Kentucky Takes Step One to National Championship

Nick Mingione talks to UK fans after Sunday’s regional title win. (Victoria Graff Photo)

After Kentucky beat Indiana State 5-0 Sunday to advance to its second straight NCAA Tournament super regional — and third since 2017 — coach Nick Mingione told UK fans that the Cats were not done yet as they chase the school’s first trip to the College World Series.

“I just keep going back to my heart being filled with the amount of gratitude. And the reason why I said we’re not done yet is because we have another game. And whoever it’s going to be, whoever we’re going to play, we know it’s going to be a great opponent,” Mingione said after the game.

“We’ll respect them, but this one does feel different because we’ve been able to do it two years in a row. I think anytime you have a team that can experience something and to be able to do it again, I also notice that our team didn’t dogpile. They just high-fived and they made it feel different.

“We’ve always said that the path to Omaha, the easiest path is through your home field. And we’re, again, for the third time in seven seasons we’re two wins away, and it’s going to take a total team effort. It’s going to take the BBN to show up just like they did regardless of the weather. That was amazing.”

While Mingione wanted his players to celebrate what they did Sunday, he also wants to stress that the team wants more. He said UK has the “right people” in place and everything about the UK baseball facility was designed to remind players it “was all about Kentucky” and winning a national championship.

“That’s what the goal is. And I’m just thankful to be in this position. But they understand the goal. If you were to ask our players what the goal on the field was, they would tell you that our goal was to be national champions. This was one step,” Mingione said.

“Anytime you can win a championship of any kind — obviously we won the SEC; we’re now a regional champion — these are experiences that they’ll never forget. And as a coach it brings me the greatest joy to watch them celebrate and have experiences that they’ll never forget.

“Because of that, they’ll have a bond with these guys and they’ll be in each other’s weddings and do all that. So that gives me peace. That gives me peace and happiness for them.”