Andy Katz of ESPN.com wrote an interesting column after the Florida game, saying that Kentucky is simply too talented to fail.
For all the things that went wrong Tuesday night — giving up a double-digit lead, John Wall struggling from the floor, DeMarcus Cousins’ four fouls — UK won again.
And really, Tuesday was just a microcosm of the season. How many times this year have the Cats made mistakes only to pull through and win? If you listen to head coach John Calipari, they should be 10-7 with how they’ve played. Yet, because of supreme talent, they’re undefeated and a clear favorite to compete for the national championship.
Sure, a mistake or two might come back to haunt the Cats with a loss or two as the season progresses, Katz writes, but it’s clear at the halfway mark that UK is here to stay.
Here is more from Katz’s story:
There is something special going on here that everyone needs to notice. It’s pretty clear UK has moved to another level. There is a separation now, with Kentucky, Kansas and Texas as the three favorites to win the national title. It’s not an exclusive group and there are no guarantees, but it’s clear the Wildcats are talented enough, poised enough and even mature enough to be a real contender. Sure, the group can expand beyond these three teams, but we may not know the others in this class until March.
Look, talent wins — and Kentucky simply has more than most. The speed, the size and the ability to make plays … it was all on display here in Gainesville. Kentucky will lose somewhere — maybe more than once in the regular season — but that won’t mean the Wildcats can’t win the title.
So I ask, are the Cats too talented to fail this year? You be the judge.
