NEW ORLEANS ? This is a make-or-fastbreak moment for Kentucky, the one-and-done movement and Coach John Calipari.
It's not a question of whether Kentucky will win Monday night's NCAA title game against Kansas.
Kentucky must win ? or else, well, consider badminton?
This year's trophy has, for days, been sitting on a silver platter.
Kentucky's star-studded cavalcade caught a huge break when fourth-seeded Louisville broke through the West into Lexington's side of the bracket.
A bigger gift came from across the divide, in the form of a wrist injury to North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall that probably allowed Kansas to get here.
The team Kentucky feared most in this field, North Carolina, never made it to New Orleans.
How many more stars does Kentucky need to align?
Kansas is a worthy opponent and, along with Kentucky, could start a Basketball History Channel.
The programs, ranked second and first in all-time wins, have also combined for 10 national titles and 29 Final Fours.
This is Kentucky's 11th title-game appearance and the ninth for Kansas, which has finished second five times.
Coach Bill Self has done a masterful job squeezing victories out of a team that has found interesting ways to win.
Kansas is not better than Kentucky this season but has every reason to think it can prevail.
No way Kansas could win a best-of-seven series, but it can win a best-of-one.
"They're here for a reason, it's not by mistake," Kentucky senior guard Darius Miller said.
Star center Anthony Davis agreed.
"They're a great team, capable of beating us," he said.
Capable, for sure, but Kentucky had best not let that happen.
This is a career pivot point for Calipari, who needs a victory Monday to prove he's a great coach, not just a great recruiter.
You can go only so long winning 37 and 38 games a year without winning the last one.
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