Kentucky romps past Western Kentucky
Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb figured Kentucky's freshmen might have the jitters.
Good thing the sophomores already have plenty of NCAA Tournament experience to share.
Jones had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Lamb scored 16 and top-seeded Kentucky began its quest for an eighth national title with an 81-66 victory over Western Kentucky Thursday night in Louisville.
"For this to be the first NCAA game for us, freshmen are usually -- well I know I was last year -- just a little nervous about all the pressure put on us, and it wasn't even as much pressure last year as it is this year," Jones said. "I just wanted to tell everybody to have fun and run. We just got going from there."
On a day when Syracuse nearly became the first No. 1 seed ever to lose to a 16, the Wildcats (33-2) clearly relished their growing role as favorites. Freshman and player of the year candidate Anthony Davis added 16 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks for Kentucky, which was never seriously threatened.
"I've got a good team and good players," Kentucky coach John Calipari said. "Let's worry about us playing as well as we can play; if that's not good enough, then it's done."
Freshman T.J. Price scored 21 points for Western Kentucky (16-19).
Baylor 68, South Dakota State 60: Pierre Jackson scored 18 points and Baylor held off 14th-seeded South Dakota State in Albuquerque, N.M.
The third-seeded Bears (28-7) fell behind by 12 in the first half before taking a 36-28 halftime lead that they never relinquished. But it was a nail-biter.
Making their first trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Jackrabbits (27-8) misfired on a three-pointer with 25 seconds left that would have made it one-point game. Then, the Bears iced it at the line.
Brady Heslip added 17 points for the Bears, who will face the Colorado-UNLV winner in the third round of the South Regional at The Pit Saturday.
Indiana 79, New Mexico State 66: Jordan Hulls went on a second-half shooting spree and finished with 22 points, and fourth-seeded Indiana rolled.
Making its return after a four-year tournament absence, the Hoosiers (26-8) picked up their first tournament win since beating Gonzaga in 2007.
Hulls shot 8 of 12, including 7 of 8 in the second half. The Hoosiers face No. 12 seed VCU in Saturday's third round. -- AP
