The Kentucky men’s basketball team seems to have found its footing on the court after a rough start. Following a loss to South Carolina early last week, the team was able to secure a win at then-fifth-ranked Tennessee and followed it up with a win over Georgia on Tuesday night.
Senior forward Jacob Toppin attributes the team’s turnaround to a focus on discipline and winning every day. “We’re not trying to get complacent and get used to winning. We want to still have that chip on our shoulder and understand that we have to be the chasers. We’ve got to hunt and not be hunted. Everyone’s locked in, everyone’s dialed in to winning every day,” Toppin said.
UK head coach John Calipari has been emphasizing the importance of “stacking good days” in practice and in games, which Toppin believes has been crucial to the team’s success. “Every day, we’re trying to win, whether it’s a day we’re just scripting and not even practicing, just being dialed in mentally. Being able to win every day helps with that winning mentality for games,” he said.
The team is also focusing on staying present and not looking ahead to future games, instead, focusing on the task at hand. “We’re not worried about tomorrow, we’re worried about today,” Toppin said. “We’re worried about how we can get better today.”
The Cats will face another tough challenge on Saturday when they take on the Texas A&M Aggies at Rupp Arena. The Aggies have a 13-5 record and are currently 5-0 in the Southeastern Conference, having won seven games in a row. The team will have to be prepared to face the Aggies’ top scorers Wade Taylor IV, Tyrece Radford, and Julius Marble.
Saturday’s game against Texas A&M will be a test for the Cats, but with their renewed focus on discipline and winning every day, they are well-prepared to take on the challenge. The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 2 p.m. ET.