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Mark Story: Little evidence old John Calipari magic will take hold this season

“I thought they’d come out and play,” John Calipari said of his players. “They didn’t. The other team played harder.”

John Calipari - photo by Walter Cornett | WildcatWorld.com

– photo by Walter Cornett | WildcatWorld.com

From the time the 40-0 talk melted away during a disappointing Wildcats December, backers consoled themselves with thoughts of one number — 2011.

Kentucky fans invested hope that the current Cats, like the 2011 Wildcats of Brandon Knight, Josh Harrellson and Co., could jell late and make a Final Four run.

Given the uncertainties of March Madness, that could still happen. But after a disappointing Thursday night in Rupp Arena, let's be blunt: There's no tangible sign at this point that John Calipari's 2014 Cats have a magical march through March in them.

For the second straight game against a middling but desperate foe, Kentucky found itself in overtime at home, this time against .

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On This Day In UK Basketball History

On March 28, 1992, in what many called the “best NCAA Tournament game ever,” Kentucky takes defending NCAA champion Duke into overtime before losing 104-103 in the East Regional finals in Philadelphia. A last-second shot by Christian Laettner sends Duke to the Final Four, and breaks the hearts of Wildcat fans everywhere. It is Cawood Ledford’s last game as the “Voice of the Wildcats.”

 

On March 28, 1998, against Stanford, Kentucky rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit, then grabbed a 5-point overtime lead, before fending off the Cardinals to advance to the title game for the third straight season. Jeff Sheppard canned three long-range three-pointers - two in the final three minutes and one in overtime - en route to a career-high 27 points.

 

On March 28, 2014, unranked Kentucky beat No. 5 Louisville 74-69, in the 2014 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.  Aaron Harrison buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 39 seconds left that put UK ahead to stay before 41,072 in Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

On March 28, 2015, No. 1 Kentucky defeated No. 8 Notre Dame, 68-66, in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.  With its 37-0 record on the line, Kentucky trailed Notre Dame 59-53 with 6:14 left. UK rallied in front of 19,464 fans in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and preserved its perfect season thanks to a crucial blocked shot by Willie Cauley-Stein and two game-deciding free throws from Andrew Harrison in the final seconds.

 

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