Let me preference this post by saying, given the choice, I'd much rather not be in Kentucky's region. This post isn't to suggest the draw we got was a good thing. But it is to say there are some elements to embrace with this draw.
As great as this season has been, this team even before the bracket came out was not a legit, top tier final four contender. This team was a outside contender (and still is to some extent) to make a final four run. This is not the Steve Francis team, the 2nd year Joe Smith team or the team that finally did get us to the final four. Those were teams that had a legit chance to go to the final four. Those were teams that if given such a draw as yesterday, it would of been completely devastating and would of seen it's final four chances significantly diminish. This year's team was very unlikely to make the final four 5:59pm yesterday and are very unlikely to make the final four now. This year the primary goal is to end the sweet 16 drought and that is still well within reach.
If we do get to the sweet 16, there is a lot to gain from a Kentucky match up that other potential sweet 16 opponents wouldn't provide. First, by the time the week of the sweet 16 game rolls around, the hype of a Kentucky undefeated season will be even that much bigger than it is now and our game will get a ton of talk and exposure for 4 days. Second, if we can even play competitive against Kentucky in that spotlight, it will be great exposure for the program. And if we don't play competitive in the game, we lose nothing. Thirdly, regardless of how much of a chance we have, it is a chance to make history. That line gets thrown around a lot in sports, but it absolutely is true in this case. One of the ESPN analyst said tonight if Kentucky losses before the final four it will be in the discussion of greatest upsets in tournament history, with the likes of Houston-NC State, UNLV-Duke. That opportunity will make next week fun as a fan (at least the lead up to the game).
As great as this season has been, this team even before the bracket came out was not a legit, top tier final four contender. This team was a outside contender (and still is to some extent) to make a final four run. This is not the Steve Francis team, the 2nd year Joe Smith team or the team that finally did get us to the final four. Those were teams that had a legit chance to go to the final four. Those were teams that if given such a draw as yesterday, it would of been completely devastating and would of seen it's final four chances significantly diminish. This year's team was very unlikely to make the final four 5:59pm yesterday and are very unlikely to make the final four now. This year the primary goal is to end the sweet 16 drought and that is still well within reach.
If we do get to the sweet 16, there is a lot to gain from a Kentucky match up that other potential sweet 16 opponents wouldn't provide. First, by the time the week of the sweet 16 game rolls around, the hype of a Kentucky undefeated season will be even that much bigger than it is now and our game will get a ton of talk and exposure for 4 days. Second, if we can even play competitive against Kentucky in that spotlight, it will be great exposure for the program. And if we don't play competitive in the game, we lose nothing. Thirdly, regardless of how much of a chance we have, it is a chance to make history. That line gets thrown around a lot in sports, but it absolutely is true in this case. One of the ESPN analyst said tonight if Kentucky losses before the final four it will be in the discussion of greatest upsets in tournament history, with the likes of Houston-NC State, UNLV-Duke. That opportunity will make next week fun as a fan (at least the lead up to the game).
