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Nobody can accuse Kentucky of taking the easy road to the Final Foul. The Wildcats knocked off the tournament’s No.1 overall seed, Ohio St., on Friday. Then Kentucky followed that by getting revenge against a strong North Carolina team the Wildcats lost to during the regular season.
As it has done throughout the tournament, Kentucky made clutch plays down the stretch. Leading 70-69, DeAndre Liggins made a 3-pointer from in front of Kentucky’s bench with 35.6 second to play, putting the Wildcats ahead 73-69.
North Carolina did not call timeout, and after a disorganized possession, Harrison Barnes (18 points) threw up an off-balance 3-pointer trying to draw a foul. Barnes’ shot drew nothing but air, and Brandon Knight (22 points) of Kentucky was fouled after controlling the rebound. Knight’s two foul shots with 18.8 seconds to play put Kentucky ahead, 75-69, and when Carolina failed to score on its next possession, the Wildcats could begin to celebrate.
Kentucky coach John Calipari, still seeking his first national championship, will take his third different school to the Final Four, after previous trips with the University of Massachusetts and Memphis. In only his second year at Kentucky, Calipari has Kentucky where it expects to be – competing for a national title. The last time Kentucky was in the Final Four, the Wildcats won it all. Calipari is hoping for a similar result.
Sources: http://aol.sportingnews.com
