History has some good news for BBN ahead of Santa Clara showdown

We have all read and heard about the doom and gloom of the statistical profile that Santa Clara presents. They are a volume shooting, turnover-forcing bunch of scrappy mid-majors looking to make some history at the expense of Kentucky basketball.

And they may very well do it if Kentucky does not show up with its A game. But history tells us you shouldn't be as worried as you are.

Kentucky basketball has an elite 1st round record

According to Fieldhouse Archives, Kentucky has the 2nd best 1st round win percentage of any team with 15 appearances over the last 30 years.

1. Kansas, 27–3 (.900)
2. Kentucky, 24–3 (.889)
3. North Carolina, 23-3 (.885)
4. Duke, 24–4 (.857)
5. Gonzaga, 23–4 (.852)

That is some pretty good company to have. And it brings into focus just how much Cal struggled near the end of his tenure. 2 of those 3 losses were to Saint Peter's and Oakland within the last 4 years of Cal's run in Lexington. Yeah, it was time for him to go, even if Pope doesn't work out.

Upset alert should focus Kentucky

All the media attention has been on Santa Clara, and the Broncos are probably going to be one of the most picked lowest seeds to advance out of round 1. But that should all help a Kentucky team that sometimes forgets to show up.

Mark Pope and the players have talked about fatigue and focus all year long. There is no time to be tired, and no time to slip. If Kentucky is not locked in from the jump, then they will go home in game 1. That kind of pressure could help us see the team that swept Tennessee, knocked off Vandy, and beat Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Because if that team shows up, Kentucky has a chance to play with anyone in the country. That team is hard to beat. But Kentucky is not always that team, and hopefully the upset alert helps them stay locked in.