Not to debate the blue bloods of college basketball, but if you were forced to cheer for one of the following schools because UK stopped sports and you knew cheering for one of these schools would save a family member’s life, which would you pick?
Louisville
UNC
Duke
Kansas
IU
UConn
6. UConn
I hate UConn, and I know seeing them at the very bottom of this may be shocking, but I’m all about ensuring Kentucky has the greatest all-time resume in college basketball and I think UConn’s emergence is one of the biggest threats to that. They build rosters in a way that is most dangerous to us keeping that top spot. They’ve won six national championships which ties for third most, but did it all within a quarter century. Hurley is my most feared coach in the sport, bar none.
5.) Kansas
Kansas has the ability to usurp Kentucky’s all-time wins record and that’s something I hold very near and dear. They also have rightful claim as college basketball’s founding fathers and they love to lord it over us. They’ve only won four national championships but they have a very strong resume other than that one fact. The fact that they threaten in all-time wins means I cheer for them to lose no matter who they play in any individual game, even versus UConn, unless that game where to happen in the NCAA tournament. In that case, I’d cheer for Kansas while holding my nose.
4.) Duke
I hate Duke with a passion. A lot of it has to do with the fact that they have been the largest brand in college basketball for the majority of my lifetime. They rarely have down seasons and for younger fans probably have more cache than any other program.
3.) North Carolina
North Carolina has six national championships, but as long as Hubert Davis is the coach my hatred can’t be a ten. Davis is perfectly mediocre and I love it. North Carolina under Roy Williams or Dean Smith would have them at the most hated spot over Duke and UConn but right now I see a sad puppy and I don’t need to kick it.
2.) Indiana
It’s hard for me to even hate Indiana passionately. During my entire lifetime they have stunk. I don’t mean kind of stinking—-I mean royally stinking. I have a lot of family from Indiana, so there’s always a part of me who’d like to see Indiana at least be somewhat relevant for them. Not relevant enough to actually be a threat, but just enough to be a fun rivalry again. They haven’t won a title since players wore shorts all the way up their cracks—-I don’t mind Indiana that much.
1.) Louisville
Absolute shocker to some, I’m sure. My hatred for Louisville is smaller than a lot of the rest of the fanbase. Where I live, Tennessee is more hated. Because Louisville only has three natties and a minimal all-time resume otherwise, I neither consider them threatening or a blueblood. No offense to original poster, including them as a blueblood, to me —- does a disservice to UCLA who has a stronger resume by far. It’s hard for me to even consider little brother a rivalry when we win something like 75% of the games. Maybe Pat Kelsey makes it more of a rivalry in future years. For now, concerning Louisville, I don’t feel rivaled even one bit.
