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Improbable run ends one win short as Kentucky Wildcats fall to UConn

Kentucky’s storybook NCAA Tournament run fell one comeback short with a 60-54 loss to Connecticut in the championship game.
James Young - photo by Walter Cornett | WildcatWorld.com

James Young – photo by Walter Cornett | WildcatWorld.com

Shabazz Napier scored 22 points and Connecticut won its second NCAA title in four years, beating all those Kentucky freshmen 60-54 in the championship game Monday night.

Napier is among three UConn seniors who were part of the Huskies’ 2011 title. That trio stayed after coach Jim Calhoun’s retirement even when the Huskies were ineligible for the NCAA tournament last season.

They came back strong in coach Kevin Ollie’s second season, and the Huskies (32-8) went all the way to their fourth overall title.

Kentucky (29-11), with five freshmen starters, never led in the championship game.

The Wildcats missed 11 of 24 free throws, while the Huskies were perfect on 10 tries.  James Young led Kentucky with 20 points.

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Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter’s Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.

On This Day in UK Basketball History

On April 1, 1996, behind an NCAA title game record-tying seven three-pointers from Tony Delk, UK won its sixth national title. After two John Wallace free throws cut the UK lead to two, 64-62, the Wildcats responded with a Walter McCarty tip-in and a Derek Anderson three-pointer and Syracuse never threatened again.  Kentucky wins, 76-67.

 

On April 1, 2009, John Calipari was named Kentucky’s new head basketball coach.  His deal worth $31.65 million made him the highest-paid coach in college basketball.

 

Wildcats Born on This Date

April 2, 1880

John Vogt

April 2, 1992

Brian Long
32 Brian Long

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