ESPN Men's Basketball

WASHINGTON -- Kentucky coach John Calipari is going to mimic Duke's scheduling philosophy as much as he can over the next few years.

And the reason is that the team's constantly changing roster is filled with a handful of potential one-and-done players every season. That means the Wildcats can't be committed long-term to four-year true home-and-home series.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has had a history of playing neutral-site games against quality opponents. He usually plays games at NCAA tournament sites to gain some sort of familiarity for his team.

There have been the occasional true nonconference road games (at Georgetown), and the Blue Devils play an annual series with St. John's. But they have a large alumni base in New York City.

Duke has the power and influence to set up games against Oregon in Portland or Valparaiso in Chicago or Temple in Philadelphia (but not on the Owls' campus). And it never hesitates to play a game in New York's Madison Square Garden or at the Meadowlands. Don't be surprised to see Duke play in Brooklyn in the future, too.

Kentucky has done similar home-and-home series in which the return game is on a "neutral court."

Calipari wants the Wildcats to pursue scheduling opportunities that mimic the NCAA tournament.

The Indiana-Kentucky game in Assembly Hall in Bloomington was an epic finish last December. Those types of regular-season games are hard to duplicate. Put the same game in a neutral court/stadium, and there is the potential for a more sterile atmosphere.

But that's what Kentucky will pursue in the future.

The Wildcats get a true home-and-home series with rival Louisville every year. If the North Carolina series resumes in 2013-14, it's likely to return to a home-and-home setup. And Kentucky can't do anything about the newly adopted format of the Big East-SEC Challenge last year that calls for home-court games instead of neutral sites (UK is on the road next season).

But the rest of the games will now likely be headed for neutral courts if they're not played at Rupp Arena in Lexington. "The 25-year old model doesn't work for us anymore," Calipari said during Friday's NCAA title celebration White House tour.

"No one seems to be mad about the way Duke does it," Calipari said. "We've got a number of different things going on, and we'll get it done."

Kentucky will play Duke in the Champions Classic in November in Atlanta (Michigan State versus Kansas is the other game). The Wildcats are also playing Maryland in Brooklyn at the new Barclays Center in an exempted event (both teams will get a few home games against lesser competition as part of the deal). Calipari said his team will have to get a number of games to fill out the rest of the schedule.

Kentucky is looking to replace the Indiana and North Carolina games with neutral-site games or at least one home game. Indiana was due to go to Kentucky in 2012-13 had the series continued. The Wildcats would have been on the road at UNC if that series was played next season.

Calipari wanted to play Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis instead of a game at Rupp. Indiana wanted a home-and-home series. So the deal is off.

"Tommy [Crean, IU coach] [and I] are good; we talked," Calipari said. "We're not a traditional program. We can't have our games locked in for nine or 10 years. We don't know what our roster is going to look like. We have to go year-to-year.

"I told our people that we won't do anything more than a two-year contract because of that," Calipari said. "Our league is hard, too. We're trying to prepare for the NCAA tournament and that tournament is played in domes. Most people just play the home games and you win those, and then go on the road and you lose. But for this program, it's important to play in big football stadiums because that's where the NCAA plays the Elite Eight and Final Four. Our freshmen have to play in those kinds of buildings. We're a nontraditional program so it makes scheduling a little bit different for us."

Kentucky coach John Calipari isn't sweating Tuesday's NCAA deadline to declare for the NBA draft because his players won't decide if they're staying or going by then.

"They're not going to make that date,'' Calipari said Monday. "I'm not pushing these guys. I told them to relax, do schoolwork, finish up and see their families. They've got time to make their decisions.''

The only deadline the NBA is acknowledging happens on April 29.

Still, the expectation is that Kentucky will lose freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and sophomore Terrence Jones, and will likely lose sophomore Doron Lamb and freshman Marquis Teague. Darius Miller, another possible NBA draft pick from the national champion Wildcats, is a senior.

"All of them have done enough to think about it,'' Calipari said of the five underclassmen. "It's not will they be drafted, but do they want to do it? That's the question for each of them. That's our Kentucky effect, and they've all benefited. It would be one heckuva of night if we had six guys in the first round.''

Calipari has gone on quite a whirlwind since winning the national title on April 2 in New Orleans.

Here are some of his day-to-day highlights since the win over Kansas at the Superdome:

Tuesday: "The highlight was driving on the highway from the airport to Rupp Arena and seeing the emotion of the people [who] were lined up in the streets. It's the first time that I got emotional during this run. I was seeing regular people, elderly, people from nursing homes, jumping up and down with unbelievable joy.''

Wednesday: "I went to Boston to see my daughter Megan, who wasn't able to come to the Final Four since she was sick. It was so good to see her.''

Thursday: "I stayed in Boston and did a home visit.''

(Calipari couldn't confirm the identity of the player he visited -- per NCAA rules -- but it was expected to be Connecticut junior Alex Oriakhi. He is transferring and is considering Kentucky, among other schools.)

Friday: "I flew to Los Angeles for the Wooden Award and ran into [former Wildcat and current Sacramento King] DeMarcus Cousins. I then caught the last quarter of the Houston Rockets-Lakers game and saw [former UK forward] Patrick Patterson and [former UMass center] Marcus Camby. That evening I had dinner with [former UK guard] Eric Bledsoe. Oh, and we also went to the Wooden Award [for Anthony Davis].''

Saturday: "We did a home visit out West, and I headed home for Easter.''

Calipari couldn't comment on this visit, either, but it was likely with Las Vegas wing Shabazz Muhammad.

Sunday: "I was at home with my wife [Ellen] and my son [Bradley] enjoying Easter.''

Monday: "I was running around the office, met with [senior] Eloy Vargas, met with Darius [Miller] and was dealing with mail that was stacked up to the ceiling.''

Calipari's plan is to finish recruiting in the next few weeks and then take off for a secluded vacation with his wife.

"My plan is to throw my phones in the river and just be gone for a few weeks,'' Calipari said. "But we've got to get through recruiting first and these decisions that have to be made.''

Quick hitters post-Final Four:

• Pitt and Syracuse representatives won't be at the Big East meetings, but they will be at the ACC meetings in May. The respective coaches will be at the ACC meetings, too.

