For all the naysayers and critics who say Kentucky can't turn its season around and make a run in the NCAA Tournament, Willie Cauley-Stein wants to thank you. You serve as motivation.
“Lot of the talk is we're too young and we can't do it,” Cauley-Stein said. “Anytime someone says you can't do something it gives you extra motivation to go out and do it.”
In that regard, the Wildcats' us-against-the-world mentality could have traction when eighth-seeded Kentucky (24-10) meets the ninth-seeded Kansas State Wildcats (20-12) on Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament for both teams.
But when Cauley-Stein told reporters on Thursday that his expectation for the postseason is to “shock the world,” well, that raised a few eyebrows. After all, this is the same team that was ranked No. 1 in the preseason and boasts seven McDonald's All-Americans.
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.
On This Day In UK Basketball History
- On March 19, 1966, Pat Riley joined the 1,000-point club. He did it in 54 games.
- On March 19, 1966, in one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, top-ranked UK, featuring “Rupp’s Runts,” loses in the NCAA Championship game, 72-65, to Texas Western.
- On March 19, 1989, in the wake of an NCAA investigation, Eddie Sutton resigns as UK basketball coach.