Calipari Downplays Undefeated Talk as Kentucky Readies For Louisville

By JOSH NEWMAN

The notion that the University of Kentucky could go undefeated has been a topic of conversation for months.

The Wildcats have gotten through Kansas, Texas, Providence, North Carolina, Texas and, most-recently, they bulldozed UCLA by 39 points at the CBS Sports Classic on Dec. 20 at the United Center.

Saturday brings with it a completely different animal as Kentucky will travel to the KFC Yum! Center to take on fourth-ranked and fellow-unbeaten Louisville. The Cardinals are the final, not to mention toughest non-conference test for the Wildcats before they enter SEC-play next week. If Kentucky wins this one, it’s going to be much harder to tone down the undefeated talk, but that doesn’t mean John Calipari won’t continue to try.

“When you have two groups, it’s just different,” Calipari said on Thursday afternoon during his day-before-game media availability. “When you’re trying to play against yourselves, you don’t worry about anybody else. We know how good teams are. We’re not the only good basketball team out there and sometimes you forget. We’re not the only team with good players. There are a bunch of other teams, including Louisville, who have terrific players. Let’s focus on us. That’s how I’ve always coached.”

Seton Hall’s Whitehead Could Miss 4 Weeks With Stress Fracture (UPDATED)

Seton Hall freshman guard Isaiah Whitehead could miss up to four weeks with a stress fracture in his right foot, head coach Kevin Willard said Saturday in his radio interview with Gary Cohen and Dave Popkin.

That would put Whitehead, the Big East Preseason Rookie of the Year, back in late January.

Whitehead had an MRI on his right foot Wednesday, and the result of the test confirmed that he has a stress fracture of the second and third metatarsal bones. Doctors will evaluate Whitehead’s foot weekly.

“There’s not an easy replacement for a kid like Isaiah Whitehead,” Willard said Saturday. “You’re gonna have a drop-off.”

Dennis Smith Jr. Talks Package Deal with Tatum, Giles, Playing Seventh Woods, Recruiting

By JACK LeGWIN

COLUMBIA, S.C.- Much has been made about the possible package deal with Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles and Dennis Smith Jr.  While it is something that each is highly considering, they’d don’t discuss it often.

“We talk about it about twice every month,” Smith Jr. told SNY.tv. “They’re two great players, two of the top ranked players in the country, and they show it every time they play. It would definitely be a plus for me to play with those guys.”

Smith Jr. said it is something they are serious about.

“We really do mean it whenever we say it,” Smith Jr said. “But we really haven’t put too much thought into it as of now. That is something that we are looking forward to talking more about next year.”