Kentucky's Woes

It's worth noting that oh, about eight weeks ago, Kentucky coach John Calipari (and some of his players too) were talking outloud about going undefeated. That didn't last long - senior rich Michigan State hung a loss on the Wildcats in the third game of the season. Baylor did the same (and talked smack beforehand too).

Kentucky plays Boise State this week on Tuesday before heading to Chapel Hill for one of the bigger games of the season.  It's so odd to think about it: not long ago, UK was swaggering and strutting and UNC looked like a dead team walking. Now? The Heels are forging a different identity built more around inside play and toughness, while Calipari is reduced to saying stuff like this about the Baylor game:

• "This team, what they seem to do is they get it going and do it right. Then they get arrogant and they step back."
• "No pressure on the ball. None."
• "We don't have a team confidence right now. Team confidence. The reason is they're not relying on each other. They're not talking to one another....I knew they'd have to find each other. Or we're not going to be as good as everybody thinks or I think we should be."

Kentucky basketball is compelling when confidence is in the air but the truth is it is way more interesting when the Wildcats struggle. There's a dynamic that's amazing when it's all good, but when it's not, it's fascinating to watch the tension rise.

Celebrate Duke's magnificent football season with a new shirt!