Nothing.
A simple word that was embedded on to the 2024-25 Kentucky Wildcats before they embarked on their first voyage under first-year Head Coach Mark Pope.
Just a few short months was all that the former captain of Kentucky’s 1996 National Championship-winning squad had to work with, daunted with the tall task of “rebuilding” a storied program that had no scholarship players remaining to work with.
The expectations were low to none as five different mid-major players assembled together, following in the tracks of three freshman commits, all thrilled to throw on Kentucky threads, seeking one goal: to win.
A season that was full of heart, grit and the will-to-win propelled the “misfits” to a Sweet 16 appearance, the first time the program has danced on to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2019.
Listed in the blue prints that led up to that historic accomplishment, Kentucky solidified eight wins against teams that were ranked top-15 in the AP Poll — which tied an all-time program record — while also proceeding to achieve ten wins against quad-one opponents. Hailed in those historic victories were two notable wins, standing over No. 6 Duke for the first time since 2015, while also taking down the No. 7 Gonzaga Bulldogs in Seattle.
In March Madness, where Pope held an 0-2 record as a head coach, UK tackled down the No. 14 Troy Trojans and the No. 6 Illinois Fighting Illini, silencing the critics that frowned upon the team’s abilities to do any damage in the do-or-die setting.
Unfortunately, though, a season that restored faith in BBN and one that was extended past its expected time frame, was chopped short in the Sweet 16 as the Cats were out-dueled by the No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers in gut-wrenching fashion, losing 78-65 in Indianapolis.
A large-sized locker room found within the tunnels of the famous Lucas Oil Stadium sat largely packed with teary-eyed competitors; ones that left their heart and soul on the hardwood.
“We were never supposed to be here,” Kentucky guard Kerr Kriisa said. “Coach took a chance on us.”
The fifth-year Cats were obviously distraught to let such a beautiful part of their lives go, however, the team left no doubts in the rigid trail that guided them to such success.
The heart and soul of the team, Lamont Butler, hurt his shoulder on Jan. 14, a pesky injury that lingered the remainder of the season, causing him to miss some time on two different occasions. The fifth-year senior, who was sponsored by desire to keep his college career and teams hopes afloat, wore a restricting shoulder brace every game down the stretch, just gutting through every painful triumph that popped up.
Fellow fifth-year senior, Jaxson Robinson, suffered a season-ending wrist injury back in February, tagging the former BYU Cougar with mental obstacles that came with his collegiate career coming to an abrupt halt.
The intensely driven Kerr Kriisa, again, a fifth-year senior, suffered a season-ending injury back on Dec. 7 against Gonzaga. Kriisa, like Robinson, felt the mental aspects of seeing his season come to a close so soon, however, he, along with Robinson, still hyped their brothers up through every timeout, every made shot and every missed shot.
Andrew Carr, another fifth-year senior, who was tangled with a back-injury for nearly seven weeks, swung his way through painful flare ups, managing to close out the season, all while immediately strapping on a heating pad when he was subbed out.
So, with the initial doubts, more were drizzled on to the aching squad, providing nothing short of more obstacles for the team to juke past.
Nonetheless, a year that was supposed to be canned from the start flourished into a beaming light of hope, all through the process of stealing each and every Kentucky fan’s heart and affection through a roller coaster ride that was never supposed to be working from the start.
