With the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship over, the team jerseys have been put away, the face paint washed off and the rivalries set-aside, at least until football season.
The 2014 NCAA Tournament was full of unexpected victories. Dayton and Tennessee, both 11 seeds in the tournament, made it to the Elite 8, tournament regular Duke was knocked out in the second round by the 14 seed Mercer, and for the first time in the NCAA Tournament history a 7 seed, UConn, took home the national title.
The tournament was also a big year for the state of Kentucky. Returning 2013 champion University of Louisville had their second meeting with in-state rival Kentucky during the Elite 8 game in Indianapolis, with the 8 seeded Kentucky coming out on top. Kentucky then made a run to the championship game, despite being ranked poorly in the post-season polls.
While Kentucky did end up losing the championship game to an equally underestimated University of Connecticut, their run was exciting for some students at IU Southeast.
“I was disappointed UK lost in the final round but we played hard and we caused some big upsets. So, I’m proud of the Cats and I’m proud of the Huskies. We did good!”
“It was absolutely crazy! Like two or three good teams got knocked out in the first round. Louisville and UK game was the best I’ve ever seen in my life. They both played their hearts out. Just back and forth. But man, UK played like crap against UConn, it’s those free-throws!”
“I was really happy UK did as well as they did. I wasn’t expecting them to go very far so I was really excited to see them in the championship game. It would have been awesome to see them win it again, but I guess that’s what happens when you don’t hit your free throws.”
