Little boys are impressionable and before the age of 10 they may find they have lots of favorite teams in other sports but in college basketball, by that age, they have chosen. For many it’s genetic, you get your daddy’s eyes and his fervor for UL or UK. For others it’s the influence of one of their favorite people, and for me it was my grandmother. Mamaw was a baseball nut. She had season tickets to the Redbirds/Bats until the day she died. She kept a scorebook during World Series games on tv. She made it to every little league ball game she could and if you played at Prairie Village you knew where she lived. You could even find her out back joining in for a few swings during a whiffle ball game. As much as she loved baseball, she had one true passion…Louisville Cardinal basketball.

My parents divorced early and my dad always claimed my mom made me a Louisville fan out of spite…I think he was joking. Yet, my love for the Cardinals was forged in my grandmother’s passion. This church going woman full of joy and kindness did find time to talk bad about one group of people on a regular basis. I don’t think it was the actual basketball team that ruffled her feathers but rather those fans clad in blue. She would say the same things that we say today about either side, “you can’t be around them” , “you can’t talk any sense to them”, or just plainly “a bunch of idiots”. These are phrases that can be interchangeable no matter what side of the table you sit.

This week is something Mamaw never experienced. This week is something we have only imagined. Yet, the week leading up to the “Dream Game” is anything but a dream. From the time Kentucky finalized their victory over Baylor the upset stomach began. The tension as you see Wildcats shirts walk by is high. The winner will have a life time of bragging rights because now, more than ever, the stakes are high.

Friendships will be tested and families will be torn. If you care about someone then limit your conversations to things other than basketball. The only thing I have talked about with my friend is what time should we start the steaks on Saturday and if he was watching Tiger win for the first time in over 2 years….oh and he told me his boy was yelling at him, “Go Cards” and laughing (no worries Cats fans, his fate is sealed)! Being a real fan in the Bluegrass is so much more than buying a t-shirt or rooting for whoever your spouse likes, it’s a life-long journey rooted in love, hate, and usually a disappointed family member.

Dear Cinderellas and Johnny Come Latelys, not this year!

The four teams with reservations in the 2012 Final Four are not strangers to this time of the year. The teams have combined for 49 Final Fours. Kentucky’s 15 trips is tied for 2nd most with Duke, Kansas is one behind with 14, Ohio State is next on the list with 11, and Louisville follows the Buckeyes with 9.

Kentucky has made a Final Four in every decade except the 00′s, beginning in the 40′s. They are the winningest program in total wins, most tournament appearances, and most tournament victories. It’s 7 National Championships is second only to UCLA. Wildcats are making consecutive appearances in the FInal Four for the third time in school history (48-49, 96-98).

Kansas not only sits with the 3rd highest total of Final Fours but also has the longest active streak for NCAA Tournament appearances with 23. The Jayhawks only trail Kentucky in overall wins and rank 5th in all-time tournament victories with 91, including 3 titles. KU has only missed a Final Four in one decade, the 60′s since 1940. This is the schools fourth appearance since 2000.

Ohio State has had a less storied past than the previous schools, but still carry a long tradition. The Buckeyes total of 11 Final Fours include two sets of three peats (44-46 and 60-62). Their 51 tournament victories is the 10th highest total. The school has made a Final Four in every decade except the 80′s, including most recently in 2007.

The Cardinals of Louisville have only 6 teams ahead of them in most Final Fours with 9. The school is 6th with 64 tournament wins victories and ranks 5th with 38 tournament appearances. UL has the 9th highest winning percentage in all-time games. The team has 2 NCAA Tournament Championships in ’80 and ’86. This is the Cards first appearance in the Final Four since 2005.

The coaches are no different. This is Rick Pitino’s 6 Final Four as a coach, which ties him with the Adolph Rupp and Denny Crum! John Calipari makes his 4th appearance as a head coach. This will be Thad Matta’s and Bill Self’s second appearance.

This Final Four may have the blood of college basketball royalty but it never takes away from the excitement and emotions of one of the most exciting times in the sports world.

