Blue Tinted Point of View

It is so easy to forget how young this team is. We are just one year removed from an embarrassing trip to the NIT. We find ourselves in the Top 5 in the country despite losing our leading scorer Jodie Meeks and replacing him with a bunch of Freshman. I am sure many have already started to expect more than this team is ready to produce. The talent is there for a special season, but keep in mind we are dangerously close to being a .500 team right now. The team, as well as the fans, need to realize how much improvement is needed for this team to become championship quality.

I am on record as saying that I reserve judgment on this team until New Years. There have been several areas of improvement that have become evident in the early going that will have to be addressed for this team to reach its potential. The main issue I see moving forward is how we are able to deal with intelligent and patient teams that can make outside shots. Stanford and Miami Ohio both filled that description, as both nearly knocked off the Cats with inferior talent. How we can deal with teams like this come March will go a long way in determining our fate.

I am not sure that the faults of this team can be cured with anything more than time. They are mistakes of inexperience that should be expected from a team as young as ours. A lot of the mistakes will only be cured through trial by fire. We are going to have to learn as we go. Time is really the only thing that can keep this team from being special. If this team had a year to grow together, they could become one of the ALL Time great teams. That isn't reality with the lure of millions of dollars awaiting in the NBA draft for Wall and Patterson.

We are left to enjoy whatever it is that this team can put together for this season. As Calipari put it, we should strive for perfection, and accept excellence. There are just too many new battles and adversity for this team to face between now and March for perfection to be realistic. They will leave us scratching our heads at times, and singing their praises at others. I am just glad that we matter again. Be thankful for John Wall. He is the best player in the country. Every game we see him is a chance to see something unforgettable and unique to John. My advice is to sit back and enjoy the ride and try to keep in mind how hopeless you were at that age.