By TRAVIS HARMON-SMITH
Staff Reporter
38 and 0.
If you’re not a Kentucky Wildcat fan during this era of college basketball, you have serious explaining to do.
Well, what needs to be explained?
The fact that Wildcat head coach John Calipari and the University of Kentucky are once again dominating college basketball. Throughout the 2014-15 season, the Wildcats have dominated both SEC and non-conference opponents.
Calipari has built a reputation for recruiting NBA-caliber high school players since he was at the University of Memphis. Calipari’s recruiting strategy over the years has given the collegiate basketball game an entirely different paradigm.
Calipari began his career in 1988 at the University of Massachusetts, where he coached retired NBA standout Marcus Camby. Calipari stayed at UMass until 1996 before moving to the NBA. During a few years with the New Jersey Nets, Calipari didn’t make much of an impact, which caused him to step down from the professional ranks. While at the University of Memphis, Calipari’s recruiting success resumed; he coached top-ranked prospects and current NBA guards Tyreke Evans and Derrick Rose.
In 2008, the University of Memphis advanced to the national championship game for the first time, falling short 75-68 to the Kansas Jayhawks in overtime. Calipari left the University of Memphis for Kentucky.
Throughout his years there, Calipari has recruited some of the best high school basketball players the nation has ever seen. Former players include John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson, Terrence Jones, Anthony Davis, Doron Lamb, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague and Julius Randle. All are now playing in the NBA.
Despite his history of recruiting success,, and this season’s 38-0 record, some may ask if Kentucky is really that good. Earlier in the season, I would have said the Wildcats are a little overrated. But my opinion has changed.
Kentucky has defeated every opponent this season; some defeats were by large margins while some were by small ones. Whether you accept the facts or not, Kentucky’s fast-paced, up-tempo style of play is unmatched against opposing defenses.
Forward Willie Cauley-Stein has been a problem for opponents during this year’s tournament run. I’ve compared Cauley-Stein to former Wildcat standout and NBA player Anthony Davis. Cauley-Stein’s 7-foot frame, along with his incredible leaping ability, makes him the most unstoppable player in this year’s NCAA Tournament. For an individual of his size to run the floor like a guard, while displaying electrifying alley-oop dunks each night and blocking shots to the fifteenth row, he’s the guy I need in my program at this point.
Saturday afternoon during the Final Four, Calipari and the University of Kentucky will take on the Wisconsin Badgers for yet another trip to the national championship game. The Duke Blue Devils will face the Spartans of Michigan State.
Here’s my final tournament prediction: I’ll give Wisconsin the benefit; they’ll probably give the Wildcats a run for their money. However, the Badgers cannot handle Kentucky’s pace. On the other side, Duke will annihilate the Spartans.
The national championship game will be between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Duke Blue Devils. No bracket busters coming my way!
It’s Showtime! Go Wildcats!