Many of Kentucky’s youngest players weren’t even in kindergarten the last time UK entered a Southeastern Conference Tournament with a losing record and minimal postseason options.
The last time that happened was in 2004 when then first-year coach Mickie DeMoss had just taken over the Kentucky program and was starting a rebuild.
Since then a combination of DeMoss and then Matthew Mitchell, has led the Cats to various postseason destinations, including eight straight NCAA Tournaments.
Barring a miracle that would include knocking off multiple ranked teams this week in Nashville and winning the SEC Tournament outright, UK will not be one of the 64 tournament teams for the first time since 2009.