March Madness! 3-29-14

Nope, this time I'm not talking about the wacky winter and "spring" we've had - as in the effects of the polar vortex and snow and snow and snow - it is a generally held opinion around here that Mother Nature has bi-polar disorder and is off her meds!

But NO. March Madness is all about NCAA basketball, basketball and MORE basketball.

And in the state of Kentucky, basketball starts with a capital UK. As in the University of Kentucky. Or alternately, it might (for SOME people, not me) start with a capital U and L, as in the University of Louisville. These two schools represent the last TWO NCAA Championships! Let me also plug my graduate school Alma Mater, Murray State University. It is riding high in the post-season as well, climbing the brackets of the CollegeInsider Invitational Tournament (CIT). At the time of this post, the news media claims that the state of KY is the only state with three colleges still in post-season play!

UK had a fairly frustrating season (for dyed-in-the-wool Kentuckians, a Big Blue Nation that EXPECTS GREATNESS EVERY TIME, ALL THE TIME from THEIR Wildcats), beginning as the pre-season Number One pick and ending with a number 8 seed for the tournament (ranking between 28th and 32nd). U of L, which began with a pre-season ranking of Number Nine, their highest to date, ended as a number 4 seed for the tourney (ranking between 12th and 16th).  Both teams had winning seasons, but depending on your perspective perhaps, did not living up to their "expected" potentials. That may be more of a statement on the value of pre-season rankings than an actual prediction on the potential of either team. Be that as it may. Add the "coach factor" (Louisville's Petino used to coach the UK Wildcats and now coaches the Louisville Cardinals) to the mix, and you have the makings of a great instate rivalry.

There are always upsets within the seedings in any tournament. The 2014 NCAA Tournament has certainly seen its share of them. Including UK. The Wildcats beat Kansas St (they were a number 9 seed so it could have gone either way), but then they beat Wichita State who was seeded number one! Now THAT was an upset! A great game with some UK frustration and then last minute scrambling and excitement and a close, heart-thumping win.

And just like that, there is light at the other end of the bracket tunnel for the few fair-weather UK fans!

So. Last night. Your late-night TV entertainment! UK vs. U of L.

It started off predictably with UK struggling and eventually ending up 13 points behind. Then ... another case of "last minute scrambling and excitement and a close, heart thumping win!" UK, on the 22nd anniversary of that infamous loss on a last second basket by Duke's He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, had to endure the Slo-Mo arch of U of L's three-pointer attempt at the buzzer ... but it bounced off the rim and the Big Blue Nation collectively screamed across cyber-space for another Wildcat win!

What's next? Oh, man, it feels like THAT one last night should have been the championship game. But on Sunday, the Wildcats must persevere. They meet Michigan, a number 2 seed, to determine which team goes to The Final Four.

I'm assured that one of my friends will be wearing his lucky pants. I've got my fingers crossed. We'll all hold our heads right and prime our hope and eat our munchies and chew our Tums ... and not even try to contain our excitement or temper our trash-talkin'.

I'll try to squelch any doubt and the little voice in my head that quotes Coach Cal, "They're still freshmen!"

 GO, UK! Let's keep that NCAA Championship in KENTUCKY!

P.S. updated post to come after April 7th!