History is always the toughest opponent. Once players start
chasing ghosts of great teams past, they tend to lose their balance and forget
that the opposing players want nothing more than to win and advance in the NCAA
tournament.
That is the hurdle Kentucky faces. As the No. 1 overall
seed, the consensus No. 1 team in the nation with Player of the Year candidate Anthony
Davis — a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the
Year, too — and comparisons to some of
the best college basketball teams of all time, the Wildcats have reason to
swagger. But as John Calipari said during the SEC tournament, "Swagger
can't become arrogance. If you start believing that you can just show up and
win, that's when you get beat."
Davis is a given: He has already solidified a spot in the NBA lottery
and is earning comparisons to Patrick Ewing for his defensive play. The key for
Calipari is the surrounding cast of characters. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who has
been steady all year, is another lottery pick if he chooses to enter the NBA
draft. Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones have been wild cards, but both have upped
their intensity in February and early March, peaking at just the right time.
The true test is the point guard: Freshman Marquis Teague has been up
and down from day to day. Against LSU in the SEC tournament, Teague looked like
a lost puppy, throwing timid passes and failing to run the half-court offense
in a productive way. A day later against Florida, he looked like Isiah Thomas,
scoring 15, grabbing three rebounds, getting five assists and commanding the
floor the way John Wall and Brandon Knight did at Kentucky.
If Teague plays with poise, confidence and conviction, the Wildcats look
unstoppable. If the weight of the moment gets him, Kentucky could go home
disappointed once again.
Why they will win it all:
This isn't the deepest team Calipari has ever had, but this might be the best
starting five the Wildcats have ever put on the floor. They have more weapons
and more ways to win than any other team in the country.
Why they won't:
If games get physical, it is possible to get Davis and Jones in foul trouble.
Once Calipari has to go to his bench, the ‘Cats go from being great to being
very good. And very good teams get beat all the time.
