Welcome to the time of the year that every Kentucky basketball fan dreads. Yes, it's the time of the year where March Madness turns into March Sadness. It's been nearly 24 hours since the roller coaster game that is sure to haunt many fans for the rest of eternity. Today, let's celebrate a memorable season, and begin to look ahead to the next.
At the beginning of the season, it was nearly a sure thing that the Wildcats were poised to be there at the end. The only other sure bet was Duke (HaHa!). Aside from close losses to UCLA and Louisville, Kentucky looked like a dominant team that could very well win it all.
Then, the late-January skid happened. Losing three out of four that late in the year is usually a death sentence for any team. A 26-point loss to Florida was the breaking point for many fans when they began to write off the team and look ahead to the 2017-18 campaign. Following the stretch, they struggled initially. They would find their groove again and avenge losses to both Tennessee and Florida. The Cats ran off 11 straight wins and sealed up both the SEC regular season and tournament titles.
Kentucky came into the tournament playing some of their best ball of the season. They were one of the hottest teams in the country before they sizzled out in the Elite Eight on Sunday. In a game that had the back-and-forth action and atmosphere of a National Championship game, Kentucky ended up on the short end of another remarkable late game shot that decided the game. This being the most recent incident, it is bound to sting for quite a while.
If you are like me, the NCAA Tournament ended last night. I find myself far less interested each year after Kentucky makes it's exit. Today, for the Cats, is the start of a new season. The 2017-18 season has tipped off as we prepare for our next run. In the coming days and weeks, we are going to get you ready for next year. We are done looking back. Go Big Blue.
-Dug
@chansm1th
