Hope you guys don't mind indulging a long post from a LPT fan haha. The Cal/Rick period of this rivalry brought this rivalry to heights we may never see again. Two Hall of Fame coaches who hate each other going at it for bragging rights in a relatively meaningless regular season game.
Each coach made each program better. When Tubby was struggling...I think the pressure we put on him/Billy was due to what we saw Rick doing down the road. Rick was recruiting more exciting players and had a perennial top team in the nation. Deep down we knew you guys had the edge and we wanted to do better. Then came Calipari to Kentucky. He comes in an immediately UK moves into the top tier teams. Rick was not as beloved back in 2011 coming off the Morehead loss as he was just 2 years later when he cut down the nets. Cal pushed Rick harder and I think rejuvenated him to become the big brother in the state.
From that first tip when Delk/Bledsoe/Swop/Cousins got into it....it just felt different. The games just had an intensity like we have never seen. I think this rivalry was similar to Cards/Cubs in that the fans were cordial at one time because of the love of basketball...but it became Yanks/Sox once Cal and Rick began to square off we just could not STAND to lose to the other guy.
The Final 4 in 2012 was an atmosphere that can not be stopped...Kentuck may have won..but there was more to come. Rick put out an amazing product in 2013 and won the title and Kentucky slipped into the NIT. Cal had a hyped group of frosh that struggled the next year and Rick's "proven" way was running through the country ready to finally slay Cal and become big brother in the series. That Sweet 16 game in Indy was a game neither team could afford to lose...and it was a classic. Whoever lost that game would be crushed...and whoever won would walk a little taller. That Harrison shot may have been the peak of the rivalry.
Today was the end of an era. This game was kind of the last time Rick (Even as a ghost) would be apart of this rivalry. The worst part is that the way Rick was recruiting..I think we were in for some more top 5 battles the next few years. Most of his guys will be gone soon and it will be a different team and a new coach next year. I'm a UK fan that does not cheer for your misery(I have my own opinions on the other issues but ill keep that at the Rafters). I hope you guys find the right guy and hopefully you guys will be back at the top soon..of course I hope you guys lose to UK and don't go further in the tourney than my Cats...but I want to see you guys back very soon. It may never be the same, but it was a fun time while it lasted.
Each coach made each program better. When Tubby was struggling...I think the pressure we put on him/Billy was due to what we saw Rick doing down the road. Rick was recruiting more exciting players and had a perennial top team in the nation. Deep down we knew you guys had the edge and we wanted to do better. Then came Calipari to Kentucky. He comes in an immediately UK moves into the top tier teams. Rick was not as beloved back in 2011 coming off the Morehead loss as he was just 2 years later when he cut down the nets. Cal pushed Rick harder and I think rejuvenated him to become the big brother in the state.
From that first tip when Delk/Bledsoe/Swop/Cousins got into it....it just felt different. The games just had an intensity like we have never seen. I think this rivalry was similar to Cards/Cubs in that the fans were cordial at one time because of the love of basketball...but it became Yanks/Sox once Cal and Rick began to square off we just could not STAND to lose to the other guy.
The Final 4 in 2012 was an atmosphere that can not be stopped...Kentuck may have won..but there was more to come. Rick put out an amazing product in 2013 and won the title and Kentucky slipped into the NIT. Cal had a hyped group of frosh that struggled the next year and Rick's "proven" way was running through the country ready to finally slay Cal and become big brother in the series. That Sweet 16 game in Indy was a game neither team could afford to lose...and it was a classic. Whoever lost that game would be crushed...and whoever won would walk a little taller. That Harrison shot may have been the peak of the rivalry.
Today was the end of an era. This game was kind of the last time Rick (Even as a ghost) would be apart of this rivalry. The worst part is that the way Rick was recruiting..I think we were in for some more top 5 battles the next few years. Most of his guys will be gone soon and it will be a different team and a new coach next year. I'm a UK fan that does not cheer for your misery(I have my own opinions on the other issues but ill keep that at the Rafters). I hope you guys find the right guy and hopefully you guys will be back at the top soon..of course I hope you guys lose to UK and don't go further in the tourney than my Cats...but I want to see you guys back very soon. It may never be the same, but it was a fun time while it lasted.
