The Final Stretch

The final stretch is here and March is just around the corner. Sitting at 21-5 and 2nd place in the Southeastern Conference, the Kentucky Wildcats have been nothing short of phenomenal. The Wildcats were on a roll, earning a 6-game win streak prior to the disappointing loss in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday. It seems that every time we lose, star freshman TyTy Washington has been compromised. Washington missed the vast majority of the game against the Volunteers after trying to play through a left leg injury picked up against Florida.

                               Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics

    Losing any game seems bad on the surface, but when you look at the long-lasting impact it has on a team, there are many more benefits than one would expect. Kentucky needed at least one more humbling loss before entering SEC tournament play. Kentucky forward Jacob Toppin said it best: “It’s a wake-up call and now we’re going to dial back in. We’re going to lock in and we’re going to go back to dominating the game how we can.”  Every team that hopes to make a deep run in March Madness needs a wake-up call, and this may have been the push these young Cats needed. 

                                            Photo by Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

    It is no secret that the centerpiece of this dominant team has been none other than National Player of the Year candidate, Oscar Tshiebwe. Tshiebwe has been outstanding, to say the least. Standing at just 6’9, the Congo native leads the entire country in rebounds per game, at 15.3. The West Virginia transfer also leads Kentucky in points per game, as he scores an average of 16.2 a night on an excellent 58% shooting. Not only is Oscar leading his team to success, but he has also won over the hearts of Kentucky fans everywhere. From his dominance on the court to his naturally joyful personality, it is impossible to dislike Kentucky’s superstar. “I wish there were a Person of the Year,” Sahvir Wheeler says, because Tshiebwe would win it without a doubt. Having a superstar player to lead the way is amazing, but Kentucky’s depth is where they can really hurt you. 

                                    USA Today Sports Images

    Kentucky has a trio coming off the bench that would start on most teams in the country. The sixth-year senior, Davion Mintz, leads the bench unit for the Wildcats. Mintz may have started off slow, but he has been on fire as of late, averaging 12 points over the last 5 contests. The next key player off the bench for this team is Jacob Toppin, the bouncy forward from Brooklyn. Toppin has emerged as an X-factor for this team as he always steps up when the team needs him most. Another man who has made a huge impact recently is the feisty, 6’9 big man, Lance Ware. When Tshiebwe is in foul trouble or needs a break, Ware brings the intensity and passion to keep the Cats moving. Rounding out Kentucky’s star-studded bench is former 5-star Daimion Collins, 4-star Bryce Hopkins, and beloved Kentucky native Dontaie Allen. 

                            Photo by Mark Humphrey

    Kentucky closes out the regular season in a tough way with games against 25th ranked Alabama, LSU, 23rd ranked Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Florida. Even though it may not be the most appealing 5-game stretch, there’s nothing this team can’t handle. With that being said, lock-in, because it’s almost time to fight for number 9.