Is Calipari Right

Is Calipari right when he says UK needs to lose a game? Cal is usually right when he speaks except when he is “coach speaking”.

How many undefeated teams have won the championship trophy? It is almost an impossible feat. Another coach (Rick Pitino) said that it takes upperclassmen to win the championship. The same question begs to be asked so I will. How many teams have won with primarily underclassmen?

Of course, just because a coach says something doesn’t mean the statement is factual, but if they are serious they speak from history and experience.

However, records are made to be broken. Records are kept for all to see and strive to beat so with that said what will this 2012 UK team do with those records? Today will be a severe test to see if the coaches were right. I know Cal is trying to take pressure off of his team, but there are two places left on the schedule where the talent level is good enough to send the cat’s to defeat. Those two are Vandy and Florida. Mississippi State could also throw a difficult game on the cat’s. Vandy, though, has all the dimensions it takes to win the game.

Vandy has  underperformed most of the year. They have 4 senior starters and 1 junior to begin the game. They have great shooters, size, athleticism, speed and the wackiest gym in the country.

Today’s contest or perhaps I should say war will be a severe test for these young cat’s and they very well may lose the game. If they do lose it won’t be the end of the world. It may feel like it because they and us rabid fans are used to winning. We are used to superlatives when prognosticators, coaches and haters talk about the cat’s. UK has all the dimensions I just mentioned concerning Vanderbilt except maturity. Miller is the lone senior on this team. Jones and Lamb play beyond their years (sometimes but not always) so for that reason UK should lose.

But, and you knew there was going to be a but, this UK team has unbelievable talent at every position and we have a better coach in my opinion. Stallings has not gotten the best from his talented and mature team. On paper his team should be undefeated or have only one or two losses, but there is a missing cog to his machine. I think that missing cog is Stallings.

Sometimes players win the game on their own in spite of their coach. I can think of one national championship that I feel that was the case (you provide the answer) so I fear today might be one of those games. The talent is there, the players will be sky high, the fans will be rocking just like all away games for UK so perhaps the players will win one for the school and their reputations. Yes, their reputation is on display today. They certainly don’t want to go down in history labeled as losers and chokers so today is a big game for them. I bet they have had a team only meeting concerning their reputation and specifically this game.

Vandy on paper is as good as it gets, but today they face a team like no other. UK has been displaying unbelievable defense and blowing teams away. Sometimes the shots really don’t fall as we expect them to, but defense has the other team so rattled they can’t run their offense.

I don’t dare prognosticate who wins the game, because I don’t want to jinx the cat’s. However, the cat’s have already been through hell at Indiana complete with the color and should have won anyway. Their defense wasn’t even close to as good as it has been recently. Teague has improved so dramatically he has been playing really well to my delight. He has been proving me wrong. Of course, a few games don’t cement ones legacy, but a great game by him today in a hostile environment would put some quick set into the cement of that legacy.

I love this team. I love their attitude and their altitude, lol! They are playing beyond their years and are a joy to watch. Sometimes even coach and MKG will crack a smile.

The war is on. The words are flying! Fans are going back and forth! Game Day will be building up the teams and I believe this game will be one of the best games of the year to date.

Go Cat’s!