KY Strangelove: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Team

Hey you.  Yes, you.  The one furiously typing away at your keyboard in comment sections, message boards and facebook statuses.  You are awesome.  Your passion for Kentucky basketball is what makes the rest of us so thankful to be a part of the Big Blue Nation.  You are the flag bearer for the BBN, and you are a huge part of what makes the Kentucky fan base the best fan base in college basketball – and arguably in all of sports.  So thank you.

But we need to talk.  I’m worried.  I’m worried that you aren’t enjoying this season, that you’re letting the losses put you in an unexpectedly dark place.  Sure, the season began with dreams of a 40-0 season, and to say that this season hasn’t lived up to those statements would be as pointless as saying Bobby Knight is senile – and there’s no need to restate the obvious.  But it’s beyond the time to fret about the team, and now it’s time to realize that we only have about five weeks left of college basketball until next year.  And there’s still a lot of basketball left to play.

Enjoy Willie Cauley-Stein for his individuality as much as you do his blocking prowess.  Enjoy Julius Randle and his god-like touch by the rim.  Enjoy James Young for the times he effortlessly racks up 15+ points in a game, before you know what he’s up to.  It may be the last month those three wear blue.

Appreciate Polson’s senior night – if ever there was a Kentucky story, his is it.  Watch Dominique Hawkins as he is poised to follow in Polson’s footsteps in the future.  Love ‘Lake hair don’t care’ Jon Hood – he’s been through more adversity than most, and played with more NBA players than any other college basketball player out there.  

Pull for the Twins – they have had to shoulder a heavier burden than most anyone else in the country this season, and they have grown tremendously.  Give props to Dakari, who fought and played his way in to more playing time throughout the course of the year.  Be astounded for Alex Poythress, who has really come in to his own, and has put himself in position to have a monster year next year.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves either.  This season is a work in progress – the question now is how much progress has this team made?  Last night was a hiccup, and that happens.  Syracuse lost to Boston College, Arizona lost to Cal, and Wichita State hasn’t played anyone.  The landscape is wide open, and Kentucky still has a very real possibility to put things together and go on a run.  At which point, all the fretting will seem like wasted energy.

So what’s it going to be?  Can you ignore preseason expectations and learn to enjoy this team for who they are?  What will it take for this season to be a ‘success’ for you, the average fan?  Title or bust?  Final four?  Elite eight?  Or something else entirely?

Internet warriors – keep doing what you’re doing.  Take to your keyboards and make the BBN what it is – but when you’re tempted to get down on the team, think of the positives instead.  Think of UConn that lost 4 of its last 5 before going on a tear and winning the title.  Think about the 2010-11 UK team that finally clicked in the middle of the tournament.  And most of all, just enjoy the team – if you aren’t doing that, why bother?  These are the last five weeks you’ll get to cheer for these 2013-14 wildcats, and they’ve been a hell of a team to watch.