What would you be willing to give up for number 8?

Beginning in January, we will launch a new site called KSRU, that will feature college students writing features about UK sports, with an emphasis on some of the secondary sports at the school. Over the course of the rest of December, a few of these students will each be writing posts in this space at 9 am to get accustomed to the process. Therefore you will see a variety of names here in the coming days. We hope you enjoy their work and remember, be nice. Only one more day until we get to see our cats play at home again and dominate those Chattanooga Mocs. While we all wait patiently, I'm bringing you something to ponder over this Friday morning. Since the Calipari era began, it seems that every year our wildcats have a serious chance at winning the national title. Calipari is not only a top recruiter, he knows how to bring out the most in his players and coach them to their highest potential. You can look at Terrence Jones and see how much his game has improved from last season to this year (with the exception of the game I refuse to bring up). His overall ball handling and shooting has improved, and I can't imagine his skill level being anywhere near as good as it is now if he would have entered the NBA draft instead of deciding to play for UK another year. You can also look at Josh Harrelson, who recently signed with the Knicks and see just how much he improved under Calipari's direction compared to the dark years under Gillispie. Looking at Harrelson in 09' no one could imagine him as a player who would be able to lead our team to our first final four appearance since 98' when we also won our last title. While it's hard to motivate a player, and bring out the best in them when you make them sit in a bathroom stall and ride in an equipment van home, Calipari brought out the best in Harrelson and made him into a player that was able to be drafted and live out his dream. Amazing. Disney is no longer the place where dreams come true, Kentucky is. As long as Calipari is the coach of Kentucky, he will continue to bring in top recruiting classes, as he has done, and he will continue to coach our players into amazing athletes. With our team this year, being one of the best I've seen at UK since 96', it seems that number 8 is within our reach, which brings me to my next point... Yahoo Sports recently completed a survey that found that 1 of 5 college football fans would go without sex for a year if it ensured their team would win a national championship. Yeah... you read that right. Since UK is a basketball school, I pose this question in terms of winning the National Title this year. What would you be willing to give up if it ensured that UK would get number 8? Personally I would pretty much give up anything... I would even consider not watching sports for an entire year, if it meant I got to see the 2011-2012 national championship banner being hung in Rupp next year. I asked some other people what they would be willing to sacrifice if it ensured their team won a national championship and their responses were surprising. Calipari said he would be willing to give up Orange Leaf for a year (gasp), I asked Louisville fans what they would be willing to give up and they said they would sacrifice their line beard and flat bills for a year, and Billy G said he would be willing to give up alcohol for a year (obviously kidding, Billy G would never give up alcohol). So what is it UK fans... what are you willing to sacrifice to hang that championship banner in Rupp next year? Here's to another win tomorrow on our road for number 8... Go Cats!