In a week of higher-than-usual hopes, college fans for the Commonwealth’s big three were sent home with a single collective sentiment to cover all, “… just kinda speechless.”

Winless Louisville on Thursday, unbeatens Western Kentucky and Kentucky on Saturday dealt their faithful a particularly painful oh-fer because it reminded us anew of opportunity lost.

On Thursday Louisville had a statement-game chance in the ACC. Clemson played ugly, but handed the Cardinals another humble pie just the same.

Saturday afternoon Western Kentucky had Big Ten Indiana on its heels before: A. Hilltoppers ran out of gas; B. Pushed a self-destruct button; or C. Both.

Saturday night Kentucky was at the threshold of its best chance against Florida since Ferdinand won the Derby and a postage stamp was 22 cents.

Was league home opener coming off a road win against the Ole Ball Coach. There was the Cat Walk, a rising profile in the SEC, national ranking in the cards, a gaggle of high school recruits come to watch. Then Kentucky laid an egg, a large one against Florida.

On the same weekend, fans headed home “… just kinda speechless.”

A pair of sentences to summarize.

• Opportunities lost.

And …

• NEXT!

√ Louisville can re-set its bowl game sights with Samford (2-1) to beat up on at home.

√ Western Kentucky hosts Miami-Ohio (1-2) in a match that may dazzle Erik Jenkins (WKU’s track coach). Miami surrendered 95 points the last two weeks in losses to Wisconsin (58-0) and Cincinnati (37-33).

Kentucky gets Missouri (3-0). The Tigers had trouble scoring, beat UConn 9-6 last week which bodes well for a UK’s defense that was superb again.

At stake, an SEC-East pecking order place not with, but behind Florida and Georgia.

ANALYST JESSE PALMER

Jesse Palmer earned two college degrees at Florida through 2001. A fan watching games that involve Kentucky to which Palmer-the-teevee-analyst is assigned, could be persuaded he is a Big Blue fan.

Last season Palmer, who quarterbacked for Steve Spurrier in The Swamp, fawned over Patrick Towles predicting UK’s quarterback would become the SEC’s best.

During the UK-Florida game last week Palmer marveled on-air about Commonwealth Stadium, UK’s facilities and improved player talent level.

All good stuff for Big Blue fans. But surprising since …

Quarterback who threw a 75-yard touchdown pass and rushed for four touchdowns in a 59-31 Gators’ win over Kentucky Wildcats in 2000.

Epilogue: Brent Musburger, partner to Palmer, tossed journalistic responsibility into the trash can in a halftime swoon over UK’s basketball coach. Each man stepping on the other’s lines amid the gaga. I half expected Musburger to ask for the ball coach’s hand in marriage.

WORTH REPEATING DEPT.

Seth Davis is a college hoops analyst for television, and Sports Illustrated writer who penned what I consider the definitive biography on John Wooden.

Before John Calipari’s induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame two weeks ago, Davis wrote a 1,423-word piece about Kentucky’s coach. A poignant excerpt:

“Such is the bundle of contradictions (Calipari) that will take to the podium in Springfield: the flashy grinder, the humble marketer, the servant leader and conspiracy theorist with a Pittsburgh-sized chip on his shoulder. His chin jutted, his heart swelled, his spirit full of gratitude, John Calipari will officially assume his place among the game’s all-time greats. Then he will spend the rest of his career trying to prove he belongs.”

MEDIA HOOPS NEWS

Blue Ribbon Yearbook. With Kentucky at the top BRY showed off its college basketball preseason Top 25 recently. The Wildcats are followed by three ACC teams Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, then Kansas.

Surprises?

• One other SEC team in first 25, Vanderbilt at No. 14 and no LSU.

• Four ACC teams in top 25 and none named Louisville.

• Highest ranked Big Ten team? Indiana at 13.

Bleacher Report offered its best player in every league in the country.

√ SEC best is Damian Jones at Vanderbilt.

√ West Coast Conference best: Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga.

The Sporing News. Kentucky string-bean freshman Skal Labissiere is a preseason favorite for second team All-American honors. Classmate Jamal Murray is listed on TSN’s third team.

LOUISVILLE HOOPS

Good news for ex-Louisville stars Edgar Sosa and Montrezl Harrell.

Sosa, who has played professionally in four countries, was preparing to play in Italy again when NBA Atlanta called. This week the Hawks have themselves a point guard prospect to compete with Jeff Teague.

Harrell, heretofore unhappy about being passed over early and often in the June Draft, has a guaranteed $3.1 million deal for three seasons with the Houston Rockets. Among those Harrell will compete for playing time: ex-UK star Terrence Jones

PARTING SHOT

Fan (trick?) question: Did Florida win Saturday’s game or did Kentucky lose it?

Not able to score a touchdown, Kentucky lost. From the start, pass dropped in end zone, inability to score from Florida’s 2-yard-line late, spotty quarterback play throughout, Kentucky clearly lost an opportunity game more than Florida won.

And so it goes.