March 22, 2003
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –
2003 NCAA Tournament
#9 Utah Utes (25-7, 11-3 Mountain West)
vs.
#1 Kentucky Wildcats (30-3, 16-0 SEC)
Second Round * March 23, 2003 * Approx. 6:30 p.m. CT
Complete Release in PDF Format
Wildcats Face Familiar Utes in Second Round
For the fifth time in 11 years, Kentucky and Utah will battle in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats have ended the Utes’ season in the previous four NCAA Tournament meetings, which began, ironically, in the 1993 NCAA Tourney’s second round in Nashville. That season, UK beat Utah 83-62 at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym en route to a Final Four berth for the Cats.
UK advanced to the second round this week by beating IUPUI, 95-64, while Utah sent Oregon home with a hard-fought 60-58 victory. The Wildcats were led by Gerald Fitch’s 25 points, which matched his career high, while Utah was paced by 23 points from Nick Jacobson. The winner will advance to Minneapolis for the Midwest Regional next week which begins Thursday.
Kentucky is riding a 24-game win streak which equals the fifth-longest win streak in school history, tying a mark set by the third and fourth teams of the Adolph Rupp era, 1933 and ’34. With the victory over IUPUI, the Cats won their 30th game for an NCAA-record 11th season.
The Cats own NCAA Tournament records for appearances (44), wins (90) and tourney games played (128). UK is 90-38 (70.3%) in NCAA action.
Game Time Changes, Again
The game times for the Sunday slate in Nashville have changed for the second time this weekend. What was originally scheduled as a 1:30 p.m. CT tip for the first game was moved to 3:40 p.m. on Thursday. Now, the double-header is set to begin at 4 p.m. CT. The Kentucky-Utah game will tip 30 minutes after the first-game concludes, which should be an approximate 6:30 p.m. CT start.
The Last Game
Kentucky shot 60% for the third time this season and held its opponent to less than 40% shooting for the fourth straight game to roll to a 95-64 victory over IUPUI. The Cats are now 72-1 in the Tubby Smith era when shooting 50% or better.
Gerald Fitch hit a career-high five three-pointers to match his personal-best 25 points while pacing the Cats to the 24th straight win. Ten Wildcats scored in the contest.
