Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Never Ending Fight
Apr 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard/forward James Young (1) dunks the ball over Connecticut Huskies center Amida Brimah (35) and forward DeAndre Daniels (2) in the second half during the championship game of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
And they say all these kids care about is getting to the NBA.
I disagree. After reading post game remarks from the players and seeing the complete devastation on their faces, I don’t buy that for a minute.
Missed free throws have plagued this young Wildcat team the entire season. Last night, they missed 11 and lost the game by 6 points. But those stats won’t be what I remember about this basketball team. The complete heartbreak I felt last night and the heartbreak I saw on their faces and heard in their voices won’t be what I remember about this team, either. It’ll be etched into my mind for a while, but in a few days, I’ll get over it.
What I will remember about this Kentucky Wildcats basketball team is the never ending fight they put into every game, even if they came up short in the end. They played with talent and dedication, but were sometimes plagued by the freshmen jitters, but can you really blame them? I know I can’t.
These kids may be my favorite ones to come through the University of Kentucky. Sure, I love Anthony Davis, John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and every other player to ever put on the Kentucky jersey, but this season the personality of the each individual player was shown more than I’ve ever seen, and they are some good kids.
In many situations, the adversity and criticism that were thrown at these Wildcats would’ve resulted in a complete meltdown. This team had their complete meltdown, but they resuscitated their season to make a run to the National Championship game.
They didn’t let their meltdown define them, they let their meltdown fuel their fire. Their meltdown allowed the fans to see who the players were, personalities started coming out, the team started clicking, and it all happened at just the right time.
They beat Kansas State, then Wichita State, then Louisville, then Michigan, then Wisconsin.
What?!
A team full of freshmen, not even a month from their complete, epic meltdown beat all of these strong, elite teams. That’s something I’ll remember about this team. Sure, they fell short of the National Championship, but they went a heck of a lot further than anyone thought they would. And I couldn’t be any prouder of them.
Maybe it was freshmen jitters, maybe it was the opposing senior wanting it more. Whatever it was, I wouldn’t trade a single player on the Kentucky roster. Not one. It’ll be interesting to see who comes back for next season and who jumps into the waters of the NBA Draft. Whatever decisions these guys make, I know I’ll be 100% on board and support them for as long as I can.
Once the heartache eases, remember this team as one full of fight, one full of the best freshmen in the country both playing wise and personality wise, remember them as the guys who never gave up. Even without one of their best players who was plagued with an injury, they put forth a fight that cannot be denied.
I don’t know about you, but I love this team.