Please, Never Play a Kentucky NCAA Tournament Basketball Game in Indianapolis Ever Again

The city of Indianapolis has many great qualities. The shrimp cocktail is exceptional, it’s a great NFL Combine host and it’s been home to some great Kentucky basketball wins. However, it would be great if the Wildcats never stepped foot in the middle of the Hoosier state ever again.

The capital of Indiana is now home to the two worst losses many Kentucky basketball fans have ever witnessed. They each happened in different points in the NCAA Tournament, but both ripped away National Championship hopes.

Kentucky was approximately 45 minutes away from a perfect 40-0 season in 2015. Instead of closing out Wisconsin by feeding Karl Towns, a shot clock violation did not get called, the Cats unraveled and a perfect season ended in Indianapolis. It was the polar opposite feeling the BBN experienced a year prior at Lucas Oil Stadium when Aaron Harrison’s heroics defeated Michigan to send UK to the Final Four.

Seven seasons later the Wildcats were back in the mix National Title contention. Oscar Tshiebwe was recently named a Consensus First Team All-American as a shoe-in for National Player of the Year. Opening the tournament as a two-seed in Indy, it was setting the stage for an awe-inspiring march back to New Orleans on the 10th anniversary of Calipari’s National Championship. Tshiebwe played like the best player in college basketball, racking up 30 points and 16 rebounds, yet the Cats still had their hearts ripped out by Saint Peter’s, falling 85-79 in overtime to a 15-seed.

Kentucky has only been eliminated in the first round four times. Billy Gillispie bowed out early, and Joe B. Hall and Eddie Sutton each suffered opening game losses in the 80s. The loss as a two-seed is unprecedented. It’s on the heels of a nine-win COVID-19 season.

In-between the two historic, unforgettable, devastating NCAA Tournament losses, Zion Williamson’s Duke team scored just shy of 120 points in a 34-point loss to the Blue Devils. When it rains, it pours, especially in Indianapolis. Please, never ever play a Kentucky basketball game in that God forsaken city ever again.