If Laettner had missed that shot, or if Grant Hill hadn’t successfully made that amazing pass, the glory of the “greatest game ever played” would have belonged to Sean Woods. Seconds earlier, with everything on the line, he’d hit his own remarkable shot, giving his Wildcats the overtime lead with mere seconds to play. If Laettner’s impossible shot never happens, Sean Woods would have been a March Madness hero for years. Announcers would have yearly recalled the night he scored 21 points and hit the shot that mattered in a game that shocked Duke and the world in overtime. Instead, Laettner hit the shot, guaranteeing UK fans a yearly replay of painful memories and guaranteeing Sean Woods would fade into obscurity.

It’s ironic, then, that Sean Woods played for a Kentucky core known as the “Unforgettables”.  After all, how many casual basketball fans actually remember Richie Farmer, John Pelphrey, and Deron Feldhaus? But at the time, this was a team that defied the odds, and under the direction of Rick Pitino, had a magical run in 1992. This faithful team, which had stayed at the school despite having to sit through years of probation, endeared itself to the fans. The magic ended when Laettner drained that shot, but Woods will always remain a beloved Wildcat for being a vital member to one of its most famous teams.

In his UK career, Woods averaged 8.7 points and 5.3 assists per game. To this day, he still ranks in the top five of all time UK assist men. In 2005, his career at UK earned him a spot in the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame –forever saving a spot for his jersey in the rafters of Rupp Arena.

Beyond college, though, Woods has never exactly found himself in the limelight. He would never make an NBA roster, his career consisting of a brief stint trying out for the Indiana Pacers. Despite his career ending within the paint, Woods hasn’t left the court. To this day, he still finds himself on the sidelines, still as passionate for college basketball as he was nearly two decades ago.

After assistant coaching jobs at High Point, Texas A&M-Corpus Christie, and TCU, Sean Woods has found himself as a head coach in the NCAA. Though always a Wildcat, Woods now leads the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State University. Despite a less than stellar record of 30-76 as a head coach in his first four seasons, there are indications that he is taking the program in a new direction and building a foundation for the future.

This season, the team earned revenue and extreme experience with Woods’ non-conference schedule, playing nine games against opponents from the main conferences, including behemoths such as Florida and North Carolina. Though this schedule has added to Woods’ and the program’s loss total, it has also added to the visibility and income of the basketball program.

To the Wildcat fan, Woods will always be a member of the Unforgettables –the player that was 2.9 seconds from March Madness infamy. But, perhaps there is a glimmer of hope for Woods that he’ll have another chance to make history in the college basketball world. Who’s to say that, a few years from now, the Delta Devils from MVSU won’t find themselves as mid-major spoilers? Who’s to say that Woods won’t one day coach a team that will repay Duke, with a last second shot—a shot that shocks the world?

Wayne Turner was an integral piece and starting point guard on a UK dynasty that brought two championships back to Lexington (not to mention a runner-up finish as well). Turner was not a prolific scorer, but his all-around contributions, ability to spread the ball, and electric play allowed him to become a much-heralded part of a now legendary Wildcat team. In his stay at UK, he turned heads with his odd shooting style, which was especially displayed when he shot free throws. It often looked like he was shooting backwards. But something clearly worked, because he was also turning heads of the sport’s nation. Not many UK basketball players can say they appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice. Wayne Turner can.

After averaging 9.9 points, 4.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game in his final two years as a Wildcat, Turner hoped to move his diverse games into the professional realm. He would spend the next decade as a basketball journeyman, putting more cities and countries on his résumé than Carmen San Diego.

Turner’s stint in the NBA was brief –he played only three games for the Boston Celtics. After scoring four points and dishing out five assists in his 41 minutes as an NBA player, Turner took his modest salary of $30,000 and moved on. It became a theme of his professional career. He would never stay in one place for more than a season. After the Celtics, Turner played for the IBL’s Cincinnati Stuff, and then joined the infamous Harlem Globetrotters in 2000. Sadly, Scooby-Doo wasn’t still around, or Wayne would have been born into cartoon infamy.

