Kentucky has been a sleeping giant for a few years now. Since the double overtime loss to Michigan State in the 2005 regional finals, Kentucky has only been a ghost of the once proud program that dominated the Southeastern Conference, and at times, all of College Basketball in the 1990's. Tubby Smith's tenure had its ups and downs after the 1998 national championship, but his final two seasons were painful to watch. After he resigned and retreated to the less stressful confines of Minnesota basketball, Billy Clyde Gillispie was brought in to rebuild Kentucky basketball to it's former glory; but, we all know how that went.
Enters John Calipari, the coach that took both UMass and Memphis from the cellar of their mid-major conferences to #1 national rankings and Final Four appearances. However, there's a cloud of doubt hanging over the coach due to past infractions handed down from the NCAA. Forget the fact that the Coach has never been linked to either of the infractions, they happened under his watch, and the naysayers won't let anyone forget it. Because of this, Cal most likely has something to prove once and for all... win and win big at Kentucky, and without even the faintest hint of a gray area.
Yes, the sleeping giant is stirring, and it's best not to make him angry. However, it might be too late... and if it is, the SEC, as well as the rest of the College Basketball universe, had better watch out.
For more thoughts on this notion of an angry and determined Kentucky basketball program, read this article by the excellent Larry Vaught.
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