Can Kentucky be stopped?

       So far this college basketball season has been like many this past decade. It's been run by young stars representing Kentucky. John Calipari seems to do a flawless job recruiting future stars every year, and this year is no exception. It all started last year when many classified the team as an underdog in the tournament. This is something that the Big Blue Nation is not used to being called. They were "too young" and "too small" to beat the Midwest'  powerhouses Duke, Michigan and Wichita St. That Kentucky team was able to defeat two of those three teams (Duke lost in early rounds) en route to the National Championship game where they fell short to an experienced UConn team. But this year has been oh so different for Wildcat fans everywhere. They have been the unanimous #1 seed in every AP poll this year but one. Although they have looked shaky in some games, picking against them in the tournament really hasn't crossed anyone's mind. With many returning players from last years National Finalist team (Harrison brothers, Alex Poythress, Willey Cauley-Stein) there has not been many doubts as to who the nations top team s. The last time Kentucky had a team like this, Anthony Davis and company steamrolled through the tournament.

       So who can beat them you ask? In my opinion, no one can. As a big college hoops fan I hate to admit that, but I just cannot see anybody taking down the giants from Lexington. Although with the loss of Alex Poythress due to a torn ACL, and a few close encounters with the SEC's bottom feeders, maybe I could be wrong. The only teams that I can see beating these Wildcats are the Duke Blue Devils and the Virginia Cavaliers. Virginia to this day is undefeated and although Duke has lost a few shaky games, their talent and size can possibly overtake the Wildcats.

      The question will be how will Kentucky perform in the tournament? It is a question that is asked every year because no matter how dominant they are, the do play in the SEC. There is no true tests in the SEC, so when they are able to beat teams from the always dominant ACC, or the tough and stingy Big Ten, we will then know who the true champions are.

       


Comments