Could Kentucky beat the Wizards? – Gary Williams answers

In one of the most popular and often discussed topic by fans all throughout the country is the subject of: “can the best team in college beat the worst team in the pros.” I know I’ve bantered in that discussion at least a dozen times over the years.

I will say that in most cases, the answer is, no way, its not even close. A college baseball team will never be able to consistently knock around a professional pitching staff in. In football, no matter how many perennial draft picks a football team has, there’s no way there’s enough of them on a roster to put together enough strength and talent on both sides of the ball to compete. Basketball has always been the excpetion, if an exception exists.

You only need five guys to start so it’s very possible that a college team can field a starting five that one-year is in college and next year are all in the pros, so in essence not much separating them from an inexperience, young basketball team. This years discussion that I’ve been a part of is: could the Kentucky Wildcats beat the Washington Wizards? Ironcially enough, former Maryland coach, who knows ALOT more about basketball answered this question this week on ESPN 980 with Kevin Sheehan. You can read the full details on Washington Posts DC Sports Bog here.

This was Gary’s answer:

“I’ll tell you, you walk into some gyms — and that would be one of them, Rupp Arena — and you better be tough,” Williams said. “Regardless of how good you are, you can get taken right out of the game with the crowd. You just don’t feel right, you can’t play your game.

“I think one game — Kentucky couldn’t play in the NBA or anything like that — but one game at Rupp Arena, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kentucky win one game. Because you’re gonna have five players off that team playing in the NBA, and probably playing significant roles in the NBA. And that’s why I say that, for one game.”

[When asked about Nene] – “He’s got to cover [Anthony] Davis, and he’s gonna be covering Davis next year,” Williams said. “I mean, Kentucky’s athletic ability is as good as pro teams. They don’t have the [same] basketball experience, obviously, as a guy who’s played in the NBA, and maybe not quite as strong as a guy who’s 28, 29 years old.

“But in terms of being able to run the court and find the open people, you know, Kentucky runs good stuff. They get their best players shots. And unless you play great defense against that, I don’t care if you’re an NBA team or a college team, they’re going to be very difficult to stop. Now it’s one game. It’s one game.”

Interesting to hear someone with some clout speak on this fan-talk discussion for once… I can’t say that I disgree with Gary on this one, I’m afraid to admit it, could a starting lineup of Wall, Crawford, Singleton, Booker and Seraphin even have beat Wall’s Kentucky team with Cousins and Co? I’d love for someone to ask Wall that question.