Kentucky is an awesome, historically-good college basketball team, and nobody may be higher on them than Rick Pitino.
Though Pitino coaches the rival Louisville Cardinals, he had plenty of praise for the Wildcats when speaking about them on Tuesday. He even cracked a great line saying that their toughest opponent is probably their reserve players.
“Kentucky can beat you so many different ways. Probably the best team they’ve played against is their second team,” Pitino wisecracked.
“There’s so many things at (John Calipari’s disposal). If the backcourt’s not playing well, he comes with a lottery pick and one of the premier freshman point guards in the nation. God forbid somebody doesn’t attempt to block a shot or offensive rebound, they’re coming out of the game and some other air craft carrier is coming in. So he’s got that luxury of being able to substitute based on effort and play.
“They have a great transition game. They pass and shoot it well. And then their third offense is their offensive rebounding.”
Pitino also talked about what it would take to beat the 34-0 Wildcats, who have been taken to overtime twice but have not lost yet.
“What’s it going to take to beat them and who can beat them? My own personal opinion: Wisconsin probably is the closest team because of their size and their shooting ability and style of play.”
Kentucky would face Wisconsin in a Final Four matchup if both teams make it that far.
Pitino then compared Kentucky to the 1985 Georgetown team that was upset by Villanova in the championship game.
“I think it’s going to take a Villanova performance to beat them, and Kentucky’s going to have to not play well.”
The Hoyas were loaded that year with several future NBA players, including Patrick Ewing, Reggie Williams and David Wingate, but they were beaten. Pitino believes it will take a perfect game to defeat Kentucky.
“They don’t have a weakness. Their post game is awesome. Their bench is awesome. They’re very well drilled at every fundamental. So it’s going to take a team that plays a perfect game to beat them.”
That’s exactly why I have picked them to win it all (yes, a real upset). You can see all of my picks here. I also don’t have Louisville going too far; they haven’t been the same since kicking Chris Jones off the team.
