
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.”
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.
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.”