John Calipari and his extremely young but mega-talented college basketball team swept through New Orleans this past weekend with a swift force nothing stood in their way and nobody from East Tennessee State or Wake Forest had any answers to combat the Cats' efforts.

Going into the first weekend of play many of the nation's top-rated media analysts on ESPN and CBS said UK's freshman guards John Wall and Eric Bledsoe would fold under the intense pressure of the NCAA spotlight of national television and the CBS cameras. Several even went far enough to predict UK would be the first #1 seed eliminated from the tournament.

Funny how today's youth responds to those type of remarks, they simply don't pay any attention or some say aren't smart enough to understand what the situation is they're in at times.

Whatever their mindset is, the youthful Cats have another different type dilemma for their next game in their march toward the Final Four this coming weekend when they travel north to Syracuse, New York for the Sweet 16 round. Next up is Cornell of the Ivy League, and the Big Red (as they are affectionately referred to by their fan base) is coming off an impressive whipping of a good Big Ten team in Wisconsin where they put a 89-67 whipping on a solid Badger team and shot 61% from the field in the process. Cornell has made a living on patient play offensively, excellent shot selection, and lead the nation most of the season in field goal percentage.

It will be a classic example of UK's size, quickness, and pure raw physical talent versus the intelligent, patient, and precision type philosophy of Cornell and its perimeter game. The shot clock will come into play when Cornell has the ball and expect them to try and shorten the game with each possession.

Tipoff for the Big Blue and Big Red will be approximately 9:45 p.m. Thursday evening and televised live on the CBS network (WKYT - 27 Lexington or WYMT-57 Hazard).

Should UK win Thursday it will make its first appearance in an NCAA tournament Elite 8 game since 2004 when a Tubby Smith led UK was beaten in overtime by Michigan State. UK's opponent Saturday will be the winner of the Washington-West Virginia game at 7:15 p.m. played prior to their Sweet 16 round game.

Go to www.combsbrothersonkysports.com for more coverage of the Kentucky Wildcats and KHSAA Sports.