When will the two schools join the ACC? "Hopefully, we'll get everything worked out here soon,'' Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson said. "Their league is reconfigured and ready to move, and when you get to that point where everybody is on the next page, everybody should move on.''

Pederson wouldn't commit to the fall of 2013, but that seems to be the goal. The ACC is ready to receive Pitt and Syracuse, and the Big East is ready to move on with its new members.

• NBA commissioner David Stern isn't a fan of his league's draft rule. But the players association has to agree on it, and it hasn't been on board. The best-case scenario would be to go back to the original deal, which allows players to go to the NBA from high school or have a two-year minimum agreement of staying in college -- similar to baseball -- before being allowed to enter the draft.

That would skim off some -- but not all -- of the top players from attending college. Anthony Davis may have gone straight to the NBA, but Michael Kidd-Gilchrist may not have done the same.

John Wall may have left. But Eric Bledsoe most likely would not. The onus is on the NBAPA to make a concession and cut a deal with the league if this rule is going to change.

But once again, this isn't the NCAA's rule. The one-and-done rule is the NBA's rule. And coaches such as Kentucky's John Calipari and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski are simply taking advantage. Duke has had "one-and-done" point guards in consecutive seasons in Kyrie Irving and Austin Rivers.

And every coach in the country would have taken Davis for one season if they had the choice.

• When I caught up with Calipari Tuesday night, he was extremely tired. "Everyone said I looked sad,'' Calipari said. "I'm just exhausted.''

Calipari has been going at warp speed for months, and especially in the past three weeks.

• Calipari said he will meet with his five underclassmen this week and see what their intentions are for the NBA draft. The assumption is Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist will declare, but the decisions for Doron Lamb, Terrence Jones and Marquis Teague will be more intriguing since they aren't lottery locks.

"I'll meet with each of them, get information,'' Calipari said. "I want them to breathe, come back and then go home for a few days [over Easter weekend] and come back and finish their academics.''

Calipari is telling his players they don't have to decide by April 10, the unilateral NCAA deadline. And he's right. The players can wait until the NBA's April 29th deadline, the only date that really matters.

"They don't have to follow that April 10 date,'' Calipari said.

The NBA won't put out a draft list until after the April 29 early-entry date. The only binding agreement is a player cannot return to college if he declares for the draft on April 29, even if he doesn't sign with an agent.

NEW ORLEANS -- The questions will stop now about whether John Calipari can win the final game, the national championship.

So what's next for him?

"Before I leave coaching, I would like to coach an undefeated team," Calipari told ESPN after Monday night's 67-59 national championship victory over Kansas at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

"I would like to coach an undefeated team before I'm done with this. Why? Because it can't be done, so let's chase that."

Indiana was the last to go undefeated in 1976 at 32-0. UNLV nearly did it in 1991 with 34 straight wins before losing to Duke in the national semifinals.

Will Calipari stick around Kentucky and the college game to make an attempt?

He coached in the NBA with New Jersey. He was an assistant in Philadelphia. He could still make a play for a job. He could obviously try to get involved with the New York Knicks. But why would he when he continues to get the top players in the country, makes over $3 million a year and now has won a national title at Kentucky?

"We've had the most wins in 2008 and now this year we had 38 wins; no other program has done that," said Calipari of winning 38 games with Memphis in 2008 before losing the title game to Kansas and then winning 38 this season. "Let's go get them all. Let's get seven guys drafted in the first round. I hope we have six this year."

If Calipari is right, that means freshmen Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague and sophomores Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb are all leaving. And maybe he meant senior Darius Miller would slip into the first round.

The decisions shouldn't take too long.

The players don't necessarily have to decide by April 10 -- the NCAA's deadline. They can wait until the real draft deadline of April 29 under NBA rules.

No one made any pronouncements Monday night.

But it's hard to see a scenario in which Davis doesn't declare, since he'll be the No. 1 pick in June.

Kidd-Gilchrist was irritated and denied an ESPN.com story that he would declare when it was reported last week during the regional in Atlanta. But Kidd-Gilchrist would be a top-five pick if he were to declare, so no one could blame him if he were to bolt.

Jones declared last season and returned. He wanted to see his draft status. He's still a first-round pick. Lamb and Teague played exceptionally well when the games mattered most but that doesn't mean they should jump to the league -- yet.

If they do, the Wildcats have another fresh crop to come in quickly behind them.

Kentucky has a stellar class so far with small forward Alex Poythress, center Willie Cauley and shooting guard Archie Goodwin, along with NC State transfer point Ryan Harrow. But it could once again skyrocket to No. 1 if the Wildcats were to land the top two players remaining in the class of 2012, center Nerlens Noel and small forward Shabazz Muhammad. The Wildcats are also involved in top position players Anthony Bennett and Amile Jefferson, both power forwards, as well as center Tony Parker and small forward Devonta Pollard.

Calipari said Monday night that he doesn't have to deal with the question of winning a title anymore. He reached the Final Four in 1996 at UMass. He went in 2008 with Memphis and lost in the title game. He took Kentucky to the Final Four in 2011. And now he has a title in 2012.

"I told my wife I'm glad it's done," Calipari said. "Now I can get about my business of coaching basketball and getting these players to be the best that they can be."

"I can get on with that," he continued. "I don't have to hear the drama. I can just coach now. I don't have to worry. If you want to know the truth, it's almost like, 'Done, let me move on.'"

And the next challenge is apparently an undefeated season.

Wouldn't you expect Calipari to raise the bar on himself and the program?

"What they expect at Kentucky is to be undefeated and win every game by 25," Calipari said. "That's Kentucky fans."

Calipari is feeding the beast now more than ever. He delivered a title in Year 3. Now he wants to top a championship with an undefeated season.

Let the chase begin again.

NEW ORLEANS -- Kansas versus Kentucky was the undercard on Nov. 15, the junior varsity game at the Champions Classic.

Now, they are playing for the title.

That night in New York at Madison Square Garden was all about Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and his attempt to break Bob Knight's all-time wins record. He did when Duke knocked off Michigan State.

Kentucky and Kansas officials weren't overly thrilled at the time that the lead-up to the game was all about Duke and Coach K.

But that was the news of the weekend. It's not now.

And while the rematch shouldn't carry too much weight for Monday night's title game, it does open a window to what might occur.

