Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports says after yesterday’s loss to Vanderbilt, Kentucky doesn’t deserve a spot in the NCAA Tournament and should decline an invite to the NIT.
Why should they decline the invite to the NIT?
Because everyone is tired of watching this Kentucky team.
However, now this team doesn’t deserve a spot in the field — even in this year of the sup-bar bubble. Sure, there were a couple wins against Mizzou and Florida, but this team is just .500 without Noel in the lineup — and was barely a bubble team with their star freshman big man. Florida and Missouri are the lone lock NCAA tournament teams that UK has taken care of this season.
This team really hasn’t progressed this season. For every step forward, there’s been a step back. Ryan Harrow remains a mediocre (at best) floor leader, Alex Poythress is soft and erratic and Archie Goodwin hasn’t displayed the feel or toughness to be a go-to guy. Willie Cauley-Stein is big, strong and athletic, but he’s also raw and a year or so away from being a star.
Honestly, no one wants to watch this Kentucky team anymore. It’s painful for BBN and Calipari. Let’s end the agony, and send these guys to the irrelevant tourney, the NIT. If I were Calipari, I’d decline the invite and end this season with some semblence of dignity rather than, say, losing to Stony Brook in the NIT.
Personally, I think Goodman hit the nail on the head.
Now I need to go wash my hands.
