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The Daily OrangeNational | Kentucky wins 10 of last 12 in case for NCAA Tournament
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 3/6/08, 1:06 AM EST Section: Sports
But the season doesn't end after non-conference play. Kentucky started SEC play with an impressive, 79-73, victory over then-No. 13 Vanderbilt before dropping its next two games. The team now sits at 11-4 in conference, only losing to Vanderbilt and then-No. 1 Tennessee since the two-game skid.
"Basketball is not how you start, it's how you finish," Bradley said. "We've been playing pretty good toward the end and making a strong push, and that's when you need to be gain steam, going into the post-season and that's what we've been doing. Hopefully we can make a showing right now."
Bradley credits the team's improved play to Gillispie, who was named the head coach after Tubby Smith left for Minnesota. Gillispie had previously coached at Texas A&M, leading it to last year's Sweet 16.
Bradley said the team adopted its coach's mentality including his toughness and will to compete on every single possession. He said Gillispie wants the team to play smart basketball and the team has really taken on its coach's mentality and is playing like the coach wants them to play every game.
Gillispie said the team becoming healthier was a factor, pointing to the return of sophomore guard Derrick Jasper as helpful. The team is 11-5 with him back.
"Derrick Jasper has made such a difference for our team," Gillispie said. "He means so much to us offensively, defensively, just gives us another body. … I knew that we could improve greatly once Derek had been able to get out there."
The Wildcats, though, are still not at 100 percent as the team is without sophomore guard Jodie Meeks and recently lost freshman sensation Patrick Patterson to a stress fracture in his ankle.
Through all the injuries and turmoil of the season, Kentucky has put itself in a situation for a possible at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament, something that seemed distant at the beginning of the season.
Ten conference wins is usually a good indicator of a team making the post-season, but Syracuse showed last year that it's not always the case.
"Basketball is not how you start, it's how you finish," Bradley said. "We've been playing pretty good toward the end and making a strong push, and that's when you need to be gain steam, going into the post-season and that's what we've been doing. Hopefully we can make a showing right now."
Bradley credits the team's improved play to Gillispie, who was named the head coach after Tubby Smith left for Minnesota. Gillispie had previously coached at Texas A&M, leading it to last year's Sweet 16.
Bradley said the team adopted its coach's mentality including his toughness and will to compete on every single possession. He said Gillispie wants the team to play smart basketball and the team has really taken on its coach's mentality and is playing like the coach wants them to play every game.
Gillispie said the team becoming healthier was a factor, pointing to the return of sophomore guard Derrick Jasper as helpful. The team is 11-5 with him back.
"Derrick Jasper has made such a difference for our team," Gillispie said. "He means so much to us offensively, defensively, just gives us another body. … I knew that we could improve greatly once Derek had been able to get out there."
The Wildcats, though, are still not at 100 percent as the team is without sophomore guard Jodie Meeks and recently lost freshman sensation Patrick Patterson to a stress fracture in his ankle.
Through all the injuries and turmoil of the season, Kentucky has put itself in a situation for a possible at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament, something that seemed distant at the beginning of the season.
Ten conference wins is usually a good indicator of a team making the post-season, but Syracuse showed last year that it's not always the case.
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rooterdaddy
posted 3/06/08 @ 9:30 AM EST
The Cats are in. They sealed the deal last night in Columbia. They'll put the icing on the NCAA cake on Sunday when Billy D. comes to Lexington.
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