Kentucky won 75-65 after the game was tied at 28-28 at the half.

"I would just say it would behoove us not to play behind like we have," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "We did a good job of guarding their best offense but they got a lot of run-outs and dunks off bad shots. Our offense was awful.

"In the second half, they just wore us out," Self said. "They played so well in the second half. We're two totally different teams and we're a lot better and they're a lot better."

Kentucky coach John Calipari said that the Wildcats were getting hammered early in the first half.

"We made shots, turned them over," Calipari said. "But this [Monday] is going to be a 40-minute game."

The players don't put too much stock in the game.

But the familiar faces played well, even then.

Anthony Davis scored 14 points and had seven blocks for Kentucky. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 12 and had nine boards. The one major difference for Kentucky is that point guard Marquis Teague had a poor assist-to-turnover rate with three assists and six turnovers. He has improved tremendously since then.

Kansas' Thomas Robinson had a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards. Tyshawn Taylor was 3-of-13 from the field, but did get to the line to make 15-of-17.

Jeff Withey then was hardly what he is now, even though he did have four blocks for the Jayhawks.

"They beat us up," Robinson said. "They beat us up pretty bad and they got the best of me emotionally and physically. I can't let that happen anymore."

Taylor said the Wildcats ran away from the Jayhawks in the second half.

"That feels like a whole another season since that game," Taylor said. "It's a game of runs and they kind of blew us out. We'll have to slow them down and not let them have transition. We have to take good shots and defend. If we do that we'll be fine."

Travis Releford said he only remembered that the Jayhawks lost the game.

Kentucky's Doron Lamb had to think for a moment that it was even played.

"I forgot about that game," Lamb said. "But they've got a great team, great guards and a great big man that will be a challenge [Monday]."

A nonconference rematch doesn't matter much in March or April. Even though Kansas just won one against Ohio State to get to the title game, the game was totally different since Jared Sullinger did not play in the first meeting.

Kansas and Kentucky are using the same players now as they were in November. But if you haven't seen either team play since, you won't recognize them as much Monday night. They have all improved mightily and the stage they're playing on isn't even close. That was for a win and a ranking in November. This is for a title in April.

A Sweet 16 appearance elevates a program to the next level.

A Final Four moves it up another notch.

The matchups usually make the difference in getting this far. Talent -- and star power -- also play big roles.

There is a certain level of pressure for all coaches and programs. For some, it's self-induced. For others, it comes from a passionate fan base. Some programs need to reach the Final Four for the season to be considered a success. Some do not.

With that being said, here is our Final Four pressure-meter (1 feels the least amount of pressure and 10 feels the most):

Baylor (5): The men's team doesn't need to make a Final Four appearance. The women will take care of that, as they are the favorites to win the national title. But the men's team has the makeup to make this run a rare one. Few teams have length like the Bears do, and it's unlikely that Perry Jones III will stick around for a third season. The reason Baylor doesn't have as much pressure to reach the Final Four, even though it has the personnel to make it to New Orleans, is the bracket it's in. Kentucky could stand in the way of Baylor's potential first men's Final Four appearance. The Wildcats are the clear favorites, so expecting the Bears to advance to the Final Four from the South wouldn't be fair.

Cincinnati (3): Cincinnati has survived suspensions and a bumpy ride in the Big East. The Bearcats thrived at the end of the season and reached the conference title game. Mick Cronin and this crew have exceeded expectations by reaching the Sweet 16. Playing one of the favorites in Ohio State takes more pressure off the Bearcats. This ride now is all about extra credit for Cronin and Co.

Florida (4): The Gators won two national titles in consecutive seasons. It will be hard for any program to duplicate that -- ever again. Keeping a team together like the '04 class for the '06 and '07 titles will be extremely difficult to match unless the NBA draft rules change again. The Gators had an easier road to the Sweet 16 thanks to a depleted Virginia team and playing Norfolk State, which exhausted itself with the stunning upset over Missouri. But the Gators don't need to get to the Final Four. If Florida does reach New Orleans with this flawed group and its suspect inside game, it would be quite a feat. The Gators are the lowest remaining seed in the West, too. Expecting them to get past Marquette and possibly top seed Michigan State would be a bit much.

Indiana (3): Tom Crean has turned the corner in Bloomington. There was legitimate reason to be concerned last season. But Crean recruited exceptionally well, getting a star in Cody Zeller, and he got his players to believe they could win big-time games. The victory over Kentucky will resonate for some time. Reaching the Sweet 16 gives Crean even more credibility and respect in the state. However, for this team to get past Kentucky would be asking too much. No one should expect a win over the Wildcats again. To advance to the Elite Eight and the Final Four would be sensational accomplishments. Even though the fan base expects greatness, Indiana has already exceeded any expectations by getting this far.

Louisville (5): The Cardinals are the "pro" team in town. And like Kentucky, the expectations include Final Four appearances. But Louisville has gone through a slew of injuries, and there was no reason to believe it could maintain a high level of play throughout the season. Still, the Cards survived to reach the Sweet 16 and face top-seeded Michigan State. The most pressure may be felt in trying to keep up with rival Kentucky. The expectation is that the Wildcats will be in the Final Four, so why not join them and create even more frenzy in a hoops-crazed state?

Kansas (9): The Jayhawks have two of the top players at their positions in Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor. Kansas expects to compete for conference and national titles, regardless of personnel, every season. And while Bill Self had to deal with rotation players not being eligible, including top newcomer Ben McLemore, the Jayhawks still won the Big 12 regular-season title for the eighth straight time. Kansas survived against Purdue, but had it not been for a guard meltdown the Jayhawks may be idle right now. Instead, they have new life in the Midwest, thanks to NC State's Sweet 16 run and North Carolina potentially being without Kendall Marshall in the Elite Eight (if the Tar Heels get past Ohio). The pressure has ratcheted up for the Jayhawks. If Marshall is out for this weekend in St. Louis, the Jayhawks are the new favorites in the Midwest.

