Kentucky vs NC Central: What fans really want to see Tuesday night

by: Drew Franklin17 hours agoDrewFranklinKSR

The biggest problem Kentucky has right now is not shooting, rebounding, or Xs and Os. It is that nobody looks particularly fired up to play basketball for the University of Kentucky. Denzel Aberdeen basically said that on Monday, admitting the team’s lack of energy and effort, while adding that “nothing is wrong with the team.”

So here we are. NC Central is on deck. They are ranked No. 350 of 365 in KenPom, so the outcome will not change anyone’s opinion about the big picture. If Kentucky blows them out, the reaction will be “good, that is what you are supposed to do.” If it is close for too long, we may hear the boo birds again.

Still, Tuesday night is not even about the scoreboard, though the game better be a blowout. It is more about whether Kentucky looks like a group of guys who enjoy being around one another. Will they give effort? Will they play with energy? Do they care that they lost by 35 in Nashville, and if so, how will they respond? They have pride, right?

The next opponent shouldn’t provide too tough a test, but it is an opportunity for the Wildcats to start acting like teammates, like they care. Maybe celebrate each other. Talk. Make the extra pass. Help out. Dive on the floor, or give a helping hand to the teammate who dove on the floor. Show some emotion.

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Sure, fans want a big win, but Tuesday night, they’re more interested in signs that the team is together. The players pass the media test when asked about chemistry, but fans don’t see it on the court.

NC Central cannot fix Kentucky’s problems. But Kentucky can at least start fixing Kentucky. After that, the competition ramps back up with the return of the Indiana rivalry on Saturday, and Rick Pitino and St. John’s in Atlanta a week later. Those are the games that count. Kentucky can’t go 0-6 against the good teams in the non-conference slate. But first, the NC Central game could be the start of resetting the chemistry and confidence, showing some signs of life, and maybe remembering what and who they represent.