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would love to see a cinderella in final 4Comment -
wildcats got themComment -
By Mike Lopresti.
Thinking of exact opposites here. Like broccoli ... and a Big Mac.
Cornell ... and Kentucky?
You say to-ma-to, I say to-mah-to. You say Big Red, I say Big Blue.
Putting those two next to one another — which will happen Thursday night in the East Regional of the NCAA basketball tournament at Syracuse — stretches all boundaries of that old middle school English class assignment, compare and contrast.
But let's do it, anyway.
Kentucky has won seven NCAA tournament championships.
Cornell has played in seven NCAA tournament games.
Kentucky's arena is named after a basketball coach.
Cornell's arena is named after an expert in industrial fuel oil marketing.
Kentucky has had 20 players taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Cornell's most experienced NBA product is Ed Peterson, who played 115 games in 1949-50 for the Syracuse Nationals.
Kentucky averages more than 24,000 fans at home games, with probably 4,473 people in the concession line at halftime.
A sellout Cornell crowd is 4,473.
Kentucky is 11-3 all time against the Ivy League. None of those victories came against Cornell.
Cornell is 2-8 all time against the Southeastern Conference. One of those victories came against Kentucky.
Given the annual expectations of its hyperventilating fans, Kentucky always faces the prospect of being called a gang of chokers.
Cornell graduated Henry Heimlich, who came up with the Heimlich maneuver.
Kentucky's Rupp Arena once hosted a Final Four won by Villanova.
Cornell's Newman Arena once hosted a speech by Desmond Tutu.
Kentucky has a freshman, John Wall, who can take over a game in less than three minutes.
Cornell has a freshman, Eitan Chemerinski, who can solve a Rubik's Cube in less than three minutes.
The most famous judgment concerning anyone from Kentucky was probably when Portland drafted Wildcat Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan.
The most famous judgment concerning anyone from Cornell was probably a few of the Supreme Court cases heard by alum Ruth Ginsburg.
As of 2009, 13 former Kentucky Wildcats owned NBA championship rings.
As of 2009, three Cornell alums owned professional sports franchises.
Lexington, Ky.: Easy to find a McDonald's All-American.
Ithaca, N.Y.: Easy to find a McDonald's.
Kentucky's John Calipari coached two schools to the Final Four, and had both appearances vacated by the NCAA.
Cornell's Steve Donahue was once a high school junior varsity coach.
Kentucky can claim Adolph Rupp, who built a dynasty.
Cornell can claim Adolph Coors, who built a brewery.
Those who have Kentucky going to the Final Four in their brackets would probably fill up a couple of time zones.
Those who have Cornell going to the Final Four in their brackets might fill up a couple of 727s.
Kentucky beating Cornell: Regional tickets are listed at $160.
Cornell beating Kentucky: Priceless.
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