Kentucky vs. Kansas Game Time: Title Game Will Solidify John Calipari's Legacy

John Calipari enters tonight's NCAA tournament final with just about everything on the line. His name and legacy will be measured by the outcome of this one game. 

It seems a bit much to elevate just one game to such extremes considering all the success that John Calipari has had with a myriad of programs. The man can coach and can recruit better than anyone, and there is no taking that away from him. He entered March Madness with the best team in the nation, and after being battle-tested throughout, they are all the stronger for it. 

Nothing changes, as Kentucky will again be the rightful favorites to a strong Kansas Jayhawks team. Forget must-win, this is a can't-lose game for the Wildcats. 

In the middle of a game that is all about the amateur athletes lies a head coach who splits the country down the middle.

Many loathe him for his tactics or the fact that two of his trips to the Final Four had to be vacated—in 1996 for gifts Marcus Camby received and in 2008 for Derrick Rose's SATs being invalidated. Others look past the mess and see someone that is remarkable at his job, a coach who can recruit the best players in the nation to a premier program and can mold that talent in the span of a year. 

Greatness comes with titles, though, and Calipari is without that one accolade to hold over his colleagues. Tonight will make or break his standing largely because his team is so unbeatable. 

This is not to take anything away from Kansas, because they have proved without a doubt to be one of the elite teams this season. Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey will provide headaches for Kentucky on the inside, but in the end, Kentucky will prove to be just a tad too much for a spirited Jayhawks team. 

Kentucky is packed with NBA-level talent, making defending them properly a chore that no team has been able to do thus far in the tournament. 

There are no excuses for John Calipari, who has his title wrapped up with a nice little bow on it. A win solidifies his genius, but a loss will have us reassessing his legacy. 

Game Time: Kansas vs. Kentucky, Monday, April 2nd - 9:23 ET - CBS

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