WKU Basketball: How WKU Feels About the University of Kentucky
Thoughts and responses on why UK has only played WKU a few times in the regular season
In WKU world, it was the tweet that WKU fans have waited for since Twitter began. But before that, they were checking their Myspaces and “TheFacebook.com” to see if Kentucky would ever play WKU willingly in basketball.
The last time UK played WKU in men’s basketball was March 15, 2012, when the two met in Louisville for a Round of 64 tilt. UK was on its way to a national title, and WKU was a 16 seed with a losing record. In 2001, UK played WKU at Rupp in the regular season, but there was internal drama and UK was not thrilled with the idea of sort of getting “stuck” with WKU. So yeah, WKU played UK at UK, but UK wasn’t thrilled about it.
The only two times WKU played legitimately at Rupp Arena was in the early ‘90s. And UK has never played WKU in Bowling Green. WKU has met UK three times in the NCAA Tournament, and the Tops won one of those three. WKU is 2-4 all-time against Kentucky.
So why is Kentucky so scared, right?
Well, first of all, how does the University of Kentucky benefit from beating up on little brother? Not much, unless little brother is a really good team. Well, the reason UK can’t schedule WKU consistently is partly because WKU is an inconsistent program. If WKU beats UK one in three times, is the loss worth it almost every time? WKU finishes in the 100s in BPI quite often. Why would UK want a loss like that on their schedule every three years?
But there’s no question it’s also a move to keep the obvious comparison away. There’s no way over all this time that it’s not a choice by Kentucky to not play Western. It is what it is.
But it’s left a bitter taste in the mouth of plenty of WKU fans.
“They’ll NEVER play us again.”
“I’ll never forget them walking out when we played in ‘71.”
“UK is scared of Western. They know we’ll beat them.”
Then there’s a rumor and social media movement to get UK to play WKU after Louisville bows out of playing the Cats. Legitimate Kentucky outlets started plucking at UK to play Western.
“No @KentuckyMBB vs. UofL? My vote is road trip to @WKUBasketball on Dec. 23. Open to public with ticket sales to tornado relief and UK goes down Dec. 22 to do hands on clean up work around BG.” -Darrell Bird
Then news starts leaking that UK is playing WKU at UK.
So then comes the response from the UK folks.
“What about my tickets? I sold my lawnmower to pay fer Louisville!”
…and that’s why Western hates UK.
That last quote I made up, although it probably exists somewhere in Cat Land.
But it’s been fascinating the reaction once Hilltopper Nation really realized that the Tops are actually going to play UK.
I posed this innocent question on a Facebook message board shortly after the announcement.
And in came the comments…
You can see the mixed reaction…
The skepticism!
Should WKU be thankful? Feel insulted that they weren’t asked first? Angry? Bitter?
Those last two are an interesting contrasts, huh? UK is effing garbage. All they do is whine. And then Amy Spears drops in the perspective of the century.
It’s a fascinating array of responses. Like I posted, I’m really not sure how to react.
Some are eating their words not a day and a half before this article is published. Some are thankful to UK. Some are still bitter and will never forgive UK. Some think this means UK will now play Western at Diddle at some point.
I really doubt it, and so does Rick Stansbury if you check out his press conference. But it was an opportunity that makes sense for everyone involved, except maybe the UK season ticket holder.
PSSSSTTTT!!! Become a Western fan. It’s much cheaper here and your couch is safe, win or lose.
But WKU isn’t sure how to react.
But I’ll tell you this:
Tops are coming for blood. You starve us for over a century and now you throw us a bone? You better get ready for a war, Cats.
Regardless of the outcome, beating Louisville and even playing UK in the same week on top of the tornado damage will be something Western fans will never forget.
Get ready, folks. It’s time for the real Battle for the Bluegrass.