2010 NCAA Tournament: Five Reasons to Root for Cornell Over Kentucky

There is a good chance that UK blows out Cornell by 20 points.

There is a decent chance that it is a competitive game—a real test for UK on their path to glory.

There is also a slim chance that Cornell pulls off a historic and important upset.

If you are a fan of college basketball, you should root for that upset. Here are five reasons why.

David Versus Goliath

C'mon—nobody actually likes to root for Goliath, do they?

Every single year we hear the same blather about upsets and "Cinderella stories" making this tournament great.

Well, if there were a game where that really matters, this is it.

You know your bracket is already dead...you don't actually need UK to advance, because you have no chance of winning that office pool anymore anyway.

Root for the story.

Shooting Versus Dunking

Save your tired argument that the game is more exciting when played "above the rim."

Take it from a "purist"—basketball is about passing, teamwork and shooting. You work for an open shot, and then you make it.

There is nothing attractive about bulling your way to the basket for a dunk. I don't care what makes a better ESPN highlight—they are actually part of the problem.

Scholar-Athletes Versus Mercenaries

Cornell, as you know, is an Ivy League school. These kids are students who play basketball on the side.

Guess what? That is what college sports are supposed to be. Outside of football and basketball, that's what college sports really are.

College hoops should not be a farm system for the NBA—I'm rooting for the kids who "will go pro in something other than sports" over the "one-and-dones" any day of the week.

Hearing one of college basketball's all-time cheerleaders, Dickie V, just casually saying things like, "Mr. Wall won't have to deal with that type of defense next year in the NBA" is just plain sad.

Kids like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins do not belong in college—they belong in the D-League.

Screw the NCAA

Yep—screw 'em!

These greedy pigs want to ruin the tournament by expanding to 96 teams for no single reason other than money. Fine.

Guess what, pigs—I won't watch the first couple of rounds. Neither will a lot of other people.

A Cornell win knocks out one of only three remaining "big boys" that can draw in the casual viewer. I say, let them fall.

I'm rooting for Cornell against St. Mary's in the Final Four.

No More Ashley Judd!

Has there ever been a more overexposed fan of a university sports team? Ever?

She's the Spike Lee of UK hoops—and no, that's not a good thing.

And why does she keep sitting in the student section?

I'm just sick of her. Did no other famous female ever attend the school? Get someone else please.

UK tournament losses are always a relief—CBS will then reduce the number of times they show her. They won't stop, mind you, but they will at least cut back.