The Kentucky Wildcats were considered the favorites when the 2012 NCAA Tournament started, so it was not that surprising to see John Calipari's team still standing waiting for the winner of the Kansas-Ohio State game. Now that the Kansas Jayhawks have defeated the Buckeyes, the arrival of Bill Self's team brings a dramatic, scrappy KU team as the challenger along with some intriguing history.
ESPN's Eamonn Brennan writes, "The unlikely story of these Kansas Jayhawks isn't over yet. Kansas survived yet another nail-biting NCAA tournament game -- its speciality in the weeks leading up to this Final Four -- and its latest escape act puts it on the sport's biggest stage, with a chance to take down the overwhelming favorite, the Kentucky Wildcats. The game is a coaching rematch of the 2008 Final Four, when Bill Self's Jayhawks made their 9-points-in-2-minutes comeback to steal a remarkable national title from then-Memphis coach John Calipari's grasp. If we're lucky, Monday night's edition of Self vs. Calipari will be half as good. It certainly has that potential."
Calipari is looking for his first NCAA title, and he'll have his best chance yet on Monday with a team loaded with future NBA players. Anthony Davis and company will be the greatest team KU has faced all season. Even though they've already played once, both teams have matured considerably. Can the outcomes change? Kansas has already proven not to be against them.
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