"! Did they make these same comments concerning UNC and Matt Doherty or Bill Guthridge? NO! To #1....UK is still in the league with Duke...look at there last 5 years compared to UKs....Just goes to show the mentality of the small % of the unrealistic UK fans, who, for some reason, feel it's only them thats not up to the elite level of the past, when, in fact, others such as Duke, UConn, Syracuse, Indiana and several other bigtime programs havent had equal success as past years... To #2.... Not unrealistic to feel a few All Americans could come our way, but, we're, just 3 years removed from the #1 class in the country and I feel this years class is also very solid....To expect a #1 class year in and year out, is unrealistic, but, it's not near as bad as it's made out to be... To #3... Yes. It's not unfair to expect a team to compete for a Final 4 berth on a consistent basis, but, with todays parity, once every 5-6 years, would be very good..Alot of luck plays into it, as well as just skill.... To #4... No...Top 25 is not an unrealistic goal, but, I'll say this, if UK hovered around the 20-25 spot consistently, it still wouldn't be good enough for the unrealistic ones. So, this one shouldn't even be in the discussion... To #5... They will beat ranked teams most years, but, look at the ones they lost to, Florida(twice), N.Carolina, Memphis, UCLA, Vanderbilt(twice), and Tennessee. Thats 8 of the 12 losses. 2 of these teams are in the final 4, 2 more made the elite 8 and the other 2 made the sweet 16. In addition, Louisville, Indiana, Tennessee were all Top 25 teams at the end of the year and UK beat them, just not when they were ranked. All I'm saying is, too much is being made about the not beating a ranked team thing, and, granted, it wasn't one of the strongest UK teams in recent memory, so, I wouldn't expect them to beat any of these with exception to Vandy at home, but, hey, it happens... To #6... Give Lofton a rest. He was a 2 star recruit coming out of HS and UK had higher rated recruits coming in that year. Plain and simple. Hindsights a beautiful thing, isn't it? And for every Lofton you miss on, you have a Stockton or Carrier, that went the other way... To #7... A walkon has never been UKs best player, so, your point is what?
April 2, 200719 yr Its not unrealistic to pursue any of these ambitions. It is unrealistic to think that each UK coach should make each of these ambitions a reality each year. Thus, making it unrealistic on the part of the fans. With the tradition, fan support and resources a coach has at UK, If you cant win there, you cant win anywhere.
April 2, 200719 yr To #1....UK is still in the league with Duke...look at there last 5 years compared to UKs....Just goes to show the mentality of the small % of the unrealistic UK fans, who, for some reason, feel it's only them thats not up to the elite level of the past, when, in fact, others such as Duke, UConn, Syracuse, Indiana and several other bigtime programs havent had equal success as past years... To #2.... Not unrealistic to feel a few All Americans could come our way, but, we're, just 3 years removed from the #1 class in the country and I feel this years class is also very solid....To expect a #1 class year in and year out, is unrealistic, but, it's not near as bad as it's made out to be... To #3... Yes. It's not unfair to expect a team to compete for a Final 4 berth on a consistent basis, but, with todays parity, once every 5-6 years, would be very good..Alot of luck plays into it, as well as just skill.... To #4... No...Top 25 is not an unrealistic goal, but, I'll say this, if UK hovered around the 20-25 spot consistently, it still wouldn't be good enough for the unrealistic ones. So, this one shouldn't even be in the discussion... To #5... They will beat ranked teams most years, but, look at the ones they lost to, Florida(twice), N.Carolina, Memphis, UCLA, Vanderbilt(twice), and Tennessee. Thats 8 of the 12 losses. 2 of these teams are in the final 4, 2 more made the elite 8 and the other 2 made the sweet 16. In addition, Louisville, Indiana, Tennessee were all Top 25 teams at the end of the year and UK beat them, just not when they were ranked. All I'm saying is, too much is being made about the not beating a ranked team thing, and, granted, it wasn't one of the strongest UK teams in recent memory, so, I wouldn't expect them to beat any of these with exception to Vandy at home, but, hey, it happens... To #6... Give Lofton a rest. He was a 2 star recruit coming out of HS and UK had higher rated recruits coming in that year. Plain and simple. Hindsights a beautiful thing, isn't it? And for every Lofton you miss on, you have a Stockton or Carrier, that went the other way... To #7... A walkon has never been UKs best player, so, your point is what? Well said ...
