For the first time since April 7, 2014, when the final horn sounded the Kentucky Wildcats were not celebrating a victory.
For the first time all season, it was Kentucky that faltered down the stretch as the opponent surged, and for the first time all season Kentucky (38-1) was on the losing side of a game, falling to Wisconsin 71-64.
“Could not be more proud of this group of young people,” UK head coach John Calipari said. “What they did all year, just took us all on a ride, our staff, our school, our state. Took us on a ride. We all wanted to win those last two. These kids wanted to win it in the worst way.”
It was a season to remember, but more specifically, it was a team to remember. Nine McDonald's All-Americans bought in, put the team and their teammates before themselves, sacrificed, gave back and showed what hard work and a selfless attitude can accomplish.
After the game, players spoke about the heartache of defeat in a somber locker room reminiscent of a funeral visitation, and looked back on the bond they shared throughout a historic season.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.