This game was amazing for a bunch of intangibles as well as the tangible amazing play on the court. I remember thinking right as it ended that "Duke and Kentucky are now forever linked" in a way, and that has played out. I also immediately thought that 1974 State Maryland just got bumped to second place.
Coach K going for the UK players before celebrating...was amazing...Coach K going on UK Radio to congratulate Caywood Ledford and the UK fans was amazing. Think about it, this was probably the ONLY time Kentucky had been the fuzzy lovable underdog in a meaningful basketball game. That it was Ledford's last game as the PBP guy for UK after 40 years is just an astonishing footnote.
What was also amazing is Pitino understanding that in the long run, Duke winning in the end like that was the best thing that could happen to Kentucky. Had Kentucky won, the Duke "dynasty" wouldn't have really been the dynasty...it required back to back Nattys IMO...and no body would be talking about that game today...because that UK team was not winning the Title. It would have been just another upset in the NCAAs....ironically those UK players are only relevant because of who they almost beat....and the iconic nature of the play that beat them.