April 2, 200719 yr Really? Then NHS, can you explain to me why UK does not win the whole thing every year and in the last twenty years has won how many?? People do win every year, some with less fan support, some with less resources, some with less talent. It is not realistice to be great every year. As I have stated earlier, it is realistic to be competitive every year at UK but not good or great every year. Remember each scholarship is a gamble. You never know how a kid (and they are kids) will react to playing in front of 24,000 people, injuries, etc. You cannot expect to see championships every year. Florida may not see another championship for 25 more years even if Billy D does stay. That is reality.
April 2, 200719 yr Really? Then NHS, can you explain to me why UK does not win the whole thing every year and in the last twenty years has won how many?? People do win every year, some with less fan support, some with less resources, some with less talent. It is not realistice to be great every year. As I have stated earlier, it is realistic to be competitive every year at UK but not good or great every year. Remember each scholarship is a gamble. You never know how a kid (and they are kids) will react to playing in front of 24,000 people, injuries, etc. You cannot expect to see championships every year. Florida may not see another championship for 25 more years even if Billy D does stay. That is reality. I didnt mean to imply that other schools with less dont win. We all know thats not true. Im just saying if your the coach at UK and have that type of fan support, resources and tradition and can't at or near the top of College Bball then you cant coach. No reason with everything that a coach gets at UK to not be an elite team year in year out. P.S.- I find that last comment kind of odd considering you have an Alabama hat for an avatar. If anybody should know what Im talking about it should be a Bama football fan.
April 2, 200719 yr I am a bama football fan that is true. I am a realistic fan however. I consider myself to be a fan, not fanatic. Believe me, many bama football fans have unrealistic expectations of bama football much like many UK fans have unrealistic expectations for UK coaching.
April 2, 200719 yr I am a bama football fan that is true. I am a realistic fan however. I consider myself to be a fan, not fanatic. Believe me, many bama football fans have unrealistic expectations of bama football much like many UK fans have unrealistic expectations for UK coaching. I understand what your saying and I dont think the UK coach has to win the title every year either. But they need to do a lot better job then Tubby has done here lately.
April 2, 200719 yr To #1....UK is still in the league with Duke...look at there last 5 years compared to UKs....Just goes to show the mentality of the small % of the unrealistic UK fans, who, for some reason, feel it's only them thats not up to the elite level of the past, when, in fact, others such as Duke, UConn, Syracuse, Indiana and several other bigtime programs havent had equal success as past years... To #2.... Not unrealistic to feel a few All Americans could come our way, but, we're, just 3 years removed from the #1 class in the country and I feel this years class is also very solid....To expect a #1 class year in and year out, is unrealistic, but, it's not near as bad as it's made out to be... To #3... Yes. It's not unfair to expect a team to compete for a Final 4 berth on a consistent basis, but, with todays parity, once every 5-6 years, would be very good..Alot of luck plays into it, as well as just skill.... To #4... No...Top 25 is not an unrealistic goal, but, I'll say this, if UK hovered around the 20-25 spot consistently, it still wouldn't be good enough for the unrealistic ones. So, this one shouldn't even be in the discussion... To #5... They will beat ranked teams most years, but, look at the ones they lost to, Florida(twice), N.Carolina, Memphis, UCLA, Vanderbilt(twice), and Tennessee. Thats 8 of the 12 losses. 2 of these teams are in the final 4, 2 more made the elite 8 and the other 2 made the sweet 16. In addition, Louisville, Indiana, Tennessee were all Top 25 teams at the end of the year and UK beat them, just not when they were ranked. All I'm saying is, too much is being made about the not beating a ranked team thing, and, granted, it wasn't one of the strongest UK teams in recent memory, so, I wouldn't expect them to beat any of these with exception to Vandy at home, but, hey, it happens... To #6... Give Lofton a rest. He was a 2 star recruit coming out of HS and UK had higher rated recruits coming in that year. Plain and simple. Hindsights a beautiful thing, isn't it? And for every Lofton you miss on, you have a Stockton or Carrier, that went the other way... To #7... A walkon has never been UKs best player, so, your point is what? Thanks for Doing all of the work for me!:thumb:
April 3, 200719 yr I believe a great many UK fans have unrealistic expectations in that they fail to recognize that the SEC — and the total landscape of college hoops — has improved exponentially the last few years; that the conference seems to no longer be UK's whipping boy, and may never again be the way it used to. I think a great many UK fans refuse to accept the fact that they have to share.
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