There is an admirable level of delusion and irrational expectation that comes with being a member of Big Blue Nation. It’s part of the initiation process when you join the family,why other coaches in the SEC say it’s far and away the best job in the league — because this **** matters here. At Kentucky, you can’t move the goal posts or cushion your fall when things don’t go as planned. It’s a pass/fail job, sink or swim. That standard of excellence is what allows you to turn away thousands for a sold-out introductory press conference with 20K strong, but also what keeps you grounded and holds you accountable by booing you off the floor in a 35-point beatdown in Nashville. It goes both ways, like it or not.
Even the most optimistic, sunshine-pumping fan would tell you this season didn’t live up to that standard early on, starting 9-6 overall and 0-2 in the SEC with the injury situation nothing short of a disaster. Not only were there questions about this roster being capable of a turnaround with postseason doubts creeping in, but there were also very loud Mark Pope critics wondering if his time in Lexington would be cut short sooner than anyone expected coming off his promising debut campaign.
Their response? An 8-3 league record, currently ranked second and controlling their destiny for a double-bye with next week’s matchup in Gainesville deciding sole possession of first place. Could you imagine saying those words coming out of that Missouri loss exactly one month ago? The Cats have won eight of nine with five Quad 1 wins, the latest confirming a regular season sweep against their biggest SEC rival — their third in four years…