UK Takes on Pu…Uh, Duke Tonight in Atlanta

Let's go back about 7-plus months to a late March night in New Orleans. It was Kentucky versus Louisville for the right to advance to the national championship game. Kentucky won by 8.

That game was labeled Bluegrass Armageddon. I have to admit that, while I understand that nickname, the angst was lost on me. I attended neither university and am a staunch supporter of any Kentucky school.

I thought it was great that two schools from the Bluegrass were represented on college basketball's biggest stage. No, when Kentucky and Louisville hook up, I just have fun.

Not so when Duke is involved. Hey, I own it. I don't like Duke. And, yes, the Christian Laettner Incident from the 1992 NCAA Tournament is part of it, but not most of it.

It's the arrogance of the players. The fans are obnoxious. And yes I understand that that's the knock on Kentucky fans as well. But this just MY story.

And then there's head coach Mike Krzyzewski. He just rubs me the wrong way. He is a great coach. He is a patriot and by all accounts a very good man. His sideline behavior likely isn't that different from anyone else's.

But, you know what? It's sports. I don't like Duke. I'll never like Duke. And I'd hate it if they weren't around.

Yes, that's right.

Every sports fan has a team he or she doesn't like. Duke is mine. And I need them for that.

Now, as for tonight's game, it pains me to say this, but I believe the Blue Devils are too experienced in all the right places to lose this game. I don't think they're a great team this year. But they're good enough in early November to beat a very young Kentucky team on a neutral floor.

Final Score: Duke 67, Kentucky 63

Yep, I was right. It pained me to say it.