Kentucky Wildcat Basketball: “One and Done” status is earned, not taken for granted

Feb 9, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Nerlens Noel (3) rebounds the ball against Auburn Tigers guard Josh Wallace (11) and center Asauhn Dixon-Tatum (0) in the second half of the game at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Auburn 72-62. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Of the current crop, only Nerlens Noel has EARNED that right.  He has played with heart, passion, and tenacity all season and in the end, sacrificed his body for his team.  But what about his teammates?

I’m not going to call any specific player out, but let’s look at the three freshmen and their season stats and their stats over the past five games.  Usually this is when Calipari’s team and players improve dramatically.  Are these freshmen making the cut and earning their NBA draft status?

PLAYER A
SEASON STATS: 7.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.7 bpg
LAST FIVE GAMES: 7.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .8 bpg, 64.0% fg, 41.7 Ft

PLAYER B
SEASON STATS: 13.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.2 apg
LAST FIVE GAMES: 8.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 33.3% fg, 52.2% ft

PLAYER C
SEASON STATS: 11.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 58% fg
LAST FIVE GAMES: 5.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 30.1% fg

Looking at those numbers, I don’t think ANY NBA Scout worth his salt can say that any player on this list has EARNED a NBA draft position, much less a first round selection or even a lottery pick. But alas, the NBA does not care about all of this. The NBA drafts on potential which means that if any of the three players come out, they more than likely will be a first round selection and will get more money than most of us will see in ten years. Or fifteen. Or twenty.

You get the point. Being this close to this type of money, will be irrestible to any 18 or 19 years old, much less the majority of us that are reading this post. So in all reality, I’m not going to begrudge any player that takes that kind of money. We would all take the money. Let’s not kid ourselves.

But all I ask is that they players EARN it.

And as of now, they are not. But there is still time to do so. There are six games left on the regular season and this team can still recover. And if this team can turn it around and go 5-1 down the stretch, they will earn their way back into the hearts of the BBN and regain that special part of our hearts again. IF they can play as a team and live up to their five star potential and win an extra two games in the SEC Tournament, they will have earned a decent NCAA seed. And from that point, anything can happen. That is why they call it March Madness.

The majority of the BBN still supports this team and will support the players. We just want to see the heart, hustle, and hunger you had when you arrived. And I’m not expecting a NCAA Title. I just want to know that you have given your all and earned your eventual riches to the NBA and not just used Kentucky as a stepping stone to the next level.

There is still time to get this right.