March 28, 2003
GAME: No. 3 Marquette (26-5) vs. No. 1 Kentucky (32-3).
REGIONAL: Midwest, Regional Final.
TIME: Saturday, 4:40 p.m. EST.
SITE: The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome; Minneapolis.
Guard play often determines whether a team will reach the Final Four.
Kentucky is hoping star guard Keith Bogans is healthy enough to play againstMarquette and its dynamic backcourt in the Midwest Regional final.
The top-seeded Wildcats (32-3) received their first challenge of thetournament after two blowout wins, emerging with a 63-57 triumph overfifth-seeded Wisconsin on Thursday.
The victory extended Kentucky’s winning streak to 26 games, but came at ahigh price as Bogans, the Wildcats’ leading scorer and Southeastern Conferenceplayer of the year, left the game in the first half with a high ankle sprain.
Bogans will be a game-time decision for Saturday’s showdown with the GoldenEagles.
“It’s a high ankle sprain,” Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said Friday. “Thatcan be a real bad thing. I’ve seen guys go a month without doing anything. He’sable to put pressure on his foot and raise up on his toe. That’s a good sign.”
Bogans watched the second half of Thursday’s game from the bench as theWildcats moved within one win of their 14th Final Four appearance and firstsince winning the 1998 NCAA tournament.
“That’s our leader. We just had to win this one without him,” Kentucky’sChuck Hayes said. “He’s been there vocally the whole year. That’s your familymember right there.”
The absence of Bogans, who averages 15.7 points and shoots a team-high 38.1percent from, 3-point range, will affect more than just the Wildcats’ scoringand perimeter shooting.
“Keith and his swagger,” Smith said. “He has that mentality, `Hey you’renot going to stop me, give me the ball.’ He raises his intensity when he’schallenged and he’s the best on our team at doing that.”‘
Defensive specialist Cliff Hawkins is likely to start if Bogans can’t go onSaturday.
Marquis Estill more than compensated for Bogans’ absence Thursday, scoring acareer-high 28 points as he consistently outmuscled and outmaneuvered thesmaller frontcourt of the Badgers. The 6-foot-9 center made 12-of-18 shots in32 minutes.
Marquette (26-5) rode a strong performance from its own star guard, DwyaneWade, to a 77-74 regional semifinal victory over second-seeded Pittsburgh onThursday.
Wade took charge and scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half,including a clutch basket in the final minute with the Golden Eagles clingingto a one-point lead.
“When he makes a couple of shots, we know he has the ability to take over agame,” said Wade’s backcourt mate, Travis Diener, who had only four points andeight assists after scoring 55 points in the first two rounds.
“(Wade) made a couple of shots and carried us. When he gets it going, wejust try to find him, that is what makes him the best player in the nation.”
Wade also had four assists and three steals as the third-seeded GoldenEagles reached a regional final for the first time since winning the 1977 NCAAtournament.
“It’s a long year and a long game, if you have a bad first half, it doesn’tmean a thing in the second half,” said Wade, the Conference USA player of theyear. “I have had some great first halves and some great second halves.”
The teams have split eight NCAA tournament games – the most between any twoteams. Marquette won the last meeting 75-63 in a second-round matchup in 1994.
The winner will play the West Region champion – Arizona or Kansas – at NewOrleans next Saturday.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Marquette – F Scott Merritt, F Todd Townsend, C RobertJackson, G Wade, G Diener. Kentucky – F Erik Daniels, F Hayes, C Estill, GGerald Fitch, G Bogans or Hawkins.
TEAM LEADERS: Marquette – Wade, 21.4 ppg; Jackson, 7.3 rpg; Diener, 5.6 apg.Kentucky – Bogans, 15.7 ppg; Hayes, 6.8 rpg; Hawkins, 3.9 apg.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Marquette – At-large bid, Conference USA; beat No. 14Holy Cross 72-68 in first round; beat No. 6 Missouri 101-92 (OT) in secondround; beat No. 2 Pittsburgh 77-74 in regional semifinal. Kentucky – Automaticbid, Southeastern Conference tournament champion; beat No. 16 IUPUI 95-64 infirst round; beat No. 9 Utah 74-54 in second round; beat No. 5 Wisconsin 63-57in regional semifinal.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Marquette – 31-23, 23 years. Kentucky – 94-39,45 years.
