Kentucky Wildcats Hoops: Are The Lady Cats Ready To Take The Next Step?

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With all of the new-found hype surrounding Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats football team, combined with an influx of talent to bolster the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team’s national title hopes, one Kentucky team has been swept under the rug. This is not due to lack of talent or new-found success in recruiting, as this team has had plenty of success in both of those areas. The problem with this team, if you want to call it that, is that the have a silent confidence about them. they don’t feel the need to talk about what’s been done. Their sports doesn’t get much publicity, and that is perfectly ok with them. They will continue to go about their business in a humble fashion, putting in the hard work necessary for what they hope to be a breakthrough season. This team, ladies and gentlemen, is the Kentucky Wildcats women’s basketball team.

If you don’t know much about women’s basketball, you’re not alone. Most people only know the best of the best teams. In the 32 years that the NCAA Tournament has been around in women’s basketball, they have had 14 different teams win it all. Half of those were won by UConn and Tennessee, who have each won eight. No other team has won two. So to say that breaking into the elite status of women’s college basketball is tough, well, that’s an understatement. But that’s exactly what the Kentucky Wildcats are trying to do. With Matthew Mitchell at the helm, they have become one of the better programs in the country. McDonald’s All-Americans are beginning to notice, as Mitchell is recruiting at a similar level to John Calipari. He’s not quite there yet, but he’s getting close. That can be accredited to his style of play and groves of wins. In fact, in the last four seasons, Matthew Mitchell has led the Lady Cats to three elite eights. That’s pretty good considering they had only been once before he came on board. This season, the Cats look to get over the hump and make it to the coveted Final Four.

With this years team being host to seven former McDonald’s All-Americans, they should be favored to make it to the Final Four and be on the short list of national title contenders. Additionally, Matthew Mitchell likes to play a fast-paced, run-and-gun style of basketball. He routinely subs out entire lineups, stating that he has two starting-fives. With this ability to go 10-12 players deep, most teams cannot keep up late in the second half, which is where Kentucky likes to be. Fresh legs and great conditioning allow them to full-court press, causing mental mistakes and turnovers from the other team. With Kentucky’s speed and athleticism, they easily make the fast break to score at the other end, turning a close game into a blowout very quickly late. Look for the Lady Cats to make a run this year. The way the talent is accumulating, it is only a matter of time before Coach Mitchell and his team break through the barrier. And when they do, people will notice. People will celebrate. Join the crowd now and watch something special unfold, people. It’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time.