Some more reflections:
- What sucks is that UConn is the 5th-best team Kentucky played in this tournament. I have no idea what kind of rabbit's foot they have in these tournaments, but pretty much everyone they played had their worst game of the tournament against them. Maybe the credit goes to them for disrupting everyone so much... but Michigan State took 29 threes against them, Wilbekin was hurt when they played Florida, and they played Kentucky without their best defender and with Randle hurt (btw Budden you're a MF idiot. He's not in bad shape, he hurt his ankle against Wisconsin. Again, to be clear: you're an idiot.) I think everyone was fixated on what a crazy run Kentucky made that they didn't realize what UConn did was way more improbable. They should've lost their first game to St. Joe's! Ridiculous. This is 2 championships in 4 years for them where they just got hot, ran into everyone at the exact right time, and stole one.
- Just like in 2011, Kentucky gave up a championship to UConn by completely crapping the bed. The officiating was bad, but when you miss 11 free throws (one of those being the front end of a huge 1-and-1), go 5/16 from 3, and get outrebounded (still don't understand how that happened) in a National Championship game... you are going to lose. Kentucky's defense was never that great this year, but their offensive efficiency was amazing down the stretch in the tournament, up until this game. Aaron had a wide open 3 when we were down 1 late in the game.. but they were just out of gas. He's the last person to deserve any blame, and will go down as a Kentucky legend regardless.
- Another similarity to that 2011 Final Four game: there was a 4-5 minute stretch in the 2nd half where Kentucky was coming back, and within 3-4 points.. and kept stopping UConn.. but just could not score on offense. Same thing over and over. Those stretches lost them the game, both times. Painful.
- Wichita State is the best team Kentucky played all year. If they didn't run into Kentucky in the 2nd round, they win the whole thing. The selection committee is always bad, but they were particularly awful this year.
- Kentucky's last 3 opponents went 40/44 from the free throw line.
- Seriously, how do you fall for this?
Jay Bilas @JayBilas Apr 7
One official needs to learn the laws of physics. A 250 pound man falling backwards as if shot on zero contact is a flop. Education!
- That's one of the worst calls I've ever seen. At an absolutely crucial juncture too. And the ref had a PERFECT view of it. College basketball officiating is just the worst.
I freaking HATE flopping. What a sweet, athletic move Alex Poythress made in the above gif.. but no, let's reward the flopping vagina who is too unathletic to make a play, so he just flails like he got shot. Pathetic. Should be an automatic technical, an ejection, and a 5 game ban. And yes, I know Kentucky's players flop too, sometimes.
- Doug Shows and Joe DeRosa in the title game? Is that really the best you can do, NCAA?
Kentucky's record in Doug Shows officiated games.. 58-21. He's called 11 technicals on UK since Cal got here. Great choice for a title game!
- I love that everyone acts like Kentucky is ruining college basketball and cheers against them.. meanwhile, UConn got off probation 2 weeks ago for major recruiting violations and was banned last year for not graduating players. They were literally working with a known NBA agent to get a commitment from a player who received all kinds of extra benefits. Oh, and Ryan Boatright's mom received at least $8,000 in "impermissible benefits" but he only had to sit out a few games. Gotta love college athletics.