[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 54 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E521-E522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WILDCATS MEN'S BASKETBALL 
      TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2012 NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2012

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to rise 
today to commend and congratulate the University of Kentucky Wildcats 
men's basketball team on winning the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I 
Basketball Championship.
  By now, any basketball fan is familiar with the legacy of the 
Wildcats. The ``Greatest Tradition in College Basketball,'' Kentucky is 
the winningest program of all-time, both in total wins and total win 
percentage, and the first team to break the 2,000 win threshold. 
Kentucky has fifteen Final Four appearances, and now eight national 
championships, second only to UCLA.
  Even measured against this pedigree and the impossibly high 
expectations of the Big Blue Nation, this batch of 'Cats was something 
special. ``The Undeniables,'' as they are known, were ranked number one 
in the nation for most of the year, losing only two games on their way 
to setting the NCAA record of thirty-eight wins in a single season. 
During their remarkable NCAA tournament run they won each game by an 
astonishing average of ten points, never trailing in a second half. 
While the title was the ultimate goal, the Final Four victory over 
instate rival the University of Louisville may have been even sweeter, 
as the highest stakes game ever played in the historic rivalry and the 
most important single sporting event in the history of the Commonwealth 
of Kentucky.
  This team achieved greatness against extraordinary competition 
because of the players' love and respect for one another. It is telling 
that a team led by three freshmen and two sophomores all forecast to be 
first round NBA draft picks, and all used to scoring 25 points a night 
in high school, were known first and foremost for their defense. Their 
willingness to

[[Page E522]]

support each other on the defensive end translated into selflessness in 
their offensive attack, with a different player leading all scorers on 
any given night. The senior anchor to these young 'Cats was Darius 
Miller, one of Kentucky's favorite sons and a high school Mr. 
Basketball from Mason County. During his freshman season, Kentucky 
failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 18 years. 
After that disappointment, Miller has been a mainstay of teams under 
Coach John Calipari that have gone undefeated at home for three 
seasons, earning two Final Fours, an Elite Eight appearance, and a 
National Championship. Over his career, Darius played in more games 
than any Kentucky player in history and was one block and thirteen 
rebounds from having a career stats sheet with some 1,200 points, 500 
rebounds, 250 assists, 100 blocks, and 100 steals.
  That Miller was the sixth man on this Kentucky squad demonstrates the 
explosive athleticism of Big Blue's younger stars. Leading the way was 
Anthony Davis who, with 186 blocks bested most entire teams in that 
statistic, cleaned up nearly every individual award for which he was 
eligible, including Freshman of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, 
Defensive Player of the Year, and the Naismith and Wooden National 
Player of the Year awards. Though ending the season with a 62% field 
goal percentage, he was scoreless in the first half of the National 
Championship Game and yet was Most Outstanding Player for his defensive 
abilities and capacity to ignite the UK offense. Davis along with 
fellow freshman point guard Marcus Teague started in a record forty 
games for UK and were the distributors for an extremely quick and 
highly efficient offense that was a perpetual threat in transition. 
Leading that attack were sophomore and freshman forwards Terrence Jones 
and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, dangerous whether around the rim or 
breaking free for an open jump shot, combining for an average 24 points 
a game. Sophomore Doron Lamb was the team's often unsung hero and 
clutch shooter, averaging 37% from the three point line during his 
career and killing the momentum behind several opponents' would-be 
comebacks. I could go on-and-on celebrating these leaders and the other 
players who made this team championship caliber. ``The Undeniables'' 
will be regarded as one of the greatest all-around teams in college 
basketball history and that eighth NCAA Championship banner now hanging 
in Rupp Arena will forever stand as testament to their place in the 
hearts of the Big Blue Nation. I wish all of these players the best as 
they continue their careers, whether at Kentucky or at the professional 
level.
  Of course, none of this would have been possible without the 
boundless energy and enthusiasm of Head Coach John Calipari, who forged 
a timeless team out of young freshmen and sophomores. Before Coach 
Cal's arrival, UK basketball was lost in the woods. In a single season 
he made the Wildcats into a perennial championship contender once 
again. But more importantly, he has worked selflessly to promote the 
University nationally and internationally, even more closely involved 
the community in the basketball program, and pursued philanthropic 
goals both through the University as well as with his private charity. 
This winning environment in Lexington is a result of the seamless 
teamwork and support of the coaching and training staff, Athletic 
Director Mitch Barnhart, and University of Kentucky President Eli 
Capiluto who, in his first year as president, is now one-for-one in 
national basketball championships.
  In closing I would like to once again join the Big Blue Nation in 
congratulating the team, everyone affiliated with the University and UK 
fans around the world on a terrific season and our eighth national 
championship. What a banner year it has been!

                          ____________________