I know it's only December and I know that March is the most important month in the college basketball season, so the game against North Carolina was not the be all, end all for the Kentucky basketball team.

            For Big Blue fans, however, this was a statement game--an opportunity for college basketball's all-time winningest program to stand up and say "we're back."  Consider the message delivered.

            Kentucky is going to lose some games this season--maybe the first one as early as Wednesday night--but the Wildcats have not been higher than an eight seed on Selection Sunday since 2005.  Saturday's win over North Carolina was a statement that the Wildcats are indeed back in their customary spot of contending for Final Four spots and national titles and with John Calipari at the helm, that doens't figure to change anytime soon.

            Just being back in the conversation about the game's elite teams is something I sense the Wildcat nation has been craving.

            To me, I thought the big difference was Kentucky's speed.  Led by John Wall, the Cats unleashed a relentless attack on the Tar Heels in that first series that had a fairly experienced team not knowing which way to turn.  UNC regrouped and with Wall slowed by cramps, the game got close and that was good for Kentucky's players to have to win a possession-by-possession game against a top-notch foe.

            It'll be interesting to see how the Cats bounce back from having to dig deeper than they've had to dig in this young season.  For the first time this season, the crowd figures to be one that will be heavily in favor of the opponent and U Conn has an experienced backcourt with a good deal of athleticism itself.

            I talked to ESPN's Jay Bilas yesterday and he said he came away from Saturday's game thinking there's more upside to UK than he previously thought.  He wasn't sure they were Final Four-caliber because of their youth but he was so impressed with Wall and company that he is revising that thinking.  And Bilas said if Kentucky can limit U Conn's transition baskets and offensive rebounds, the Cats should stay undefeated through Wednesday's game in New York.

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