After being a Globetrotter in Harlem, Turner became a real-life globetrotter. Between 2001 and 2008, Turner played for Andrea Costa Imola (Italy), the Dakota Wizards of the CBA, the Townsville Crocodiles (Australia), Spirou Basket (Belgium), the Boston Frenzy of the ABA, the New Zealand Breakers, and the East Kentucky Miners of the CBA. After over a decade of extensive travel as a professional basketball player, his ultimate destination came full circle. In 2010, he returned to Rupp Arena, where he served as one of Calipari’s assistants. He also returned to the classroom, where he worked to finish the undergraduate degree he had started in an era when NSYNC was still popular and Tubby Smith was the new face in town.

Apparently, Turner has found some solace in coaching. This year, he joined the Visionary Basketball Group (VBG), a year-round basketball development organization, as a coach and mentor for youth that aspire to do what he did –play high-level ball and hoist the hardware. Wayne Turner, once the young UK point guard with the quirky shot and the championship rings, is now hoping to inspire the next generation of basketball legends.

If the talent level at VBG is high, I’m guessing Turner hasn’t seen the last of Calipari. He’ll be recruiting the next class of stars, hoping to bring to Kentucky what hasn’t been seen since the Wayne Turner Era –a championship banner and a floor full of Wildcat blue on the last day of the college basketball season.

Patrick Sparks was never a star, by any means. After a successful two years at Western Kentucky University, he transferred, and spent his final two years of eligibility being a serviceable Division-I point guard. In his two years with Tubby Smith’s wildcats, he averaged 10.4 points, 3.5 assists, and 2 rebounds per game. While these stats are admirable, nothing about the Sparks’ numbers had NBA agents or scouts clamoring for his phone number. But there was something about Patrick Sparks that endeared him to the Wildcats’ fans.

For one, he was simply a Kentucky boy. Tubby Smith didn’t exactly recruit in-house, either, so it was a rare commodity when the Kentucky faithful got to see one of their own in the spotlight. Hailing from Central City, Sparks was a local hero with a story of hard work and daring to dream paying dividends. This attitude of never giving up was reflected in his game play. He was scrappy. He played the game with the ferocity of an angry Chihuahua, hustling after loose balls and never fearing to stand up to men who were taller, more athletic, and “better” than he was. Sparks was the underdog. As much as UK fans love to win, they also love to root for the underdog. Sparks was the best of both worlds. And then, he gave his fans one of the most memorable tournament moments from the past decade.

Nothing personifies March Madness like Patrick Sparks’ buzzer beater in 2005. Kentucky faced Michigan State in the Elite Eight, and when all seemed impossible, Sparks found a way to get behind the line and sink the shot that sent the game into overtime. The entire state of Kentucky was rendered breathless as the ball cruelly lingered on the rim, and when it finally succumbed to gravity and fell through the net, they jumped in unison. It was unbelievable –so unbelievable that CBS and the referees had to replay the play upwards of one hundred times, zooming in with what looked like FBI precision. The basket was good. Even with Kentucky going on to lose in overtime, Sparks solidified his place in Kentucky infamy within 1.5 seconds, a rebound, and an implausible shot.

Since leaving UK, Sparks has never returned to that stage of fame or audience. But basketball is still his life. 6’0 and scrappy was not enough for the NBA, so he ended up, instead, being drafted by the CBA’s Indiana Alley Cats in 2006. His CBA stint was brief, and coupled with a time away from basketball and a DUI arrest in 2008, it looked as if Sparks’ basketball career was facing an early and anti-climactic end.

Not so fast. Sparks’ career has had a resurgence in the unlikeliest of places. No longer is he the local boy endearing himself to fans. Sparks has taken his hard-nose brand of basketball across the pond –to Ukraine. In a short European career, he’s already played in Greece, Germany, and Portugal, but he seems to have found a level of success and stability in the Ukrainian Basketball League. In 2009, he officially became a professional all-star, making the UBL’s team in 2009. Currently a member of BC Odessa, Sparks finished last season averaging 9.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 3 rebounds per game, while shooting an astounding 87.5% from the free throw line.

The stats, once again, may not look amazing. But I can’t help but find myself imagining a Ukrainian crowd finding something impressive about this point guard who goes hard in the paint. The Kentucky faithful shouldn’t be surprised if, someday in the near future, Sparks shows up on YouTube, nailing an odds-defying buzzer-beater to bring BC Odessa a victory.

