Kentucky coach John Calipari has put last year’s 9-16 season in the rearview mirror.
The Cats are rolling again this year and may well be playing as well as anyone in college basketball. Kentucky is 20-4 and coming off a recent signature 20- point road victory over Kansas in the SEC-Big 12 showdown. Right now, they are listed as a 1 seed in ESPN bracketology along with top-ranked SEC rival Auburn.
Anything is possible again for Coach Cal, who has discovered the world does not have to revolve around one and done freshmen.
Calipari was ahead of the curve in his ability to sign blue chip talent that he fast tracked to the NBA. From 2002 to 2018, when he coached at Memphis and Kentucky, all 25 players he signed who chose to enter the draft after their first season were drafted in the first round. In 2012, he won a national championship at UK with three freshman– center Anthony Davis, forward Gilchrist and point guard Marquis Teague– in the starting lineup and he won 30 games or more five different times in the previous decade.
The formula was so successful, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski opted to use the same blueprint, winning a national title in 2015 with three blue chip freshmen himself– 6-11 center Jahlil Okafor, point guard Tyus Jones and forward Justice Winslow.
But nothing lasts forever.
Neither Kentucky nor Duke have been to a Final Four since 2015 and both hit rock bottom last year when neither made the NCAA tournament field. Conversely, six so called mid-majors have advanced to the Final Four in the last 13 years and Memphis, Gonzaga and Butler (twice) have played in championship games before the Butler moved from the Horizon League to the Atlantic 10 and now the Big East.
Give Calipari credit for discovering that the teams have had won it all from 2021 through 2021 — Villanova, North Carolina, Virginia and Baylor– all had upper class experience and the transfer portal has become a more important weapon than the early signing date.
Kentucky gained instant experience this year with 6-9, 254= pound center Oscar Tshiebwe from West Virginia, deluxe three- point shooter Kellen Grady from Davidson and mercurial, 5-9, point guard Sahvir Wheeler. Tshiewbe, who is averaging 15.8 points and 15.2 rebounds in SEC play, is the best big man in the conference and a legitimate candidate for national Player of the Year. Grady is the best shooter in the SEC. Wheeler is the quickest player in the conference. Add 6-7 sophomore forward Keion Brooks, an emerging inside force who ripped Kansas for a career high 27 points in the Cats’ statement win, and a healthy 6-3 freshman guard TyTy Washington and Kentucky has offensive options at every position. All five starters are capable of big nights and the Cats also have talent and experience in their rotation with fifth year Creighton transfer Davion Mintz, 6-9 junior forward Jacob Toppin from URI and Damion Collins, a 6-9 freshman who could be a lottery pick if he declares.
“I’m focused on March,” Calipari said.
Why not? It’s an exciting time to be a Cats’ fan.
“Every time we play like a team . . . I don’t think anyone can stop us;” Tshiebwe said.
Tshiebwe, who started his career at West Virginia, has been a revelation. He has a 7-5 wingspan and a physical advantage over every player in college basketball and has been the dominant player and a strong contender for the Wooden Award His outstanding rebounding has given the Cats, who are shooting 38 percent from the three, gobbling up any missed deep jump shots.
Kentucky began showing signs of a return to dominance Jan. 15 when the Cats played their most dominant game of the year, burying SEC rival Tennessee, 107-79 at Rupp Arena, They have now won five straight in the conference after beating South Carolina, 86-76, in Columbia in a game where Tshiewbe had his 18th double double of the season and five other players scored double figures.
