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Headlines: The Kentucky Wildcats’ Perfection is Over

By Ethan Conger

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Duke and Wisconsin will be playing Monday night for the national championship. Krzyzewski, who won his last title in 2010 and in Indianapolis (coincidentally), is looking to win his 5th title. Bo Ryan, Badgers’ head coach, is looking to bring home his first, and Wisconsin’s first championship since 1941.

"Wisconsin-Duke gives us so, so many fantastic matchups to dissect, but ignoring the showdown between first team All-Americans is disingenuous. Kaminsky outscored Okafor 17-13 in their first meeting, on Dec. 8 in Madison, while Tyus Jones was carrying the load offensively in Duke’s 80-70 win. While Jones, the South Regional MOP, and Justise Winslow, my vote for MVP, each will be presented with opportunities to help or hinder the Blue Devils’ title efforts, the battle down low will determine the game’s outcome. Kaminsky hit six of his eight two-point attempts and finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds against Kentucky’s bigs, so he obviously presents a bit of a matchup quandary as well for Duke. Mike Krzyzewski, at the age of 68, could win his fifth national title on Monday night and has a similar path, though a very different team, than Duke’s last title season in 2010. That team, like the 2015 squad, started as No. 1 seed in the Houston-based South Regional and played the Final Four in Indianapolis. There aren’t many similarities between Wisconsin and Butler or Jahlil Okafor and Brian Zoubek, but Indy — also the spot of Duke’s 1991 title — has been good to the Blue Devils. Rematch after the rematch: Wisconsin got the better of Kentucky when the two teams rematched in the Final Four. Can the Badgers do it again against a Duke team that won by 10 in Madison earlier this year? Early Prediction: I’ll have about 12 hours to flip-flop on this decision, but given the action we saw Saturday night it is hard not to like Wisconsin chances to cut down the nets. They’ve got something special going on right now with this group, which is why I’m going against all of that momentum and choosing a Duke team that is peaking at the right time.Duke 74, Wisconsin 70"

Dec 3, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) moves the ball against Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) defends during the first half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

In what seemed to be the only good news of the weekend for Kentucky fans, John Calipari won the AP national coach of the year Friday evening.

"Already named the National Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Sporting News, Kentucky men’s basketball head coach John Calipari picked up another prestigious honor for leading the undefeated Wildcats to a 38-0 season, entering the Final Four, when he was named the Associated Press National Coach of the Year on Friday. It’s the first time in Calipari’s illustrious career he has been named AP Coach of the Year. He’s the third UK coach to win the AP honor, joining Eddie Sutton (1986) and Tubby Smith(2003 and 2005). Calipari’s 2014-15 Wildcats have tied his 2007-08 Memphis team and his 2011-12 national championship Kentucky team’s NCAA Division I record for single-season wins (38) with last week’s Elite Eight win over Notre Dame on Saturday. Kentucky has spent 19 straight weeks at No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 this season, tied for the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history. UK now owns the NCAA Division I record for most appearances at No. 1 in the AP poll in a single season at 19. UK also set the school record for home wins with 19 this season. Earlier this week, Calipari won NABC Coach of the Year honors for the third time in his career. Only legendary UCLA head coach John Wooden, with five, has won more. Calipari was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by the AP for the third time in his career earlier this season. He is also one of four finalists for the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year. The 56-year-old is one of 12 finalists eligible to go in to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September. The Class of 2015 will be announced on Monday at a press conference in Indianapolis, prior to the national championship game."

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari during a press conference after the blame against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 NCAA Men

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