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Rupp Arena was built on the backs of hard-nosed homegrown players. From Ralph Beard in Louisville to Wah Wah Jones in Harlan, the Kentucky basketball program owes its early success to talented instate players who reached their potential under Adolph Rupp. That success created whimsical imagery of the Bluegrass version of The American Dream. Kids across the Commonwealth grow up dreaming of leading the Wildcats to glory. That dream turned into more of a fantasy under John Calipari. The Kentucky head coach had unprecedented recruiting success across the country. Not every player from within the b…

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