Then, Wildcats’ fans can once again relive 2005’s most exciting shot, when a 6’0 boy from Kentucky stood upon the biggest stage, and took their breath away.

John Calipari has landed himself on yet another radar. The Dominican Republic national basketball team has contacted John Calipari about possibly coaching their 2012 Summer Olympic team. The Dominican Basketball Federation has taken interest in John Calipari recently because they have seen the staff working with China in efforts to try and improve the coaching quality. The Dominican Republic is trying to get the same help.

If John Calipari decides to take the task on, he will inherit players such as ex-Louisville Cardinal standout Francisco Garcia and current Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford. After that though the roster begins to look a little bleak.

Calipari has been doing great work internationally, trying to pull in international talent to the college ranks. Like most people know he had signed, sealed and delivered Enes Kanter from Turkey but was unable to play at the collegiate level. That could become a common problem with most international players.

Most basketball players in other countries do not have much of a choice rather then to play for club teams. Their club team is the equivalent to America’s AAU. Also, many families do not have to finances to support their child moving to the states to play in the necessary camps and leagues to prepare their child.

The question that many should be asking themselves is if John Calipari does decide to take this job how does it affect his obligations with Kentucky? Odds are that Calipari is not going to take a job that will hinder his goals at Kentucky.

You would think that coaching this national team may have an affect on recruiting. The 2012 Olympics take place in the summer when most recruiting is done by college coaches. So, in the end will Calipari be able to handle both responsibilities and continue the tear on the recruiting trail that he is allowing the Kentucky faithful to become accustomed to?  If the answer is yes then I would say without out a doubt take the job and then he will be getting the best of both worlds. Coaching in college and at the professional level all at the same time.

There is much speculation on what the two star-studded freshmen from Kentucky will be doing next basketball season. With an NBA lockout looming many projected top picks have decided to return to their respective campuses.

Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones both were great talents this season and were a huge reason why the Wildcats finished their season in the Final Four.

Brandon Knight gained much of his drat potential in the tournament. His scoring was around all season long as the ‘Cats struggled on the road but were able to win big games at home.

Every time the Wildcats found themselves in a difficult situation Brandon Knight was there to take the shot. That is something not traditionally found in freshmen players. Knight was “Mr. Big Shot” in every sense of the term for the Blue and White.

It will not be soon forgot the big shots that Knight took and made versus Princeton in the first round, when Kentucky could have easily ended their season on a disappointing note. The shot versus Ohio State when Aaron Craft could not have played better defense and Brandon Knight made the shot of his young basketball career.

Knight was everything that coach John Calipari wanted from a point guard. Sure, he wasn’t flashy or the quickest man to the paint but if you needed a basket Brandon Knight was the man to take it.

I don’t believe Knight should leave yet for the NBA but could you blame him? He will most likely never be a No.1 pick in the draft and will always float around being a lottery pick.

Do you risk another season at the college level to try and win a championship or do you leave for the NBA and not risk the injury?

Brandon Knight is not physically built big enough to be a tremendous NBA player, which is why I believe he should come back. If he comes back and puts a little bit more muscle on his body then he could maybe test the waters next year.

On the other hand we have Terrence Jones, the other tremendous freshmen with a ton of upside. The problem is that he is all upside. Since he had his coming out party during the Maui Invitational, he has been unable to perform in the big games. When he is matched up against more physical opponents he struggles.

Terrence Jones has little to gain from going to the NBA and everything to lose by making that decision. If he were to come back for another season it would help him greatly.

Unlike Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones has the ability to become the No.1 or 2 pick in the NBA draft. It just won’t be this season. He was far to inconsistent and disappeared many times during the season.

He is an athletic freak that could really use one more year in the college game. He will then have more time to develop an outside jumpshot and work on taking people off the dribble as well.

With the class that is coming in next season for the ‘Cats, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to be a part of the team.

Kentucky is already being projected by some, as the No.1 team in the country next season even without Knight and Jones. With them coming back to Lexington next season it would only solidify themselves as the country’s top basketball team. One thing is for certain, they will be a fun team to watch.

