With the madness over and the confetti swept off of the parquet of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Kentucky Men’s Basketball is left standing at the top of the mountain as the 2012 National Champions.  By defeating Kansas 67-59, Kentucky won it’s 8th National Title and the first for Coach John Calipari.

It took the full 40 minutes of the game for Kentucky to reach victory.  The game started with both teams sprinting furiously up and down the court almost as if it were a track meet.  It took several minutes for both teams to settle down and Kentucky seemed in full control heading into the half with a 14-point lead.

Despite the deficit at the half, Kansas never quit and stormed back into the game midway through the second half just as they had done throughout the NCAA tournament.

In the end, Kentucky had just too much length and speed as they forced 2 late turnovers in the final minutes that prevented Kansas from coming back.  Freshman sensation Anthony Davis struggled offensively (scoring 6 points total) but got it done defensively with 16 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 3 steals. 

Won and done.  National champions go to White House

Following in line with NCAA champion tradition, the Wildcats made one final trip that only champions can make – a trip to the White House. It is customary in the world of collegiate athletics, for the NCAA champion to meet with the President and tour the White House. CharterSearch once again had the honor of arranging the air charter flight to the White House.

“It is a thrill to arrange these White House charters for the National Champions,” expressed Joe Quinn, President of CharterSearch.  “We have had the pleasure of flying many Champions to meet with the President over our 25 year history.”

The team was honored to meet with President Obama (an openly avid college basketball fan) and presented him with a Wildcats jersey with the signature number “1” on it.

The Wildcats join an elite group of teams that have made the same time-honored trip.

Just days after hoisting up the 2009 National Championship trophy and wrapping up another perfect season, the University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball team was awarded the same experience and also met President Obama.

Sarah Darras, an administrator for UConn Women’s Basketball, said the team had hoped if they won the National Championship, they would receive an invitation to visit President Obama at the White House.

“It was particularly gratifying to arrange the White House trip for that 2009 UConn Women’s Basketball team,” said Quinn.  “CharterSearch arranged their chartered flights throughout the season and to put together that final celebratory charter was a fitting exclamation point to their amazing season.”

“The team knew that this was going to be an experience that they would remember for a lifetime,” said Darras.  “To have had the opportunity to interact with the President was a humbling experience.”