By Annie Dunbar, CoachCal.comARLINGTON, Texas — The Kentucky Wildcats have accomplished something many basketball players can only dream of — getting to play for a national title on the big stage — but the reality of the fantasy is that what’s transpired over the last few weeks isn’t just made up of the unforgettable moments everyone has watched on TV.This run has included many long nights, grueling turnarounds and just an all-out grind. The latest was the postgame celebration and media responsibilities of Saturday night’s win over Wisconsin that quickly turned into more press conferences and practice on Sunday.We’re talking less than 48 hours to physically and mentally prepare from the final buzzer after the Final Four showdown to when the final two teams tip off in the title game. What makes it especially tough on both the coaches and the players is the struggle to sleep with all excitement and shock of what just happened, not to mention the impossible inability to look ahead at what Monday holds in store.”If I really told you how late I went to bed, Coach would probably kill me,” Julius Randle said about Saturday night after the Wildcats’ 74-73 Final Four win over Wisconsin to advance to the title game.But Randle wasn’t the only one who had trouble sleeping. Aaron Harrison said he maybe got five hours of sleep after the Wisconsin game and Coach Cal didn’t get much shut eye either. Calipari originally decided to sleep and look at game tape in the morning but quickly changed his mind once he thought about the hard work his players have put in all season.”These guys are fighting so hard for me, I’m not going to do that,” Calipari said about watching game tape. “I’m going to do the tape now. So I was up until about 3:30 (a.m.) and got up about 7 o’clock this morning.”Calipari may have only gotten a couple hours of sleep, but that was enough for him given the prize that awaits Monday’s winner.”We’re working on fumes now,” said Calipari, who is also operating on a bad hip. “It’s not like we’re not tired, but your adrenaline gets you through all this.”The only player who seemed to get plenty of sleep after the latest thriller was James Young, who can apparently sleep a lot.”I kind of sleep through everything,” Young said laughing. “I just love sleeping.”Aside from the outlier, Randle believes that once teams are this deep into the tournament, everyone is fueled by the exhilaration of winning the game.”When you’re winning … that’s what gives you energy,” Randle said. “Last night I couldn’t sleep, just excited about what all is happening. It’s kind of hard after everything that happened last night to get in bed and go to sleep. It’s definitely a grind. But I’d rather be in this grind than be at home.”To bring you more expansive coverage, CoachCal.com and Cat Scratches
will be joining forces for the postseason. You can read the same great
stories you are accustomed to from both sites at CoachCal.com and
UKathletics.com/blog, but now you’ll enjoy even more coverage than
normal.