They could’ve figured a way to either drop Louisville to a No. 10 or push them to a No. 7, and thereby start a week of bile boiling in Louisville. Kentucky was bound for too high a seed to be so easily manipulated, but the committee wouldn’t have minded setting up a similar week of agitation in Lexington, too.

Standing in the middle of a sold-out Madison Square Garden, confetti sticking to his suit, Rick Pitino was asked about his remarkable basketball odyssey and latest Big East championship. “I saved the best for last,

Long-time rivals Rick Pitino and John Calipari could face each other in the NCAA Tournament again if St. John's and Arkansas each reach the second round.