I thought I'd pass along an article that I wrote and posted on my blog a few minutes ago (please feel free to discuss - even if you have a different opinion):

 

What Is Kentucky Wildcats Basketball?

 

For several years now I have been hearing Kentucky fans make the statement, “we just don’t play Kentucky basketball anymore…” or some variation of that comment. I have read similar thoughts splattered across various message boards and even hear it regularly on radio call-in shows. This type of comment has been made with reckless abandon the last few weeks, during which the Wildcats have finished the season by losing eight of their last eleven games. I thought I would do a little research to answer the timeless question – what exactly is “Kentucky” basketball?

 

I started my search in the most logical place – Google. I did a specific search for “what is Kentucky basketball” and it returned nine results. One of those was a Myspace page, one was a message board that required a login to view, another was unrelated to what I was trying to find and the others were words and articles posted on various sites by fellow Kentucky fans. Some of the words that were used to describe Kentucky Basketball included: tradition, passion, memories, heart, winning and life. Then, there were many references to legendary names that are associated with Kentucky Basketball: Kyle Macy, Cawood Ledford, Dan Issel, Jamal Mashburn, Travis Ford, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, Adolph Rupp, Bill Keightly, and on and on. My research led me to a long definition of Kentucky basketball that was actually posted on several sites and originated in a forwarded e-mail that many fans received. It read:

 

 

Check out the article on my blog: http://allkyhoops.blogspot.com

 

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

Kentucky basketball is about winning titles PERIOD!

 

 

When I think of style I think in terms quick, strong, SMART, guards who could post smaller guards. Great 3 point shooting teams. Big men who are, what many today call, European style Big guys. Not big time bangers but have a face up game and can step out and shoot the 3.

 

 

I think RP era basketball.

Kentucky basketball is about winning titles PERIOD!

 

 

When I think of style I think in terms quick, strong, SMART, guards who could post smaller guards. Great 3 point shooting teams. Big men who are, what many today call, European style Big guys. Not big time bangers but have a face up game and can step out and shoot the 3.

 

 

I think RP era basketball.

 

I agree. That is the style we think of, but let's face it - if the Cats are winning, everyone's happy and we're back to Kentucky basketball. We could average 35 PPG, but if we were 34-2 and won the national championship, everyone is happy. Do you agree with that?

Kentucky basketball is about winning titles PERIOD!

 

 

When I think of style I think in terms quick, strong, SMART, guards who could post smaller guards. Great 3 point shooting teams. Big men who are, what many today call, European style Big guys. Not big time bangers but have a face up game and can step out and shoot the 3.

 

 

I think RP era basketball.

 

That's another interesting question - is Big Blue Nation pleased with a winning team that makes it to the Elite 8 or even Final Four, but doesn't come away with a championship?

That's another interesting question - is Big Blue Nation pleased with a winning team that makes it to the Elite 8 or even Final Four, but doesn't come away with a championship?

 

 

At this point.....YES

At this point.....YES

 

But we weren't pleased when Tubby was taking us to the Elite 8?

But we weren't pleased when Tubby was taking us to the Elite 8?

 

I was/will always be a OTS fan...:sssh:

I was/will always be a OTS fan...:sssh:

 

Yeah, I'm a Tubby fan too, but in hindsight, I was pretty rough on him for a few years that he was very successful. I remember being all torn up when we lost in the Elite 8 a couple of times. I was also one of the ones that said "we're just not playing Kentucky basketball..."

 

Now, I realize that things were a little better than I was able to see then :ohbrother:

Yeah, I'm a Tubby fan too, but in hindsight, I was pretty rough on him for a few years that he was very successful. I remember being all torn up when we lost in the Elite 8 a couple of times. I was also one of the ones that said "we're just not playing Kentucky basketball..."

 

Now, I realize that things were a little better than I was able to see then :ohbrother:

 

 

The day I heard OTS was heading north, I was worried, Now I know why....

That's another interesting question - is Big Blue Nation pleased with a winning team that makes it to the Elite 8 or even Final Four, but doesn't come away with a championship?

 

Yes. Some of Ky's most exciting seasons did not culminate in a national championship.

Yes. Some of Ky's most exciting seasons did not culminate in a national championship.

 

I agree, my daughter was born on the very day that DWade and Marquette beat us. I think we won 26+ games in a row that season or something crazy. Then, everyone blamed Tubby because we finally lost one :lol:

Yes. Some of Ky's most exciting seasons did not culminate in a national championship.

 

2003...

I agree, my daughter was born on the very day that DWade and Marquette beat us. I think we won 26+ games in a row that season or something crazy. Then, everyone blamed Tubby because we finally lost one :lol:

 

The last game we lost before Marquette was Louisville...Dang I remember being mad at Tubby after that game,(The Louisville Game that is)and It was the last time I was mad at him...

The last game we lost before Marquette was Louisville...Dang I remember being mad at Tubby after that game,(The Louisville Game that is)and It was the last time I was mad at him...

 

:thumb:

Look at what a coach with a game-plan and an a plan for execution and 5-7 players with PRIDE wearing that Kentucky jersey can get you. Should have been, but fell short, a National Championship team!!