Kentucky newcomers address feelings entering first NCAA Tournament as Wildcats

It’s a special week for some Kentucky newcomers as they play their first NCAA Tournament as Wildcats. Two of them — Kellan Grady and Sahvir Wheeler — spoke about that prior to the big dance.

Grady transferred to Kentucky after four years with Davidson in the Atlantic 10. In fact, when Davidson made it to March Madness in 2018 — Grady’s freshman season — the Wildcats took on Kentucky.

Now getting ready to play for Kentucky, Grady discussed how different it is this time around.

“For me, it’s a new level of excitement because I’m with a different team,” Grady said. “And we’ve gone through adversity, and we’ve gone through an entire season together. It was a new level of excitement to go through this and be on Kentucky. It was amazing for us to get to March Madness and play Kentucky when I was at Davidson.

“But I’m excited to embrace this challenge with our team and try our best to take care of business.”

Oh the other side of the spectrum, the freshman Wheeler is gearing up for his first trip to the big dance. He has a different kind of excitement since he’s never been there before.

“Just being my first experience, this is something I’m super grateful for,” Wheeler said. “Because as a kid, every basketball player’s dream is to be here and get to the Big Dance. Even at the end of it, you’re watching that one shining moment.

“So it’s all surreal. I’m taking it in day by day. But obviously I came here to win, compete at the highest level. But it is a blessing. I’m having fun, going to continue to have fun and continue to win as well.”

John Calipari discusses difference in dynamics between SEC, NCAA tournament

Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari met with the media this week ahead of the team’s first-round NCAA tournament matchup versus 15-seed Saint Peter’s. The Wildcats are preparing for a much different tournament than the one they just got through with their SEC peers last weekend, as Calipari explains.

“It’s not going to be back-to-back games,” Calipari said. “We’ve been consistent all year. What I like, as I’ve said, is we’ve got a lot of guys if a player or two isn’t playing well, we can replace them with players who have helped us win this year. … Now, it’s, ‘What’s your role going to be with us going forward?’ ‘What do you have to do to help our team win?’ ‘What do you star in?’ It’s got to be what this team needs you to do.”

With the No. 2 seed in the South region, Kentucky has the third-best odds to win it all in New Orleans this year. The team’s 26-7 record, No. 4 offensive efficiency, and No. 25 defensive efficiency all point towards the Wildcats making a run at the Final Four.