The Kentucky Wildcats have the best all-time winning percentage and the most all-time victories in college basketball. However, its newest in-house graphic appears to celebrate Villanova and Jalen Brunson as national champions.
Why?!
I am sure Kentucky could explain its decision to promote a college basketball national championship that was not its own. I would imagine it has something to do with the angle of the image. And still…
Kentucky is a college basketball powerhouse.
The Wildcats proudly claim eight national titles. They finished as the runner-up in 1966, 1975, 1997 and 2014 with Final Four appearances in 1942, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966, 1975, 1978, 1984, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. That list gets even bigger when you also include Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen appearances.
All of this goes to say Kentucky wins, a lot.
For its success, the university claims to be “The Greatest Tradition in the History of College Basketball.” While I don’t necessarily agree, I cannot make a case for why not.
There are very few college basketball programs with a more iconic brand, if any. Big Blue Nation is perhaps the most passionate and faithful fanbase in the country. They are insane in the best way.
So why Jalen Brunson?
With all of this history from which to pull, Kentucky recently added a new wall graphic to its $30 million practice facility of a completely different player at a completely different school. The Wildcats thought we wouldn’t notice but we did.
If you look closely, it appears as though whomever made the graphic scrubbed the year off of the national championship trophy. I cannot say for certain but I personally do not see the year.
What I do see is a very specific arm sleeve and tattoo on the left hand of the player holding the trophy.
That player is Jalen Brunson. Brunson won a national title at Villanova in 2018.
Here is an image of the former Nova point guard holding the trophy:
Lets zoom in on his left wrist… Notice anything?
This is not the same photo on Kentucky’s wall but it is from the same day at the same time of the same player. The newest wall graphic at the Wildcats’ college basketball facility features an image of Jalen Brunson hoisting the national championship trophy at Villanova. Awkward.