Kentucky WBB attempts to answer what's changed
In 59 days of SEC play, Kentucky picked up two wins. In 48 hours at the SEC Tournament, the Cats have found the same number of victories. What changed?
Last-place Kentucky looked unrecognizable in its upsets over 11-seed Florida and 6-seed Alabama. The thorns that repeatedly pricked the Cats all season have blossomed into flowers overnight; three nights to be exact.
Kentucky played its final regular season conference game on Feb. 26, falling to Tennessee in brutal 83-63 fashion. The extreme (team) makeover makes no sense to an outsider. So, we asked the insiders what changed. They each had their own opinion.
A new mindset
“It’s coming in with the mindset that this is a new start for us,” Maddie Scherr said following the win over Alabama. “There is no doubt in our minds that we can beat every team in the SEC, and that’s how we’re going to go into it against every single team.”
The Cats certainly aren’t playing scared. The team has swarmed its opponents, forcing 37 turnovers in two games. Chase-down blocks, diving steals and courageous charges are just a few of the scenes hidden in the figure. Players such as sophomore Jada Walker are pushing the team’s gritty attitude forward, and she knows it.
“Our grittiness, our toughness on defense, then just not wanting to lose. Just playing all the way through. I feel like we’re the most dangerous team in the league because we have nothing to lose right now. Going straight to the top,” Walker said after Thursday’s win.
Walker wasn’t the only one to point to the team’s toughness as a key to Kentucky’s postseason surge.
“You have to have a mental toughness to battle through what we battled through. We came to this tournament with two wins. Two wins. A lot of people could have thrown in the towel. This team never did,” Elzy said.
Something deeper
While toughness is the satisfying buzzword behind Kentucky’s improbable run, it’s not the only reason the team is suddenly winning. There has to be a factor below the surface, something tangible. Elzy believes that factor is time.
Kentucky has six freshmen and four transfers on this team. Of the five players returning, only one consistently started. As frustrating as it is, it takes patience to put together a puzzle. Elzy thinks the Cats are solving that puzzle at just the right time.
“We had 15 people all in a different role than they’ve ever been, so it was a work in progress. It’s better late than never.”
Walker is someone who knows about “better late than never.” As a pivotal piece of Kentucky’s miraculous 2022 SEC Tournament run, Walker gave the most honest answer of the day.
“It’s March once again, so magical things happen,” Walker said.
Kentucky will need all the magic it can muster. The Cats will take on No. 3 seed Tennessee at approximately 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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