Kentucky Basketball: These Guys Are Good

Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

By now, you’ve read all the articles. We’ve seen the statistics. We’ve watched the games. We know, just from the eye test that this University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball team has the potential to be historically great. Not just good. Not very good. Not even Final Four or national title worthy. This team has the potential to add a chapter to the long legacy of one of college basketball’s most storied programs.

I was a student at UK when the 1995-96 Untouchables delivered the school’s sixth NCAA Title. I never thought I’d see a team that deep or that talented ever again, especially with the rise of the so-called “one and done” rule. That team was led by seniors and juniors that had been through a lot of games and new how to win, and how to dominate. I watched the 2012 roll through to the school’s 8th title, only dropping two games like the 1996 squad. While not as deep and maybe not quite as talented, that team did something that the 96 team perfected: They won games before the tip off.

With both of those teams, the Kentucky aura was felt during warmups. There was a sense from the opposition that there’s no way they could win. As if they’re saying to themselves, “There’s no way we’re beating Kentucky tonight.” This current team is heading in that direction. This team is do deep and so talented, they’ve let every team play its own unique style of basketball… and beat them anyway. Columbia slowed it down. Kansas tried to play fast. Louisville wanted to grind it out. And none of it mattered. The Cats won anyway.

Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

With this team, it doesn’t matter.

Head Coach John Calipari has said, and the players have echoed, that the team isn’t focused on any other teams. They’re not worried about what other players and coaches are doing. They’re all focused on themselves and trying to get better. You can debate Andrew Harrison vs. Tyler Ulis all day because it doesn’t matter. The point is UK has both and either one can provide an All American level game on any night. You can talk about the loss of Alex Poythress, which is huge, but the each Wildcat has stepped up to fill that void.

It was obvious from the Bahamas trip over the summer that this team was going to be special. You could tell they were all buying into what Coach Cal was selling. It’s not about numbers or stats or highlights. This team is about winning. It’s about breaking the will of their opponents. You saw it from the tip at UCLA. You saw it against Louisville with Chris Jones and his flopping. Teams are getting frustrated with Kentucky’s defense and the Wildcats relentless attack on offense. There’s no breathing room. There’s no time to let up or relax.

Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Like most of the Big Blue Nation, I didn’t want to buy into the undefeated talk. After last year’s stressful regular season, we have all learned to not let that talk get too crazy. But here we are, ready to turn the calendar to 2015 and the Cats have finished their nonconference schedule unblemished. They’ve handled blueblood programs like Kansas, North Carolina and UCLA with historical ease. They’ve defeated top 10 Texas. They have overcome sluggish starts to defeat upstart “midmajor” teams. And, to top it all off, they’ve defeated rival Louisville for the 7th time in the last 8 games. With the SEC being down this year (no team other than UK is currently ranked), it doesn’t take a stretch to see the Cats entering the post season undefeated.

If there’s ever been a team that’s been constructed to handle its business on the court, it’s this team. We can see that “My Brother’s Keeper” isn’t just an empty slogan for these guys. They truly care about one another and as is the pressure begins to build with each win, they’re going to need to be close as people begin to tear them apart. If there’s  ever been a coach to lead an undefeated team, it’s Calipari. Remember after the 2012 title game when he said that he’d like to coach an undefeated team? A lot of outsiders laughed. But who’s laughing now?