UK Basketball: Cats belong on top

UK Basketball: Cats belong on top

http://www.winchestersun.com/stories/2010/01/22/spo.181222.sto

By Keith Taylor/Sun Sports Editor
January 22, 2010

At the moment, Kentucky is the only unbeaten team remaining in the nation and ranked as the second-best team in the country.

The Wildcats (18-0) can ascend to the top spot with a win over Arkansas Saturday at Rupp Arena. Although being the best team in January doesn’t automatically assure the team of an eighth national championship in March, it’s a big boost for the program.

What it means is that Kentucky is back at the top where it belongs. It’s been a long time coming for the Wildcats, who endured a two-year period of mediocre performances under previous coach Billy Gillispie, who was in over his head from Day 1 until the finish.

Regardless of the outcome against the Razorbacks, the Wildcats are no longer talk of the town. Kentucky is the main headliner from the East to the West coast. That’s the way it should be.

Kentucky basketball doesn’t belong in the middle of the pack in the Southeastern Conference or the National Invitational Tournament for that matter. It’s not arrogance or a holier-than-thou attitude, but rather the truth.

In his first season as Kentucky coach, John Calipari has won the same amount of games that Gillipsie did in his first full season with the Wildcats. Although the Wildcats were successful in the SEC that year, the team was woeful against non-conference opponents and finished with 18 wins and 13 losses.

Credit to the team’s success this season goes around the court, starting with Calipari, a coach who understands and embraces the tradition of Kentucky basketball. As we all found out last week, Calipari has a heart for others. It doesn’t hurt that he’s done a masterful job keeping his team humble in times of prosperity.

The Kentucky coach has two freshman point guards in the starting lineup and the other three features another freshman, a junior and a sophomore. How many teams are national contenders with that kind of starting five at this point in the season? Not many, if any.

John Wall and Eric Bledsoe could run the team at any given time, Bledsoe has sacrificed his ball handling skills and showcased an ability to score any time at any place, especially on the road.

The addition of DeMarcus Cousins in the post has given the Cats a much-needed presence in the post that had been lacking. Patrick Patterson has grown leaps and bounds in one season under Calipari and Darius Miller has gained confidence in his long-range shot as the season has progressed.

The bench is experienced, which could turn out to be a valuable tool as the Wildcats venture deeper into the season.

Kentucky is back where it belongs both regionally and nationally.

It was more than a 2 year period. Anybody remember Tubby?