I’ll be honest, it’s hard to write right now. For starters, there is nothing going on today, what what the Florida beatdown being tomorrow, and after yesterday’s storms ravaged several towns, I’m just kind of “blah” about the whole thing. My heart goes out to those who have lost homes and loved ones, and seeing the damage makes me feel guilty for being alive and having my home and family intact. My hometown wasn’t as lucky, as parts of northern Laurel County are destroyed. Count your blessings, folks. We don’t know how good we have it.
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So how about this: I’m just going to make up random compliments about this Kentucky team. There’s not much left to say; this team has received about every kind word that can be said about a dominant force.
They’ve turned away teams like ESPN turns away tasteful headlines about Asian-American athletes.
They’ve blocked more shots than the fat friend of the hot chick you wanted to hook up with at the bar in college. Instead of a Flaming Lemon Drop, it’s nothing but tonic water if you’re playing Kentucky.
They’ve laid waste to more college kids than an exam on the first day back from Spring Break.
They’re good. Really good. And it’s going to take a combination of several different things to knock this team out of the tournament.
It would take at least 3 starters getting in foul trouble. They can afford to lose 2 starters, because Darius Miller and Kyle Wiltjer would be starting anywhere else, rather than coming off the bench. But losing a third starter means they’re going with Eloy Vargas, which means there’s more of a drop-off in ability and experience. Even then, Eloy brings a big, physical presence.
It would take a team figuring out Kentucky’s defense. Indiana hit threes like a team on a mission, and still barely won. North Carolina and Mississippi State also hit several threes, and didn’t come out so lucky.
Honestly, I’m not sure outside shooting alone will do the trick. I think it’s a combination of outside shooting, offensive rebounding, and an effective zone defense. But then, if Kentucky shoots like they did against Georgia Thursday night, it doesn’t matter what happens, because at that point, they are unbeatable.
Really, for now all we can do is expect them to beat Florida by 8-12 points tomorrow, and see how the SEC tournament goes. I’m not putting them down as a lock to win the tournament just yet, although they should win it easily. Like anything, it depends on matchups. Vanderbilt matches up against Kentucky better than anyone, but Vanderbilt also sucks in the postseason. Still, if they cross paths in New Orleans, don’t overlook them.
Unless that combination of ingredients is mixed with Kentucky having a horrible night, this Big Blue Train is going to keep chugging along, collecting overwhelmed opponents in its cow-catcher, discarding them to the side like the wretched refuse they are. And when it gets to the station, there will be a big banner saying “2012 NCAA Champions”, and there will be a crowd gathered the likes of which the railroad has never seen, and Darius Miller will emerge, wearing his conductor’s hat, and he’ll do the arm-pull motion that little kids do when they want a semi to blow the air horn on the interstate, and when he does, the Big Blue Train will let out a monstrous, ear-piercing whistle, and the whistle will scream until the ears of the vanquished are bleeding, and once the whistle finally stops blowing, the passengers will climb aboard, riding the Big Blue Train off into the sunset, on the way to the land of hopes, dreams, and eight national titles.
All aboard.
