Kenny Brooks was not going to sugarcoat what happened on the floor after his team had the same number of turnovers as made shots.
Following the blowout loss in the Sweet 16, the Kentucky head coach gave ultimate credit to Vic Schaefer and the Texas Longhorns. He admitted they were playing on a "different planet" and called the current Texas roster the most well-constructed team he has ever seen in women's basketball.
Considering Brooks has been around for 24 years, that is quite the praise.
But when the conversation shifted away from the immediate loss and zoomed out to the macro view of the Kentucky program, Brooks delivered the news on how Kentucky can take that next step.
Grading the first two years in Lexington
When Mitch Barnhart hired Kenny Brooks, there wasn't any kind of mandate. It was just an AD making an investment in a good coach and telling him that the University was going to make a push to fund women's athletics. And they have.
"It's been unbelievable, it's been everything and more of what I expected," Brooks said when asked to grade his first two seasons. "I said this to somebody yesterday, we have been ranked every day that we have been here. That is a testament to my staff and the support we have been given. I would call it a tremendous success."
As would most people. Of course, there have been issues. None of us are perfect. But Brooks took over a struggling program that seemed rutterless and has had it ranked every week. That is something worth applauding.
He also noted the unique emotional toll of the transfer portal era, which is now going to begin in earnest for this team. In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, Brooks admitted he feels just as emotionally attached to his two-year players as he was to players he coached for 4 years.
"I've been extremely fortunate to have my 2-year seniors to cause me as much emotion as my 4-year seniors."
BBN would agree, I'm not sure anyone is as well-loved as Amelia Hassett. She finished with 99 3's this year, a program record. And she did it while always taking the time for the young kids who came to the game.
The financial reality of the Final Four
So, what is it actually going to take to close the gap between a Sweet 16 exit and a Final Four run? According to Brooks, it all comes down to administrative confidence and calculated financial investments.
"There has got to be an investment in your sport, because it's changing," Brooks explained. "I talk about the investment, the confidence we have from our administration. I'm not one of those guys that sits up and says you have the most money." You really don't, but you do have to spend it wisely, which Brooks agrees with, "And then it is my job, I have to spread it out the right way. I have to make good decisions."
Brooks firmly believes the Wildcats are incredibly close to breaking through that final glass ceiling. He noted that Kentucky has an attractive style of play that allows top-tier recruits to perfectly showcase who they are.
A terrifying warning for next season, Clara Strack is back
Despite the frustration of the blowout loss, Brooks made sure to leave the media with a definitive statement about what is coming to Lexington next season.
He highlighted the fact that Kentucky is bringing in three elite McDonald’s All-Americans to join forces with returning All-American center Clara Strack.
"Our goal next year is to go a step further," Brooks declared. "We will probably be talking about some stuff (for) next year on the plane back."
That stuff is probably the portal that opens in less than 2 weeks.