The highs and lows BBN has felt in the last 5 days are astonishing. It started with getting absolutely demolished by Louisville 41-0, a result that felt like rock bottom for the program. Then came the agonizing wait to see if Mark Stoops would leave, only for him to say there would be 'zero' chance of that happening. To then hear the news that he was out just hours later? That is enough to drive any fan insane.
But then, BBN felt alive again. There was joy, hope, and real fun returning to the timeline. It hit a fever pitch when Will Stein was hired just 24 hours later. He was in Lexington Tuesday night, doing the 'Y' in Kentucky during the first half at Rupp Arena. The crowd roared, Stein pumped his fist, and it felt like the start of a revolution.
Doing The "Y" - Bringing the energy!@CoachWillStein x @KentuckyMBB x @Rupp_Arena pic.twitter.com/nRhPtado5U
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 3, 2025
Related: BBN has 'Fire Mark Pope' trending on X
The football high crashed into a basketball reality check
Kentucky basketball was beating UNC at home, though it did end up being a tie before halftime. Everyone was invested. Then, from the 15-minute mark to the 3-minute mark in the second half, it deflated again as Kentucky went without a field goal. And still, they somehow had the lead. A couple of plays later and that lead was gone. Collin Chandler had a layup to tie it, and short-armed it. UNC rebounded. They missed 1 of 2 free throws, giving Kentucky one chance. Chandler then threw a long pass that was, aptly, intercepted.
The football euphoria was immediately sobered by a 'gross' basketball loss. It is hard to process this much emotional variance in less than a week. The dopamine hit of the Stein hire was real, but the reality of the basketball season is sobering. Hopefully, the new football era brings more consistency than what we are seeing on the hardwood right now.