Tyler Hansbrough is ready to call Kentucky a Final Four team

On3 image — Tyler Hansbrough had his UNC No. 50 jersey retired (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Tyler Hansbrough admitted he underestimated Kentucky in a backhanded compliment disguised as an apology following the team’s win over his North Carolina Tar Heels in the CBS Sports Classic.

“I owe you guys an apology. You smacked my Tar Heels and I’ve got to give you some credit. I underestimated you,” he said. “I was just going off the fact that you guys lost to UNCW at Rupp. And you guys almost lost to Saint Joseph’s at Rupp. And then you blew a 14-point lead to Kansas late in the game. I thought for sure my Tar Heels would win, but they didn’t. So congratulations on your first Quad 1 win of the whole year.”

Since then? Four straight wins, the latest in the SEC home opener against Missouri. And since he’s tracking quality of opponents for resume purposes, Kentucky is now 4-1 in Quad 1 and 2 games while North Carolina is 4-3 in such games. In case he was curious.

But that’s not why we’re here. Today, Hansbrough is acknowledging just how good Kentucky really is, and it’s beautiful. A true sign of maturity and growth.

“I hope they don’t go to the Final Four, but they are a Final Four team,” Hansbrough said on The Field of 68. “It pains me to say this, but Kentucky’s going to get better and better in my opinion, and you’re seeing a lot of growth from the freshmen and the young kids that they have.”

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Individually, he’s got his standouts — both rookies for the Cats.

“I really, really like the way that Reed Sheppard’s playing. I think he’s been consistent, he’s been a big surprise,” Hansbrough added. “But also, the (Aaron) Bradshaw kid. I think he’s been in and out all year, but he’s starting to catch. This team’s going to get better and better.”

He’s not willing to move past the UNC Wilmington loss, but he’ll at least use it as a learning opportunity for his arch-nemesis. It’s not something that ended Kentucky’s season, obviously, but rather one of many speedbumps young teams hit from time to time.

And the Wildcats have clearly figured things out since then.

“This is what you’re going to see from young teams: you’re going to lose to UNC Wilmington and then you’re going to have big wins, peaks and valleys,” Hansbrough said. “But this team is going to get better as the season goes on.”

A truly shocking development. Hey, better late than never.