I'm not mad at ya, Louisville

  The perfect storm has occurred. Louisville is sitting in the Elite 8--mind you, before we've even punched our ticket. And somehow, I'm okay with it. I should be mad, right? I shouldn't want Louisville fans to feel the elation of the bragging rights that come with being one of the final 8 teams to play in the NCAA tournament. Somewhere, I should be able to dig deep and find some hate in my heart for the fact that they won last night. I've tried, but I can't. Am I excited that they are in the Elite 8? Of course not. That's not what I'm feeling at all. I'm just okay with it, which surprises me equally as much. There's only one explanation for the lack of hate or disgust: The perfect storm of 3 scenarios has occurred.     As long as Kentucky is still alive, and playing well, my focus is on them and only them.    Had Kentucky pulled a Louisville of '11 or a Georgetown of '__(insert just about any year as of late here)__, I would have serious trouble dealing with Louisville's success. During the Billy Gillispie years, when Louisville was thriving while we were plummeting, I couldn't stand any amount of Louisville success. When we aren't doing well, the last thing I need to ease my pain is for them to be doing well. This year is different though. Kentucky is indeed still alive in the tournament. Kentucky is the #1 overall seed and with injuries, upsets and suspensions, things keep opening up for them to continue on their path to an eighth national championship. We played about as well as you could hope for against Iowa State in the round of 32. We have only dropped 2 games all season. We are healthy (knock on wood that no one got hurt at the team movie last night or the shoot around this morning). We have been on a roll for the past 2 months really, and I see no reason to think that will stop any time soon. The energy around the program is at an all time high right now with a group of talented, humble and likable young men representing our school. I simply have too much excitement and happiness in my heart right now for Kentucky basketball and our tournament run to have time or room for worrying about/hating anyone else.      T-Will isn't walking through that door anytime soon.   The only thing more obnoxious than Rick Pitino in general, is his insistence on using nicknames for his players. If I never heard the nicknames "T-Will," or "E-5" again it would be too soon. Pitino is probably the culprit, but I've hated a lot of Louisville players in the past. Terrence Windmilliams is easily at the top of the list. When he danced for the cameras after crushing Arizona and then fell short in the very next game, I was throwing up 3 goggles. And we didn't even know what 3 goggles were yet. The list of Louisville players I've hated is lengthy (starts with B.J. Flynn, remember him?). But I just don't hate any of the players on this year's team. Sure, Chane Behanan is immature and needs a foot or two in the mouth. Dieng has an impossible first name, but you can't dislike his story. Peyton Siva looks like he's 4 and has a crazy, yet somewhat endearing father. Kyle Kuric was Prom King. The two Smiths are almost impressive simply because, really, who are they and where did they come from? I will never like them as a group, but I don't dislike them either. For a group of Louisville players, that's saying a lot.      The chance of a Final Four game with Louisville would be an instant classic   It's been more than a lifetime (for me anyway) since the last time Kentucky and Louisville met in the NCAA tournament. One of the clashes has been dubbed the "Dream Game." Even with two storied programs who make the NCAA tournament on a regular basis, the collision course for the two to meet in the Final Four game has been rare. Usually one team has a significantly better chance than the other, or the tournament bracketing doesn't work in favor of creating the Final Four match up. I'm not sure anyone expected that Louisville would find themselves one game away from a Final Four birth this year, but here they are. And we are two steps away, but expected to reach the Final Four. The collision course is becoming a more realistic possibility with each passing day. The Kentucky/Louisville regular season game is one of the most highly anticipated rivalry games of the year, especially for the two teams and fans involved. For two passionate fan bases that essentially hate one another, separated by roughly 60 miles and 5 championships, the hype and excitement around the potential match up would be almost unfathomable. I haven't been alive for a Kentucky/Louisville NCAA tournament game so I can only imagine the hysteria that would be the 48 hours leading up to the game. Though I don't like the fact that Louisville would really have nothing to lose in the scenario, and Kentucky would have everything to lose, I still want to see it. I really, really want to see it. I have to see it. An opportunity for a game like this against a heated rival in a Final Four doesn't come around too often. It's time. Can you imagine a Kentucky team who you would rather have playing in the first NCAA tournament meeting in ages? If it's going to happen, this is the Kentucky team I want playing the game.