March 28, 2003
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. –
Complete Release in PDF Format
Midwest Region Final
Minneapolis March 29
H.H.H. Metrodome (38,296)
[3] Marquette vs. [1] Kentucky
RADIO
UK Radio Network (80+ stations): Tom Leach, Mike Pratt, Dave Baker.
NCAA Radio Network: Brad Sham and Fran Fraschilla.
TELEVISION
CBS Sports: Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery and Leslie Visser.
Golden Eagles Perched Between Cats, Final Four Berth
With a rugged 63-57 victory over Wisconsin on Thursday, the Kentucky Wildcats have advanced to the Midwest Region Championship game where they’ll battle Conference-USA champ Marquette for a berth in the 2003 Final Four in New Orleans.
It marks UK’s eighth regional final appearance in the past 12 years (1992-03), more than any other team in college basketball. This is UK’s first regional final appearance since 1999, the third in the Tubby Smith era at Kentucky (six seasons).
With the win over the Badgers, top-ranked Kentucky extended its win streak to 26 games, the longest in college basketball since the Cats ran off 27 straight during the 1996 season. The Wildcats are looking for their 1,850th victory in this, their 100th season of college hoops. No other team has reached that milestone in college basketball. Kentucky also hopes to complete March with a perfect 10-0 record. UK has not been beaten in 2003, and a victory would be the Cats’ first sweep of March since 1998.
Ninth-ranked Marquette, which advanced to the regional final with wins over Holy Cross, Missouri and second-seeded Pitt, is Kentucky’s 14th ranked opponent this season. After its win over No. 21 Wisconsin, UK is 12-1 against ranked teams, including a 4-0 mark against top-10 teams.
The Cats and Golden Eagles have met eight times in NCAA Tournament play and the series is tied at 4-4. This will be the ninth meeting between the two teams in tournament play. Neither team has played as many NCAA Tournament games against another opponent. Second on the Wildcats’ slate is five NCAA Tournament games each against Duke, Louisville and Utah.
UK owns NCAA records in tournament appearances (44), wins (92) and tournament games played (130). Tubby Smith is 23-8 in NCAA Tournament play, which ranks as the fifth-best winning percentage (74.2%) among active coaches.
Last Outing
Kentucky overcame the loss of Keith Bogans to a sprained left ankle late in the first half to defeat Wisconsin, 63-57. Marquis Estill totaled a career-high 28 points, the most by a Wildcat this season.
In the first half, Kirk Penney scored 17 points, but after the half, 6-6 utility man Chuck Hayes switched off onto Penney and held the first-team All-Big Ten selection to just one field goal in the second half, an early three-pointer.
Coming into the contest, the fifth-seeded Badgers averaged 10.5 turnovers per game and had five players averaging in double figures. But the Cats’ defense forced 15 turnovers and only three Badgers scored in double figures.
Kentucky shot 49.0% from the field and held Wisconsin to 42.2% shooting, the first team in postseason play to shoot better than 40% against the Wildcats’ defense.
