John Calipari’s Final Four bed is quite comfortable, thank you

Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

With the trip to the Final Four, one thing is certain. Players that we thought may stay in Lexington another year are going to get NBA overtures. And that is OK with me. Let’s be honest, I hate the one and done rule … but if a player takes us to the Final Four, I won’t hold any ill will for them leaving.

And as unlikely as it seems, Aaron and Andrew Harrison’s draft stock is on the rise.

"Just a few weeks ago, there was serious consideration that the Harrison Twins might have no option but to remain in Lexington for a second go-around — unless they wanted to be surefire second-round picks come June. This was unthinkable when they arrived, but there was a time this year when there was a legitimate question whether Andrew Harrison could beat out incoming freshman point guard Tyler Ulis for the starting job in 2014-15, and likewise whether Aaron could hold his spot with talented wing Devin Booker arriving in Lexington. But things have changed quickly — thanks to sterling performances in the NCAA tournament. Now they are back squarely in the conversation as first-round picks, after a strong showing thus far. Andrew has been more reliable with the ball in his hands, and Aaron has displayed the propensity to make big shots. “They have both helped themselves,” one NBA general manager said Sunday night. It’s not as if either has skyrocketed up the draft boards, but they have both made strides, reaching a point where now people aren’t completely discounting them as top-30 overall selections. “They are both likely first-rounders now because they have won,” another told me. “That was the biggest knock on them.” “They have changed my opinion,” one assistant GM said. “Bad players don’t take their teams this far. As amazing as it seemed a month ago, these two have emerged as leaders of their team.” “Can’t help but give them credit for how they played,” a high-ranking NBA executive added. “Good players, just not elite athletes. I think both end up as 2-guards at the next level and should be solid.”"

In the article, Goodman goes on to say that the Final Four games will likely not affect the Harrison’s stock and they should be a 20-40 pick. That puts them at about a 60% shot to leave, but who knows? They may want that extra year. The NBA won’t be this fun … at least as a rookie.

Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

In the end. John Calipari had to make some changes to his team after the South Carolina.  And stop me if you have heard this before but he started with the man in the mirror …

"The program is back to where it was two years ago now, but it involved a whole lot more hardship than anyone could have imagined. “It was difficult because my choice coaching them was to allow them the body language, the effort less than it needed to be, the focus less than it needed to be, (and) at times, selfishness,” Calipari said Sunday. UK suffered 10 losses in the regular season, lost three of four late and hit rock bottom with an embarrassing loss at South Carolina. It was then that Aaron Harrison said UK would still write a “great story,” a prediction that has unbelievably come true, but it’s taken some pretty remarkable steps to overcome. It took Coach Cal looking in the mirror and realizing he needed to “tweak” some things. It took criticism – some nasty – that brought the players together. It took a lot of failing before the succeeding could happen. “This was very difficult for all of us,” Calipari said. Calipari faced major scrutiny late in the regular season when the wheels fell off in Columbia, S.C. The Kentucky head coach was ejected from that game, he was criticized for being too hard on his players, and many wondered if his approach of recruiting the most talented players regardless of age was a one-hit wonder in 2012. All the while, Calipari dragged along a hip that’s so bad that he’s had trouble getting up steps."