March 13, 1999

By BRIAN OREFICE

AP MegaSports Writer

Two of the most storied programs in college basketball meet Sunday whenKentucky battles Kansas in a Midwest Region second-round game at the Superdomein New Orleans.

Kentucky (26-8), the No. 3 seed, is the winningest program in Division Ihistory. The Wildcats, in their 94th year of basketball, have an all-timerecord of 1,676-528, 10 victories better than North Carolina. They are playingin their record 41st NCAA tournament.

In third place, not far behind the Tar Heels, sit the Jayhawks. Kansas(23-9) brings a 1,619-717 all-time mark into this weekend’s game.

Long-term success is not the only thing the teams have in common.Kansas and Kentucky are also the winningest programs of the ’90s. The Jayhawks’ 305victories this decade are tops in the country, while Kentucky is second with280 wins.

History, however, will have little to do with the outcome of Sunday’sgame.

The Wildcats, winners of two of the last three national titles, continuedtheir recent resurgence with an 82-60 opening-round win over Evansville onFriday. Kentucky, whose eight losses are its most in nine years, ended theseason on a high note by sweeping through the SEC tournament.

The team, led by tournament-tested seniors Wayne Turner, Scott PadgettandHeshimu Evans, used a 21-0 second-half run to blow by the Aggies.

Kansas defeated Evansville 95-74 on Friday to advance. The Jayhawks,the Big12 tournament champion, held a 45-15 advantage on the boards to key thevictory. They will be hard-pressed to duplicate that feat against a bigger andmore talented Kentucky team.

T.J. Pugh had a career-high 15 points and 10 rebounds for Kansas.