Expectations for the freshman-laden 2013-14 Kentucky Wildcats are largely unparalleled in college basketball history. Not only does the Big Blue Nation expect the ‘Cats to bring home the University of Kentucky’s ninth national championship in school history (and second in three years), but whispers of the sport’s first ever 40-0 season have begun to surface into full-voiced predictions.
Needless to say, any conclusion to this season short of title No. 9 will result in sheer disappointment. But, even since the turn of the century, these kinds of expectations are nothing new to the greatest tradition in college basketball. Kentucky’s illustrious basketball history has continued itself into the new millennium, carving the names of truly elite teams (i.e., 2011-12) into history forever, while forging the names of other truly great squads that came up short of success into what should have, could have, and would have been. Two of those teams stand out among the others:
2002-03
Photo courtesy of BigBlueHistory.net
Tubby Smith’s 2002-03 Kentucky Wildcats began the season on a much different note than what defined most of the ’03 campaign. In Kentucky basketball’s 100th season, the team suffered injury and eligibility issues that left the ‘Cats at a shaky 6-3 to begin the season. Wins over No. 20 Gonzaga, No. 12 North Carolina, and No. 6 Indiana were overshadowed by losses to unranked Virginia, No. 21 Michigan State, and unranked Louisville. However, it was the 18-point road loss to Kentucky’s bitter in-state rival that proved to be the turning point the ‘Cats needed to get the season going. After tasting defeat in late December, the Wildcats compiled an unheralded 26-game winning streak (including a perfect 16-0 regular season SEC record and an SEC Tournament championship) to carry them through the rest of the season. The ‘Cats boasted road wins over No. 15 Alabama, No. 21 Georgia, and No. 3 Florida in what was a strong year for the Southeastern Conference. Led by senior All-American and SEC Player of the Year Keith Bogans (who would go on to become the school’s fourth-leading all-time scorer), the ‘Cats put away No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 24 Auburn, No. 1 Florida, No. 20 Georgia, and No. 19 Mississippi State at home in Rupp Arena. It was the 15-point rout of newly No. 1 Florida (in a game much less competitive than the score would indicate) that proved Kentucky belonged at the top of college basketball from that point forward.
However, tragedy would strike in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, moving Kentucky’s destiny in another direction. Despite entering the tournament as the overall No. 1 seed, Kentucky’s championship hopes hung on the heels of its best player. Ironically, it was Bogans’ heels that proved to be his (and his team’s) demise. Keith suffered a severely sprained ankle against the Wisconsin Badgers that left him competing at nowhere near the level he was before the untimely injury. The ‘Cats would go on to close Bo Ryan’s team out 63-57, but fell to Dwyane Wade’s Marquette Golden Eagles 69-83 in the Elite Eight with a less than healthy Bogans. At 32-4 (16-0 SEC), Kentucky’s hopes at a 14th Final Four and eighth national championship were over.
2009-10
Photo courtesy of WildcatWorld.com
Much like 2002-03, John Calipari’s first year in Lexington started out shakier than expected. The ‘Cats’ first loss did not come until the 20th game of the season in 2009-10, but a last-second win over Miami (OH) and a 10-point victory over Sam Houston State early in the year left some fans doubting the young Kentucky team’s potential. However, an impressive home victory over No. 10 North Carolina and a 3-point win over No. 14 UConn at Madison Square Garden proved that UK was primed and ready for competition. Led by freshman sensations DeMarcus Cousins and SEC Player of the Year John Wall, along with junior standout Patrick Patterson, the ‘Cats compiled home victories over No. 21 Vanderbilt, No. 25 Ole Miss, and No. 12 Tennessee (coupled with a quality road win over No. 17 Vandy in Memorial Gym) to finish the regular season. Unlike 2002-03, though, Cal’s ‘Cats suffered hiccups along the way in the form of upset losses on the road to South Carolina and No. 19 Tennessee. However, the Tennessee loss was quickly avenged en route to the school’s 26th SEC Tournament title, adding to the jubilance of Kentucky’s 44th SEC regular season crown.
But, just as 7 years prior, Kentucky’s run in the NCAA Tournament would ultimately end long before ‘Cats fans were ready. As a No. 1 seed, Kentucky cruised past East Tennessee State, Wake Forest, and Cornell by an average of over 25 points per margin of victory in the tournament’s first three rounds. However, the Wildcats’ shooting stroke turned ice cold when matched up against Bob Huggins’ West Virginia Mountaineers in the Elite Eight. Kentucky shot a miserable 23-67 (34%) from the field, including an atrocious 4-32 (13%) from the 3-point line. The ‘Cats fell to the Mountaineers 66-73 and finished the season at 35-3 (14-2 SEC). For the 17th time in school history, Kentucky’s basketball season ended in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
Kentucky’s odds at a 2013-14 national championship are some of the best the sport has ever seen. On top of that, an undefeated season is nowhere near out of the realm of possibility. However, talent and hard work may not be the only things that stand in the way of reaching the lofty goals set out before them– sometimes a little bit of luck can make the difference between fizzling out in the Elite Eight and having your name etched in the history books for eternity. Let’s hope the fate of this year’s ‘Cats is much more favorable than that of the talented, yet fruitless teams before them.
Statistics courtesy of BigBlueHistory.net and WildcatReview.com
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