In honor of the NCAA men's title game tonight, I thought I'd share my favorite "non-Kansas Jayhawk" Final Four item - a 1979 program signed by both Magic & Bird.

1993-94 UC Bearcats Bob Huggins

I remember it like it was yesterday—first really getting into college basketball with my dad, and to this day I’m still a Bearcat at heart. There’s no denying the controversy around Bob Huggins, but you can’t discount his coaching ability. He came from an era when coaches were all fire and intensity. “Thuggins” might’ve been the nickname because of the physical style of play, but Huggy Bear was one hell of a defensive-minded coach who left a lasting mark on the program.

...that I have to buy a new stand at the end of the season so this year's University of Kansas signed basketball can sit alongside autographed balls from the 1952, 1988, 2008 and 2022 NCAA championship teams. I'm not going to hold my breath, but if Darryn Peterson (signed jersey hanging in the background) is as good as advertised it should be a fun year with tonight's Battle of the Blue Bloods (at UNC) being KU's first test of the season!

College basketball season is fast approaching, and I’m curious to see how it all plays out this year. Came across this 1983–84 ACC Basketball Handbook in a box of Becketts I picked up and couldn’t believe how good it still looks for being over 40 years old. Just a couple of small creases, but man… what a cool piece of hoops history.

Who’s everyone picking to make a run this year?

2000 Upper Deck Kenyon Martin RC’s

My favorite Bearcat of all time is hands down Kenyon Martin. He was just flat-out fun to watch — tough, explosive, and had that classic Huggins edge to his game. Back when we moved away from Cincinnati, my grandmother used to save every newspaper story about him for me, and the day after senior night in 2000 was no exception.

Four days later, at the C-USA tournament in Memphis, my parents and I were sitting just two rows up from K-Mart’s family when he broke his leg right in front of us. One of those moments that just sticks with you forever.

The other day I stumbled across these three rookie cards, and there was no hesitation — I knew I had to have them. A little piece of nostalgia from one of my all-time favorite eras of Bearcat basketball.