Leading UK Hoops in its ascendance to among the best programs in women’s college basketball, Matthew Mitchell has coached some truly elite players.In recent seasons, Victoria Dunlap, A’dia Mathies and DeNesha Stallworth have been capable of carrying Kentucky to wins and they often have. Thanks in large part to them, Mitchell’s teams have made four Sweet 16 trips in five seasons.This year, UK’s roster looks a little different.”I think that we don’t have a real definite superstar that’s going to carry us,” Mitchell said.Based on that fact, Mitchell collaborated with his coaching and marketing staff to shape the theme for 2014-15. They settled on “Our Season,” and the meaning behind it is simple.UK might not have a superstar capable of taking over on any given night, but the Cats do have a collection of talent that can carry them to the same heights as in previous years. In fact, they believe they can sail even higher if they live out the mantra.”We’re really going to have to do it together,” Mitchell said. “The players are going to have to take great ownership in their team and really become a group.”Mitchell and the Cats took a first step toward doing that by participating in an exercise of self-reflection.”What can you really become?” Mitchell said. “What limitations does the team have? What limitations do I have as a coach? What can I do well as a coach? What can the team do well?”Through that exercise, Mitchell, his staff and players identified three superlatives the Cats need to work toward.First, Mitchell believes UK can be the most defensively disruptive team in the country. Based on his background coaching his “40 minutes of dread” style, his opinion has some weight.Next, Mitchell sees potential for Kentucky to be the fastest team in the country. Considering UK returns all but one major contributor from a dynamic backcourt of a season ago – including point guards Janee Thompson, Jennifer O’Neill and Makayla Epps, a trio that can even play together – that seems a possibility.Last, Mitchell wants his team to be the toughest group in the nation. With indefatigable senior guard Bria Goss leading the way, it would be unwise to discount the Cats on that front.”I believe those are all reachable goals for us,” Mitchell said. “Now, where does that land us? I don’t know.”The destination might be unclear, but the path is not. “I think that when you focus on those things, then your practice has to look like that every day,” Mitchell said. “You’ve got to have tough practices, you’ve got to have fast-paced practices, you have to spend the time to be disruptive on defense.”Even though Big Blue Madness – historically the first practice of the season – isn’t until Friday, the Cats have been at work since Oct. 5. What Mitchell is asking in demanding his team become the most disruptive, fastest and toughest in the game isn’t easy, but the Cats are responding to the challenge so far.”It’s real, real difficult to be your best,” Mitchell said. “It’s real difficult. Most people are just kind of getting by, and most people are just sort of existing and doing enough to get whatever done and is required. So, we’re trying to go above that. The thing that I continue to tell them is that we’re not asking you to do anything you can’t do. You’re capable.”Fitting right in so far is UK’s highly touted freshman class of guard Jaycee Coe and post players Alexis Jennings and Alyssa Rice. The same is true of gifted sophomores Epps, Linnae Harper and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers, though Goodin-Rogers fits in more with that freshman group since she sat out last season while recovering from a pulmonary embolism.”Last year’s freshmen to the sophomores this year are miles ahead of where they were,” Mitchell said. “The freshmen this year, from a work standpoint, are miles ahead of where the freshmen were last year. That young core that we have that we’re depending on, there have been some real signs of optimism.”When the freshmen face inevitable lapses, Goss will be there. She has been a consistent positive presence in topping the 1,000-point mark through her first three seasons at UK, but her leadership figures to be even more valuable now that she’s one of four seniors on the team.”She’s very vocal, very committed, great example of what we want our players to be from a character standpoint,” Mitchell said. “She’s really shooting the ball well, shooting the ball great right now. I think she’ll be a big key to us.”As important as Goss may be, UK’s success isn’t all about her or any single coach or player. The Cats are calling 2014-15 “Our Season” for good reason.”I just think that they have great, great promise and ability to be a great team,” Mitchell said. “But they’re going to have to do it together.”