A year can make all the difference in the world of collegiate basketball. There are two programs this year that are the difference between night and day from their play in the 2008-2009 season and that is our very own Kentucky Wildcats and one of our rivals the North Carolina Tar Heels. Let’s take a look at what difference a season has made for both of these programs.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
First we’ll look briefly at the North Carolina Tar Heels. We’ll make it brief for the obvious reason; this is Nation of Blue, not Nation of Light Blue. Through February 28, 2009 the Tar Heels were 25-3 (11-3) on the season and just finished a 30 point win over Georgia Tech. To end the season, the 4th ranked Tar Heels lost to Florida St. in the ACC tournament but were crowned the NCAA champs with a win over Michigan State. Today, the Tar Heels are 15-14 (4-10) and will probably make the N.I.T. due to their name only (sound familiar?).
That is eerily similar to the Kentucky Wildcats in 2008-2009 under the adolescent tutelage of Coach Billy Gillispie. At the end of February 2009, UK was sitting at 19-10 (8-6) and still had a glimmer of hope for a season that would lead to the NCAA. The Wildcats however lost 3 of the next 4 games, including 2 regular season games and a second round loss in the SEC tournament. With a season that ended so poorly, the Wildcats probably made the N.I.T. solely on their tradition.
Although the Wildcats are coming off a loss yesterday to Tennessee, look at the difference a year has made at Kentucky. Coach Calipari has the Wildcats at 27-2 (12-2) at the end of February compared to the 19-10 (8-6) record this time last season. An 8 game difference is huge, just ask Roy Williams. ESPN is still hating on Kentucky but we are back in the national media for our super stars and our fantastic play, not because we are losing.
We’ve lost 2 games but with hard work and laser focus we can complete the NOB quest for “Very Similar Differences”. North Carolina has done their part, we just have to do ours. GO BIG BLUE! :uk:
