Why would anyone want Kentucky and Calipari to win the National Championship over Kansas? Much less win the National Championship period. I still can't find a legit reason to root for the Wildcats. Although I do have Kentucky beating Kansas in the title game in one of my brackets, I still can't root for them. The only people that should be rooting for Kentucky are: Kentucky fans/alums, Kansas State fans/alums, or Mizzou fans/alums. The only reason for the ladder two is because of their hatred and dislike for Kansas. Here are a few reasons why you don't need to be rooting for Kentucky.
1. If Kentucky wins, it probably won't count anyway
Cal has already had 2 Final Four banners stripped from him.What makes you think this one wouldn't get stripped away too. While at UMass, Cal coached 1996 National Player of the Year, Marcus Camby. However, a subsequent NCAA investigation found that Camby illegally accepted a total of $28,000 from sports agents that were attempting to lure him into the NBA Draft after his Sophomore season, and the school was forced to vacate its Final Four appearance as well as return their 1996 NCAA Final Four trophy. Camby eventually repaid the school the $151,000 in lost Final Four revenue that came as a result of the NCAA's ruling. Not to mention Cal's only Final Four appearance at Memphis was stripped. Memphis’s trip to the 2008 Final Four was wiped from the record, and the team had its 38-2 record expunged, after the N.C.A.A. ruled that Derrick Rose had played the season while academically ineligible because his SAT score was ruled invalid. I am still not convinced that this Kentucky team, that just happens to be full of studs, is clean. They have at least a few true-freshman who will get drafted in the 1st round of the NBA draft. Who is to say these players haven't been paid anything to come to Kentucky for one year.
2. As a Tennessee Fan, I never want our rivals to win
I know conference pride is a big deal now-a-days, but if it is one of your rivals, conference pride goes out the window. As a Tennessee fan, I do not want Kentucky to win a national championship. It would only improve their recruiting. They do not need help in recruiting. They are already a Blue Blood of college basketball. For other teams in the conference to have a chance, we need Kentucky to lose. John Calipari already gets whatever top recruits he wants anyway. Just as I did not want Alabama to win the National Championship in football, I do not want Kentucky to win in basketball. Rivals should always root for their rivals to lose. Do you think Duke fans would be rooting for North Carolina to win tonight if UNC was the team playing Kentucky?
3. Bill Self and this Kansas team is very likable
This Kansas team is a fun team to watch. They have had their backs against the wall all year and continue to fight. Kansas fought back against a very good Ohio State team to win in the National Semi-Finals. Kansas is a team that plays hard and is very resilient. Bill Self is a great X's and O's coach. Self does things the right way and you never hear about his program getting in trouble with the NCAA.
4. Self beating Calipari again in the National Championship Game
For folks here in Memphis, the last time Cal lost in the National Championship Game was devastating. Calipari then went on a few years later to bolt for Kentucky. How ironic would it be for the same coach at the same university to hand Calipari his second loss in only his second National Championship Game appearance. I would love to see Cal squirm on the sidelines again. I don't know what excuse he would have because this Kentucky team is loaded with talent. Here is what happened the last time the two coaches met in the National Championship.
I have talked to quite a few Memphis fans around the city today. To my surprise there have been quite a few who are pulling for Cal and the Wildcats tonight. They still like Cal and are appreciative for what he did for Memphis basketball. If I remember correctly, Memphis was already a nationally relevant basketball program. They did not need Calipari. There would be nothing more satisfying to see Kansas pull out a win tonight. I am going against my bracket predictions and will yelling at the top of my lungs ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!
ROWYJO on Twitter
@JuniorGriffy3
@CRezFTW
