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Wake Up Call: Misery, thy name is Cardinals

Mar 18, 2011, 9:00 AM EDT

NCAA Basketball Tournament - First Round - Denver Getty Images

Except for a brief time when he dallied with coaching the Boston Celtics, Rick Pitino’s legacy will be forever linked with the state of Kentucky: the Universities of Kentucky, Louisville, and now of course Morehead State. The 13th-seeded Eagles’ 62-61 upset of the mighty Cardinals (No. 4) was a prospect unexpected by most, including those in NBC.com’s It’s Madness bracket, where only 2 percent predicted it.

But that’s the thing about Rick Pitino. Great coach, but like in the story of the frog and the scorpion, every so often he’s going to sting somebody … whether that be in his personal life, or in games like Thursday’s. Because, as the scorpion said in the middle of the river, “self destruction is my nature.”

Onward to the conclusion of Round One! May your office pool brackets remain sturdy and robust!

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