Kentucky Wildcats lapses against Connecticut Huskies were fatal

Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

In the end, you have to feel for Willie Cauley – Stein, who watched the last few games from the bench. Aside from sporting the greatest shirt and jersey combo in the history of the NCAA, Cauley – Stein offered his thoughts on his return to UK next year. It sounds as though he is leaning towards coming back, but it seems to be too early for most of his team mates to make that call.

"Cauley-Stein made his ledger seem heavily weighted toward returning.”I still have something to prove and I still have so much to work on in my game,” he said. “I went up from last year. Now, I want to take another step.”Cauley-Stein professed his love for all things UK.”You know, I love the school,” he said. “I love being at Kentucky. I love the fan base. I love the community. I love the people there. “Why not stay until they make you leave?” Because an NBA career means millions of dollars and the opportunity to improve in basketball while free of schoolwork.”I really don’t know,” Cauley-Stein said. He added that he would meet with his family and UK coaches before deciding on future plans. Several other UK players recoiled from the inevitable questions about whether to return next season or leave.”No clue,” Aaron Harrison said.When asked what thoughts he had about the subject, James Young said, “None at all.”Julius Randle, widely considered the most likely of UK’s freshmen to enter this year’s NBA Draft, said, “It’s hard to think of that right now. I’m hurting from this loss.”"

What’s a championship game without some drama? Well, Rex Chapman provide that with his tweets that Calipari was a “done deal” to become coach of the LA Lakers. This certainly came out of left field and instead of clarify his comments, Chapman further muddled them and said that either Calipari would leave or if the Lakers called, Calipari would listen.

It’s a big difference.

However, as pointed out, Kentucky can withstand the loss of any players, but losing Cal would be tough. To be honest, I don’t see anyone other than Rex Chapman give creedence to this Lakers rumor and Kentucky still has talent coming back.

"Prior to Monday night, there wouldn’t have been much question regarding whether Calipari would be back on the Kentucky sideline next season. But then former Kentucky star Rex Chapman tweeted that he heard Calipari was going to be the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers next season. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem all that interested in the rumors. “The Lakers have a basketball coach,” Calipari said after the game. “Kentucky has a basketball coach. I got the best job in the country. I’m not going to even dignify that stuff.” That’s the one thing Kentucky wouldn’t be able to overcome. Calipari is the guy who molds an entirely new team every year, and might be the only coach in college basketball to do what he does annually. And next year, he has to do it all over again. Assuming the Harrison twins leave – and while that’s not a done deal, we’ll roll with it for now – that would mean Calipari has to replace his five best players. Four starters and the sixth man, all gone early to the NBA. This time, though, he doesn’t have a ready-made starting lineup of top-10 prospects to step in and fill shoes. With that said, Calipari certainly has talent entering the fold. Trey Lyles will be the best of the bunch. He’s a complete offensive player who should be the leading scorer for the Wildcats next season, given his ability to score in different ways inside the arc. Fellow five-star big man Karl Towns will also get his opportunities on the offensive end, but he might have to toughen up to really get going early. Throw in the fact that Alex Poythress and Dakari Johnson are likely both returning to Lexington, and Calipari will be loaded up front."