NCAA Championship Game 2012: Kentucky Sophomores Are Key to Title Win

When talking about the Kentucky Wildcats, freshman sensation Anthony Davis deservedly receives all the attention. The Naismith Player of the Year and likely No. 1 overall pick is that good and then some.

Davis will have a huge impact on tonight's National Championship Game, but it is sophomores Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones who are key to the Wildcats cutting down the nets.

These two sophomores in particular, both projected first round picks, were there last year when Kentucky came up short in the Final Four against the eventual champion UConn Huskies.

Jones was quoted by Brett Dawson of Rivals' CatsIllustrated saying:

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"We had a great journey, but I just wanted to take it one step further. I told (Calipari) I wanted to get better and help him win a national championship."

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While Lamb said:

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"Throughout this whole season, we've all been talking about winning a championship and bringing number eight back to Kentucky. We're finally here. It's exciting to be here, on the big stage, in the last game of the tournament."

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Kentucky's top contributors consist of three freshmen, one senior and the two aforementioned sophomores.

The lone contributing senior, Darius Miller, has had many highs and lows since stepping on campus. This would be the highest of the highs, that is for sure.

He'll be an important player in tonight's game, as well, but with the game on the line it will be the likes of Davis, Marquis Teague, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Lamb and Jones on the court.

Lamb and Jones' wounds from last year's loss are still fresh. Davis is the best player on the court, but the sophomores are the ones who will have to rally this team.

They won't be back for another crack next year, so look for them to make their chance count.