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Kentucky becomes the first team to go 36-0, advances past Cincinnati

Aaron Harrison scored 13 points, Trey Lyles added 11 with 11 rebounds and Kentucky outworked Cincinnati for a 64-51 victory Saturday to reach the Sweet 16.
Trey Lyles - photo by Walter Cornett

– photo by Walter Cornett

scored 13 points, Trey Lyles added 11 with 11 rebounds and top-ranked outworked eighth-seeded for a 64-51 victory Saturday to remain undefeated and reach the Sweet 16 for the second straight season.

Despite the Wildcats’ sixth straight double-digit win, they faced their toughest test in a while and didn’t seem totally in control until the final minutes. Kentucky certainly expected a battle from the physical, pesky Bearcats and worked hard for every shot and rebound in an intense contest.

But the Wildcats (36-0) succeeded by making life difficult on both ends for Cincinnati, holding the Bearcats to 32 percent shooting including just 24 percent in the second half. Kentucky blocked six shots after halftime and came up with several key rebounds.

The Wildcats move on to face the Maryland-West Virginia winner in the Midwest Regional on Thursday in Cleveland.

Troy Caupain had 13 points for Cincinnati (23-11).

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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.

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On This Day in UK Basketball History

On March 22, 1958, UK wins its fourth NCAA title by defeating Seattle and Elgin Baylor, 84-72, in Louisville before a home-state crowd of 18,803 in Freedom Hall. The “Fiddlin’ Five” was led by Vernon Hatton’s 30 points.  This is the only NCAA championship Kentucky won within the commonwealth.  The win gave Rupp his most coveted title, the one he vowed to win after the NCAA had suspended UK’s 1953 season.

 

On March 22, 1975, UK upsets undefeated Indiana in the Mideast Regional semifinals to earn a trip to the Final Four. It was the Hoosier's first loss in 34 games.  Indiana was 31-0 and had obliterated Kentucky 98-74 in a December meeting remembered for Hoosiers Coach Bobby Knight slapping UK head man Joe B. Hall in the back of the head.  With the Final Four at stake, Kentucky senior guards Mike Flynn (22 points) and Jimmy Dan Conner (17, five rebounds) came up huge to lead the Cats to sweet payback.

 

On March 22, 1984, Winston Bennett's three-point play with 13 seconds left pushed the Wildcats past Louisville into the Mideast Regional final.

 

On March 22, 1985, Joe B. Hall announces his retirement after UK loses to St. John’s, 86-70, in the NCAA West Regional in Denver.

 

On March 22, 1998, in one of the most anticipated matchups of the NCAA Tournament, UK roars back from a 17-point deficit with 9:38 remaining to defeat Duke, 86-84. Kentucky uncorked an NCAA Tournament rally for the ages behind the relentless penetration of junior point guard Wayne Turner (16 points, eight assists) and clutch three-point shooting from Heshimu Evans, Allen Edwards, Cameron Mills and Scott Padgett.

 

Wildcats Born on This Date

March 22, 1893

Hubert Blakey

March 22, 1906

Oliver Steele

March 22, 1930

38 Bobby Watson

March 22, 1976

Wayne Turner
5 Wayne Turner

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