A Kentucky Spin on Three Great Stories From the Midwest Region

by:John Wilmhoff03/19/15

@JohnWilmhoff

[caption id="attachment_175701" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Photo from the New York Post Photo from the New York Post[/caption] The undefeated Kentucky Wildcats are the story of college basketball. Will they be challenged in the Midwest Region? Maybe not, but the region still has some other compelling stories. A potential second-round Cincinnati vs. Kentucky matchup is a big deal to Cincinnati -- and how the Bearcats got to this point is impressive. Another rivalry that is not really a rivalry is Kansas and Wichita State. These two could also meet in the second round -- and it reminds me of the 1983 Dream Game. Also, how scared was Big Blue Nation at halftime against Buffalo on November 16th? The Bulls knew they had something special after that effort in Rupp. Here are three stories you'll want to read from the Midwest Region with a Kentucky spin to them:

Cincy Has Persevered Through Adversity, Wants Kentucky

Not much was ever expected of Cincinnati after it lost its top three scorers from last season, including All-American Sean Kilpatrick (20.6 PPG). When the Bearcats lost their coach in December, even less was expected. Mick Cronin was diagnosed with an aneurysm that was revealed just hours before Cincinnati faced VCU. Associate head coach Larry Davis coached that day and the Bearcats lost by 21 on their home court. Cronin wouldn't return to the sidelines this season while recovering from a non-life-threatening vascular condition known as arterial dissection. In the absence of Cronin, interim coach Davis has led the Bearcats through an up-and-down season to an NCAA Tournament bid with their Big Blue neighbors to the south looming if they can beat Purdue. Cincinnati radio show host Mo Egger is calling the potential second-round matchup a lottery ticket.

Buffalo Re-Evaluated Its Expectations After Trip to Rupp

Buffalo is making its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, but coach Bobby Hurley makes his return to the dance after winning two national titles as a player at Duke. Returning just two starters from last year, it was expected to be a rebuilding year. But after a strong effort in November at Rupp Arena against our Wildcats, the Bulls re-evaluated their expectations, Hurley told the New York Post.

Wichita State-Kansas Matchup Sounds Like 1983 Dream Game

Kentucky and Louisville didn't play for years until they met in the 1983 NCAA Tournament. Kentucky didn't want to play Louisville for many of the same reasons Bill Self doesn't want to play Wichita State today. Kansas is the state's flagship school with a blue-blood basketball program, while Wichita State is a new-blood program located in the state's largest city, notes Rustin Dodd from the Kansas City Star. The schools could meet in the second round -- and I wonder if, like Kentucky and Louisville in 1983, it could be the start of something new?

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