No. 1 ’Cats
NEW ORLEANS – Win the national championship. It has been the mandate at Kentucky throughout this season. The young Wildcats were anointed the most-talented team in the country with the possible exception of North Carolina, and then they beat the Tar Heels in early December. In the 19 weeks of the national rankings, Kentucky was No. 1 on 10 occasions, No. 2 six times and No. 3 three times. They then were bestowed the overall No. 1 seeding for the NCAA Tournament.
On Monday night at the Superdome, the Wildcats (37-2) will try to fulfill the mandate and, at the same time, give coach John Calipari his first title when they face Kansas (32-6). Calipari is a staggering 101-14 since arriving at Kentucky but has yet to ascend to the throne of college basketball and carries the baggage of two vacated Final Four appearances for NCAA transgressions.
“Even before the season we saw our talent and our chemistry and thought we could have an undefeated season,” freshman guard Marquis Teague said. “People expected us to do great things and we have so far. They say if we don’t win, this is a letdown, and we feel the same thing. We think we’re the best.”
“Our attitude is give it your best shot,’” sophomore Terrence Jones said. “We want to win. We prepare to win. We expect to win.”
Kentucky’s final obstacle is a good one, a Jayhawks team that is far superior to the one New York saw Nov. 15 at the Garden in a 75-65 loss to the ’Cats in the State Farm Champions Classic, the second game of the season for each team. Kentucky broke away from a tie game with an 18-3 second-half run.
In the NCAAS, Kansas has pulled out wins again and again.
“They’re finding a way on the biggest stage,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “Look at our last four tournament
games: Purdue has us down and out, N.C. State was a one-possession game, (North) Carolina is a one-possession game, (Saturday) night Ohio State had us down and out. It’s remarkable to me to see how much these guys have matured, grown, trust each other. It’s been a blast to watch.”
Self coached Kansas past Calipari’s Memphis team in the 2008 championship game in similar fashion. The Jayhawks overcame a late nine-point deficit and forced overtime with Mario Chalmers’ memorable 3-pointer, then prevailed.
“It seems like when it kind of looks like it’s not going our way the most is when they kind of rise to the challenge and play their best,” Self said.
Kentucky’s 6-10 freshman center Anthony Davis is the collegiate Player of the Year, but Kansas’ 6-10 Thomas Robinson was a strong contender. Kansas will defend Davis with 7-footer Jeff Withey, a stellar shot-blocker second only to Davis. Kentucky’s arsenal includes freshman scorer Michael KiddGilchrist out of Elizabeth’s St. Patrick High, and Queens product Doron Lamb, a superb outside shooter. Kansas’ includes senior Tyshawn Taylor, who played at Jersey City’s St. Anthony High, and junior Elijah Johnson, who is averaging 15.4 points in the tourney.
Kentucky is the one facing all the pressure – for the season-long expectations, to get Calipari a title, to prove that what they believed at the start still is true at the end. “They’re a rea l ly t a lented team . . . a really disciplined team,” Kentucky senior Darius Miller said. “We know it’s going to be a tough game, probably the hardest game we played all season.if not, they wouldn’t be here. They’re here for a reason. It’s not by mistake.”