Aaron Harrison – photo by Walter Cornett
How can you not constantly be enamored with the Kentucky story?
The Wildcats enter this tournament, the 77th iteration of the best postseason event in American sports, without a scar. UK’s 34-0 record makes it the 19th team in NCAA Tournament history to enter the bracket sans a loss, and that is something that will captivate the country as John Calipari tries to guide his team to a second title in four seasons.
Wondering what the other 18 undefeated teams have done upon getting to the NCAAs? Well, seven of those squads finished the season without losing. Not an awful percentage. But since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985, it’s never been done. The 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers were the last to do it. Just two teams — Ohio State in 1960 and Larry Bird’s 1978-79 Indiana State boys — made the championship game but couldn’t close the deal.
