Pope Update

Here's what will happen.  Over the next few months, we will start to see stories about how Kentucky has done "surprisingly well" in the transfer portal, and how the team looks "much better," and that the Cats can definitely "make a run" if everyone "stays healthy."  Next November, UK will start off somewhere around Number 15 in the AP poll, and all the usual suspects will write articles trying to bait UK fans into complaining about Pope, or the Administration, or the team.

None of it will work.  No matter what everyone tries, there will be no buzz around next year's UK team.  No buzz (outside of the type of folks who go to Keeneland) around the UK / U of L game in Lexington.  No buzz about whoever we play in that Champions' Classic where we get embarrassed every year.  No buzz about the Gonzaga game.  No buzz about that December Classic where we played St. John's this season.  No buzz about the SEC regular season, or the games with Tennessee.  Certainly no buzz in the run-up to the annual blowouts by Alabama and Florida.  No buzz at the SEC Tournament.  And no buzz when they miss the NCAA's / lose in the first round / lose in the second round.

After the blowout against Michigan State, I had no interest in any game UK played the rest of the year.  I knew those injured players wouldn't make a difference, and I never even bothered to learn their names.  I knew they weren't reaching the SEC semi-finals.  I knew they weren't reaching the NCAA Regionals.  My only interest was in whether they would lose to Santa Clara, because I thought that would put more pressure on the Administration.  But of course, they pulled that one out -- only to be drilled by 19 against Iowa State (and T.J. Otzelberger!) on Sunday.  After the game, one of the Iowa State players basically said that they expected UK to give up in the second half -- and that's exactly what happened.

The proles are done.  They aren't reading any more articles.  They aren't following any more tweets.  They aren't scanning any more transfer lists.  Most Kentuckians learn early in life that it's a mistake to waste your life on foolish hopes.  They know it's not getting any better under this coach, and as far as they can tell, most people in Lexington couldn't care less.  After all, if they cared, they would have at least interviewed T.J. Otzelberger.

So next year, Lexington will get to have the Cats all to itself.  The Jeeves and Wooster types in the Bluegrass were always embarrassed by the UK fan base, and now they get to see what it's like when we stay home.  My guess is that they will find it less entertaining -- and certainly less profitable -- than it used to be.  And maybe that will change their mind.