A BIG Win
To be the best, you must beat the best.
A unanimous preseason #2 team, Kentucky not only wanted to be the best but felt like it was one good win away from actually being the best. After their 69-62 win against #1 Michigan State, the Cats thought it would be that way for a while.
This game galvanized excitement around a Kentucky backcourt with the apparent freshman-star, Tyrese Maxey who scored 26 points, and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Ashton Hagans. The Cats secured the #1 spot and it felt like it would stay that way for a while, with no ranked opponent until Ohio State.
As we all know, that wasn’t the case.
To make matters worse, the Michigan State win grows more uninspiring by the day.
Almost two months and two more losses later, the Spartans – who now rank five spots higher at #14 than the Wildcats – are facing similar tumult. They lack an identity and their presumed National Player of the Year in Cassius Winston has grown impotent after a tidal wave of off-the-court issues, including the death of his brother, hit him suddenly.
It is no lie. We wished for a win against #1 Michigan State. We got what we wanted, only it was fool’s gold.
It’s like waking up on Christmas day and underneath the tree is an ornate box wrapped with lavish, silky paper, bounded by strips of gilded ribbon. However, when you open the box, there is a set of keys to a Lamborghini that doesn’t exist.
Incredibly valuable, but at the same time worthless?
This is the life of a Kentucky fan this holiday season.