The University of Kentucky still is unbeaten. But it certainly isn’t untested.
After demolishing West Virginia in the Sweet 16, the top-seeded Wildcats got all they could handle in an Elite Eight matchup with No. 3 seed Notre Dame. Yet Andrew Harrison hit two free throws to break a deadlock with 6 seconds remaining and Jerian Grant’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer barely missed, allowing Kentucky to escape with a 68-66 win.
The Wildcats are a perfect 38-0 and will advance to their fourth Final Four in five seasons, where they’ll take on the West’s No. 1 seed, Wisconsin, in a rematch of last year’s national semifinal.
The Fighting Irish made their intentions clear from the early going, taking their offense right to Kentucky’s big men to enter halftime locked in a 31-31 tie. Notre Dame opened up a slim second-half lead thanks to several strong finishes from big man Zach Auguste, who finished with a team-high 20 points.
Yet the Wildcats hung around, erasing the deficit with under four minutes remaining with a deep 3-pointer from Aaron Harrison. Grant responded with a 3-ball of his own, but the Fighting Irish failed to score again, as a Karl-Anthony Towns layup and Andrew Harrison’s free throws helped Kentucky remain perfect.
WEST
(1) Wisconsin 85, (2) Arizona 78: For the second straight year, the Wildcats’ Final Four hopes were dashed at the hands of the Badgers. And for the second straight year, Frank Kaminsky was a big reason why. The Wisconsin big man had a game-high 29 points to help fend off Arizona down the stretch, and busted out some impressive celebratory dance moves after doing so.
The Wildcats tried to claw back as time wound down, but Badgers swingman Sam Dekker buried a clutch 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in regulation to put the game out of reach. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the way for Arizona with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Thumbnail photo via Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports Images
