Sam Malone’s first three college seasons couldn’t have been much different.Coming to Kentucky as walk-on, the Scituate, Mass., native was there every step of the way as the Wildcats went from national champions in 2012 to first-round NIT losers in 2013 to within one win of another title in 2014.”Freshman year I thought it was going to be like that every year, then the next with that NIT–it was totally different from the first year,” Malone said. “But we just stuck with our game plan of what we were doing as far as the program goes, and we’re back to where we want to be.”With UK sitting atop the polls with a record of 30-0 entering Senior Day for Malone and classmates Brian Long and Sam Malone, that might be an understatement.The Cats are a game away from completing the first unbeaten season for a power-conference team since Indiana accomplished the feat in 1975-76. Malone and Long have already been a part of a pair of Final Four teams and they clearly have designs on making it three within the next month.”So far it’s been great,” said Long, a Dumont, N.J. native. “We’ve had two real good years and this year the story’s not over yet. It’s been a great ride all four years. Just appreciate everything and it’s been real fun.”The three seniors have had an inside view of the program that’s been at the center of college basketball. They been a part of some downs, to be sure, but more often than not they’ve watched John Calipari mold groups of young stars into cohesive units.”I think that he just gets people focused on buying into the team, like he says, and everyone’s worried about winning,” Malone said. “If we win it’s been shown that good things will happen for everyone, so trusting in that is really how it works.” Even more than with that title team, the 2014-15 Wildcats are proof of how well Coach Cal’s approach can work. Nine McDonald’s All-Americans, Willie Cauley-Stein and in-state high-school stars Derek Willis and Dominique Hawkins have put team above self and reaped the rewards beginning with a preseason island trip.”I think it started in the Bahamas, but we’re at the point where I think we know what we’re doing is working really well, so why would we change anything,” Malone said. “You know what I mean? Just keep trusting each other. There’s no reason to do anything we haven’t been doing and I think that’s really been working out great for us.” None of the three seniors have had a regular in-game role this season or in any prior year, but don’t tell them or their teammates they haven’t been a part of it all.”Coming in and seeing the results and seeing all these people succeed after they leave here,” Long said. “Just being part of it and seeing everyone succeed has been the best part for me.”For Lanter, that’s been extra special.The Lexington, Ky., native is the son of former UK player Bo Lanter and a lifelong Kentucky fan. He started his college career at Gulf Coast State Community College, but elected to transfer home and take a shot at becoming a Wildcat. His gamble paid off.”I’ve grown up around this program,” Lanter said. I’ve seen its ups and downs. I’ve seen the ins and outs of it through–I’ve had a little bit of insight with my dad being here, stories and things, and I’ve had personal relationships with past players. So I’ve gotten a little bit more of an insight than most typical fans have.But even Lanter has had moments when he forgets he’s in a place he always dreamed of being. It’s then that he gives himself a little dose of perspective.”You get caught up in the ups and downs of a season and the ins and outs of practice and things and you sometimes lose track of where you actually are and what you’re getting to go through and how many people would kill to be able to be in this position,” Lanter said. “I try to take the time to take it all in.”He’ll be doing plenty of that on Saturday when he participates in Senior Day activities. Lanter has long dreamed of walking through that hoop with his picture on it and standing alongside his family for the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home.””Now I’m going to have to be a part of it and I’m sure it’ll be tough, but at the same time it’s part of the process and I’m thankful to be there,” Lanter said.The question then becomes whether the three will get the start against Florida. Malone showed his usual humor in answering that question.”Unless 12 other people get a crippling flu, I don’t think we’re going to start,” Malone said. “But we’ll see what happens.”