Getting to know the 2012 Final Four: Kentucky
This week, The Dagger takes a deeper look at each of the four schools participating in the 2012 Final Four. We start with the tournament top overall seed, Kentucky.
Location: Lexington, Ky.
Enrollment: 27,108
Team Mascot: Wildcats
How they got to New Orleans: d. No. 16 Western Kentucky (81-66), d. No. 8 Iowa State (87-71), d. No. 4 Indiana (102-90), d. No. 3 Baylor (82-70).
Greatest basketball moment: With such a storied history, it all depends on your generation. Old-timers will fondly remember the three titles Adolph Rupp won between 1948 and 1951. Younger Kentucky fans look to the two championships from 1996 and 1998.
Reason to root for them: When freshman Carmelo Anthony won a title at Syracuse, he was the best player on a good team that happened to win a championship. Anthony Davis is poised to become the first freshman to win a title while being the best player on the nation's best team.
Reason to root against them: John Calipari's Final Four history:
CatsIllustrated.com threads created in the last five hours that rip on the media and/or Louisvlle: 18
CatsIllustrated.com threads about wanting Tubby Smith to return to Kentucky: 1
Available Final Final swag items on team website: 21, including a frozen beer glass, a Bob Huggins-esque pullover and a T-shirt that reads "Big Easy Ballers."
Famous alumni: Ashley Judd. You may not know this, but she frequently attends games, albeit in a low-profile manner.
Smart quote to make others think you've been following Kentucky all along: "Even though Anthony Davis and Terrence Jones deservedly get the headlines, Marquis Teague may be the most important player this weekend."
What not to say at your Final Four party: "Davis wears his unibrow as a tribute to Bert on 'Sesame Street.'"
What Clark Kellogg will probably say about Kentucky: "Versatility, versatility, versatility, Jim. This versatile team is most versatile in its supreme versatility."
Chances of winning it all: This is Kentucky's tournament to lose.
Jim Nantz's most likely scripted line if they do: "My old Kentucky Superdome!"
Related NCAA tournament video on Yahoo! Sports
