UK-UT rivalry about to get stronger

Tennesse coach Bruce Pearl made UK and Tennessee a rivalry when he arrived four years ago, and it's going to get crazy if John Calipari takes the vacated UK job.

Calipari is a heated rival of Pearl, and now they could see each other twice a year during the regular season.

If anyone can go John Chaney on Calipari it's Pearl. I remember a local television interview when he was with USI in which he proclaimed "I hate Indianapolis." Not the city itself, but the rival college basketball team that tried to take out his star player's knee the last time they played.

Ironicly that star player -former Division II Player of the Year Stan Gourard- is now the coach at Indianapolis.

Pearl had a serious chip on his shoulder when it came to Memphis. He let it be know he didn't like Calipari's attitude because he didn't recognize Tennessee as a "national program." That chip will now be focused more toward UK, which beat the Vols twice last year.

Stay tuned. Pearl's reaction to a Calipari hiring could be entertaining.

1:56 p.m. I can't believe Calipari hasn't given his official answer yet. If he decided to stay at Memphis it will actually help his recruiting at that school. By staying he'd be showing potential recruits he's commited for the longhaul. And it would leave UK searching for answers as to why it couldnt' lure a coach away from $38 million.

6:31 p.m. Calipari doomed from the start. Why leave a place where you are god for a place you can only be god if you win the National Championship. See Tubby Smith.

And then there were the Final Four

The Pool's Bracketbuster contest has eight different winning scenarios. I can win the pool in two of those scenarios, yet I can only imagine what might have been.

My strategy going in was to keep all my early round picks the same, the only difference was having four different National Champions.

The thought I did this correctly but sent three of the same file to the Powers that Be of The Pool. So right now, while my four brackets are in first through fourth place, I have only 2 in eight chances of winning.

My best chance of winning is UConn beating Michigan St., and North Carolina beating UConn with UNC winning the title. I can also win if UConn beats Michigan State, Villanova beats UNC and Nova wins the title. The glass half full side of this all is the top three spots cash, and I have a chance to cash in 7-of-8 scenarios.

Right now UConn is a 4-point favorite over MSU, a number I believe is deflated with the so-called home court advantage for the Spartans. It's not going to be that big of a deal, and I believe MSU may have shot their wad against Louisville.

Judgement day for brackets

I've made it widely known how good I've been in this year's March Madness pools. Eight-for-eight in the Elite Eight, 2-of-2 so far for the Final Four. Too bad Louisville is trying to put a kink in my armor. If they don't contain Mr. Sutan that see of red in Indy is going to represent nothing but blood.

2:55 p.m. I'm about to move my focus more to Tiger's potential comeback. This Louisville game is driving me nuts.

2:59 p.m. Birds forced to call another TO. Now they can't shoot or defend.

3:08 p.m. I wonder if Tom Crean is at this game telling everyone "It's Indiana." Anyway, right now it looks like Izzo is outcoaching Pitino. Don't get any ideas UK breath. Izzo isn't going anywhere.

3:16 p.m. Why do I have a feeling Bruce Pearl just booked a flight to Bosnia to pick up his next great big man that can shoot the 3? And why has Louisville turned into Memphis East? Hit your free throws!

3:21 p.m. My chance at Final Four perfection is toast, but still plenty alive to win The Pool's Bracket Challenge. It all hinges on UNC.

3:38 p.m. See photo. Louisville was forced to it's knees by the mighty Spartans. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

7:06 p.m. Two observations from the UNC-Oklahoma game. 1) Hansboro and Griffin will be nothing more than average NBA basketball players. They will never live up to where they'll be drafed. 2) UNC will win if they stay focused. They can beat a team in too many ways. Away from basketball, Tiger Woods is amazing, just hitting a pressure filled 16-foot putt to win the Arnold Palmer tournament.