Kentucky outlasts UNC, reaches Final Four

NEWARK -- In the year of the Little Guy, when underdogs are stealing the show and filling half of the Final Four, Kentucky showed there still is room for something big. Apologies to the mid-majors who have put on such a display in the NCAA Tournament, but there is nothing ever "mid" about the team that had a major, major win Sunday in the East Regional.

Kentucky, which has written a lot of college basketball history in its traditional blue, prevailed in a true heavyweight game, outlasting another old warhorse, North Carolina, 76-69, after DeAndre Liggins' crucial three-pointer with 37 seconds left.

"It had to be a game you enjoyed watching, if you love basketball," said Roy Williams, the losing coach.

The Wildcats (29-8) had enough steam and polish, especially down the stretch, to earn a trip to the Final Four, alongside Connecticut and upstarts Butler and Virginia Commonwealth. "It's an honor to play for Kentucky," said freshman Doron Lamb of Queens.

True, it has been a long time since Adolph Rupp has been on the sideline, but there still is something in the air, in the stands and the coffers that help the Wildcats remain a force. They have the resources to pay coach John Calipari $4 million a year. They have the cachet to draw the likes of freshman guard Brandon Knight, voted the outstanding player in the regional after a 22-point effort that featured a tiebreaking three-pointer with 2:51 left.

Yes, Kentucky is the type of program that puts "major" in major college ball.

"I can't imagine what it's going to be like when we get back home. It's going to be crazy," said guard Darius Miller of Maysville, Ky., who had some big late baskets. "It means a lot, a whole lot. We don't have a pro team or anything like that. So they kind of watch us and Louisville. That's like their pro team."

Still, it's not as if Kentucky can win just by showing up. In fact, it hadn't been to the Final Four in 13 years. Only two years ago, it was in the NIT.

"The NIT was really disappointing for us and for all of our fans," said senior big man Josh Harrellson, who made the all-regional team after having 12 points and eight rebounds and hanging in there against Carolina 7-footer Tyler Zeller. "We're here now, back in the Final Four. We got Kentucky back."

To get there, they had to withstand a rally by North Carolina (29-8), which has its own proud traditions and traveling fans. They grew really loud when the Tar Heels erased a 10-point deficit to tie it at 67 on a three-point play by Zeller (21 points, nine rebounds) with 3:18 left.

"It was a dogfight kind of game," Calipari said. "North Carolina does what they do and did not go away and made plays." Among them was a determined, fancy reverse layup by freshman Harrison Barnes (18 points).

But Kentucky made more plays, especially when they were needed most, such as the three-pointer by Knight right after Zeller's tying play.

"You know, we get it tied and Brandon makes a huge three right in front of their bench," Williams said. Added Zeller: "The shot Brandon hit, I still picture it in my mind."

The highlight shows will remind North Carolina of the basket by Liggins. With Kentucky ahead 70-69, Liggins blocked a shot by freshman guard Kendall Marshall, then drilled a three-pointer.

"I shot with confidence," Liggins said, "and made it."

Before you knew it, Wildcats players were standing on the victory platform, swaying to the old favorite, "My Old Kentucky Home," knowing that their team is back home in the Final Four.