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Kentucky Wildcats: Three Thoughts On End To Perfect Season

By Jacob Rude

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1. Perfect No More

There’s no bigger “thought” or reaction at the end of the game than the fact that the Kentucky Wildcats are no longer perfect. I don’t think you could make much of an argument for them not being the best team in the country over the course of the whole season, but that means nothing in the one-and-done format of the NCAA Tournament.

Tonight, they allowed Wisconsin too many runs, played catch up too much, and was out-executed down the stretch. You may hate the one-and-done format of the NCAA Tournament, but it provided us with an instant classic tonight.

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2. Coach Cal and UK’s Guards Cost The Wildcats A Win

Down the stretch all season, it was Kentucky who out-executed their opponents. Most of the time, it was Karl-Anthony Towns getting the ball down low and scoring, which was the case against Notre Dame earlier in the tournament. However, for reasons unknown to me and the rest of America, John Calipari chose to give the ball to Aaron Harrison MULTIPLE times.

First, they ran a series 1-4 sets with Harrison iso’d at the top of the key with the game entering it’s final minutes. Not one of those possessions resulted in a basket. Then, with UK down four and the season on the line, UK called a time-out to presumably draw up a play. Out of the timeout, Aaron Harrison hoisted a 35-foot three-pointer that resulted in an airball. I can’t imagine that was the play Coach Cal wanted.

In reality, it was more than just Harrison’s late-game gaffes that cost them. UK struggled all night to have a point guard who could initiate the offense. Too often they struggled to get Towns the ball, they couldn’t hit threes, and they couldn’t finish at the rim. For all the size we harped on all year long, it was the guards who were the real let-downs.

3. Now what?

All eyes all season long for Big Blue Nation have been focused on 40-0. After getting so close they could taste it, Kentucky had it ripped out of it’s hands. Now, there’s an incomplete feeling. A sense that the season was a failure. Instead of 40-0, it’s 38-1, which doesn’t have anything near the same ring to it.

Let’s not lose perspective. Kentucky dominated the entire regular season, made a mockery of the SEC, and ran riot on their opponents. They beat the nation’s best offense in Notre Dame, humiliated UCLA, and were America’s best team. An off-night in early April does not erase the amazing season they had.

Next: 3 Thoughts On Duke Blue Devils Win Over Michigan State

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