‘Cats Ranked #1…and It All Started in Vegas [VIDEO]

What happens in Vegas might stay in Vegas. But after Saturday night, what happened in Vegas had a major effect more than 1300 miles away. Thanks to UNLV's 90-80 win over North Carolina in the Las Vegas Invitational, the Tar Heels have tumbled from the top spot in the Associated Press college basketball poll and are now at #5. Kentucky--thanks to huge blowout wins over Radford and Portland--easily ascended to #1 for the first time since the 2009-2010 season. I can only hope the young 'Cats--they start two sophomores and three freshmen--shrug off the urge to celebrate. They host St. John's Thursday before the big marquee matchup with Carolina on Saturday. When you're Kentucky, you always have a target on your back. When you're Kentucky AND you're #1, that target gets even bigger. I doubt a super talented team like North Carolina relish the possibility of losing games on consecutive Saturdays, so they will be pulling out all the stops. AND, they are older than Kentucky. UK's recent first-half mediocrity cannot make an appearance Saturday or it will be lights out. And Big Blue Nation doesn't like watching its 'Cats lose on the Rupp Arena floor. And John Calipari doesn't like losing home games. UK is currently 36-0 at Rupp under Coach Cal. The Kentucky kids are going to have to bring their A+ game Thursday and Saturday if they want to stretch that run to 37. And I certainly hope they don't overlook St. John's Thursday night. It's a big week for the 'Cats. Let's see if #1 can stay #1.