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UK Basketball: Cats seek big prize
By Keith Taylor/Sun Sports Editor
March 10, 2010

Kentucky coach John Calipari wouldn’t mind winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament this weekend.

“If you’re going to be in a tournament, you want to win it,” Calipari said Tuesday.

In the larger picture, Calipari knows the NCAA Tournament is a big deal and would like to set sights on the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Calipari said the league tournament — win or lose — will serve as a stepping stone for his team.

“We’ve got to get ourselves prepared for that next weekend and that’s what we’ll do,” he said. “Basically everything we do is based on how and where we finish the season. We’re trying to get ready and right physically and emotionally, and in every way so we can go in and do our very best. If you are your best and you do not win, then you can deal with it, as long as you’re your best. I want fresh legs. I want fresh minds. I want a competitive spirit. I want the players to expect to win so that when things get a little crazy, it’s OK.”

Kentucky freshman DeMarcus Cousins, named the SEC Freshman of the Year Tuesday, said winning the tournament would be a big accomplishment, but has his sights set on a bigger prize.

“It’s a big goal,” he said. “We want to win every game from here on out. We want the trophy. That’s been our main focus from the beginning.”

Kentucky guard John Wall, named SEC Player of the Year Tuesday, said the Cats are ready for the challenge that awaits in the one-and-done environment.

“It will be tough because we have a lot of freshmen that have never played in a conference tournament or an NCAA tournament,” he said. “If we get down on ourselves and get frustrated, we’ve got to stay together. It won’t be our offense or defense that will cause us to lose a game, it will be ourselves. We can’t stop trusting each other and we can’t try to go one-on-one.”

Calipari isn’t changing his routine as the second-ranked Wildcats (29-2) prepare for the postseason. Kentucky, which received a bye for the 16th time since the league expanded, will take on the winner of the South Carolina-Alabama game at 1 p.m. Friday in Nashville.

“We prepare for every team like we always do. I want them comfortable. I don’t want them to feel like this is different. It’s exactly the same. You’re playing a bunch of weekend tournaments. The problem with this one is there’s no day in between. If you win, you’re playing. If you win, you’re playing, and it’s hard.”

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