Kentucky Stepped Up When Least Expected

Originally posted on KY Insider | By Phoenix Stevens | Last updated 2/20/24

Well, well, well… how the turn tables.

Just when Kentucky was expected to get humiliated on national television, they sneak up and beat Auburn in The Jungle. The Tigers hadn’t lost at home all season leading up to the game, but John Calipari and company did not care. Additionally, every bookie and analyst (and a majority of the fanbase) had no faith in Kentucky. No one described it better than Kentucky’s own Ugonna Onyenso.

Ugonna Onyenso says Kentucky's ceiling depends on themselves, citing the Auburn win as an example.

"No one believed we were going to win. We came in with nothing to lose. We told ourselves if we really want this, we can get it. It all depends on ourselves. The coaches can talk… pic.twitter.com/HnZ4KT6ISC
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) February 18, 2024

“No one believed we were going to win,” the sophomore big man said. “We came in with nothing to lose. We told ourselves if we really want this, we can get it.”

And get it they did.

Heck, even Calipari didn’t know for certain if Kentucky would pull this one out. However, he was confident and he believed in each and every one of his guys. As he puts it, “I like my team.”

"You ready for this? I like my team." – @UKCoachCalipari pic.twitter.com/yrRLI2LepG
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 18, 2024

You know who didn’t like Kentucky coming into this game though? ESPN College Gameday analyst and former Duke guard Jay Williams. He even compared the ‘Cats to the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, implying that Kentucky is overhyped and can’t win when it matters.

Jay Williams just called the Kentucky Wildcats the “Dallas Cowboys of college basketball”x

“Every year we’re going to hype them up because they have all the draft picks. Every year we’re going to talk about Cal. Cal is one of the best to do it. But is he on the same level of…
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) February 17, 2024

Welp, turns out that Kentucky got the win anyway. What a shame. Cue the vintage Cal clip.