Kentucky (10): The Wildcats are the front-runners to win the national title, not just get to the Final Four. Let's be honest, anything less than a title would be a disappointment. No team in the Sweet 16 has as much pressure to get to the Final Four as Kentucky. The Wildcats have the most talent, the national player of the year in Anthony Davis, and plenty of other pro talent on the roster (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb). Darius Miller also played in the Final Four last season. John Calipari has coached in three Final Fours. The Wildcats are playing a team that handed them their only regular-season loss. A possible matchup with Baylor is more than formidable. The Bears can match Kentucky's length and shooting, but Baylor's defense has never been its strong suit. The region still lays out well for Kentucky in SEC-rich Catlanta.

Marquette (6): The Golden Eagles play as hard, if not harder, than any other team in the field. Marquette's beat down of BYU in the second half and its ability to run past Murray State late were quite impressive. Now, the Eagles get a Florida team that it matches up well with since they can defend the 3-point shot. Marquette should be the favorite in this game and has the personnel and the toughness to beat Michigan State or Louisville. A Final Four isn't expected with this group, but now the bracket has opened up a bit with Missouri gone. A loss in the Elite Eight makes more sense, but there is some pressure for Marquette to advance with Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom leading the way. The Eagles have been to a Final Four with Dwyane Wade under Crean. A berth for Buzz Williams would raise his coaching profile.

Michigan State (8): The Spartans lost one of their key rotation players in Branden Dawson in the final regular-season game against Ohio State. But they won the Big Ten tournament title without him and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. Draymond Green has been the most valuable player so far in the NCAA tournament and has a legit shot to lead the Spartans to another Final Four. Michigan State expects Final Fours under Tom Izzo, but this team certainly didn't look the part early in the season. It has matured into a title contender. And while the bracket is filled with potential hurdles, the Spartans have the pressure of being a top seed and the expectation of a Final Four appearance.

North Carolina (8): The Tar Heels would have had a 10 in this spot if Marshall didn't fracture his wrist against Creighton and have surgery on Monday. Now, the pressure of reaching the Final Four has dropped a few spots. North Carolina was as healthy as it had been in weeks at the start of the game with the Bluejays. But the Marshall injury makes the Tar Heels extremely vulnerable. Ohio is capable of pulling off another upset. And if the Tar Heels get past Ohio, a revenge-minded NC State team or title-contending Kansas awaits. The Tar Heels were built to win a title. That's why Harrison Barnes didn't opt for the NBA. Tyler Zeller had opportunities, as well. The roster is deep enough to absorb injuries to Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland. Let's see if it can take its worst hit and survive without Marshall or having him only on a limited basis. The expectations for a Final Four may have dropped outside of Chapel Hill, but it hasn't inside the Dean Smith Center. Carolina should expect to be in the Final Four yet again. It's just tougher with Marshall's injury and Kansas potentially looming.

NC State (2): The Wolfpack have far exceeded expectations under Mark Gottfried. NC State was the last team revealed on Selection Sunday. It had to be one of the last teams in the field prior to the four at-large teams that played in the First Four. NC State lost a 19-point lead at Duke, and the Wolfpack couldn't close out UNC in the ACC tournament. But they grinded out wins over San Diego State and Georgetown in their first two games of the tournament. This program has had low expectations for years. The Final Four would be gravy on what has already been deemed a highly successful season. The Wolfpack draw Kansas and if they somehow get past KU (not improbable), they could face a rematch with UNC. One can only imagine the scene in Raleigh if NC State, and not UNC, made the Final Four.

Ohio (1): The Bobcats are one of the tournament's great stories. Ohio played one of the more dramatic conference tournament title games when it knocked off Akron in thrilling fashion. The Bobcats got a decent seed at 13 and were matched up against a flawed Michigan squad. Ohio was aggressive and had the more experienced lead guard in D.J. Cooper (vs. the heralded Trey Burke) against the Wolverines. The Bobcats then faced a 12-seed in South Florida that couldn't score and was playing its third game of the tournament. Now, Ohio is playing with house money. The Bobcats have zero pressure in reaching the Final Four. Sure, they are facing a North Carolina team that will likely be sans Marshall. But to expect Ohio to win two more and get to the Final Four would be unfair. Ohio has already made its mark with this Sweet 16 appearance and coach John Groce can likely write his own ticket to a higher-paying job in the Big Ten if he chooses to do so.

Ohio State (9): The Buckeyes would have been a 1-seed if they had beaten Michigan State in the Big Ten title game. Jared Sullinger is healthy again, and the personnel hasn't changed. The Buckeyes possess some of the top players at their respective positions in Aaron Craft (top on-ball defender), William Buford (elite shooter) and Deshaun Thomas (a tough matchup as a face-up forward). Ohio State drew an instate rival in Cincinnati. The Bearcats will muck up the game and challenge everything. The top part of the bracket would be just as difficult with either a lock-down defensive team in Wisconsin or an up-and-down transition squad with a pesky zone in top seed Syracuse. But the Orange don't have Fab Melo, so if you were to re-rank the East bracket, the Buckeyes would have to be the favorites. That puts more pressure on Ohio State, and with Sullinger possibly leaving for the NBA, the window to reach the Final Four is now.

Syracuse (9): The Orange were built for a Final Four run. No team had players coming off the bench like Dion Waiters, C.J. Fair and Michael Carter-Williams. Fair is starting now, but the overall depth is still impressive. Melo's ineligibility knocks the Orange down from a 10. The expectation was Final Four or bust since they started showing their dominance during the Big East season. Syracuse has tremendous versatility with Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche and Kris Joseph all able to make key shots. The Orange weren't tested by Kansas State after surviving a scare from UNC Asheville. The expectation is that it should beat Wisconsin and play against Ohio State. Syracuse may not be projected to beat the Buckeyes in a possible Elite Eight matchup now, sans Melo, but the pressure is there to get to a Final Four with a group that won't be together next season.

Wisconsin (4): Bo Ryan has never reached the Final Four. But he has had better teams projected to go farther. This squad has improved more than any of the previous teams he's coached at Wisconsin. The Badgers lost three early-season home games, and that rattled their confidence. But it didn't take away their resolve. Wisconsin found its shooting stroke, maintained its defensive intensity and got star-level play out of a role player in Ryan Evans. Jordan Taylor is still the leader and will take -- and make -- the big shots. The Badgers were the more polished team in wins over Montana and Vanderbilt. The expectation to knock off Syracuse isn't high. But if that occurs, then a team they already beat -- Ohio State -- could be standing in their way. The Badgers' last Final Four appearance was in 2000. The fan base is hungry for another run, but it doesn't need one. Ryan would like one, but he knows this may not be his best shot. Still, it's plausible in the current bracket.

