Now that Kentucky is 19-1 instead of 20-0, we look at them in an entirely different light.
It’s like, suddenly, the warts are exposed on this creature. No longer do we see this thing of Blue-and-White beauty.
We see weaknesses where we used to see only strength.
We are obsessively wringing our hands again (not to mention still obsessively washing our hands with sanitizer).
Where we once saw the Final Four, now we hope to escape with a win on Saturday.
Stop worrying. Even though the Wildcats have a blemish, the creature is still capable of a special season.
It’s just not perfect anymore.
And that’s OK. Didn’t we all know this was bound to happen? The undefeated season, not accomplished since 1976 by Indiana and Bobby Knight, wasn’t really on the realistic radar anyway. That was a team laden with seniors; this one is laden with freshmen. Big, big difference.
The loss will do the Cats some good. Now that he has the video proof, John Calipari can drill the Cats on what they didn’t do well. He can prod them, he can motivate. If they were rolling their eyes at him before, they aren’t now.
The loss to South Carolina will only make them stronger in the end. And a loss in January, than say one in the Sweet Sixteen, is well worth taking. My guess is that Kentucky will probably lose again, if not a couple of more times, before the NCAA tournament. That’s OK, too, as long as you learn.
Kentucky will learn. Calipari has their full attention.
This is the first hiccup for the Cats, who better make sure they get it out of their system before Saturday with streaking Vanderbilt coming to town. Vandy disposed of Tennessee in Knoxville on Wednesday.
My guess is that Kentucky will be ultra-focused for Vandy with a battle for the top spot in the SEC East at stake.
Here’s something to take from Tuesday’s loss: As badly as Kentucky played, as badly as they were outhustled and outrebounded, as many easy shots as they missed, they still had a chance to win. What does that say about the talent on this team? They won’t play that poorly again.
Everybody likes to talk about the greatness of John Wall, me included. He’s a certain one-and-done talent, one of the best point guards I’ve ever seen. But his classmate, DeMarcus Cousins, is in the running as one of the best one-and-done talents in college basketball. Cousins’ footwork, his soft touch and growth should delight NBA scouts and general managers who know all too well the importance of an agile, versatile big man in the Association.
They won’t go wrong taking Wall or Cousins.
But for Kentucky to get where it wants to go, it has to be more than the freshmen. The maturity may show when the games that matter the most start being played in March.
Patrick Patterson has to re-establish himself as one of the premier big men in the country.
He’s blending into the background instead of coming to the front. Kentucky needs a determined Patterson, a battler inside, if it’s going to contend for the national championship.
But there’s time for him to do that.
Don’t worry, there’s time.
Sit back and enjoy the rest of the season. Leave the hand-wringing to the opponents who have to face Kentucky.
MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.
