Today, ESPN SportsNation ran a poll asking America whether or not they’re rooting for Kentucky to win the national championship. The results are pretty much what you’d expect: 66% no, 34% yes. The three states to “go blue”? Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. I see, you SEC brethren.
The rest of the nation? Look, I get it. Kentucky is, and always will be, the big blue villain of college basketball. It’s human nature to hate the best, or in modern speak, they hate us cause they ain’t us. And that’s all fine and well. If Kentucky fans have learned anything over the program’s long and storied history, it’s that no matter how great your team is, there will always be haters.
To an outsider, this team seems especially emblematic of Kentucky’s boom over the past six years: so much talent that John Calipari has to shift them in and out in units. Two platoons of NBA Draft picks, rolling over the competition with unnerving ease.
To anyone who’s really watched them, this group exemplifies the best traits of a team: unselfishness, character, talent, and heart. To anyone who can look past stereotypes, they’re worthy of the history they chase.
In what will most likely be an ill-fated attempt to sway the masses, here are my 11 reasons why America should be rooting for Kentucky to win it all.
1. These kids are great
I could probably stop right here. We’ve said it a million times, but it’s bears repeating a million times more. This group is special. Every Kentucky team has its fan favorites, but this entire group is made up of fan favorites. And they genuinely like each other. Last weekend, a reporter asked Dominique Hawkins if the team hung out off the court together because it was mandatory. Dominique, he of the earth-shattering smile, frowned. “No, it’s not mandatory. We just really like each other. We’re brothers.”John Calipari says this team’s bond and unselfish nature are the primary reason they’re still undefeated. “The biggest thing I’m going to tell you is this team plays with joy and a love of the game and each other. That always beats hate, mean, nasty, angry, jealous. That joy and that love of each other and the love the game will always overcome.”
2. Their calling card is defense
It’s a saying as old as time, as fundamental as a free throw: offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. Kentucky’s defense is historic. The Cats are #1 in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to only 35.5% from the field. That’s the lowest since Stanford held teams to 35.2% in 2000, the record for any squad dating back to the shot clock inception in 1985-1986.Kentucky has the tallest lineup in college basketball, with an average starter standing at 6’8″. As a result, their opponents miss nearly two-thirds of their shots. “It’s like playing frisbee in a redwood forest,” Jay Bilas said of trying to score on the Cats. “They make you take shots you haven’t taken since grade school,” said Bill Raftery.
Only 14 of Kentucky’s opponents have scored more than 55 points in a game this year, and only seven have poured in 65 or more. According to The New York Times, UK’s defense gives up only one assist every 10 possessions. As Cal would say, that’s something every basketball Benny should respect.
3. They embrace their role in the community
Not only are these players funny, they have their priorities in order and give back to the community whenever they can. Marcus Lee is the most obvious example of this and was named to the All-SEC Community Team last week for his service. “I don’t think of it as going to the hospital to see sick kids,” Marcus told me last week. “I think of it as going to see my friends.”There are many more examples, the most recent being Willie Cauley-Stein and #TeamBlake. This morning, a man called into the radio show and told Matt about his nephew Blake, who has been battling cancer for three years. Blake became friends with Willie through a family friend on the track team and gave him a #TeamBlake bracelet, which Willie wears regularly, even in his sock during games. “You’re playing with me out there on the floor,” Willie told Blake. Blake and Willie text regularly, and his uncle said that the friendship has made a remarkable difference in his family’s life.
4. They’re not identified by one-and-dones
The laziest of Kentucky’s critics still lean on the one-and-done angle. “Oh, those kids don’t care about Kentucky, they’re just there for a few months to punch their ticket to the NBA.” Not this year. The core leaders, Willie Cauley-Stein, Andrew Harrison, and Aaron Harrison, turned down the NBA to come back and win a championship, and in doing so, inspired John Calipari to do the same and turn down the Cleveland Cavaliers.Willie and Alex Poythress are seasoned veterans at this point, juniors who have experienced the lows (first-round loss in the NIT) and now, the highs. Cruelly, Alex was robbed of his chance to play most of this season by a freak ACL injury. If he decides to return next year, he’ll be John Calipari’s first senior who was also a McDonald’s All-American. Something tells me he might not be the last, either.
Everyone refers to the 2012 team as the best mix of youth and experience, but this group may be even better. “I think they are totally bought in to each other,” Calipari said yesterday. “Each group, the young kids are feeding off the veterans. The veterans know the young kids have their backs.”
Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics
5. They’re sacrificing for the greater good
When Willie, the Harrisons, Dakari, Marcus, and Alex announced they were coming back, John Calipari was thrilled, but also a little panicked. So much talent and not enough playing time. Hence, the platoon system was born, and the Bahamas was its testing ground. “They’re the ones making this possible,” Calipari says. Ten players average double figures in minutes, none over 26 minutes per game, and only two players average double figures in points. What a selfish bunch, right? As Jay Bilas said this morning on KSR, this team is not “me first,” it’s “we first.”To put this in better perspective, here are the top ten 2015 draft prospects according to Draft Express and the minutes and points they average per game:
1. Jahlil Okafor, Duke: 30.5 minutes, 17.7 points
2. Karl Towns, Kentucky: 20.7 minutes, 9.7 points
3. D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State: 33.5 minutes, 19.3 points
4. Emmanuel Mudiay, playing professionally overseas in China
5. Stanley Johnson, Arizona: 28.4 minutes, 14.1 points
6. Mario Hezonja, overseas
7. Willie Cauley-Stein: 25.5 minutes, 9.3 points
8. Kristaps Porzingis, overseas
9. Justise Winslow, Duke: 28.7 minutes, 12.3 points
10. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin: 32.9 minutes, 18.3 points
Karl and Willie average the lowest number of minutes and points by
far, but they’re still projected to go in the top 10. Selfless but
successful. As Calipari said last night on his radio show, “These kids
have shared and it’s been amazing. That’s the story I keep coming back
to.”2. Karl Towns, Kentucky: 20.7 minutes, 9.7 points
3. D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State: 33.5 minutes, 19.3 points
4. Emmanuel Mudiay, playing professionally overseas in China
5. Stanley Johnson, Arizona: 28.4 minutes, 14.1 points
6. Mario Hezonja, overseas
7. Willie Cauley-Stein: 25.5 minutes, 9.3 points
8. Kristaps Porzingis, overseas
9. Justise Winslow, Duke: 28.7 minutes, 12.3 points
10. Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin: 32.9 minutes, 18.3 points
6. They’re fueled by their failure
This team hasn’t lost this season, but their last loss may be what fuels them. (I don’t count the one in the Bahamas.) On Sunday, Aaron Harrison told reporters the team still has a chip on their shoulder from last season’s loss to UConn in the National Championship game. “Definitely. I think it still puts a chip on our shoulder,” Aaron said. “And we still have that in the back of our minds.”As Willie said over the summer, it’s unfinished business.
7. They play beautiful basketball
Even Calipari and Kentucky’s harshest critics have to admit that this team plays beautiful basketball. Watching Kentucky play is like watching a ballet of giants, balls and bodies flying through the air at astonishing speed. UK’s play is most poetic when orchestrated by the smallest of them all, Tyler Ulis, a tiny magician who feeds the ball through the air on a string, defying gravity like a waterbug dancing across a pond. Lately, when Willie gets the ball and a clear path to the basket, it feels like the basketball gods slow down time so that everyone can fully appreciate his gift.
8. The only All-American arrived at Kentucky an eccentric project
Remember when the only picture of Willie we had was that one of him drawing on the sidewalk? Willie focused on football in high school, and only after a growth spurt decided to dedicate time to basketball. As a four-star prospect, Willie visited Kentucky on the same weekend as five-star Nerlens Noel and was so unsure about it, he almost didn’t go. He arrived at UK a project, a player most fans anticipated staying about three years. Three years later, he’s the best defensive player in college basketball and will likely be a top ten draft pick.Willie’s a different kind of kid, with as many interests as tattoos; as the confetti fell on Sunday, he looked up in wonder, a child trying to catch the first snowflake on his tongue. His eccentric style, kind heart and candid personality make him the ultimate fan favorite off the court, but he’s developed a nasty killer instinct on it, dunking and blocking like a man on a mission, brandishing each victim with his trademark stare. Three years later, he’s still the kid with the sidewalk chalk, except now, he’s drawing outlines for the bodies he leaves along the way.
9. Their best player is a goofball kinesiology major
I’m not sure there are enough words in this world to describe Karl Towns, but that wouldn’t stop Karl from trying. Karl is a comedian trapped inside a 7-foot basketball player’s body, John Calipari’s dream machine come to life. Karl’s a perfectionist who’s coming in to his own, a versatile and skilled player who would average 25+ points on any other team. He’s become Kentucky’s go-to player in the clutch, and could be the #1 pick in this summer’s draft.Off the court, he’s a nerdy Kinesiology major who clowns around with his teammates in the locker room, gives up his seat to reporters likes yours truly, and makes friends with every fan he meets. On top of that, he’s a 3.9 GPA student who chose UK in part because they have a great kinesiology program. Whenever someone asks me about Karl, I always go back to his acceptance speech at the Gatorade Player of the Year awards:
10. Andrew Harrison is his own comeback story
Hey, America, you want your underdog? He’s right there in the #5 jersey. Over the past two years, Andrew Harrison has endured more scrutiny, criticism, and pressure than any player on the team, and a little over a year ago, he pretty much came out and told Matt and Drew he wasn’t having any fun at UK. One magical postseason run and an undefeated season later, Andrew is the clutch leader this team needs, even if his critics still try to take him down with pointless debates over which point guard is better. Andrew and Tyler Ulis complement each other, and fans should feel fortunate to have them both.To see Andrew’s evolution, all you have to do is look. Last year, he slumped and squinted his way through the regular season; now, he stands tall, smiles, cheers on his teammates, and yes, even cracks the occasional joke in press conferences. (Let’s not get crazy, I said occasional.)
Photo by @bigbluexpress
11. They don’t take themselves too seriously
The most popular question in the locker room last weekend? “How are you guys handling the pressure of being undefeated?” The most common answer? “We really don’t worry about that.” I used to think that was just a line, but after hearing it come from every single player I spoke to with sincerity, I’m buying it.This group is loose and confident, refusing to get dragged down by the clutter. Instead of shouldering the pressure, they’re shaking it off and having fun, photobombing their coach or jokingly taking over their teammates’ interviews. Case in point:
America, it’s time to put down the hate and root for one of the greatest teams in college basketball history, if for any other reason, because they deserve it.
Or don’t. Your loss.
Article written by
Your best line, “Three years later, he’s still the kid with the sidewalk chalk, except now, he’s drawing outlines for the bodies he leaves along the way.”
Your second best line, “America, it’s time to put down the hate and root for one of the greatest teams in college basketball history, if for any other reason, because they deserve it.
Or don’t. Your loss.”