McConnell, Beshear highlight Kentucky Living NCAA bracket challenge
LOUISVILLE, Ky, (March 14)—Fans of basketball in the Bluegrass State will have reason to watch through the final game of the NCAA Tournament, if predictions hold true from a panel of notable Kentuckians who shared their tourney brackets with Kentucky Living. Scroll down to see all brackets.
While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Congressman John Yarmuth have little in common, politically, the Louisville residents both have their hometown team winning it all.
McConnell, a graduate of both the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky, predicts that Louisville will defeat Kentucky in the Final Four, and proceed to win their fourth national championship with a victory over the Duke Blue Devils.
McConnell’s Final Four: Louisville, Kentucky, Duke, Arizona.
Yarmuth predicts a Sweet 16 exit for the Wildcats, losing to UCLA.
Yarmuth’s Final Four: Louisville, UCLA, Southern Methodist, West Virginia
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear predicts UK will defeat U of L in the Final Four.
Beshear’s Final Four: Louisville, Kentucky, Virginia, Arizona.
Three elected officials picked precisely the same Final Four. Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, and Congressman James Comer all predict the ninth University of Kentucky championship emerging from a Final Four of Louisville, Kentucky, Villanova, Arizona.
Grimes marked her championship bracket with a bold “UK” in blue marker.
Grimes’ Final Four: Louisville, Kentucky, Villanova, Arizona.
Quarles’ Final Four: Louisville, Kentucky, Villanova, Arizona.
Comer’s Final Four: Louisville, Kentucky, Villanova, Arizona.
Congressman Andy Barr and Bardstown musician Dustin Collins share the same Final Four. While Barr predicts Kentucky will defeat Duke in the championship game, the Cold Dead Hands singer says Kentucky will defeat Arizona to win it all.
Barr’s Final Four: Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, Arizona
Singer Dustin Collins: Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, Arizona
The dean of Kentucky’s congressional delegation, Congressman Hal Rogers, also predicts a Kentucky championship, over Villanova.
Hal Rogers’ Final Four: Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova, Gonzaga
State Treasurer Allison Ball predicts Kansas will defeat Louisville in the Elite Eight.
Ball’s Final Four: Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova, Arizona
State Auditor Mike Harmon predicts fourth-seeded West Virginia will advance to the Final Four.
Harmon’s Final Four: Louisville, Kentucky, Villanova, West Virginia.
Kentucky Living Great Outdoors writer Dave Baker of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and editor for the department’s magazine, Kentucky Afield, cannot be accused of being a “homer” with this bracket. Baker predicts neither Kentucky or Louisville will reach the Final Four.
Dave Baker’s Final Four: Kansas, UCLA, Villanova, Arizona
Other notable Kentuckians sharing their brackets include:
Photographer Wade Harris: Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova, Notre Dame
Contributor Liz Prather: Kansas, North Carolina, Villanova, Arizona
Managing Editor Shannon Brock: Iowa State, Kentucky, Duke, Arizona
Contributor Kathy Witt: Michigan, Kentucky, Villanova, Arizona
Contributor Robin Roenker: Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, Arizona
As Kentucky Living receives other brackets, (before tipoff!), we will update this story.
