UK women’s hoops is the last hope for Big Blue Nation

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The dreary weather in Syracuse, N.Y., paralleled the collective somber feelings of the Big Blue Nation on Saturday when West Virginia ended the men’s hoops team chance for trip to Indianapolis for a shot at a national title.

 In fact, for many fans, the national title seemed like it was UK’s to lose, following the plethora of upsets in this year’s edition of the NCAA Tournament—I’m looking at you Kansas, Syracuse, Ohio State, Villanova, et al.—but the story didn’t play out as Cats fans had envisioned, as UK became one of the defeated.

However, much like Luke Skywalker was the last hope to save the galaxy, the UK women’s basketball team is the last hope for the Big Blue Nation to experience the ultimate glories of March (cue the dramatic music).

Unusually, the women’s hoops team is still playing while the men’s season is over. With a win tonight over top-seeded Nebraska, in only its second regional semifinal since 1982, the UK women would match the final round the men attained, the Elite 8, and have a chance for a trip to San Antonio to play in the Final Four with another win on Tuesday.

Of course, a lot of variables exist between now and a potential trip to San Antonio, but because the UK women’s basketball team has exceeded all the expectations that have preceded it this year, one has to think that they have at least have a chance to take down the mighty Cornhuskers.

On Saturday, the fourth-seeded Baylor Bears, led by freshman phenom and shot-blocking aficionado Brittney Griner, upset the No. 1-seeded Lady Vols. The UK hoops team had mixed success with the Lady Vols this season, getting blown out 81-65 in Knoxville, Tenn., and then falling 70-62 in the Southeastern Conference title game on a neutral court.

Due to the lesser extent of parity in women’s college basketball compared to that of the men’s, upsetting a No. 1 seed is no easy task, but if said task has been completed once this tournament that should be reassuring for UK before it takes the floor at the Sprint Center.

When I arrived in Kansas City with my entourage (co-workers rather, but let’s just consider them my entourage for now) just in time to catch the end of the UK/West Virginia game, the weather was rainy and overcast like Syracuse, N.Y. As Sunday progressed, the sun started to shine on the streets of Kansas City’s Power and Light District.

Surely, Big Blue Nation will want to believe in the powers of foreshadowing. After all, it’s the last hope.