Xavier (3): The Musketeers may not have been here had it not been for an A-10 title game appearance. Xavier had to mount a season-long repair project to get to this point. And it worked. Coach Chris Mack deserves as much credit for this run as the criticism he took for the way he initially handled the post-brawl situation. He matured as a coach during the season, dealt with his own knee injury and clearly got his lead guards, notably Tu Holloway, to refocus on the task at hand. Xavier survived Notre Dame by playing smarter than the Irish. It showed more moxie than Lehigh in finishing with a strong kick. No one is expecting Xavier to make the Final Four, even those that projected the Musketeers to do so in November. But Baylor is beatable. Taking down Kentucky would be quite a feat. The pressure is low. Xavier has already exceeded the expectations of a team that once had Final Four aspirations but didn't play that way for most of the Atlantic 10 season. Now that it's two wins away, the pressure is even lower. Xavier has already done well to finish the season on a high.

Quick hitters for a Monday as we hit the stretch run of the season:

• Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis should be the new front-runner for national player of the year. Kansas' Thomas Robinson deserves all the adulation he has received for what he has done to this point in his career and this season for the Jayhawks. But no player changes the game the way Davis has in the SEC this season. He should be the SEC player of the year and at the very least a runner-up if he's not the choice for national player of the year.

Kentucky coach John Calipari said Monday, "He changes the game for everybody, for our team, for everybody. He does it without changing his demeanor. He doesn't have a selfish bone in his body. That's what makes him the most valuable player out there."

• When asked about Illinois coach Bruce Weber's job security, Illini athletic director Mike Thomas gave the standard response about evaluating the entire program, like he would for all 18 sports, at the end of the season. That doesn't necessarily sound like he's backing Weber.

One source close to the situation said Weber has had a good relationship with Thomas and that Thomas hasn't given him any indication that he's out.

Know this: Weber is a genuinely nice man. He attempts to do everything the right way. He coached the 2005 Illinois team exceptionally well and was within five minutes of a national title in St. Louis. The program has been on and off the bubble ever since, it seems.

The best-case scenario at some point may be if Weber moved on, on his own, for a fresh start. Regardless of what occurs in 2012-13, the Illini have enough talent to be an elite Big Ten team next season. That's of course if Meyers Leonard decides to stay put.

• Staying too long in one place isn't a false theory. That's why some coaches may regret not jumping when they had the chance. Weber may be one of them. Jim Baron at Rhode Island could be another.

• I won't be surprised if Northwestern's Bill Carmody leaves even if the Wildcats make the NCAA tournament for the first time ever. Carmody has put every ounce of his sweat into trying to get this program into the tournament. He constantly looks like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. If he doesn't make the tournament, there's nothing wrong with knowing he gave it everything he had and the program never quite got over the hump. The Wildcats have to win a few key upcoming home games to try to influence the committee that they are worthy. Of course, if Carmody were to finally break through and make the NCAAs, the recruiting may go to another level and he would have to stay. But at Northwestern, just making the tournament would qualify as enough for him to move on.

• The BracketBuster games looked tantalizing good a few weeks ago. But losses by Nevada, Iona, Creighton, Murray State and Saint Mary's have lowered the interest/importance a tad. The hottest teams since the matchups were announced are Long Beach State, Wichita State, Drexel and VCU. If you could reseed and have those four teams play in some form, that would still provide plenty of pop. Long Beach State is at Creighton, Wichita at Davidson, Drexel at Cleveland State and VCU hosts Northern Iowa. The Saint Mary's-Murray State game still has enormous value for the Racers. A win and everyone will settle down a bit about the Racers' at-large hopes. A loss and suddenly they are tossed back into the pool. The expectations for these teams to run the table from the moment the matchups are announced is simply an unfair expectation.

• I don't think I've ever picked a team in November to make the Final Four and then not have that squad even make the NCAA tournament. Xavier could be the first.

• There is a strong chance multiple teams from power six conferences will have double-digit conference wins and not get bids. This is the repercussion of having unbalanced schedules. Two teams to watch for this are South Florida and NC State. The coaches know they can't complain about winning 10 games in the Big East or ACC if they didn't beat any of the top four teams in the conference.

• Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew won't win national coach of the year. But he better win the Horizon League honor. I saw this team in an exhibition game in November. There was no reason to suspect the Crusaders would be leading the Horizon and on their way to a possible NCAA tournament berth. If you had to take which Drew brother would be in first place on Feb. 13 in his respective conference, it wouldn't have been close. Scott Drew of Baylor would have been the choice.

• San Diego State's new rival in the Big West in 2013 will be Long Beach State. But the games simply won't feel as grand as when the Aztecs play UNLV. Everyone squawks about Missouri and Kansas playing in the future. Well, SDSU and UNLV should continue their series, as well. It's regional, easy travel and both programs are going to stay at a high level for the near future.

• Murray State has tremendous respect among the coaches to only fall seven spots to No. 14 in the ESPN/USA Today poll after losing at home to Tennessee State. But what about Wichita State? The Shockers got no respect from the coaches after rocking Creighton in Omaha and establishing themselves as the premier team in the Valley. Wichita wasn't in the Top 25 released Monday.

• I don't know which way I would lean for the national coach of the year award. The candidate list is quite long with Kentucky's John Calipari, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, Missouri's Frank Haith, Kansas' Bill Self, Georgetown's John Thompson III, Notre Dame's Mike Brey, UNLV's Dave Rice, San Diego State's Steve Fisher, Saint Mary's Randy Bennett, Murray State's Steve Prohm and Michigan State's Tom Izzo.

College basketball could use a Heisman-like award, one main honor instead of the five mainstream national awards.

The problem is that finding a consensus for the Wooden, Naismith, AP, Rupp and Oscar Robertson honors is no easy task.

The awards voters do tend to coalesce behind one candidate. And maybe that will be the case again.

But it seems that this season's race will be as wide open as ever. If you need more evidence, take a look at the 25 finalists for the Wooden Award, released on ESPNU and ESPN.com on Tuesday.

