I'll take Kentucky in a close one...

Calipari turns the 'Cats around...

 

    Let me say that my personal regard for John Calipari is just less than I have for convicted sex offenders. He exemplifies the words slick and sleeze. About the only thing kind thing I can say good about the man is that Jim Calhoun hated him. Those two are a pair alright. Cheat and re-cheat as far as I'm concerned. Still, you have to give Calipari a tip of the hat for what he did in the last two weeks for so the Wildcats is pretty impressive. When they beat the Tide 55-48 in Lexington they looked pretty average. They grew from MildCats to Wildcats in a matter of weeks. What UCONN coach, Kevin Ollie has done with his team may be more impressive. He beat Florida twice. He was in a tough bracket and behind t strong guard play made it to the championship game. His team's inside game leaves a lot to be desired.  Good coaching makes a difference. The fact that he had to replace Calhoun and then took the Huskies to the big game is amazing. How hard was it to replace Calhoun? How hard will it be to replace Nick Saban? It's that sort of thing. In the AW era (after Wooden) his Huskies have a chance to win their forth national championship which is as good as anyone. People might think that Cinderalla wears Big Blue, but in reality it is the dark Huskie blue that the princess chose to wear. I'm an SEC guy. But it is going to hard to pull for a team that I think was bought and paid for. My proof? The history of Calipari. His Wildcats might be young, but if you think they came into the season unexperience you need to think again. His five starters played in over 300 AAU games before turning pro and signing with SEC bad boy Kentucky. 

     

The same holds true for almost all incoming freshmen these days. AAU ball has it own unique set of problems, but giving the players a chance to play against the other great players isn't one of them. I personally think that Florida pulled off the great robbery this season playing with a bunch who probably won't find their names called on NBA draft day. I think that Kentucky will because they are so strong inside. I think that UCONN has the edge in the guard department despite the Harrison twins heroic efforts in the Big Dance. One thing is for sure to me - it's not nearly as much fun watching the NCAA when your team is a fading ping in the world of basketball. But what a great tournament. It just proves that the NCAA Tournament is the biggest event in the NCAA bad of tricks. Kentucky by 6.