How Does Kentucky Do It?

(Indianapolis, IN) – They keep falling behind, taking the lead, coughing it and winning the game. How does Kentucky do it? This group of individual stars has come together in such an incredible way that they may just win the national championship.

This time it was Aaron Harrison hitting a three pointer with 2.6 seconds left after Marcus Lee came to the rescue in the first half. 75 to 72 was the final. The Wildcats have won their NCAA Tournament games by seven, two, five and three points and in each game they looked like they were in trouble early and often.

Somehow John Calipari’s team fights through adversity and finds a way to win.

Is it the Kentucky mistiqe? Is it unbelievable talent? Is it Calipari’s coaching? UK is heading to its 16^th Final Four and their third with Calipari at the helm.

For a four game stretch, Aaron Harrison has been lethal from beyond the line. He was making those shots at a .324 clip prior to the Big Dance. During Mark Emmert’s tournament he’s gone 13 for 23 including a dagger with 39 seconds left in the Louisville ‘Sweet Sixteen’ game.

Coach Calipari said that Harrison has learned to take the big shot, because he’s not afraid to miss.

 

Lee scored 45 points all season and none in the NCAA tournament. He came off the bench in this one due to the ankle injury to Willie Cauley-Stein. Lee scored 10 points (all in the first half) and grabbed eight rebounds. Four of his five field goals were put back dunks.

Kentucky hasn’t defended well. Three of the four teams shot better that 49 %, but the Cats do rebound. They have been out rebounding teams all year, and during this journey they have gathered 28 more rebounds than their opponents. In this game they grabbed 17 offensive rebounds including Lee’s seven.

Earlier this week, Coach Cal proved prophetic when he told Lee he would be a national story before the tournament was over.

 

Night after night they get four and five players scoring in double figures. They have become a team in all of the best ways. Julius Randle has learned to pass along with his nightly double-doubles. Teammates have learned to prefer one another and dig deep in tough times.

Yes, Kentucky has won more games than any other program in college basketball history and yes they’ve won more NCAA tournament games than any other, but this is not a ‘program win’, it is a Calipari win. This team has taken on his bravado, his willingness to compete, his swagger.

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