It appears that the only two players who are consensus candidates are Kansas' Thomas Robinson and Creighton's Doug McDermott. It's not a reach to say these two players are the favorites in mid-January, a stunning development considering how much preseason hype Ohio State's Jared Sullinger and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes received. The amazing part thus far is that I don't believe Sullinger nor Barnes would be a first-team All-American if the voting were conducted today.

Before we get to the list of players compiled by the Wooden folks, it's important to note that these are simply the 25 players who they felt should be honored on their midseason list. Players who do not show up are still very much eligible to win the Wooden Award at the end of the season and will be given equal consideration.

So players who have legitimate claims to being on this list -- Maryland's Terrell Stoglin and Seton Hall teammates Herb Pope and Jordan Theodore come to mind -- still have a shot.

So without further ado, here are the 25 Wooden finalists (in alphabetical order):

Harrison Barnes, 6-foot-8, So., F, North Carolina
Stat line: 16.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg

Chances: Fading. Still has a shot to be a second-team All-American. Barnes hasn't been the dominating player on the Tar Heels. To be fair, he has some of the best talent in the country (John Henson, Tyler Zeller and Kendall Marshall) surrounding him. UNC's 33-point loss to Florida State didn't help his case, either.

Will Barton, 6-6, So., F, Memphis
Stat line: 18.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg

Chances: No shot. He could be the Conference USA Player of the Year, though. Barton has greatly improved and has been the most consistent player during the Tigers' inconsistent season.

William Buford, 6-6, Sr., G, Ohio State
Stat line: 15.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Chances: No shot. Buford won't win Big Ten POY, either. He has been OSU's best perimeter threat, but he won't be a first-team All-American. Buford might not even be first-team All-Big Ten. He is an integral part of the Buckeyes' title hopes, but is not a POY contender.

Anthony Davis, 6-10, Fr., C, Kentucky
Stat line: 13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.6 bpg

Chances: High. Davis has been the most dominant post player in the country. He blocked a last-second shot by North Carolina's John Henson in December, preventing the Tar Heels from winning a game at Rupp. He alters and changes more shots than any other player. If the Wildcats win the national title, Davis will be one of the reasons why. He would be ahead of Ohio State's Jared Sullinger on the All-America ballot if you had to choose one of them.

Marcus Denmon, 6-3, Sr., G, Missouri
Stat line: 17.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg

Chances: Not great. Denmon is the leading scorer for Mizzou. But it's hard to separate him from Kim English, Ricardo Ratliffe, Michael Dixon and Flip Pressey in his importance to the Tigers. They all have played an equal role in Missouri's impressive start. It will be interesting to see which of these players earns first-team All-Big 12.

Draymond Green, 6-7, Sr., F, Michigan State
Stat line: 15.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg

Chances: In the mix. If he continues his current pace of scoring and rebounding, Green could end up nudging out Sullinger for Big Ten Player of the Year. The Spartans did lose at Northwestern on Saturday, but Green has been a tremendous leader. He will stay in the chase for a first-team All-American spot if his team stays in the race for the Big Ten title.

John Henson, 6-11, Jr., C, North Carolina
Stat line: 14.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg

Chances: No shot. Henson didn't convert the biggest shot of his season against Kentucky. Davis blocked it. And if Barnes isn't the national player of the year, Henson isn't either. The 33-point loss to Florida State will haunt all Tar Heels candidates.

John Jenkins, 6-4, Jr., G, Vanderbilt
Stat line: 19.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg

Chances: No shot. Jenkins is a superb shooter and scorer and is leading the revitalized Commodores. But his role isn't more important than Jeffery Taylor, Brad Tinsley or Festus Ezeli -- it is equally important. The 'Dores mid-nonconference slide hurts Jenkins' campaign. The success of the Kentucky freshmen also makes it almost impossible for Jenkins to get SEC Player of the Year.

Orlando Johnson, 6-5, Sr., G, UCSB
Stat line: 20.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg

Chances: No shot. Johnson is having a stellar season for the Gauchos, and he may be one of the higher draft picks on this list. But the Gauchos are 8-6 and are trailing Long Beach State in the Big West. Johnson should be an All-American, but he won't make the first team.

Darius Johnson-Odom, 6-2, Sr., G, Marquette
Stat line: 18.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg

Chances: No shot. DJO has had a superb season for the Golden Eagles. He has a legit shot at Big East Player of the Year. But that won't be enough to get a first-team All-American spot or the national POY. Marquette has been decent, but not great enough for DJO to stand out on that pedestal.

Kevin Jones, 6-8, Sr., F, West Virginia
Stat line: 20.6 ppg, 11.1 rpg

Chances: Decent. Jones has put it all together as a senior and has put up just a monster season for the Mountaineers. Just seems like it's double-double after double-double for Jones, who will need to keep the Mountaineers in the top 3 of the Big East in order to stay in Wooden contention.

Perry Jones III, 6-11, So., C, Baylor
Stat line: 14.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg

Chances: No shot at player of the year, but he is in the hunt for a first-team All-American slot. The problem for Jones' candidacy is that Quincy Acy has been a comparable inside scorer and guard Pierre Jackson has been an integral member of this team. Jones didn't help his case when he and the Bears were dominated by Kansas' Thomas Robinson in a loss on Monday night. But he can't win national POY if he isn't the Big 12 Player of the Year. And Robinson is the favorite for that honor.

Kris Joseph, 6-7, Sr., F, Syracuse
Stat line: 13.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Chances: No shot. Joseph is leading the Orange, but this team is so deep, so talented and so balanced that you would have a hard time picking just him. Dion Waiters may be Syracuse's MVP. A number of other players have taken turns being the star for the Orange, too.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7, Fr., F, Kentucky
Stat line: 13.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 49.4 FG percentage

Chances: Solid. Kidd-Gilchrist could be the SEC Player of the Year. And if he gets that honor, he'll be in contention for the national POY. Kidd-Gilchrist took a few games to get going, but once he did he was an offensive force. He has delivered on his talent and effort.

Jeremy Lamb, 6-5, So., G, Connecticut
Stat line: 17.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg

Chances: No shot. Lamb is leading the Huskies in scoring. But UConn is still finding its way in the Big East. The Huskies haven't featured Lamb as much, either. Andre Drummond may end up being the team's featured scorer by season's end. Lamb isn't the Big East Player of the Year right now, so he isn't winning the national honor.

