Sport: Kentucky's No. 1 Team

Of all the final games in sports, none delivers on its annual promises more consistently than college basketball's national championship. Another stirring finish last week carried Louisville over Duke, 72-69, by the caprice in the fading seconds of a Cardinal shot so badly missed that only another Louisville man was in a position to jump for the ball: 6-ft. 9-in. Freshman Pervis Ellison.

As wiry as a mouth full of braces, three days shy of 19, Ellison instantly followed the shot into the basket and before long followed the basket to the foul line. Two calm free throws topped off his...