Kentucky's loss to arch rival Louisville may have been a setback for in-state bragging rights, but it also showed that this team has improved greatly over the last month. One player who stood out in particular was freshman center Willie Cauley-Stein, who usually comes off the bench but was put into the starting lineup against the Cardinals.
Despite his recent troubles at the foul line, Cauley-Stein's ability to rebound, clean up under the basket, block shots and play aggressive defense was a big reason why the Wildcats were still in the game against Louisville until the end.
If you've watched Kentucky basketball all season, however, this shouldn't have been a surprise. While his stat lines may not always be glamorous, Cauley-Stein brings an intensity and toughness that is sorely needed on this Wildcat team right now.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.