Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Unexpected Beauty
Apr 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) is mobbed by teammates after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 74-73 in the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The 2014 NCAA Basketball Tournament has been a wild ride for the Kentucky Wildcats. Now they’re headed to the National Championship game, who would’ve thought that this would happen a few weeks ago?
Last night, the Wildcats played 7 freshmen, 1 sophomore and 1 senior, but they played like a team full of guys who have played together since they were small. The connection they’re playing with now is completely unexpected but has a sense of unbreakableness within it.
I don’t know about you, but once Andrew Harrison fouled Wisconsin’s Traevon Jackson, I thought the game was over. My heart was broken for the young Wildcats who have been through so much this season, but once he missed one of his free throws (Wisconsin’s only FT miss of the night) I knew the Cats at least had a chance to tie it. Then, my mind was plagued with the remembrance of the last second miss against Florida in the SEC Tournament, I was hopeful the Cats could respond, but 15 seconds is a lot of time to make a mistake in basketball, especially with a team full of 18 and 19 year olds.
That last possession was one of the most intense moments of the season, Andrew Harrison looked as if he was going out of bounds, Dakari Johnson looked to bobble the ball, it was the longest possession of my life, and probably theirs, too. Once they got the ball to Aaron, I felt like he could do it, again. He could hit the dagger, and he did.
If you are anything like me, you knew the game still wasn’t over. You remember the Ben Brust shot from downtown last season, literally barely past half court. You knew that if there was a team in this NCAA Tournament that could shoot the 3 like it’s no ones business, it was Wisconsin. Every player on the court for the Badgers could shoot the 3, that was terrifying. If you are anything like me, you were on the ground, afraid to see what happens next because you knew there was a 50% chance the Badgers were going to walk away with the win and advance to Monday night.
But they didn’t.
The Wildcats did.
John Calipari has a way with this team. In a short period of time he has blended a struggling team into a strong, successful team. He blended a team that lost to a severely struggling SEC team, and they didn’t just lose, they were obliterated through most of the game. He blended different personalities and games to form one team that has a deeper sense of trust right now, when it matters the most, than they have had all season.
This season has been a wild ride, but it has been one of the best seasons I can remember. There is an unexpected beauty about this season. The struggles of this Wildcats team this season has given the players an upper hand, it’s taught them about losing, it’s taught them to stay humble. They now know things won’t be handed to them, they have to listen and learn to earn what they receive. It’s shown everyone that every player on this roster has a will to win and a fight within themselves. They don’t give up, they won’t give up. It’s shown fans and opposing fans who these players are, and I wouldn’t change a thing about any of them.
Give me this team over the team that was supposed to go 40-0.