Baylor Center Seems to Have Had Enough of Hearing About Kentucky’s Basketball Team

Dallas has been getting a heavy dose of the same winter storm that's moved into the tri-state. But the chill in the air at AT&T Stadium in the Big D suburb of Arlington could just as easily be coming from Baylor's 7'1" center Isaiah Austin.

As the 3rd-ranked Kentucky Wildcats get set to play No. 20 Baylor Friday night, let the sabre-rattling begin. Austin was recruited by Kentucky but ultimately chose to play for the Bears. He wasn't on the Elite Eight team that got manhandled by the 'Cats in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. But he WAS on hand for something perhaps a little sweeter--last season's Baylor victory in Rupp Arena.

Now both teams are better and come together for a high-profile non-conference that's just one part of a very rough stretch for Kentucky and one part of a pretty decent early-season schedule for the Bears.

But despite the fact that these are better squads than last year's versions, Austin won't hear any talk of Kentucky being better than Baylor. In fact, I think the quote is, "Kentucky is not better than us in any way, shape or form.”

Chat sites and social media--always heavily patrolled by Big Blue Nation--will doubtless blow up with mutual trash-talk. But that's as it should be. I love it! Of course, Austin's gonna say that. And if he wants his team to win, he'd better believe it.

I'm sure if you polled any of the 'Cats--Dallas-area native Julius Randle included--they'd say the exact same thing. Well, they'd take out the word "Kentucky" and put in "Baylor," but you get me.

Kentucky vs. Baylor in JerryWorld on Friday night. Can't wait!