Kentucky basketball: John Calipari needs to change remembering how it began

2011-2012 Kentucky made it back to the promised land.

Everybody knows what happened this year, arguably one of the best teams in Kentucky Basketball history led by National Player of the Year and Final Four Most Valuable Player Anthony Davis.

Davis won the Naismith Player of the Year Award despite setting a record for the fewest points scored in a championship game by the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. He scored just six points but pulled down 16 rebounds, had six blocks, five assists, and three steals.

Davis said after the game it took a team effort.

"“Well, it’s not me, it’s these guys behind me. They led us this whole tournament. This whole game, I was struggling offensively, and I told my team, every time down, you all score the ball; I’m just gonna defend and rebound,” Davis credited his teammates after the championship game."

Eight years later he became Calipari’s first UK player to win an NBA Championship.

Kentucky had the perfect blend of experience and young talent that put them over the hump and displayed they were clearly the best team in Basketball and it wasn’t even close.

They rolled to a 29-2 record and a perfect 16-0 in the SEC schedule with the only blemishes a 73-72 loss to Indiana and 71-64 to Vanderbilt. Five players again averaged double figures with Miller just outside at 9.9 providing balance and shooting.

This Kentucky team added Michael Kidd-Gilcrest and Marquis Teague to compliment the returning players.

The rivalry border battle with the Hoosiers was always something to talk about and draw debate.  However, this loss signaled the end of this series as Cal refuses to play Indiana home and home. Instead, it’s fewer high-caliber teams coming to Rupp or giant neutral courts far from Lexington depriving fans of games like this.

The Wildcats enthralled the nation utilizing a mixture of smothering defense, unselfish play, depth, balance, and talent. The 2012 team snapped a 14-year title drought with the program’s eighth national championship.

Number Eight was a sweet one for Kentucky fans, one they will never forget.