(02-15-2020 02:40 PM)schmolik Wrote: (02-15-2020 02:18 PM)bigblueblindness Wrote: I'll have to find those blackberries next time I am down that way, JR! Just for fun, below would be my 10 selections for the team I follow, Kentucky, applying the same rules I described in the previous post:
Indiana
Louisville
Maryland
Michigan State
North Carolina
Ohio State (this assumes that Ohio State would want to stay regional in their 10 consistent rivals. Like Texas, they could have a powerhouse national schedule if they desired, and we would not make that list.)
Penn State (I believe we would barely make their top 10 just based on lack of quality options for them in their region.)
Tennessee
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
This may surprise some people, but my 11th team as an alternate would be South Carolina. We have built a decent rivalry over the last couple of decades. Georgia would be on our list, but I am not sure that UK would make their top 10 considering the abundance of top notch regional schools for them.
I think the surprise of this list is it contains one SEC team. If you think like most UK fans, you wonder if Kentucky really thinks of themselves at home in the SEC. Obviously with the money they're getting they'd never leave the SEC for the ACC even though it would be a more obvious fit for them being a basketball school. You have five Big Ten schools on your list, I wonder if the Big Ten would be better for Kentucky (although I'm not sure Kentucky's academics would fit in).
Some of these I'm really surprised to hear. I don't even remember the last time Penn State and Kentucky played, it must have been a bowl game. In terms of SEC basketball, Florida's probably the biggest rival most years and they've been the only other SEC school since 2000 to win it all. Also, what about Duke? I still remember the 1992 game and they play at least every three years in the Champions Classic.
Good points and questions, schmolik. Below are some responses:
1) The reason for such a lack of SEC schools is that I had to apply the top 10 match rule going both ways. For example, we really enjoy playing Florida, but there are 10 programs geographically between us and them that I think they would understandably prefer over us. Tennessee is the only school that is a no-brainer for an SEC rival with UK in a "Great Do-Over" scenario.
2) As our friends in the state of Georgia can attest, nothing beats good old-fashioned hate. The people of Kentucky are collegial with most states that have SEC schools, but Kentuckians have a plethora of long-standing, ridiculous grudges and rivalries with citizens of Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and the "independent state" of Louisville (similar to the state of Illinois compared to the culture of Chicago).
3) UK is quickly gaining ground in the academic realm, but they often suffer in the typical ranking systems from catering to the needs and demands within the state. Their agricultural and equine programs are about as good as it gets, but those are not typically disciplines that move the needle in national rankings or substantial grants. Academic considerations are part of why I chose Michigan State and Virginia Tech and never really considered U of Michigan and U of Virginia. All are great schools, but UK's mission and emphasis fits more with State and Tech.
4) The Great Do-Over assumes that past history would be revised, which is why I included Penn State. Put another way, I think Kentucky and Penn State would be top 10 rivals with each other had they been given the last 80 or so years to develop it. The culture of eastern Kentucky is very much a part of Appalachian culture, which aligns with the non-urban populations that are serviced by Penn State, Virginia Tech, and Maryland. In this vein, West Virginia is a no-brainer, and I wish we would compete with WVU at every possible opportunity. It is a riot, both figuratively and literally!
5) We have an eternal bond with Duke because of "The Shot" from the Duke player who will not be named. Outside of that, UK and Duke have very little in common outside of basketball. We have much more in common with UNC as an institution and athletic department. It is fun to play Duke every once in a while, but I made my list with decades and potentially centuries of a bond, and I just don't see that as a top 10 relationship. It is similar to how we currently stand with Vanderbilt.
What would be PSU's top 10 under the criteria I laid out?