Everything Wrong With US Media Coverage

The Scoffayette

Everything Wrong With US Media Coverage

The Scoffayette

Everything Wrong With US Media Coverage

The Scoffayette

Mission Impossible: Dethroning the Champs

By Michael Kelley ’14

Photo by Nicole Maselli ’14/ The Lafayetteimage199

A national championship banner will unravel from the rafters as the Lafayette men’s basketball team awaits tipoff this evening. These banners are the norm at the famous Rupp Arena—home to the defending national champions, the Kentucky Wildcats. Seven others reside there, portraying to all that visit the dominance and prestige of Kentucky basketball.

In front of their faithful for the first time since their 67-59 victory against Kansas in the national championship game, the Wildcats (1-1) will be pressed to impress on national television against none other than the Lafayette Leopards (1-1).

The matchup is part of the Barclays Center Classic Tournament.

For the Lafayette players, both young and old, the experience will be surreal.

“The sea of blue,” said Tony Johnson ‘13, when asked about the first thought that comes to mind in regards to Kentucky. “You  watch the big games, the primetime games, and you happen to see all the white and blue in the crowd. There’s nothing like 24,000 people screaming at you.”

Forward Dan Trist ‘15 cut straight to the chase. “The defending national champions,” he said, laughing. “They have a lot of NBA picks…so many guys. They’re all animals.”

One of those “animals” on Kentucky is Trist’s primary responsibility – 6’10 forward Nerlens Noel, the ESPN No.1 recruit in the class of 2012. Known for his hi-top fade hairstyle and ferocious dunks, Noel is a sure bet to be a lottery pick in next year’s NBA Draft.

Some may ask the purpose of playing Kentucky in what is sure to be a blowout. But Lafayette refuses to see it that way. Every experience is a learning opportunity for a team as young and as inexperienced as Lafayette is.

“We want to compete with them,” Johnson said. “We can’t look at their ranking – we have to get better at what we do.”

Kentucky thrives off the fast break, an aspect Lafayette will look to limit by slowing down offensive possessions.

“Every bad shot is almost a turnover against a team like that,” Trist said. “We almost start our defense on how we play our offense. We’ll take good shots if we have them. If we don’t, we need to pull it back and try to get good looks.”

When Kentucky does have the ball, Lafayette will primarily defend in either a 2-3 or a 1-3-1 zone, allowing for constant help defense.

But at the end of the day, regardless of the outcome, the 13 members of the 2012-2013 Lafayette basketball team will share the experience of a lifetime.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” forward Seth Hinrichs ‘15 said. “They have [alumni] that will be coming back. They’re champions – that atmosphere will be electric.”

 

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