I know when you read the headline of this article you wondered aloud: Oh boy, Coach Shack is going to try to badger me into rooting for the Kentucky Wildcats yet again.
Like he did in 2022, and 2021, and 2020. You get the idea.
But hold on, lukewarm Cat fan, before you spew these Cats out of your mouth, there are some dandy reasons why you should get behind this edition of Kentucky men’s basketball.
Let me help you back up on the Big Blue bandwagon.
First, they play exceptionally hard on both ends of the court. In years past, the Cats were either good offensively and got after it there or were lightning-quick defensively and played hard there.
Now, the Cats compete for every possession with zeal and multiple efforts no matter who is on the floor. The Cats fly around the court like gnats around a summer picnic. They are so fun to watch.
Next, they play for each other for 40 minutes. One of the arguments that the Wildcat faithful have had is the team’s seemingly lackadaisical attitude on the court. If the team wins, great; if not, oh well it seemed like. No more. From coach John Calipari down the program, there seems to be a sense of urgency (finally). Every game means something. Every possession is important.
Third, they play a brand of basketball that even the most stoic of Wildcat fans can enjoy. If you recall, when Kentucky basketball was elite, especially in the Calipari era, the ball moved freely on offense, never sticking in a player’s hands. This group of guard-dominated Wildcats move the basketball super effectively and it seems the rock finds the right player for a good shot. Does it go in every time? Of course not. But let this old ball coach educate you: if the ball moves and good shots are taken, then your chances of winning increase dramatically.
Also, they have a Kentucky native doing great things on the floor. Maybe you have heard of him; Reed Sheppard. Folks, I will be transparent with you. Like many, I hoped that Sheppard could come to Lexington and find success, not only for Kentucky high school basketball but for the type of basketball we play and the players we have in my region, the 13th. That’s a load for anyone to bear. Sheppard has not only found success, he has reignited the Kentucky fanbase looking for a hometown kid to produce in the Blue and White. That alone has led the fanbase to come back to the program and get excited again.
Last, they haven’t put their entire team on the floor yet. If the Cats have one weakness right now, they need an inside presence. Senior transfer Tre Mitchell has done yeoman’s work around the bucket for the Cats, but he is the only big the Cats are currently playing. But don’t lose faith, Wildcat fans, the Calvary is coming in the form of seven-foot studs Aaron Bradshaw, Ugonna Onyenso, and Zvonimir Ivisic. Each player brings something special to the party: Bradshaw is a stretch five capable of playing inside-out, Onyenso is a shot-blocking machine, and Ivisic has been labeled as a 7-3 “unicorn” capable of playing the three (a small forward-gasp!). Add all that to a bevy of skilled guards and a skilled big in Mitchell, and the Cats go from scary to special in a hurry.
There you have it. Five good reasons why you should root for these Kentucky Wildcats. Are they perfect? Absolutely not. They are still young, albeit uber-talented. They go through lapses on offense, they will miss assignments on defenses, and are still finding their footing in the college game. But their ceiling is unlimited, they will get better each night, and they will be a player in March.
Find your seat on that bandwagon now.
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