UConn for the Title.

UConn Wins Championship Over Kentucky







Posting after the UK-UConn game.  I didn't post following the Wisconsin game simply because the chance of hanging a ninth banner loomed large.  When BBN gets that close there is a singular focus.  The Cats pulled it out with that now famous Aaron Harrison jump shot and that put us over the moon.  But then it almost instantly became a waiting for the next game.

Next game came and went and our beloved Cats did not prevail.  Give credit to UConn.  They took the strength of our game away and those guards can hit from anywhere.  They played good enough to win and did.

This team far exceeded anything I expected even after the boastful talk pre-season.  Any one with any sense knew it would be hard and it was.  It took the entire season for this team to learn how to play together but then they came on with a vengeance playing every game to the wire and making the naysayers eat their words.  Now, we can whine about not having Willie and that no doubt changed the game but we didn't get beat so much inside.  I can't really complain with our guard play.  Those UConn guards were just sensational.

So, what can we take from this?  Pride.  Pride that we are a part of a state that adores Big Blue Basketball.  Proud that when players leave they can tell their buddies about the giant of a program they came from.

The draft projections I have seen through the first 30 have Randle, Willie and Young being selected.  Harrisons could be taken lower if they decide to go.  They could benefit from another year but there is another point guard coming.  Poythress will stay and he promises the chance of becoming the beast Cal says he can be.  Johnson, Lee, Hawkins all promise to be great players.

Our hearts are broken and everyone will tell us that our expectations are too lofty but we know better.  What the others don't know is that we will love them anyway.  So, for another 6 months we can hang on every word that comes forth from BBN and hope that maybe this will be a breakout year for Mark Stoops.

Congratulations UK Wildcats and BBN.  You did us proud.