John Calipari’s Kentucky squad looks historically good early this college basketball season 

By Matthew Johnson, Sports Editor

Published in print Dec 3, 2014.

This week of final exams has my head thinking in both thoughts of celebration and envy. Jubilation of the mind occurs as I review the strange and beautiful semester. After thinning hair and far too many sleepless nights, the end of classes for the semester provides me peace. Yet, with the concluding end of the semester, it is sad to watch the concluding end of the semester. Most students understandably jump for bounds and leaps after exams. But, I truly envy the chance to no longer see my university friends or take some of the most informative classes taught by such knowledgeable professor. I also will miss sharing my thoughts on the biggest sporting headlines with my friends. Reviewing the month of November, I painfully think of the miss opportunities that I will not be able to share come the end of December.

Regarding Cavs, we need to R-E-L-A-X

With a return home following a period of maturation akin to Simba in the Lion King, Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were projected as the best team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Yet, out the gates this season, King James and his royal knights of the Cleveland table have looked so poorly together at times, many fans and analyst are abandoning their bandwagon. However, as Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers stated after his team’s early struggles in an interview, we need to “R-E-L-A-X-.” Lebron still has more than 60 games in a weak conference to get his young cohorts together to fashion a title contender. James faced similar scrutiny in his first season in Miami, a season that cultivated in a NBA Finals appearance. The Cavaliers will improve, as the best basketball player on Earth will be leading them.

Florida State football is unpredictable

Last year’s college football’s champion, the Florida State Seminoles have either learned to closed out games this season, or are luckier than a rabbit’s foot and a four-leaf clover in a bowl of Lucky Charms. 2014 Heisman winner, Jameis Winston, amid offield criminal allegations, has his Seminoles in position to repeat last year’s performance. Though statistically he has had a down year and the Seminoles have, seemingly weekly, had to comeback from teams less talented, Florida State is still the only unbeaten team in college football and look to have a legitimate shot to not only earn a spot in the college football playoff, but a chance to repeat as champions.

Kentucky Basketball can go perfect

Not since Bob Knight’s 1976 Indiana Hoosiers has college basketball seen an undefeated team. This year’s, Kentucky may challenge the General’s 38 year mark. This season, the Wildcats have dismantled each of their opponents this season as their closest game this year was a victory by 19 points. With 9 All American McDonald’s players on his roster, coach John Calipari has ingeniously taken advantage of the “one and done” system of college basketball to continually restock Kentucky with the best high school basketball players in the country.

Women’s Basketball will compete

A season ago, UNCG’s women’s basketball was painfully dreadful to watch. Turnovers and sloppy plagued Wendy Palmer’s squad last year, and though the team may struggle this season, the team looks much better in the games they have played in this early season. Out the gate at 2-4, the team can rebound from their early play, but after close games against Navy  and Longwood, women’s basketball has looks like a team which can compete each game and could perhaps  nearly double their win total of seven games last year 

Watch for Men’s Basketball to Improve

Though chemistry is a necessity for any sporting team to find success, the nature of basketball that requires constant movement of five individuals offensively and defensively, chemistry can be visibly seen on the court positively or negatively. The San Antonio Spurs look poetic with their spacing and finding the open man offensively. At times throughout their career, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony led teams have looked lethargic and uneven as the two stars isolate the offense. This gelling together requires time, which is why the men’s basketball team may struggle early this season, but by season’s end, should compete in the SoCon tournament. Close matches against Indiana and Longwood highlight the team has the talent to make noise by the postseason tournament.