November 9, 200718 yr Every year, there are a handful of games where a no-name school upends a major college hoops power. Like clockwork, it happens. And like clockwork, the national media and fans make a big deal out of it, as though the impossible has happened. UK fans, I'm here to offer you some chicken soup for your troubled, confused souls. Consider: In late November of 2004, Santa Clara beat North Carolina by double digits. Santa Clara also got a double-digit win a week and a half later over Stanford. That Stanford team made the NCAA tournament that year. So did the Tar Heels, finishing up as the last team standing and cutting down the nets after the NCAA title game win over Illinois. That Santa Clara team? They finished with a 15-16 record, losing in the second round of its conference tournament. Sure, you could argue that Santa Clara plays in one of the better mid-major conferences. But they were a middle-of-the-pack team in that conference, and UNC was a top-five team all that season. The point? It happens every year. Each and every season, without fail, there are a few head-scratcher games out there where the big dogs get upended by the scrappy underdog. It's probably gonna happen to a handful of other teams this year. Kentucky hasn't lost a game like this in how long? 15+ years? UK's been dodging this bullet for a long time, and it finally nicked them. They were due. No one's immune. Ask UNC. Now please come off the ledge, Wildcat fans, because it's not like this one game is going to scuttle the whole season.
November 9, 200718 yr Every year, there are a handful of games where a no-name school upends a major college hoops power. Like clockwork, it happens. And like clockwork, the national media and fans make a big deal out of it, as though the impossible has happened. UK fans, I'm here to offer you some chicken soup for your troubled, confused souls. Consider: In late November of 2004, Santa Clara beat North Carolina by double digits. Santa Clara also got a double-digit win a week and a half later over Stanford. That Stanford team made the NCAA tournament that year. So did the Tar Heels, finishing up as the last team standing and cutting down the nets after the NCAA title game win over Illinois. That Santa Clara team? They finished with a 15-16 record, losing in the second round of its conference tournament. Sure, you could argue that Santa Clara plays in one of the better mid-major conferences. But they were a middle-of-the-pack team in that conference, and UNC was a top-five team all that season. The point? It happens every year. Each and every season, without fail, there are a few head-scratcher games out there where the big dogs get upended by the scrappy underdog. It's probably gonna happen to a handful of other teams this year. Kentucky hasn't lost a game like this in how long? 15+ years? UK's been dodging this bullet for a long time, and it finally nicked them. They were due. No one's immune. Ask UNC. Now please come off the ledge, Wildcat fans, because it's not like this one game is going to scuttle the whole season. I do agree that it happens like clockwork and happens each year that there is a shocking loss, but the Santa Clara example is flawed. For one, it was not in the Dean Dome, it was in California, which is essentially a road game given they were facing Santa Clara. Secondly, they were without Raymond Felton. They were lost without their point guard, and just did not play well all night.
November 9, 200718 yr Author I do agree that it happens like clockwork and happens each year that there is a shocking loss, but the Santa Clara example is flawed. For one, it was not in the Dean Dome, it was in California, which is essentially a road game given they were facing Santa Clara. Secondly, they were without Raymond Felton. They were lost without their point guard, and just did not play well all night. It doesn't matter where it happens. There is still a huge talent disparity between the two, just like there is with UK and GW. And yes, despite all the Tubby animosity, UK is still miles more talented than GW. Would you be any less shocked if it happened in, say, Greensboro? Neither would I.
November 9, 200718 yr Author Grandpa, can you tell me a comforting story about the Bengals, too? Once upon a time, when Papa Bengal ran the show, all things were good in Cincyland. But then Papa Bengal passed away, and his evil son inherited the throne. And Cincyland was thrust into the dark ages, from which they may never emerge ... Sorry, no happy ending here ...
November 9, 200718 yr Can someone remind me how that UNC team finished that year? Ooh Ooh..Pick me pick me!
November 9, 200718 yr Once upon a time, when Papa Bengal ran the show, all things were good in Cincyland. But then Papa Bengal passed away, and his evil son inherited the throne. And Cincyland was thrust into the dark ages, from which they may never emerge ... Sorry, no happy ending here ... :cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:
November 9, 200718 yr Did Santa Clara post a single-digit win the previous season and was picked 10th in their below mid-major conference?
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