We praised Nerlens Noel's hustle on all plays, and we love Willie Cauley-Stein's energy throughout the game. But one thing overlooked in this up-and-down season is that John Calipari never gave up. He never stopped trying new tactics to get players to give their all, he never stopped adjusting lineups, especially after Noel's injury, and he never stopped coaching.
Before leaving for Nashville, Calipari said, “I'm going to do everything to try to get the team across the finish line. As a coach, you're doing everything that in your heart of hearts, in your bones, you know you normally wouldn't do… or wouldn't even consider to try to get your team across the finish line.” This team pushed Coach Cal out of his comfort zone, and instead of giving up after a few failed attempts, he's kept on coaching.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.