Kentucky makes case as NCAA favorite

Kentucky makes case as NCAA favorite

* By GARY LANEY
* Advocate sportswriter
* Published: Mar 22, 2010


While Kentucky was making short work of Wake Forest on Saturday at New Orleans Arena for a trip to the Sweet 16, many Wildcats supporters fortunate enough to have access made their way to TV sets in the bowels of the arena and watched the closing moments of Northern Iowa’s upset of No. 1 national seed Kansas.

For those compelled to find a TV to watch the shocker — UK had things well under control in the arena, after all — they wanted to see Kansas lose because it meant their beloved Wildcats would take over as the odds-on favorite to win it all.

They didn’t need to leave the arena to see that happen.

Because even if Kansas had managed to thwart UNI’s upset bid, there would not be many today who would bet against Kentucky. Not after the men-versus-boys exhibition that was the Wildcats’ 90-60 win over Wake Forest.

All those doubts about the youth of the mega-talented Cats were out the window as they clicked on all cylinders to dismantle a solid Atlantic Coast Conference team that was supposed to have the talent, experience and toughness to at least challenge Kentucky.

Instead, it was one highlight reel play after another. There were seven slam dunks, seven 3-pointers and 21 assists in a 60 percent shooting effort, while Wake Forest was held to 32.8 percent shooting.

At the end of the day, Kentucky made believers out of the Demon Deacons and the nation.

“Kentucky’s a heck of a team,” said Wake Forest point guard Ishmael Smith. “I would not be surprised to see them in the Final Four and probably win it all... if they continue to play like they’re playing tonight.”

LSU coach Trent Johnson, whose Tigers were humiliated by the Wildcats 81-55 back in February, has opined that teams that make deep runs into the NCAA tournament are teams that have two or three future NBA players.

Kentucky has four — in the freshman class. The Wildcats have probably three of the top 10 picks in the upcoming NBA draft in guard John Wall, center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Patrick Patterson, the one non-freshman on the long list of Wildcats prospects.

Two other freshmen, guard Eric Bledsoe and center Daniel Orton, are quickly ascending the draft boards. So deep is Kentucky, Orton may find his stock high enough to leave for the draft even though he has not been able to crack the Kentucky starting lineup ahead of Cousins.

I can think of similar accumulations of pure talent, but it’s rare. It brings back memories of Michigan’s Fab Five. And, locally, it harkens back to the Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Jackson LSU team.

This Kentucky team has already reached a higher level of functionality than that LSU team ever reached. That’s a credit to John Calipari, who has his team playing beyond its years

After the Wake win, he reminded the media that his team is still young and “I don’t know if we’re the overwhelming favorite,” he said.

C’mon coach. After Saturday, nobody’s buying that.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/88789132.html?index=14&c=y