Kentucky

Watched the Kentucky show last night. Came away impressed. Gonna be tough to beat with all those guys. There are some problems though. John Calipari has a hard job man. Doesn't look hard, but it is. Cause those players are ego freaking maniacs who just fly off the handle without a second's notice. They are so competitive and immature (and insane and unstable), all trying to be the alpha dog and do their best for themselves and their teammates. They have to prove themselves every second of every possession or else they are going to be left out of the mix. The culture there is the biggest and most productive alpha dog gets to play. Everybody else doesn't. And that sometimes becomes counterproductive. Some days it can be very tough to police. It's interesting.

You look at Marquis Teague last night against Kansas. He was a disaster. He couldn't go by anyone. He couldn't defend anyone. He threw the ball all over the court. He missed free throws. Yet he's so into the game and his teammates, that the second he hits a three he's taunting and screaming at Kansas guys, he's doing the "goosey" hand over the eye move. It's crazy. Terrance Jones too. Guys coming a long like a freight train. He looks bigger and more disciplined. He punked Thomas Robinson last night. He should have been focused on that and that alone. But he gets so excited, that every bucket, he's flexing and looking into the crowd. Every chance he has he's trying to show people how tough he is. It's just stupid. The only times he ever showed any maturity was when he was guarding Thomas Robinson 1 on 1 in the post. He did a good job for the most part. But if you're scout looking at his play last night, you're drooling but also still mystified by his unbalanced temperment.

The one thing Cal has going for him is that Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are professional business men. They go out there and play well. Mouths shut. They do what the coaches tell them to do for the most part. They don't get too high or low. They are quietly productive and can play without the ball. And they are incredible ball players which always helps. Anthony Davis is very efficient and has a Kevin Durant like ceiling. Gilchrist is an intense athlete who cares about winning. It's just a question of whether they're professionalism, along with the coaching staff can override the psychotic nature of Teague, Doron Lamb and T Jones.

They will be tough to beat as they continue to grow and mature. Just a question of whether they can mature quickly enough. And Kyle Wilter, a prominent versatile recruit might have picked the wrong spot. Doesn't fit right now. Hopefully they can find a role for him in the second half of the season and postseason.