The Final Stretch

Guarded optimism. That's what I ave after witnessing the Cats totally demolish the Gamecocks yesterday at home. UK came out with an intensity on defense and offense that hasn't been seen since the Tennessee game. Darius Miller is the talk of the Blue Grass State today with his impressive 22 point and 6 three pointer performance. I think Rick Stansbury may have done what John Calipari and the rest of the Big Blue Nation hasn't been able to do and that is motivate Miller. If Miller continues giving this team double digit points and good shooting games, watch out.

But let's not get too caught up in this jubilation. A 90-59 win is impressive and it is a big deal but South Carolina has lost 5 in a row and has fallen off the map. What the Cats did yesterday is what they were expected to do. Kentucky still needs to prove that they have the goods to compete in a close guy in a tough environment other than Rupp Arena.

The first test will be at Arkansas. Normally I wouldn't count this game at all but due to the road woes the Cats have been going through lately I haven't counted it out at all. I could have lived with the loss at Vanderbilt but the losses at Alabama and Ole Miss were too much to handle and they look bad. UK needs to win at Arkansas. By a lot.

A double digit win away against a decidedly inferior opponent will do a lot to dispel any road negativity this team has. Confidence will be gained and the swagger they have after last night will carry over to the final two home games against Florida and Vandy. Two games I see the Cats winning.

And then comes the big test. Can this team beat a Tennessee team that will likely be playing for their very tournament lives in the last game of the season? By that time the Cats will likely be a lock for the NCAA's and will be gearing up for the SEC tournament. But if they beat a scrappy team that is backed into the corner at their place, then I will believe that upside that John Calipari keeps telling us all about.

Will they go 5-0 down the stretch towards the conference tournament? I don't know. But after yesterday's performance, I'd like to say that I'm optimistic.