Can we forget about the "rift" between Cal and Wall now?

A lot has been made of a "rift" between John Wall and Coach Cal today, stemming from this quote from Wall made after Kentucky's game against Vanderbilt:

I don't know. He said I played awful. ... I didn't think I played that bad. I don't know what to expect. He's probably going to say I played bad today too so. I don't know. I just try not to listen to him and go out and play basketball and try and help my team win. ... To be honest, I really haven't been having fun for the last two weeks. It's just being frustrated and things like that so, I just got to figure it out before we go further in league play.

Wall should be frustrated with the way he has played the last few games.
(photo credit: ESPN)

Calipari responded as only Calipari can, spinning this into a "teaching point" and saying that this is just another step in the learning process.

While some have said that this is typical Cal sweeping issues under the rub, the fact of the matter is that he is right.

John Wall is an 18 year old kid. Just because he happens to be an uber-talented 18 year old kid doesn't mean that he is more mature than your average college freshman. Hes played a couple subpar games in a row - something he probably hasn't done before in his career - and took some of his coach's tough love a little too personally.

It happens.

As conference play is now in full swing, competition has gotten tougher and rivalries have gotten more intense. Wall has been the focal point for the Wildcats for most of the season, and with that comes opposing coaches game-planning to slow you down. They've had 21 games to learn how to do it. Wall now needs to learn how to adjust to the defense's he is facing, which he likely will. He's too talented to continue struggling.

The results haven't been all bad, either. As defenses focus on him, it has opened up opportunities for DeMarcus Cousins inside. Now, Cousins looks like the most unstoppable player in the country. The next step is that as opposing coaches start to center their game plan around slowing down the big fella inside (which they should be doing), more opportunities will open up for Wall.

This is just one of those things that happens during hoops season.

If this wasn't Kentucky, and this wasn't John Wall, and this wasn't Coach Cal, it likely would not have gotten anywhere near the coverage it has.

So lets put this behind us, and try to figure out how Ole Miss plans on slowing down the Wildcats tomorrow.