Overcoming Slow Starts by Kentucky Wildcats Football

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

To say that Kentucky has had slow starts over the last 5 games would be an understatement. The Wildcats have been outscored 69-13 in the first quarter in that time span and have been forced to play catch up. Against Tennessee, Kentucky is looking for a better start out of the gate. Jen Smith writes:

"“At some point, the Cats stopped attacking, Coach Mark Stoops said. He wants to see UK go into the game at Tennessee on Saturday with the same attacking mentality it had at Florida.‘Just like to see our guys compete at that level across the board,’ he said. ‘We could all live with the results if we play the very best we can. So that’s what we’re striving to do.’”"

Just how big is Kentucky this year? Their backup small forward (who could play his way onto the first platoon) is 6-10 and showed an ability on Sunday to hit the outside shot AND drive effortlessly to the rim. Kyle Tucker writes:

"“From an opponent’s perspective, there are many scary things about the University of Kentucky basketball team. Chief among them: a preponderance of talent and preposterous size.Somewhere high on that list, a freshman who epitomizes both. In Trey Lyles, the top-ranked Wildcats have a 6-foot-10 “small forward,” a McDonald’s All-American who despite that height can dribble, pass and shoot like a legitimate perimeter player.”"

On Thursday, Kentucky fans will find out if point guard Isaiah Briscoe will become the next elite recruit to commit to play for John Calipari. But, no matter which school he chooses, the Briscoe recruiting story may last well into the spring. Adam Zagoria writes:

"“Isaiah Briscoe has made up his mind on where he will attend college, but won’t sign a National Letter of Intent this fall.‘In the spring,’ he told SNY.tv of when he will sign an NLI.”"

As the college basketball season prepares to tip off this weekend, there are several intriguing storylines, especially for the nation’s elite teams. With Kentucky, the question on everyone’s mind is can Calipari actually make the platoon system work? Matt Norlander writes:

"“He’s [Calipari] said he’ll try deploying guys in groups of five, keeping them refreshed and other teams off balance. It’s never been done before at this high of a level, and I’m skeptical this hockey-like wave of subs will be something Cal uses by conference season. But seeing who the groups are, how often they sub and how this will all blend is a big point of intrigue for college basketball fans and coaches this season.”"

For many observers, the information in the Wainstein Report seemingly casts a cloud over the legitimacy of North Carolina’s 2005 NCAA men’s basketball championship. And if North Carolina did use players who should have been ruled ineligible, is that championship at risk of being vacated. Perhaps not. Mike DeCourcy writes:

"“There have been 76 NCAA basketball champions crowned, from Oregon in 1939 to Connecticut in 2014. Every single one of those titles remains in place. Ten of the 304 teams that reached the Final Four have had their records vacated by the NCAA, however.How fortunate for the NCAA that it’s never had to strip a champion, right?”"