The cancellation of the NCAA Tournament served as fitting punctuation on a Kentucky season that conditioned fans to expect the unexpected.
For example:
_ No. 1 UK's November loss to Evansville, which subsequently ended its season with a 19-game losing streak. By then, its coach, former UK player Walter McCarty, had long since been fired.
_ The abrupt departure of freshman Kahlil Whitney for parts unknown.
_ Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner saying he could see John Calipari someday running for president of the United States.
_ Ashton Hagans, who had been described as "the heartbeat" of the UK team, not making the trip to Florida for what were called "personal reasons."
_ After December, UK shooting 3-pointers about twice as well in road games (68 of 134 for 50.8%) than in Rupp Arena (33 of 123 for 26.8%).
_ Vanderbilt coming to Lexington on the brink of setting a record for consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season losses and leading Kentucky 35-28 at halftime.
Mighty Kentucky's inability to demonstrate clear superiority extended far beyond both come-from-behind victories over Vandy. Of UK's 31 games, 25 had margins of seven points or less inside the final seven minutes. That was true for every game after Jan. 4.
Only one possession separated Kentucky from the competition inside the final six minutes of 17 games.
Late in the season, Calipari spoke of his team "dodging bullets." As a 25-6 overall record and SEC regular-season championship at 15-3 suggest, Kentucky eluded the metaphorical bullet most of the time. The miss at the buzzer by Florida guard Andrew Nembhard last weekend immediately comes to mind.
The bullet also found its mark when Utah and Ohio State hit clutch 3s as Kentucky rolled snake eyes in two games in Las Vegas.
South Carolina won 81-78 on Jan. 15 when Jermaine Couisnard banked in a 3 at the buzzer.
Couisnard, who said his winning shot sparked a reaction "all over my social media," added that Nembhard's miss "was almost the same shot."
The perils of Pauline act encored in the final week of the regular season when UK lost to Tennessee after leading by 17 in the second half and then winning at Florida after trailing by 18 in the second half.
Calipari spoke of Kentucky as a "game-by-game team," meaning the inconsistencies collectively and individually made the season a series of unpredictable adventures.
One constant was superior free-throw shooting. Kentucky made a program-record 79.7% of its free throws. Among Division I teams, only North Dakota State shot free throws more accurately this season (79.8%).
One reason for so many victories in close games: Kentucky shot free throws even more accurately in the clutch. Inside the last four minutes of regulation and overtime, UK made 82.2% of its free throws (125 of 152). Opponents made 84 of 118 free throws (71.2%) in those times.
Even Immanuel Quickley, who ranked third nationally in free-throw accuracy (92.3%, which was the second-best mark in program history), shot better in the clutch. He made 97.4% of his free throws (38 of 39) inside the final four minutes and overtime.
Nick Richards also shot better in the clutch (77.8%) than overall (75.2%). So did Hagans: 84.8% in the clutch, 81% overall. Tyrese Maxey had only a slight dip: 80.9% in the clutch, 83.3% overall.
Whether by making free throws or getting defensive stops or mere happenstance, Kentucky's ability to persevere impressed Florida coach Mike White.
"Whether you call it mental toughness or swagger or winning mentality," he said, "they've just found ways."
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