All Wildcat teams have their share of likeable players. But I really feel there is something special about the character, the maturity, the poise and the chemistry I've seen in these guys.
Mintz is a good example, a guy who I feel truly wants a chance to experience real Kentucky Basketball. I think that is true of Grady and Wheeler as well. What I've heard from all of them makes me confident they have the Right Stuff.
Toppin strikes me as a remarkably mature young man, willing to pay the price as he seeks to emulate his older brother. Brooks, despite what some feel about him voicing his rights to free expression, strikes me as a solid young man.
Then you've got a guy like Oscar. I may be one of the few Kentucky fans who have been to Kinshasa, Goma and some of the other places he talks about in his native Congo. Just getting from there to Lexington says much about his character.
The freshmen strike me as terrific young kids. No superstars, just some talented 5-star players who want to prove themselves.
Allen and Fredrick are kids who understand Kentucky basketball in the "deep in the heart" way that only natives can. I'm glad they are on the team. And Ware seems like a guy willing to work to get his chance.
In a way, this team reminds me in terms of what seems to be its character of some of the Tubby teams I really liked -- the Turner-Sheppard-Padgett-Evans teams, and the Fitch-Daniels-Bogans-Hayes teams to cite a couple.
We'll see how it plays out. Maybe I'll be proven wrong when the stresses of the season arrive. But for now this appears to be a bunch that'll be easy to root for.
Mintz is a good example, a guy who I feel truly wants a chance to experience real Kentucky Basketball. I think that is true of Grady and Wheeler as well. What I've heard from all of them makes me confident they have the Right Stuff.
Toppin strikes me as a remarkably mature young man, willing to pay the price as he seeks to emulate his older brother. Brooks, despite what some feel about him voicing his rights to free expression, strikes me as a solid young man.
Then you've got a guy like Oscar. I may be one of the few Kentucky fans who have been to Kinshasa, Goma and some of the other places he talks about in his native Congo. Just getting from there to Lexington says much about his character.
The freshmen strike me as terrific young kids. No superstars, just some talented 5-star players who want to prove themselves.
Allen and Fredrick are kids who understand Kentucky basketball in the "deep in the heart" way that only natives can. I'm glad they are on the team. And Ware seems like a guy willing to work to get his chance.
In a way, this team reminds me in terms of what seems to be its character of some of the Tubby teams I really liked -- the Turner-Sheppard-Padgett-Evans teams, and the Fitch-Daniels-Bogans-Hayes teams to cite a couple.
We'll see how it plays out. Maybe I'll be proven wrong when the stresses of the season arrive. But for now this appears to be a bunch that'll be easy to root for.
