Sorry, these No. 1 Wildcats won't beat themselves
NEW ORLEANS — Be on alert, Kentucky. You're the team everyone's waiting to gag next.
Sorry to disappoint, though, because Kentucky sure ain't Kansas.
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| Don't think DeMarcus Cousins or the Wildcats feel pressure. (Getty Images) |
It wasn't even 30-point win close. The Wildcats could have won by 50 if they wanted. Now that Kansas is a goner and after two impressive performances, you can call Kentucky the favorite.
Kentucky coach John Calipari won't, but everyone else will and should.
"Everyone was picking us to lose today, being a tough game," Calipari said.
Who is he talking about? John, you're delusional bud.
Kentucky walks with a swagger and Calipari is the catalyst. That's because they can. Take DeMarcus Cousins for example as he wore a shirt that read, "In Kentucky, we like our Cousins."
But Calipari continued to talk down his team after the demolition of Wake Forest even though he talks them up every other team he chats with the media.
"How did this change those talking heads overnight with one game?" Calipari asked. "Come on. We're still a bunch of freshmen and sophomores. Our second NCAA tournament game. They've never played in any other games. The guys that we're playing have never played in it."
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| Kentucky vs. Wake Forest |
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Recap: Kentucky 90, Wake Forest 60 |
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I don't want to hear it that Kentucky is too young. It's not a viable argument. When you have this much talent, experience is overrated.
Wake Forest's Ishmael Smith doesn't buy it either.
"I do think they are every bit as good as deserving, and all the accolades those guys get. They deserve every bit of it. ... It never hurts to lose to the No. 1 team in the country now that Kansas has lost," Smith said. And he would know, considering he just got pulverized first hand by Kentucky.
The Wildcats have far too many weapons. Experience didn't help Kansas any. Not knowing any better looks like the best option to me. No one said that when then-freshman Carmelo Anthony charged Syracuse to a national title or when Michigan's Fab Five made two consecutive championship game trips.
Wake Forest placed the smallest of small fear into Kentucky (I know, yeah right) when the Demon Deacons led the Wildcats 10-5 less than four minutes into the first half. After that brief glimmer of hope of an upset, Kentucky decided to flash its future NBA roster for all to see and drool over.
It was the John Wall-Eric Bledsoe-Patrick Patterson show Thursday against No. 16 seed East Tennessee State. On Saturday, Darius Miller and Cousins were on the showcase stage. Miller scored a game-high 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Cousins went 9 for 10 from the floor, scoring 19 points.
"It's very important when you're in a six- or four-point game that you can come down five straight times and execute," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "When you talk about us having so many young players, for them to do it and do it in this kind of environment is big."
When asked if Kansas losing puts more pressure on Kentucky not to fail, Cousins simply said, "Nope," then laughed and took a gulp of water.
"I don't think it adds any pressure," Miller said. "As long as we come out and play the best that we can, that's all that we can control."
But was Calipari stunned by the result? Of course.
"When [Kansas] went out, I was saying 'Wow!'" Calipari said as he shook his head several times along with a couple of deliberate eye blinks.
It may be a bigger upset if Kentucky doesn't run the table, and run it easy regardless of the propaganda Calipari spewed after Saturday's beatdown.
Thanks to Kansas, the banana peel is sitting out there just waiting for you, Kentucky.
Don't slip.
Guess what? Ain't happening.
