Kelsey Tucker

Sports Editor

   Of the four teams that remained in the 2012 NCAA tournament, only one team would claim the ultimate victory. That team was our very own Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky claimed their first National Championship since 1998 this year with a 67-59 victory over Kansas on April 2.

    Leading up to the National Championship were two exciting Final Four games. Kentucky faced arch rival Louisville on March 31 in a gripping matchup, winning 69-61. Peyton Siva led Louisville in scoring with 11 points, and Anthony Davis led Kentucky in scoring with 18 points. Gorgui Dieng and Anthony led in both rebounds and blocks for Louisville and Kentucky, respectively. Dieng had 12 rebounds and 4 blocks, and Davis had 14 rebounds and 5 blocks.

    Also on March 31, Ohio State played Kansas. Kansas won a close game, 64-62. William Buford led Ohio State in scoring with 19 points, and Thomas Robinson led Kansas in scoring, also with 19 points. Kansas went on to play Kentucky in the championship game with Tyshawn Taylor leading in scoring with 19 points. For Kentucky, Doron Lamb led in scoring with 22 points. Anthony Davis led in every other category with 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 6 blocks.

    A celebration was held in Rupp Arena the day following the championship, and head coach John Calipari embarked on a bus tour shortly after that included Paducah as a stop. Many enthusiastic Kentucky fans crowded the parking lot of Kroger on Park Avenue to get a glimpse of the game-winning coach with the NCAA trophy.

    Needless to say, people around this area were very excited to see Kentucky win. Despite losing 5 integral players, freshmen Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Marquis Teague, as well as sophomores Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb to the NBA Draft, fans still have high hopes that Calipari’s recruiting and Kentucky’s reputation will draw another set of young stars to Rupp for next year’s season.