Basketball: Loss a lesson for Cats

UK Basketball: Loss a lesson for Cats


http://www.winchestersun.com/stories/2010/01/27/spo.613546.sto
By Keith Taylor/Sun Sports Editor
January 27, 2010

Sometimes being the best isn’t what it’s made out to be. Most of the time, the climb to the top is easier than the fall from grace.

Sure being the top-ranked team in the country has its perks, but it also has its share of heartaches, such as the one Kentucky experienced in a 68-62 loss at South Carolina Tuesday night in Columbia.

The loss was the first in the John Calipari era at Kentucky and was Darrin Horn’s third win over the Wildcats, a team the former Tates Creek standout grew up watching in his backyard in Lexington.

For Horn, it was his biggest win as coach of the Gamecocks, the team’s first over a top-ranked opponent. Horn defeated the Cats twice last season, but this one was more meaningful.

“It’s obviously a huge win for our program for a lot of reasons,” Horn said. “I’m really happy for our players, especially our seniors who have been through a lot of adversity — and for our fans. We have tremendous fans here. The entire Gamecock Nation deserves this. It’s really a huge win for us.”

Although Kentucky was perfect through its first 19 games, a good thing came to an end. Losing isn’t a preferred habitual trait, but it was expected to come sooner or later for this group of Wildcats. Kentucky survived several close calls on the path to the top of the mountain, but persevered.

“We may have been undefeated but we were lucky to be undefeated,” Calipari said. “I meant that.”

Texas found out life on the proverbial mountain isn’t the same as living on the prairie. The Longhorns won their first 17 games and even held on to the top-ranking for a couple of weeks before losing two in a row. Texas fell from the top to No. 6 in the latest collegiate rankings.

The Longhorns were used to teams giving their all, but not beyond the norm. Kentucky is accustomed to being the hunted instead of the hunter, but wasn’t prepared for South Carolina’s best shot.

“They outworked us,” Calipari said.

Calipari hopes the experience will humble his team and serve as a reminder to the Wildcats they are human and not invincible.

“It’s a great lesson,” Calipari said. “A lot of times until you take an “L” they don’t want to believe you. Especially with how young we are.”

I'm really happy for you Darrin and I think Downey is a helluva player but you are still going to the NIT.