The 2011 SEC Men’s basketball awards were announced today. Terrence Jones won the battle of the freshmen bringing home back-to-back SEC Freshmen of the Year awards for the Kentucky Wildcats. You would believe that the Wildcats were a strong favorite to win this award with the likes of both Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones.

Also, Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones were placed on the First Team All-SEC with their productive play. All three freshmen were also awarded to the SEC All-Freshmen team.  Doron Lamb, Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones each had very special seasons as freshmen and it could be debated that the three headed tandem were the top three freshmen in the conference.

Rounding out the awards is DeAndre Liggins, the junior from Chicago made the SEC All-Defensive team. This is an award that he will be glad to receive but John Calipari may enjoy it even more. Liggins was the main staple on the defensive end of the floor for the ‘Cats and night in and night out he was given the task of guarding the opposing teams best guard/swingman.

Here’s a complete rundown of the awards:

First Team All-SEC
JaMychal Green, Alabama – F, 6-8, 228, Jr., Montgomery, Ala.
Chandler Parsons, Florida – F, 6-1-, 218, Sr., Casselberry, Fla.
Trey Thompkins, Georgia – F, 6-10, 245, Jr., Lithonia, Ga.
Terrence Jones, Kentucky – F, 6-8, 244, Fr., Portland, Ore.
Brandon Knight, Kentucky – G, 6-3, 185, Fr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Chris Warren, Ole Miss – G, 5-10, 168, Sr., Orlando, Fla.
Scotty Hopson, Tennessee – G, 6-7, 200, Jr., Hopkinsville, Ky.
John Jenkins, Vanderbilt – G, 6-4, 215, So., Hendersonville, Tenn.

Second Team All-SEC
^Tony Mitchell, Alabama – F, 6-6, 210, So., Swainsboro, Ga.
^Rotnei Clarke, Arkansas – G, 6-0, 184, Jr., Verdigris, Okla.
^Kenny Boynton, Florida – G, 6-2, 183, So., Pompano Beach, Fla.
Erving Walker, Florida – G, 5-8, 171, Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Travis Leslie, Georgia – G, 6-4, 205, Jr., Decatur, Ga.
Dee Bost, Mississippi State – G, 6-2, 176, Jr., Concord, N.C.
Tobias Harris, Tennessee – F, 6-8, 226, Fr., Dix Hills, N.Y.
Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt – C, 6-11, 255, R-Jr., Benin City, Nigeria
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt – F, 6-7, 225, Jr., Norrkoping, Sweden

SEC All-Freshman Team
Trevor Releford, Alabama – G, 6-1, 180, Fr., Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Patric Young, Florida – F/C, 6-9, 245, Fr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Terrence Jones, Kentucky – F, 6-8, 244, Fr., Portland, Ore.
Brandon Knight, Kentucky – G, 6-3, 185, Fr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Doron Lamb, Kentucky – G, 6-4, 195, Fr., Queens, N.Y.
Ralston Turner, LSU – G, 6-6, 193, Fr., Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Bruce Ellington, South Carolina – G, 5-9, 194, Fr. Moncks Corner, S.C.
Tobias Harris, Tennessee – F, 6-8, 226, Fr., Dix Hills, N.Y.

SEC All-Defensive Team
Delvon Johnson, Arkansas – F, 6-9, 220, Sr., Chicago, Ill.
DeAndre Liggins, Kentucky – G, 6-6, 210, Jr., Chicago, Ill.
Reginald Buckner, Ole Miss – F, 6-8, 233, So., Memphis, Tenn.
Sam Muldrow, South Carolina – F/C, 6-9, 222, Sr., Florence, S.C.
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt – F, 6-7, 225, Jr., Norrkoping, Sweden

SEC Coach of the Year: Billy Donovan, Florida
SEC Player of the Year: Chandler Parsons, Florida
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Riley Benock, Mississippi State
SEC Freshman of the Year: Terrence Jones, Kentucky
SEC Sixth-Man of the Year: Brian Williams, Tennessee
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Sam Muldrow, South Carolina

^ This indicates ties that are not broken by the SEC.