Wild Ride With Kentucky Basketball Hopefully Has Settled Down… Until October

UK Athletics Photo

The last time I stepped off The Beast at Kings Island (about 40 years ago) I decided I was done with roller coasters. The anxiety of slowly climbing to the top and the hole in the stomach feeling as you fly towards the bottom was just not the thrill it used to be.

I have held strong to my commitment (with the exception of the stay on the ground kiddie coasters) until April of this year.

Physically I haven’t been on a coaster but all the emotions were present and as August continues it has slowed but hasn’t stopped at the loading area.

The ride started with “will he stay or will he go?” Just a small dip on the track. A bump that every UK fan experiences after each season. Wallace, Livingston and Tshiebwe announce they are going to test the waters. Track on the coaster evens out.

The coaster took a medium plunge with the announcement of the transfers of Ware and Frederick. It didn’t take long for it to even out again with the announcement of a possible international trip for the Cats.

On a random Sunday afternoon assistant coach Chin Coleman lets it slip in an interview the Cats would be playing Toronto. The coaster started rising up the hill when my husband agreed that we would make that trip our vacation. Excitement was high and hands in the air as I booked the hotel room, applied for credentials and started trip planning.

Then BOOM… a big drop when it was realized the Cats had a seven-man roster after missing out on targets in the transfer portal. The drop from the hill was so steep I even considered canceling the trip.

There were some sharp turns both ways as Antonio Reeves made his decision to stay or transfer. A wide right turn, he is enrolled at Illinois State for summer classes. A wide left turn, Cal has initiated a special LaFamilia NIL for the basketball team. Reeves makes his choice (I don’t think there was any way he could transfer) and the track straightened out again.

Bob Huggins thinking he is in Columbus although law enforcement can verify he is in Pittsburgh would send the coaster back up the track. Tre Mitchell announces his transfer to Kentucky and up the hill we go again.

A coaster wouldn’t be a coaster without a surprise drop and that happened in Toronto when Ugonna Onyenso suffered an injury to his foot in a scrimmage game.

GLOBL JAM sent the coaster on what I thought would be its final climb up until the start of the season. Without going into specifics, the Cats dominated. The freshmen are as good if not better than expected, Reeves is happier and playing looser than last year and Mitchell is a big that can step back and hit the 3. It would seem the ride would be at the top of the highest hill.

The hill had a surprise. Emotions and excitement went up another level with the addition of Croatian Zvonimir Ivisic. All we really know is he is 7-2 and can play. It gives UK another body in practice and in games if needed. The roster is set and we are setting high on the coaster.

It’s been a wild ride all summer. Now it’s time to unbuckle your seat belt and exit to the right… until October.