The Road to Eight

            “All I do is win, win, win, no matter what…” is the song that resounded from the PA system inside Rupp Arena as Kentucky’s preseason Blue and White scrimmage came to a close, foreshadowing a moment “Big Blue” fans had been waiting 14 years for. But, finishing the season at 38-2 and raising a National Championship banner in Rupp wasn’t due to any one person’s feats it was truly a team effort.

            The “one and done” rule has gutted Kentucky’s roster the past two years and as of last week, will be doing it a third, something for which Coach John Calipari has been praised and scrutinized for. “One and done,” is a rule held by the NBA Player’s Assoc. that requires high school seniors to attend college before being eligible to play in the NBA, but allows these athletes to declare for the draft after only one season of college ball. So, some say Calipari is ruining college basketball, and though I don’t agree with the rule I stand on the other side of the fence, the side that says he has just found the best way to adapt and take advantage of a situation he can’t control.

Calipari did something not too many coaches can get a young team to do: put their egos aside and play as one. Starting three freshmen (Anthony Davis, Marquis Teague, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist), two returning sophomores (Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb) and one of the best sixth men in the nation (Darius Miller), Calipari found a way to blend each player’s strengths and styles into a mold-breaking team.

            Kentucky’s non-conference schedule was tough, not because of the opposition but  because of the team’s struggle to find it’s rhythm together. Early and often Marquis Teague looked like he didn’t know where to fit in. Overshadowed by Calipari’s long line of exceptional point guards, (see: Derrick Rose or John Wall) Teague was constantly tagged as the weakest link. He would drive the lane and miss open layups. He would run the break and miss open layups. He would make poor decisions at costly times in the game. But, despite all this, Kentucky managed to win (Let’s not talk about Indiana).

            During conference play is where Kentucky really hit its stride. Davis was a shot blocking machine; Lamb was bombing three-pointers; Jones was getting rebounds; Kidd-Gilchrist was outrunning everyone; Miller was playing great off the bench; and Teague had finally figured it out. Calipari and his team breezed through the conference with an undefeated record, but not without a few true challenges. Florida, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State gave Kentucky a couple of scares, but the Cats always managed to pull it out (Let’s not talk about the SEC tournament).

            Kentucky dominated their first two NCAA Tournament match-ups, putting away Western Kentucky and Iowa State. The Sweet 16 game pitted them against the only team to beat them during the regular season, Indiana. The whole team really shined in this game, but none brighter than Kidd-Gilchrist, who put up 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, helping the Cats slide past the Hoosiers.

            Baylor awaited Kentucky in the Elite 8 looking for a potential upset. That sentiment was quickly put to rest when they led by 20 at the half. Davis controlled the paint and the boards, picking up 18 points and 11 rebounds. Kentucky proved to be too much to handle as they won convincingly.

The Cats rolled into New Orleans for their Final Four showdown with in-state rival, Louisville. The Cardinals pushed this game deep into the second half, but never could gain control. Once again, Davis stood out, finishing with a double-double and adding in five blocks.

            Kansas made a tournament run that not many could have predicted. They had made their mark in the tournament with several come from behind wins. So, when Kentucky went to the locker room up 18 at the half, it was still in the back of everyone’s mind. Despite many rallies in the second half, Kentucky prevailed. Lamb led all scorers with 22 points, but Davis was the game changer. He only sank one bucket during the course of the game but made up for it with incredible defense. His stat-line included 16 rebounds, six blocks and three steals.

It was a moment unlike any other to see this team showered in colorful confetti as they clutched each other at mid-court. It was also a moment many had doubted was possible for such a young team, but these kids had done it. They had done something one of the best fan bases in college sports had been salivating over for what seemed like an eternity. Calipari brought this team together, but more than that, he brought this state together. So, some say Calipari is ruining college basketball…those people aren’t Kentucky fans either.