IU UK Rivalry Heating Up

How long has it been since the Kentucky and Indiana fan base's have went back and forth at each other before a game? I can't remember either. Kentucky went through some down times, the latter part of Tubby's tenure, and with the hiring of Billy G. Then, when Kentucky started to turn things around with the hiring of John Calipari, Indiana was going through some of their own turmoil with the firing of Kelvin Sampson, mass exodus of players, and trying to navigate the waters of a NCAA investigation which eventually landed them on probation. Then came Tom Crean. Crean took over a team that hardly resembled a team. His first year, he barely had enough bodies to put a team on the floor.


But after a couple of good recruiting seasons, and landing his best commitment to date (Cody Zeller), he has Indiana heading in the right direction. Indiana is setting on perfect 8-0 record so far this season, with their only quality win being over NC State. But still, a huge improvement over the way he started his carrer at IU. Tom Crean is a quality coach, and you knew it was just a matter of time before he got things turned around. And that is what makes the match up with Kentucky Saturday so intriguing. Never mind the fact that he, and UK coach John Calipari are friends, and at times the two get into a Twitter battle, both men are doing what they were hired to do. Insert life back into their respective programs.


Now, I'm not one to read message boards as I find them annoying, and at times harmful to a university. But, some of the posts I've seen between IU and UK fans today prove that Calipari and Crean are succeeding at their jobs.


Here are some samples:

all4IU: You guys will never get it will you? Cheaters don't win anything. No matter how many titles/games you won they mean nothing! You are scumbags of college hoops and the perfect example of what is wrong with today's college athletics. Everyone in college basketball knows that FOR FACT!

My what short memories IU fans have

h1960: Will someone here please post the cover of the 1989 SI article? It seems our "friends" to the south have poor memories regarding the antics of UK!

Again IRONY

IURU-...yrusty: I would slide down a razor blade into a pool of iodine for IU to beat UK on Saturday.
Best post I have ever seen, HILARIOUS

outside shooter: This young KY team has never played on the road and will choke under the pressure. Take care of the ball and exploit their aggressiveness to get easy scores yourself.

Indiana has only played TWO road games this year with the toughest being NC State (impressive win for them)

carriu: for a team of paid players yours hasn't fared so well lately. When was the last time you pUKes were in the FF. And when have you ever won without Indiana kids

I can't even defend this post.


Now I know that these are all from IU fans and none from Kentucky Fans, but it's just funnier that way.


This is what makes college sports so great. Two groups of fans can get so wrapped up in this sport that it dulls the line between sanity and common sense. There is nothing better than college sports, and as long as coaches like John Calipari and Tom Crean continue to give the fans what they want, it will continue.