Damian Lillard, 6-3, Jr., G, Weber State
Stat line: 25.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.5 apg

Chances: He won't win national POY, but he should be in contention for second-team All-American honors. Lillard is having a stellar season for the Wildcats, who are in first place in the Big Sky. He leads the nation in scoring and his stat line is as good as any in the country. The problem is that Weber has been in obscurity so far this season. Lillard will likely not be seen by the masses until March.

Doug McDermott, 6-7, So., F, Creighton
Stat line: 24.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 62.1 FG

Chances: High. McDermott has been one of the most complete players in the country and is a first-team All-American, at the very least. He could be this season's Jimmer Fredette, coming from outside a power six conference to win the national player of the year honor. McDermott has led the Bluejays to the top of the Missouri Valley and into the Top 25. He is the focus of every opposing defense, too.

Scott Machado, 6-1, Sr., G, Iona
Stat line: 13.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 10.3 apg

Chances: Not happening for POY, but he's in the hunt as a first-team All-American. Machado has been the most dominant point guard this season and easily leads the country in assists. Iona has played a decent schedule and is the team to beat in the MAAC. Few teams will want to face the Gaels in March, and Machado is one of the key reasons why.

Kendall Marshall, 6-4, So., G, North Carolina
Stat line: 5.8 ppg, 9.6 apg

Chances: No shot. Marshall is a key for the Tar Heels. He hasn't been the best point guard in the country, but has been a solid contributor this season and does rank second behind Machado in assists. But that isn't enough to win the award or be a first-team candidate.

Mike Moser, 6-8, So., F, UNLV
Stat line: 13.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg

Chances: No shot. But Moser has to be in contention for a first- or second-team All-American spot. His rebounding has been epic (especially against North Carolina). Moser and fellow UCLA transfer Chace Stanback have been the major reasons the Runnin' Rebels are ranked and in contention for the MWC title.

Arnett Moultrie, 6-11, Jr., C, Mississippi State
Stat line: 16.5 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 0.9 bpg

Chances: Not good for POY, but he's a serious candidate for first-team All-American. Outside of Moser, Moultrie has had the most impact of any transfer. He has increased MSU's chances of being a serious threat to Kentucky in the SEC. Moultrie is a double-double machine for coach Rick Stansbury and has allowed the Bulldogs to avoid relying only on Renardo Sidney.

Thomas Robinson, 6-9, Jr., F, Kansas
Stat line: 17.8 ppg, 12.3 rpg

Chances: High. Robinson is the POY favorite at this juncture. He should be a consensus first-team All-American. He has had to take on immense responsibility with the departure of the Morris twins and has responded without a hitch. He carries the weight of the incredible burden of losing his mother during last season. And yet he is as focused as ever in 2011-12. Robinson dominated in the rout over Baylor on Monday night with 27 points and 14 rebounds.

Mike Scott, 6-8, Sr., F, Virginia
Stat line: 16.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg

Chances: He has no shot for national POY, but Scott is one of the favorites for ACC Player of the Year. He has been the most consistent big man in the league. Take Scott off the Cavs, and they don't come close to the top of the league standings. But Virginia did lose at Duke and also fell to TCU. Scott will have to keep the Cavs in the ACC's top three to have a chance at the league's POY.

Jared Sullinger, 6-9, So., F, Ohio State
Stat line: 17.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg

Chances: Still strong. Sullinger has been battling injuries (back, foot) and missed the road game at Kansas in December. That's part of the reason he is not the favorite right now. Sullinger still has plenty of time to be a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. But it would help if he had some dominating performances down the stretch.

Cody Zeller, 6-11, Fr., C, Indiana
Stat line: 14.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg

Chances: No shot. But Zeller is in the chase for Big Ten Player of the Year. At the very least, he'll be the Big Ten Rookie of the Year. It's amazing that he's on this list and his older brother Tyler (a senior at North Carolina) is not. Cody has helped transform Indiana into a national player, but the Hoosiers' recent two-game skid does take his chances for Big Ten POY down a peg.

My midseason All-America team choices:
First team: Robinson, McDermott, Davis, Moultrie, Machado
Second team: Kidd-Gilchrist, Sullinger, Green, K. Jones, C. Zeller

Maybe I was naive at times, but I never believed Rick Pitino was leaving Louisville.

Not once.

Not when stories surfaced that he was looking at the NBA or even another college job, especially after news of his sordid affair and subsequent extortion attempt by his mistress was made public two years ago.

The reports and rumors of a potential job search were all worth checking out. But Pitino never left. The university could have simply divorced itself from him because of the embarrassment of the situation. But they backed Pitino, and now the issue is no longer divisive to the school's supporters. However, there will always be detractors.

Now, according to Pitino, there is an official end to his tenure at Louisville. He said Tuesday he's done with coaching once his contract runs out after the 2016-17 season.

Pitino's world changed forever on 9/11 when his brother-in-law, Billy Minardi, was killed in the World Trade Center. He helped move Minardi's family to Louisville. A campus building was named for Minardi. Roots were planted in Louisville. Priorities changed. You can take sides on whether you believe Pitino. He is flawed and will be severely damaged by his own misdeeds.

But it didn't make sense for him to bolt at the time.

Leaving Louisville would have meant fleeing. And for what? No other college job could provide what Louisville had delivered for Pitino. He had already coached at Kentucky. North Carolina, Duke and Kansas were never options, either.

No other college job would pay him a top salary or would be able to deliver the pro-like atmosphere he got at Louisville. Pitino makes $3 million a year, and his salary will go up to $3.9 in 2013. The KFC Yum! Center is up and running, and he said it is the finest facility he has ever seen, and not just in the college arena. Pitino said earlier this month that the Yum! Center provides a tailgating-like environment for basketball because people enjoy being there hours prior to tipoff.

Pitino brought his son, Richard, back to the bench after he "left'' for Florida, which coincidentally happened after the revelation of the affair. Richard is back on the bench and all appears to be good again.

The NBA could have been an option for the Louisville coach. But the memories of Pitino's time with the Celtics weren't exactly positive, and no NBA team was running to hire him -- even with his extensive résumé. The likelihood that he would have been given the opportunity to coach a franchise that was on the upside or already in the playoffs was slim.

