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3.0 (7 votes)

It's a bad word to any coach. Revenge.

Coaches don't like it because it can mess with any players emotions. It can take you out of your game. You can get so pumped up, that you get tired quicker because of the extra energy you spend.

So, losing to South Carolina last month and playing them Thursday night to Cal, has nothing to do with revenge.

Players are different. The Cats are thinking about revenge. They have circled South Carolina coming to Rupp for the better part of a month because it's their only loss of the season.

"I'd have to say it is, yeah," says Daniel Orton.

The Cats have not forgotten about the trash talking from the Student Senate at South Carolina . They invited UK to play South Carolina in "Any Sport, Any Time."

To Orton, who is averaging 1.5 blocks in only 13 minutes per game. He believes revenge gets you more pumped up.

"Yeah I'd have to say it gets the adrenaline running so, it's a little something that's fun you could say."

Revenge can only happen if the Cats do what they do best, rebound. That was one of the many things that didn't seem to make the road trip to South Carolina.

"We really can't take people lightly. No matter what the team looks like. No matter who it is. You can't take anybody lightly."

That comment drives fans crazy, but it happens all the time.

To Cal, who has raised the bar. Shoot for the stars and the NCAA Championship. Keeping your cool is something Cal keeps on talking to his team about, because you don't want to be the guy that blows it.

"Could you live with that ?," asks Cal.

"I know you sit here and say you could. Try for the next forty years. Try and live with that. And all because of what, I'm a man, he pushed me? Stop! I missed a shot so now I got to go back and foul and can't think and I'm embarrassed?"

Cal might be reminding his players about keeping calm through March Madness.