Kentucky football takes center stage as the road to March Madness heats up; what a world
By Tyler Reed
Kentucky football has taken center stage in most discussions among the Big Blue Nation. The weirdest part about that is that the Kentucky basketball team is nearing its collision course with March Madness. This is something that very rarely happens within this fandom. So, how did we get here? Well, the answer is simple.
Basketball Cats have yet to put it together
Walter Clayton saved this game in regulation with this 3. He also hit the go-ahead 3 to take the lead back from Kentucky permanently in Overtime.
— Florida Gators 🐊🔥 (@gatorsszn) February 1, 2024
What a win 🐊 pic.twitter.com/275sxbbvmn
The BBN has been excited to watch this year's Cats, and for good reason. However, the 2023-24 Wildcats are lacking one massive skill set that could take this team to the next level. That would be defense. In all five losses the Cats have taken this season, their defense has been the achillies heel. On Wednesday, the Cats had a victory in the bag until a massive defensive collapse led to Florida hitting a game-tying 3 to force the game to overtime. When it seems that March won't be a fun ride, the fanbase decides to look in other directions.
Liam Coen was the chosen one
When Liam Coen first arrived in 2021, Kentucky fans were giddy with excitement. The excitement was well worth it, as Coen had the offense looking like everything the Kentucky faithful had hoped it would be. Then, he left for the greener pastures of the NFL. However, that absence wasn't long, as Coen returned this past season, and everything was going to feel right again. Except that it didn't. The Kentucky offense struggled all season in the passing game, but maybe it was just an off year.
But we will never know now, as Coen's second stint in Lexington lasted just as long as his first. Reports have been coming in that Coen is set to become the new offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The news of Coen's departure is leaving a nasty taste in the fanbase's mouth this time because a frustrating season will be the last memory of Coen's time in Kentucky.
At this exact moment, it's frustrating to be a member of the BBN. There's a lot going wrong, and the answers don't seem to be that simple. If the basketball Cats continue to freefall, the heat on that program would be something you wouldn't want to touch. If Mark Stoops doesn't nail his next OC hire, it could be a dark fall at Kroger Field. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered, and sadly, March Madness isn't something anyone is thrilled to see fast approaching.