Is Kentucky’s freshman class ready to shine with all the hype surrounding them? Jason King of ESPN thinks so.
The Wildcats, after all, are dealing with unprecedented expectations as they prepare to open their season with Big Blue Madness tonight at Rupp Arena. Seven months removed from last season’s loss to Robert Morris in the NIT, Kentucky has been tabbed as the nation’s No. 1-ranked team by virtually every preseason publications thanks to the addition of six McDonald’s All Americans.
Kentucky’s freshmen are a talented bunch. Now, they step into the spotlight.
UK’s recruiting class is already being compared to Michigan’s “Fab Five,” and as many as five Kentucky players have been projected as first-rounders in this summer’s NBA draft. That includes Randle and James Young, both of whom have a chance to be the No. 1 overall pick, according to Calipari.“I think on this team we’ll have seven guys get 25 [points] or more in at least one game, maybe two,” Calipari said. “They have that much ability.”
Such comments only fuel the hype surrounding this year’s squad — and so does talk of a 40-0 season. It’s a feat no men’s team has accomplished since 1975-76, when Indiana went 32-0 under Bob Knight. Calipari, though, doesn’t shy away from the topic.
“I’ve said, ‘Before I retire, I’d like to coach an undefeated team,'” Calipari said. “I know people are like, ‘It’s impossible. You can’t do it. It’ll never be done. That’s nuts. Not in this day and age.’
“I’ve heard it all and I’ll still stick with it. Before I retire, I’d like to coach an undefeated basketball team. I think it’d be neat.”
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