March 27, 2003
Recap?|?Box Score?|?Photo Gallery
NCAA Midwest Regional
Minneapolis, Minn, (Metrodome)
Kentucky vs. Wisconsin
Thursday, March 17, 2003
?Kentucky is now 32-3 overall. Wisconsin completes its season at 24-8 overall.
?Kentucky has won 26 in a row, the nation’s longest current winning streak. The streak ties for the third-longest win streak in school history and the longest in Tubby Smith’s 12-year career.
?Kentucky owns NCAA Tournament records for most appearances (44), wins (92), and tourney games played (130). Kentucky’s all-time NCAA Tournament record is now 92-38 (70.7 winning percentage).
?UK is 9-3 in regional semifinal games since the field expanded to 64 in 1985. This marks the first time UK has advanced to the regional final since 1999, the eighth time in 12 seasons, more than any other team in the country. North Carolina is next with five regional final appearances during that span (1992-03).
?UK is 4-4 in the regional final since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985 and 12-15 in regional finals since the Cats’ first NCAA appearance in 1942. On Saturday, the Cats will be playing for a berth in their 14th Final Four, their first since winning the national championship in 1998.
?Cats are 32-0 when leading with two minutes remaining, 27-0 when leading with five minutes left. UK outrebounded Wisconsin 33-26 and is now 25-2 when outrebounding its opponent.
?Kentucky trailed twice in the second half for a total of 52 seconds. Its marks the fourth game since Jan. 14 vs. Vanderbilt that UK has trailed in the second half, totaling 5:38.
?Kentucky forced the Badgers into 15 turnovers, more than their Big-Ten best 10.3 turnovers per game.
?Five Badgers were averaging double-figure ppg, but the Cats only allowed six to score, three in double-figures. The other three players combined for less than 10 points.
?Keith Bogans left the floor late in the first half with a high left ankle sprain. Bogans did not return for the second half. He had five points prior to his injury.
?With 28 points tonight, Marquis Estill surpassed the 900-point plateau in career scoring. He now has 926 career points.
oEstill set career-highs for points (28), field goals made (12) field goal attempted (18).
oEstill has now scored in double-digits in nine of the last 11 games.
oEstill has scored in double-figures in four straight NCAA tournament games, dating back to last season in the Sweet 16 vs. Maryland.
oHis previous career high was 22 points versus Iowa in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
oEstill’s 28 points are the most by a Wildcat this season and the most since Tayshaun Prince inked 41 points versus Tulsa last season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
?Kentucky is now 3-1 vs. Wisconsin and 88-52 all-time against Big Ten opponents.
?Kentucky now holds a 31-6 record when playing in a dome, including a 4-2 mark in the Metrodome.
?Coach Tubby Smith is now 23-8 in NCAA Tournament play (74.2 winning percentage). Smith is 17-4 in the NCAA Tournament at Kentucky (81.0 winning percentage).
?Kentucky is now 34-7 (82.9 winning percentage) in the month of March under Tubby Smith, including a 17-4 record in NCAA Tournament games.
?Key run: After trailing most of the first half, the Wildcats took a 32-28 lead in the closing minutes of the half. The Cats led the final 15 minutes of the game and took their biggest lead, 62-55, with 11 seconds remaining to hold on for the win.
?Kentucky is now 27-2 when leading at the half.
?Kentucky is making its fifth all-time appearance in the Midwest Region and now owns a 13-3 record in the region, including a 6-0 mark in the Dallas-Minneapolis-East Rutherford march to the 1996 NCAA Championship.
?Kentucky returns to action on Saturday, March 29 at 3:40 p.m. CT to face the winner of Marquette/Pittsburgh for a chance to advance to the Final Four.