So he'll finish his coaching career at Louisville. And if we judge the results solely on the court, then there is no question that Pitino is a Hall of Famer. Pitino led Providence, Kentucky and Louisville to the Final Four. His run at PC in 1987 will go down as one of the best in Big East history. Every Friar team and coach since is held up to that standard.

Pitino came to Kentucky at the perfect time, and he got the Wildcats back to their rightful place among the great programs in the country. The NBA-type talent in Lexington continues today with his new rival, John Calipari. Calipari is bound to win a national title at Kentucky at some point, and it may be in April. Pitino's run to multiple Final Fours in the mid- '90s included a national championship under his coaching. The Wildcats then won another title with his players, who were skillfully coached by his former assistant, Tubby Smith. All of that created a legacy for Pitino.

On to Louisville … the Cardinals went to a Final Four and are now competing for the top spot in the Big East on a regular basis.

If Louisville remains in the Big East for Pitino's final four seasons (the league changes substantially in 2013), the Cards should be one of the regular favorites (along with Connecticut, if the Huskies are still in the league as well).

Pitino was the most outspoken of any Big East coach when he said that any potential expansion plans should include basketball schools Memphis and Temple. It still might, but the initial wave of expansion for all sports brought in Houston, Central Florida and SMU -- a poor trade-off for the exits of Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia in two seasons. Pitino was correct in what the Big East needed, regardless of his position in the long term at Louisville.

Now the recruits that Pitino signs next season will be his final four-year class, if they were to stay through his final season.

And if it's any indication of what has occurred recently, then a number of them will be hard-working players who overachieve. Pitino's teams are consistently well-conditioned. They may not be the most skilled, but they don't quit.

This Louisville team isn't the fourth-best team in the country, despite what the rankings claim. The Cardinals have left home once -- winning at Butler -- and could have lost a couple of times at home already (Vandy and Western Kentucky). But to their credit, they did not.

Louisville could still finish fourth or fifth in the Big East behind Syracuse, Connecticut, Georgetown and/or Marquette. But that won't diminish what Pitino has done with this team and program.

If he walks away from coaching in 2017, then it will close out quite a career -- one that he certainly maximized every season.

Editor's Note: To watch Katz's interview with Anthony Davis and Terrence Jones, visit the Nation blog.

John Calipari has had brute strength in the post at Kentucky with DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson.

He's also had a rugged overachiever in Josh Harrellson, playing alongside an enigmatic Terrence Jones at forward.

But he's never had a tandem quite like he does this season with Anthony Davis and Jones, certainly not at Memphis and maybe not since he took UMass to the 1996 Final Four with Marcus Camby and Donta Bright. This pairing should dwarf that tandem in terms of overall talent. Davis has that much potential, maybe more so than Camby.

Davis offers a multitude of skills for the Wildcats with his ability to block shots, run the floor, score in the low post and face up to the basket.

Jones is the perfect complement as a college power forward that can score in a variety of ways and be the body man inside if Davis has difficulty handling the physical play.

Davis was a late-bloomer coming out of high school in the Chicago area. He's now being discussed as a potential No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA draft. Jones thought he was a one-and-done player last season. He declared for the draft and was likely to remain in it before being humbled at a Kentucky pro day in Lexington. Calipari had NBA personnel get in Jones' ear and let him know that he wasn't going to be a top-five pick. He returned to the Wildcats, joining Davis to form one of the best frontcourts in the country.

"We just have a chemistry and we trust one another," Jones said of his partnership with Davis.

"Even in practice, we have good communication," Davis said.

No. 5 North Carolina, top-ranked Kentucky's opponent Saturday, will pose the toughest test for Davis and Jones. For the first time, Davis will have to go against a player similar to him in size, length and body type in John Henson, and to a lesser extent Tyler Zeller.

Jones will have his hands full trying to guard Harrison Barnes. That means someone else in the Wildcats' frontcourt, such as Darius Miller or Eloy Vargas, will need to provide meaningful minutes or even a few more fouls to deal with the Tar Heels' length.

"They've got a wealth of ability," said Old Dominion coach Blaine Taylor, whose Monarchs lost to Kentucky 62-52 on Nov. 20. "They make a living on their talent of overwhelming people. But my guys played toe-to-toe with them because we were physical. They'll react better to Carolina than to us because Carolina can match their length. Davis is dang long. He can pick your pocket from across the street. He's not as long as Henson but he's that kind of guy around the basket."

Taylor said that Kentucky isn't a great defensive team. But Davis certainly is a game-changer. Davis scored 15 points, corralled 15 boards and had eight of a school-record 18 blocks in a convincing 81-59 SEC-Big East Challenge win Thursday night over St. John's at Rupp Arena, while Jones added 26 points and nine boards. Davis is averaging 13 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.9 blocks in 26.6 minutes through the season's first seven games; Jones is averaging 15.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in 30 minutes.

Taylor said Davis' ability to block and alter shots may be neutralized against North Carolina due to the Tar Heels' length.

"The pair of them will have to be more creative," Taylor said. "Davis didn't play well against us and didn't cast the long shadow over the game. He's vulnerable to physical play. Jones is a bit of a prima donna. One of them is salt and pepper and the other is meat and potatoes. They're not a carbon copy of each other at all. Both can step away from the basket, though. [Davis] was the more efficient player. Jones does a lot of flashy stuff, spinning and chest bumping."

For his part, Calipari doesn't find it necessary to massage the egos of Davis and Jones. They play different positions and aren't going to replace each other on the court. And they both will play as much as possible.

"They both accept each other," Calipari said. "One kid is a little more physical. The other one is longer. They zig and they zag."

And that's why the Wildcats have been so successful early in the season. This team has the star talent of previous Calipari teams at Kentucky, but the contrasts between Davis and Jones allow roles on the team to be more easily defined.

Davis and Jones are the perfect pair for this Kentucky team. Jones provides strength, Davis length. Both can be productive in their own way and offer difficult matchups for opposing teams.

"They're really good together," Miller, a senior, said two weeks ago. "They are still learning how to work together. But so far, early in the season, they're doing a great job playing with each other. They're doing what's best for our team. Anthony isn't the power player. He's blocking shots above the rim. He can go get it. T-Jones is posting well. He's a matchup problem. And he's aggressive to get around bigger players."