HERE WE COME: Anthony Davis and the Kentucky Wildcats will look to continue tearing through the NCAA tournament in New Orleans, starting with state rival Louisville on Saturday in the Final Four. (
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For exactly one minute and 12 seconds of game time, Kansas, Louisville and Ohio State could dream about winning the Kentucky Invitational this weekend in New Orleans.
When Kentucky center Anthony Davis, a giant condor of a center with a jump shot, crashed to the floor in the Georgia Dome with 18:38 left in the first half of yesterday’s South Regional title game and clutched his left knee, the Jayhawks, Cardinals and Buckeyes could imagine cutting down the nets.
But after a short visit to the bench, Davis, who had bumped knees with Baylor’s Percy Jones III, returned to the game. The Kentucky fans roared their approval. The fans in Kansas, Louisville and Ohio wondered who would come in second.
“This team is better than I thought,” said Baylor coach Scott Drew. “This is the best team we faced all year … probably in a couple of years.”
VIDEO: COACH, PLAYER REACTIONS
Davis, who finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots, is the player who transforms Kentucky from a great team to possibly one of the greatest teams of all time.
Based on the way the Wildcats tore through the SEC regular season and South Region, there doesn’t appear to be a team capable of beating this group. They are as confident as they are talented.
“We go out and play harder than the other team,’’ said guard Doron Lamb. “We want to make sure they know they can’t beat us.’’
Can the Charlotte Bobcats (7-39) beat the Wildcats (36-2)?
It wouldn’t have mattered if Baylor wore its fluorescent uniforms yesterday. Even if the Bears had the officiating crew that worked Ohio State’s win over Syracuse, they wouldn’t have had a chance.
There are at least five NBA first-round draft choices on this Kentucky team, which seems driven to get coach John Calipari his first NCAA title.
There is no glaring weakness on this Kentucky team. The horrid free-throw shooting that finally caught up to Calipari’s 2009 Memphis team does not plague these Wildcats, who shoot 73 percent from the line.
They have enough depth. They have more than enough offense. They are tough. And the tournament has set up perfectly for them.
Indiana, the team they demolished 102-90 in the South Region semis, had edged Kentucky 73-72 earlier this year. Louisville, which took the Wildcats to the wire in a 69-62 road loss, is playing much better than it was back on Dec. 31.
The two will meet again Saturday night in a game that guarantees the entire population of the state of Kentucky will call in sick.
“There’s so much petty jealousies,’’ said Louisville coach Rick Pitino. “When I was at Kentucky we would never get jealous of Louisville in any way possible. We were just appreciative of being in Kentucky.’’
“But I don’t get into these petty things, Kentucky/Louisville,’’ added Pitino. “To me it’s nonsense. I never got into the Mets/Red Sox or Yankees/Red Sox. I just appreciated being a Yankee fan. And I appreciate the excellence.’’
Calipari did not cut down the nets yesterday. He let his players take care of that tradition.
“This is their team,’’ he said. “I’m here just helping them. It’s not about me.’’
It is. It is about Calipari, who led two programs to the Final Four (UMass and Memphis), that were stripped of those finishes by the NCAA. It is about him winning his first title.
It’s about Kentucky-Louisville, rivalry of white-hot proportions.
“Like my kids say, I’m going to enjoy this,’’ said Calipari. “I’m not worried about who we’re playing. I’m just happy we’re still playing.’’
The Wildcats aren’t playing; they’re toying with the rest of the field. It is their tournament to lose.