La Familia felt the love from Big Blue Nation: 'We're Kentucky through and through'

There were times during La Familia’s opening round matchup of The Basketball Tournament when it seemed like a midseason Kentucky game. “Go Big Blue” and “C-A-T-S” chants were raining down from the seats, making it feel like Rupp Arena was packed to the brim with fans cheering on their Wildcats.

La Familia — comprised of former Kentucky players from the last 15 years — easily came away with the win over the 305 Ballers, 82-56, advancing to Sunday’s second-round showdown with The Nawf. The energy and enthusiasm from the fanbase helped fuel the likes of Willie Cauley-Stein, the Harrison twins, Nate Sestina, Eric Bledsoe, and others to victory.

“It’s electric bro,” Cauley-Stein said of the Rupp Arena crowd on the TBT broadcast after the win. “I felt it in the back of the locker room, all the guys coming in like Willie don’t go out there, you’re gonna get bombarded, and I’m like that’s what I love! I felt my hairs come up and get the little chills, I knew it was gonna be a good time. I knew it was gonna be a show.

“We represent (the fans), we’re Kentucky through and through. When we put on that jersey we’re playing for them. They don’t get to experience this, so we got to go out there and put on a show so they can experience some type of energy that we put on.”

Man it felt good being out there in front of my big blue @KentuckyMBB family tonight!!! You guys showed up and showed out!🙏🏿 hope you guys come and do that on Sunday!!!🙏🏿

— Eric Bledsoe (@EBled2) July 20, 2024

Roughly 4,000 members of the BBN showed up to Rupp on Friday night to bask in the nostalgia — and also watch some pretty fun basketball. It was a route from the middle of the first quarter on. Bledsoe, Sestina, and the Harrisons all scored in double-figures. Cauley-Stein and Kellan Grady had their moments, too. Brennan Canada even stole the show, hitting the game-winning free throw in the Elam Ending (which earned him an extra $1000).

“It’s amazing, such a good feeling.” Andrew Harrison told reporters. “Coming out and hearing (the fans) screaming, happy to see you. I’m excited, man. Happy to be here and having fun playing basketball for the first time in a long time.”

Every member of La Familia (Kerem Kanter, the younger brother of Enes Kanter and lone non-Wildcat, included) felt the love from the crowd. It was a great start to what was hopefully the first of four games at Rupp Arena for the Kentucky alumni squad.

“We had a crazy crowd today, we expect it to be even crazier on Sunday,” Aaron Harrison added.

La Familia will return to action inside Rupp Arena on Sunday to face The Nawf at 2:00 p.m. EST, preferably in front of another big and loud crowd. Tickets for game two are available here.

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